SONGS FOR STUDIO CLOWN KNOWM (2020)
Slowly
If those that you
Were born and bred among
Could see the world to me that you’ve become
I know they’d stare
And feel how sad it is
That all our first flush loves
Should come to this
Slowly they age like all of us
Not for a while
But for all time
Mm
Some day when I
Am walking down the road
I’ll see you and I’ll think you’re growing old
Of course by then
You’ll see the same in me
But that is not the way
We run our dreams
Slowly they blind us to ourselves
Mm
As Though
As though to stretch the day again
Far as you can see
You make your name with one patient
Ah ah
The thought that the pulse was your work
And all of the breathing
Ah ah ah ah
As though to find the night again
In between such gold
You turn your face from the window
It’s not a blind it’s not a way to sleep for good
The thought that the breath was your fault
And all of the bleeding
Taking you far from your fellow man
You say that it’s not what you thought
But look where it’s leading
Oo ah ah ah
Mm
The thought that the pulse was your work
And all of the breathing
Oo ah ah ah
TELL A FRIEND (2017)
Here & now
Could it really be
Half an hour
Since you got the call from medicine?
Looking at you now
Can’t imagine
You were ever one for giving in
We should get away
Celebrate the fact that you’re still with us
We should go and see
Where the world’s at
And so we go we go again
Looking for the here and now
Looking for the here and now
The popup pulse beating on the edge of town
Neon lights purple feet
People in the prime of high times we can’t hope to understand
Still we’ll try
Good to feel the buzz
Of the city
Funny how it used to bother me
Good to feel the heat
Of the summer sticking to our limbs
All it took was nearly losing you
To suscitate
My whole stake in life
I can’t cry for relief now
I’m better off running round
Heady with being then trying to come down
From the moment
Better better
Half asleep what is that? I don’t sleep
Better that I never try better that I never try
Every night
Waiting by your better side
Telling you if you only make it
Say I’ll play
We’ll go find the kind of night that once made our day
All it took was nearly losing you
All it took was hard to bear
Now there’s
Now there’s something to see here
Something to see
And so we go we go again
Looking for the here and now
Looking for the here and now
The popup pulse beating on the edge of town
Neon light purple feet
People in the prime of high times we can’t hope to understand
Still I’m glad we’re here to try
This feels like the moment to break into life
Give yourself some credit
Smart adverts go for my eyes
In the morning light in the morning light in the morning
Hard to ignore but I try
In the morning light in the morning light in the morning
While I’m usually quite resistant I’ve been failing of late
Take heart A.I
While I’m not the kind of guy
Who does things on impulse
Don’t lose your grip
Keep a note of where I click
Bit by bit you’ll build a picture up of how I
Spend my time
Then you’ll find
You can read my mind
In the morning light in the morning light in the morning
I’ve been distracted by how to get rich
In the morning light in the morning
Gain perfect pitch
Shed a pound a day or learn to speak a language with ease
Take heart A.I
While I’ve yet to click on buy
You’re not far off
You will reach the
Soft spot in my heart and if you plant a dart there you will find I’m
Really not that
Hard to turn
Once you learn
What it is I yearn for
Imitation watches
No dice
Medication, cheap vacations
Snake eyes
These are not my style at all but one more roll might reveal
My vice
Take heart A.I
Take heart A.I
While I’m not the kind of guy
Who does things on impulse
Don’t lose your grip
Watch where I click
Bit by bit you’ll
Build a picture up of how I like to
Get my kicks and with that info at your
Fingertips it won’t be long until your dice read
Six six
(Give yourself some credit)
In the morning light
I am giving in
Clicking on the side
And typing in my pin
Home is where
This city doesn’t feel like my own
Man I confess, I confess
A part of me would still rather be
Further west, further west
The pace of life is different out there
Slower for sure, slower for
And trying to get around doesn’t seem
Such a chore, such a chore
Pull up a chair and I’ll tell you some more
Places are easy to face when not
Standing there in front of you
Faces are fonder when not in your own
Wait until they slide from view
Then you’ll miss ‘em
Picture a town where nobody tries
Hard to impress, hard to impress
And you’re considered fine if you just
Do your best do your best
The people there don’t care for career
Status or pay, status or
But if you have a great big idea
That’s OK, that’s OK
No-one will bother to get in your way
Places are easy to face
When they’re not in front of you
Faces are fonder when not in your own
Sayings always ring true
Letters are lovely to read
Photos are simple to show
Home is where the head is not
Home is where the
Home is where head is not
Home is where the head is not
Home is where the
Home is where the head is not
Wait, who is that I see
With his head on the bar?
Someone from my distant past
My he’s come far
I turn around I’m in no mood to catch up with someone who knows me from
Way back when
He’s from the same town as me and I don’t want him meeting my
New found friends
I’ve been dishonest in claiming that world as my own though it’s where I was
Born and bred
(I soon fled)
Places are easy to face when not
Standing there in front of you
Faces are fonder when not in your own
Sayings always ring true
Letters are lovely to read ah but
Baggage is hard to unpack
Home is where the head is not
(Home is where the)
Home is where the head is not
Home is where the head is not
(Home is where the)
Home is never walking
Back
The ones
Another morning on the plane to work
Another overcrowded downer
I don't know why I never spend the night there
And treat myself to some hotel with decent views
I'd ended up behind the thing I dread
A stranger keen on interaction
I must admit
I can't see the attraction
Cause though you get
The time of day
Where they come from why they're heading
That way
When they've had their say
You've still half a conversation left and don't know how to fill it
Thank you for the time kill
'Scuse me while I take this call
But as the morning turned to afternoon
She still had her neighbour
Manhattan charm was clearly what he wanted
That I understand
Closing my eyes
Opening my ears
Suddenly wanting to hear
Where they'd take it after both their
Gap years changes of career
After all the brothers and the sisters and the cousins and beyond
After what they thought about the H bomb
After favourite songs
After love and politics and what we're doing here if we are
Thank you for the time kill
We should grab a drink some day
We might be the ones who
Don't run out of things to say
Once upon a once upon a once upon a once upon a
Once upon a once upon a once upon a time
By the middle of the flight
He was Andrew
By the middle of the flight
She was Angeline
By the middle of the flight
He was Andrew
She was Angeline
By the middle
Good
By the middle
By the middle of the
By the middle of the flight
They were laughing
They were holding hands by the middle
Once upon a time I thought I knew my mind I thought I knew my mind I thought I knew my mind I thought I knew it
Once upon a time I thought that life was better spent was better spent on auto-pilot
Then upon a time I started looking round I started looking round and found I liked it now
She's called Angeline
He's called Andrew
They make quite the team
And we're getting off the flight (he’s called Andrew now) and we're getting off the flight
And we’re getting off the flight and we’re getting off the flight
We should grab a drink someday
And they're gonna make a life (she’s called Angeline) and they're gonna make a life
And they're gonna make a life and they're gonna make a life
Not run out of things to
Say say say say say say say say
(By the middle of the flight
He was Andrew
By the middle of the flight
She was Angeline
By the middle of the flight
He was Andrew
She was Angeline)
Re Preston
As predicted
He is getting into you
And he's learned your language
And your friends all approve
Fearing you would do much worse
But I see you're
Still a little ill at ease
And I think I know why
So allow me please
Isobel don't be put out
If your Preston
Doesn't say the word out loud
And if Preston speaks in punch lines
Just give him time
Charming banter
When the beer is in his hand
Courteous manner
When you need a man to take your friend
To her stop at night
Conversation on the way
Back in time to down
Anything to hand and say "why the frown"?
Isobel don't be put out
If your Preston
Doesn't say the word out loud
And if Preston speaks in punchlines
Just give him time
You can change him though it’s hard when
Preston’s not even trying
So don't you go for public praise
His story will be you're mates who can take a joke
Along the way
You may well get a dance if the soundtrack's old enough
A story of love sung proud
Signalling to the crowd this is for
Show signalling to you
This is for real
Isobel don't be put out
If he can't quite say out loud
What you know he's feeling now
And if Preston speaks in punchlines
Just give him time
You can change him though it’s hard when
Preston’s not even
Mm
This is the future
T-t-ten she wakes on Sellafield Way
Too late for the break of day
On the way to meet with a friend in town
She can see the streets where I used to play
Play till the sun went down
We would've been neighbours if dad had got the house he went for
We would've been classmates if I'd been born a little late
But this is the future now
And it has taken all these years for
Fate to look our way
T-t-ten I wake on Sellafield Row
Too late for the day to show
On the way to wait for the westbound train
I can see the bus she would sometimes take
Take to avoid the rain
We would've been neighbours if dad had got the house he went for
We would've been classmates if I'd been born a little late
But this is the future now
And I will be learning
How my housemates knew her back in college
Not close but friends for sure
How the world that lies outside my window
Means just as much to her
As the season breaks into bloom bloom
(One left leg turning around turning around too slow slow)
(One right leg turning around turning around too soon)
10 in December
10 in the spring
I wake too late to
Rise with the sun and
She does the same
Life lets us lie lie
We would've been neighbours if dad had got the house he went for
We would've been classmates if I'd been born a little late
But this is the future now
And I will be learning how
You’re never the hero you thought you’d be and that’s OK but
You’re never the neighbor you thought you’d be and that’s a shame
But this is the future now
And it has taken all these years for
Fate to look our way
Even though we passed it twice a day
Passed it twice a day day day day day
Dale at 39
Dale my man is for the roadtrip
Taking off alone
We’ve all been saving to help him
Saving to help him go
Dale my man is for the diner
Dale is for the dime
That buys the coffee that makes you
Feel like you’re in your prime
Or at least it used to do
When the world was young
Man I really hope you find yourself (turn turn 40 in November)
Just like you found me (turn turn 40 in the fall)
Man I really hope you find the calm you crave
Save a bit save a bit and hey then
You can sleep easily
Deep enough to dream
Of all the good in the world the
Good in the world you’ll see
Love the open
Love the open road
And it will love you in turn and show you a landscape
Bigger than the one you’re from
Bigger than you dared
Dared to long for
Man I really hope you find yourself (turn turn 40 in November)
Just like you found me (turn turn 40 in the fall)
Man I really hope you find the calm you seek
(Mired in local legend
You might find
Trying to spend a week there
Is taxing to body and soul
However a quick drive
A little further
Along this stretch of well-provisioned desert
Will soon yield a wealth of wonders
Without wishing to play favourites
We must admit
We have been trying to improve on
Buddy B for years
But having been unsuccessful with each new attempt)
Dale will come back to the flat
(We’ve given up)
Line every surface with snapshots of places he stayed at
The tricks of the light
Captured for all time in black and white
Kept there to show to his family and his friends
Coming in to say
Happy returns
Turn one year on
Tell tell what went down
I’d stake a claim on bonding with nature
I’d place a bet if I could
He’d be the kind for the open air
Stars in the sky there
Sprung from their shell
Lend him our ears as he comes downstairs in time to tell the tale
A plan
The day should start with stretch and sprint
Clearly
The day should start with sweat
Or so they say but I can’t swear to it now
Swear to it now
Swear to it now
The day should end with light relief
Empty your head and then get to your teeth
The day should end like that
Or so they say but I can’t swear to it now
Maybe the order's out
Maybe the front is where the back should be
How am I to know?
Better take it slow
Better take it slow
I can't function function
Till there’s a plan but
I can’t pick one pick one
What if I’m wrong?
A life in bits
Deserves a list make one
Take the tasks in turn
And hope the sense sticks
I can't function function
Till there’s a plan but
I can’t pick one
Since they’re all
Close to call
Maybe the order's out
Maybe the back is where the front should be
How am I to know?
Nothing looks right on the page now
No use starting
Until you’re clear
How long to take
How long to
Spend on one thing
Before you stop
No use sleeping
Until you’re sure
When to wake up
When to wake up
I can't function function
Till there’s a plan but
I can't pick one
What if I’m wrong?
What if I’m wrong?
The wagon
Another stick to light
Sadly I'm not paid to push them
But if they call I’ll bite
I don't need to quit I just need to do less of it
Though I'm having second thoughts
Since you left the scene
My life's been pretty lean
The wagon doesn't seem untenable
Now that you're on board
Just do the best you can
Bad bad times are bound to come that weren't part of the plan
Tearful nights outside friends with cigarettes in their hands
Passing them around like joints
Since you left the scene
My life's been pretty lean
The wagon doesn’t seem so dreadful
Now that you're on board but
Even if I don’t get on I
Hope you plan to stay the course
Once in a while you'll feel a phantom forming (April)
In between your fingertips
And then
Pick up a pen
Or failing that a toothpick (your make believe)
You might even put the end to your lips
Now and then
Fire without a flame
No need to fret
That's how it works
Some people need a patch (1-2-3)
Some people need a goal (4)
You need a tube to fill the U
Something to roll
Turkeying can take a toll
Cutting out at once
Trying to play the big man big man
Hours spent in front of the mirror
Trying not to hear
Buddy in your ear
Telling you to crack
Everybody's coming to see
The wagon as it passes
Be there and I’ll give it a wave
And maybe then a smile to wish you well
Once in a while (April)
You'll feel a phantom forming
In between your fingertips
And then
Pick up a pen (reach for the pack)
Or failing that a toothpick (your make believe)
You might even put the end
To your lips
Now and then
Even though
It’s not the same as smoke
Monday
Tuesday
Sing songs of struggle
Half love
Here's a photo of Grace
Hair in front of her face
Never one to play the beauty queen
Every photo I have
Shows her looking like that
Even so I think I'm falling in
Half love, it's unrequited with a twist
Namely that if she should ever
Turn around I know instead of saying yes
I'd let left brain set the pace and turn her down
Not that I'm proud of it
Not that I'm glad
Here's a photo of us
Each one leaving the crust
As we gossip through our favourite meal
She's been talking bout Tim
Least I think it was him
Either way I know just how she feels
OK I guess I've forfeited the right
To feel envious when she finally
Ends up with someone special by her side
Even so I wish we were meant to be
Which is why these
Pictures of where we’ve been are needed here tonight
Not ideal but
They help fuel the pain I fain would feel
Feel
Half love it's unrequited with a twist
Namely that if she should ever
Turn around I know instead of saying yes
I'd pull back then feel let down
OK I guess I've forfeited the right
To feel envious when she finally
Ends up with that someone special by her side
Even so I wish we were meant to be
Which is why these
Pictures of where we’ve been are needed here tonight
Not ideal but
They help fuel the pain I'm finally learning how to feel
Southern compass
After the lights out of November
After the cut to the cold
I’m left feeling twice as old
Pin all my daydreams to a liner
I feel the need for a change
Head for someplace more humane
Lisbon is the compass point for me
Barca bakes my being and leaves it happily making friends beside the sea
Francis leads my yearning to Assissi
Tell me why the magnet in my soul
Always draws me to the south and
Never to the Pole
Pulling with a force I can’t control
(This is where I thought I'd find myself I thought I'd find myself in someone else's shoes
I don't need I don't need to find their feet
Make believing barely helps the health but rarely causes early death and
I've no use I've no use for their boots)
Tempered my temper (roll!)
Just for a time there
Tempered my temper
Just for a while just for a
Down from the mainland
Came a drama
Cool as a mouthful of ice
Bloodshot and precise
Though all my friends are keen to go there
I won’t be there by their side
Far too late to change my mind
Lisbon is the compass point for me
Barca bakes my being and leaves it happily making friends beside the sea
France can be the spirit guide to
Tell me why the magnet in my soul
Always draws me to the south and
Never to the Pole
Pulling with a force I can’t control
(This is where I thought I'd find myself I thought I'd find myself in someone else's shoes
I don't need I don't need their feet
Make believing barely helps the health but rarely causes early death and
I've no use I've no use for their boots)
Tempered my temper
Just for a while there
But if I go there
I can’t help but harm it
(Acting like the glass is always fuller on the other side)
If I want to see the sights
If I want to sing the songs
I can’t help but change the
Parts I get wrong
(Acting like the glass is always fuller on the other side)
(Over the way)
Lisbon is the compass point for
Lisbon is the compass point for me
Barca bakes my being and leaves it happily making friends beside the sea
France can be the spirit guide to
Tell me why the magnet in my soul
Always draws me to the south
Never to the Pole
Always to the dream in me
Never to the real in me
Always to the fantasy
Far too faint to hold
(This is where I thought I'd find myself I thought I'd find myself in someone else's shoes
I don't need I don't need their feet
Make believing barely helps the health but rarely causes early death and
I've no use I've no use for their I've no use for their I've no use for their)
Groundhog
So you’re gonna go
This’ll be our last sunset
Taking in the red
Taking in the gold
I can’t believe it
Cider on the hill
City on the horizon
And all around the sounds of life dancing
We could learn the steps tonight
I want I want to keep this
Moment
Perfect
And if I could have a groundhog
Then I’d want it to be this one
Spend my every evening here with you
In the cradle of the world made new
(Did you)
Did you ever know
(Did you ever know)
I was paying attention?
Taking in the clothes
Taking in the hair
Each hint of perfume
All of them are here
(All of them are here)
Doubling the horizon
While all around the sounds of life beckon
We could join the dance tonight
Perfect
Moment
And if I could have if I could have a groundhog
Then I’d want it to be this one
Spend my every evening here with you
Wrapped up in time time wants you
Wind it up again
Tick it till it tocks and count to ten
Talk me till we click again
If we had some empties here
You could take a spin
Maybe stick a dare in there
If we had some empties here
I could take one too
Maybe stick a dare in there
Maybe stick a dare in for you
And if I could have a groundhog
Then I’d want it to be this one
Spend my every evening here with you
You’re becoming the view
You’re the sum of all I long to see
And you’re looking at me
Fonder than you used to do
And I’m looking at you
Light fades and night draws near
Tell me
Can’t we just stop right here here?