Ivy (Piano Version) - Abi Farrell

'Was It Ever Really Bitter' is Track 2 from Abi Farrell's debut EP 'The Only Way I Learn', released November 2019. 

Lyrics (Copyright Abi Farrell 2019)

Bitter sun it woke me up, springtime anger overrun
Next thing I force friendship into raging love
So receptive to new things I was, a third beginning says I’m fun
I only let him half as close but it’s twice as much

It was a big shot of worry to have on my mind
He wasn’t there all along I wasn’t wasting time
But in the end it had me going crazy
And I swore it wouldn’t get to you, by knowing I’d not seen this through
To the bitter end, but was it ever really bitter?
It wasn’t like this last spring, I was sicker

So I chased the golden one, cos I wasn’t feeling half as numb
Bitterness has a habit of making you dumb
Losing didn’t eat me up in the way it did at twenty-one
No warning signs, no anger, easy to move on

It was a big shot of worry to have on my mind
He wasn’t there all along I wasn’t wasting time
But in the end it had me going crazy
And I swore it wouldn’t get to you, by knowing I’d not seen this through
To the bitter end, but was it ever really bitter?
It wasn’t like this last spring, I was sicker

I always loved someone
I will not be to blame

Was It Ever Really Bitter

'The Only Way I Learn' is the title track from Abi Farrell's debut EP 'The Only Way I Learn', released November 2019.

Lyrics (Copyright Abi Farrell 2019)

I’ve been keeping quiet for ages, losing sense of all the ways I can be tough
Anxiety raging, I don’t give myself love
So when I say that I’m no good for me, I’m gonna straighten out my best white shirt
Pick a song I can cling to, cos that’s the only way I learn

So don’t make me weak, give me a sign that I’m fine
Done hiding from talking, I silenced my mind
And if it takes an hour I’m gonna be feeling oh so strong
And I can tell the ghost inside of me to just move on

I know it’s founded on fiction, I know I’m wrong to be falling over flaws
But when you tell me I’m golden I won’t believe you at all
So if you see that my defence is up, there’s still a glimmer I’m not out of words
I pick a song I can cling to, cos that’s the only way I learn

So don’t make me weak, give me a sign that I’m fine
Done hiding from talking, I silenced my mind
And if it takes an hour I’m gonna be feeling oh so strong
And I can tell the ghost inside of me to just move on

How long? I keep saying sorry for what he’s done
But now I’m sitting on the kitchen floor at 1am, remember who I was
Remember I’m worthy of love and to keep speaking up 

So don’t make me weak, give me a sign that I’m fine
Done hiding from talking, I silenced my mind
And if it takes an hour I’m gonna be feeling oh so strong
And I can tell the ghost inside of me to just move on

The Only Way I Learn

'Rather Be A Child' is Track 4 from Abi Farrell's debut EP 'The Only Way I Learn', released November 2019. 

Lyrics (Copyright Abi Farrell 2019)

It’s not the first time this adult life is feeling like a stormy springtime
Take back my history, I’d rather be a child
I’ve got these five fears and in as many years I have never paused to solve them
Cross that tick list, say goodbye to him

Tell me how it is OK to plug away, feeling like you’re sinking slowly
When I let that pressure in I make it rain
No wonder there’s a part of me drifting, if our singing, has been taken over by a screen
Like a chapter I will not have time to read

If you find you’re losing light, push the dark to places it can hide
Cos all I see, is vanity, competition in the corners of our minds
I’d rather be a child

I was driven, I had ambition
I was comfortable in my own skin
Give me poetry, I'd never put it down
I found comfort in creation, but the growing took my patience
Find my smile inside the picture, make her proud

Tell me how it is OK to plug away, feeling like you’re sinking slowly
When I let that pressure in I make it rain
No wonder there’s a part of me drifting, if our singing, has been taken over by a screen
Like a chapter I will not have time to read

If you find you’re losing light, push the dark to places it can hide
Cos all I see, is vanity, competition in the corners of our minds
I’d rather be a child

If I don’t stop now I will never start the healing, I am golden and I’m running for no reason
If I don’t stop now I will never start the healing, I am golden and I’m running for no reason
If you find you’re losing light, push the dark to places it can hide
Cos all I see, is vanity, competition in the corners of our minds
I’d rather be a child

Rather Be A Child

'Ivy' is the third track from Abi Farrell's debut EP 'The Only Way I Learn', out November 2019.

Lyrics (Copyright Abi Farrell 2019)

I could simply have it solved
And after all this hope wish I could do it with my eyes closed
By sending all these signals down the phone to me
I may as well have sung my heart out in the middle of the street

This would have counted for something back in ‘83
By chasing lights do we fail to know what we need?

There’s a place among the ivy
The stars come out to see me but they can’t take their eyes off you
I put a fence up in my head, won’t you tell it it has to move?
It’s the sinking shaking feeling I have let you down too soon

This would have counted for something back in ‘83
By chasing lights do we fail to know what we need?

And when we go down to the river each time it’s the perfect place to be
There’s a little black cloud there, keeping me awake, I can see where this one leads
I know I have doubts and it isn’t your fault I just need your energy
I’ve spent way too long trying to bite my tongue, don’t make it hard for me

There’s a place among the ivy
The stars come out to see me but they can’t take their eyes off you
I put a fence up in my head, won’t you tell it it has to move?
It’s the sinking shaking feeling I have let you down too soon
This would have counted for something back in ‘83
By chasing lights do we fail to know what we need?

And when we go down to the river each time it’s the perfect place to be
There’s a little black cloud there, keeping me awake, I can see where this one leads
I know I have doubts and it isn’t your fault I just need your energy
I’ve spent way too long trying to bite my tongue, don’t make it hard for me

I don’t want to run in circles or for this to be the end
But when every man of power tells me you won’t be 18 again
I get this anger up my sleeves, black cats across my path
And they’re saying don’t give in, no don’t look back
I don’t want to run in circles or for this to be the end
But when every man of power tells me you won’t be 18 again
I get this anger up my sleeves, black cats across my path
And they’re saying don’t give in, no don’t look back

And when we go down to the river each time it’s the perfect place to be
There’s a little black cloud there, keeping me awake, I can see where this one leads
I know I have doubts and it isn’t your fault I just need your energy
I’ve spent way too long trying to bite my tongue, don’t make it hard for me
Don’t make it hard for me
There’s a place among the ivy
Don’t make it hard for me
There’s a place among the ivy

'Change The World' is Track 1 from Abi Farrell's debut EP, 'The Only Way I Learn', released November 2019. 

Lyrics (Copyright Abi Farrell, 2019)

You’ve got a nerve and I can tell the situation’s cold
But I’ve had two steps forward, you’re not pushing me three back
And if you feel like pushing the light from my eyes, you can burn
I’ve had two years longer than you, so just sit, watch and learn

Paint the town red with your name and I’ll paint you with mine
I know the answers to the questions that you can’t find
Don’t be quite so fearless, be hopeless you will see
You might change the world but you will not change me

Open your eyes and you will see just what I can do
And it was so much better when you shied away from the light
And if you want to push the light from my eyes you can try you can burn
But I’ve had two years longer than you so just sit watch and learn 

Paint the town red with your name and I’ll paint you with mine
I know the answers to the questions that you can’t find
Don’t be quite so fearless, be hopeless you will see
You might change the world but you will not change me

Don’t ch ch ch ch change it
Don’t ch ch ch ch change it
Don’t ch ch ch ch change it
Don’t ch ch ch ch change it, yeah

Paint the town red with your name and I’ll paint you with mine
I know the answers to the questions that you can’t find
Don’t be quite so fearless, be hopeless you will see
You might change the world but you will not change me

Change The World

Introducing ‘I Will See You Through’, the stunning new single from Abi Farrell, out now on Big AC Records.

An iconic pizzicato string intro creeps up on you before exploding into warm gospel tones, punctuated by lush, girl-group sensibilities.

Whilst the nod to Motown and 60’s soul is undeniable, Abi’s modern delivery, allied by reflective, inspirational  lyrics and the nuanced production of Mitch Ayling (The Milk) make ‘I Will See You Through’ a contemporary triumph.

The song wraps a reassuring arm around the listener, highlighting the importance of lending an ear to a close friend in need; a more than appropriate sentiment for today.

‘I Will See You Through’ is available for digital download and across all streaming platforms now.

I Will See You Through

British singer/songwriter Abi Farrell debuted on Big AC Records in the winter lockdown of 2020 with “I Will See You Through”, a dreamy Supremes-esque dancer of a track that was quickly embraced by the underground soul scene. The single earned rave reviews and worldwide radio exposure, including plays from the likes of Craig
Charles (BBC 6 Music), Robert Elms (BBC Radio London), and Kurtis Powers (The Face Radio, NYC).

2021 brings a new single and also a beautifully packaged 7” vinyl to go with it! The second single, “Empowered”, will be out on 12th February and pre-orders for the vinyl are now available from Big AC Records. ‘Empowered’ is a gutsy, hard-hitting slice of soulful pop, celebrating independence, ambition and self-belief. The song bursts into life with its statement horn line, underpinned by a disco groove and funky textures of clav and wah. Lyrically, “Empowered” focuses on the phenomenon of emotional gaslighting in modern relationships and the ultimate realisation that one should never need permission to be authentically themselves.

Empowered

Described by London's 'Soul Stripped Sessions' as 'a powerhouse and then some', Oxfordshire’s Abi Farrell was raised on a soundtrack of female-driven pop, funk and soul.
Influences from the likes of Aretha, Carole King, Eva Cassidy and Chaka Khan may all be present in Abi’s music but each song is brought into the here and now by her effortlessly pure voice and earnest, empowering lyrics;
In November 2019 she released her debut EP ‘The Only Way I Learn’ which has amassed nearly 50K streams to date.
Following its release, Abi was named Richer Unsigned’s ‘Artist of the Week’ - “Abi’s control and vibrato of her incredible vocal tone is truly stunning”.
At an East London jam In February 2020, a chance meeting with Nick Corbin (New Street Adventure, Lack of Afro, Laville), sparked a songwriting partnership that would develop fruitfully over lockdown.
A shared love of soulful music contributed to ‘Empowered’ - Abi’s solo composition, re-produced in demo form by Nick - and the co-written ‘I Will See You Through’.
The songs attracted the attention of producer, Mitch Ayling (The Milk), who invited Abi and her band to record at Woods Lodge Studio in Essex.
Look out for the limited edition 7” vinyl featuring “Empowered” and “I Will See You Through” in early 2021!

Abi Farrell

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