Wandering Heart was written by Ben Taggart & is on his album Blossom. This is a live acoustic version recorded in Coverack in July 2021, with Ben on vocals & guitar & X24 on piano.
This is a link to the practice/performance on the day on You tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HepU-WVwvf8

Wandering Heart Unplugged

Medley of seven Hot Chocolate covers to warm you up as the nights close in, with the words changed a little, in memory of Errol Brown.
Al Stewart on sax, Chris Morris (from 70's band Paper Lace) on guitar, X24 on keys & vocals, Gary Williams drums & mixing.

Warm Chocolate

First song to be taken from my new album "The Pleasures & Pains of Life" which is due to be released this spring 2023.
We all have ideas of what life means to us,  although birth & death & everything in between, has to be considered at some time or another.

"Life’s about change, leaders change.
So much stays the same, passions inflame.
Friendships fluctuate, some grow, degenerate.
Confidence proclaimed. That’s love rearranged.

Life ain’t all about good days,
Life ain’t all about bad days,
Life ain’t all about “Happy”,
Life ain’t all about sad.

If life is all about think & thought,
If life is all about taught & talk,
If life is how they fake it,
Life is what you make it.

Life’s about fate. Make no mistake.
Determination trait may compensate.
The inevitable end, spirits ascend.
The passing, demise. Irreversible surprise.

Life ain’t all about curtains,
Life ain’t all about sleep.
Life ain’t all about shallow
Life ain’t all about deep.

If life is all about birth & death.
If life is all about health & breath.
Life is love & heartbreak.
A work of art. Divine mistake.

If life is all about birth & death.
If life is all about wealth & breath.
We pay to breed, breathe then leave. 
Learning through life to love & to grieve."

Words, music & arrangements, vocals, piano & keys by X24.
Many thanks to Roger P  guitar, Jane B backing vocals, & Gary W mixing & drums

Life Is n ain't

The first track from a new four track ep I am releasing at Easter 2024. Anger which escalates could be replaced by forgiveness & love.

You took my spoon, I’d like it back, soon.
When it rained you took my mack, monsoon.
Thunder warning, potential typhoon.
Avoid the downpour, time to change your tune.

Children learn to give & take, & share.
Adults teach them love & hate, beware.
Their faith, beliefs, dreams & gifts compared
Realities of life, cause damage, un-repaired.

Unfair, We care. That prayer, Nightmare.

So when does borrow become steal?
Lines get crossed, old wounds revealed.
How does patience turn to outrage?
Stay cool & calm, avoid a rampage.

An eye for an eye
Will leave the whole world blind.

You took my land, my church, my gold 
People became slaves, were raped & sold.
Conflict rumbles on out of control.
A settlement, new peace a dreamy goal.

Unfair, We care. That prayer, Warfare.

An eye for an eye
Will leave the whole world blind.

X24 Feb 2024
Many thanks to Jane Barbara, flute & whistle, Pip, violin, Gary for drums & mixing, & the 3 Daft Monkeys for lending me their riff.

Eye For An Eye

Two days after Bowie died, 12th Jan 2016, I re recorded and slightly modified a section of his Blackstar as my tribute to him as he has been such an inspiration to me personally.
"Something happened on the day he died 
Spirit rose a meter and stepped aside
Nobody else can take his place, or gravely cry 
Oh you pretty things, Guys keep swinging!

How many times does an angel fall?
How many people lie instead of talking tall?
He trod on sacred ground, he cried loud into the crowd
We can be heroes, we will be heroes.

Bowie the rockstar, knew how to play the game,
He saw right so white, his open ­heart the pain.
Eagles in his daydreams, diamonds in his eyes
What a rockstar, who's found his blackstar.

Something happened on the day he died 
Spirit rose a meter and stepped aside
Nobody else can take his place, or bravely cry 
We can be heroes, we will be heroes,
For ever and ever."
Words and music by David Bowie. Interpretation, instruments and vocals recorded by X24. 12.1.16

Bowie, our hero.

Cover of an excellent song by Rory Graham (Rag and bone man) touching on the frailty of humans, their relationships, and their blindness to responsibility ...... if its not humans, who should take the blame?
All vocals and keys by X24. Recorded at Silvermere 10.3.17

"HUMAN", Rag and Bone man, Cover.

Radio One's live lounge gathered together some of pop's best known current performers to record the Foo Fighter's "Times Like These", &  the song went to number one in the singles chart. All proceeds from their cover, & indeed this cover, is going towards victims of 'The Virus'.
X24 decided to record this slightly more upbeat version, whilst grounded at home in Cornwall, with Al Stewart on sax, & Gary Williams on guitars, drums & mixing. 
"We'll make it better together, we'll make a better life" .......
Thanks for listening! x

Times Like These X24 Cover

"Don't believe what you're told
This holy land can't save your soul.
We desecrated land and sea
Stole all abundance there for free.

Respect the Holy land.
Love your fellow man.

We made them pay and made them say
That we, the wise could change their ways.
We sold them arms and powered milk
Then took away their oil and silk.

Respect the Holy land.
Love your fellow man.

With faith & honesty,
We’re going to have to fight 
And shout so others see.
And as I stand with you,
You've got to learn to trust your feelings
As they change from old to new.

Feel so ashamed of what we've done
And are still doing while they run.
Its time to turn, apologize.
Admit our guilt, the greed, the lies.

Respect the Holy land.
Love your fellow man.

If you're the one for me,
You're going to have to fight 
And shout to set us free.
If I'm the one for you
You've got to learn to trust your feelings
As they change from old to new.

We need to share our holy land, and flowers.
Help to heal their holy land, devoured."

X24 (Much Inspired by Gavin Foster)
Keys & Vocals X24.
Many thanks to Andy Pay, guitars, & Gary Williams for all drums & Mixing. July 2020

OUR HOLY LAND

My self composed & performed observations on the covid virus, set to a dance club vibe. Play loud, jump up & down, let off some steam, stay safe, embrace!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU_z0ZEfuLQ&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR1kBLF5qpKK9EZNmb0yHANM9suetua3vbSr4YCdSAZLQIZ0EM9FZDsOBEQ

Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.
Stay alert, control the virus, save lives.
Wash, cover, make, hands, face, space.
Wash hands, cover face, make space
Too late!

People will die. People complying.
People were listening. People aren’t listening.
People believing. Someone is lying.
Protest, an outcry. Someone’s deceiving.
Frustrate.

Covidiot, the RO climbs, covidio, we’re shielding.
The fear is spread around the planet
All humans share this pandemic panic.

Hospitals built, but never used, spread fear.
The numbers shared, twisted, compared, to scare.
Test and trace, the homework space.
Download apps, you will be traced
Lockdown time can’t be replaced.
Lockdown lives, the lockdown waste.
Disgrace.

Masks ineffective, the people submissive
Don’t question the narrative. Challenge non permissive.
Question inconsistencies , question  control.
Stand up for your freedoms. Be true to your soul.
Cajole!

Covidiot, flatten the curve, covideo, get tested.
The tests aren’t there, the tests go wrong.
The vaccine dream, heard immunity’s strong.

Stay at home, protect the NHS. We tried.
Stay alert, control the virus. Why lie?
Wash hands ,cover face, make space.
Alternatives ignored, debased
Confusing lockdown laws in place.
Love, feel, fight, heal. Truth revealed.
Embrace.

X24  28.09.20

Covidiots

Inspired by  Roger Waters song, "Is this the life we really want", I have changed the words, added some Gilmouresque  guitars, & Floydian Sax, to create an epic seven minute track. It's about our rapidly changing world in late 2020, the fears & the love........

The world is changing fast. Wars & famines, refugees.
The virus dread, unknown disease.
The media spreads fear. Endless warnings, droning whine.
Who needs reminding we’re not fine?

Stay safe, take the advice, but it will change.
Self isolation, stay in line. Avoid all strangers, all the time.

Is this the life we really need? It must be so the experts say.
Statistics changing every day.

Testing inconclusive, uncomfortable, intrusive.
Vaccines justifiable, expensive, unreliable.
The reassuring patronising words & explanations,
Spread confusion & concern, unacceptable sensations.

And every time protestors feel tear gas in their eyes,
Every time another death fails to arouse surprise.
Every time plumes of smog float up into our skies.
Every time we’re reassured, inside we agonise.

Is this the life we really need?
It’s not too late to make a stand . Make changes in this weary land.

Every time we sell a gun to topple a regime.
Every time we block our ears, ignoring desperate screams.
All the time we fail to see we’re all part of one team.
All the time we fail to share our love, our lives, our dreams.

All of us the birds & bees, the creatures & trustees.
The quirky, murky, perky souls, the preachers & the sleaze.
The rainforests, the earth’s core, the air, the fire, the seas.
Everything is relevant, selfishness & greed.

Is this the life we really need?
Don’t be sucked in by the fear. Love & healing reappears.

“Every time the curtain falls on some forgotten life,
It is because we all stood by silent & indifferent.”

X24 (& Waters)words & music, November 2020
X24, Vocals & keys
Pete Hambrook , Guitars.
Al stewart, Sax.
Gary Williams, Drums, engineering & mixing.

IS THIS THE LIFE ?

"Wake Up" celebrates the eagerly awaited, & much needed end of the current pandemic, featuring virtual  African choirs, drums & my cheery vocals.
Let's hope there will soon be an end to all the fear & uncertainty, continually be spread by the media.

"Wake up"

Keep up to date, hear what they say,
Follow the stories, some shock, entertain.
We seek information, no need to replay
Latest propaganda, feel so constrained.

Why do we continue, to watch
And follow the latest heartbreak?
Why do we let it soak in?
Dazed & confused, there’s strength still within.
Deep within.

We don’t need to let this go on.
When we suspect something is wrong.
Feel stifled, contained & restrained
Why let those feelings remain?

Wake up, open your eyes,
We hear, smell the poses, question, realise.
Enough is enough, the craziness ends
Just as it began, no need to pretend ,
Know your friends.

Trusting in fate, we hear what they say
Changing their stories, accepting no blame.
The figures distorted, life fritters away
It’s time to rise up, it’s a freedom reclaim.

Why should we continue, to accept more
Bad news of the latest outbreak.
Why can’t we fight, empathise,
Take on the sickness, immunity thrives.

Wake up, as we open our eyes,
We hear, smell the poses, question, realise.
Enough is enough, the craziness ends
Just as it began, no need to pretend.

Get up, rise up, wake up.
Rise up. Wake up.

Words & music X24
Sound engineer Gary Williams

WAKE UP

"X24" is a keyboard player and singer songwriter, based in West Cornwall. 
The songs are observations on love & life. Collaborations with local musicians & artisans are included here. If you would like to work with me, let me know!
I had an EP  in the spring of 2019,"Trust the writer", a 12 track album, "The Pleasures & pains of love" in 2021  & another ep, "Wake up" in 2021, & a covers ep called X24 Undercover in March 2022.
They are all on You tube, Spotify, amazon, Apple Music etc.
My second album, "The Pleasures & pains of life" came out in the spring of 2023. The next ep, "An eye for an eye" is being released in April  2024.
Thanks for looking and listening.

x24

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