2005-05-04

12 Brothers - The Lyrics: Investment

Prerequisite reading thus far:

Here's how the story goes: #12 has regained his composure and he has decided to re-enter the business world under his assumed identity. He can't rely on his family name any more so he has to start from the bottom and work his way up, just like any other young scrub. He winds up at an investment banking company south of the border and he works his magic like only he could. One wise move after another get him recognition from his superiors, and in turn, a promotion to Vice President. My how the tables have turned.

As time passes, #12 proves to be correct in his investment decisions. His cattle options were booming for seven years and he's amassed a vast little fortune himself. And just as he predicted the market starts to turn sour in 2011. He's ahead of the game and he's shorted the market, doubling profits again, winning on the upside and the down.

For those who invested elsewhere, however, it's going to be a rough stretch as the entire market takes a down turn unseen since the 1920s. Former millionaires are bankrupt and forced to sell all of their property, left homeless on the street.

Here are the lyrics:

Verse 1:

here's your cube and welcome to our firm
you can make it here if you can just grin and bear it
though the ladder climbing's slow here
so your shoes had better wear

Verse 2:

senor, this offer's window's getting narrow
so you'll need to sign up quick
if you dream of spending millions
then listen to our picks

Chorus 1:

cattle options
expire in seven years
sell them in
two thousand eleven

Verse 3:

hijo, you made some wise decisions
now we'll make it through the famine
you've earned your new promotion
more money and power in the balance

Chorus 2:

cattle options
expired this year
if you ignored the warning
you'll go hungry i fear

I always liked this song. Yes, it's somewhat short, but that keeps with the style of the other songs (excluding Sunsets) and I feel it packs an efficient punch.

8 comments:

Jeremy said...

Another thing to note, though you don't have to follow this if you don't want to: I always pictured this as one of those songs where the chorus actually slows you down, instead of speeding you up.

Joshua Provost said...

Jer, I'm way ahead of you. I wrote the music more than a week ago, and the chorus does slow you down. Good call.

Lyrically, here are some adjustments.

V1 - I really don't like the "so your shoes" line, it's a strange reference. You'll see what I mean when I post the music.

V2 - This is very good, but your 3rd line becomes part of the 2nd line the way I sing it, so we need another line at the end. Conveniently, I have already rewrote the last two lines: "So I sugges that you listen to our picks/I'll be right right here to help you understand the risks"

C1 - Very good, I think I added "you can sell them in two thousand eleven"

V3 - Don't believe babelfish, it should be mijo, not hijo. It's more appropriate. Same problem as V2, we need another line at the end. I have just been singing the last line twice.

V4 - Yeh, we need a V4, or another verse before V4. Yes, it's a nice short song, but it's way too short. One more verse, you busted out lots of things about the story that haven't been addressed,so this shouldn't be hard after you hear the music.

C2 - I could never fit this into the melody I had for the first chorus. Maybe you can listen and figure something out. It's got to be pretty precise.

Final note, at the end of the song, I go into a little stronger part and sing C1 a couple times.

Anonymous said...

A thought for the prolific Provost brothers:

As a native Spanish speaker, I must interject that both "hijo" and "mijo" are correct. Mijo is definitely more colloquial and has a tinge of indigenous speak -- so if that's what you're going for, that might be the correct choice.

However, most people don't use mijo. Mijo is a distortion of the spanish language that is really an amalgalm of "mi" and "hijo". Thus, it's the equivalent of saying m'son or m'boy.

Also, here's a "ñ", just so you can copy-paste it. And yes, I expect credit for it in the eventual recording. At last, having a Mexican keyboard comes in handy!

One last thing...I'm sort of confused on what the story is in the lyrics?

RGL, AKA THE MESSICAN.

Joshua Provost said...

See, now there is a source you can trust!

I think we'll go with mijo in this case, but it's good to know. Babelfish translator doesn't even know what mijo is, it's true.

Also, I could just ask my halfxican wife, but she's never around when I'm blogging. :)

Thanks for the ñ, that's very generous of you! I wouldn't know where to pick one up, otherwise. Now, Jer, grab that ñ and fix up your "senor" reference.

RGL, I can't wait to be exposed to more of your fine work.

Jeremy said...

First of all, who is this mysterious RGL? Anyway, thanks for the "señor." I do know the proper way to do it, but I just didn't have access to a squiggly line like that. 12Brothers.txt has been updated appropriately.

Jeremy said...

Also, on your added lyrics, you might want to try:

i'll be right here to help explain the risks

I think that might flow better.

Joshua Provost said...

I don't want to blow his cover, but I suppose I can say that RGL is an acclaimed Writer/Director. He transcends qualifiers such as "Great Mexican Director" because he's simply great. Check out "The Truth About Dismembereds Mexicans."

Anonymous said...

Hahaha. That's the first time anyone's called me "acclaimed". Or a writer/director, for that matter. You're too kind, Josh.

I look forward to showing you the new and improved version of "Mexicans" -- and to meeting you in person as well. I have greatly enjoyed your work here. I pimped "Intense Math" profusely at the Phoenix Film Festival, and I'm glad to see your subsequent shorts live up to the same (or higher) standards. We definitely need to talk one of these days. We must bring the illustrious Brock H. Brown as moderator.

And Jeremy -- RGL stands for Ray Garcia De Leon. I'm afraid the answer to that mystery is somewhat disappointing. Just my boring ol' name. Ah, well. C'est la vie.