Alphanaut Band News: "Happily Sedated"

So it's been a while since my last post featuring the inspiration behind the songs on "Out of Orbit". I've unexpectedly found myself swept up by a creative 'tidal wave' the last 6 months, which has kept me away from doing as much social networking as I would like. However, as a result of all my efforts, I have not only penned 13 songs which will be the next Alphanaut full length, but I've also begun a collection of ambient instrumentals. If all goes as planned the instrumental album will be released Spring 2011 and the full length in summer the same year. I'll keep everyone posted on how things are coming along.

The next tune up from "Out of Orbit" is "Happily Sedated". This was the only song on the album that went to the studio without a finished demo at the beginning of the recording session. I don't think I even had a lyric beyond "We're all happily sedated, in the life that we created". That's it, and the pressure was on to figure out what the message would be around that line.

At the time the songs were being recorded, the world was in free fall as economies were collapsing and our communal spirit began to deflate. One day I was out around town and took notice of how many people were shielded from the outside world by their hand held devices. One after another I noticed individuals paying more attention to the texts they were sending rather than where they were walking. That was enough to trigger the lyric "Look up, power down your cel phone" and I found myself with inspiration for the son's direction.

I wrote the song about a how each and every one of us is culpable for the woes of our current situation, and how blame can't simply be tossed at bankers and politicians. I began to realize that four decades of institutionalized excess of the Western world had drug us down and taken the rest of the world with it.

The song's message is hidden behind a catchy little tune that wound up developing rather organically in the studio.

"Happily Sedated" Lyrics - By Alphanaut

Look up, power down your cel phone
Line is busy, the call’s not free
Something’s up in the days of plenty
Too many people marking absentee
At a time when you had more money
Smiled and drove along happily
But no matter what your mind is thinking
I can hear you body singing

But if you're happily sedated
In the life that you created
Those who only disagree
Will shut the book and let it be

Get out from under your headphones
Shuffle up from your MP3s
If you want to draw my attention
Open up your mouth, stop texting me
There were days when skies were sunny
But it shifted so violently
No matter what you the future’s bringing
I can hear your body singing

But if you're happily sedated
Thinking life is overrated
Take a page from history
Shut the book and let it be

Haven't you heard your religion's withdrawn
So buddy get your dogma off of my front lawn

Because I'm happily sedated
In a life incorporated
I may not ever come around
But my boots are firmly on the ground

We’re all happily sedated
Life incorporated
Take a page from history
Shut the book and let it be

Purchase CD quality downloads of Alphanaut tunes at Bandcamp.com

To purchase "Happily Sedated" on iTunes