Vive La Revolution

**Vive La Revolution** is a song by The Manchester Mates released on their 2018 album The Red Album.

## Lyrics

There’s been a lot of talking about change

Well you know

The world’s always gonna change

There’s been a lot of talk about freedom

Well you know

The world’s always gonna change

But if there’s talk about destruction

Take my advice and just turn away

Then I think it’s gonna be okay

Someday

Someday

The people scream in range for action

Well you know

Wars don’t make a fella great

You ask me now for my reaction

Well you know

Seems our world’s in quite state

But if you can find salvation with acts of hate

I think that you’re gonna find out soon you’ve sealed your fate

And I hope it’s gonna be okay

Someday

Someday

Ah

And now they ask for prosecutions

Well you know

The systems’ as cracked as you

(You know it’s broken

Oh, you know it’s broken)

And now they ask for executions

Well you know

All murder does is start a coup

(You want a war

Well boy, you’re gonna get one)

But if we just turn on each other

Then one by one

Our world’s gonna be stuck in a battle that can’t be won

So stand back and let it be okay

Today

Today

Somehow

(Somehow)

Someway

(Someway)

Sometime

(Sometime)

(Just let it be okay)

Some place

(Some place)

Somehow

(Somehow)

Someway

(Someway)

It’ll be

Okay!

## Personnel

* Jim Lewis: Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar
* Perry Murphy: Backing Vocals, Electric Piano
* Greg Hoffman: Backing Vocals, Bass Guitar
* Randall Sullivan: Drums

## History

In 2018, Jim Lewis found himself front and center of political movements. Between his girlfriend being an activist and him being a famous musician, it was hard not to get dragged into politics. What Jim saw in New York City shocked him and drove him to write Vive La Revolution. The song was inspired by the Playing For Peace event he and his girlfriend attended during his New York vacation while The Mates were on hiatus. The song's title draws inspiration from a novel about the French revolution and the song itself takes a more reflective stance calling out both corrupt politics and violent activists while hoping that someday things will be okay.

The song was recorded on March 27, 2018 at Steiner Studios in New York City during The Red Album recording sessions. The song featured Jim on lead vocals and lead electric guitar, Perry on backing harmony vocals and some electric piano fills, Greg on backing harmony vocals and bass guitar and Randall on drums. One take of the song was filmed and was released as a music video for the song while projections ran behind the band members. Vive La Revolution was released as the closing track on The Red Album on April 14, 2018 and was one of four songs on the album to not require any overdubbing sessions.

Jim claims the song to be one of his best. Stating in a Just the Fax USA interview with the band around the time of The Red Album's release; "[Vive La Revolution] is a heavy rock and roll piece that carries a great message. I think the way it all kind of unravels at the end reflects how I feel about politics these days. I think this is the best guitar sound we've ever gotten on a recording before." Perry called the song a "Pretty good 'power to the people' ballad hidden in a rocker song. I remember listening to it with just Jim and his guitar and thinking, 'Whelp, Jimmy's written another Number One.'" Greg did have any thoughts on the song while Randall described it as "The kind of song that doesn't let you get bored."