May 2018, about three years after recording the Declaration of Independence to music in my songs Our Journey Begins Anew partially and completely ‘performing’ it in three songs fully, Seize the Moment, In Perfect Communion, and Add Your Name, I read this passage attached below from a book American Sphinx, on Thomas Jefferson, going into high detail on how he drafted the phrases in the declaration, the world’s most famous words. 

Based upon how he put quotation marks to guide the reader in his final draft (that were taken out) some infer he intended it to be performed. Glad I figured that out on my own, because that’s how I felt as I read our Declaration of Independence as an adult. It’s a very passionate statement, argument, and vision, written in three parts like a play: preamble set up, grievances of what’s wrong, roll call of adding signers names to stand for liberty and right the wrongs. That jumped out at me. You could, and maybe I will someday, write a play acting out, performing, the Declaration of Independence: Move Aside Hamilton!

As a human civilization vision statement breaking bonds with an abusive past and setting course for a glorious future of equality and prosperity, it still stands alone as the seminal document for which to base the association of people seeking common good. I wish my producer was alive to show him this passage to have one of those smiling “I knew it!” moments. 

For me, it was obvious it needed to be performed, and put to music, so I did it. My producer was nice enough to humor me and roll with me as I went way beyond normal ‘music’ that producers were making. As I did my most inventive songs like these Tim Ellis (my producer not to be confused with this book author Joseph Ellis) would get reflective as I instructed how to fit it all together, “Adrian, this is more like a movie sound track in many parts of the song.” And my reply was that is what I was seeing and hearing in my head, and we can shoot the video later. “Any big time movie producer want to make the movie with me?” Give me a call.