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1000 Origami Cranes
I remember the day
I remember the planes
I remember your face
I remember your name
I remember the leaves
Remember the trees
I remember my elbows
Remember my knees
I remember the wind
As it pushed me away
Pressed me into the dust
And you told me to “stay”
I remember it well
I remember it all
How could something so big
Come from something so small?
I am never going to cry again
I offer my eyes to the sun
I’d be lying if I said I’m not in pain
I lay the paper out
I begin to make
1000 origami cranes
Lift me up and I will fly away
1000 origami cranes
Lift me up and I will fly again
Background
This was written after reading the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese
girl who contracts leukaemia after the bombing of Hiroshima. She
was inspired by a Japanese legend that making 1000 paper cranes
would grant a wish (that she might outlive her illness). She made
in excess of 1000 before she died at 12 yrs old. The paper crane
is a recognised symbol of peace and thousands are sent to a memorial
in Japan each year. It is a song about perseverance. Despite being
the album title track it does not appear on the album. |
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The Suffering Silence
Many days I’ve sat, and I have waited,
For you to arrive, to be at my side
Through what is approaching me
Would you ever grow tired of me?
The streets are asleep, and the eyes are all closed
The wind lifts the leaves, sends them out of control
Fetched up against the door in the morning,
The thrush in the tree is singing his warning
I am the storm.
I am the gathering darkness
I am the sweet smell of morning
I am the sweetest love calling
She wrapped her hands in the folds of her skirt
The past is approaching so fast that it hurts
And what will be left of for me in the morning
The washing up world is gradually forming
I am the storm.
I am the gathering darkness
I am the sweet smell of morning
I am the sweetest love calling
I am the storm
I‘m the cool threat of violence
I am the suffering silence
I am not what you believe.
If like the swallow I reach up and leave
And I’m thrown to the mercy of the wind and the seas
We can be sure that we loved, we were forming
Our planet will spin and be lost in the falling
I am the storm.
I am the gathering darkness
I am the sweet smell of morning
I am the sweetest love calling
I am the storm
I‘m the cool threat of violence
I am the suffering silence
I am not what you believe.
Down, down, down into the ground
Tears are not found here any longer
You don’t belong here, any longer
Down, down, down into the ground
We are still moving, we are still breathing
Background
This is a reference to domestic violence and putting faith in
others which in turn is potentially used against us . But still
choosing to stand by the aggressor. The reference to the thrush
is based on the folklore that the thrush sings heralding approaching
storms. |
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September Song
Oklahoma
New York City
Washington DC
And the world falls apart around me
Oklahoma
New York City
Washington DC
And the world falls apart around me
I am not strategy,
Nor am I not disbelief
I am somewhere in between
The future, present, history.
And what does it mean?
What does it mean to me?
To be touched by this distantly
A place I’ve never been
Or ever want to be
O! Such technology!
Awake the sleeping dragons nesting deep within.
And a mixture of relief and fear envelopes me
A mixture of relief and fear envelopes me
Oklahoma
New York City
Washington DC
And the world falls apart around me
Oklahoma
New York City
Washington DC
And the world falls apart around me
I am not strategy.
Background
Obviously refers to the events of Sept 11 01. One fact which is
sometimes confused is the line “ a place I’ve never
been, or ever want to be”. This could be taken as a cold
rejection of New York. But “the place I never want to be
“is the place those caught up in the situation found themselves,
and where the rest of the world found itself in as a result. it
is the sense of loss of control, that decisions are made irrespective
of our choices. |
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Over And Out
When time comes around,
When all little creatures are going to ground
I am the sun
Over the cloud
The moment is gone
Over and out
Seek the window, seek the door
Cut loose the tether that keeps me ashore
I am the sun
Over the cloud
The moment is gone
Over and out
For the wages I earn, for the money I keep
Means only tonight I have somewhere to sleep
I am the sun
Over the cloud
The moment is gone
Over and out
There is noise in the town alright,
Many more days until summer arrives
But they take to option to fight
Bottles and knives, keep us up all night
Another said:
“ quit while you are ahead,
It’s better to leave
What is unsaid, unsaid.”
But if I am without you,
I will be seeing the dawn destitute.
I am the sun
Over the cloud
The moment is gone, over and out
Over and out
Background
This was inspired by listening to the sounds of the annual fair
in the town, late at night, and taking stock of things whilst
remembering the aggravation which used to accompany it. (Perhaps
a little inspired by Rusholme Ruffians) |
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Road Movie
Ribbon road is laid before me and I engage the gear
Picking up, I’m moving off
The presence and the fear
Is riding right on with me and it wont leave me alone.
I’ve left it in so many rooms I’ve tried to make my
home
I’ve tied it to the bumper
Left it drowning in the sink
Buried it in the clay
Pushed it way beyond the brink
I’ve tied to the bumper
Left it drowning in the sink
Buried it in the clay
Pushed it way beyond the brink
All I need is one nights sleep
Peace and peace again
All I need is one nights sleep
Peace and peace again
All I need is one nights sleep
Peace and peace again
All I need is one nights sleep
Peace and peace again
Background
A song about overcoming depression/other personal crisis. All
the items are metaphors for the mental state and the desire to
be past it. Supports the notion of all our lives being part of
a journey, but that being stationery is not necessarily a bad
thing. |
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Are You there?
Astride both sides with the sun in my eyes
One foot goes before the other.
Taking everything in my stride
for time will soon recover
and I lay down my hands
and I hold up my eyes
and I feel the warmth upon me
and I hear the soft sighs
of the bones in the meadows
and the wind in the feathers
and if I was to die now
I don’t think it matters
Are you there?
This little place has left its mark on me
I go where I can feel some peace
Taking time to see the world outside
For soon I seek my release
And I fall to my knees
And I lay down my head
And I feel the warmth upon me
And I hear what was said
to the bones in the meadows
And the dust on the windows
And if I was to die now
I couldn’t be happier
Are you there?
Stained glass window
Cold pew lonely
Hide my tears
Behind my hand
Are you there?
Stained glass window
Cold pew only
Run with me
Behind the land
Are you there?
In my longing
In my sleeping
In my terror
In my anger
Are you there?
Are you there?
Are you there?
Background
This was written in Malvern Priory. Although not supposed to be
a clarion call to god it is perhaps the hope that when all is
said and done, there is someone who will look after you. " Astride
both sides, with the sun in my eyes" refers to walking on the
Malvern hills with their distinct ridge, one foot being on the
western, and one on the eastern side. "The bones in the meadows"
overlooking the Severn plain. |
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Migration
Swifts are much scarcer now; swallows and martins,
Smitten by the warmer wind, to never look back.
Cushioned on the upper layer, to always ride
The winds cool prayer
You’ll never hide, the secret there
I’ll always find peace of mind.
Dragonflies and bats, are much rarer now
Touched by the brittle hand, that never stays
Beneath the sticks and gates of passing
Crickets once would, sit here laughing
At these tidy streams,
These tidy streams
These tidy streams of nothing
Beauty
In a sun that is setting
Background
An obvious nature inspired song. We lose one thing but gain another.
"these tidy streams ..of nothing" refers to the simplicity of
life, and our acceptance of the easy options. |
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Re-invented
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You are ancient history, I am someone new
We all know, that, when we go
The secrets that we don’t show are there
For all to see.
You’re mind friend that had
Made me something much more
Than I could be.
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You say you must, re-invent yourself
And then one day you’ll be someone else
You say you must, re-invent yourself
And then one day, you’ll be
Someone else.
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You are ancient history, I am someone new
You are ancient history, I am someone new
And then it goes
Then it goes
Then it goes
Then it goes
Then it goes
Then it goes
Then it goes
Then it goes
Background
A friend said "you have to re-invent yourself, to achieve anything
in the music industry. "."the secrets that we don't show…" lines
refer to having things which you should not have, but do not want
to get rid of, but knowing that if you were to die, the people
would find out in any case….guilty thoughts! Also it is a celebration
of change, feeling good about yourself as you do so. |
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Fireflies
I know how to tell you things,
I know, that you need to hear,
The long walk down to the longest drive
I watch you go by.
Deep shadow crosses over you,
And doors open up in front of you,
To pass right through.
But tell me as you pass into the light,
Tell me what did you find,
When you found yourself looking in from the other side?
Whole rows of flowers died,
Whole months and years went by,
Couldn’t work it out although I tried.
The laugh, and the laughter.
The smell of the rain, o!
I love you, I love, I love you
Aloud to be heard over street music
I let you climb in beside,
The long drive down to the waters side
I watch you go by.
Deep shadows etched beside your eyes,
And nobody knows because nobody tries,
To reconcile, (Wrestling with the crocodile).
And tell me as you pass into the light,
Tell me how did you rise,
Was it easier then looking back in from the other side?
Whipped up a storm and went back inside
Whole months and years went by
Ordinary days flickering like fireflies
The laugh, and the laughter,
The smell of the rain, o!
I love you, I love you, I love you.
Background
A song about the high points in our lives, which can sometimes
be very insignificant things. It is also about moving on, although
enjoying the ride in the meantime. “wrestling with the crocodiles
“refers to crocodile tears. |
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An Age
Outside of here, I walk among
Outside of here I am always young.
The sloping steps will never slow me down.
Then to another dancing hall
Diminishing beneath the fall
I swept them off their feet before
The grace was taken; old and sore
And each of us, creates a stone
We carry in our chest and bones
Inside a little case called home
Please know I love, when I’m gone
I have four walls and photographs
Each day becomes just, as the last
And the seasons never seem to pass.
Background
Written about the care of the elderly. How much history and value
we have with us as we grow old, but how it becomes condensed "inside
a little case called home", and often overlooked or ignored. |
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Heart Song
I have opened your letters
Sent them all away
Where I had once travelled
I will travel there again
There is not time for this
For finding out about us
When all is late
When all is cold and undone
Singing as the light fades
Singing as the light fades
Singing out for a mate
Amongst the animals of men
I have touched it soft
And put my hands down again
To where our love falls
I will do it all for you
Am I still what you saw
When we had eyes for others
When we burned beneath the stars
And found hearts on the stones?
Singing as the light fades
Singing as the light fades
Singing out for a mate
Amongst the animals of men
So unmarried again
Without living this life again
I will keep walking
For I have found love
Background
Love song. Remembering the time before commitment, but also before
finding real love. Despite forming relationships, we are ultimately
on our own, inside. |
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To Our Friends
Let’s play a song for all our friends
To our friends…
Background
This started out as an improvised verse in practice which after
playing in the studio suddenly materialised into this cyclical
phrase and ended up as a song. With the addition of accordion
and harmonies this is the albums 'secret' track. |
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