1. |
Dansette shuffle
03:34
|
|||
|
Two-tone two dials
Four legs four speed
45s from my cousin
What more do you need?
Fold away the handle
Open up the top
Stick it in the corner
Dance until you drop
Dansette dansette – stack it up, stack it up
Dansette dansette – turn it up, turn it up
Dansette dansette – little red dansette
Don’t close it up
Don’t close it up
Don’t close it up
Sad Summer Sunday
Skinny spare room
Diamond stylus
Cutting through the gloom
Too young to party
Too old for toys
Drop that needle
Make some noise
(Chorus)
Well I sometimes get a feeling that I just can’t shake
That I was born too soon or just too late
But if you know what it means to dig that crate
You can be low at 16 - but you're high at 78
Well my Daddy took my Dansette
This is a sorry tale
'Cause he sold it for a fiver
At the jumble sale
Never did I ask him
What he did that for
I stole his music centre
And I played some more
|
||||
2. |
Muriel Street
03:57
|
|||
|
Well meaning friends have taken me for a night out on the town.
Well meaning friends seem to think that I am lonesome, they couldn’t be more wrong.
Because I’ve got places to go, people to meet.
A boy named Tom waits for me he.
He lives below Muriel Street.
Walls closing in. This public house is dark and feeling close
His salty skin and tender touch are not so far away by the Regent’s Canal.
I think I’ll just go for an amble, down on the towpath.
Tom, my Tom, has kisses sweet.
He lives below Muriel Street.
When the music gets too loud I rock away from the crowd and into a daydream
And in that place I sometimes see things I had not before.
Like that night in February when you stepped out of the shape-shifting shadows.
The moon and the stars gave their blessing.
Break
Oh I could listen all night long to those words you say you don’t sing.
Across the ages and back to this canal I can hear it echoing.
I’m content with you my secret, hidden in plain sight.
Believe me, magical things and marvellous happenings come by and by
And I’ve got someone to meet
Down below Muriel Street
I’ve got someone to meet.
Way below Muriel Street
Oh I’ve got someone to meet.
|
||||
3. |
Road out of me
03:11
|
|||
|
How many times did you fix me right here
A hunter turned into a tree?
It’s your spell and you work it like hell
But you won’t take the road out of me
I miss you baby when you’re not around
I miss your long hair when you cut it free
Calling out loud like your face through the crowd
But you won’t take the road out of me
Come on honey let’s take it downtown
See the bright lights when there’s no-one around
We can dance on the bridges, we can run to the sea
But you won’t take the road out of me
We’ve got our secrets, they’re yours and they’re mine
A treasure nobody can see
I’ve shown you more than I’ve ever before
But you won’t take the road out of me
Come on honey let’s take it downtown
See the bright lights when there’s no-one around
We can dance on the bridges, we can run to the sea
But you won’t take the road out of me
Take the road (take the road)
Take the road (you won’t take the road)
Take the road (you won’t take the road)
Just let me be free (you will never be free)
BREAK!
How many times did I cry out to her
To let me in to her sweet mystery
Till that day that she said, “Well I’ll stay
But you won’t take the road out of me”
Till that day she said, “Honey, I’ll stay
But you won’t take the road out of me”
|
||||
4. |
Napoleon the seagull
04:24
|
|||
|
Napoleon the seagull, looking something less than regal
By the Russians on the benches in Hyde Park
Assessing his supplies beneath the greasy Autumn skies
And, if his back is black, his heart is just as dark
And the leaves tumble from the skies
Like last year’s dreams and lies
And he tells himself - this town belongs to me now
He leads his fresh recruits in an attack upon the coots
Who shrug and dive beneath the surface of the lake
And his life-long grand design upon the noble Serpentine
There comes a time when every dreamer has to wake
And the leaves tumble from the skies
Like last year’s dreams and lies
And he tells himself - this town belongs to me now
And the sea, back there by the sea
He was always so sure that some day he would soar
To the skies, high above the shore
From his island home, to an empire's throne
To an island alone
And back here in the park, the trees are bare and dark
We see this one-eyed pigeon - shuffles into view
He said Napoleon flew south, said he had something in his mouth
Said he was following the tracks from Waterloo
And the leaves tumble from the skies
Like last year’s dreams and lies
And he tells himself - this town belongs to me now
|
||||
5. |
Next time (Gonna wail)
03:45
|
|||
|
I’m not afraid…
I’m not afraid of the next time…
I’m not of afraid of the next time, cause when next time rolls around,
I’m gonna wail.
When I was just seven years old, a bully told me that
kids shouldn’t laugh so much, so I frowned and he
smacked me in the mouth for just going along.
I ran right home to Momma and cried, she replied
“Stupid kid you know that bully was right to smack you in the mouth,
your Papa didn’t raise you to be a wimp.” and I said …
“Momma, I’m not afraid.
It’s not gonna happen again.
Momma, I’m not afraid. I’ll show ya’ when the
next time (rolls around), I’ll show you when the
next time (rolls around), I’ll show you when the
next time rolls around…
I’m gonna wail.”
I went to a high school party on a warm Friday night.
Diane was sitting beside me with her hand in my lap
rubbing up and down, when I began to sweat.
She said “Jimmy, why you’re all wet, you’d better let me get your
clothes off before you catch your death of cold.” I said …
“Gee …Diane, how’re your classes goin’?” she said …
“Jimmy, you’re afraid! …I’m
not gonna offer again.” to which I said…
“Listen girl, I’m not afraid, I’ll show you when the
next time (rolls around), I’ll show you when the
next time (rolls around), I’ll show you when the
next time rolls around…
I’m gonna wail”
I coulda’ been an;
admiral, general, vegetable, mineral, temporary engineer, secretary, privateer,
dissident, president, leader of a government, ~ gone - fishin’ musician,
writer of petitions, committer of sedition, a wheelwright, boatwright, out-a-site playwright,
blacksmith, goldsmith, silver-tongue wordsmith, underworld rocketman or inside your pocket man,
corporate C. E. O. (or accountant), but no-one wants to be an accountant.
All those things I coulda’ been or shoulda’ done … I ain’t done nothin’, not a god-damn one
I ain’t been no-where man!
I ain’t been no-where man!
It ain’t really fair man!
‘cause I ain’t been no-where!
but next time, …
Baby, I won’t be afraid.
Ask me and I’ll sing it again.
Darlin’, I’m not afraid. I’ll show ya’ when the
next time (rolls around), I’ll show you when the
next time (rolls around), I’ll show you when the
next time rolls around…
I’m gonna wail.
|
||||
6. |
Sugardaddy
02:34
|
|||
|
(Well if you think I) look like I’m not listening, Babe I wasn't looking at you.
And all that gold you see glistening, I'd hate to have to tell you the truth
Thank you for asking, but I can make it home somehow
Too sour for your sugar daddy now
Too sour for your sugar daddy now
(Now do you see them) bums glaring at me as you zero in like you never miss?
Nice girl like you knows exactly what she's doing in an ashtray like this
Blue eyes are colder than the sweat here on my brow
Too sour for your sugar daddy now
Too sour for your sugar daddy now
Bridge
But there was a time I could have taken you high
To the top of the wheel, your hand in mine
Those fairground dreams laid out below
They crane their necks to watch the show
(And if you want the) wisdom of ages, well baby you can have it for free
You just get dumber by stages - why the hell you looking at me?
(And) this pride I'm drinking fast as breathing will allow
Too sour for your sugar daddy now
Too sour for your sugar daddy now
Too sour for your sugar daddy now
|
||||
7. |
||||
|
Blueher, Plunkett, Wiley and Grey
Toiled like bugs to survive some way
Hawking magic medicine. Making hay
Being sure to do so while the sun shines
Bent and contemplating o'er a huge compromise
Long ago, he had wished for someone
Unexpectedly, he was met with misfortune
Everybody gathered by the roadside
Hey, she said, I know a place we can go to
Every sound she made soothed his mind
Red-faced with shame, sipping whiskey from a teacup
He would not wish her away
Blueher, Plunkett, Wiley and Grey
Struggled like dogs to endure their day
Hammering hot iron. Rolling in hay
Taking care they would not miss a sign
Plenty of men would have made the same choice
Long lazy curls fell past her shoulders
Underneath a sycamore they buried a white stone
Neglecting to notice who was watching
Carrie, I said, please won't you marry me?
Early the next morning she replied
Twenty years later - and ten since the storm
The invitation lay on the table
Yellow is the colour of a fine desert flower
White, the colour of its poison sap
I've an old apron hanging by the cabin door
Liquorice root and jimson in the pocket
Blueher, Plunkett, Wiley and Grey
Rotted like leaves, so will I someday
Heavenly reminders that flesh is but clay
And I am in no rush to get in line
Blueher, Plunkett, Wiley and Grey
|
||||
8. |
We all hate Lucy
02:59
|
|||
|
Did I ever tell you how Julie met Louise,
Hanging in the Palace bar in her plastic rosaries?
Julie she was waiting on an internet date
(Again) She gave him 10 but then she couldn’t wait
But if you’re checking out his profile you would think he wouldn’t wanna be choosy…
When in walks Lucy
Turns out they both hate Lucy
But don’t we all hate Lucy?
If you was to ask me why Julie hates her so
You'd have to speak to Julie, 'cause truly I don’t know
But you know Lou and Lucy, they was always like that
But then Lorraine says there's this party round at Alison’s flat
Louise was waiting there for Michael – dressed up really glam and seduce-y
Then in walks Lucy
Michael and Lucy
And don’t we all hate Lucy?
But wasn’t it that you and her used to be really good mates?
Yeah well I liked her for a while but then she kind of went off
It was about the time she started hanging round with that Sinead
Oh talk about Sinead – don’t get me started
There's poor Michael - broken-hearted
Yeah…
Well thank God for Lucy
And Michael don’t hate Lucy
But still, we all hate Lucy
|
||||
9. |
Hurricane Grace
06:38
|
|||
|
There’s a crackle on the radio, a sizzle in the air,
sheet-lightning flashing everywhere,
a train wreck in Missouri ~ but that’s another affair.
Trouble, strife, the love of my life is in Arkansas.
We met in Texarkana at the VFW.
My best chance, the Friday night dance, Nineteen Eighty-two
Kissing in the parking lot, like lovers do.
We both knew our roads would merge in Arkansas.
That was the first and only time we knew consensus.
We were direct and honest then, we had no pretences.
A black horizon seems peachy enough through rose-coloured lenses. Is that too Much Arkansas, or not enough Texas?
I just can’t help myself, I love that girl.
With one foot firmly planted in each of our worlds,
she prefers Texas, but I’m not so keen.
I’m from Little Rock, she’s from Abilene.
Turns out, like Ozark weather, she can turn on a dime.
But be she calm or stormy, the lovin’ is always sublime.
But when clouds pile up, on her brow …no reason …no rhyme.
What’s different is I’m afraid this time.
We try to get along, but something prevents us.
The ties that used to bind now strain to connect us.
I drive a Chevy S10. She drives a Lexus.
Is that too much Arkansas, or not enough?
Bridge
Her name is Grace, you know she’s full of that, too.
Just don’t provoke her whatever you do.
You think the storm is at its end.
Well it ain’t just ask her friends.
She’s comin’ around again ………….
When a tropical depression meets a stationary front,
the reluctant front shunts over with a grunt.
Pressure builds, tempers rise, guess who bears the brunt?
Man alive …she’s a category five!!
She’s a thunder-headed supercell, a thousand miles across.
Batten down the hatches before all is lost.
Lovers we, were meant to be …the kind they call star-crossed.
Heat lightning and fireflies flicker in a cloudless, starry sky.
To fading Ozark thunder, I wonder “Why?”
She isn’t there. It isn’t fair. Let her spirit fly.
Grace has left me high and dry in Arkansas.
So I pick my Taylor on the front porch swing.
I miss her more than anything.
I bend a note in this song I wrote, fifth fret, second string.
Nothing is the same tonight in Arkansas.
Out on the Texas plains, there are no fences.
The sand and sun gets in your eyes and the wind is relentless .
We’re overdue for Jesus to come and collect us.
There’s too much Arkansas, and not enough Texas.
Is it too much Arkansas, and not enough?
It's too much.
|
||||
Somebody Else's Troubles London, UK
Somebody Else’s Troubles are James Baniecki, Ian Coles and Charlie Graham: a musical partnership forged in the legendary
Campfire sessions at the Big Green Bookshop, London UK.
Americana, country, folk and rock’n’roll on things with strings: guitar, pedal steel, mandolin, bouzouki.
... more
Somebody Else's Troubles recommends:
Ace folk EP by our long-suffering soundman and 4th trouble. If you like this, check out his other 2 singles too.
go to album
Ian's 2016 solo effort - 10 years in the making...
go to album
As the grass grows
by Ian R Coles
Ian does folk!
go to albumIf you like Somebody Else's Troubles, you may also like:
Michelle Stodart’s folk music captures hope in melancholy, addressing the transformational aspects of the most challenging times.
go to album
Stunningly beautiful songs wrought with pedal steel and nylon-string guitar that cast mesmerizing melodic shapes.
go to album
The Flowers That Bloom in Spring
by Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert
Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert offer up a stunning minimalist country record, conjuring huge emotions with little more than vocals & guitar.
go to album
