"Magna Carta" genre: Progressive Rock
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	Fast paced song using some production techniques I modeled after some cuts on Alan Parsons first project, Tales and Mystery and Imagination.
	CD: Second Millennium   Label: soon Credits: Lyrics and music composed by Bill McClarty, who also did the vocals. 5 string bass played by Billy Herb Bob, Sweet William on guitar, Wild Willy on drums and Herby Bob on keyboards. Recordings were done at Billy Joy's Digital Studios in Olympia Washington, who also did the engineering and mixing.
	Story Behind the Song The signing of the Magna Carta took place not long after the beginning of the last millennium. Arguably, the Magna Carta is the single most important document of the last thousand years. It is the foundation of the huge body of common law that developed over the last century the underpinnings of our system of jurisprudence. The king, who had been consistently abusing the power of the thrown. The supporting nobility structure of the period had suffered the capricious and arbitrary favors and punishments meted out at the kings erratic whim. Lands were taken, words broken. Knowing that at any time, without apparent reason, they could become subject to imprisonment, have their treasuries plunder, relieved of their lands and even put to death, the nobility united in drafting the the Grand Charter which provided a blue print under which the nobility maintained certain freedoms and autonomy. It included guidelines for resolving disputes between them and their monarch and among themselves. It provided for the establishment of judicial practices and due process. The British monarch had no choice but to sign and adhere to the provisions of the document. Their support was essential for raising both defensive and offensive armies. The crown was also dependent on a portion of the wealth, produce, products and manpower each fiefdom supplied to support the seat of power. Without that support, the monarchy would collapse. Now, such support would be fairly apportioned. The nobility of the time only intended these freedoms, privileges and protections for themslves with no thought to extend them to the serfs and commoners that constituted the majority of the population. Over the centuries such rights and protections came to be afforded to the population as a whole. In a way, the Magna Carta represented a declaration of indpendence/interdependence. It shares many characteristics with many modern practices. I shares similarities with the modern day dissolution of a bad marriage: a cessation of the practices and activities that forced the dissolution, some sort of equitable distribution of property, allowance for financial help and an attempt at maintaining civility, if not friendship, in further dealings. Lyrics Magna Carta © 2003 Bill McClarty Billy Mac music, all rights reserved. It’s about time you left me alone, You can’t take my land, you can’t have my home. All that I’ll give you is some of my money. It’s not up to you, you can’t just accuse. You can’t buy a sentence and you can’t just excuse. I’ve got my rights, you can’t take them away. We both know, it had to be this way. It had to happen sometime, so why not today? Up until now, things have been at your ease, But from here on out, I can do as I please. Don’t sit and worry. I’ll do you no harm. I’ve need to make a living, do what I need to do. And if I fall down, it shouldn’t matter to you. You take care of yours, I’ll take care of mine. I don’t care what one says he saw, Because now I answer to a higher law, But treat me fairly and I’ll be your friend. Those we both know will help us not fight, Let’s lead the past into a clearer light. It’s only the beginning, not nearly the end.

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