Love Is A Blade
Post date:
Demo:
Liner Notes:
Are there any happy metal songs?
Because this one certainly isn't.
I do enjoy doing the occasional metal song, though--although it's hard to keep a straight face, AND it destroys my voice for the rest of the day.
Per my Liner Notes from yesterday, I picked a random title "Love Is A Blade", wondered briefly where the heck I had originally gotten that from and GOOGLED a little but found no poems, etc., that might explain it--although there are a number of poems/songs about "Cuts Like A Knife" and other comparable sentiments.
And then I picked 3 random songs for some "phrase prompts" as I discussed in yesterday's "Liner Notes". For the curious, the 3 songs this time were "The Wanderer" (Dion), "Do You Believe In Magic?" (Lovin' Spoonful), and "I Only Have Eyes For You" (The Flamingos, and almost everyone else)--three sentimental love songs out of which this completely unromantic and traumatizing metal song was born. Among other ideas, I got "stars out tonight" from "I Only Have Eyes...", "free your soul" from "Magic..." and "going nowhere" from "The Wanderer". I suspect the original songwriters are rolling over in the graves--which is a very metal thing to say, now that I think of it.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this! 
Lyrics:
LOVE IS A BLADE
Words & Music
By
Jerry Pettit
Facebook.com/JerryPettitMusic
We're all seeking love,
Hoping to free our soul.
Maybe win a young heart,
And to not lose control.
Keep some distance, we say,
Just a one night stand.
There are forces at work,
We just don't understand.
CHORUS:
It starts with a smile,
Brings you to your knees.
The fever sets in
Like your last disease.
The world closes in
And the sky turns dark.
The wind blows so cold,
And the mad dogs bark.
You're blinded so much,
That you'll rue the day.
It cuts you so deep
That you lose your way.
Complain all you want,
That is how it is played,
You have been warned:
LOVE IS A BLADE.
GUITAR SOLO
You can't get along
But you try so hard.
Maybe you should have known
From the very start.
Look at everyone else,
They're unhappy too.
Learn a lesson from them,
No one cares about you.
CHORUS:
It starts with a smile,
Brings you to your knees.
The fever sets in
Like your last disease.
The world closes in
And the sky turns dark.
The wind blows so cold,
And the mad dogs bark.
You're blinded so much,
That you'll rue the day.
It cuts you so deep
That you lose your way.
Complain all you want,
That is how it is played,
You have been warned:
LOVE IS A BLADE.
All alone late at night,
And you're going nowhere.
Are there stars out tonight?
Really, why should you care?
You have been dragged through hell,
And your soul badly burned.
There's no point in reflecting.
You never will learn.
CHORUS:
It starts with a smile,
Brings you to your knees.
The fever sets in
Like your last disease.
The world closes in
And the sky turns dark.
The wind blows so cold,
And the mad dogs bark.
You're blinded so much,
That you'll rue the day.
It cuts you so deep
That you lose your way.
Complain all you want,
That is how it is played,
You have been warned:
LOVE IS A BLADE.
© 2021, Jerry Pettit
Please keep your comments respectful, honest, and constructive. Please focus on the song and not the demo.
Comments
Pardon the pun but damn this cuts! So raw, such fantastic metal! I think I may need a bandaid!
Always so wowed when you do something so totally opposite from your usual sound. Hard to believe it’s the same guy. I can see you doing EDM, although I doubt I could do this.
I had a little internal chuckle when I saw "metal" next to one of your songs. I immediately clicked on it; I had no power to resist! You pulled it off well. Impressive change up for you. Hope your voice recovers soon!
Always fun to do something different. Very Good delivery. Musically and vocally you nailed it. A bit too eloquent lyric for metal i reckon.
Like others have indicated, I didn't expect to see you doing a metal genre song but this is fun.
Could imagine the 'LOVE IS A BLADE' bit being sung by all the band if this was performed live at a Monsters of Rock festival.
I always love a venture into metal.
Super title (it drew me in), and good, tight storytelling. Great job with the vocals and delivery.
Great 90s metal guitars, Jerry! Love that bit where you just start shredding!! I also love how, despite the genre, you are unflinchingly melodic in your approach. I'd love to hear this an octave up like those old hair metal groups - there's a challenge for you
Sorry I'm late to the party, yesterday was hectic.
Yes, I like metal, and the best metal songs tell a good story and have a great chorus. You nailed it! Metal isn't all darkness and screaming (I wouldn't like that). It's just rock on steroids! It has a powerful feel and I think you have this here. It's great!!
You really show your metal on this one Jerry! I had to dig out my air guitar to play along...I guess like me you're genre-fluid...best place to be!
I LOVE this one! The lyrics tell a great story and that chorus is so catchy, "Love is a Blade" is a genius line that works well for a metal song. I don't think I've ever heard anything like this from you and I like it a lot, thought I understand how rough it can be on voice. I blew mine out a few months ago recording a hard rock song but damn it was fun.
"AND it destroys my voice for the rest of the day" So relatable! I had to laugh at this comment. When I was a teen, I wanted to be like my older brother who played drums with all his metal friends. Rush, Tool, Led Zepp, King Crimson, Yes, Slayer, Opeth...there have been musicologist studies done that show heavy metal music helps listeners process their feelings and it's a genre that reduces anxiety. I have my go-to pissed off albums.
The hardcore lyrical matter that doesn't shy away from societal norms, the odd time signatures, and the drums are all flattering in this genre. I like what you've done with your lyrics and the guitar is fabulous. Well done!