1. |
Once Upon A Time
03:41
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High, high above the North Pole. On a mountain above the clouds once lived a man. His children are falling from the sky. All children except one grow up. He was born with a gift of laughter. And a sense that the world was mad.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Writing a song about first lines.
It was the age of wisdom, of foolishness.
It was the Season of light, season of dark. Drawing the reader in right from the start. It was the spring of hope, the winter of despair.
The sun shone, having no alternative. It was
the day my grandmother exploded. It was a pleasure to burn. The church is blowing a sad windblown ‘Kathleen’ on the bells in the skid row slums as I wake up all woebegone and goopy. Transformedintoa monstrous vermin.
It was the season of light, the season of dark. Inspiration comes from The past
Is a foreign country; they do things differently there. Itwasthebestoftimes,itwastheworst of times. Light of my life, fire of my loins.
It was love at first sight,
love at first sight.
All this happened, more or less, more or less.
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2. |
Edge of the World
06:38
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3. |
Thirteen Chairs
05:03
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In, stepping further in,
Welcomed by the light Seeing the others around
Will I make a sound?
Will I know the way?
What is it I’ve found?
Listen to the ones, listen to the end Blowing a candle out.
Past the door, stand before me Thirteen chairs
I’m unprepared to tell a story, Who’ll go next?
Past the door, stand before me Thirteen chairs , thirteen chairs.
Gone, faces fade to black.
I can hardly see,
Where there used to be friends Some could be my age Want to know their way? What is it that I’ve found? Listen to a boy, listen to a girl Another candle out.
Past the door, stand before me Thirteen chairs
I’m unprepared to tell a story, Who’ll go next?
Past the door, stand before me Thirteen chairs, thirteen chairs.
Out, as the lights go out,
As the darkness comes
It’s getting closer to me
Will I make a sound?
Will I know the way? Starting to see what I’ve found Listen to the tales, listen to my tale Another candle out.
Past the door, stand before me Thirteen chairs
I’m unprepared to tell a story,
Who’ll go next?
Past the door, stand before me Thirteen chairs, thirteen chairs.
Will I make a sound, will I know the way? What is it that I’ve found?
Listen to the ones, listen to the end Blowing a candle out.
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4. |
Faith In Weather
07:38
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Time is over and I know you’re gone.
See you flying over, held my tongue
The lines I send you only keep you down
Faith in weather as my love is blown.
Wind was very strong today
When seven ravens flew away
See you far upon a hill of glass
I could never climb, but still I start
Build the steps I need to bear our weight
Seven years to make, and six I stayed
Wind was very strong today
When seven ravens flew away
I was taken by the wind and swept away
I could not respond to anything he’d say
Time is over for I’m almost done.
See you flying over, held my tongue.
Hope my voice is strong and calls you down.
Faith in weather and my love’s return.
Time is over and I know you’re gone
See you flying over, held my tongue
Hope my voice is strong and calls you down
Faith in weather as my love is blown.
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5. |
The Crowning
05:52
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The crowning of we kings The subject of divine things Righteous by virtue Bearing majesty too...
An Army for my soul
By currency of angels
My looks can kill off You’re banished in the breath of...
The balm that anoints me No water in all the sea Can clean from me
Here on my head this crown
It is woven through me to, the ground Here on my head this crown
And a cloak made of brass around...
But is it that we kings Were made in the crowning? A pomp of a cushion
For a crown to sit on
We taste grief and eat bread We have wants, and need friends A man who just leads on
All of those who kneel on
This balm that protects me By my own tears has now been Washed free from me
Here on my bed this crown With nettles and flowers round My kingdom of worms abound With a cloak made of soil around
I’ve wasted time, time wastes me Now soil is the king of me
So here on my head this crown Ever last here, while I go down Down, down, down, down.
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6. |
Smog Over London
02:09
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Sail over Battersea in your velocipede Show off your skills in the air
Don’t let Technologists catch you and saw of bits What are they building in there?
It’s such a joy to be in my velocipede Flying as high as a bird
Smog over London Looks jolly splendid I’ve heard Smog over London Looks jolly splendid I’ve heard
London’s not meant to be
The way it turned out to be God didn’t save the Queen-o Talking dogs on the streets, Bloody parakeets, Exploding wolves, don’t you know Who’d have thought Nightingale Would side with all those males Making a hash of us all
Smog over London Looks jolly splendid I’ve heard Smog over London Looks jolly splendid I’ve heard
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7. |
How Not To Woo A Woman
03:53
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It was on that fateful day you saw me Dancing in the bar
Your eyes caught mine and so I came And whispered in your ear
I hadn’t thought of what to say
Or what you thought of me
But it seemed to go pretty well And we left early.
Move on now seven months And we were married by the shore With the two of us together We never wanted more
I’ll get a job to feed us And a home to keep us warm And in a year or so I think our Children will be born.
So onwards seven years
And our little boy is five
I used to think I’d save him But at least he’s still alive We’ll have our ups and downs But I know our love will win So I’ll never leave this journey, Not even at the end.
Fast forward 20 years And I’ll have been a lucky man
Our children will have grown And left the house back in our hands We’ll grow old by the seaside And we’ll drink tea in the car And I picture us beneath a grave, In each others arms.
But now I catch myself as I am Dancing in the bar
A little over-thinking, And perhaps a stage too far I’ll just enjoy the moment, Any more and I would be Too scared to dance like a fool, And you’d never see me.
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8. |
A Shop With Books In
05:26
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A SHOP WITH BOOKS IN
Inspired by bookshops.
There’s a story waiting inside Behind the door, as it opens wide
And I wander in, hoping to find Something.
As they tell the stories we know And those we don’t are waiting to be held, And taken home.
There’s a strange man inside
Who knows what I like
He’ll rush with tea to my side
And a stack of books piled high
If I’m lucky enough there will be lots of stuff That makes me smile inside
In a shop with books in....
Shelves stacked high, fills my eyes Can’t describe, who knows what you’ll find.
A lovely lady guides me through
I smell the pages, excitement grew How glad am I to be in company
Of such purveyors of quality
Her knowledge is vast, her hand reaches out And pulls the spine of a beautifully bound Book of delights picked especially for me
Boulder Books
Oh, I’m so happy in a shop with books in....
Lost in these pages...
I sink myself into a book and settle down.
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9. |
Bobo and the Cattle
04:53
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Don’t let’s go to the dogs tonight
Though the chances are high and there’s signs that we might
Don’t let’s go to the dogs tonight
There’s work to be done
And two makes it light
We take the horses and ride on the sand
The cattle are lost and they must be found
They’ll keep a herd
But they’ve had years to roam
You know the dogs are thirsty
And we should go home
We didn’t plan to drink today
But the path narrows out
And I’m starting to sway
I said “I’ll wait here for you” ...
And now I’m alone
The sun is going
And our dogs have gone.
Don’t let’s go to the dogs tonight
Though I can hear them howling
And I think that I might
Don’t let’s go to the dogs tonight
Though I can hear them howling
And I think that I might
You came back just in time
With the dogs and the horses
And a cattle line
These days of sweat make the land sown
But that’s just what makes this my home
And that’s what makes this my home
Don’t let’s go to the dogs tonight
We’ve made it home and now it’s night
Don’t let’s go to the dogs tonight
I can hear them howling but we’re alright
Don’t let’s go to the dogs tonight
We got whisky here in the starlight
Don’t let’s go to the dogs tonight
We got whisky here in the starlight
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10. |
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The second wife of Henry Was accused of adultery
Oh yes, oh yes says Thomas
You see she wont bring a baby She’s no good to his country Oh no, please arrest her, Thomas
She might come gracefully For the sake of her family But oh, take no chances, Thomas
Go and find her lovers
That includes her brother
Oh no, that’s what they say, Thomas
I need no sympathy
I need no sympathy
From you, from you, from you Thomas
I’ll be found guilty
On the King’s authority
Oh well, well if you say Thomas
But the King’s shown mercy He’s not going to burn me
Oh no, well there’s hope yet, Thomas
I’ll be kind to her
Said the French executioner Oh so, well forgive me Thomas
So she held her body
For all the crowd to see
Oh yeah, to see the blood flow, Thomas
And as he distracted her Swung the French executioner You’re the best,
You make the best plans, Thomas
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11. |
Curious and Curiouser
05:03
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Follow to a hole , falling for a while
Passing vertically
One side makes you grow
One side makes you small
What size should one be?
Curious and curiouser
Things aren’t what they seem
Queer old smoking caterpillar
What does all this mean?
Asking questions why
No sense did she find
Alice wanders on
Curious and curiouser
Things aren’t what they seem
Weeping turtle sleepy mouse
It must be time for tea
Curious and curiouser
Things aren’t what they seem
The Queen of Hearts is furious
This life is but a dream
Off with all their heads
Painting flowers red
There’ll be no one left
Curious and curiouser
Things aren’t what they seem
The Queen of Hearts is furious
This life is but a dream
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12. |
Cackling Farts
05:08
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I wake in the morning just before dawn
Uhtceare my dreamery’s gone.
Thinking there’s so much to do and no time
Day-peep comes but the sun doesn’t shine.
Cunctuation I can’t face the day,
Pissaprest, hope it goes away.
The rum-peeper shows me my pimginnits
I’m trying fucation to cover my zits.
I can’t be bothered to straighten my hair
I’m cymotrichous and I don’t care.
Most of my clothes are second hand
I’m a ragabash cos I’m in a band
I’m in need of ariston and a butter-shag.
My cackling farts are over done
My toast is brizzled and Brizzle’s my home
It’s time to leave it with my cello
And more, to oxter lift and go.
It’s the day of the gig at the bookshop
The band must charette
And write till we drop.
It’s a panic party but a jolly one
As long as we Chado to help us with songs.
Ben is our host and makes pots of tea,
We’re about to be golopshusly bedinnered you’ll see.
His cackling farts are just spot on
There’s cheesy toast within this home
Now it’s time to leave it with our big load
And more, to oxter lift and go.
Waiting for people to turn up and sit
Nervously practising this little bit.
Fisking around the bookshop and then
The author and audience, ladies and men.
Now we’re at the song’s eschaton
Soon to be quafftide for this little one.
Nod-crafty people say they listened hard
Now to be vinolent, hand me a glass.
My fackling carts are over done
My head is Brizzled or is that my home?
It’s time to leave with David’s sow And more to oxter lift and go.
And more to oxter lift and go.
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13. |
We Are The Foxes
03:46
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We are the foxes working around the town We are the foxes working for you Bring out your boxes before you settle down We are the foxes working for you
Don’t be afraid cos you know what we prefer Smile on your faces, that’s what we do Don’t need to pay us,
We’re happy in our work
We are the foxes working for you
Running rings round
Covers more ground We’re foxes in a big rush Jumping on a night bus City lights glow Like a light show Keeping strange hours Smelling all the flowers
And in the morning
When all our work is done
Shifts are changing and you’ll be up soon We’ll hear you coming
Then we’ll be on our way
We are the foxes working for you
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The Bookshop Band Bath, UK
The Bookshop Band write songs inspired by books and play them in bookshops. They started as a collaboration between a group of musicians in Bath and their local independent bookshop, Mr B's Emporium. Now they are about to go on tour, sponsored by Vintage Books and Independent Booksellers Week, around other bookshops and lit fests. Catch them if you can. Details at www.thebookshopband.co.uk ... more
The Bookshop Band recommends:
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Chamber folk at it's best. Sublime music. Beth's band, and they've just released their debut album.
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Just excellent in everyway X
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British folk musician Tom Nash built these delicate and moving songs around a broken harmonium, allowing its limitations to open up worlds.
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