Nothing Has Changed

Words: Matt & Dan
Music: Dan & Belladonna

Notes: Dan introduced the chord progression and form to the band while we were on a trip in New Orleans and I wrote the main guitar melody at that time as well. For a while, we practiced this song with Dan on guitar and Ian on drums, but we switched back to the normal lineup before recording. Nate was still improvising and developing his parts during recording. The lyrics didn't come together until the night before mixing; all the recording was done save a few small touches and the vocal part for this song because we didn't have any words yet. So, I dug into some of my own poetry and writing and found a piece that we adapted and Dan contributed the spoken section and his own thoughts as to what he wanted to do with the song; Ian then hit the final version in one take.

Bethlehem's cement tenements are a far cry
From the humbly stabled cradle where you
Debuted your epic cinema
That carefully shook fundamentalist churches
Across America

We've made films since yours
Written books and poetry
I've even gotten on my knees
And I've prayed

Buildings break and walls fall down
Twenty years won't know this town
Why should I pray
When it seems like you just stand and let it drift away
Watched it go, let it all go

It's been two and a half weeks since I wrote these words
And nothing has changed

Where you rode upon a donkey
Today's earthquakes ride buses
Strapped with megatons
Of fervor and fear
But little else has changed