One Guitar is one of the jewels on The Alarm's new cd Direct Action.
One Guitar
Could be the middle of night...or in the middle of the street
It could be uptown, downtown...or even where you sleep
I hear the marching drum... I hear a song unsung
It could be your dream, my dream...I'm not the only one
'Cause I’m a soldier marching in an army
I got no gun to shoot all I've got is ONE GUITAR
I see the risin’ smoke...I hear a heartbreak joke
All of my brothers and sisters... I think it’s time we spoke
I’ve only got six strings... but like a bell they ring
It’s like a jet plane, insane... crashin’ in my brain
'Cause I’m a soldier marching in an army
I got no gun to shoot all I've got is ONE GUITAR
So if you get knocked down... you gotta take a stand
For all the outcast, dead last... who need a helping hand
You've got to raise your voice... raise it up loud
You've got to raise your... above the crowd
'Cause I’m a soldier marching in an army
I got no gun to shoot all I've got is ONE GUITAR
Written by Willie Nile / Frankie Lee
The song is actually a Willie Nile song. Here is a video from the January 20, 2010, Light Of Day 10 Parkinson's disease fundraiser at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ. You can see Bruce Springteen in the photos.
Here Willie Nile joins The Alarm at The Brook in Southampton, on 23rd April 2010
and Willie Nile solo explaining how Mike Peters approached him to record the song.
The song sort of reminds me of The Killers song "All These Things That I've Done."
"All These Things That I've Done"
When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
...
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Over and out, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on
