Forever Changes: You Set The Scene

[silentseason]

"You Set The Scene"
From: Forever Changes, side two, song five
-Running time: 6:49
-Recorded: August 12, 1967 Western Recorders Hollywood
-Written by: Arthur Lee
-Lead vocal: Arthur Lee
-Lead guitar: Johnny Echols
-Rhythm guitar: Bryan MacLean
-Bass: Kenny Forssi
-Drums: Michael Stuart
-This song was not written in its finished form as a coherent, complete entity unto itself. Rather Kenny Forssi took fragments from unfinished songs that Arthur had written, worked on them himself, and helped create maybe the greatest song in the band's catalogue.
-Arthur had originally intended to have a 'rap' section at the very end, an influence that a group called The Young Poets had on him. It was edited out of the album version but restored for the Deluxe edition.
-Johnny admits that this was a most difficult song for him to play. He intended to finger pick the beginning of the song, was unable, and resorted to picking it. He struggled to keep the rhythm but ultimately succeeded.
-Quotable: Kenny Forssi (as said previously) was a big factor in the creation of the recorded version of this song, welding orphaned songs into one. Johnny says this about it:

"Those songs, were like several we began, that didn't go anywhere. Without someone, (in this case Kenny Forssi) working on them, they would have gone nowhere. Kenny didn't write any of them, he just combined, or arranged songs Arthur had started. I always maintained he should have received some kind of recognition, but for whatever reason, he chose not to pursue it. Music is a cut-throat business, if you don't demand what you believe is yours, you have no one to blame, except the man in the mirror."

-IMHO: While I have always found the general held belief that 'Alone Again Or' as the only way to open Forever Changes to be somewhat exagerrated, another running order tenet that this song should close the album is absolutely and firmly a must. I cannot possibly see Forever Changes ending with another song.
-IMHO pt. 2: Elektra management's decision to leave off the 'rap' ending on the original album was a wise one. The string/horn ride out of the song is beauty to the ears and to have that part talked over is clumsy and ruins the majesty of the very end.
-Fun fact: The band essentially used only two recording venues for their albums, Sunset Sound and Western Recorders. During one of these times they had a meeting with another famous person in the music business. Michael continues:

"Side One of Da Capo was recorded at RCA, studio "B" with Dave Hassinger, and Side two, at Sunset Sound with Bruce Botnick under relaxed but business-like circumstances.

All of Forever Changes was recorded at Sunset Sound, as well, under circumstances that could only be described as "uptightly business-like".

We recorded something at Western Recorders on Sunset with John Haeny, but I forget what. I thought it was "Laughing Stock " and "Your Mind and We..." but the little book that came with Rhino's "Love Story" compilation says those two songs were done at Sunset Sound also, so I don't know...maybe we did something else at Western that never made it onto an album, like "Hummingbirds."

The main thing I remember about Western, is us all sitting in the small lobby out front running over a song with acoustic instruments, and Bryan got up to get a drink and just at that moment Mama Cass came walking through the lobby and looked at Bryan while he was standing at the Coke machine and made a yummy sound and licked her lips and grossed us all out. He was like...violated before our very eyes."

-Lyrics:

Where are you walking, I've seen you walking
Have you been there before?
Walk down your doorsteps, you'll take some more steps
What did you take them for?

There's a private in my boat and he wears
*Fears instead of medals on his coat
There's a chicken in my nest and she won't
Lay until I've given her my best

At her request she asks for nothing
You get nothing in return
If you want she brings you water
If you don't then you will burn

You go through changes, it may seem strange
Is this what you're put here for?
You think you're happy and you are happy
That's what you're happy for

There's a man who can't decide if he should
Fight for what his father thinks is right
There are people wearing frowns who'll screw you up
But they would rather screw you down

At my request I ask for nothing
You get nothing in return
If you're nice she'll bring me water
If you're not then I will burn

This is the time and life that I am living
And I'll face each day with a smile
For the time that I've been given's such a little while
And the things that I must do consist of more than style
There are places that I am going/
There'll be time for you to start all over

This is the only thing that I am sure of
And that's all that lives is gonna die
And there'll always be some people here to wonder why
And for every happy hello, there will be good-bye
There'll be time for you to put yourself on

Everything I've seen needs rearranging
And for anyone who thinks it's strange
Then you should be the first to want to make this change
And for everyone who thinks that life is just a game
Do you like the part you're playing?

I see your picture
It's in the same old frame
We meet again

You look so lovely
You with the same old smile
Stay for a while

I need you so, oh, oh, oh, oh
And if you take it easy
I'm still teethin'
I wanna love you, but
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

This is the time and this is the time and
It is time, time, time, time, time, time, time, time, time...

*Some are of the opinion that the lyric is actually "Pins instead of medals on his coat"

[jamestkirk]

I absolutely agree. The song order, determined by Jac I believe, is perfection.

And "You Set The Scene" is the perfect coda to a perfect album!

I think the only song that is not universally loved from FC is "Bummer In The Summer"....and I honestly don't know why.

It is a great song and fits in well with the building climax of the "theme" of Forever Changes.
Just as "Alone Again Or" draws us into the album, "Bummer In The Summer" leads us to the climax.....the angry, jaded & resigned rap leads Arthur to the final resolution....peace & acceptance & Love.

Bummer In The Summer.......very cool. Glastonbury 2004 , right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDVj1X5Qjew

[silentseason]

There has been debate as to whether the line in this song that is "Pins instead of medals on his coat" is actually "Fears instead of medals on his coat".

On the album version, I think Arthur is singing "Pins", but it is not 100% positive. Johnny himself thinks that the lyric is "Fears", and if you see Arthur singing the song with Baby Lemonade there is no mistaking that he is singing "Fears" (see link). However, since I think the album is saying "Pins" and it is the canon of the song, I am not going to officially change the lyrics. You decide whether there is any merit to this or not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBidwdGUekc

[jamestkirk]

Whether it's his inflection on the recorded version or really "pins" is hard to say.

It certainly sounds like "pins", and every Lyric site says "pins" (not that they are the authority--as one may have put up those lyrics with all the others swiping it for their sites).

But "fears" makes more sense.

In the same vein, I've always thought "wars" sounded like "walls" in A House Is Not A Motel (but "walls" makes zero sense)..so that is certainly Arthur's inflection, as it IS "wars".

"By the time that I'm through singing,
the bells from the school of wars (WALLS?...NOT)
Will be ringing"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qInF7WKOz4c


Hendrix...."excuse me while I kiss this guy"...

[BallroomDays67]

To me it sounds like "fears" is used on the album version, and not "pins." I doubt that the lyric was changed for the live version, in which it indeed sounds as though he also used the word "fears." Plus, I agree with James that "fears" makes more sense - a lot more actually.

[silentseason]

Update: I've relistened to this song several times and I can't see how it can be anything other than "Fears", so change has been made.