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this is your land
composer
Words and music: Simple Minds
Written by: Kerr / Burchill / MacNeil / Gaynor / Giblin (Post 2013 credit)
publisher
© 1989 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd
© JKMC-Bucks Music Group Ltd / Hornall Music / EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (Post 2013 credit)
background
The song was one of the fifteen to twenty sketches Jim,
Charlie and
Mick wrote at Loch Earn in September 1987.
"Jim didn't have any words for it, right up till we started recording it.
We'd heard all the material without any words. Jim was holding them."
- Mick, Street Fighting Years songbook
"It came really easy. It was a guitar riff Charlie had, something simple.
I had a little synth-line and it was just a case of a little simple jigsaw to piece this one together: where to slot in
the lines and where not to sing and where things should go, and of course, Mr. Reed
added a little bonus at the end." - Mick, Street Fighting Years songbook
"We wanted the coda to sound like it was a little jam, really loose, so that it would sound like the first time
it had ever been played." - Mick, Street Fighting Years songbook
"We programmed a cowbell on the drum machine, it was just that plus a few chords on the guitar for the verse.
The chorus chords are similar to the ones we used in All The Things She Said,
similar but varied. For there, the rest slowly eased into it. Steve programmed
a heavy, meaty drum break for the end. We already had this instrumental section, based on a fantastic groove
Giblin had. It became a real jam." - Charlie, Street Fighting Years songbook
"We tried to keep the track as basic as possible. Almost naive. We had an alternative version that could have been great
also. Maybe some other time." - Charlie, Street Fighting Years songbook
"When we were at Glenstriven, Trevor suggested trying different drum sounds with
the same pattern. We needed a vocal and I thought it would be good to put Jim in
the airing cupboard. I thought his vocals would be very dead in there. You have to remember, we didn't have a studio, we
were in a house, but it was a small cupboard so he sung like he had his head down, intimate." - Steve Lipson, Street Fighting Years songbook
"Saw some astounding sites over these summer months including Grand Canyon, the slopes
of Mount Etna, and the misty peak of Mont Blanc. But it's the Forth Bridge - a human
structure no less - that fills me with a unique inspiration. It was that - and the
accompanying town of South Queensferry where I once lived - that inspired the lyrics
to "This Is Your Land". Yesterday's visit brought the feeling back to me once again." - Jim, 23rd August 2015
"Originally, the part where Lou Reed sings was the coda. It just had verse-chorus-verse-chorus-coda-out.
We changed the arrangement a bit, not very seriously." - Steve Lipson, Street Fighting Years songbook
"One day I did this rather bad Lou Reed impression in the middle of
This Is Your Land and I just used to call it the 'Lou Reed bit.' As the record was moving on and the deadline was
approaching, we'd ask what was happening with the 'Lou Reed bit,' never thinking the obvious.
Trevor said, "Aren't we going to get
Lou Reed to do it?' and we all said, 'He'd never do it in a million years.'"
- Jim - Street Fighting Years Super Deluxe
"Trevor got in touch with him and within a couple of days, I got sent with
an engineer/tape-op (Heff Moraes - 16 years old and the world's biggest Simple Minds fan) over to Paris. I remember standing in the studio that night waiting for
Lou to appear. Everyone who'd ever started a band was influenced by
The Velvet Underground. It was overwhelming. It was like waiting for Picasso – because he is a Picasso –
he's one of the real greats. People were saying you've played stadiums, what are you worried about? I said, "You don't get
it – that's Lou Reed." He didn't have the greatest reputation in terms
of being friendly or warm, but he was a sweetheart to me." - Jim - Street Fighting Years Super Deluxe
"Lou asked me what he was doing. I told him to ignore what I'd written; say
what you want to say, there's so many bars. He said, "I think the lyrics work well, that's what I want to go with."
LOU REED WANTS TO SING MY WORDS. He said, "How should it be, what's the intent of the words?" I replied, "Just be
Lou Reed." He replied, "Well, everyone else is trying to be
Lou Reed these days." That's the first take – we did it four times and we
used the first one. It's like Marlon Brando turning up your record." - Jim - Street Fighting Years Super Deluxe
"When they played it to me, I suggested that Lou was out of tune. It was one
of the few times Jim shouted at me: " LOU REED IS NEVER OUT OF TUNE."
Lou was good on it. I've always loved that song, I think it's beautiful."
- Trevor - Street Fighting Years Super Deluxe
"The song is saying 'Politicians? Leaders? Forget it. You have to take your own responsibility.' I'm not quite saying
anarchy, but before you think about a revolution, what about the revolution inside yourself? You are going to have to educate
yourself. You're gonna to to be wise, you're gonna have to read some books. It should actually be called 'This Is
Your Lot.' Here's your cards and you better play them. Nobody else is going to play them for you." - Jim, Street Fighting Years songbook
As the song was being considered for radio play, an edit (called the DJ Version) was created by the producers. Another,
more extreme edit, was produced by A&M for US radio play which simply reduced the volume as soon as the coda started.
The song was a staple during the Street Fighting Years Tour in 1989 but
has only appeared a handful of times since.
"I have a wonderful personal memory of Lou Reed.
The scene is an underground recording studio
in the centre of Paris. It is a chilly evening in early Spring 1989. Some days earlier, our then producer
Trevor Horn, had come up with the random idea of asking Lou Reed
to guest on a song that we were working on called "This Is Your Land." Nice idea! But everyone in the know, his record company/management etc, had informed
us that there was virtually no chance that Lou Reed would even respond to such a request, never mind accept the invitation."
"How wrong they were! Within 24 hours, word came back that Lou liked what he heard, and was more than willing to
guest. This was unbelievable news."
"And so, while the rest of the band stayed back in Scotland, putting the last minute touches to our album
Street Fighting Years,
I immediately set off for Paris with the master tape of the track under my arm."
"Only a matter of hours later I was pacing around the studio control room, the tape machine was all
set and the microphone positioned perfectly under the spotlight, bang centre of a darkened room. Sat on table
in front of me, was a bottle of rare Scotch whisky from the island of Islay, and a perfectly wrapped copy of the
greatest Glasgow novel ever, "Lanark" by Alasdair Gray. Both brought as gifts from Scotland, I looked on them
more as lucky charms, something I would perhaps need, given Lou's reputation
for being "awkward.""
"It was right then that the enormity of the situation enveloped me. You see, to me, Lou Reed was more than
Sinatra ever could be. More than James Dean, Marlon Brando or even
Pablo Picasso. And as for me? Well I might
had some success with Simple Minds, who were after all a stadium act in those years, but for some reason all
my confidence suddenly deserted me. Right then in fact, I once again felt like I was the 13 year old
"Butcher's Boy," coming back from the town centre, with my copy of Transformer under my arm. Jesus! So
what the hell was I doing by trying to engage someone of the artistic magnitude of Lou Reed, within my
lyrical vision? Well, at that very moment of shrunken realisation, all I wanted to do was grab the tape,
and run out into the night, before I made a complete and utter fool of myself."
"Too late however, because right at the agreed moment, the door flew open. And there, in front of me, he
stood. Dark glasses and uniform leather jacket. (I recognised it as a Claude Montana design, very expensive,
very chic) Dressed from head to toe in black, even Elvis could not have looked cooler at his height. A Fallen Angel - no
doubt, he most definitely had something of the Beelzebub about him. A wizard, a true star, and yet, his handshake was
warm, and his embrace felt sincere."
"Twenty minutes later, and after no more that three takes. His vocal part was done and dusted."
"I had arranged a table, with help from the record company, in the then most expensive
restaurant in Paris. He looked happy, or as happy as Lou could ever look. We ate a lot, and he and
his wife, drank the best wine available. I went back to the Hotel Raphael afterwards, I had a cassette in my jeans pocket.
It featured Lou Reed singing our song. I played it all night, more than
I had ever played anything."
Jim
28th October 2013
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SF: Did you ever have a chance to meet Lou Reed?
JK: I did. If you get a chance, check out a Simple Minds' track called 'This Is Your Land.' It's from an album called
Street Fighting Years. Lou actually sings the bridge of
the song. Not only did we meet him, we managed to sort of coerce him into coming down to the studio and singing on one of our songs.
SF: I never met Lou, but I've heard stories that he's not always the most friendly person. Was your encounter different?
JK: I was terrified because I'd also heard these stories, and you could see he had that look. If anyone had told you he was difficult,
it wouldn't have been hard to imagine, just by his look. And so, I was terrified. But, in fact, he couldn't have been sweeter. Maybe I got him
on a good day.
Songfacts Interview
March 2018
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JK: No! [Laughs] And I'll tell you something else. It was in Paris and I thought - He likes
food. He likes the really best restaurants. And don't ask how I was able to do this again - this guy from Glasgow.
I can't remember the name of the restaurant, it was one of these places where you needed to book a year and
a half in advance, no-one could get in. But I knew a guy, who knew a guy, who knew a guy, and I got a table.
And I said to Lou, 'We're going to this place.' And he was like 'Wow. How
did you do that?' And I said 'Do worry about it Lou. It's sorted' and all
that. Dinner with Lou Reed must've been amazing. It was the longest night
of my life. The only thing he spoke about was amplifiers and guitar pickups and - just stuff that does not
interest me one fucking bit. I couldn't wait to get out of there.
MM: You just spent the night nodding?
JK: Exactly. [Laughs]
Jim Kerr and Mark Millar
XS Noize Podcast Episode #63
30th January 2022
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lyrics
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This is your land,
It's the way it was planned.
Sky to the sea, something to see.
Old ancient town, to the old people ground,
I wanna know, something to go.
This is your land, laid out in your hand,
This is your land.
Wherever I go, way down here I know,
This is your land.
Oh churches and steeples, big city people,
I wanna know something to hold.
Walk down the track, to the old railroad track,
I wanna leave something to see.
This is your land, laid out in your hand,
This is your land.
Wherever I go, way down here I know.
This is your land.
Money can't buy me,
Money can't buy me,
I've got time.
Time is on my side.
You don't know what you've got till the whole thing's gone,
The days are dark and the road is long.
And when you walk away, the hope is gone,
Tell me what is right, and what is wrong.
Is this the way it was planned?
This is your land, take it in your hand,
This is your land.
Wherever I go, way down here I know.
This is your land, take it in your hand,
This is your land.
Wherever I go, way down here I know,
This is your land.
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discography
Edit (4:45)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn
Engineers: Heff Moraes, Robin Hancock
Assistant Engineers: Danton Supple, Martin Plant
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DJ Version (5:05)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn
Engineers: Heff Moraes, Robin Hancock
Assistant Engineers: Danton Supple, Martin Plant
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Album Version (6:22)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn
Engineers: Heff Moraes, Robin Hancock
Assistant Engineers: Danton Supple, Martin Plant
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Live Version (15th September 1989) (8:34)
Recorded: Verona, Italy
Producer: Stephen Lipson
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Live Version (29th March 2013) (4:44)
Recorded: Sands Centre, Carlisle, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
Remastered By Derrick Carter
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Live Version (6th April 2013) (4:38)
Recorded: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
Remastered By Derrick Carter
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Live Version (15th April 2013) (4:42)
Recorded: O2 Academy, Bournemouth, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
Remastered By Derrick Carter
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Live Version (26th January 2014) (4:44)
Recorded: Palladium, Riga, Latvia
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (27th January 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Circus, Helsinki, Finland
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (29th January 2014) (4:52)
Recorded: Circus, Stockholm, Sweden
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (30th January 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (31st January 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (1st February 2014) (4:45)
Recorded: Huxleys, Berlin, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (3rd February 2014) (4:52)
Recorded: Docks, Hamburg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (4th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Docks, Hamburg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (5th February 2014) (4:45)
Recorded: Jovel Music Hall, Munster, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (7th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Stadthalle, Bremerhaven, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (8th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Sparkassen Arena, Aurich, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (9th February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Ringlokschuppen, Bielefeld, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (11th February 2014) (4:45)
Recorded: Tollhaus, Karlsruhe, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (12th February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Europahalle, Trier, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (14th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Palladium, Köln, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (15th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Konzerthalle, Olsberg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (16th February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Capitol, Hannover, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (18th February 2014) (4:44)
Recorded: Phönixhalle, Mainz, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (20th February 2014) (4:43)
Recorded: Werfhalle, Göppingen, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (21st February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Stadthalle, Fürth, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (23rd February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Stadthalle, Singen, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (25th February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Alcatraz, Milan, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (26th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Festhalle, Berne, Switzerland
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (28th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Incheba Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (1st March 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Sala Ziemi, Poznan, Poland
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (2nd March 2014) (4:45)
Recorded: Stodola, Warsaw, Poland
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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downloads
Live Version (26th January 2014) (4:44)
Recorded: Palladium, Riga, Latvia
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (27th January 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Circus, Helsinki, Finland
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (29th January 2014) (4:52)
Recorded: Circus, Stockholm, Sweden
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (30th January 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (31st January 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (1st February 2014) (4:45)
Recorded: Huxleys, Berlin, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (3rd February 2014) (4:52)
Recorded: Docks, Hamburg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (4th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Docks, Hamburg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (5th February 2014) (4:45)
Recorded: Jovel Music Hall, Munster, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (7th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Stadthalle, Bremerhaven, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (8th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Sparkassen Arena, Aurich, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (9th February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Ringlokschuppen, Bielefeld, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (11th February 2014) (4:45)
Recorded: Tollhaus, Karlsruhe, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (12th February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Europahalle, Trier, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (14th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Palladium, Köln, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (15th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Konzerthalle, Olsberg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (16th February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Capitol, Hannover, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (18th February 2014) (4:44)
Recorded: Phönixhalle, Mainz, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (20th February 2014) (4:43)
Recorded: Werfhalle, Göppingen, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (21st February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Stadthalle, Fürth, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (23rd February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Stadthalle, Singen, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (25th February 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Alcatraz, Milan, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (26th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Festhalle, Berne, Switzerland
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (28th February 2014) (4:46)
Recorded: Incheba Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (1st March 2014) (4:47)
Recorded: Sala Ziemi, Poznan, Poland
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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Live Version (2nd March 2014) (4:45)
Recorded: Stodola, Warsaw, Poland
Mixed By Bleecker Street
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videography
DJ Version Edit (4:51)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn
Engineers: Heff Moraes, Robin Hancock
Assistant Engineers: Danton Supple, Martin Plant
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DJ Version (5:05)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn
Engineers: Heff Moraes, Robin Hancock
Assistant Engineers: Danton Supple, Martin Plant
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Instrumental Edit (2:59)
Producer: Stephen Lipson
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live history
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