I Smell A Lawsuit Comin'..............

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MusicallyMrM

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.......at least that's what a friend of mine (who is a lawyer) has to say about it. Talk about product liability. Read on......

I recently finished recording a song I wrote initially for acoustic guitar and it has grown a bit beyond that. I wanted to get an oppinion about the lyrics from you guys about something I get from those who listened to it so far.

My friend listened and commented that "this was a very nice sounding song; The lyric has a nice flow and the use of metaphor and simile offered a very vivid picture of the subject." Then he said "but you better not try to market that song because you might get sued. Remember what happened to Judas Priest?"

Now 2 things will have to happen for you to understand what he meant: 1. You have to listen to the song and 2. You have to read the lyric. Here's the lyric:

Die Away Easy-by Archie McLeod III

Sometimes it's hard
And I feel like I wanna' give up
And I'm down to the last drop of coffee
In this big old coffe cup
Called life..........

And sometimes life just ain't fair
People walking all around you
Like you're not even there

And I ain't never felt
Like I really belonged
Folks standing there listening but they never hear your song
And the more you cry out, the more they run and hide
They don't ever want to feel the pain and the hurt that you feel inside

Chorus:

That's why I wanna' lay down
And die away easy
The damage done and it's all that I can do.
The fight ain't worth the battle and a change for me is due
I wanna' die easy

Verse 2

Somewhere along the way
I lost touch with myself
Givin' way to the whims and the whines
Of everybody else
That I Love

But sometimes that love is not returned
Seems that after so long that's a lesson that I should have learned

Chorus

Verse 3

You say I sound like a cowardly man
Well maybe that's true
You've got your oppinions
(And I've got mine too)
But I've got the power to control my destiny
There ain't nothng you can do about it
It's All up to me

Chorus........

Now as you read this, remember all things are not as they seem and as readers respond, I'll explain the lyric in more detail. And now here's the link to the song:

www.soundclick.com/bands/2/musicallymrmmusic.htm Click on the link to "Die Away Easy" :)

My question? Do you think the lyric here is socially irresponsible or socially unacceptable? Do you think this lyric may cause someone to harm themself? This song came from a personal experience, yes but I don't want the listener to get the wrong impression or interpretation of the song. Comments?
 
Whatever happened to freedom of expression?

If we all wrote songs about sunshine & butterflies, I'd probably kill myself.
 
Whatever happened to freedom of expression?

If we all wrote songs about sunshine & butterflies, I'd probably kill myself.
 
Sorry for the double post...

Damn server is always too busy.
 
Well - there's a lawsuit coming from me. I'm gonna sue you for ruining such a gorgeous song with those dreadful drums :) Bleuch.

The answer to your direct question, of course, is no. The whole Judas Priest issue went way beyond just a set of lyrics. Remember the MASH theme song? Yours is a metaphorical barbed wire fence between the listener and suggesting self termination in comparison to that lyric.

But what you're getting at is that the song is not about suicide anyway? Deeper meaning, I'd guess along the lines of you want your current persona, obligations, commitments, to go away and start over fresh.

Anyway, cool song. Very cool song. Please do something about the drums :)
 
Why are you worried? Do you expect your song to become famous enough to influence someone to commit suicide?
 
Thank God most lawyers aren't poets. The disclaimer would be longer than the lyric. Find legal advice thet isn't paranoid.-Richie
 
tkingen said:
Why are you worried? Do you expect your song to become famous enough to influence someone to commit suicide?
Click to expand...

Within the climate of todays society, one never knows my friend. :) Lesser things have caused weaker men to loose their minds and "part" ways with their heads.
 
I don't know about a law suit, but that is a real nice job on the lyrics. Couldn't listen to the link, the server was down.
 
There's always a chance some idiot will find some ambulance chaser to sue someone for some obscure reason. Regarding finding legal advise from an attorney who is not "paranoid" - attorneys will always find the smallest potential legal risk and point it out, that's their job and they don't want to risk professional liability by failing to point out the risk (as a risk manager, I work with attorneys all the time - they drive me nuts by dwelling and the smallest details - at $300 per hour).

That being said, I don't feel your lyrics are such that they clearly suggest or promote suicide or anything that a court could determine liability (my unqualified legal opinion). Naturally, the song would first have to get out to the public to influence someone (always a long shot). Lastly, the "deep pockets theory" applies. Judas Priest were sued because they were an international band with lots of money (deep pockets) and a "bad reputation". Unless you have significant wealth, even an ambulance chaser won't waste his/her time (and a jury would likely not offer a huge award).

I could not hear the song (server problem), but your lyrics are very good. It is a shame you have to even worry about the legal ramifications cause by deep, meaningful lyrics.

This whole discussion, once again indicates why the music industry is in such very poor shape.
 
There's always a chance some idiot will find some ambulance chaser to sue someone for some obscure reason. Regarding finding legal advise from an attorney who is not "paranoid" - attorneys will always find the smallest potential legal risk and point it out, that's their job and they don't want to risk professional liability by failing to point out the risk (as a risk manager, I work with attorneys all the time - they drive me nuts by dwelling and the smallest details - at $300 per hour).

That being said, I don't feel your lyrics are such that they clearly suggest or promote suicide or anything that a court could determine liability (my unqualified legal opinion). Naturally, the song would first have to get out to the public to influence someone (always a long shot). Lastly, the "deep pockets theory" applies. Judas Priest were sued because they were an international band with lots of money (deep pockets) and a "bad reputation". Unless you have significant wealth, even an ambulance chaser won't waste his/her time (and a jury would likely not offer a huge award).

I could not hear the song (server problem), but your lyrics are very good. It is a shame you have to even worry about the legal ramifications cause by deep, meaningful lyrics.

This whole discussion, once again indicates why the music industry is in such very poor shape.
 
They couldn't find Priest at fault because they proved that kid had some bad wiring to begin with. It was not the song that caused it, he was predisposed to suicide anyway. No one can be certain what will trigger this kind of response. Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and all sorts of specialists struggle with this every day. They can't figure it out. Did you know that those so-called anti-depressants can actuallly cause you to commit suicide? They figured out that a person who is so depressed that they would actually do it, don't do it because it is actually the physical manisfestation of the depression that is keeping that person from harming themselves. Once they administer the drugs, it lifts the person just enough that they actually have the "drive" to complete the act. Strange world. I don't think I would worry too much. They couldn't prove Priest was responsible, and your song doesn't suggest we try it.
 
" I guess this is my last goodbye
You don't care so I won't cry
You'll be sorry when I 'm dead
And all this guilt would be on your head
I guess you call it suicide
But I'm too full to swallow my pride"

Lyrics from a Police song 'I can't stand losing you'. Why should you be sued for your lyrics??

D
 
An apology for the "missing link". SoundClick is having server problems again and a glitch lost a lot of subscribers most recent song links and images. I went back in and moved the song down two positions and it reappeared back onto the charts. To make a long story short, as of 3:47 am est, the song is back up guys. Sorry for the inconvenience. I have a few choice words for SoundClick but it's early in the morning, the coffee hasn't set in so I'll keep it to myself. : )
 
My friend listened and commented that "this was a very nice sounding song; The lyric has a nice flow and the use of metaphor and simile offered a very vivid picture of the subject."

Verse 3

You say I sound like a cowardly man
Well maybe that's true
You've got your oppinions
(And I've got mine too)
But I've got the power to control my destiny
There ain't nothng you can do about it
It's All up to me

Chorus........

My question? Do you think the lyric here is socially irresponsible or socially unacceptable? Do you think this lyric may cause someone to harm themself? This song came from a personal experience, yes but I don't want the listener to get the wrong impression or interpretation of the song. Comments?
Click to expand...

Since you are asking, I assume you want the truth... I agree with your friend that it is a very nice song, and I enjoyed listening to it, but you don't have to worry about getting sued because the song is not going to be on the radio.

Why?
It doesn't go anywhere. A song should be moving toward some sort of climax or payoff where something- anything happens. I didn't hear it.

My recommendation (if you want one) would be to replace verse 3 with a bridge that turns the song around when you realize the good things you have in your life- and then follow that with the Chorus, except say " So that's why I won't lie down easy..."

Then it could be successful and you wont get sued!
Remember, Maiden was heavy metal that parents despised and wanted to get rid of any way they could.

I don't think 16 year olds will be listening to your song while drinkin' a sixpack and playing with their dad's gun.

that's my 2 cents.
 
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Ummm... no.

Even if this was on the radio and you had millions of fans, it is not the makings of a lawsuit.

Alice In Chains sold millions upon millions of albums with Layne Staley singing:

I Want To Taste Dirty, A Stinging Pistol
In My Mouth, On My Tongue
I Want You To Scrape Me From The Walls
And Go Crazy Like You've Made Me

No one sued.
 
nice

two points. first - the sound/style of the music doesnt strike me as something that a kid would listen too.

second point. when im feeling really down ,etc, etc, actually listening to depressing lyrics can actually help a bit - makes you realise youre not the only one feeling so bad (we all feel like we're the only one's that understand when we have serious problems..)

so....IMHO, i get sick and tired of these cases that go on blaming music or games etc etc for suicidal incidents, etc. just keep writing from the heart and as they come, thats what people need.
im sure quentin tarantino aint gonna stop making over the top films just cos someone points the finger of blame at Kill Bill or Pulp Fiction....
 
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