The Alarm: One Guitar

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