EXTREME DECEIVER (1) parody project Daydream Beleiver Don Caron David Cohen

LYRICS for Extreme Deceiver
by David Cohen

Oh, he will hide ‘neath the stings
of the nonsense that he brings
A sick ol’ flock of smarms who think he’s “King”
From his sins and his ties,
to the sheep he fills with lies
Those craven praisers sworn to kiss his ring

Fear now haunts his dream
Oh, what does that mean
To an extreme deceiver
With a self-serving gene

We once thought they’d see
what a nightmare he would be
Now they find with him there’s nothin’ free
Oh, and the tariffs that he pledged
cost consumers more instead
So, how much money can we really bleed?

Fear now haunts his dream
Oh, what does that mean
To an extreme deceiver
With a self-serving gene

We all know that he spent
a lifetime bent on greed
Now the tide can turn for all to see
And when his “Crimeline” starts to trend
as our votes could spell the end
But, oh how happy that would make us be!

Fear now haunts his dream
Oh, what does that mean
To an extreme deceiver
With a self-serving gene

ABOUT THE ORIGINAL SONG

“Daydream Believer” is a song composed by American songwriter John Stewart shortly before he left the Kingston Trio. It was recorded by the Monkees, with Davy Jones singing the lead. The single reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1967, remaining there for four weeks, and peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the Monkees’ third and last No. 1 hit in the U.S.

In 1979, “Daydream Believer” was recorded by Canadian singer Anne Murray, whose version reached No. 3 on the U.S. country singles chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been recorded by others, including a 1971 version by Stewart.

John Stewart wrote “Daydream Believer” as the third in a trilogy of songs about suburban life.] He recalled: “I remember going to bed thinking, ‘What a wasted day – all I’ve done is daydream.’ And from there I wrote the whole song. I never thought it was one of my best songs. Not at all”.

The song was turned down by We Five and Spanky and Our Gang. While attending a party at Hoyt Axton’s home in Hollywood’s Laurel Canyon, producer Chip Douglas told Stewart that he was now producing the Monkees and asked if Stewart had any songs that might work for the group. Stewart offered “Daydream Believer”.

The song was recorded during the sessions for the Monkees’ 1967 album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd., but was ultimately included on their 1968 album The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees. All four Monkees appear on the track; in addition to the lead vocals by Jones, Michael Nesmith plays lead guitar, Peter Tork plays piano and Micky Dolenz sings backing vocals. Tork created the piano introduction, and the orchestral arrangement was created by jazz trumpeter and composer Shorty Rogers.

Jones said he had been “pissed off” recording the song, with his lead vocal showing a hint of annoyance at the ongoing takes.

RCA Records did not like the song as written by Stewart, and insisted on changing a critical word. Stewart wrote: “Now you know how funky I can be” but RCA wanted to change it to “Now you know how happy I can be”, for one meaning of “funky” is “smelly”. Stewart initially objected because the change would completely reverse the meaning of the line and would not make sense in the context of the song. He relented because RCA was adamant and he realized that the song could be a hit. In 2006, Stewart said that the proceeds from “Daydream Believer” “… kept me alive for all these years”.