SLAVES

The music for this song came into being in about 2018/19, and was initially inspired by the Who (and by the gated synth patch on a soft-synth VST, which mimics the Who gated synth sound!), while the rhythm guitar owes something to Pete Townsend. The busy bass line has a Geddy Lee Rush infuence.  

The multi-talented Bob Campbell (Philippi West Virginia USA), joined the collaboration on vocals, backing vocals, AND drums!
He wrote the vocal melodies and harmonies and recorded the powerful vocal performance of lyrics written by Tez Katajala (Australia) from the perspective of a slave. 
Bob's vocals on this song are perhaps influenced by Guns and Roses (I'm not sure whether he would thank me for the comparison!).

His strong on-point drum performance hits the mark too... 

I made up the song structure and made up and recorded the guitar and bass parts. 
With hindsight I would possibly have made the song a bit longer, perhaps adding music for another verse and a bridge featuring the synth, but I think the arrangement works. However, I did revisit the mix which was freshly done in 2025, and is probably an improvement over the one I did back in the day.

Dreaming of freedom
Hoping for a chance

LYRICS by "Teek" (Tez Katajala, Australia)

Slaves

INTRO – 0:00 – 0:21
V.1. 0:22 - 0:37
Slave slave
We are all slaves
Looking for freedom
One foot in the grave
Waiting for sunrise
To start my day

V.2. 0:40 – 0:54
Slave slave
Working all day
Feeding a family
On no pay
Waiting for sunset
To end my day

CHORUS .1. 0:54 – 1:10
Life is the dancer
You are the dance
Dreaming of freedom
Hoping for a chance

INTERLUDE -1:12 – 1:46
Pre Chorus. 1:46 – 2:04
Slave slave
Lessons are learnt
When bridges are burnt
Slave slave
Told to behave
No chance of a future
No one will save

CHORUS.2. 2:04 – 2:20
Life is the dancer
You are the dance
Dreaming of freedom
Hoping for a chance

INTERLUDE 2. 2:21 – 2:39

Bridge- 2:39 – 3:00
Slave slave
We are all slaves
Looking for freedom
One foot in the grave
Slave slave

CHORUS.4. 3:00 – 3:14
Life is the dancer
You are the dance
Dreaming of freedom
Hoping for a chance

3:14 – 3:31- ( GUITAR SOLO )

OUTRO 3:31 TO END