In our continuing look at the songs of Bill Mallonee, we are going to spend a little time this week looking at the song “Welcome to Struggleville” from the “Welcome to Struggleville” album. The song, inspired by Edward Knippers’ paiting “The Prize” is a vivid description of a place that really only exists inside someone’s mind.

The town of Struggleville is that place we all goto when we are really down and out. Sometimes, we do not really belong there, we just feel like we do. Struggleville can also be a term used to describe depression in some ways. I am by no means saying that this is a “technical” term just something from my personal observations. The thing that makes the song work really well is that it really works the imagery side of songwriting, where the songwriter takes great care to bring the listener to the place they are talking about. With lines like “They are building a new gallows, for when you show up on the street” that give you the image of a wood worker actually building gallows. Some lines of internal speculation do creep in as they usually do in Bill Mallonee’s songs, for example “I’ve been trying to negotiate peace, with my own existence” is a great line.

Remember, Bill Mallonee has an online Mp3 Store where you can purchase “Welcome to Struggleville” as an album or just the song. The store contains all the albums from Bill Mallonee as well as those by Vigilantes of Love. All the songs purchased from the store are in 320kbps (extremely high quality) and free of any DRM so they will play on any computer or device that supports the Mp3 format.

Lyrics after the jump…

Welcome to Struggleville
by Vigilantes of Love
From the album “Welcome to Struggleville”

All is quiet on the western front
There appears to be a lull
John and jane doe are sleeping well tonight
With the little thoughts inside their skulls
Salome she’s undressed to the nines
and although a few pounds fatter
She got pavlov’s bells on her ankles and wrists
She coming at you with a platter

So i stole down to the waterfront
to escape the desert heat
Oh what on earth you gotta do around here
to try and get yourself a drink
Heard john the baptist preaching
“Make way for the King
But if you want to recognize Him
You gotta tell me all your sins”

They are building a new gallows
for when You show up on the street
Polishing the electric chair
They’re gonna give You a front row seat
Heard a sneer outside the garden
Salutation so well heeled
“Welcome all you suckers to Struggleville”

I’ve been trying to negotiate peace
With my own existence
She got a stockpile full of weaponry
She breaking every cease-fire agreement
Oh the whole thing is full of decay
As sure as i’m made of dust
And into rust i know
the beast is falling

They are building a new gallows
for when You show up on the street
Polishing the electric chair
They’re gonna give You a front row seat
Heard a sneer outside the garden
Salutation so well heeled
“Final stop no points beyond Struggleville
welcome all you suckers to Struggleville”