Though not a performer, the long-time New York City-based songwriter, Turfseer (a.k.a., Lewis Papier) first wrote a musical entitled, Nobody Loves Joe But The People—a satire about Joe McCarthy and the Red Scare—while attending Clark University, in 1974.
A fan of iconic acts such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell, through his Turfseer moniker (the slang term for a horse race handicapper), Lewis has produced an impressive and growing anthology of music which includes, Charles & Diana: The Musical, Days Of No Immunity, I Had A Zombie Conversation, and of course, The Virus Is My God, from which Papier has released the lead-off single by the same name.
“As subtle as it is epic, the new single explores issues including religion masquerading as science, subliminal messaging designed to cow a fearful populace, and the economic devastation brought by the demand for social isolation.”
A vast and collaborative effort using the many musical e-services listed on Fiverr, Lewis essentially wrote the tune, and then orchestrated its incarnation through the talented contributions of six Fiverr vendors. The result is this lively, socially-rebellious hym reminiscent in both mood & length of Dylan’s 1976 protest song, Hurricane.
Acoustic and electric guitars, piano keys, harmonica, and a smokey vocal timbre tell the story of the tendency for extreme escalation within the human psyche. A world where reason is lost to fear. Where villains are deemed in a single thought. Where a virus is elevated to the status of a god…
“The scientists they had a book
There was a lot to learn
They called it a new bible
A book about some germs
It was full of highfalutin language
But it spread throughout the land
We studied our new bible
In words we couldn’t understand…”
“The virus is my god
That’s what I gotta believe
I bow to his injustice
And pray for my reprieve…”
WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
Passenger meets early-era Bob Dylan…
BELOW: Listen to Turfseer’s single, The Virus is My God, and connect with his social media platforms. Please support Turfseer by visiting him online, and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing his music, or attending a live show! And, as always, thank you for supporting real music!