The Music of Teardown

Teardown Trax

All songs copyright William Campbell Powell 2024
except 'Whiskey in the Jar' adapted from the traditional song Roud 533, original lyrics © 2024 William Campbell Powell

• Cross / Don't Cross
• Drinking Song
• The Hall of Fallen Angels
• I Come From The Blues
• I Got The Blues, I Ain't Worried
• Whiskey In The Jar

Why Original Music

Those original songs I promised — they're here as demos.

• 'The Hall of Fallen Angels' was written as a proxy for 'Dark End of the Street', which is a song about adultery: two lovers, meeting in secret, deceiving their spouses. In the hothouse of rehearsal and performance Kai can't escape.
• 'Cross/Don't Cross' is similar — but part of Dom's performance to the audience, and again it seeks a reaction from the audience — and Kai.
• 'I Come From the Blues' justifies its place on very different grounds. It's there as a clue to the whole mystery of Dom. How does such a powerful, sexy singer come to choose Kai's very ordinary blues band? I won't say more (spoilers!).
• 'Drinking Song' is there to help break down barriers between the band and the audience at the pivotal gig of the tour.
• 'I've Got the Blues, I Ain't Worried' — I have to admit is just there for colour.
• 'Whiskey in the Jar' is a duet, which plays a minor part in the plot, acting as a trigger for Kai to go and write 'Drinking Song'.

You'll have to forgive my vocals, though. As Jamie tells Kai in the book: "I'm not sure how to put this, Kai. You've got a good voice. It's, well…not very, well, rock'n'roll. No…grit. Too pure. Sorry."

There's more on songs, and writing songs for books here.