Couch Co-op

To keep things as real as possible and knowing I would have to do rapping as a character and convey passion in doing so, I opted for making a wrestling character from my home turf of Yorkshire, as the more vocally passionate I get, the stronger my accent from that region becomes. So being an American wrestler really wouldn't track. I chose Heathcliff, a character from a local historic writer Emily Brönte, as inspiration taken from Wuthering Heights. But the parallels between wrestler Heathcliff and Brönte’s Heathcliff are minimal at best. I chose to do 4 verses. Character Origin One being his Origin; a giant, mountain of an orphan child working the farm and having some success in the local fighting rings. But also showing some unlikeable traits already. Hungry for success Here he realises he has talent for fighting, goes to America to wrestle and finds himself stuck as enhancement talent and with novelty personas, but what he wants is personal recognition. Height of Fame He achieves his goals but at his height of fame he is really at his lowest point, hence the dark vibe. The drugs and sex scandals that have been foreshadowed throughout the song come to a head and he is suspended for his behaviours and a lewd act in the ring. Forced Retirement He returns home in shame. Growing old, lonely and retrospective he ultimately realises that there was more to life than fame, fortune and meaningless relationships. On his deathbed he rejects violence and his lifestyle. However he is a flawed character and at heart he is still a wrestler so hopes there is wrestling in the afterlife. I see his journey as being a full rags to riches and back to ditches affair. Very Hip Hoperah. Vocally I emulated the different eras of his life/career and attempted to follow all previous feedbacks in doing so.

Once we'd agreed to go down a Wuthering Heights inspired path for the wrestler, it only made sense to me to use the Kate Bush song as the basis for the theme and track. Theme I thought about all the classic wrestling themes, and the most memorable ones were those that had a distinctive sound at the very beginning that was instantly recognisable, like the glass breaking for Stone Cold, or the ominous bongs for The Undertaker. So what would work for Heathcliff? The howling wind of the moors of course! After that, I played the chords from the verse of the Kate Bush song and made the whole thing sound as brooding as possible. Song The intro is a sample of the Kate Bush track, with the piano stem-separated and sped-up. This creates a dramatic build with the wind of The Moors in the background, interrupted by a thunderclap. The next section uses the same sounds and some of the same chords as the theme (other than the drums), but rearranged to give a slightly different vibe. The same is true of the chorus. These sections are more positive in tone, which matches the narrative of Heathcliff’s rise through the ranks. The third verse takes a darker turn. I used stem-separated vocals of Kate Bush to add some extra context as Heathcliff goes off the rails. Following the final chorus there's a sample of former WWF President, Jack Tunney, suspending Rock Rude, which has been repurposed to relate to Heathcliff: https://youtu.be/c-X2QFUs-zY?is=SIv-1EQU2A5tdUMM The final verse works as a coda to what came before. Heathcliff has burned his bridges and has to return back to The Moors. The music here uses another stem-separated part of ‘Wuthering Heights’ and then chopped up. I think that this section gives a melancholic-vibe, suggesting that Heathcliff will be better off away from the limelight, but will always be haunted by Kathy.

Verse 1

Let me Spin that yarn I was born in a barn
T’was a Yorkshire corner moors n a tarn
As a Northern orphan tall as a man
I could lift four foals with the palm of my hand
I was working the land scars,
Brought to the farm yard 
Mucking n milkin n butting the ram hard
Tougher than mutton but dumb as a milk-calf
Brawling in Bradford I'd batter the Midcards

Rippin city slickers like a pair of frilly knickers 
I was pinning little women and the breathy heavy hitters 
There were triple figures winnings, dinners  with billing pickers 
If you're mocking then I'm knocking your block in to  Withen pillars

Put my name in the lights a mond fucking Gimme the fights 
I'll beVisiting the Dizzying n Wuthering heights
strong were the pints n Long were the nights 
With fame in my sites the name you'll recite…

Chorus 
Heathcliff 
Remember the name
The ring won't ever really gonna be the same
Heathcliffe
Yeah I got taste for the fame 
But it all got erased by the shame
Heathcliffe 
I lost track of the game
Blame all crack cocaine
Heathcliffe 
Now it's only woes that remain 
See ghosts through my window pain

Verse 2

But I got that taste now I aim for the best
Tell me will i lose face when I Chase Success 
Will I be disgraced allegations of sex
Cue toHuman waste on a lady's chest

And yes my wrestlings  better than yours
That's why it's warm n wet in your draws
This cretin'll be heading for American shores
I'll be settling scores as adrenaline pours 

Work that circuit jerk them curtains
Fervent urchin Lose on purpose 
Suplex German skill set furthers
Prove Im ruthless yet determined 

Countless promises getting stuck with the novices
More corny Monika's than orgys in the offices 
The Yorkshire Torturer The Ring Debaucherer  
And the naughty Northerner I  smash the  monitors 

Just Gimme! Fucking Gimme a shot
It really doesn't matter if I'm British or not
I'm tapping on the Matt I'm getting diddly squat
I'm Rowdy like I'm Roddy and like Scotty I'm hot 

You wanna a gimme the chop I'm getting the deafening pops
You say imHeading for a felon thats a definite not
They love me on the telly and they're yelling me props
I'm telling you gettin to the spot at the top 

Chorus 

Verse 3
Mans so famous names in papers
Everybody wanna little piece of my anus
Heethxkiffliff mania's gone contagious
Sold out seats when I speak in Vegas 

Sign those trainers earn those wages 
Snort cocaine off the tits of a waitress 
Fight some gaters buy some acres 
Come along way from the limestone pavements

Haters  hate us cos they ain't us  
Co-star traitors  face of janus
Some are born great y'all entertainers 
This my fate your Chasing Status 

Count those papers see y'all laters
Hard like steel but mans not stainless
Am I Going insane no I don't feel brainless
In Tantric capers  scream my name its

Chorus 

Verse 4 
Gross negligence back counting eggs again
Back to British poimds.im pretending that their Benjamin's
Im back  the farm grounds chasing chickens through hedge again
A Legend a degenerate I'm like everyone in wrestling

I'm reticent to take my medicine
And I ain't never seen such harassment
Or such embarrassment but I'm a veteran
I've had it with the salad im having with the all the lettuce in
my heart is feeling daggers  being a badass is my legacy
I start to feel off balance I think this could be the end of me
Should stayed in Haworth n gave Kathy all of my energy
What a waste talent go make Icarus my effigy
fame is just a fallacy life is where lesson be
A wife and children tenderly crying while there be an next to me
Instead I die in silence let the this rhyming be my elegy
Violence isn't righteous its pious m rudimentary
In death if there is wrestling I know I'll hear the heavens sing.....

Heathcliff
Remember the name
Heathcliffe
The ring won't ever be the same
Heathcliffe
Now it's only woes that remain
Heathcliffe
See ghosts through my window…pain