Story Behind the Song
My father fears rats. I was mucking about on the minimoog and came across a sound, reminiscent of a pack of rats (electronic ones, naturally). As my father had just received some bad news, I knocked up a quick riff, mixed it over the 'rat sound' and added drums via my Farfisa Bravo organ. I then bellowed the word 'rats' over it several times. It did the trick anyway and made my old man laugh.
When I showed it to my friends in work, they also found it amusing and one of them suggested that I might turn it into a 'Rock Opera', and so I created my tribute to the concept/story albums of the 1970s (Journey to the Centre of the Earth, War of the Worlds etc.)
All music and sound effects were created on the minimoog. The drums for parts I and VII were recorded from a Farfisa Bravo organ, the drums for all other parts were recorded from my playing 'live' via the PC keyboard on the drumkit from the midi software that came with my sound card.
All spoken word was 'ad-libbed' (I made it up as I went along), and I used a windows-based vocoder for the voice of the rats.
I recorded the first part in October 1999 and recorded the other installments periodically, finishing in May 2000. The first part took 15 minutes to write and record from start to finish and each of the other eight parts took up to an hour each.
As I'd not been playing keyboards long, this constitues my first recorded piece.
The sound quality isn't the best, as I recorded most of it on my brother's laptop in .wav format, plugging the instruments into the microphone socket.
Lyrics
RATS - A Rock Opera
RATS
Rats (repeat until you get bored or the song ends)
RATS II - Filling The Walls
Hello? Police please.
Ah hello, I seem to be having food stolen from my house. I bought a loaf yesterday and it isn't there now. There are several crumbs lying around the bread bin and a hole about the size of a teacup in my wall. I've heard about burglars that are very small and was wondering if that's what was happening here.
Pest Control? What do you mean, Pest Control?
I contacted Pest Control as rudely suggested by the Police earlier on. From what I've described to them, it seems that I have these creatures called Rats, but I've never ever heard of Rats. Apparently, the noise that sounds like flumps getting poured into my wall cavity is the sound of these wily creatures travelling about their business. I've no idea what they want in my house, but I know one thing - they must go. I will not share this house. But then I don't believe a word that Pest Control said. I don't believe that Rats exist.
I put a glass to the wall earlier on and it sounds like something is having a party within its confines. Whatever these creatures are, they are certainly filling the walls. I've not heard of Rats. How can they be Rats when Rats don't exist? I think that further investigation of the kitchen is warranted. It seems to be where the food is kept in this house so perhaps they are attracted to food and if that's the case then maybe I stand a good chance of getting a good chance of getting a sighting in the kitchen.
RATS III - A Sighting In The Kitchen
A noise in the kitchen. But what are these creatures here?
We are the Rats.
What do you want?
We have the cupboard.
Why are you here?
We have the fridge.
I must flee to my room and barricade myself in.
Follow him upstairs.
RATS IV - The Bite
It's been a week since I spotted the first one. It's almost as if they wanted to be found. But what I can't understand is why this house? The houses are barely a year old and none of my neighbours have suffered such infestation from these hairy visitors. It's almost as if they have sought me out for some sinister reason I can't yet comprehend.
I can hear them at the door now. Ever since I spotted the first one I've been locked in my room. I grabbed what food I could and bolted the door. I've also placed the table against it. There are many of them and I fear that the combined weight of these creatures will bring down the door. I can't even ring for help, they seem to have some sentient intelligence and realised that the phone is my lifeline for help. I can't phone out as they have gnawed through the cables like they would through a mouldy old carrot.
Surely somebody must have noticed the pints of milk amassing on my doorstep like some glassy white army. Surely they can realise that something is afoot - I told no one I was going on holiday. Surely the neighbours must have heard my cries for help.
Good heavens! They've cracked the door open. Now they can get in and get at me, which they are doing. They are climbing onto the bed and one of them has bitten me on the ankle. It stings, but it was not altogether unpleasant. It was almost like it was meant to happen. Perhaps their turning up here was no accident at all. Perhaps they want me to be with them. Yes, the Rats - I can see it now. The Rats want me to be with them as much as they want to be with me and this bite is their gift to me. I must give them a gift but what? What they could they possibly want that I want? Is it my blood? No. It can't be my blood – that, they already have, I cut myself trying to escape a week ago. No. It's as if they want me to be a messenger for them - but what message? What message do Rats have for mankind?
RATS V - Weil's Disease
Leptospirosis or Weil's Disease is a bacterial disease associated with wild and domestic animals. It causes severe systemic symptoms including jaundice. Weil's Disease is primarily an occupational disease that affects Farmers, Sewer Workers or others whose occupation involves contact with animals, especially Rats. Weil's Disease is spread mainly by the urine of infected animals and is generally then transmitted from person to person. The symptoms of Weil's Disease are fever, headache, chills, vomiting, jaundice, anaemia and sometimes rash. People with Weil's Disease are usually quite ill and are often hospitalised. The incubation period is usually ten days with range of four to ten days. The antibiotics of choice for treating Weil's disease are Penicillin, Streptomycin, Tetracycline and Erythromycin. Kidney dialysis may also be necessary in some cases. If not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage. In rarer cases, death may occur.
RATS VI - Metamorphosis
I've not been too well of late. I just don't know what's happening to me. Ever since the attack I've felt strange. I've started growing fur all over my body. My spine seems to have extended - it has broken the skin and is now two feet long. Why is growing in this fashion? I can almost understand what the Rats are saying. It is almost as if their language is getting through to me somehow - but how? What is happening? What is happening to me?
Everything is clear now.
I am one of them.
Now I am one with the Rats.
The Rats are my master and my servant.
They need a human voice.
Someone who understands them.
Someone who was once human.
A new age has begun.
The age of the Rats.
RATS VII - Manrat
Manrat (repeat until you get bored)
I am Manrat, chosen leader of all ratkind. For too long, humans have been the dominant species on Earth. Manrat will show a new faith - rat faith. Those who do not believe in rats will be eraticated. To have faith in rats is to live, to deny rats is to die. Time is running out for homo sapiens - you have no choice but to follow Manrat.
RATS VIII - Showdown
The time has come.
Take up arms against mankind.
Take back what is ours by right.
Attack.
The humans are retreating.
Victory is within our grasp.
But why are they retreating?
RATS IX - The Tomb
Control - Theta Section. We've carried out a radiation sweep of the crater. The count is down to background levels and the excavation team say they have found what seems to be a tomb. I don't have this on any of my maps, run this through the computer immediately. Out.
The tomb dates back 200 years to the war between the human race and the Rats, led by Manrat. Records show that the Rats were on the brink of defeating the humans. An alliance of NATO, Russia and China made the decision to deploy nuclear weapons. The Rats were annihilated and the body of their leader, Manrat, was recovered. Scientists of the day could not ascertain who Manrat was or where he came from. The body was sealed in the tomb and buried in the crater of the explosion, which destroyed the Rats. The lethal radiation meant that the tomb would lie undisturbed. The risk of anyone using the body for biological weapon experiments was so great, that the world was informed that the body was incinerated and the location of the tomb kept top secret. The risk of infection from the body is extreme.
My god! Excavations - do NOT open the tomb. I repeat - do NOT open the tomb! Please respond! Excavations - please respond! Do NOT open the tomb! Are you receiving me god damn it? Answer! Excavations? Answer!
What is that noise? It can't be - it sounds like...
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