Even sheep can step up above the flock if that's where they think they must be. But you have to pull out the stops. 
Charlie on vocals and guitar.

Pulling Out the Stops

I watched the 40 mile Russian army convoy edging through Ukraine towards Kiev and thought about their parents. Some of them must know what's really going on in Russia and what this war crime is about, and are seeing their kids carry it out.

my son 
i know
that you 
must go
to prove 
to show
that you 
have grown
into 
a man
who will 
who can
defend 
this land
from those 
who dare to

their call 
their word
the lies 
you heard
the truths 
intered 
by mockingbirds
by those
whose eyes
prioritise 
themselves 
their own
they will 
disown
one such 
as you
a common youth
a fool 
a pawn
a comrade in arms

this land 
is ours
a pane 
of glass
the world 
sees through
opaque 
to you
the truth 
is there
if you're 
prepared
to ask 
to pry
open 
your eyes

was this land made for you?

my son 
i know
that you 
must go
the choice 
is stark
to make 
your mark
or to 
say no
i will 
forego
the wages of
this bath of blood
locked up 
beat up
your choice 
made up

was this land made for you?

Was This Land Made For You?

What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculty, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god, the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals! And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust?
- Shakespeare, Hamlet

Dust

crosswinds, when they blow
gonna blow too hard
catch you off-guard
some friends just say no
when you lean too hard
when it gets too dark

running around this playground town
i seen things that never were meant to be
pull it inside you, suck it up
and shut the door

baby, look at you
you grown so tall
now you wanna see it all
maybe, right on cue
time for a big fall
then you gonna blow it all

heading on down this playground down
so much potential, how far you gonna go?
savour this moment just before
the crosswind blow

well i've seen them blow before
three times or maybe more
baby i ain't joking, listen to my voice
when crosswind blow for you
the only thing to do is hunker down
there's no other choice

crosswinds, they have blown
air gone calm now
open this door now
things ain't quite the same
different space now
gotta find somehow

in and around this playground town
some way to hustle, the things you gonna need
if you can read how crosswind blow
you won't grieve

Crosswinds

Waitin Around To Die (Townes Van Zandt Cover)

some colours can never be seen
some shades of blue and green
can't unsee what i've seen
can't undo what has been

but it's a long time living and working
loving in monochrome
part of me says look closer now
at the periphery
any old town is good enough
for me to call home
doesn't matter where you lay your head
if in dreams you roam

some words should never be said
some shades of yellow and red
can't get back what has fled
can't flee from what you dread

there are ways, means, things you can do
if you ever wanna get anywhere
better be sure it's where you want
cos you could be forever stranded there
some of these men will lie 
some of these women ain't what they claim to be
try to keep yourself free
try to keep yourself free

in dreams we roam
in dreams we roam

but it's a long time living and working
loving in monochrome
part of me says look closer now
at the periphery
any old town is good enough
for me to call home
try to keep yourself free
try to keep yourself free
try to keep yourself free
try to keep yourself free

Monochrome

We come from the night and we head for the night.

Into The Night

Sugarloaf Hill is one of the Malvern Hills here in England, between the two highest peaks of that range. I have walked it a lot and it always gives me a melancholy feeling, hence this song.

Sugarloaf Hill

https://youtu.be/3Djq5GECTiE

sabrine 
into your eyes of brownish green
i fall as if into a dream
here would i rest now, it would seem
peace would i find here

but not before 
the costume of a harlequin i wore
within this heart, this heart that is not pure
maybe you can redeem me, i'm not sure
maybe i'll ask you

sabrine 
i used to walk with you a way downstream
in those days i was barely in my teens
i mostly understood the things you mean
least i thought so

but then 
the wind turns callow boys to callous men
and fragile things are not within their ken
but you just keep on rolling to your end
that's how it seems

i guess that's the thing
we do not know for sure what death will bring
a star-lit winter or a moonless spring
we talk as if we do, we even sing
we often sing

i will step into your shallows
i will flinch because you are cold
i will feel you move around me
you will bear me for a while, i'm told 
i won't get old 
and then the moon will bring me home to rest 
unless

sabrine 
into your liquid eyes i have seen
redemption have i sought but not received
i guess that's cos redeeming ain't for me
at least not yet

Sabrine

Performance: https://youtu.be/b3LVPnh7VlE

Wires

Words, music written and played by Charlie. Instruments:
Acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, snare, tambourine.

The Crow

Simple Song

Vid of this recording: https://youtu.be/AfVl-Pi4EG8

Places That We Kissed (rough demo)

Vid of me playing it: https://youtu.be/hZsDNwTvBA4

Just The Reckoning

A story-telling folk song about the English Civil War. Legend has it Oliver Cromwell sold his soul to the devil the night before the Battle of Worcester. He won the battle and the war, turning England into a republic for the first and only time, then died seven years to the day later - allegedly the term of his pact with the devil. But a "witness" claimed to have seen him arguing with the devil for twenty-one years, not seven. That's the detail that interests me. I grew up and went to my first school on the site of the battle of Worcester... and on the edge of the wood where Cromwell met the devil (allegedly).

Words, music and all instruments (guitar and various percussion) by me.

21 Summers

Video of this recording: https://youtu.be/vc_RV6zhV-I

Face on a Wall (rough demo)

The story of William Guise, who in 1651 was executed without trial by royalists after the Battle of Worcester. He was a local tailor who supported Oliver Cromwell (i.e. anti-monarchy). He spied on Charles II and his cavaliers discussing battle plans, then told Cromwell, leading to the King's defeat and England's only period as a republic. But the royalists hanged him before Cromwell could take control of the city. They made a death mask of his head and embedded it in a wall as a warning to royalist traitors. It is still there today, and is the cover image for this song.

Lyrics:
i heard the call 
the summon to the hall in the commandery
it's a good job that i did
i heard it all 
the reckless few, the fearing of the many 
though they kept their true thoughts hid

but if they'd said what's in their head
i doubt that history would change
but maybe some things would

armour-clad 
a camisado, fifteen hundred royal men to hit the rebel camp
i was glad 
i think i had always suspected i would upon history leave my stamp

i'd heard my fill 
up to redhill i ran and did the only thing
i'd do it all again
the king's men struck, but with no luck
the rebels knew to be prepared and drove them whence they came

face on a wall 
i didn't mean to wreck it all
the dreams we had of children playing and never saying no

i kind of knew 
that short of you no one would understand me
not the people roundabout
and that was true 
as i came to our home again they grabbed me
and they crowned me with a shroud

still on my feet 
down to broad street they bundled me and strung me up, a symbol on a pole
for those who might 
one autumn night
defy the herd and speak what they believe, not what they're told
and so my name was cast in shame
how can they call it treachery if to yourself you're true

face on a wall 
i didn't mean to wreck it all
the dreams we had of children playing and never saying no
face on a wall 
i guess i heard the rebel call
and if our children hear it too please never tell them no
just let them go

Face On A Wall

Video of performance: https://youtu.be/-M0VmbCDvLU

I Wonder (demo)

I Wonder

Pretty soon things will come undone
Despite the bounty we have won

Silver Screen

Americana-esque crime ballad about alienation.

Old Ford (demo)

I Know My Heart (demo)

There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow.

I Know My Heart

Vid of recording: https://youtu.be/t-X7_piTcWs

Papa Was a Rollin' Stone (live cover)

Vid of the recording: https://youtu.be/u87DyhKqME8

Dave (demo)

Dave

Um, it's a song about a tree. But no normal tree! Whittington Tump is a mysterious man-made hill in my home town. No one knows what's under it! But on top of it is a horse-chestnut tree. It stands out as a benevolent beacon to people in the the town and thousands passing by on the motorway. I realised that it is iconic enough to warrant a song.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whittington_Tump

Tree on a Hill (demo)

Normal Working People (demo)

The Hurtin's Done (Arlo McKinley live cover)

Just stumbling my way through life and writing songs about it. I used to write books about it but then I found my guitar again.

Charlie Williams

Pinned to spotlight

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