You Lie Like Sam Hyde (2020 Version)

Robert James

This little guy comes from my first complete 50/90 back in 2014. It’s super simple but for some reason I have a tough time getting a mix I like. I think the existence of the electric piano might just be throwing off my entire brain or something.

I don’t recall if this was the first song whose lyrics were based on a New England folk tale, but it is one of the first. I was having a tough time with lyrics back in the ol’ 2014 50/90 and had the goofy idea of basing songs on folk stories. It worked out nicely, and I went back to the idea for the 2019 RPM Challenge and ended up with a whole album’s worth of folkie songs. I don’t know why this one is my favorite of them all, but it is.

Here is where I found the story:
https://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2012/07/sam_hyde.html

The rhythm guitars are my Gibson SG into a Ryra The Klone and a Vox AC15 and a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads are my Gibson Les Paul Custom into an MXR Uni-Vibe, a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 (my favorite fuzz pedal), a Klon KTR (my favorite overdrive pedal) and the same two amps. The little noodle in the intro is the Les Paul into a crybaby wah into the KTR and both amps.

there is the meadow, there is the tree
there is the river, nothing else there to see
one glass of cider, a shiny half crown
a lie is the truth and I’m the talk of the town

you lie like sam hyde, one lie for each truth
he’ll not be denied anything for his use

give me the money and a little bit more
I gave mostly truth when I came by your door