Cheap

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?

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

The Crow

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

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

I Wonder

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

I Know My Heart

Dave

i fall in
i fall because i'm needing
the spaces are receding
the avenues back home

i wanted
to feel that i was haunted
my patience has been taunted
by tormentors unknown

where you stood
the withering of wormwood
i'd walk away if i could
if i was not alone

i'm seeing
i see where this is leading
the passages revealing
the sun destroy the haze

time frozen
this moment has been chosen
a gradual explosion
of all i kept at bay

where you stood
the fripperies of falsehood
if i could make my thoughts good
i'd stick to what i say

muscle memory
what remains of me
instinct drives
what's inside
muscle memory

Muscle Memory (acoustic)

Vid of performance: https://youtu.be/Mva1sKs8eds?si=m9ZtCRoP6CJDxpd-

Find You Yesterday (demo)

Vid of performance: https://youtu.be/eZnLMwdDWeI?si=31l8qKbK66d27sk_

Bag Of Pills by Arlo McKinley (live cover)

i fall in
i fall because i'm needing
the spaces are receding
the avenues back home

i wanted
to feel that i was haunted
my patience has been taunted
by tormentors unknown

where you stood
the withering of wormwood
i'd walk away if i could
if i were not alone

muscle memory
what remains of me
instinct drives
what's inside
muscle memory

i'm seeing
i see where this is leading
the passages revealing
the sun destroy the haze

time frozen
this moment has been chosen
a gradual explosion
of all i kept at bay

the fripperies of falsehood
if i could make my thoughts good
i'd stick to what i say

muscle memory
what remains of me
instinct drives
what's inside
muscle memory
*2

Muscle Memory

Vid of this recording: https://youtu.be/O8LqrZeDDnE?si=9Gc8ncjARQjv9lOb

Meds (live cover of Placebo song)

It's a Rolling Stones song but I know the Townes Van Zandt version just as well. Here is a vid of this performance:
https://youtu.be/IlnZ3aj_yi8?si=40h43RQCFDiDMQ4v

Dead Flowers (live cover)

Crazy (live cover)

throw it on the floor
no good for
anything at all 
ride this squall
turn the tv on 
till you're gone
weather woman say lock your door today

doesn't mean much
when the atmosphere is touch and go

when the devil rides
i want you by my side
the whisky spilt today
the storm washed away
nothing felt right
i hold you tight
we'll squeeze the battle away
fight another 

risk it on the red
lose your head
blame it on the black 
slinking back
right another wrong 
write a love song
dedicated to anyone but you

sing it in the street
play the chords super sweet
because

when the devil rides
i want you by my side
the whisky spilt today
the storm washed away
nothing felt right
i hold you tight
we'll squeeze the battle away
fight another 

play it on the porch with a cheap torch
sing it in the rain near the blocked drain
sing it like before
harmonize or
sing it out of key
sing it strong just sing with me

when the devil rides
i want you by my side
the whisky spilt today
the storm washed away
nothing felt right
i hold you tight
we'll squeeze the battle away
fight another

When the Devil Rides

A country folk tune about having a hard time keeping your partner. And making cider! Throw in guitar, banjo and some percussive things and we have a song! It is named after a famous novel written by a distant relative. 

Cider with Rosie

So @markcombs-928282858 sent me a track and said, Charlie, can you lay down some words to this? I clicked play and boy, was I inspired. Combstead is a wizard of guitarness. Is that a word? Yes! I don't know when I'll get my supper, but hopefully this song will help.

Singing For My Supper

I guess a folk song can't technically be original (since they are all attributed to "anon") but to me it's a folk song. The Battle of Worcester was fought between the Parliamentarians led from Oliver Cromwell, and the Royalists led by Charles II. Most of the king's troops were Scottish foot soldiers. They were recruited based on familial and community pressure, propaganda and outright lies, and marched hundreds of miles south to a confrontation that looked increasingly unwinnable. When the battle was inevitably lost and Charles fled to safety the Scottish troops were left to flee north (those who weren't slaughtered on the field). Pretty much all were rounded up and either executed on the spot or sold to slavery. Victims of the Civil Wars.

#englishcivilwar #battleofworcester #worcester #folksong #acousticmusic #acousticguitar #originalsong #scotland

North (live demo)

Love this song! Made famous by The Searchers, written and first released by Jackie DeShannon.

Vid of this performance:
https://youtu.be/6-J-OZvgmgM

When You Walk In The Room (live acoustic cover)

Vid of this performance: https://youtu.be/3NnCcD0mhDY

Loved this one since childhood. RIP Otis Redding, one of the very best singer-songwriters ever (let's not forget he wrote Aretha's biggest song: RESPECT). This song pointed to a new direction he might have gone in had he lived. Or maybe he knew it was his last song.

Dock of the Bay (live cover)

Vid of this performance: 
https://youtu.be/6GKBOA8wZ2g

Blood In A Tin Cup (rough demo)

Never Tear Us Apart (live cover)

Just stumbling through and writing songs. I record many and perform them live as much as I can, and they are mainly acoustic. Also write novels.

I have a synthpop project here: https://soundcloud.com/alphacrater

Message me for bookings or collab ideas.

Charlie Williams

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks