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Outlaw the Dead

from Outlaw the Dead by E.G. Phillips

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about

One thing you may notice about San Francisco is the distinct lack of graveyards in the city limits.  This is because in the early part of the 20th century most of the cemeteries in the city were removed and the denizens thereof moved south to the city Colma — or as one article put it, the city fathers "outlawed the dead" which I thought was an irresistible song title. The song attempts to capture the absurdity, the cruelty, and the necessity that phrase evokes.

lyrics

VERSE 1:
They post an eviction notice

On the cemetery gates

Uproot tombstones like they’re weeds

And start unearth’n graves

They pack up the old tenants

And drag their remnants south

They’re build’n a new strip mall

And kick’n the caskets out

CHORUS 1:

They’ve gone ’n outlawed the dead

They’ve gone ’n outlawed the dead

Those corpses can’t afford here
 and they’ve
Outlawed the dead

Out - law the dead

Out - law the dead

VERSE 2:

Smash their monuments into paving slabs

And the departed don’t dissent

You’ll find it’s easier with strangers

If you’re looking to repent

It’s a city full of transplants,

Transients, and tents

All those good intentions

I’ll tell you where they went

CHORUS 2:

They’ve gone ’n outlawed the dead

They’ve gone ’n outlawed the dead

You can’t just lie there now they’ve

Outlawed the dead

Out - law the dead

Out - law the dead

BRIDGE:

I’m a shadow lingering

In a moonless breeze

Cursed to whither

Like a fruitless tree

I’m invisible now

Can’t you see? Can’t you see?

Can’t you see? Can’t you see?

VERSE 3:

She claims she’s busy work’n

So she can pay her rent

Yet someone takes those photos

And is spare’n no expense

She dresses to draw your eyes

Then writes you off with contempt

She’s desperate for attention

Yet it’s attention she resents

FINAL CHORUS:

You gotta outlaw the dead

You gotta outlaw the dead

There times when you have one choice

And it’s to outlaw the dead

Outlaw the dead

Outlaw the dead
Outlaw the dead and

We are the dead

credits

from Outlaw the Dead, released November 2, 2023
E.G. Phillips — vocals

Grace Renaud — backing vocals

Christopher Fortier — guitars, electric bass

Kevin Seal — keys

Chris McGrew — percussion

Recorded at Wally's HydeOut in Hyde Street Studio C, San Francisco

Recorded by Gary Hobish
Mixed by Chris McGrew and Jaimeson Durr
Mastered by Gary Hobish, A. Hammer Mastering

Produced by Chris McGrew   

Artwork by Mario M. Noche

All songs written by E.G. Phillips (ASCAP)
© 2023 Ducks With Pants Music

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E.G. Phillips San Francisco, California

E.G. Phillips is a San Francisco based songwriter who creates lyric driven songs with his own special blend of whimsy and cinematic imagery which he uses to give a wry take on dealing with the longings of the heart and the madness of existence.

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