Well it has been a dull few months, hence the need for surprises. I'll leave it up you as to what the surprise might be.

Big thank ya to Jörg https://soundcloud.com/joerxworx and Yaron Engler for helping out this lounge lizard on this track.

If you'd like some visuals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl143kuuqE8

Lyrics

I’ve got a surprise for you  
Like Miles you’ve been feeling ‘kinda blue’
Missin’ Valentine’s was hateful 
Now we’re here in April
But I’ve got a surprise for you

First thought about getting a tat-too
An arrow through the heart, that’s cut in two
Or something from your wish list
We don’t have to wait till Christmas
I’ve got a surprise for you
 
I’ve got a surprise for you
So what if we’re financial-la-ly screwed
No compromises
When it comes to surprises 
I’ve got a surprise for you   

I’ve got a surprise for you
I’ve got a surprise for you
Open up your eye-ziz
I know you like surprise-ziz
I’ve got a surprise for YOoooooooouuuuuuu xxx

I've Got A Surprise For You!

I 've Got A Surprise For You! (feat: joerxworx)

Big thank you to https://soundcloud.com/jonathan_beckenstein and Yaron Engler two musicians with a magical touch!

Life is complex, decisions are difficult, so I thought that flipping a bitcoin might help with that. Not sure of the science behind this but it was a lot of fun to  write ! https://youtu.be/Wn1euVtmcOw


A left or a right, I don’t know
A left or a right, I don’t know
Stroke a jawbone
Flip a bitcoin
That’s the sure way to know

Heading for heartache or gold
Heading for heartache or gold
Hard to decide
When to colour your blind
The red or the yellow brick road

Flip a bitcoin
Flip a bitcoin
Flip a bitcoin
So you don’t get purloined
Flip a bitcoin
Flip it again
One more time
Or the best out of ten

The red or the yellow brick road
The red or the yellow brick road
Don’t get purloined
Just flip a bitcoin…….

That’s the sure way to know

Flip A Bitcoin

Flip A Bitcoin (feat. Jonathan Beckenstein)

A bagatelle, there are bigger issues I know but flies just get my goat. On a positive note, Ghislaine's photos make them look so beautiful  (youtu.be/XUWzqxtFlX0) and I was able to slip the word 'boondoggle' into the lyric.

Shoo fly don’t bother me
Shoo fly don’t bother me
Shoo fly don’t bother me
Stop with this boondoggle 
Or there will be some trouble
With me

There’s a blow fly on my knee
A blow fly on my knee
A blow fly doing a high five 
On my knee 
Better stop with this boondoggle
Or there will be some trouble
With me

Early in the morning
I’m giving you a warning
Don’t land on my blue suede shoes
Buzzing at full throttle
You know that a blue bottle
Might have something to lose

Blow fly on my knee
Blow fly on my knee
Blow flying a high five
On my knee
Stop with this boondoggle
Or there will be some trouble
With me

Blow Fly

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ckaz_vKiuk

https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson vocals
https://soundcloud.com/jonathan_beckenstein guitar
Yaron Engler drum program
Me on vocals, piano, double bass

Always been a little shy when it comes to love songs, a little like the character on the track however,  doing a duet with Janine was not the icing on the cake, it was the cake! 

Then, the magic touch from Jonathan and Yaron in two areas of music where I fail miserably, guitar and drums, big thank you to all three, I couldn’t’ve done it without you!

He tugged at his hair
Shucked his cuffs       
He stared at his feet
And he blushed  
She looked so good in that dress     
Oh but who would’ve guessed
There might be a change in his luck

She said 
Do y'know any jokes?
And he said 
O.k, there was this bloke…’
And the punchline was crass
He fell flat on his ass
But something had floated her boat

Something had floated her boat 
Something had floated her boat
Ignore the Pecksniffs
And listen to this
A boat just needs water to float

A Boat Just Needs Water To Float feat: Janine Levinson & Jonathan Beckenstein

Written by Leiber & Stoller, It was initially recorded by R&B duo, Willy & Ruth, in 1954, then by Elvis in  1956. The genius of Lieber's lyrics were that they usually finished early leaving room for theatrics, something Elvis excelled in.

Treat Me Like A Fool (Leiber & Stoller)

LIVE at the Brunswick in Brighton just before Christmas, a mobile phone recording but it captured the mood. So good to play live again!!!!

https://youtu.be/rlOZFl6fwd4

A rain dance for the bush fires
A sun dance for the floods
A war dance for anyone    
Who doesn’t give a fuck

It’s murder on earth’s dance floor
We may never dance again
It’s time to pick up that dam phone
If you’re a ’Strictly’ fan

It's murder on earth’s dance floor
 t's murder on earth’s dance floor

A shoot out at the oil coral
Sundance at my side
You know that he can bust a move
And he can  jive

Dance like no one’s watching
Dance so full of love
Dance those socks till they come off
Take off those kid gloves

It's murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor

Instrumental

Gonna  move your feet, gonna eat less meat
This dance floor needs repair
if ya wanna lift that glitter ball
Dance like Fred Astaire

and dance like no one’s watching
Dance with so much love
Dance those socks till they come off
Take off those kid gloves

It’s murder on earth’s dance floor
It’s murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor
It's murder on earth’s dance floor

Instrumental

A rain dance for the bush fires
A sun dance for the floods
A war dance for anyone    
Who doesn’t give a fuck

It’s murder on earth’s dance floor
We may never dance again
It's time to pick up that dam phone
If you're a Strictly fan

It's murder on earth's dance floor
It's murder on earth's dance floor
It's murder on earth's dance floor
It's murder on earth's dance floor

Squidly doot, snidely dat, hot dam

Murder On Earth's Dance Floor LIVE!

Hard times, I hope you will forgive the lightness of touch. A big thank you to three magnificent earthlings who allow me to keep dreaming: https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson, https://soundcloud.com/jonathan_beckenstein and Yaron Engler. 

https://youtu.be/gcvxFj4CPZY

Rocket fuel regular
Or rocket fuel light?
Said the Venusian
He was ever so polite

She said, give me regular
And lit a cigar
He knew straight away
That this girl was from Mars

No smoking in here
You’ll blow us all up
She said, give me ya phone number
And I might look you up

He went red
She remained green
Coz Martians and Venusians
Are like meat with ice cream

Meat with Ice Cream
Meat with Ice Cream

He went red
She remained green
But when you think about it
What’s wrong with meat with ice cream

He gave her his number
That’s  what they did
She gave hime a wink
And he fluttered his lids

Meat with Ice Cream
Meat with Ice Cream
He gave her his number
And a little while later they had green and red kids

Meat with Ice Cream
Meat with Ice Cream
Meat with Ice Cream
You know what I mean

Meat With Ice Cream

Meat With Ice Cream (feat. Janine Levinson & Jonathan Beckenstein)

I had this little ear worm in my head for a few days but  I got stuck and https://soundcloud.com/fadysporz  came to the rescue and build this little dream castle. Fabulous photographs by ghislaine.b.righton should you wish for some visuals. 

https://youtu.be/6nWNyjZTrTc

Halloumi with apricots
On a pumpernickel slice
You can find one in the sandwich bar 
At the entrance to the park 

There’s nothing more to wish for
You don’t go that far
There’s a bench outside to sit on
At the entrance to the park

A little finch moves up an inch 
To join you on the bench
He’ll never let you dine alone
There’s always two for lunch

There’s nothing more to wish for
You don’t need to fly yo Mars
There’s a bench outside the sandwich bar
At the entrance to the park

Entrance To The Park

The Entrance To The Park  (with FADY)

A lively night at The Brunswick in Brighton last week captured on a mobile phone.  Three generations on stage, Yali, six years old, on bell, Yaron, his dad, on drums, me, his 'grandude', on vocals and keys, also featuring Hamish Livingstone on  the righteous upright bass  and Chris Carpenter on 'Bone',

He Only Delivers The Box (Live)

A lil' bagatelle 'bout 'anger', a curious emotion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02FaRsGyrHk

Ya know that brat
In the snap back cap
The one that’s spilling tea
Well, I told him that
And he clapped back
Mood! I’m so angry

Feeling shook
I told him look
You don’t get to flex
He says, says who?
I said, I do
Sure ya wanna mess?

Now you vibe check
You rubberneck
Don’t talk like that to me
I told him that
He clapped back
Mood! I’m so angry
Mood! I’m so angry

Mood! I'm so angry

Wrote this in an attempt to convince myself that I'm not alone. 
‘Winging it’ is a phrase (circa 1885) used by performers ‘depping’ for someone in the theatre, learning the part in the wings before going on stage. 

Photograph: Jess Dixon in his flying automobile.
https://youtu.be/qaWy1qJbmZY

Everyone’s 
Just winging it
Playing it by ear
Ad-libbing it
Life is a fool’s game
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?

And I don’t mind 
Admitting it
I once had a plan 
But I’m not sticking to it
So easy to drift
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?

Everyone’s 
Just winging it
Playing it by ear
Ad-libbing it
Life is a fool’s game
Isn’t it?
Isn’t it?

Everyone's Just Winging It

No one knows who wrote the nursery rhyme London's Burning. Was it about The Great Fire of London in 1666, did they have fire engine in those days, who knows? (Maybe Joe Strummer).
https://youtu.be/iZOJ-HzbQUg

A big thank you to Jonathan who played both acoustic & electric and did the mixing. He is such a talent!

London’s burning
Fetch the engine pour on water
London’s burning
I tell ya what I think we oughta
Push that fan up to full throttle 
Fill up all our water bottles 
Think that we are in big trouble
Again 
 
London’s burning
Burning here on Friday Street
London’s burning
Listen to the angry heat
Thomas Faryner’s not to blame
It did not start in Pudding Lane
It’s driving cars and aeroplanes
It’s insane 

London’s burning
People jumping off the bridges 
London’s burning
Some are climbing into fridges
I smell smoke
It gets your throat
And it’s no joke

London's Burning (with Jonathan Beckenstein)

The cakewalk was more than a recreational dance; it also gave a chance for enslaved people to ridicule those who tyrannized them.

Photo: Bert Williams and George Walker who popularized cakewalk dancing more than anyone.

Cakewalk Into Town (Taj Mahal)

Lord Kitchener, the calypso king, arrived at Tilbury docks 21 June 1948, on the Windrush. https://youtu.be/Zlv4dkS-s8w

Despite living and working in the UK for decades, many of the Windrush generation's children were told they were there illegally because of a lack of official paperwork. The scandal, which broke in April 2018, saw the UK government belatedly apologise for deportation threats made.

Footnote: I purchased my first guitar, an Epiphone studio dot and a small fender amp and I decided to add to this track having looked up the three chords, blushin' at my audacity!

Gimme Da Ting (Lord Kitchener)

It felt more in keeping with the lyric to mark time during what was suppose to be a solo, odd thing to do, I know, but muses can be so stubborn!

https://youtu.be/p9_e06tByaY
Photo: The art of waiting by IGNANT

The muse packed her suitcase and left
‘Antoine, you’re not one of the best’
And I went ‘boo-hoo’ 
I knew it was true
I guess

She says ‘What’s that in your throat?’
And ‘Why ya playing bum notes?’
Does she think I don’t know
A ‘re’ from a ‘do’
What a mess!

Gonna wait for this doorbell to ring
And maybe this canary will sing
But don’t hold your breath
It hasn’t rung yet
But who knows?
Who knows?

The Muse Packed Her Suitcase And Left

A rough mix taken from the desk @ The Brunswick a couple of weeks ago. The rain was torrential that evening but it didn't deter the  hardcore audience from turning up.  A little tip of the hat to Thelonious in this one.

Tobie Carpenter (electric guitar) Hamish Livingstone (double bass) Will Barber(drums) Chris Carpenter(subtitles/trombone) (burn.it.smith (vocals/keys)

Ah ben dis donc (Blimey)
 Ça... tu entends? (Can ya hear that?) 
Le mec sur la pétrolette (The bloke on a moped)
 Il monte la colline (Going up the hill) 
Pour voir sa copine (To see his girlfriend)
 Mais ça me donne mal à la tête (Does my head in)
En première vitesse (Always in first gear)
 Roulez jeunesse (Move it youngster) 
Remets le pot d’échappement (Put that exhaust pipe back on) Fous-moi la paix (Leave me in peace) 
Tu me casses les oreilles (Ya breaking my ears)
 J’en ai marre d’entendre ta ronflette (Tired of hearing that dam hum)

Errrrrrrrmmmm
 I think he’s on his way
 Errrrrrmmmmm 
Must love that girl, anyway 
Squiddly deet dat doot doo dat 
Well you know that where I’m at
 Squiddly deet dat doot doo dat doot day

 Ça, tu entends? (Do you hear that) 
Poile au bidon (For Christsakes) 
C’est le mec sur la pétrolette (A bloke on a moped)

Solo

En première vitesse (Always in first gear)
 Roulez jeunesse (Move it youngster)

Le Mec Sur La Pétrolette (Live)

photo: Zdzisław Bekiñski
https://youtu.be/GlnJoClHP5k
Thumbing the nose at bad moods/anxiety. Who wins? The jury is not yet out. Just happy to have achieved a post, it has been a while.

What's that?
It's hollow inside
Can't believe there's nothing in there!
Yep, it's hollow inside
We've been tricked by social media
Hollow inside?
Keep it down or he might here you!
Yep, it's hollow inside
Hmm...

I just want to go back home
(I don't like it here)
I just want to go back home
(I don't like it here)

I just want to go back home
I just want to go back home
(I don't like it here)

What's that?
It's hollow inside
I just want to go back home
Can't believe there's nothing in there!
I just want to go back home 
It's hollow inside
(I don't like it here)

I just want to go back home
It's hollow inside
Can't believe there's nothing in there!
I just want to go back home
It's hollow inside
(I don't like it here)

It's Hollow Inside

With birthday songs the audience shrinks to one, but I thought I'd share this little shortie with the cloud, must be someone out there celebrating a birthday! https://youtu.be/FGR5NxxHUAA

Auspicious
That’s what I’d say
Yeah, that’s the word of the day
When you’re sober it’s fine
But if ya drinking moonshine
It’s kinda difficult to say

Au-shish-pous
It might sound like that
Specially if ya been knocking it back
But hey Guy you’re amazing
On this au-shish-pous occasion
Happy birthday from Burt Bacharach

Auspicious

This will be the last birthday song for a while, apologies to those who didn't get one.

https://youtu.be/d04wUYFgiGk

Hats off to little Richard
He’s made three score and ten
He no longer does those handstands
Just a backflip now and then

You might catch him with a reefer
Or a Coonawarra cabernet
When he picks up that ol’ Maton,  well..
Who knows what he'll play

Like guitar George
He knows all the chords
But he only uses two
And the the cats from Nashville say, look
There goes Ricky Boo

Take your hat off, be respectful
A milestone’s passing by
Little Richard’s. clocked up  seventy years
Now throw that hat up high!

Throw That Hat Up High

This song is a little thank you to the MRI technician, who was not happy with me, she wanted me to keep still but the electronic sounds were so fabulous and I found it very difficult not to move.

https://youtu.be/4nG-2tyw2Ao

Resonance is majestic
It sure knows how to thrill
Moombahton, juke n'breakbeat
Occasionally deep chill
Girl behind the console
Said I must act more responsible
I need you to keep still

Lay still upon that flatbed
Diagnostics take their time
The protons in the molecules
Need time to realign
The protons in the molecules
They follow scientific rules
Every single time

Moombahton, juke n'breakbeat
A little bit of house
Shot from the anaesthetist
The lights, they just went out
Shot from the anaesthetist
To help with the analysis
Of the Administer of Grime

Lay still upon that flatbed
That is what she said
Lay still upon that flatbed
When I moved, well she saw red
Lay still upon that flatbed
She said that every time
The Administer of Grime

The Administer Of Grime

https://youtu.be/pka8m0L_eko

Thought I'd sneak in a little track before the year is out. I have not been very active on Soundcloud this year, will endeavour to start writing again in the new year, and listen to all the talent that is out there! 

Happy hols 

Antony 
(a.k.a. burn-it-smith)

p.s. Such rhythm in these lyrics, something I have always admired about this artist.

You Never Can Tell (Cover)

For the fabulous few who leave no footprint.
https://youtu.be/i5Q-viLwH9M

In Mesopotamia
There was this mania
Building stuff out of clay bricks

Sumerian powers
Built temples and towers
Ziggurats, that’s what they did

Humans are scoundrels
Trees should hold council
Just ask the bird or the fish

It’s never enough
With this ziggurat stuff
A ziggurat’s never too big  

The bird and the fish
Were thoroughly pissed
With the cat in the hat and his big ziggurat 

Builders were flagging
Whip  kept on cracking
I want a ziggurat bigger than that

Humans are scoundrels
Trees should hold council
Just ask the bird or the fish

It’s never enough
With this ziggurat stuff
A ziggurats never too big

I want a ziggurat bigger than that
I want a ziggurat bigger than that
I want a ziggurat bigger than that
I want a ziggurat bigger than that

I want a ziggurat bigger than that!

I Want A Ziggurat Bigger Than That!

Lost David Lynch this month, he suffered from emphysema, some say being exposed the LA wildfires contributing to his death, who knows, but ‘Drill baby drill’ is madness.
https://youtu.be/fR0b9E4ORwc

Not sure where to start
Not sure what to say
That old bald-headed eagle
Is having a bad hair day

There’s no stars
No stripes
Things just don’t seem right
Sit tight, sit tight, sit tight

Wrote postcard to a friend of mine
Up on Mulholland Drive
Not even sure if he still lives there
Coz he has not replied

No stars
No stripes
On this postcard that I write
Sit tight, sit tight, sit tight

No Stars No stripes

Camera Shy

François Hollande's reign as president was marked by a secret love affair, deadly terror attacks and an economic policy U-turn. There was something endearing about the man, however, captured in this infamous speech in English. Hope I don't get deported for this, enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGHMrWKUf1g

Be You - soyez vous            
Be proud of you - soyez fier de vous
Because you can be- parce que vous pouvez être
Do - faire
What we want to do - ce que nous voulons faire

Il a peut-être raison - ge is probably right
Ce vieux président - this old president
C’est un peux déroutant - it’s a bit confusing
Mais aussi très profond - but also deep

Be You !

Have the number of a good friend on my phone though he’s no longer here still tempted to ring.  https://youtu.be/Emt8UtM0vsI

Jesus would not agree
But I don’t share his pedigree
I believe
When your gone 
You’re gone

Hades just takes the piss
No-one rows you across The Styx
I believe
When you’re gone
You’re gone

 I keep your number on my phone
Hoping that you prove me wrong  
But when I ring it no-one’s home
You’re gone
Gone
Gone

Jesus would not agree
But I don’t share his pedigree
I believe
When your gone 
You’re gone
I believe
When your gone 
You’re gone
I believe
When your gone 
You’re gone

The Atheist

The Atheist  (feat. Jonathan Beckenstein)

Someone out there is responsible for this song but probably better you don't make yourself known.

Get off of my car!

Well I know this is a cover and not my usual style but lockdown makes you do weird things. Normal service will be resumed. When? Dunno, but I suspect BoJo knows.  Big greetings and musical hugs to you from a slightly 'stir crazy' burn.it.smith (a.k.a. Antony x)

Oh Susanna (Stephen Foster)

When Bruce sent me this cool little riff with a ‘no rules’ brief, I was delighted.  At the time, I was reading an article about Trump's self-confessed  brilliance on a cognitive test which looked a little like the Alzheimer’s test my Mum took, but what do I know. I'm afraid my Mum failed but she was brilliant in other ways. Anyway, the two things got concatenated, Yaron added some big drums and ‘One Stable Genius’ came into being.

Bruce Conover: https://soundcloud.com/conover vocal & percussion
burn.it. smith https://soundcloud.com/burn-it-smith vocal, piano & extra keys
Yaron Engler: Big drums and orchestral percussion

Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo  
I said, bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo-boo-boo 
Bida, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba

Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
One Stable Genius, I guess you know who
Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
The sound of my brain just thinking things through
I said, bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo-boo-boo 
Just give me the test, I’m best but that I just knew

Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo  
That’s not a rat it’s a big kangaroo
Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
It’s an elephant? That can’t be true!
I said, bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo-boo-boo
One s table genius talking to you
Bida, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba

One stable genius, I guess you know who
The size of my brain is insane but that I just knew
One stable genius, I guess you know who
The size of my brain is insane but that I just new 

Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo 
Bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo  
I said, bibbidi-bobbidi-bibbidi-boo-boo-boo
Oh yeah, bida, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba, biba

One stable genius, I guess you know who
The size of my brain is insane but that I just knew
One stable genius, I guess you know who
I gonna press that red button before I am through

One Stable  Genius (ft. Bruce Conover)

Joe Hill, Swedish emigrant, songwriter, working class hero, was the inspiration behind this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tnCcqcICcY&t=1s

A poll released on August 16th found that nearly half of Americans who support Biden plan to vote by mail rather than in person on election day, compared with just one in ten backers of Trump.

Big thank you to https://soundcloud.com/jonathan_beckenstein for his beautiful raw playing that takes this song from its humble ‘rural’ beginnings into big ‘city’ overdrive. And to Yaron Engler for his deft drum programming.

No letter in the post for Joe
No letter in the post for Joe
Where’s that vote
In an envelope
No letter in the post for Joe

He needs that letter to make things better 
Why’s it so damn slow
Don’t stop clapping
Until it happens
No  letter in the post for Joe  
      
Click, snap, a letter box flap
Tell me yes or no? 
If that my vote
In an envelope
That’s all I need to know
Or I tell you Joe might blow

No Letter In The Post For Joe (ft. Jonathan Beckenstein)

Piano player, singer,  righteous upright bass & concatenator of disparate factors.

burn.it.smith

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks