"Reinvent a new form of decency"

On April 16, 2011, Fort Lowell Records had the pleasure of releasing a 7inch record by Howe Gelb of Giant Sand for Record Store Day 2011.  It was a split 7inch between two of Howe's own projects: 'Sno Angel and Melted Wires.  For Howe's 'Sno Angel track, we were provided a live recording of the song "Spiral" that was performed with the Voices of Praise Choir from Ottawa, Canada.

Music documents a moment in time, and allows us an opportunity to be reminded about the past and continue to learn from it.  "Spiral" was originally released on March 20, 2006 by Thrill Jockey Records as part of the album 'Sno Angel Like You.  Howe would have drawn his inspiration for "Spiral" from events unrelated to what we are all witnessing today in 2020; this is what makes "Spiral" so important.  Today, the lyrics of "Spiral" are as relevant and necessary as they ever were.

As Fort Lowell Records continues to work on our upcoming release GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter, which will itself document a moment in time, we are reminded at how thankful we are to have had to the honor to partner with both Howe Gelb and Record Store Day to bring you Howe's in-concert recording of "Spiral."  We encourage you to take a moment to revisit this song below, and to help us - as Howe says: "reinvent a new form of decency."

Howe Gelb “Spiral”

There’s a lot of people out there
Having a hard time tonight
There are shouts of revolution
There are whispers of hang on tight
There’s a lot of hearts out there
But now some will never mend
Been losing our patience
Been losing way too many men
Some are saying it’s the end times
Some are saying it’s just begun
Some are running to the churches
Some are running to the gun

And you come on down
Fall on down
Well within this regency
Spiral down
You can jot it down
Reinvent a new form of decency

Some are thinking it’s extinction
Some are swearing by salvation
Some are noting Nostradamus
Some are relating Revelation
Well it sure is getting hotter
And the water’s on the rise
Don’t wanna live forever
Another generation would be nice

And you come on down
Fall on down
Well within this regency
Spiral down
You can jot it down
Reinvent some new form of decency

There’s a lot of people out there
Having a hard time tonight
Some are shoutin’ revolution
Some are crying to hang on tight
There’s a lot of crippled hearts out there
And now some will never mend

And you come on down
Fall on down
Well within this regency
Spiral down
You better jot it down
Reinvent a new form of decency
Decency