New Music 2016 - Part 45 - Lady Nade - Hard To Forget

When you are at a little gig and you hear something that seems too important to ignore...  I am glad to say I have been in that situation plenty of times. Some of those artists are now well known, some are not. There seems to be little rhyme or reason concerning which fall into one category or the other.

Any which way, this is one such; Bristol artist Nadine Gingell whom I first saw play live here in Frome, Somerset way back in 2011. This is her first full length release.

Lady Nade - Hard To Forget (Kitchen Sink Records/Lady Nade, 12 August 2016).

• Hard to Forget
• Waiting for You
• Mind's Made Up
• Those Late Nights
• Don't Make Him Wait
• I Got You Daddy
• Complicated
• Kiss This Troubled Mind
• 6AM
• Get You on My Own

The genre floats effortlessly between acoustic soul, pop and folk and that's not remotely a problem. The lyrics raise the bar and then the voice that sings them nails it.
That's what made me take notice back then. In that sense alone the title of the album is absolutely spot-on too.

Mind's Made Up

Lyrics again - Arlington Way (English version)

Again just because someone asked and I really like doing this when I can...


Arlington Way
Arlington Way whose idea was it anyway to stay the night out of sight out of mind?
Once in a lifetime a dream must come true I'd be heading there with you
with a spring in the step and a lightness of being and we'd be walking in the door
Arlington way go down to the place do it if you want to - I don't need to know your business
no plan of attack no turning back nobody did it quite as good as you
  
A coin falls to the dance floor it shines in the bright light
uncertain what I wish for heads, you know that tails, I want you back

Once in a lifetime a dream must come true I'd be standing there with you
with a beat in the heart and a mind on the good times and you'd be holding out for more

Nobody said it would be easy nobody said it couldn't come true
nobody said it could feel so natural I don't need to know your business
no plan of attack no turning back nobody did it quite as good as you

You came, you saw you offered me more than I could take  oh I've changed
I won't make the same mistake again but this ain't time for the heavy..


For the Welsh lyric to this song, and the rest of the album, see here:
Paid Edrych Y Lawr

Jill Jackson - Lullaby - lyric

Thank you to whosoever asked about this just a few minutes ago.
 
I'm on the case already because I've been intending to post the lyrics from the rest of the songs from this album for absolutely ages. I hope to have those for 'Lullaby' by the end of tomorrow evening.

Lullaby
There was a boy and girl
Living in a shadowed world
The girl has gotten sick
Nothing they can do for it
She slowly passed away
On a cold November day

Held on to her hand
Felt like half a man
He sang her a lullaby
I'll meet you on the other side
 
This is not our last goodbye
'Cause you are my life
For him it was too much
To try pick the pieces up
Found it hard to beat
They found him down on his knees
 

His house was not a home
He could not live alone
Life was just too hard
He died of a broken heart
 
And he sang her a lullaby
When they met on the other side
Said we'll never say another goodbye
'Cause love has no time
For we are inseparable
What we have is beautiful
 
And nothing else mattered before
Just you and I - promise you
Promise me If I go before you
You would know I'd sing you a lullaby
 
I'd meet you on the other side
We'd never say another goodbye
'Cause you are my life
We are inseparable
What we have is beautiful
Nothing else matters at all.

Just you and I.


I hope that I haven't made too many mistakes. This is one album I suspect that I will never tire of. I still listen to it frequently, although I would baulk at paying the Amazon.co.uk price of £44.99 for a CD version. The d/l price is more reasonable; then again so is a CD from the lovely folks at www.cdbaby.com and if you like this then they could point you in the direction of plenty more artists that might be of interest.
 
Other Jill Jackson lyrics:
Fragile Heart
Rain On My Window
 
Now that I have done the last three of the ten album tracks, of which Lullaby has proven the most taxing, I'm inspired to do the other seven. When I have I shall perhaps reward myself by buying the 2010 Painted Faces EP.  She is on tour in the UK in the next few weeks but many of the gigs in Scotland are already sold out...

Jill Jackson live in 2010.

 A new album in 2011 too; that deserves a blog-post all of its own as soon as I know more.  On the Painted Faces EP (CD only) she swaps her acoustic guitar (above) for ukelele. Three are new tracks while the other two are stripped back versions of older ones and I'm not going to tell you which. Painted Faces is available from CDbaby for $10 plus the shipping charges for the appropriate location.

Lyrics again - not just my obsession?

I love it that so many like lyrics too but it has certainly proven rather more of an interest than I imagined. I thought, when I first mentioned the matter, that all was doing was setting myself up for ridicule because it was merely of foible of mine.
It would seem that I was much mistaken. I will try to do my best but the list of requests is becoming as interesting as it is daunting, even for those that I have a reasonable chance of doing.  Here is today's list and they are all from albums that I have mentioned before and thus have only myself to blame.


'The Green Fields Of Canada' - Planxty (1974)
'Don't Say A Word' - Phantom Limb (2008)
Deranged - Stacee Lawson (2008)
That's a whole album, 'Deranged', and two songs. That is quite a lot of lyrics to do, so please don't expect them tomorrow!


Stacee Lawson's 'Deranged' includes a rather worthwhile cover of Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians' 'What I Am', originally from the equally worthwhile album 'Shooting Rubber Bands At The Stars' (1988).
Phantom Limb, while from Bristol more or less, are in LA and recording their second album.
The Facebook site I use-music-as-an-escape-from-my-problems has its merits too but is struggling, if not for attention then certainly diversity.  If anyone feels like writing a bit about music; any music that you like is just fine (or even that which you don't), and why, please feel free to join in and add something.  It is not a scary prospect, I can assure you of that, and if you choose to add something slightly challenging then that is all the better.

Don't Look Down - lyrics in other languages.

Arlington Way

Arlington way syniad pwy oedd e anyway, i aros y nos, trwy'r nos, heb un co

unwaith mewn bywyddaw na freuddwyd yn wir, mi fyddai'n cerdded gyda ti

yn ysgafn fy ngham a lliwiau mhobv man a by ni'n camu mewn drwy'r drws

Arlington Way, cer lawr i'r lle, na fe os ti isie

sa'i byth angen dallt dy fusnes, dim ystryw i mi, dwi'n iawn ar fi hun

ond doedd na neb oedd yn gystal a thi

swllt yn syrthio at y parfin, ac yn troelli yn y man,

sa'i byth yn gwybod heth i ddymuno-pen? ti'n gweld taw (cynffon)... ti y'wr un

unwaith mewn bywyd daw na freuddwyd yn wir mi fyddai'n cerdded mewn da ti,

gyda chalon yn curo a dyddiau da i'w cofio a by ni'n aros mas tan hwyr

wnaeth neb ddweud y byddai n teimlo mor natoriol

dim ystryw i mi, dwi'n iawn ar fy hyn ond doedd na neb oedd gystal â thi

ne ti ddod a dweud fod na lot mwy i'w wneud nac a wyddwn i

but it's not the same... it's not the same, a na'i byth bod mor ffôl

ond does dim amser nawr ar ôl

naeth neb ddweud y byddai'n hawdd naeth neb dweud na ellid ei wneud

neb i ddweud y byddai'n teimlo mor naturiol

Mae Angen Llong Ar Capten

Dwy law yn erfyn a mi ges fy bun ar lannau'r afon Nil

paid edrych lan a phaid edrych i lawr on ir a goll ac on i braidd ar ddi-hun

galwodd rhywun am ambiwlans clywes i'r rhybydd yn uchel a'n ghr

a phlymiais i mewn i'r dwr yn ddwfn ac anelu an y ffin

dyw e ddim mor anodd ar anorfio gydar llif

pan wyt ti ynghanol breuddwydion hâf neu canol dydd

mae angen awel ar longwr er mewn morio drwy dywydd gwael

mae angen awel ar longwr er mwyn hwylio o lan i lan

mae blodau'r Delta'n tyfi'n hadau mae'r gwair yn tyfu'n wyllt

ond ei di fyth i'r nefoedd os arhosi d'in rhy hir os mynni di fyw am byth

mae'n bryd rhoi'r ffidil yn y to, gwnest dy wely meddai'r Capten

ond allai ddim gwneud hyn a ni alla'i wneudy llall os dwi yn gaeth yn Argae Aswann

paid edrych lan a phaid edrych i lawr paid gweneud hwna a phaid gweneud y llall.

Carolina

Nawr ti'n dweud bo ti'n gadael i weld y byd, a gweld y cefnfor maith

wnai ddim crio na na, na byth difaru dim gof yn lle wyt ti chwaith

mae llgad yr haul ar Carolina mae'n disgleirio i lawr ar Tupelo

na'i ofalu am y deryn a'r gwenyn i gyd a naiff fy meddwl ddim crwydro nôl,

ddim crwydro yn ôl atat ti. Ac os ddoi o hyd i ti ar ddiwrnod da

yr awyr yn las, neb i gwyno'n gas yn gadarn a chywir ar ochr y bryn gydag afon yn ei lli a Luciano y ci

os mai dyna ti moy'n, pacia dim fag, s'dim angen nodyn,

cet at t drws,'drycha' nôl am un tro arall tro'r golau mas

cym un cam at y chwith ac un arall at y dde a cherdda i ffwrdd.

Y Corryn ar Pry

Dwi an ddangos paradwys i ti, meddai'r corryn wrth y pry, ti am aros da fi: mynd â chwmpawd drwy'r ddinas

fyddai'n disgwyl na a ti, i ddangod y ffordd dwi am droi y gofod rhyngon a'i wneud e yn gan gradd,

am i ni fod da'n gilydd, wyt ti'n barod am noson fel hon?

os rhoi di bobleth sy gen ti, fe gei di bopeth sy gen i a cchymaint nwy

maen cymryd dau i neud y Tango mae gennym wahaniaethau mowr, ti byth yn gof yn dim,

dwi am droi y gofod rhyngom a'i wneud e yn dan dradd, am i ni fod da'n gylidd,

wyt ti'n barod am noson fel hon? fel hon? fflaau yn fy mhen, fy mer, fy nghalonn, fy enaid,

tyrd yn gosach, gad i mi deimlo dy fysedd arna i, fflamau, fflamau, fflamau.

Y Gwydr Argyfwng

Pam nad wyf fi'n dy gredu pam ti'n dweud dy fod di angen fi?

ti oedd y cyntaf i gyrraedd fel rhyw Twm Sion Cati ag os ma ngho i'n gweithio o hyd

mi o ti'n angel ar y penffordd ond yn ddiafol ar y pentan

o ro tin dda ac y barod... i dynnu pen o'i ysgwyddai a rhoi'r drwg yn y caws

ne nes ti neud? be nes to neud? arhosaf ar fy ochr i or dref

yn ara deg mae mynd ymhell ond calon wan sy'n dod heb ymdrech

a gwydr argyfwng syn galw arna i rhoddaf gic a'i chwalu cofn pawb ar ei domen ei hun

pam nad wyf fi'n dy gredu pan ti'n dweud dy fod ti'n caru fi

gwell peidia dweud y gair bach, gwell pedio meddwl am y peth

a bydd e btth amharu ar neb. Mi wn taw bachgen y wlad wyt ti,

wel, merch y wlad wyf fi, torra di wallt yn hir

dy hyn yn werth dim byd ond d-fe ddawnsiaf wrth adael y ty...

Lleuad Gwener

Daeth Lleuad Gwener yn rhy gynnar fe syrthiais I a gwrthod yn hyn oedd ddim gen I

rhyw gynllun gwael, y gwey'n oer, aros yn hwyr a gwylio sothach ar y teledu

am galon lân fy nhim fy hun, am fwy o graiad o llai o siriad gwan

rhyw gynllun oer, rhy gyflym o hyd. aros yn gwely a gwylio rhaglenni gwag

o hyd ac o hyd yn aros anm y dyddiau da

a hyd ac o hyd yn aros am hwyl gwell na hyn.

I Drive, Adref

Un dydd arall i ffeindio'r amser i sgrifennu rhestr,

i groesi un peth mas wedyn ychwanegu rhywbeth arall

na'i ware'r gitar am funed and dyw e byth yn ddigion a dwi'n gorffen y gân heb ei offen

ac yn cerdded i'r mailbox - des in gyfarwydd a hwnna

a gobeithio bydd na ddim dyledion i dalu,

dwi'n gyrru  ffindo llythyren ac yn agor yr amlemn...

Cyfarchion o'r gogledd pam na ddoi di adref?

mae Maine yn oer amser yma'r  flwyddyn ond na'i cadw'r tân yn llosgi..

dwi'n gyrru a dwi'n gyrru, tryd adref

Dydd Mercher , a mae'r plant yn ar ysgol, dyma'r diwrnod cyntaf mewn saith mis i

mi fod ar ben fy hyn a sai'n really gwybod beth i neud...

dyma fi'n mynd i siopa. Siopa dim credit yw e le chi'n prynu pethe wedyn mynd a nhw nôl at y siop

syn grêt tan i chi sylweddoli faint o wastraff amser yw'ch bywyd i gyd, am beth i fi'n disgwl?

am rhywun i alw? pwy? o le? wi'n mynd nôl at y car a dwi'n gyrru undrhyw le

o le i le.... o be i beth?

Evelyn

Drwy y coed fe ffeindiodd hi ei ffordd drwy y dail yn araf ei lliwiau hi a drodd. does dim dryll wrth dy

gefn i'th fygwth di nawr: dyw lladd ddim yn gelfyddyd, oriau a wyr cadw rhag lladd dy galon, ei lladd yn

llywr, ac edrychais ar yr haul, sy'n boddir lawr... fe ddoi di a theimaid newydd... Evelyn.

Tryw'r Drych

Os wyt ti am droedio'r ddear hon, paid dweud, cymer bwyll, gad i dy lygaid arfer â'r goleun

Os wyt ti am droedio'r ddear hon, paid dweud, cymer bwyll, gad i dylygaid arfer â'r goleun

dere'n ara deg Os wyt ti am droedio'r ddacar hon, paid siarad, cymer bwyll

yn dy sgidie gwaith, dilyn yr un daith yna'n droeon

dere'n ara deg dere'n ara deg, (dere'n ara deg ataf i),

rho di ben ar fy nghlun, dy groen ar f'un i,

dy wallt fel y frân. Ddu fel y frân na wyddai erioed am y te rfyn.

Awyrennau

Di awyrennau'n gwneud dim byd i mi dim ond dy weld di a dwi mhell bell i fwrdd

cer âfi i'r un cyfeiriad a dwi'n codi i lle danni'n dau'n cwrdd

ac mea'n ffordd hir lawr pan ti mor bell o'r llawr ac yn bradu bob awr

Di awyrennau'n gwneud dim byd i mi dim ond dy weld di a dwi mhell bell i fwrdd

rho rhyw losin melys imi ac fe gei di bob dim sy ar y bwrdd

ista, ymlacia, ewn yn rhydd anghofia dy flinderau am weddill y dydd

at mae'n ffordd hir lawr pan ti mor bell o'r llawr ac yn bradu bob awr

awyren trên a cheir a chychod di-ri, falle âi ero, un-waith

o ddod a thi yn nes i mi, o ddod â thi yn nes.

Orenau i Florida

Mor ddu a'r môr ar brynhawn ystormus

yn corddi fel corwynt yn dy ymyl fe gerddais,

a son am forladron, mewn trefydd newydd morwyr suddedig a llygaid alaeth

ac fe gerddais yn dy ymyl ne imi beidio, nes imi beidio clywed dy lais

orenau i Florida blodau i Amsterdam gwnaiff dydd o dristwch arall

ddim yn helpu deall pam hydd diwrnod arall o ymaladd

ddim  yn trochi'r eira, orenau  i Florida a moroedd i Galilea

mae'n rhydd cymysgu anrhefn gyda'r bai a'da'ni'n gwneud

mae cariad ym mhob maddeuant, ynysoedd colledig yn arnofio ymhell or lan

milltiroedd a milltiroedd yn arnofio i rywle yn dweud rywbeth ond mae'r ystyr ar goll i fi nawr

orenau i Florida blodau  i Amsterdam gwnaiff dydd  o dristwch arall

ddim gwneud i fi ddeal pam, diwrnod arall o frwydro a'n cantref newydd yn fflam

orenau i Florida a blodau i Amsterdam.

Y Creyr

Fe ddihunodd creyr ym dyhem am goffi, roedd e hanner ffordd

adre felly arhosodd am sbel i brynu cylchgrawn i wybod popeth wrth ddarllen ei gylchgrawn

Ac fe ddaeth hi fewn fel corwynt o egni yn goesau diderfyn a'n sodlau i gyd

am beth wyt ti'n chwilie? Mae bob dim yma'n fy myd

dyweda be ti moi'n pam ti ar bigau'r drain? gad i fi ddywn y dagrau o dy lygaid

ti'n lico swn gitar wrth i ti grwydro mhobman

wyt ti di bod ir Parthenon? ti di bod i India? ti di bod i Manchester?

Ond ai'r gadael fynd yw'r hyn sy'n bwysig?

Dw I'n gwastraffu oriau yn syllu ar wynebau cylchgronnau

yn esgus taw'r  ffasiynau sydd ore, nawr dy fod di'n addor cwbwl I fi

meddianna fi, am i fi brofi blas dy addewid, ond Duw nid oes benadur

Fe wedoedd y creyr dy fod yn y man iawn ti'n lico swn gitar wrth i ti grwydro polman

wyt ti di bod ir Parthenon? ti di bod i Africa? wyt di ti clywed am Salif Keita? ti di bod ar afon y Seine,

a clywed y diafol yn gwaith Skip James? Ond ai'r gadael fynd yw'r hyn sy'n bwysig?

dwi'n gwastraffu oariau ag oriau yn syllu ar wynebau perffaith cylchgronnau

Dw I ddim am godi gwrychyn ond mae'n ffordd rhyfedd i fynd ar drws

gorau yw'r ur sy'n dy gau allan fel y gwynt

cana'r record ac efallai fe ddywedi di riau, fel hen benillion ond y gwir sydd orau

Fe ddisgleiria'r haul yn y gornel dywylla , rhaid gwneud y pethau pwysig yn y fagddu weithiau

Bydd dim diwedd i'r ddefod - na phryn oni bydd angen

ond diawch ferch ti'n gwneud i fi ganu fel hen gytgan.

My incentive is that I will now reward myself by buying her latest album, Tir (2010), which is a recording of sixteen traditional songs and therefore available in Welsh only.

And, odd though that may seem, it is actually still some real incentive.

What next? Well some more from Latitude 2010, including a whole lot of Americana, perhaps?  And some rock and then who knows...

Folie à deux - 6 Day Riot - Lyrics

Good call!  Thank you to whoever asked about and for the lyrics for 6 Day Riot's 2007 album Folie à deux.  Yes I certainly can but, due to family commitments that are even more important than lyrics, it will have to wait until early next week.

In the meantime, I would say that I think my favourite songs on the album are the title track and River Clyde, but the rest of it is strong too from what is still, despite second album Have A Plan and the exposure that was given to it by the use of the song 'Every Third Sunday' in the TV drama Skins, a much under-rated band.

For the lyrics to all songs on the 2009 album 6 Day Riot - Have a Plan see here:
http://rpgreenhalgh.blogspot.com/2010/02/higher-powers-6-day-riot-album-lyrics.html

What's In It For?

Some have been asking, and I have been waiting, for this album to arrive!  The wonder that is the global marketplace has determined that this vinyl album (SP865) has made its way to me from the US via Australia and simply because that was by far the cheapest way to do it. That is patently idiotic.

This was the first outing for my copy of Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo; a 12" LP record just destined to played.

Is it good, like I thought it would be?  Not really perhaps, its rather better than that, and it fits neatly with some of my comments, both recent and forthcoming, on the music at Latitude and, simply because I can, here is a lyric.


What's In It For?

i walked in on a plan to
dissolve all of your wishes
but i couldn't help your mouth
which i missed by two inches
maybe i thought that you and i
could run away alongside
but I didn't understand i was
a cold tear in your raw hide
what's in it for someone with
nothing to do what's in it for me?
what's in it for someone with
nothing to do what's in it for me?
i can read but i won't if i'm sleeping
here without you and all these things
that you learn, i've been knowing since
my childhood. you are tiny and your
lips are like little pieces of bacon
i can feel you on fire 'cause you're
drunk and i seem too cool
know i love it when you put your
fingertips around my shoulder
should i take you to more functions
or would you rather be lonely?
i feel like i'm messing up too much
and i forget where i am, you are
so much wiser and i'm used to
stretching things out so long.

That said the very vinyl virtues are always now going to come with such issues in tow but, as Jack White recently stated, vinyl is the only growing market for tangible recorded music today.  The lyric sheet and associated artwork is just a glorious bonus...

 

 Devin O'Brien provided the album cover artwork and Rebecca Coleman that for the insert.

'Hold On To That Feeling' - Carrie Rodriguez

To whoever asked for it, this is one lyric that I can do. The song is 'El Salvador', from her 2008 album 'She Ain't Me'. 


El Salvador
Got your letter from El Salvador
I wish you wrote just a little more
But I guess I'm really missing you today
I know words can mean so much
But I don't need what I can't touch
Been a month tomorrow since you went away
It's been a month tomorrow since you went away
I keep waiting, so long
I've been waiting, too long
So many miles between us
We gotta hold on to that feeling
And get on home
You better get on home
I know you got a job to do
But I can't live my life for you
And today I look much older than I should
I think I might just waste away
If I don't see your pretty face today
I'd swim across that ocean if I could
I'd swim across that ocean if I could
I keep waiting, so long
I've been waiting, too long
So many miles between us
We gotta hold on to that feeling
And get on home
You better get on home
Now you're off to Panama
Just one more place I never saw
While I sit at home wishing you were here
Without you I feel incomplete
Though I'm not the neediest girl you'll meet
But today I cannot help but shed a tear
Today I cannot help but shed a tear
Today I cannot help but shed a tear
So many miles between us
We gotta hold on to that feeling
So many miles between us
We gotta hold on to that feeling


This is a song from an amazingly good, but largely ignored if perhaps only in the UK, album and artist. I have mentioned this album before, including some lyrics - 'Infinite Night' and 'Let Me In':
http://rpgreenhalgh.blogspot.com/2008/09/lets-fall-back-in-love.html


The new album that I have not heard as yet, but which I really want, is 'Love and Circumstance' (2010).

This is the track listing for it:

1. Big Love
2. Wide River to Cross (feat. Buddy Miller)
3. When I Heard Gypsy Davy Sing
4. Eyes on the Prize
5. Steal Your Love (feat. Bill Frisell)
6. Waltzing's For Dreamers
7. I'm Not for Love (feat. Bill Frisell)
8. I Made a Lover's Prayer (feat. Bill Frisell)
9. I Started Loving You Again (feat. Buddy Miller)
10. Rex's Blues
11. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (feat. Bill Frisell)
12. La Puñalada Trapera

Hada de las flores

As we seem to be much involved with song lyrics here is another, except that it is a poem by Peruvian José María Eguren (1874 - 1942).

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, which is hardly something that would have happened otherwise and it is some time since I have indulged in foreign language lyrics. I'm not sure how or why we ended up here but then that is part of the pleasure of writing a blog.

You have to believe it, as I do, because if it were any other way I'd have quit after the first few posts just like I thought I would!

LA NIÑA DE LA LÁMPARA AZUL

En el pasadizo nebuloso
cual mágico sueño de Estambul,
su perfil presenta destelloso
la niña de la lámpara azul.

Ágil y risueña se insinúa,
y su llama seductora brilla,
tiembla en su cabello la garúa
de la playa de la maravilla.

Con voz infantil y melodiosa
en fresco aroma de abedul,
habla de una vida milagrosa
la niña de la lámpara azul.

Con cálidos ojos de dulzura
y besos de amor matutino,
me ofrece la bella criatura
un mágico y celeste camino.

De encantación en un derroche,
hiende leda, vaporoso tul;
y me guía a través de la noche

la niña de la lámpara azul.

For those who are still doubters...

Charlie Darwin

Set the sails I feel the winds a'stirring

Toward the bright horizon set the way

Cast your wreckless dreams upon our Mayflower

Haven from the world and her decay

And who could heed the words of Charlie Darwin

Fighting for a system built to fail

Spooning water from their broken vessels

As far as I can see there is no land

Oh my god, the water's all around us

Oh my god, it's all around

And who could heed the words of Charlie Darwin

The lords of war just profit from decay

And trade their children's promise for the jingle

The way we trade our hard earned time for pay

Oh my god, the water's cold and shapeless

Oh my god, it's all around

Oh my god, life is cold and formless

Oh my god, it's all around.

That is just the first track of many but do you yet know (2007 album) What The Crow

Brings?

Higher Powers - 6 Day Riot - the album lyrics

It is mostly done and, given the new-found popularity of 'Every Third Sunday', I thought it a shame not to share all the lyrics for 6 Day Riot - Have A Plan.

Run For Your Life

And morning comes with a meltdown, this town is needing a shakedown, we've

been burning bridges for hours: guided by higher powers. And rising up from the

edges this land is covered with faces we've been praying for someone to lead us, the

end of those who deceive us. Ooh if I was you I'd run for your life. Her face is in every

paper and may we never forget her... A nation cries together, hoping to remember.

Look back at roads we have taken, as sleeping giants awaken, counting days till

tomorrow we'll beg steal and borrow. It's not the time to stand in line if you wanna

change this. They'll make the world you measure by if you let them take you. And hand

you to the darker side where everything's about you, it's not the time to stand in line

someone has to change this.

O Those Kids

O those kids, those kids won't bat an eyelid if we don't change a

thing. I risked my mind, I risked my mind and sanity to give you

what you need. I'm drowning. I'm leaving this life we made.

I'm drowning, my last thought's of all the money we'll make.

We'll make. O my dear, now don't you fear, just another day

and we'll be done. O my dear now don't you fear, just another day

and the money's coming quick and fast. We'll spend! We'll spend!

We'll spend! O those kids...

Be With Me

I look inside your mind and hide beneath this bed, the sheets are cold tonight the

shapes all blur to life. As I pray for you and watch you as you sleep, as I wait

my turn I hope that you will be with me, we'll find what only the wise men seek.

They hang around in pairs with boards that hold your name, a tick or two for you

could mean another day. As I hold my breath and wait to hear some word, as I beg

for rest I hope that you will be with me, we'll find what only the wise men seek and

though it's hard to tell what only wise men seek. We took a risk our way;

we fought to know, we took a risk our way; open and closed. Come on and tell us,

come on and show us.

Every Third Sunday

If you take this wrong then time will stop, wasted spaces move back

up; many days have rolled into one. Daily meals to calm your eyes,

wisdom seldom realized I could try to reason one more time.

But by the by, by the by, how fear has multiplied wild and lost within

your state of mind. My oh my, my oh my, how tears have multiplied

drowned and lost within your state of mind. To the edge and round the

bend, stubborn till the bitter end hold on tight before this whole

town blows. Get up get up and face the day don't let those hours slip away,

chasing time and talking hate again. I'm drowned and lost within your

state of mind.

Rise Above

Rise above, rise above, rise above all the lies and hatred and new-fangled love,

could you find a way to turn this all around? Wide awake, wide awake, wide awake

as the morning turns another page and the anger lies sleeping one more day.

But oh to be like you, a stranger to all we knew, to hold yourself above what

might be true. Walk away, walk away, walk away turn your back on all that we

once made let the mountain rise upon this land. I don't know, I don't know,

I don't know you could count the lives that have been lost but still your mind

rests firmly on your own. But oh to be like you, a stranger to all we know,

to hold yourself above what might be true.

So You're A Writer

So you're a writer but can you hear this? You've been chasing circles all across

those pages. Another landslide and they're all cheering, got your people outside

every doorway listening. Bring it back to mine, slip back into line, it's harder to

deny so bring it back. You'd take my own mind to hide your old lies and try to save

face if only just to rise above us. So lie in wait there and toast your genius, raise your

glass high while everthing around you crumbles. Bring it back to mine, slip back

into line, it's harder to deny, it's harder when you go sailing past this place take that

trip back round. All a game planned in your mind take that trip back round. These

last days have multiplied the thoughts you hoped to hide as you go sailing past your

soul take that trip back round.

Breakdown

Never thought, never thought to wonder if you heard all that I said, if my house isn't

there any longer then I guess I've burnt that bridge. How.m I ever gonna fight this breakdown

if I'm dead from the waist down? If I thought I could take this over then I might earn

my name, as I lie and wait, lie and wait for answer lie and wait, lie and wait in vain.

How'm I ever gonna fight this breakdown if I'm dead from the waist down. Undo my mind

rewind our time. On the face in the face of all this, like you, like me, like he, it's all I thought

I ever wanted all I thought I'd ever be. How'm I ever gonna fight this breakdown if I'm

dead from the waist down. Undo my mind, rewind our time. Every word that I encounter

holds an old part of me. all the books I've ever opened lie floating on the sea, and my clothes

don't even matter if I have nothing more, could you stay a little longer, help take away

the noise. How'm I ever gonna fight this breakdown if I'm dead from the waist down,

undo my mind, rewind our time.

Go! Canada

Oh we sailed for days to find this view before us, there lies the land an inch or two

below us. Take a look around you'll see the flags are raised again, and rising from

the earth the theatre beckons us along. Way beneath the swell they laugh at our

misfortune. All that holds our wealth lies washed up in Dalston. We fought our

way through broken years to conquer, there lies the land an inch or two below us.

Wave across the rolls at red and white united, may we return another day to find this.

Oh we're losing you, drink to forget what is right. Oh saluting you, drink just to sleep

through the night.

Rise Again

Chasing the circles and fighting the cause it's now that we have come for.

it's now that we needed. Inside your pocket, lined with our gold you hide your

intentions and hold our restless souls. But oh we will rise once more, ignore

those fearful men. I'll try to regain my strength for now I can breathe again.

Lost in the moment still biding our time we swim for this promise and hold

the dark line, now with momentum we run with the waves we're dying to meet

you, we're dying to know your name. To know your name...

Long Slow March

In this place not a face that I can trust, not a scene to be believed it's changing...

From each door to the boot of my car they follow every move I'm making.

Like age they'll take my mind, like years they'll take my sight, a long slow march

through the night, a long slow march tonight. To the next I hear each word I

breathe a stranger to deceive, I'm on you. Here you stand a brother in each sense

but eyes that I can't place: do I know you? Like age they'll take my mind, like years

they'll take my sight, a long slow march through the night, a long slow march tonight.

Previous posts on this topic:

Every Third Sunday - 6 Day Riot

While you're at it why not also check out this CD from 2004...

From Home To Home - Tamara Schlesinger

Lyrics, or sometimes the lack of them...

Lyrics continue to feature prominently, and I like that, but yesterday someone asked about those for 'Memories Last Longer Than Dreams' - Leyland Kirby (2009).

Here they are and indeed those to the 3CD/6 vinyl LP set, in its entirety.

...

...

It is the easiest request to fulfil; there aren't any as it is about four hours of totally instrumental music and worth every minute of it. I recently acquired the 12" LP 'Joint Chiefs' - Cursillistas and it is also lyric free. When compared to the former project it is, as well as being only a single LP (I do not know of a CD or download release as yet), much more natural and organic in the more acoustic rather than the overtly electronic sense.

The vital thing is that 'Joint Chiefs' is actually deceptively simple and also totally lovely. It is not hard to like but rather it is for you to recreate that 'snowed in' feeling even if all you want to do is simply to spend a lazy weekend at home and feel guilt-free. I can imagine some of the avant-garde of nu-folk and Americana jamming this kind of thing, simply to amuse themselves, in a remote winter recording hideaway. It is however, for the most part, the mind-warping creation of just two such from Maine - Matthew Lajoie and Dawn Marna.

It deserves a much wider audience.

Hard Hearted (Ode To Thoreau)

I love it when people ask about lyrics. It serves to remind me that I'm not the only one who thinks they matter, and who finds them fascinating, so thanks to whoever asked about this one...

... 'Hard Hearted (Ode To Thoreau)', which comes from Amy Millan's début solo album 'Honey From The Tombs'.

I think that they are thus:

Hard Hearted (Ode To Thoreau)

I have a hard hearted island
Where I live alone
I've seen my love grow big as a mountain
And scatter like ashes and bones
These things I have forgotten
Memory I've left behind
Something was always drifting away
So I'll stay.

It may be the night it might be the morning
Never again will I weep
Cos I've got the wind blowing beside me
And the water can sing me to sleep
That sky can do my crying
Seasons can have my goodbyes
The city can keep all its history
And leave me.

I have been beat, I'm not defeated
Not bitter, not bound and not meek.
When disappointment is a slow burning fire
Let it drown under the sound of my feet.

If you want other lyrics then just please ask and, if you haven't already done so, her recently released sophomore solo album, Masters Of The Burial, is well worth a listen and I have the lyrics for that too.

Beacons, Black Ice and crossed-wires

It is autumn here now even though the weather is still remarkably good generally. This evening when driving from work I took the back-route home, which is through some woods, and while there was the faintest drizzle in the air you didn't need that or the slowly changing colours of the leaves to indicate it because you could just smell that it was now autumn. The UK is not a country of great climatic extremes, or indeed climate at all, which is probably why we are obsessed with the random variability of our weather instead.

Now why have I mentioned that you might ask? Well, much music has associations in as much to say it goes better with some seasons or weather or other associations (even if the they actually have to be experienced in foreign climes). If that were not true then surely the attractions of Ibiza would be no more than those of the Isle of Wight. (The latter does, to be fair, however host two major festivals and is thus trying very hard indeed and the sun shone at Bestival 2009, I am told.) I also think that opening a festival is an unenviable task...

It is often like this. There is always an amazing feeling when I come across an album that is show-stopping, which I was quite unacquainted with, but this is it seems even better if it happens live and that is why I waited ten days to order the album. [It arrived today, hence the comment.]

To hear a full set by a band live in such circumstances, and then twice in one day, was something quite new to me and I wondered if the album would then prove a disappointment in some way. Not a bit of it... it is a wonderful album and while much of it has ostensibly weather related themes, predominantly winter ones, they are as much metaphorical as literal.

In fact the album could equally well have been called 'Crossed Wires'. This is the interior artwork on the CD (Bella Union - BELLACD199) but the front cover has a clue to this even though the wires are barely above the snow.

It is very difficult to chose any favourite tracks but Black Ice is an obvious contender.

Black Ice

I took the bus down Bathurst Street and saw where,
all the lonely people meet down there.
I sat on a pile of cigarettes and blew,
icicles with one sharp breath towards you.

There's black ice, no sign.

Temper me and temper this I've tried,
to fit in everything in a small time.
The winter brings a heaviness, this weight,
is a hand over the things I shouldn't say.

There's black ice, no sign.

They are a seven-piece, much given to changing and swapping instruments, so even their festival-opening set on the 'The Big Top Stage' Friday lunchtime was a fairly complicated affair. It was however as nothing when compared to their 'surprise session' appearance at 2am Saturday on the tiny stage in the Tipi Tent, not least because for some of it they were joined by fellow Torontans 'The Acorn'.

That made eleven of them on a tiny stage and it was another blistering performance.

Now try to sort out the out all the wires.