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this is your land (demo)


composer
Words and music: Simple Minds


publisher
© 1989 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd


background
This early instrumental demo of This Is Your Land is notable as it has the same arrangement as the final recorded version (although there is an underpinning keyboard cycle which was removed in the final recording.) It features Charlie, Mick and John and Mel.

It first appears as the seventh track of the first reel of the Street Fighting Years library in the Virgin archive. However, it is not a good recording, and suffers from distortion and lack of clarity.

Monitor Mix #1 is much better quality and the song has advanced since the first instrumental demo. Jim has started work on the lyrics which are very much like the final album take, although only the first two verses and choruses are done; the rest of the song is a lenghty instrumental. (The vocals are partially scatted, partially sung, partially mumbled; it's more like a guide vocal.) The middle-eight has yet to appear and the underpinning keyboard cycle is still there - a good complete recording.

Monitor Mix #2 Instrumental is an instrumental and features a new drumming track. The rest of the instrumentation is very similar to the final album take but there are some differences with the guitars and keyboards. The song still has the underpinning keyboard cycle throughout.

Monitor Mix #3 Instrumental is an instrumental version based on Monitor Mix #2 and features a new bass track. To make the bass clearer, it's mixed high and dominates the mix. However, the recording is incomplete and it suddenly cuts out.

Rough #1 is just the second verse and chorus of the Glenstrivin demo. It is the slow version of the song and the lyrics have yet to be finalised. There are some bursts of static near the beginning and at the end. The group come to a stuttering halt at the end of the take. It's called Version 5 on the CD box, but this isn't mentioned anywhere else.

Rough #2 is the Glenstrivin demo which is the slower version of the song. The verses and chorus are very slow, but the coda is very much like the final album take. Some of the lyrics are different and have yet to reach their final form. It's a great version but is marred by the occasional burst of static.

Rough #3 is a continuation of the Glenstrivin demo. It starts slowly but really builds quickly and is far more rocky and energetic than the final album take. There are also some interesting differences in the lyrics. It also has a different coda with unique lyrics.

Rough #4 cuts in at the end of the first verse and continues through the chorus, second verse and its chorus before coming to a faltering halt. It is similar to Rough #3.

Rough #5 cuts in at the end of the first verse and continues through the chorus, second verse and its chorus before coming to a faltering halt. Although similar to the previous takes, Mick is developing new piano melodies which are at the forefront of the mix.

Rough #6 is the band blowing off some steam and having some fun before another take. Mick leads off with a double-time solo introduction before someone tries a rap version; then, as the whole band comes in properly, Mick sings the vocals. After the chorus comes to an end, someone in falsetto finishes the track with "This Is Your Land."

Rough #7 is far looser, far more improvised, and bursting with new ideas. Mick sings all the vocals, switching to falsetto for the choruses. The track finishes during the middle-eight when Charlie starts working on a new guitar riff and goes off on a tangent.

Rough #8 is similar to the final album take and is missing all the extra effects and riffs which were added to previous versions. It's missing Charlie's final guitar overdubs and the choruses are underpinned by a simple organ. Whilst the arrangement may have been finalised, the lyrics weren't finished, and the Lou Reed section was missing along with most of the lyrics for the final verse and chorus. Plus you can hear more of the drums and the violin in the final coda.

Dalkenth #1 is still a work in progress. The instrumentation and melody of the song is largely complete and similar to the album version (with a little extra violin in the coda) but Charlie's final guitar overdubs are still not there. The Lou Reed vocal hasn't been recorded either. Jim's lyrics are still edging towards the final version, but there are still differences after the second verse and most of the later parts of the song are lyrically incomplete. Dalkenth #1 Instrumental is an instrumental version of this take.

Dalkenth #2 and Dalkenth #2 Instrumental were recorded/mixed a month later and are still much the same as the original Dalkenth takes.


see also:
This Is Your Land


lyrics
Monitor Mix #1
[Hums]

This is your land,
It's the way it was planned.
Something to see.
Old ancient town, to the old people ground,
I wanna know, something to go.

This is your land, take it in your hand,
This is your land.
This is your land.

Oh churches and steeples, the 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.


Rough #1
I see churches and steeples, the big city people,
They want to know: where does that highway go?
Take a walk out back, to the old railroad track,
I wanna see, those towns in front of me.
It's got the mystery - where did it all go.
It's the way it was planned.

This is your land, so take it in your hand,
This is your land.
Wherever I go.


Rough #2
This is your land,
It's the way it was planned.
Sky to the sea, forever to be.
Take a walk through town, highrises all around me,
This is your land, it's the way it was planned.
From the sky to the sea, forever to be.

This is your land, laid out in your hand,
This is your land.
Wherever I go, way down here I know.

I see churches and steeples, the big city people,
They want to know: where does that highway go?
Take a walk out back, to the old railroad track,
I wanna see, those towns in front of me.
It's got the mystery - where did it all go.
It's the way it was planned.

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.

This is your land, it's the way it was planned.
From the sky to the sea, forever to be.
Take a walk out back, highrises all around me.

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, laid out in your hand,
This is your land.
Wherever I go, way down here I know.


Rough #3
This is your land,
It's the way it was planned.
Sky to the sea, forever to be.
Take a walk through town, highrises all around.,
Tell you what I see: ghost towns in front of me.

This is your land, laid out in your hand,
This is.
Wherever I go, way down here I know.

I see churches and steeples, the big city people,
They want to know: where does that highway go?
Take a walk out back, to the old railroad track,
Tell you what I see: ghost towns in front of me.
Where did it all 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.

This is your land, it's the way it was planned.
From the sky to the sea, forever to be.
Take a walk through town, highrises all around me.

So this is your land.
Why can't you be around?
This is your land.
Why can't you be here?
This is your land.
Why can't you be around?


Rough #4
... highrises all around.

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.

Churches and steeples, the big city people,
They want to know: where does that highway go?
Take a walk out back, to the old railroad track,
Tell me what I see: those towns in front of me.

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.


Rough #5
...Sky to the sea, forever to be.
Take a walk through town, highrises all around.

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.


Rough #6
Sky to the sea, forever to be, here.

This your land.

This is your land,
It's the way it was planned.
Sky to the sea, forever to be.
Take a walk through town, highrises all around.

This is your land.


Rough #7
This is your land,
It's the way it was planned.
Sky to the sea, forever to be.
Take a walk down town, highrises all around.

This is your land, laid out in your hand,
Wherever I go, way down here I know.
This is your land.

Churches and steeples, the big city people,
They want to know: where does that highway go?
Take a walk out back, to the old railroad track,
Tell you what I see: those towns in front of me.

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.


Rough #8
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.

This is your land, it's the way it was planned.
From the sky to the sea, forever to be here.

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.


Dalkenth #1 / Dalkenth #2
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.

[Hums]

This is your land, it's the way it was planned.
From the sky to the sea, for ever to be here.

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.




demo discography
Instrumental Demo #1 (5:20)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel One
Monitor Mix #1 (5:54)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Three
Monitor Mix #2 Instrumental (6:51)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Eight
Monitor Mix #3 Instrumental (5:12)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Eight
Rough #1 (1:35)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Fourteen
Rough #2 (7:30)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Fourteen
Rough #3 (4:53)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Fourteen
Rough #4 (1:47)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Fourteen
Rough #5 (1:06)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Fourteen
Rough #6 (1:21)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Fourteen
Rough #7 (2:59)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Fourteen
Rough #8 (6:35)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Seventeen
Dalkenth #1 Instrumental (6:48)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Seventeen
Dalkenth #1 (6:30)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Seventeen
Dalkenth #2 Instrumental (6:27)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years: LP Tracks
Dalkenth #2 (6:22)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years: LP Tracks