From what I remember I made this beat and wrote the lyrics in one sitting during W's administration. I make too many comparisons in this song to sum up quickly. "Rockstars & Stripes" takes celebrity on all levels from local to international and juxtaposes it with domestic and foreign policy.
The first verse speaks to how we at times as Americans look at ourselves and see the reality dreaming big and making it without ignoring the nightmares around us and the facts of our history.
The second verse speaks to the fire and passions of freedom while admitting we fall into cycles with that freedom that at time we cannot find a way out of.
The third verse deals with what we do to succeed or achieve fame. Some fall on the way, others fall after the summit, and some stay above the clouds forever.
The song was finished but the intro was long. I was looking for meaning ways to fill it without taking away from it when I heard Terry Gross interviewing Jay Z on NPR's The Fresh Air. When he switches the story suddenly from rap to rock to answer a question and halfway through said "rock star," I knew it was the perfect set up for the song. I will have a link to the interview below.
Also, thanks to Aaron Rice from Aaron & The Sea for adding guitars on top of the guitars I already had on the song, and for him encouraging me to sing the ending. Initially I had wanted him to sing the ending and had only recorded my voice to give him an example. The guitars he added really drive the hooks and ending, and make the song about 10x better.
Jay Z Interview:
www.npr.org/2010/11/15/131334322/the-fresh-air-interview-jay-z-decoded
Aaron & The Sea:
aaronandthesea.bandcamp.com
from
Ink Splattered Dreams,
released February 15, 2011
Written By: Don Royal
Produced By: Don Royal
Additional Guitars By: Aaron Rice of Aaron & The Sea
Mixed & Mastered By: Dove of Tiger Tiger Productions