FAWM: "Touchstone 2024"

Touchstone 2024

There is no demo for this song.

Liner Notes

The word touchstone means multiple things. Most people use the word to mean a model or standard by which something is judged. But the word also refers to an assaying tool, a literal stone that can be used to ascertain the purity of precious metals. In "As You Like It," Shakespeare had a character called Touchstone. He was a witty fool/jester character, and his interactions with the other characters revealed their fundamental nature. I believe there are actual people like that, one way or another, who reveal fundamental truths about other people based on the way they react to the touchstone.

#political #lyricsonly

Lyrics

Verse One:

I can tell you don’t like immigration
I can tell you’re worried ‘bout inflation
You say the system’s broken so let’s bring in something new
I know you’re getting sick of DEI
I know you want to make the liberals cry
But still you need to think about what you intend to do

Chorus:

He is a modern touchstone
Like in the tales of old
When scratching rock on metal
Showed the purity of gold
He is a modern touchstone
His mark tells false from true
The way that you react to him
Reveals the truth of you

Verse Two:

You say you have concerns ‘bout the election
You say that folks like you just feel rejection
You say the talk of eating pets was normal and routine
But men like that grow crueler by the hour
They press ‘till they possess all of the power
If you look back at history you’ll realize what I mean

[repeat chorus]

Bridge:

You weren’t concerned about an insurrection
You’ll overlook a sexual assault
The felonies and lies were not a problem
So what he does has now become your fault

[repeat chorus]

Comments

@bethdesombre 6h

Ooh! The bridge packs quite a punch. I like the idea of framing this as a touchstone, in the Shakespearean sense (and "His mark tells false from true/ The way that you react to him/ Reveals the truth of you")

@majordanby 12h

I agree with all you’ve said. The chorus is excellent and could be used for a song where the meaning is less obvious as it is very poetic and has a great flow to it.

If you’d allow me to steal the chorus from you I will be happy to make it into a collab as it works something I’m playing about with at the moment.

@omaistarz 20h

I like the imagery of the chorus - the idea of a touchstone. It's evocative of someone presenting as one thing but just below the surface is what's true if you scratch just a little. That's an interesting point of view.