GO WEST is all about there not being any easy and pat answers to anything, and "This Is Hard" was specifically written as a rejoinder to the naive optimism of "Grateful For The Rain." As such, it came really easy and really fast...I think I did the lyrics to both songs almost simultaneously, and I was really pleased with how this one came out. It became an instant live favorite as soon as we debuted it, and as a rant, it's a much easier and more direct message than, say, "Deus Ex Machina" on YOU DON'T KNOW ME.
This is the only song on the album where I have a minimal instrumental role -- I only played acoustic guitar, and that was just intended to be a scratch. Rich McCulley and Evie handled the electric guitar, Tommy Rickard on drums, and Teresa on bass. Teresa complains that I deliberately edited her tracks to sound like she didn't know what she was doing, and although my opinion is it has just the right amount of Replacements-style confusion I do remember cackling with glee a few times when I was working on her tracks. Certainly the catastrophic ending was accentuated a little in the final mixdown to sound even more boneheaded than it originally was. Kurt doesn't drum on this track, but he does sing on it -- along with Tommy and Rich, who were stuck in front of a microphone without much in the way of direction.
It occurred to me that despite having been recording for 13 years, this is the only album I've done that has any Rolling Stones influence on it at all. It's most obvious on the vocal for this song, but there's also some Stones in "Burn Down The World" and (less obviously) "Two Children In A Bed." I don't know why I never drew much inspiration from them until now. I just didn't. The vocal by the way was recorded pretty much in one take on Christmas morning. I had done a few passes the night before, wasn't very happy with them, then went back and listened to the scratch vocal (which I liked), and said, "I know what to do," and went into my room, turned on the computer, and belted the whole thing out then and there in my bathrobe.
"This Is Hard" also provided a little more rock 'n' roll energy to the album. When first conceived, it looked like it was going to be a pretty uptempo, guitar-heavy album, but as recording went on things broadened out to the point where it did need a little more oomph. Coming in the middle of disc two, the song gives a little real-world cynicism that sets up the brooding conclusion of the album.
lyrics
You thought that everything would be OK
But this is your unlucky day
This is hard This is hard
You changed your life
like you changed your shirt
But now you recognize this really hurts
This is hard This is hard
You were so proud that you saw the light
But you won’t illuminate overnight
Tore down the walls and now it’s sad to say
You had it comin’ to you anyway
You used to wallow in disregard
That was easy but this is hard
You were unlisted now you dial direct
But it’s still the same disconnect
This is hard This is hard
All your troubles seemed so far from sight
Denial smiles and reality bites
This is hard This is hard
It’s really great that you got religion
Outstanding that you show contrition
Emancipated by your abolition
Now roll a joint, sit back and listen
You had it good ‘til you dropped your guard
That was easy but this is hard
Don’t get mad, don’t be uptight
But everything ain’t gonna be alright
No supermen walkin’ round in tights
You brought a flower to a gunfight
You wanted the secret to happiness
It’s a cold beer and a short dress
All men are the same that much is true
‘cos it sucks to be me and it sucks to be you
This ain’t about what you see or believe
This ain’t a movie with Keanu Reeves
You cut off your face to spite your nose
No where to hide ‘til you decompose
You were a beautiful dreamer but you wanted scars
That was easy but this is hard
credits
from Go West,
released August 18, 2009
Adam - lead vocal, acoustic guitar
Teresa Cowles - bass
Tommy Rickard - drums
Rich McCulley - electric guitar
Evie Sands - lead guitar
Kurt Medlin, Rich, Tommy - gang vocals
Adam Marsland's long career has included stints as a singer/songwriter, touring troubadour, producer, and multi-
instrumentalist/sideman. He has made 11 albums as a solo artist and as leader of '90s power pop combo Cockeyed Ghost, and toured the country 22 times as a DIY performer. He has worked with artists as diverse as The Standells, 2008 Tony Award Winner Stew, and members of the Beach Boys....more
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