Doug Kwartler of The Lied To’s Releases “Tom Petty” Song/Video
tremolomedia
Posted On October 11, 2017
New England based americana artist Doug Kwartler has released a brand new song and video entitled, “Tom Petty,” as a tribute to the legendary rock artist who passed away on October 2, 2017. Kwartler, who is also in the americana/folk duo, The Lied To’s, (who placed within the top 100 in the 2015 No Depression reader’s poll), sites Petty as one of his main musical influences. He composed the song on October 2nd, 2017, the day Mr. Petty passed. It was also the day after the Las Vegas tragedy in which 58 people were killed and over 500 were injured when a shooter opened fire at a country music concert.
“Tom Petty” features several titles of Mr. Petty’s songs interwoven within its lyrics. It is also produced in his familiar musical style, including jangly 12-string electric guitars, a Hammond organ, roomy sounding drums and an up-front twangy/nasal lead vocal. Some of the Tom Petty titles referenced are: “The Waiting,” “Angel Dream,” and “I Won’t Back Down.” With other lyrics such as, “It was the night the fire rained down upon the innocent,” and “before the age of lies was met with silence,” the song also touches on the recent tragic events in Las Vegas and the songwriter’s feelings about the current political atmosphere. With the main lyrical hook being “Lord let Tom Petty stick around,” Doug says, “The song sort of touches upon a notion of — with all the craziness going on today, it’s a shame that a songwriter as bold, brilliant, and observant as Tom Petty has to leave this world.”
In a video post of the song on YouTube, Kwartler wrote: “This song was written during the day on October 2, 2017. We had just seen our worst mass shooting in our nation’s history the night before. On the heels of that tragedy, one of my very top musical influences had a heart attack…” adding “…58 people died in Las Vegas. This song is also dedicated to them and those who were injured and their families and friends.” Kwartler states, “Since these events happened right after each other, I felt there was this connection. Both Tom himself and his characters fought for what they believed in, even if their situations made that difficult. Hopefully we can fight and see some change in this world by making it just a bit harder to get some of these weapons and also help people when they need it most.”
A video of the song, which includes full lyrics can be seen/heard at: http://www.dougmusic.com . An mp3 can be downloaded with a $1.00 donation to the Red Cross disaster relief fund.
Doug Kwartler’s songs have been featured on major television programs including the CBS soap opera, “The Young and the Restless,” the TNT drama “Dark Blue,” the ABC soap opera, “All My Children,” and independent film. He is also a respected record producer, having recorded and produced cd’s for a host of local and regional artists out of his Hollow Body Studios in Chelmsford, MA. Nick Noble, a DJ for WICN, 90.5FM in Worcester, MA says, “Doug Kwartler brings to the 21st century the passion and perception of the great 20th century folk singers like Woody Guthrie and early Bob Dylan.”
No stranger to songs about social and political topics, Doug’s song “Hang On Wisconsin,” about the fight over Wisconsin’s collective bargaining rights was highly regarded in the state and was picked as a soundtrack to filmmaker Jim Jorstad’s compilation video about the event. Doug was picked to sing his song, “Peace For The Heart He Gave,” about Worcester, MA native and World War Two hero, John Vincent Power, at a statue re-dedication ceremony at Worcester City Hall. The studio recording of the song features the choir at St. Anne’s church in Worcester singing on it. During 9/11, Doug penned the song “For The Rest of My Life,” to raise money for the Twin Towers fund. The recording featured over 50 New York police and firefighters singing on the song’s final chorus and was even featured on a website for Air Traffic Controllers. Doug also wrote and recorded the song “Occupy The Street” during the Occupy Wall Street movement.
More recently Doug and his duo partner, award-winning songwriter Susan Levine, have received praise as the americana duo,“The Lied To’s.” The group was called “…one of the finest contemporary guy/gal duos on the scene today.” by Boston’s Metronome magazine, who also picked their debut cd as a top 20 of the year. The Lied To’s sophomore release is duo out in February, 2018. The Lied To’s will be covering “Tom Petty” at upcoming shows in the New England area. For more information, visit: http://www.liedtomusic.com
Here are the full lyrics to, “Tom Petty” below:
Tom Petty – written by and copyright 2017 Doug Kwartler
It was the night the fire rained
Down upon the innocent
And punched holes in arguments of the non-believers
And in my life I could claim
No central document
Only lesser monuments to a fool and dreamer
And I say, let it be known
If there was a light that’s shown
A way to back to all the gritty truth we’d found
Lord let Tom Petty stick around
We got lucky in an angels dream
Young, learnin’ to fly
Before the age of lies was met silence
And the ugly of the in between
No brilliant mind could hold
As the dead were turning cold there was still defiance
And I say let us be healed, if the waiting could still reveal
A way to back to all the gritty truth we’ve found
Lord let Tom Petty stick around
Well listen to your hearts
It can be your saving grace
Look your rival in the face and
Don’t back down
And I say let it be clear, If we find a way out of here
Way back to all the gritty truth we once found
Lord just let Tom Petty stick around
Lord let Tom Petty Stick around
