An Analysis of Piet Botha’s “The Game” by Brian Currin

This biting commentary song written by Piet Botha has a bit of a convoluted recording history.

The Game (original 1998 recording)

“The Game” was originally recorded at Red Room Studios, Pretoria in October 1998 by Trip (Francois Scheepers & Niel van der Spuy) and featured Piet Botha and Johnathan Martin prominently. It was released on the Trip album “Is” in 1999.

Musicians

• Piet Botha: Vocals, acoustic guitar
• Johnathan Martin: acoustic guitar, cello
• Henry Erasmus: electric guitars
• Francois Scheepers: Programming

Extract from CD booklet for Is by Trip

Release information

This version of “The Game” was released on the “Bootleg” CD in February 2001, credited to Piet Botha and Jack Hammer.

It was also included on the Jack Hammer retrospective “Road Works 1984-2009” released in July 2009.

The Game (2014 recording)

Piet Botha gave this song a second lease on life a decade and a half later as his comments on corporate and political greed were still very valid. “The Game” was recorded at The Chateau Lezard in Somerset West during August and September 2014. Released on “A Few Grains Of Sand” by The Lyzyrd Kyngs in 2014.

Musicians

Lyrics

Chorus

Where is the festival
Where is the song
Gone like mist from the sun
Where is the wine that
Was promised to us
Where we were young

The scandal sheets daily
Shout out the news
Of murder, misfortune and, mayhem
The idols that they build for you
Soon they’ll cut down
But that’s all part of the Game
All part of the Game

From cathedrals in Rome
To the kingdoms of sand
The holy war just carries on
But power and greed
Has turned it to shame
The high priest they only players
In the Game

Chorus

The oceans are plundered
The forests are dying
And it’s all just for profit, for gain
Third world keeps burning
But the dollar keeps turning
Dead children they only numbers
In the Game

Chorus

Where is the wine that
Was promised to us
Where we were young