Song #17: Hey Karl (2009)

When I closed Skyline Recording in 1992, I figured I'd make a living as a freelance engineer/producer. At first it was refreshing to apply my talents in the real world. I worked on a few albums and really enjoyed being in studios as a client, and not as an owner.

What I didn't enjoy was waiting 90 days or longer to get paid. When I owned the recording studio I could use the leverage of not releasing master tapes until payments were received. As a freelancer that leverage disappeared, and the record companies would stall as long as possible to pay me.

I had resisted doing post-production work for film or television because my real love was making music, but as my savings dwindled and frustration grew, I gladly accepted a position as a mixer for ABC Television. The weirdness of mixing commercials for T.V. shows was offset by a steady paycheck, and a few years later I moved to a major film studio to mix commercials and trailers for films.

Eighteen years later I'm still here.

When you work somewhere long enough your co-workers become part of your extended family.
When one of these co-workers "leaves" the company, it can feel like the loss of a loved one; one day they are here, and the next day they are "gone".

I started writing songs for co-workers who left the company to pay tribute to their work, and to deal with the fact I probably would not be seeing them anymore.

Karl was our driver. His political viewpoint is 180 degrees different from mine, and I learned early on not to debate him because I'd run out of steam just as he was getting warmed up. If anything, Karl is knowledgeable and passionate about his beliefs, and I give him props for that... even if he is wrong ;-)

Today Karl is doing great. He works all around town as a driver on lots of hit shows.
He is a good man.

Hey Karl

Ground control to Major Karl

Please turn your engine on

Map the route from A to B

And listen to this song

Objects in your mirrors

May be closer than they seem

And fifty-thousand miles

Can go by just like in a dream

And we hear them scream

Hey Karl 

We've got a real special mission

Can you make it to DG by eight

Hey Karl 

And just a little side trip 

To the cleaners for Jim's suit for his date

Hey Karl 

This fact is not a fiction

Cause the future of our planet's at stake

This is important

You have been chosen

I know you're ready

This is important

Watch your speed around the bend

It's after two at night

Check your mirrors turn signals on

While merging to the right

Doctors and the lawyers

And policeman know it's true

You may not be saving lives

But helping people's dreams come true

It all comes down to you

Britt Bacon: instruments and vocals

Written by Britt Bacon
©2009

Source: DAT