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about
Follow The Leader comes after a string of five singles from Fulton Lee, showcasing the 23 year old’s maturation both in sound and lyricism. The beauty and struggle of Fulton’s past two years can be heard in his passionate songwriting and vocal delivery. After amassing over 3 million Spotify streams, having his first daughter, and experiencing a major shift in his spiritual identity, Fulton is learning to capture the true depth of his childlike spirit in his music.
The song combines retro pop groove with bright, sunshiny textures to create a feel good indie jam with a profound message. Inspired by Vulfpeck and Lake Street Dive, the vocal melody showcases sweet pop hooks and passionate soul energy while the lyrics tell a colorful story about finding freedom in unlikely places. “I almost wanted to tell a surrealist children’s story with this song,” says Fulton. “I wanted to capture my journey in a dream-like way, because that’s how it felt. Following the leader represents humbling yourself to something greater than you. There’s freedom in that.” The song was originally composed as an instrumental by Fulton’s collaborators August Pappas and Jake Schweinsberg. The two released the track through their pop-funk side project “The Sugalumps” as an instrumental titled “Sweet Aunt Mammoth” in 2020. “I loved that instrumental so much. I saw it as some kind of Dr. Seuss world. I tried to write a melody that felt colorful like that.” Says Fulton.
lyrics
There was a time
On a sunny day
Ooo, the cieling was an open door and an angel came to me
All through the sky
Heard the people singin
It put the feeling of an open heart in a word inside my brain it said
Ooo you got lots of soul, you'll be Hollywood gold someday yeah
But I got to tell you baby
You better go your own way
And then a sweet peach brother with a lover's face and crown
Told me a secret
And it had the sweetest sound, woah
And I aint ever let it out like all the way
Do you feel me
But now I feel like I can shout out night and day
Cause the weight of the world
Aint built for me, yeah
Cause it aint hard to follow the leader
When the winter got cold I cut it out, made it back home baby
When the father got bold he sent me out dancin in the streets yeah yeah yeah yeah
Now I aint never had it right when the sky was grey
Do you feel me
Now I aint never gonna die but I'll fly away
Just say you believe me
Cause I won't ever be lettin go
I been listenin clearly
Heard a melody in my soul
It said the weight of the world
Aint built for me, yeah
Cause it ain't hard to follow the leader
When the winter got cold
When the winter got cold
When the winter got cold I cut it out, made it back home baby
When the father got bold he sent me out dancin in the streets yeah
I've been changin, oooo said don't you know
I've seen angels and they wanna be loved ooooo
Because a sweet peach brother with a lover's face and crown told me a secret
And it had the sweetest sound woah
And I aint ever let it out like all the way
Do you feel me
But now I feel like I can shout out night and day
Just say you believe me
Cause I won't ever be lettin go
I been listenin clearly
I don't wanna be left alone
I just wanna be loved
And there's love for me yeah
Cause it ain't hard to follow the leader
credits
released March 26, 2021
Produced, mixed, and mastered by August Pappas and Jake Schweinsberg
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