We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Dark Arts

from Rise and Fall by John Holden

/

about

DARK ARTS
I wanted to write a song with more of a ‘rock’ feel and a harder edge. The working title was, ‘The Art of Deception’ and that idea quickly took shape in the form of a commentary on the world of politics, social media, the press, the class system, faceless corporations and how these all interconnect. Who can you trust in a world of hidden agendas and sound bites? What information can we believe when attempts to manipulate our opinions through ‘fake news’ and political spin are used so widely? The lyrics reference the conjurer’s trick that uses distraction and deceit in an attempt to fool us. What is the truth? Who is really pulling the strings? Welcome to the ‘Dark Arts’!

lyrics

Don’t think you made what we believe
Sleight of hand in well-cut sleeve
And when the skeletons are all set free
Better hold on tight to that master key

While doctors spin the forests burn
First World natives just never learn
Conjured visions of a false delight
Voices roar at your cold sound bite

Chorus
The art of distraction
The art of deceit
You treat us like a pack of fools
The art of distraction
The art of deceit
But we’re not playing by your rules

Sipping Clicquot in a penthouse flat
Oxbridge Blues pulling rabbits from hats
Pressing palms and closing rank
There’s no caviar served at this food bank

Chorus

In private clubs and secret bars
Media barons seduce the stars
Hard-bitten hacks stalk easy prey
Another pantomime plays out today

Dealing a loaded deck of cards
Making a mint while cuts hit hard
Billions traded on high rise screens
The ends don’t justify your means

The art of distraction
The art of deceit

Right trumps Left and
Left fights back
Schoolboy bullies join the pack
Nobody’s buying your masquerade
Stuck in the middle just being played

Your dark arts

credits

from Rise and Fall, released February 22, 2020
John Holden - Guitars, Keyboards
Zaid Crowe - Guitar solo
Oliver Day - Guitars
Nick D’Virgilio - Drums
That Joe Payne - Vocals
Billy Sherwood - Bass
Oliver Wakeman - Piano & Keyboards

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

John Holden UK

contact / help

Contact John Holden

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like John Holden, you may also like: