The Penalty [ft. Marian Paddock] - SINGLE
by James Paddock
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Full Digital Discography
Get all 40 James Paddock releases available on Bandcamp.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of SIGIL II - The MIDI Soundtrack, Abyss of Time, Abyss of Time (Instrumentals), Swallow [ft. The Final Event & Keagan Dunn] - SINGLE, Impossible - SINGLE, The Penalty [ft. Marian Paddock] - SINGLE, Destroyer of Worlds - SINGLE, Invasive EP, and 32 more.
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about
A commentary on the death penalty, and how humans have throughout history resorted to clumsy, convoluted and inhumane methods of execution to erase people they simply don't agree with. Since-outmoded execution methods like the electric chair, gallows and firing squad are some of the methods referred to in the lyrics herein.
The opening sequence of words, spoken by my sibling Marian, is a piece of anti-LGBTQIA+ propaganda, intending to paint the transgender movement as a demonic perversion of our god-given image. The message is subverted here – throughout all of our existence on this planet, we've had a propensity for brutality that is unrivalled in nature, and we have long indulged in "designs of death" to creatively silence or kill people who appear to pose any kind of perceived threat. For a group of people who conform to scriptures and rhetoric which state that "all are created equal" and "love thy neighbour", the highly privileged sure are ready to suggest – and often enact – brutal acts of violence upon anyone who strays from the (albeit vaguely-defined) path of heteronormativity.
Inevitably, silencing just one voice will never achieve the desired effect of eliminating an idea (or entire subset of people) that is disagreed with. There are always many others who think or live likewise, and will make sure that they are heard. No one voice is truly alone. Once united, we have the ability to overwhelm and overcome.
In this way, despite all the brutality we wage upon each other for little-to-no long-term gain, we eventually become stronger. The opposition will flee behind the walls of anonymity to save their hide, instead of risking life and limb to make an actual societal impact. If we ever feel genuinely threatened, we will resort to strength in numbers, and outsize the vocal minority.
For we are many.
=====
The opening sequence of words, spoken by my sibling Marian, is a piece of anti-LGBTQIA+ propaganda, intending to paint the transgender movement as a demonic perversion of our god-given image. The message is subverted here – throughout all of our existence on this planet, we've had a propensity for brutality that is unrivalled in nature, and we have long indulged in "designs of death" to creatively silence or kill people who appear to pose any kind of perceived threat. For a group of people who conform to scriptures and rhetoric which state that "all are created equal" and "love thy neighbour", the highly privileged sure are ready to suggest – and often enact – brutal acts of violence upon anyone who strays from the (albeit vaguely-defined) path of heteronormativity.
Inevitably, silencing just one voice will never achieve the desired effect of eliminating an idea (or entire subset of people) that is disagreed with. There are always many others who think or live likewise, and will make sure that they are heard. No one voice is truly alone. Once united, we have the ability to overwhelm and overcome.
In this way, despite all the brutality we wage upon each other for little-to-no long-term gain, we eventually become stronger. The opposition will flee behind the walls of anonymity to save their hide, instead of risking life and limb to make an actual societal impact. If we ever feel genuinely threatened, we will resort to strength in numbers, and outsize the vocal minority.
For we are many.
=====
lyrics
[Marian Paddock:]
This is the Age of Sin.
Reject the order of Creation.
Revel in the annihilation of Man as the image of God.
Destroy.
Plot designs of Death.
Disfigure the face of Man and of Woman.
Destroy me
In such a creative way
The power's yours
To take my life away
I'm almost impressed
How far you'll go to stifle my breath
How easy you've boiled this down
The click of a button
Opens the current
Is your remedy
What it claims to be?
Is this penalty
Bound to silence me?
Betray me
In such a beautiful way
I'll nevermore
Threaten your day to day
Desperately obsessed
To snuff the beating in my chest
Foaming blood at the mouth
To throw to the furnace
Those who'll be punished
Is your remedy
What it claims to be?
Is this penalty
Bound to silence me?
Dancing with death with two left feet
Hedging your bets by the skin of your teeth
You cry for humanity
A gavel comes down, a judgement passed
For reasons buried in the mud
Are you entrenched so deep in the past
That you don't know how far you've dug?
Is this what you'd call a coup de grâce
Or has it only just begun?
Does your God look on, impressed
Or has He run from what He's done?
The stock and the gallows
(Bring me harm)
Your artist's canvas
(Draw your sword)
So paint with your bullets
(Take up arms)
Or pulleys and levers
(Give me more!)
Dancing with death with two left feet
Hedging your bets by the skin of your teeth
You cry for humanity
This is the Age of Sin.
Reject the order of Creation.
Revel in the annihilation of Man as the image of God.
Destroy.
Plot designs of Death.
Disfigure the face of Man and of Woman.
Destroy me
In such a creative way
The power's yours
To take my life away
I'm almost impressed
How far you'll go to stifle my breath
How easy you've boiled this down
The click of a button
Opens the current
Is your remedy
What it claims to be?
Is this penalty
Bound to silence me?
Betray me
In such a beautiful way
I'll nevermore
Threaten your day to day
Desperately obsessed
To snuff the beating in my chest
Foaming blood at the mouth
To throw to the furnace
Those who'll be punished
Is your remedy
What it claims to be?
Is this penalty
Bound to silence me?
Dancing with death with two left feet
Hedging your bets by the skin of your teeth
You cry for humanity
A gavel comes down, a judgement passed
For reasons buried in the mud
Are you entrenched so deep in the past
That you don't know how far you've dug?
Is this what you'd call a coup de grâce
Or has it only just begun?
Does your God look on, impressed
Or has He run from what He's done?
The stock and the gallows
(Bring me harm)
Your artist's canvas
(Draw your sword)
So paint with your bullets
(Take up arms)
Or pulleys and levers
(Give me more!)
Dancing with death with two left feet
Hedging your bets by the skin of your teeth
You cry for humanity
credits
released September 8, 2023
Personnel:
James Paddock – music, lead vocals, lyrics
Kevin "Velvetic" Martins – music, guitars, production and mastering
Marian Paddock – spoken words
Personnel:
James Paddock – music, lead vocals, lyrics
Kevin "Velvetic" Martins – music, guitars, production and mastering
Marian Paddock – spoken words
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
James Paddock England, UK
Composer, singer, artist, and video game developer.
discography
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Nov 2023 -
Dec 2023 -
Aug 2023 -
Nov 2023
contact / help
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