This is a song I wrote for my wife and, definitely, better half - June. I don't normally try to write ballads but this one seemed appropriate. 

A huge thanks to Carlo Presti and Mark Bennett for helping out. Carlo played the drums on this - it's my second time working with him & as always he's done an amazing job.

When I uploaded my first song to Soundlcoud early last year I almost gave up but an out of the blue comment from Mark Bennett with some great advice made me keep going. He's always so encouraging and supportive. I've been dying to do something with him since then & having Mark sing the backing vocals on the chorus on this is an absolute pleasure. 

Thanks also to Emma, Xy, Lee, J & Robyn for listening to an early draft of this and for being so helpful. 

Words & music: Nick
Guitar, Bass, Keys: Nick
Drums: Carlo Presti
Backing Vocals: Mark Bennett.


She
She is my world
And I know
That she understands
That I'll stay with her 
If she wants me
We shall never part.

She 
She is my life
And I know
That she understands
That I'll stay with her 
If she wants me
We shall never part.

She
She is my love
And I know
That she understands
That I'll stay with her 
If she wants me
We shall never part.

We Shall Never Part (w/ Carlo Presti & Mark J Bennett)

Coming Home.

So pull up a chair, I’ll buy you a beer  
Tell me your news, kick off your shoes,  
It's been years since I've heard anyone from home.  
And how's the old pair, are they still there?  
Mam in the kitchen, and Dad in his chair,   Reading the paper and putting the world to right.

Send my love to them in the morning,  Please tell my Mam that I'm coming home.

And how is young Mary, is she still contrary?
  I remember her smile, the sweetest in Kerry,  
I wonder if she ever thinks of me?  
I swore I'd send for her, when I had the money,  
I'd bring her to Brooklyn, we'd marry in Joseph's,  
And live the good life, in the heart of New York City.

Send my love to her in the morning  Tell her I think of her night and day.

I came here in '90 with nothing but hope,  
A second-hand suitcase tied up with rope,  
With the name of someone who was a friend of a friend of a friend.  
He got me a job washing down trailers,
In a meat packing plant, down near the Hudson, 
The smell was God-awful, but the money wasn't too bad.

Let's raise a glass to him in the morning,  And tell my Mam that I'm coming home.

I drank in the night-time, I drank in the day,  
I fell in with low-life's, the lost and the strays,  
We banded together in low-lit bars and Inns.  
Then I lost my job in the meat packing plant,  
Too many absences, and nights in the tank,  
The friend of a friend stopped taking my calls since then.

Let's raise a glass to him in the morning,  And tell my Mam that I'm coming home.

Tell them, I’m coming home

Picture of Time's Square 1980's courtesy of Douglas Corrance.

Coming Home (with Mark Bennett)

Thanks a million to Emma for letting me add a few bits and pieces to her great song. I loved this one the first time I heard it. I thought it had a cool 60's torch-song feel to it so I added in some organ, bass and extra guitars. 

meet me ( Emma Shanley & me)

Before Christmas Lee Lucas posted a collaboration of The Parting Glass with Mark on vocals:

https://soundcloud.com/lee-lucas/lee-lucas-mark-j-bennett-the-parting-glass

Mark subsequently kindly posted his vocal stem as an open collaboration. This is my take on the song - I hope it does Mark's great vocal justice. Here's the original vocal stem:

https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett/the-parting-glass-open-collaboration

The Parting Glass

Of all the money that e'er I had
I have spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done
Alas it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They would wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Good night and joy be with you all

A man may drink and not be drunk
A man may fight and not be slain
A man may court a pretty girl
And perhaps be welcomed back again
But since it has so ought to be
By a time to rise and a time to fall
Come fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all
Good night and joy be with you all

The Parting Glass (with Mark Bennett)

I wrote this song a few years ago - shortly after joining Soundcloud - and I'd always wanted to go back and revisit it with someone who could bring it to another level. Thankfully Mark agreed to add his vocal to it and I think he's done an amazing job. I've added some new instruments to the original mix including strings, double bass and bassoon/clarinet. Thanks to mark for the great picture as well -it fits the song really well.

Arcadia

When the world was young

And we were free,

I stole a boat and went to sea,

A broken heart drove me on,

I turned my back on the setting sun.

 

I ran the sail and found the breeze,

I said farewell to the empty quays,

With a heavy heart I turned away,

I closed my eyes on Dublin Bay.

 

The days grew into months and years,

The lands grew dark, the people fierce,

I tarried rarely in one place,

Suspicion met in every face.

 

1st Break

 

I heard a voice one night at sea,

Come o’er the waves

Calling to me,

Followed the sound I came to a land,

Where a heavenly angel stood in the sand.  

 

I ran from the boat and fell at her feet,

My gaze was sinful in a presence so sweet,

“My mortal man you answered my call,

I am a prisoner and this is my fall.”

 

We danced together with a passion ablaze,

For how long I don’t know, it seemed like days,

In my enchantment my thoughts were amiss,

My fate was sealed with the softest kiss.

 

2nd Break

 

I said my lady come with me,

I’ll take you away on this very day,

She shook her head a tear in her eye,

Said what is cursed can never die.

 

A clap of her hands,

Bewitchment was gone,

She opened my eyes to her truest form

“Go mortal man while you’re still whole,

I give you your life but I’ve taken your soul.”

 

I awoke in my boat surrounded by sea

No land, no island

Just my boat and me

I turned for home my anger dimmed,

And prayed to the Gods for a favourable wind.

 

3rd Break

 

When I reached home the people had changed,

My family and friends long dead in their graves,

I told my story but they laughed at me,

“Pity the madman too long on the sea”.

 

So if you see me have pity on me,

I am a shadow that lives endlessly,

“What is cursed can never die”,

I am the lost and this is my cry.

Arcadia (Me and Mark J Bennett)

Here's an excellent song by Kevin. He very kindly let me add some guitar, bass and strings to it. I love this song. 

Words & Music: Kevin McDonald
Vocals & Acoustic Guitar: Kevin McDonald
Guitar, Bass and strings: Nick Nolan

The River (Collab on a Kevin McDonald song)

Emily

Here's a live version of I Was Mistaken with Tara Casserly on vocals, David O'Mahony on bass and me on guitar.  Recorded on Wednesday through my iPhone - the sound quality isn't great but I think it's a really nice version with a great vocal from Tara.

I Was Mistaken (live version with Tara Casserly & David O'Mahony)

I had this melody in my head all day so I had to record it to get rid.

Guitars/Bass/Keyboard/Vocals.

Tonight

The Girl In The Red Dress

A song written for a wedding we were at a few weeks ago. 

My Life Started With You

I was alone
Before I met you
And I never dreamed
That love could be true
But you changed my world
My hopes and my life
I’m so happy to say
That you are my wife

And so we begin
In something so new
I just wanted to say
My life started with you.

And so here we are
On our wedding day
Two hearts joined together
With the vows that we make
I promise to live you
In the time that we spend
And I’ll never leave you
My love, my friend.

And so we being
In something so new
I just wanted to say
My live started with you.

My Life Started With You

I've always loved this tune & have wanted to do a version of it for a while. I was delighted Dave agreed to add his wonderful low whistle to it.  His playing really brings the tune to life. Details of the Yeats poem and the original air here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_by_the_Salley_Gardens#Recordings

The Sally Gardens (with Dave McKeown)

I've been lucky enough to have collaborated with some amazing and talented people on Soundcloud.  Please visit their clouds to hear some fantastic music.

 http://soundcloud.com/xycon/tracks. 

https://soundcloud.com/non-sapiens

http://soundcloud.com/emma-shanley 

https://soundcloud.com/telefan

http://soundcloud.com/starshipjenerprise

http://soundcloud.com/dave-mckeown

http://soundcloud.com/johnnymindlin

http://soundcloud.com/toddlers

http://soundcloud.com/lee-lucas

http://soundcloud.com/spiderdrum

https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett



Nick Nolan.

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