bookmark_borderPermit To Carry

Busking Permit
Busking Permit

LYRICS
I got a permit to carry my axe
Now going out and have some attacks
Allowed to sing and dance some, too
Now the question is, “How about you?”
Got your permit?
We’ll get lit!
Got your permit?
Let’s get lit!
Got your permit?
Come get lit!
Got your permit?
Get you permit
You better make it quick

Do some magic that’s really slick
Rabbit from a hat… or slight-of-hand trick
I might recite while fire juggling
Thespian, asked again, “Are you acting?”

I might read what I write
Then play it right into the night
Draw with chalk on the sidewalk
Now I’ve a permit, they can’t balk
Got your permit?
We’ll get lit!
Got your permit
Let’s get lit!
Got your permit?
Get you permit
You better make it quick

Permit To Carry (Video).mp4

Permit To Carry / West Chester, Pennsylvania.mp3

Permit To Carry Live.mp3

ABOUT THE SONG
A song about an unconstitutional law that makes performance art a crime in West Chester, Pennsylvania. You must have a permit to do any of the following:
acting, singing, playing musical instruments, pantomime, juggling, magic, dancing, reading, puppetry, sidewalk art (working with non-permanent, water-soluble media, i.e., chalk, pastels, or watercolors directly on the pavement), and reciting.

The West Chester “Footloose” Ordinance

Style: Protest Folk Rock
Chords: E A B7
Vocals, Guitar
Alternative version includes electric piano and electric slide guitar
Written and recorded West Chester, Pennsylvania
From the album Gay Church

Alternative Version

bookmark_borderDisturbing The Peace

LYRICS
Awoke from a slumber
A little bit dumber
A nightmarish dream
Where I turn obscene

How am I suppose to get any sleep
With this racket going on
Turns me into a creep
When this racket’s going on
How am I suppose to get any peace
With this racket going on
Gonna force you to cease
This racket that’s going on

2. Called the fuzz
To create a buzz
No reason… just ’cause
That’s what dumb does

Chorus

Disturbing The Peace.mp3

ABOUT THE SONG
Style: ExperiMental Music
Chords: A Em / D G A
Recording: digital 1-track stereo / recorded live

Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards and Synthesizers (microKorg, Korg N364, Yamaha PSR-740, Casio WK-3500, miniNova, Boss Loop Station, Boss BR-600, DigiTech RP3)

From the album Freedom And Free Dumber
by Daniel Brouse

bookmark_borderGay Church

LYRICS
Wouldn’t ya say we resemble
How to peacefully assemble
Writing songs about freedom
Redress of grievances from the free dumb

Chorus
I had to tell the Po-po No! No!
Ya know, he didn’t know
Gay Church… Church and Gay
Bring your guitar and learn how to play

Perhaps you should dot your i’s and maybe cross your t’s
Before you confront me
Please don’t tread on me

Just because you’re walled-in
Doesn’t mean we gotta stop talkin’
While your face is turning green
The writing on the wall will be seen

Gay Church (An American Band).mp4

ABOUT THE SONG
This song is about a band of street musicians that play at the corner of Gay and Church Streets in West Chester, PA. It is a protest song about the First Amendment.

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Style: ExperiMental Music
Chords: G C / A C
Recording: digital 1-track stereo / recorded live

Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards and Synthesizers (microKorg, Korg N364, Yamaha PSR-740, Casio WK-3500, miniNova, Boss Loop Station, Boss BR-600, DigiTech RP3)

From the album You Are On
by Daniel Brouse & Brian Goslin

The Beatless Sense Mongers

bookmark_borderProtest Song

LYRICS
This is a test. It’s a protest test.
For the next 2 minutes and 32 seconds…
This station will conduct a protest test on the nation

This is a protest song
And, it won’t take you long
To realize… it’s a protest song

I must confess
This… is a protest song

When you’re wrong, you’re wrong
Now, it’s a protest song

Come on! Sing along!
It’s a protest song

Soon we’ll be knowing
Knowing as we’re growing
Flowing with the protest song

This is only a test
In the event of a real emergency, check your Constitution

Protest Songwriting — Freedom of Speech in West Chester, PA.mp4

ABOUT THIS SONG
Chords — Capo 2
E A
E A D A E

This is another song inspired by a police officer that stopped us from playing music on the courthouse steps. Ironically, she couldn’t warn us about a noise violation because the traffic was too loud.

Someone wrote into the YouTube channel and asked: “What do bongos have to do with freedom of speech?”

The answer:
From the First Amendment Center’s “A Teachers Guide to Freedom Sings” —
“This teacher’s guide to music censorship over the past 50 years is intended to illustrate to students that the First Amendment doesn’t just protect the speech of the press and of politicians. It also protects music, dance, theater, poetry and film. In fact, it protects all creative expression that gives life flavor.”

Example from National Paralegal College —
“A number of prominent musicians decide to get together and perform a song which is clearly meant to convey their lack of support for a military action currently underway. The performance will be afforded the protection of the First Amendment.”

Made in the USA (West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States of America.)

Daniel — Guitar, Vocals

From the album Terrestrial Planet
By Daniel Brouse

bookmark_borderThe First Amendment Monument

Writing the First Amendment Song
Writing the First Amendment Song While Sitting on the 1st Amendment

LYRICS
It’s the 1st Amendment
Whether you like it or not
The 1st Amendment
Ya can’t piss in “It” without the pot
[We ain’t even got a pot to piss in. Sing it again!]

Do ya get “it”? This is our permit

As I sit on the rock of the constitution
Watching the evolution of a revolution
Solution? (x5)

Tick-tock on the rock
Of freedom
Universal communication vibration
The #1 celebration

You are free to sing
You are free to dance
Whatever is your thing
To help further existence
The First Amendment
Whether you like it or not
And, I can’t take it back.
No. I won’t take it back!

About the Song *First Amendment Monument* (.mp4 Video)

About the Song *First Amendment Monument* (.mp3)

*First Amendment Monument* (.mp3 Free Music Download)

ABOUT THE SONG
Em / A
C / F

daniel – voice and 12-string Washburn acoustic guitar

A song written and recorded while sitting on the statue for the 1st Amendment at Independence Mall, Philadelphia during an Occupy Philadelphia event on Easter Sunday 2012. The protesters did not get a permit to protest. Instead, they put a sign on the monument saying “This is our permit”.

High Definition Pictures

by Daniel Brouse