U.T.B.    Stuck In Berlin

this is such a fabulous song i love it i hope you do too...written by Paul Mortlock

Time

This song is co-written with Jethro Harper and had its origins in our days in My Octopus George (myspace.com/myoctopusgeorge).
The song is about the hope that one day love will conquer hate. Brixton has certainly seen its troubles in the past. Verse 1 refers to the original generation of Caribbean immigrants coming over to the UK on the 'Windrush', and the discrimination they often received - 'no blacks, no Irish, no dogs', was written in many windows as the people looked for accommodation. In Coldharbour Lane (a street in Brixton) the newcomers could receive help finding jobs. Verse 2 moves on to the Brixton riots in the 1980s. The choruses and middle part of the song look forward to a time when I believe hatred will finally be overcome.
As been hinted at throughout the album in differing guises, the train tune from 'Walthamstow Central' finally comes back to close the album. The passengers may change during the journey, but the train stays the same...
Thanks to everyone who has listened to the album as it's been recorded - the album will be properly released Christmas 2014 with artwork and some live shows. All the best, Vince  

Lyrics:

O Windrush, storm coming.
A better life was promised -
Coldharbour Lane is dark and wet.
Great Britain is working,
No short cuts, no shirking -
(They said): 'No blacks, no Irish and no dogs'.

He told me to cling to the vine,
Don't look back, there's still time,
He told me to grasp the line,
That takes you over & over & over & over and shine.

Distrust in wrong people,
No jobs and grey steeples,
A house alight - a boy lies down.

He told me to cling to the vine,
Don't look back, there's still time.
He told me to love all the time,
And spill it over & over & over & over and shine.

A change in me, a change in you,
We're like a family and we'll get through,
A transformed world which we made new 
(it don't hurt so bad)

A change in you...
We're like a family and we'll get through
All the colours  red, green and blue

A change in me.....

(Thinking time: love & grief
Sitting now some relief
Green & blue - thrush & leaf
Darting strawberry thief)

Brixton

Lyrics written and performed by Jamie.October 15

TWO BROKEN HEARTS

Recorded by Al Denholm in Stenton with Scot on guitar, John on sax, Rob on drums, Doug on bass and Tk on vocals

Crushed

I bought an electric saz a few years back from Istanbul when filming Sound Tracker season 3, this track is heavily influenced by Baba Zula, one the best bands around. This is a result of a late night jam w myself up in the mountains in Banyalbufar,Spain

Electric Sazzy Land

'Kings Cross' is so called, because King George IV (1762-1830) had a monument to himself built in the area. This tall column, with a statue of the king at the top (which itself became known as the 'King's Cross'), has long been demolished. It was very unpopular - as was the king. Thus the lyrics for the first part of this song are about how silly the king is and how his subjects related to him.
The first part of the song segues into the second - 'St Pancras', with a shift of mood and texture. In my humble opinion, this is one of my favourite buildings in London and I felt it deserved being set to music. The cities at the end of the song are four places you can visit via the Eurostar from St Pancras.


Lyrics:

Kings Cross

I am the King and I like to spend,
I tend to drive Parliament around the bend.
I like my cards and I like my food,
You can be my friend too if I'm in the mood - 
And you... but not you though.

Let's build a tower at the end of the street,
With a statue of 'yours truly' 
On the top...

Oh no, oh no,
You lead an extravagant life, but you don't like your wife,
Oh no, oh no,
You do everything you please, but you've got gout in the knees.

I'm going to give you a  'bunch of fives' if your not careful... Again!

My name is George and I love to eat,
You can tell Parliament I don't like defeat.
Up in Scotland I wear my kilt,
All the pretty, noble ladies wilt.
(It's not me you know, it's because i'm the King!)

Let's show my power at the end of the street,
With a statue of 'yours truly'

All the little babies starved and weak,
'Mummy, Daddy, where's our plates of beef?'
Let's clear the slums of vermin!
From the top...

Oh no, oh no,
You lead an extravagant life, but you don't like your wife,
Oh no, oh no,
You do everything you please, but you've got...


St Pancras

Coming up the stairs, I come into the open, 
And I see the blue skies and the brilliant sunshine,
And ahead of me, in all it's golden majesty...
St. Pancras!

On a broken seesaw, 
Gazing higher never looking at the ground.
All the iron steeples, 
Gothic towers, pillars, echoing sound.
(Paris, Brussels, Lille, Aachen)




U.T.B. Stuck In Berlin

Ally Combe

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