A lovely compact disc in a beautifully designed digipak case, with a digital download card.
Includes unlimited streaming of The Honor and Glory of The Gated Community
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 7 days
Purchasable with gift card
$10USDor more
about
Written in the throes of the Trump era, this song is overtly directed at him, in a Tom Petty-ish style and influenced somewhat by “Under the Sea” (from The Little Mermaid) and “We Are the World.” It uses rhymes like sad/bad/mad in a juvenile way, but despite it and the generally abstract quality of the song, the verses of which are accusatory (esp. verse 1) and pleading (verse 2), I somehow still find it is more meaningful than just what I’ve taken to calling in live shows one of our “snarky” songs (like the last album’s “I’m Sorry You’re Crazy”). In the studio it really came together when I added a Hammond organ part, which contributed a hymnal grandiosity, making the song all the more moving and, well, sad. Given Trump’s activities and behavior as of late, it seems especially apt somehow. Recorded in the summer of 2021, Teresa’s fiddle solo brings tears to my eyes.
lyrics
It’s sad to be you
Too good to be true
It’s bad to be blue
I’m mad that you knew
What good will it do?
You’re sad to be through
You don’t have a clue
It’s bad for the few
It had to be new
What good will it do?
Never was a choice in making
Never had the chance to start
Never heard the voices breaking
As you tried to tear this world apart
Never could have made it harder
Never did you raise the light
Never would you deign to barter
Though you couldn’t say what’s wrong or right
It’s sad to be you
(backing vocals: sad, sad you)
Too good to be true
It’s bad to be blue
I’m mad that you knew
What good will it do?
You’re sad to be through
But glad you’re on cue
It’s bad for the few
It had to be new
What good will it do?
If you could have made a difference
Would you still have let me down?
If you showed a shade of preference
You would let it burn right to the ground
If there was a tender moment
Would you ever hold my hand?
If you were a brave opponent
Could I ever make you understand?
It’s sad to be you
(backing vocals: sad, sad you)
Too good to be true
It’s bad to be blue
I’m mad that you knew
What good will it do?
You’re sad to be through
You don’t have a clue
It’s bad for the few
It had to be new
What good will it do?
credits
from The Honor and Glory of The Gated Community,
released February 3, 2023
Sumanth Gopinath: lead vocals (and chorus overdubs), acoustic guitar, Hammond organ
Rosie Harris: backing vocals
Beth Hartman: backing vocals, egg shaker
Teresa Gowan: fiddle
Nathan Knutson: electric guitar
Cody Johnson: bass guitar
Paul Hatlelid: drums
written July 2019, recorded summer 2021–January 2022
The Gated Community is a country/bluegrass/Americana band with rock influences based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in
Minnesota and has been in existence since early 2006.
Bandmembers: Sumanth Gopinath
Rosie Harris
Beth Hartman
Paul Hatlelid
Cody Johnson
Nate Knutson...more
This is a side project closely related to The Gated Community—it includes two current members and one former member. The style is folk-rock, and the concept is partly theatrical in nature. The Gated Community
Our late friend and bandmate Johnny Becker passed away on March 18, 2017. He was a prodigiously talented musician whose many albums are excellent and worth exploring. The Gated Community
Fireking is a terrific rock power trio, fronted by our friend and sometime bandmate Anthony Kaczynski, who is a brilliant musician and wonderful person. Check them out! The Gated Community
The latest from Jim Lauderdale is exclusive to Bandcamp, its songs drawing on bluegrass, country, and classic American music. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 28, 2020
Hailing from Houston, Alien Eyelid make Grateful Dead-ish psychedelic alt-country with a distinctly twangy Southern rock tinge. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 13, 2023