I was out there missing steps, when you swung around to me
Best to land, not to crash, pulling out too late
Call on everyone you ever knew, and plead
Well I’ve been the bum who’s underfed
I’ve been the one who should’ve said
Maybe I’m wrong and I’ve always been that way
Are you tired, do you feel… wrung out?
Have you fallen from where glory sprouts?
Are you cut off in fields and pressed down?
Like an early spring till that don’t come around
I think I’ve been there
I think I’m waiting too long
You tried this, panting and poured,
You set a course to cross me out.
Are you tired and broken, once so stout?
Are you full of the feeling, don’t doubt it when it’s gone?
I could cut off this reel and leave now
I could fill up with air and scream so loud.
I think I’m going to…
Early Spring Till – Nathaniel Rateliff (Spotify Link)
I was perched outside in the pouring rain
Trying to make myself a sail
Then I’ll float to you my darlin’
With the evening on my tail
Although not the most honest means of travel
It gets me there nonetheless
I’m a heartless man at worst, babe
And a helpless one at best
Darling I’ll bathe your skin
I’ll even wash your clothes
Just give me some candy, before I go
Oh, darling I’ll kiss your eyes
And lay you down on your rug
Just give me some candy
After my heart
Oh I’m often found explaining
But to her it plays out all the same
and although I’m left defeated
It get’s held against my name
I know you got plenty to offer baby
But I guess I’ve taken quite enough
Well I’m some stain there on your bedsheet
You’re my diamond in the rough
Darling I’ll bathe your skin
I’ll even wash your clothes
Just give me some candy
before I go
Oh, darling I’ll kiss your eyes
And lay you down on your rug
Just give me some candy
After my heart
I know that there´re writings on the wall
But Darling I’ll bathe your skin
I’ll even wash your clothes
Just give me some candy
After my heart
Oh I’ll be there waiting for you
Paolo Nutini – Candy
Do you still remember when we were little,
We were playing the park and you asked me, “What happens when we die?”
And I said, "You forget everything. Everything."
"Even you?" You asked.
"Yes. Even me."
You did not want to die, never forget
The remains of what we used to have were taken away with the softest squeeze
"How did I forget? How?"
From Olafur Arnalds – Himininn er ad hrynja, en störnurnar fara pér vel (2008)
More to come on this amazing musician.
After seeing Glen Campbell on Later with Jools Holland last night, I was reminded of how much I love this song, possibly the first existential country song – and truly a classic:
I am a lineman for the county.
And I drive the main road.
Lookin’ in the sun for another overload.
I hear you singing in the wire.
I can hear you thru the whine.
And the Wichita Lineman, is still on the line.
I know I need a small vacation.
But it don’t look like rain.
And if it snows that stretch down south, won’t ever stand the strain.
And I need you more than want you.
And I want you for all time.
And the Wichita Lineman, is still on the line.
Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman (1968)
Possibly my favourite track from ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ – ‘The Bones of You’ gets its single release, accompanied by this superb video.
So I’m there, charging around with a juggernaut brow,
Overdraft speeches and deadlines to make.
Cramming commitments like cats in sack,
Telephone burn and a purposeful gait.
Put a ribbon round my neck and call me a libertine
I will sing you songs of dreams I used to dream
I will sail away on seas of silver and gold
Until I reach my home
Give me a guitar and I’ll be your troubadour
Your strolling minstrel 12th century door to door
I don’t know anymore, if that feeling is past will it last
Oh, how can you be sure?
And how do I know if you’re feeling the same as me?
And how do I know if that’s the only place you want to be?
Give me a stage and I’ll be your rock and roll queen
Your 20th century cover of a magazine
Rolling Stone here I come, watch out everyone, I’m singing
I’m singing my song
Give me a festival and I’ll be your Glastonbury star
The lights are shining everyone knows who you are
Singing songs about dreams about hopes about schemes
Ooooh, they just came true
And how do I know if you’re feeling the same as me?
And how do I know if that’s the only place you want to be?
And if you want it too, then there’s nothing left to do:
Let’s start a band
Let’s start a band
Let’s start a band
Let’s start a band
Amy MacDonald – Lets start a Band (2007) – absolutely loving her album at the moment.
I love your eyes, my dear
Their splendid sparkling fire
When suddenly you raise them so
To cast a swift embracing glance
Like lightning flashing in the sky
But there’s a charm that is greater still
When my love’s eyes are lowered
When all is fired by passion’s kiss
And through the downcast lashes
I see the dull flame of desire
Bjork – Dull flame of Desire (feat Antony) – from Volta – 2007
If through my cracked and dusty dime-store lips
I spoke these words out loud would no one hear me?
Lay your blouse across the chair, let fall the flowers from your hair,
and kiss me with that country mouth so plain
Empty – Ray Lamontagne (2007)
Turns out that Ray Lamontagne is coming to the Uk for another tour – Friday morning at 9am the tickets go on sale, I’ll be clicking my mouse in the direction of the Royal Albert Hall.
Well I held you like a lover
Happy hands, and your elbow in the appropriate place
And we ignored our others, happy plans
For that delicate look upon your face
Our bodies moved and hardened
Hurting parts of your garden
with no room for a pardon
In a place where no one knows what we have done
Do you come, Together ever with him?
And is he dark enough? Enough to see your light?
And do you brush your teeth before you kiss?
Do you miss my smell?
And is he bold enough to take you on? Do you feel like you belong?
And does he drive you wild? Or just mildly free?
What about me?
Well you held me like a lover
Sweaty hands, and my foot in the appropriate place
And we use cushions to cover, happy glands
In the mild issue of our disgrace
Our minds pressed and guarded, while our flesh disregarded
The lack of space for the light-hearted
In the boom that beats our drum
And I know I make you cry, and I know sometimes you wanna die
But do you really feel alive without me?
If so, be free…if not, leave him for me
Before one of us has accidental babies
For we are in love
Do you come
Together ever with him?
Is he dark enough?
Enough to see your light?
Do you brush your teeth before you kiss?
Do you miss my smell?
And is he bold enough to take you on?
Do you feel like you belong?
And does he drive you wild?
Or just mildly free?
What about me?
What about me?
Accidental Babies – Damien Rice (from ’9′ – 2006)
His father was a drinker
And his mother cried in bed
Folding John Wayne’s T-shirts
When the swingset hit his head
The neighbors they adored him
For his humor and his conversation
Look underneath the house there
Find the few living things
Rotting fast in their sleep of the dead
Twenty-seven people, even more
They were boys with their cars, summer jobs
Oh my God
Are you one of them?
He dressed up like a clown for them
With his face paint white and red
And on his best behavior
In a dark room on the bed he kissed them all
He’d kill ten thousand people
With a sleight of his hand
Running far, running fast to the dead
He took off all their clothes for them
He put a cloth on their lips
Quiet hands, quiet kiss
On the mouth
And in my best behavior
I am really just like him
Look beneath the floorboards
For the secrets I have hid
Sufjan Stevens – John Wayne Gacy Jr
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