The Runaway Strings “Big Gold Watch”
Americana Highways is hosting this premiere of The Runaway Strings’ song “Big Gold Watch” from their forthcoming album. “Big Gold Watch” was recorded at Greenhills Sound studio in Blackwood, VIC with Bobby Bravington. It was produced by Peter Harrison, with mixing and engineering by Bobby. It was mastered by Nao Anzai.
“Big Gold Watch” is Jiah Harrison on banjo and ukulele; Lionel Holt on banjo; and Peter Harrison on guitar, vocals, and harmonica.
As Peter Harrison tells us about the song, “Well, in the first instance, it was getting up on Monday morning and not wanting to go to work! I think that’s pretty relatable for a lot of people. This particular day I just woke up and thought “ugh, is this worth it? Of course it is! 20 more years of this shit and I’ll get a big gold watch!” and then I sat down and wrote the rest in about as much time as it takes to listen to it. At the time I was working in a factory, and you’re effectively just part of the machinery just pumping out work for someone else, so it started as just a little muck around. Then, like any decent conceit I had to take it to its extreme or it wouldn’t work. The idea that we all flog ourselves and to what end? The reality is that most of us do this so that we have the small mercy of some quiet, stolen moments with the people we love whilst trying not to be too utterly terrified by the reality of what existence is like. It’s not a “quit your job and chase your dreams” song, that’s naff. It’s just a “well, better get out the door because we’re all part of the machinery.”
Gravelly vocals, a truthful exposé of the grind of working a 9-5 job, and old timey banjo and harmonica blend together in a toe-tapping catharsis here. Distinctly enjoyable.
You can find the music here: https://share.amuse.io/track/the-runaway-strings-big-gold-watch