Lemons is a simple, happy theme over a long, complex fusion song. This is another piece that was kicked around for years till it finally blossomed in the hands of Lock and Key. This was one our first big fusion pieces and I think it turned out very nicely; let’s get right to the details.
The main riff (which eventually has the verses sung over it) is actually easier than you think. It jumps around and twitches but remains within the boundaries of 4/4 timing. The fourth and final bar of each measure is extended with a slight fill.
The chorus plays out in a quick count of 12, which allows it to retain a 4/4 feel, though it’s well disguised. Even the tricky third bar falls into the pocket if you keep your toe tapping quarter notes.
After two verses and two choruses we head for the lengthy interlude. It begins with four bars in an open bluegrass feel with minor overtones. After these four we jump into another of the band’s compositional tricks.
A new riff is introduced which occupies four measures broken down thusly- The first measure is short (Shorty), the second measure is just the same as the first but with an added run on the end (Longy), the third measure is the same as the first (Shorty), then we steal the tail from the earlier riff and tag it onto the end of this larger riff (Throwback).
So we call this biggest riff- Shorty Longy Shorty Throwback. Makes sense, right?
An extended version of the chorus’ bridge leads out of the interlude and back into the Intro which you remember (hopefully!) from the start of the song and from before each of the verses. This intro is played out to create a sense of closure on the Interlude. It leads into the Outro where the final verses are sung by Keith and Jeremy- “Keep your head down and your hands up…”
The trick to this song is to play it quick, get ready, then go like Hell! This is not a song for looking like a Rock star- this is a song for carving up the room with your six-string firearm.
It’s been the subject of many conversations- our musical writing style. We, at all times, are cognisant of playing for you, our beautiful and honoured listeners. Big, crazy masterpieces like this are really geared toward other musicians and can be less appealing at the big rock show. However, you cannot hide what you are and so these deformed gems burst out of the ground at us and cannot be ignored. I hope you like them and if not, just skip it- we are a bunch of crazy art freaks anyway, there’s bound to be some weirdness!
