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.

The Breeding Ground Of Vile - Double Album

by John Reed & The Folded Arms

supported by
7ak
7ak thumbnail
7ak The words are so essentially believable, the artist cares deeply about the subjects of which he sings, and the music fits so well
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

    Music is never more important than in difficult times. Therefore, all downloads on this site are provided on a "Pay What You Can Afford" (PWYCA) basis. Merchandise is available at the prices stated.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    The Breeding Ground Of Vile is a double album of protest songs and songs to make people think in a world where thought seems to have become an outdated concept. Comprising 24 tracks over two volumes, the album comments on injustice, political incompetence, and senseless conflict, but also carries the powerful message that people still have the power.

    All songs were written by me, but huge thanks are extended to the other musicians on the album for their innovative and intuitive contributions: Kieran Heaney, Emma Perry, Kate Ferris, Matt Steady, Duncan Reed, Kristen (Hatt) Lewis and Matthew Lewis of the Lewinskies, Peter Robinson, and last but by no means least, the man who makes it all happen and our very good friend HeyGamal.

    The album is presented in a cardboard sleeve with my initial design concept being professionalised by the fabulous team at ThinkCr8, Leigh, Greater Manchester. Thanks also to the super talented Frank Roper Photography for the band images.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Breeding Ground Of Vile - Double Album via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
    ships out within 2 days

      £10 GBP or more 

     

1.
The Melting 04:08
THE MELTING Two lovers sitting in the local square “I’m sorry but you’ll have to move from there” And as they stood their bench was ripped apart Factory bound and loaded Factory bound and loaded A peaceful family picnic in the park Broken by the grinding of railings ripped apart From ornate walls where they’d been set for years Factory bound and loaded Factory bound and loaded Discussions had concluded Intransigence set in Reason was cast aside And the military stepped in Reason was cast aside And the military stepped in The irony that melting down the bells Provided raw material for a soldier’s living hell And silenced the Sunday calls to prayer Factory bound and loaded Factory bound and loaded Discussions had concluded Intransigence set in Reason was cast aside And the military stepped in Reason was cast aside And the military stepped in Factory bound for the furnaces Factory bound for the rolling mills Factory bound and loaded Factory bound and loaded © John Reed July 2016. All Rights Reserved.
2.
Outnumbered 03:42
OUTNUMBERED We’re outnumbered One to ten Just like thunder We can beat the rain We’re outnumbered once again We’re outnumbered once again What is wrong with A minority of one? Do we need a committee To get anything done? We’re outnumbered once again We’re outnumbered once again How do you do? How do you don’t? Gotta break convention To get what we want We’re outnumbered once again We’re outnumbered once again We’re outnumbered One to ten Just like thunder We can beat the rain We’re outnumbered once again We’re outnumbered once again © Copyright John Reed 2017. All Rights Reserved.
3.
Fishermen 02:54
THE FISHING MEN Even the beggars’ bowls are dry Under midday sun and cloudless sky Encroaching sand engulfs the land To the sea is to survive The men are forced to sell all that they own Their wives and their children, skin and bones No nets to cast out wide No boats to brave the tide The men are forced to sell all that they own Even the beggars’ bowls are dry Under midday sun and cloudless sky Encroaching sand engulfs the land To the sea is to survive The distant engines of the foreign hulls That trawl the ocean till their holds are full The fishing men are spent Powerless to prevent The distant engines of the foreign hulls Even the beggars’ bowls are dry Under midday sun and cloudless sky Encroaching sand engulfs the land To the sea is to survive © Copyright John Reed June 2016 – All Rights Reserved
4.
THE MADNESS Fear in darkness Fear in the cold Terror for the young Despair for the old Life under windows Or down in a hole Trying to survive In a world without soul Then the madness returns As the city burns And the madness remains As the city is razed And the madness may go But it will come back again And the madness kills Generations slain Silence creeps From the depths of craters To shelled facades And burned out spaces Barricades rise From the rubble of night And dust storms clear In a world without light Then the madness returns As the city burns And the madness remains As the city is razed And the madness may go Only to come back again And the madness kills Generations slain © Copyright John Reed May 2016. All rights reserved.
5.
The Wood 03:17
THE WOOD And the journey began When the lord ran his fiefdom On an outcrop of land We flirted with freedom And we grew as we spread The boundaries seemed endless And we watched the men battle With longbow and cutlass The people kept coming And they built up their homes They bounded the pastures With timber and stone As they came ever closer We got in the way Now the bulldozer’s poised To devour its prey The workmen are ready Permission’s been given We stand to our fate Behind a red plastic ribbon The end of our days Be it painless and quick Reduced in the dust To a bundle of sticks And they came ever closer They felled us and rolled us They scraped us and dragged us The destruction was senseless The workmen are ready Permission’s been given We stand to our fate Behind a red plastic ribbon The end of our days Be it painless and quick Reduced in the dust To a bundle of sticks ©John Reed May 2016. All Rights Reserved
6.
Surveillance 05:32
SURVEILLANCE I am looking at you through your phone I can tell when you are leaving home I can watch you walking down the street I can see the people that you meet I am on your phone You are not alone I am everywhere I am in your home I saw you talking to that man before I’m following the tracker on your car I’m with you in your carriage on the train I’m your ticket master once again I am on your phone You are not alone I am everywhere I am in your home I can tell which keys you touched today I know more about you every day I’ve been through the waste that’s in your bin I’ll get you dismissed for what you’ve done I am on your phone You are not alone I am everywhere I am in your home I’ve opened all the files you’ve filtered through I’m intent on undermining you State intelligence, iron rule I watch because they tell me to I am on your phone You are not alone I am everywhere I am in your home © Copyright John Reed September 2016
7.
Calling Out 02:26
Instrumental by HeyGamal
8.
WINE AND WHISKY If you find me on the pavement Please don’t pass me by If you see me in a doorway Don’t avert your eyes I didn’t get here by choice you see My life just took a turn That led me down a darkened street To habit and addiction But if you take away my wine and whisky You will take away my soul You will take away my spirit You will cause the tears to flow When I raise my hand for money It’s because I’m desperate Over time I’ve lost the need For social etiquette When I say I need a hot drink That’s just what I mean I’m safe. I’m off the needles And I’m living my life clean But if you take away my wine and whisky You will take away my soul You will take away my spirit You will cause the tears to flow Don’t misunderstand me Don’t walk on past by me Do not turn your head away Do not cross the street today I didn’t get here by choice you see My life just took a turn That led me down a darkened street To habit and addiction So if you take away my wine and whisky You will take away my soul You will take away my spirit You will cause the tears to flow © John Reed November 2016. All Rights Reserved
9.
THE BREEDING GROUND OF VILE You stand there at the Mansion House Delivering the blows Stuffed into your shirt and tails All tied up with a bow You slash and burn and cut and close The audience applauds you Out the room and down the stairs ‘Cos they’re all in accord It’s who you know not what you know That helped create your pile Encouraged by your masters At the breeding ground of vile Encouraged by your masters At the breeding ground of vile It’s not about a silver spoon Or a life of privilege It’s not about the stately home Or your life peerage Your mind is wired for personal gain Whoever’s in the way De-sensitised, demoralised It’s the poor and sick that pay It’s who you know not what you know That helped create your pile Encouraged by your masters At the breeding ground of vile Encouraged by your masters At the breeding ground of vile And when your day is nearly done And you’re put out to grass With servants following in your wake And you like to call that class? It’s who you know not what you know That helped create your pile Encouraged by your masters At the breeding ground of vile Encouraged by your masters At the breeding ground of vile © John Reed May 2016. All Rights Reserved.
10.
Nine Tenths of the Law There are 20,000 souls Whose lives depend on them And 20,000 more Who would struggle If the 20,000 lost their jobs Then many thousands more Would have to live their lives In a huddle 20,000 more 40,000 poor Possession is everything Nine tenths of the law There are 20,000 businesses Whose staff are due a rise But their 20,000 creditors Are falling on hard times The things that they create Redundant in the store And the people in their factories Shown the open door 20,000 more 60,000 poor Possession is everything Nine tenths of the law There are 20,000 charities Whose services would stop As the milk becomes the cream And rises to the top The fat and bloated salaries And cars that guzzle gas As children wearing hand-me-downs Would fall asleep in class 20,000 more 80,000 poor Possession is everything Nine tenths of the law © Copyright John Reed January 2018. All rights reserved.
11.
HOW DO YOU GRIEVE? A family more than forty strong Among the fields of wild berries Where a warm wind blows across the plain And the sunshine carries on the breeze Children chattering in the streets Old men sit on shaded seats Women sweep and cook and clean A happy, peaceful village scene A life so suddenly ripped away Warmth replaced by the cold of hate How do you grieve? Tens of menfolk taken away Even the wind took its rest that day And the sun took cover behind the clouds Fathers, uncles, sons went down A life so suddenly ripped away Warmth replaced by the cold of hate How do you grieve? A life so suddenly ripped away Warmth replaced by the cold of hate How do you grieve? © John Reed November 2017. All rights reserved.
12.
Dependence 06:50
DEPENDENCE A land of innovation And engineering skills Manufacturing reputation From the mines and rolling mills A once proud island nation That punched above its weight Now looks to isolation As the world decides its fate We didn’t have the foresight Like the other nations to do To take power from the sun and wind And from the oceans blue A nation held to ransom No longer so fit and handsome Our gleaming lights of industry Sold off for a nominal fee A once proud island nation That punched above its weight Now looks to isolation As the world decides its fate Now we’re left dependent At our friends’ and foes’ behest On the overseas investors’ Overflowing treasure chests They build our power stations And pierce our quaking earth With thousands thrown out on the streets In the land of their birth Where the tyrants take us on a journey To the dark days of old With compassion, truth and decency Commodities to be sold A once proud island nation That punched above its weight Now looks to isolation As the world decides its fate © Copyright John Reed September 2016
13.
THE RECKONING He meted out his punishment To the poorest of millions Through pernicious intention And coercing opinions And when it came apparent His game was in recession He slipped from the government With all of his possessions And now he has deserted With the edifice crumbling The burden is placed upon The weak and the stumbling To pay for the havens, The feasts and the fumbling And the chips are all in For the national humbling This is the reckoning The grounding was thorough The grounding was complete And the suits with the envelopes Were sent out on the streets To intimidate and convoke Tithes for the elite Until the wisdom spoke And they beat their retreat This is the reckoning This is the reckoning This is the reckoning This is the reckoning © Copyright John Reed February 2018. All rights reserved.
14.
SMASH THE MACHINE We are fed a daily diet of regurgitated narrative That seems to metamorphose into fact We are cheated and deceived but they are not to be believed They can say just what they want but we’re not to answer back Smash the machine that spits out the lies Smash this machine of the State Smash it before we lose the power of thought Smash it before it’s too late In the later Middle Ages they rolled the printing presses And they took away the livelihood of some But today’s manipulation is of high sophistication And they lie to us much faster through their tablets and their phones Smash the machine that spits out the lies Smash this machine of the State Smash it before we lose the power of thought Smash it before it’s too late © John Reed March 2016. All Rights Reserved.
15.
Fall 03:18
FALL Your solution to halting international terrorism Is to walk hand in hand with unconscious fascism And to arm to the teeth autocratic regimes Whose citizens swing for minor demeanours You spend billions and billions on an ultimate deterrent When a single device could annihilate your innocents And expose your pretence to be a most favoured nation As your soul is laid bare to your population You’re gonna fall You’re gonna fall You’re gonna fail And you’re gonna fall You may plead to the world that you’re a pragmatist But your manner is awkward and your answers evasive We’ve had a belly full of being patronised And being told of a future that you fantasise We’re not just about managing, we’re buried in debt You promise jam tomorrow but we’re not holding our breath You demand our attention but we’re giving you less Because we’ve got plenty to deal with between babies and death You’re gonna fall You’re gonna fall You’re gonna fail And you’re gonna fall You’re gonna fall You’re gonna fall You’re gonna fail And you’re gonna fall © Copyright John Reed September 2017. All rights reserved.
16.
Zero Heroes 04:50
ZERO HEROES It’s Monday morning and I make for the bank The cupboard is bare and the bedsit is dank And my children are crying and my children are cold They have no distractions because they’ve had to be sold And the Benefit comes, and the Benefit’s spent Most of it goes to the landlord in rent With the threat of eviction if we don’t pay on time There are so many like us who’ve fallen behind …and most of us work And some make ends meet And some lose their homes To live on the streets And a few may thrive Immune to their strife And some may take ill And many will cry Some of them will die Or take their own lives And the rest will plough on… In spite and to spite you And your privileged friends With your ritual games Because you are the ones Who will live with the shame That’s how it feels when the administration Is run by schoolboys, who are devoid of compassion Whose champagne shenanigans and bullish fiction Clear family homes for new developments That are built by their friends for their corporate estates That are managed by managers on minimum wage They hire and they fire from their mock ivory towers While the workers beneath them freeze on zero hours © John Reed May 2016. All Rights Reserved.
17.
SEND IN THE TROOPS Man has tunnelled underground for centuries at least To drag its wealth into our homes and give us light and heat The men who ran the mines and their failed negotiations Called upon the government with their shields and their truncheons We’re gonna send in the troops Send in the troops We’re gonna let them loose We’re gonna send in the troops They’re churning up half of Lancashire’s land Breaking rock technology for future powergen There’s a growing opposition from the near vicinity So its time to call the military to bolster the police We’re gonna send in the troops Send in the troops We’re gonna let them loose We’re gonna send in the troops Outside the Party conference were voices of dissent As the smart set with rosettes of Blue provoked their arguments Flying eggs and tasty language hardly merited An armed response to clear the streets of a harmless bunch of kids We’re gonna send in the troops Send in the troops We’re gonna let them loose We’re gonna send in the troops We’re gonna send in the troops Send in the troops We’re gonna let them loose We’re gonna send in the troops © John Reed 2017. All Rights Reserved.
18.
Rats 02:52
RATS The traders gathered at their clubs In their top hats and spats Their income and collective wealth Created by the rats “Let not the head despise the foot Nor the body disrespect the head But let the blood of unity”* Predominate instead The canal workers who owned their homes Driven to their boats. Pay reduced and hours increased Amid the grime and smoke Dignity and industry Crammed the narrow frames. Pride of place and well turned out, As the snipers take their aim As the snipers take their aim “Let not the head despise the foot Nor the body disrespect the head But let the blood of unity”* Predominate instead The cart replaced the mounted mare Boats took journeys from the carts Steam trains took the freight away And broke the boatman’s heart And rail surrendered to road And trucks and cars became The routine way for moving goods And the traders lost their names And the traders lost their names “Let not the head despise the foot Nor the body disrespect the head But let the blood of unity”* Predominate instead © Copyright John Reed January 2018. All rights reserved.
19.
The Judge 03:52
THE JUDGE Sometimes It’s best to leave things behind Revenge, revenge Can screw with your mind Bitterness, bitterness Can suck us in But injustices Need seeing through to the end I’ll sue you till the ends of the earth I’ll pursue you for everything you’re worth I’ll watch you as you lose your crown I’ll watch as the judge … sends you down My home Was taken by a shell We fled The vicious flames of hell We carried What our arms would hold We suffered In the rain and the cold I’ll sue you till the ends of the earth I’ll pursue you for everything you’re worth I’ll watch you as you lose your crown I’ll watch as the judge … sends you down Your hired hands Crammed us into the boats To row For our lives and keep them afloat Enslaved In countries far away Beaten For no reason through a long working day I’ll sue you till the ends of the earth I’ll pursue you for everything you’re worth I’ll watch you as you lose your crown I’ll watch as the judge … sends you down © Copyright John Reed September 2016
20.
WHERE THE WORLD IS I just wonder where the world is As we go about their lives And I wonder where the world is Through the fear in their eyes I wonder where the world is As their homes come crashing down And I wonder where the world is Above or underground And I look through the eyes of the children And all I see is hope Hope from the innocence of a new life But a life that is struggling to cope Chorus And I look through the eyes of the mothers And the hunger in their children’s eyes Battling through the day In the hope of some respite Chorus And I look of the plight of the fathers Who fight the senseless wars Senses frayed and shattered If they ever make it home of course Chorus © John Reed January 2018. All rights reserved.
21.
THE BURNING GATES OF HELL A hundred years ago It was the bravery of men And the courage of the suffragettes Who won the vote back then They were heckled at their meetings And derided in the streets But they steadfastly refused To bow and taste defeat Bohemians and artists Joined workers on their marches To protect their way of living And to stand against the charges That their actions were disruptive And their minds had been corrupted By the bullies and the Commies The impulsive and misguided… You can protest with a button You can protest with a mouse You can protest with a touchpad From the comfort of your house But that won’t block the roads And you won’t disrupt the nation Because fingertips don’t hurt Like the fist of demonstration You can revel in agreement With your followers and friends And reach a million signatures For debate in Parliament But that won’t block the roads And you won’t disrupt the nation While the politicians celebrate Their distant obligations… …so come along and join me And ring the justice bell Mobilize and fraternize And free yourself, rebel… Even if we’re sent beyond To the burning gates of hell Even if we’re sent beyond To the burning gates of hell You can protest with a button You can protest with a mouse You can protest with a touchpad From the comfort of your house But that won’t block the roads And you won’t disrupt the nation Because fingertips don’t hurt Like the fist of demonstration © Copyright John Reed September 2016
22.
Twisted Mind 03:34
TWISTED MIND Cyanide Chokes you up inside Phosgene screws With your blood’s O2 Mustard burning Stomach churning Sarin gas For paralysis CS spray To get you out of the way Atropine Is a hallucinagene Made by man To maim and blind To burn and kill Twisted mind CWAs Are in use today Thousands of tonnes Under the sea in drums Thousands more For the phoney wars Seep from the earth Into the watercourse Exclusion miles For secret stockpiles A worldwide ban? Enforce it if you can Made by man To maim and blind To burn and kill Twisted mind Twisted mind Twisted mind… © Copyright John Reed September 2016
23.
NOT IN MY NAME My science teacher said that for every single action There is an equal and opposite, an opposite reaction Yet we continue to conspire and keep on playing with fire And we send in the bombs with self-righteous satisfaction My biology teacher told me we’re pretty well all the same The same on this planet whatever our aims Yet the weak and poor have to suffer the wars As we play Russian roulette for a dubious cause “History teaches us…” That we never learn We follow a leader Who’s not our concern Principles buried Under stockpiles of guilt The houses will fall And the flowers will wilt So when our Prime Minister stands there and says “History teaches us…”, we know we’re being misled The truth of the matter is we’ve very little choice But to hang on the coat tails of a maniac instead We’re damned if we don’t but we’re fucked if we do Well I’d rather be damned than have a dotard attitude I’d rather keep the peace than caress the mighty ego Of a philandering bully whose agenda is confused “History teaches us…” That we never learn We follow a leader Who’s not our concern Principles buried Under stockpiles of guilt The houses will fall And the flowers will wilt © Copyright John Reed 14th April 2018. All rights reserved.
24.
The Power 03:43
THE POWER You can block us You can beat us You can spray us You can hate us  You can leave us You can take us You can deceive us But you can't make us We are fathers  We are mothers  We are sisters We are brothers We are children We are cousins We are friends We are lovers You can scorn us You can berate us You can lock us away You can bleed us You can abuse us You can starve us You can isolate us But you can't break us  We are fathers  We are mothers  We are sisters We are brothers We are children We are cousins We are friends We are lovers We are farmers We are workers We are nurses We are doctors We are painters We are actors We are schemers We are reactors You can ignore us You can demean us You can mock us You can cheat us You can confine us You can deport us You can exile us But you can't stop us We are fathers  We are mothers  We are sisters We are brothers We are children We are cousins We are friends We are lovers © Copyright John Reed July 2017. All rights reserved.

about

A double album of what some would call ‘protest songs’ but they are much more than that. These are songs with lyrics to make the listener think, with moods to support them. We have a lot to think about in this crazy world, but we also need to take responsibility for our actions and stand up for things we believe in. The planet won’t save itself. Voting is the best way of removing bad governments.

So we have songs about war, politics and politicians, the environment, corruption in business, the surveillance society, and others. We can probably control about 50% of our own lives, while the rest is in the hands of those we choose as politicians and business leaders. So it’s important for each of us to make a difference to the 50% that we can control, and for us then to hold our leaders to account.

The Folded Arms are joined on this album by Peter Robinson on percussion and The Lewinskies (Kris Hart on vocals and accordion, Matthew Lewis on acoustic guitar). We are also joined in spirit by Rajendra Jadeja whose business travel commitments made it impossible for him to take part this time around!

credits

released June 29, 2018

JOHN REED
Writer, Lead vocals, cittern, electric & acoustic 6 string guitars, 12-string guitar, cello

KIERAN HEANEY
Electric guitar, slide bass guitar

EMMA PERRY
Vocals and percussion

KATE FERRIS
Vocals and percussion

MATT STEADY
Violin, Uilleann pipes, fretless bass guitar

PETER ROBINSON
Percussion

KRISTEN LEWIS
Vocals, accordion

MATTHEW LEWIS
Acoustic guitar

HEYGAMAL
Bass Guitar, keyboards, production

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

John Reed Berwick Upon Tweed, UK

John is a Blackpool born singer-songwriter and radio show host whose songs cover themes of social injustice, environment, politics, love, & life

Music is never more important than in difficult times. Therefore, all downloads on this site are provided on a "Pay What You Can Afford" (PWYCA) basis. Merchandise is available at the prices stated.

John is also 1/3 of nightsong.bandcamp.com
... more

shows

contact / help

Contact John Reed

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

John Reed recommends:

If you like The Breeding Ground Of Vile - Double Album, you may also like: