David J's 'Thought's And Prayers' Pulls No Punches

David J – Thoughts and Prayers

As each years passes, the popularity of Record Store Day increases. The lead up to this year’s event on April 13 saw my social media feeds buzzing with word of new releases and my favorite stores stocking up. Somehow in all of this, I missed the release David J’s 7” release through Schoolkids records, Thoughts and Prayers. So let me start by saying sorry for being late to the party on this one.

David J is the co-founder of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets and was responsible for the lyrics to the former’s big hit, Bela Lugosi’s Dead. On his latest release, written in response to the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, David J delivers a stinging rebuke of the gun culture in the USA. Over the top of some country-tinged guitar, he paints a picture of “Crayon pictures on the walls, riddled with bullet holes” before repeating that awful phrase of politicians unwilling to deal with problem – “Thoughts and prayers are with you”. On the B-Side, he covers Emily Jane White’s, Hole in the Middle, a protest song from an earlier era that still speaks to the problems of now.

Thoughts and Prayers pulls no punches. It is a protest song and its message is urgent. David J’s honest delivery leaves you in no doubt that glib phrases in response to tragedy are no longer enough – the time to rein in a gun culture that allows children to be slaughtered is now.

So, while Record Store Day 2019 has now come and gone, take some to visit your local store and see if there are any copies of this track left. It may not be a subtle song, but it is important.

Simon says 4 out of 5 stars.