THEY CHANGED HER MIND  www.regmeuross.com 

This song is about the reopening of a mental asylum which had remained locked since the early 1960’s.

When they opened it they found suitcases containing the effects and details of many inmates. The overwhelming impression I got was that many of these people should never have been locked away in the first place.  

Reg

LYRICS

You closed the suitcase and you waited for the bus

To take you from this place away from all of us

They said you would be better and they said you’d be ok

Just read and sign the letter they’re taking you away today

There’s pictures of your mother and there’s pictures of your sister

There’s nothing of your father but you want nothing of him

There’s pictures of your brother and his watch and medication

He wanted you to have to stop the devil getting in


CHORUS

She got the shakes her love was wrong

She grieved her stillborn child too long

They locked her up to see what they could find

They changed her mind


There’s flowers from your wedding made of cloth and made of paper

You thought they wouldn’t last but they outlasted any love

There’s perfume for the morning and there’s perfume for later

Something special for a Sunday and some wisdom from above


“Take some writing paper you could be there for some weeks

In no time you’ll be better you’re not like those other freaks”

That was 1927 now it’s 1958

And she is just a number upon a nameless grave

 
CHORUS


Sometimes in the name of kindness man lets the devil loose

Is ignorance or blindness an  acceptable excuse?

Remember the forgotten remember the condemned

Another time, free of crime you could be damned like them.




REVIEWS:

“Meuross, who was once praised by the late, great Townes Van Zandt, has plenty of social commentary in the album, especially in They Changed Her Mind, which is about a woman sent to a mental asylum” Martin Chilton, Telegraph Music 

“Meuross.. sings with conviction, understated power and gentle passion…the socio-political seam is also mined on They Changed Her Mind, a story of a woman consigned to a mental asylum in the late 1920s (the causes for her illness hinting at sexual abuse and an illegitimate stillborn child) given a steady Richard Thompson-esque rhythm.” Mike Davies (FRUK) 

“With a precise poetic touch and a rich vein of storytelling, his songs form imageries to be remembered…‘They Changed Her Mind, is an incredibly sad tale of individuals confined in institutions by a society that refused to understand… these narratives carry characters and relate experiences that create such powerful visual impressions they make this album theatre for your ears. Writing of this calibre demands a deep understanding of a myriad facets within the human condition.” Tim Caroll, Folkwords       

Meuross isn’t the only artist who, just when you think they’ve peaked, produces another set that can now be defined as their best yet, but with ‘England Green and England Grey’ Meuross leaves the listener in little doubt that there are few singer/songwriters who currently come close. ….. ‘They Changed Her Mind’ covers the reopening of a mental asylum that had remained unused since the early 60s and the discovery of suitcases containing the personal effects and details of some of the inmates. Again Meuross delivers a chilling tale… Meuross delivers his stories with so much conviction and passion yet still his vocals never lose their gentleness. He shows that there’s no need to shout to be heard and with a first class bunch of musicians fleshing out those unforgettable melodies which compliment his astute lyrical talent ‘England Green and England Grey’ should be heard by all music lovers, not just those interested in the folk and singer/songwriter genres Meuross is often grouped in with.”
Malcolm Carter Pennyblack Music

They Changed Her Mind by Reg by Reg Meuross (from the album England Green & England Grey)

Ballad featuring only my vocals and me on acoustic guitar.  This was recorded at a friend's home studio here, in Toronto, Ontario

01 Tell The World, You've Just Begun

A Very upbeat song about meeting someone and dancing your life with them

Dance With Me

Home

This is a song I have written about a very beautiful, strong and talented woman that I love very much.  I owe her everything.
Photography by @Mel Brown Studios
Recorded at Pump House Studios

Like An Angel

You don't have to

Written and performed by Robynne Calvert 2011

You Don't Have To- Robynne Calvert (Original)

Thoughts

Our version of (the original) Fleetwood Mac song written by the late great Danny Kirwan.

Something Inside Of Me

https://www.musicbyragnar.com

Exploring cinematic composition, Laurenz is a song about transition and hope, based on three connected melodic parts written on piano, featuring accompany strings and orchestra arrangements.

Music By Ragnar is a creative outlet for songs written by multi-instrumentalist composer Ragnar Fjölnisson. Born in a rural part of Iceland, but now living in Germany, Ragnar explores soundscapes influenced by his fellow countrymen and women, including Biggi Hilmars, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Of Monsters and Men, Ásgeir and Sigur Rós

Want to collaborate? Reach out on info@musicbyragnar.com

Artwork based on photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

Laurenz

Hurting Me Like Hell

In 2020 I lost my best friend and musical collaborator of 40 years to cancer. It took me a while to write something meaningful about this - this song emerged from 3 or 4 unsuccessful and partially completed songs. In essence, it is a song about loss, yearning and the hope for better times.

It started as a simple acoustic piece, but then grew and grew. There is a version with an extended "Gareth Malone" style massed choir singing "You're in our hearts/Never forgotten here". There's also a more orchestral version with massed trumpets, marching band and additional choir. 

This short piece crystallised 4 different themes, so there are some fragments of the earlier unsuccessful songs hidden in the lyrics. Janine Bracewell joined in and added a complete female choir. Thanks, Janine!

Ian Middleton: 12 string guitar, bass, vocals, orchestra, choir
Janine Bracewell: female choir

Hope it feels like home 
©2021 Ian Middleton (Mysterian)

And here we are, now one of us is gone
An empty space, where you once belonged
And if there’s is a place that we all go
Come visit us 
And tell us what you know

We all wonder where you are
Are you there
Shining brightly with the stars
Will you
Whisper in the winds that blow
So wherever you’ve gone
We all hope We all hope 
We hope it feels like home

The race is run, you can take your rest
With the brightest and the best
The world seems like an emptier place
Without you
It leaves a empty space

Dust to dust is what they say
I guess we’ll all 
Find it out on some other day.

And it all just
Feels so very far far away
So wherever that you’ve gone
We hope We hope 
We hope it feels like home

Holding all the memories
And never let it go
All the moments remembered
So very, very long ago

Ashes to ashes is what they say
Here's hoping that 
there’ll be some more better days
And it all just
Feels so very far far away
So wherever you’ve gone
We hope We hope 
We hope it feels like home

Hope It Feels Like Home

Singer songwriter in the Folk genre living in Hampshire UK.

Thoughts

Bo-Zouk