The muse

Soulful And Tuneful

Craig — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:53 +0000

Sitting in a hotel room and I’m listening to some of my favourite acoustics tracks – it’s not just the melody that appeals to me but most definitely the lyrics all seem to strike a chord with me. Many times it’s the hint of romanticism that gets me. Damien Rice’s “Delicate” is one such track…

“We might kiss when we are alone
When nobody’s watching
We might take it home
We might make out when nobody’s there
It’s not that we’re scared
It’s just that it’s delicate

So why’d you fill my sorrows
With the words you’ve borrowed
From the only place you’ve known
And why’d ya sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why’d you sing with me at all?

We might live like never before
When there’s nothing to give
Well how can we ask for more
We might make love in some sacred place
The look on your face is delicate

So why’d you fill my sorrow
With the words you’ve borrowed
From the only place that you’ve known
And why’d you sing Hallelujah
If it means nothing to you
Why’d you sing with me at all?”

A Passing Glimpse

Craig — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:26:42 +0000

I’d place Jonathan Carroll as being my favourite author. It’s hard to describe his genre: fantasy-fiction-horror-with the air of the unexpected. However, his books always seem to have passages/sentences that resonate with me.

“They had been so much in love, equally and passionately. Like a spider web that you walk into, it is not so easy to get all the tendrils of real love off after you have passed through it.”

Melancholy

Craig — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:48:55 +0000

I can’t recall how I first came to listen to Sun Kil Moon, but I’m glad I did, as his sound suits me perfectly. Bit of acoustic/electric guitar, (with, dare I say, a nod to Neil Young & Crazy Horse on a couple of songs.)
He can write mighty fine lyrics too… this from “Like The River”

“I have all these memories, I don’t know what for
I have them and I can’t help it
Some overflow and spill out like waves
Some I will harbour
For all of my days

I burned liked oil, you grew like a flower
Rising toward your magical hour
I was not yours and you were not mine
Our true love finds us when it is time”

A Familiar Sound

Craig — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:53:18 +0000

Sometime last year there was a Land Rover TV ad being shown with a snippet of music that made me look up with a startle. It sounded very much like CSN (or more to the point, Stephen Stills’ guitar.) A quick google for the few lyrics there were led me to Jon Allen, and the particular track “Going Home”

“I have had my share of leaving
I have walked this world alone
Now i hear your voice a-calling
I can see the lights of home

And though the way just keeps on winding
And everyday is a changing view
Down the line I keep on finding
This old road leads me back to you”

Thoughtful, touching, moving

Craig — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:08:12 +0000

Need I say more….

http://www.dearoldlove.com

With Wings

Craig — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:06:42 +0000

Listening to music when it’s set to “Random” can be so interesting sometimes. I’ve got a USB memory stick plugged into my car stereo, with around 8GB of music on there – somewhere around 100 albums – and it’s currently on random mode. I get to hear stuff I’ve not played for ages, and this particular Dave Matthews Band track, “Angel” is one I’ve always liked.
He’s got quite a unique voice, and the band have a very distinctive sound.

“I play my cards the best I can
But I lose my luck when you’re not here
My darling heart won’t you please give in?
I may be strong but I want you back again

When you’re not here, oh, it’s hard to pretend it’s all alright again
When your not here, love, it’s hard to pretend it’s all alright

Still, why do I beg like a child for your candy
Why do I run after you like I do, I love you
Whatever you are…
I swear
You’ll be my angel…
You…”

Forgotten lyrics

Craig — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:20:04 +0000

I’ve been doing some tidying up lately, getting rid of stored junk, etc, and I’ve found a couple of notepads that I used to write down lyrics from songs I’d heard. No idea how old they are but I’m guessing around 12 years or so. Here’s some of John Martyn, (who sadly passed away just a couple of weeks ago,) from the song “Hurt In Your Heart” from the wonderful “Grace And Danger” album.
It’s a very emotional and incredibly personal CD, that really tugs at the heart strings.

“When that hurt in your heart has gone
When that hurt in your heart has gone
When that hurt in your heart has gone
Give me a call.

Darling, that’s all that you have to do
Show me a sign
A word or a line
One stitch in time
To save this poor heart
From breaking.

When that hurt in your heart has gone
When that hurt in your heart has gone
When that hurt in your heart has gone
I’ll still be your friend.

Right to the end of our river
And further still
This hurt it will mend
And I hope you’ll remember all the time
Hope you’ll remember every line
Hope you’ll remember
All the love, all the love, all the love.

When that hurt in your heart has gone
When that hurt in your heart has gone
When that hurt in your heart has gone
Just say my name.

You don’t have to say it loud
I’ll still feel the same
I’ll still be true
Waiting for you
To come sailing through
Cos I you know you can.

When that hurt in your heart has gone
When that hurt in your heart has gone
When that hurt in your heart has gone
Give me a call.”

The following is a direct quote from John Martyn’s website, which perfectly describes the songs.

Grace and Danger was released in October 1980 having been held up for a year by Island boss Chris Blackwell who was a close friend of John and Beverley’s and who found it too openly disturbing to release. Only after extreme pressure from John was it finally released and John got the exorcism that he needed. In the late 1980’s John would cite this album as his favourite. The album features Phil Collins and John Giblin. Giblin’s harmonic bass playing was in the style of Weather Report’s late (and great) Jaco Pastorius, a band and style John had long admired. Relying increasingly on his Gibson S.G. electric guitar, John’s playing was highly inventive and beguilingly. With John’s distinctive vocal delivery and painfully honest lyrics, Grace and Danger became a stunning exposition of confusion, heartache, love and remorse. John later said that it was “probably the most specific piece of autobiography I’ve written. Some people keep diaries, I make records.”

“At times the blending of Martyn’s voice and guitar, John Giblin’s beautiful bass and Phil Collins immaculate drumming is simply breathtaking.” – Melody Maker

John said, “I was in a dreadful emotional state over that record…I was hardly in control of my own actions. The reason they finally released it was because I freaked: Please get it out! I don’t give a damn about how sad it makes you feel – it’s what I’m about: direct communication of emotion.”

“Grace and Danger was very cathartic, and really hurt, I was really in love with that woman.”

Why hast thou forsaken me, Fish?

Craig — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:44:30 +0000

I was flicking through the music biography “Dream Brother: The Lives And Music Of Jeff And Tim Buckley”, and found myself reading a small paragraph about Tim’s song “I Never Asked To Be Your Mountain”
I’ve always liked this song, there’s so much power and feeling in it. I can almost imagine him swirling like a dervish singing this.

“O Flying Flying Fish
Please flutter by my door
Yes you can drink my lies
If first you read my eyes
Each one is titled
“I’m drowning back to you”
I can’t swim your waters
And you can’t walk my lands:
I’m sailing all my sins
And I’m climbing all my fears
And soon now I’ll fly”

The song builds up to a crescendo, and ends like this:

“Sweet lover, will you come back
And love me for a while?
Please take my hand
Leave all your fears behind

I’ve been gone too long
Now I’m home to stay
Please don’t leave me
Again this way

Please come home”

Gone For Good

Craig — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:09:41 +0000

I’ve been listening to some music I have on cassette lately, and the final one I listened to had a mix of things I’d recorded off movies. Morphine’s “Gone For Good” I got from “2 Days In The Valley” (seems I must have recorded this around 12 years ago!) It’s one of those songs that with its simple guitar picking and lonesome voice urges you to just sit and listen to the lyrics. It had that same effect tonight.

“I’m never going back
Never going back to you
I’m never going to see you again
I’m never going to dig out your picture
I’m never going to look you up someday
Life is very short
You don’t love me anymore
So I’m never going to see you again

I’m never going to write you a letter
Never going to call you on the phone
I’m never going to drive by your house
I’m never going to catch you coming outside
Never going to walk up your walk and ring your bell and feel you fall into my arms
I’m never going to see you
I’m never going to see you
I’m never going to see you again
You’re gone for good”

The Process

Craig — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:32:04 +0000

Seeing an old song by Genesis on TV the other day made be put on some Peter Gabriel, (and no doubt there’ll be something from his “Us” CD appearing here,) the track I chose was “I Grieve” from the soundtrack to the movie “City Of Angels” (an uninspired movie based on Wim Wenders’ beautiful “Wings Of Desire”.)
The first half of the song is melancholy and brooding, and it’s this part I prefer.

“I grieve for you
You leave me
So hard to move on
Still loving whats gone
They say life carries on
Carries on and on and on and on”