NEW SONG, 'GONZALO LIRA' RELEASED MAY 9TH, 2024

 “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth

 is a revolutionary act.”

On February 24 of 2022, in what appeared to many as to come out of the blue, Russia invaded its neighbor Ukraine. Since then, the Biden administration with the help of our (supposed) free press has been relentlessly bombarding us with story after story of how Ukraine is just the latest victim of communist threat of Russian expansion. We’ve been sold, on what seems like on a daily basis, the narrative that if the West/NATO doesn’t step in to aid Ukraine in its defense of its homeland, Europe would be next to fall to the communist invaders. Then, Putin’s war machine will end up in our own backyard.

For months I bought into this narrative until one day a video randomly popped up in my YouTube feed. It was by a podcaster/independent journalist by the name of Gonzalo Lira. Gonzalo had been living in Ukraine in the city of Kharkov when the Russians began their special military operation. The specific episodes were: ‘2022.05.01 The Real War’ and ‘2022.05.21 This Is The Third Donbas War’. As I listened intently, I came to realization that what I had been led to believe as the unjust invasion of Ukraine by Russia, was in fact mis/dis-information. Quite frankly, fabricated lies sold to us by our very own government and the mass media.

For the next few months I investigated Gonzalo’s videos and claims and found that all the information that he had been reporting was and is ALL public knowledge; and rooted in historical FACTS. At the time, Gonzalo was the lone voice crying out in the wilderness trying to educate his listeners. One will find out by watching his videos that he’s just a normal guy living in a country being torn apart by war. He reported on what he saw, and through exhaustive investigations, uncovered the truth of the conflict. Despite being seen as a Russian sympathizer, which he tells you he is not, Lira clearly voiced his love for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in his videos. It was that love for the country and his conscience that drove him daily to expose the Zelensky regime and the West’s plans to use Ukraine and its people as pawns to ultimately wage war on Russia.

On April 15th, 2022 Gonzalo Lira went missing after being detained by the SBU, the Secret Service of Ukraine, for allegedly being a Russian spy. He resurfaced again on the 22nd; they released him after finding no evidence of the accusations. The supposed democratic government of Ukraine put him under surveillance and he was ordered to not leave the city or flee the country.

So, like any good journalist, he went back to seeking the truth and sharing his findings with the world. Apparently, he must have been on the right path as he was arrested again on May 1, 2023. Lira was arrested for violating Article 436-2 of Ukraine's criminal code, which prohibits justification of Russia's ongoing invasion of the country.

So, in other words, he was arrested and found guilty for telling the truth (FACTS that are public knowledge that any one can look up if they care to do so). His crime? It really boils down to freedom of speech, the right that every American in a free democracy shares. It is ironic that our government tells us that its support of Ukraine is paramount if Democracy is to survive in the free world. And yet, the very supposedly democratic government of Ukraine arrests people who speak out on the historical facts of the conflict. An American citizen arrested and found guilty for the crime of Freedom of Speech.

July 31st, a couple of days before he was to be found guilty in a Ukrainian court and sentenced to 9 years in a hard labor camp. Gonzalo made the decision to flee the country and try and reach the Hungarian border, hoping to seek political asylum. Just before he made the last three-mile trek to the border he posted 3 videos on his YouTube channel. In the videos, he shared his plan and pleaded for help from his subscribers. He basically said, ‘If you don’t hear from me again know that it didn’t end well’.

That was the last time Gonzalo was heard from up until his death that was reported by the SBU on January 16th, 2024. He died in a Ukrainian prison. All his pleas for help to the US State Department fell on deaf ears. In the end, the Biden administration did nothing to help an American citizen unlawfully tried for a speech crime by the Zelensky regime.

When I first heard of Gonzalo’s death my heart sank. I spent the next few days re-watching the last three videos he posted as he fled Ukraine. A few days later as I lay alone in the dark staring at the ceiling trying to fall asleep, the seed for this song was born. Gonzalo Lira made a decision, most likely in the dark as he took a slow drag from his half smoked cigarette…that he wasn’t going to sit back and accept his fate perpetrated by a criminal government regime masquerading as a democracy.

In the end, Gonzalo Lira lived and died on his own terms. He took a stand for the truth and it cost him his life. His mission up until his death was to share the historical facts of the conflict in Ukraine that most of the western world is ignorant of. In my minds eye I can still see him giving that so familiar Gonzalo smirk and looking deep into the camera and uttering those very wise words, ‘Understand what’s going on!’

The Merry Mutineers 

https://themerrymutineers.bandcamp.com/

 

Gonzalo Lira
Words & Music by Shawn M. Hutchings/HUTCH

підозрюваний, ймовірно, втече з країни
the suspect is likely to flee the country
прикордонники були повідомлені
border guards were notified

Verse #1
I can’t deny my eyes, I see thru all their lies,
My conscience won’t look the other way.
I wrestle with my thoughts armed with logic I’ve fought,
To see the color beyond all these clouds of gray.
With the power in their hands,
They’ll do what they can to poison the well.
You’d better watch what you say,
Or they’ll lock you away in some hell.

місцезнаходження підозрюваного встановлено
The location of the suspect has been established
агенти, що пересуваються в польових умовах
agents moving in the field

Verse #2
As the minutes melt away I lay pondering my fate,
Every tiny sound a pounding at my door.
I’ve no where to run says the smoke that burns my lungs,
As I place my feet firmly on the floor.
Every choice that I’ve made has led me to this day,
I laugh or I’ll cry…(I laugh or I’ll cry)
With the wind in my hair I breathe the open air,
As I flee for my life.

Solo

Підозрюваного визнали винним у поширенні брехні та розпалюванні ненависті до уряду Зеленського.
The suspect was found guilty of spreading lies and inciting hatred against the Zelensky government.
підозрюваного позбавляють волі.
the suspect is deprived of liberty.

2023.01.31 The Ukraine Conflict A Primer звіт bb dayorder doubleplusungood refs неперсони переписують повністю upsub antefilin

Verse #3
Like the prophets of old who tore down kingdoms of gold,
With the TRUTH shouted from on high.
The darkness cannot stand if just one courageous man
Ignites a candle and holds up its light.
The choice to think and say is the only crime I pay
They want to steal our rights,
But the powers on our side if we stand in the divide
And expose all their lies, expose all their lies, expose all their lies expose all their lies…

агенти бачать підозрюваного і наближаються до нього agents see the suspect and approach him

Ending Chorus
Gonzalo Lira…If I disappear just gaze into the mirror,
I’m there in your eyes…(I’m there in your eyes)
Gonzalo Lira…All our flesh & blood they stomp into the mud, cries out to the skies…(cries out to the skies)

Gonzalo Lira…they need to keep us blind, open up your mind,
Know what’s goin’ on…what’s goin’ on…what’s goin’ on!
Gonzalo Lira…they need to keep us blind, open up your mind,
Know what’s goin’ on…what’s goin’ on…what’s goin’ on!

Outro:
What’s goin’ on…
ВІЙНА - ЦЕ МИР - WAR IS PEACE
what’s goin’ on…
НЕЗНАННЯ - ЦЕ СИЛА - IGNORANCE IS POWER
what’s goin’ on…
СВОБОДА - ЦЕ РАБСТВО - FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
what’s goin’ on…
What’s going on???
What’s going on???

Підозрюваного затримано
The suspect was detained

© 2024 Copyright Shawn Michael Hutchings All Rights Reserved.

Gonzalo Lira lilnks:  

https://www.youtube.com/@theroundtablegonzalolira5818 

https://www.youtube.com/@gonzalolira0229

I Know Everything

(But She's Always Right) 

New Single Drops Halloween!

Once upon a time, a woman got very irritated with her man. No really, it can happen. In fact, it did happen to this Merry Mutineer. It seems he smugly agreed with his wife when she said, "You think you're soooo smart!' She wasn't wrong - I did think that! But then she said, "Well you may know everything - BUT I"M ALWAYS RIGHT!" Again, she wasn't wrong! And I recognized that those words could form the basis of a great country song. So I wrote some lyrics and had a rough idea for the melody. We dabbled with a demo in the studio and Mutineer Shawn quickly composed and arranged the song. After a few more evenings in the studio we completed the song and made this video. We think you'll love it!!!

P.S. - God bless our wives for putting up with our malarky!

 I Know Everything (But She’s Always Right)

Chorus
I know everything but she’s always right
The first time I disagreed it was a long night
Cuz she threw me out and locked the door tight
Yes I know everything but she’s always right

Verse 1
Now I went to school I’m nobody’s fool
I studied my books every day
Learnin’ from teachers and guided by preachers
Thought I managed to find my way

Chorus

Verse 2
I made it through college gained critical knowledge
In literature, science, and math
I thought I was wise but to my surprise
I must have gone down the wrong path

Chorus

Instrumental Bridge

Verse 3
In marital bliss don’t be remiss
And you’ll learn a thing or two
If mama ain’t happy you’ll feel crappy
And life will be lonesome and blue

Chorus (2x)

© 2023 Copyright Shawn M. Hutchings & David L. Wells

released October 31, 2023

Lyrics written by: David L. Wells
Music Written by: Shawn M. Hutchings/Hutch

Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by: Shawn M. Hutchings/Hutch
for Hutch Music Studio www.hutchmusic.com

Visit The Merry Mutineers at:
Website: www.themerrymutineers.xyz
Mutineers Store: themerrymutineers.bandcamp.com

Mutiny Loves Company

The New Single by The Merry Mutineers

Mutiny Loves Company is the latest single by The Merry Mutineers. This hard rockin’ sea shanty tells the tale of a senile Captain of a pirate ship that has gone insane, running his ship and crew head long into one disaster after another. One of the crew takes if upon himself to convince the rest of his mates that the only way to save the ship and themselves is too mutiny against the out of control captain. How does this sea faring ditty end?

 

You can check out the video at The Merry Mutineers Youtube channel here:

Mutiny Loves Company

MUTINY LOVES COMPANY

Verse 1
Come gather ‘round ya scalawags, you gotta hear what I say.
The ship’s run aground (Good golly!), We gotta find a better away.

Verse 2
You know there’s only one way out,  (I think you do!)
The captain’s gone insane. Now it’s up to us, (the freedom lovin’ crew)
We gotta break these chains. (We gotta break the chains!)

Pre-chorus
An-Ti-So-Fa-Com (4x)

Chorus
Come on (we’ll to RISE TOGETHER!)
Let’s right the ship! It’s our destiny.
EVERYBODY! It’s now or never
Avast Ye Hearties…Mutiny Loves Company!

Verse 3
Listen up…This rum is not free, the bounty comes at a cost.
The price is your soul, (savvy?)  But all is not lost!

Verse 4
There’s only one way out, (I know you do!)The world’s gone insane.
Now it’s up to us(the freedom lovin’ crew) We gotta break these chains!
(We gotta break the chains!)

Pre-chorus

Chorus

Bridge:
Hoist the sails and raise the flag
Fire in the hole of the rag tag
Dirty dogs, spill the blood…
of the soulless few…
Who crown themselves
kings over me and you.
Hang the liars, hang the thieves,
That corrupt so, you believe.
Take control of your lives,
Once you do you’ll realize…
All you are is all you’ll be,
Cut the chains and be FREE!

Outro
YO Ho - oh (8x)
Blow the man down dead men tell no tales.
Blow the man down the depths shall be his jail.

Lyrics written by: David L. Wells & Shawn M. Hutchings/Hutch
Music Written by: Shawn M. Hutchings/Hutch

Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by: Shawn M. Hutchings/Hutch
for Hutch Music Studio https://www.hutchmusic.com/

Visit The Merry Mutineers at:
Website: https://www.themerrymutineers.xyz/
Mutineers Store: https://themerrymutineers.bandcamp.com/

 

© 2023 Copyright Shawn M. Hutchings & David L. Wells

'My Land' the new single by The Merry Mutineers drops July 4th.

 The New Single, 'My Land' drops July 4th!

    'My Land' is the latest single by the mysterious Merry Mutineers. Following on the coat tails of their last single, 'The Ballad of Charlie Lone' the Mutineers head home to their roots. 'My Land' pays homage to 5 centuries of musical influence, from Bach to Queen. Just in time for America's Independence Day, 'My Land' ask the simple question: What does it mean to be truly patriotic?

The Inspiration for ‘My Land’:

    Noel Rice carried on a long tradition of Irish music from Ireland to New York, and then to Chicago. Noel was the director of the Academy of Irish Music since he founded it in 1982. He taught and opened musical opportunities for thousands while also developing a transformation of Irish music through collaboration, fusing in modern music styles while keeping the Irish music intact. Noel passed away in 2019 leaving a rich and vibrant legacy behind.

    Just recently Kevin Rice, Noel’s son, contacted my buddy Rich  and asked him if he would like to go thru boxes upon boxes of Noel’s music. Rich agreed and spent the evening going thru the thousands of pages of Noel’s sheet music collection. A day or two later, unexpectedly I received a text from Rich. It was a picture of two books from Noel’s collection, he asked me if I wanted them. I told I would be honored. A few days later Rich dropped by with the books, one of them a collection of old Irish songs and, the second a book named, ‘Ireland’s Famous Songs’. The book was a collections of old lyrics and poems written throughout the centuries. Rich thought I’d like it for possibly composing songs for the lyrics. 

    A few weeks later I was clearing off all the crap that had been piling up on my piano. Once I opened up the key cover I started improvising for a few minutes.  Then, the book Rich had given me caught my eye. I picked it up and opened it, looking inside a poem caught my attention, ‘My Land’ by Thomas Davis. I liked the meter but it was the words that wouldn’t leave me be. Immediately I began improvising a melody over a very simple chord progression, the words fit perfectly. For the next hour I worked out the melody, chord progression, and rough arrangement. The song, ‘My Land’ was born. 

    During this time The Merry Mutineers had plans to release our new single called, ‘Mutiny Loves Company’ in the follow weeks. That day, after I completed a rough sketch of ‘My Land’ I texted Dave from TMM and told him change of plans. I was so excited about the new song, I told him this is the next single and it has to be released on Independence Day, only a few weeks away. Dave gave me the thumbs up and I began to work on arranging and recording the song. 

    The next day I had a rough demo that I sent out to Rich and Dave to start working on harmonies and a flute part. As the song came together, all I kept hearing in my head was Queen. Queen is known for their larger than life anthems and lush backing vocals among other things. I told Rich and Dave to think Queen.  They had a grand total of 3 to 4 days to work something up. In the mean time, I cut piano, two acoustic guitar tracks, bass, organ, drums, and two electric guitar tracks. I was shooting for an epic, over the top rock ballad/anthem. 

    When Rich walked in one evening to cut his flute part, he was pretty apprehensive about what he’d written for the intro. He explained that when he heard the track for the first time he heard J.S. Bach, and he didn’t know if the fanfare he’d written would work with the Queen idea. I told him as long as it didn’t sound like Pachelbel’s Canon I was up for anything. The next 2 hours we recorded the flute track and we ended up using his initial idea. Way to go Bach!

    As we listened back to his flute track Rich started singing ideas for the backing vocal parts, which this time was very Queenish. Another 2 hours rolled by as we sang 12 different harmonies throughout the song. Not bad for one evenings worth of work.

    A few days later Dave, Rich, and myself got together for one final evening of recording. We wanted the backing vocal parts to sound HUGE. So, we spent another 3 hours cutting an additional 18 vocal tracks...30 voices in total. As we listened back to the final product, we all had goosebumps at how amazing the choir vocals sounded. Another productive evening in the books.

    Outside of some minor lead vocal fixes the track was just about done. Seeing that my lead vocal track on the demo was, from an energy and vocal performance stand point, pretty decent I decided to keep it and fix a few minor errors. The next day I cut a few more tracks of lead vocals to help make them sit nice and big in the mix. With that, the track was ready for mixing.

    Thursday, June 29th - Much of the day was spent getting the session organized and cutting all the fat out of the each track. I had the time before the others showed up to help with mixing so, I began to mix the track and got it to a decent shape. Within next 2 hours the track was mixed and mastered. For the past few days I had been working on the video for the song and had that almost to completion, Dave and Rich hadn’t seen it yet. The true test of the mix and master of ‘ My Land’ would be when I put it into the video and let them hear it as they watched the video. After the song and video faded Dave turned to me and said, ‘I have goosebumps!’ That was good enough for me!

    In summary, ‘My Land’ came to be by sheer chance. A song I had no intention of ever writing. A song that spans five centuries of influence. From the late 16th to early 17th century Bach inspired flute melody Rich came up with to, Thomas Osbourne Davis who wrote his poem ‘My Land’ in the early 1800’s, to the 1900‘s, Queen inspired power ballad/anthem and vocals I was shooting for, to Noel Rice finding a small book of Irish songs & poems in a music store in NYC...to his passing and the book finding it’s way into my hands, and the song being composed, recorded, and released in 2023. Divine if you ask me!

Final thought:
    In the end, I believe the reason the poem ‘My Land’ struck me is that it is a national anthem for every person of every country on earth. No flags, no politics, no armies, no ‘Our country is better than your country’, no ‘Our way of life is better than your way of life’. We are all proud of our countries, our ways of life, our heritage, our families, and our land. In the beginning, this world started with one family, the family of man...this is their national anthem. 

Enjoy and share, 

Hutch 

©2023 Shawn M. Hutchings & Rich Chiuppi  

https://www.themerrymutineers.xyz/  

https://www.hutchmusic.com/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@HutchEnterta...  

https://www.offbeatmusicstore.com/

The Ballad of Charlie Lone Single released May 5th, 2023

The new single, ' The Ballad of Charlie Lone' dropped a couple of days ago. If you'd like to check out the new video just click the picture.

How did the tune come about? 

The music came first. I was toying around with some riffs based around a drum pattern, next thing you know the main rhythm track was completed.

I'm always looking for different textures and grooves that enhance the tune.  

With all the uncertainty in the world today and the war raging in Ukraine, I decided to name the working title, 'War'. Once I had a full arrangement together I showed the tune to Dave. I figured we need some killer provocative lyrics. 

After a week of Dave listening to the tune, we talked on the phone to discuss lyrical ideas. Dave had been toying around with a concept called, 'The Ballad of Charlie Lone' for quite some time. We threw ideas back and forth and let another week pass bye. Time can be the best incubator.

Based on the ideas that we discussed, one day the chorus lyric and melody came to me. I was making dinner one evening and between adding pasta to boiling water, I grabbed a pen and the calendar that hangs in the kitchen and jotted down the complete chorus.  I was so excited I sent what I had to Dave.

Another week passed and one day we sat down to work on the rest of the lyrics. 3 hours and 3 beers each later the lyrics were fleshed out. The following week we set forth to cut all the vocal tracks for the song. Another 3 hours and 3 beers each later Dave's vocals were finished. The next few days I worked on cutting my own vocal parts.

The next couple of weeks saw plenty of hours spent on mixing the track. With an arrangement so dense it took plenty of time to make sure everything fit as it should.  Another week passed once the mix was settled on, then the mastering of the track. Another week of mastering was spent until we found what we liked. 

Once we settled on the final master, the video was next on the agenda. Sleepless nights and days of trying out concepts finally ended once I decided on a concept that got to the heart of what the song is about.

The next time Dave and I convened, I played the track and video for him. Once the track ended, I asked Dave what he thought. Dave smiled and said, 'I have goose bumps!' In my mind, the track and video was finished.

We set a final release for May 5th. Partly for Cinco De Mayo, Mexican independence day, but for me it was more personal. My brother Joe's birthday. My birthday present to him!

And, here we are today...still wondering, who is Charlie Lone?

The Merry Mutineers

If you'd like to actually own your own copy of the song click the link. Your support and your generosity makes us able to continue to make quality Art. Thank you!

https://themerrymutineers.bandcamp.com/track/the-ballad-of-charlie-lone

The Awakening - Promo Video 2023 - The Merry Mutineers

 

It's been quite awhile since the release of our last video, 'If this is Woke (I'm Goin' Back to Bed)'. I suppose the phrase, 'Good things come to those who wait' is in order.

2022 saw the Mutineers wrap up their live show performances since the end of the scamdemic, oh, I mean pandemic. So, much of our time was spent in rehearsals and gigging. As 2022 was drawing to a close inspiration hit. 

At this time, new music started to flow and so began the recording process. The music came first, followed by the concept for the lyrics.

Thus, 'The Ballad of Charlie Lone' was born. 

Who is Charlie Lone you ask?

Charlie Lone was born into a world he did not create.  Nor would he have created such a world.  A world that demands complete sacrifice and submission.  A world that is neither moral, nor just, nor noble.  As he acquires self-awareness, he realizes that escape is his only chance of survival.  Perhaps you are Charlie Lone.  This is his story.  Perhaps it is yours…

Along with the completion of the new single, some addition music was written around the concept of Charlie Lone. The first piece, 'The Awakening' accompanies the Promo video for the new song.

We hope to write more music around our hero, Charlie Lone and release it through-out the up coming year. 'The Ballad of Charlie Lone' drops Friday, May 5th, 2023.

 Until then, enjoy 'The Awakening'!

The Merry Mutineers

The long awaited new single: IF THIS IS WOKE (I'M GOIN' BACK TO BED) - Single: Purchase here