Rosaline Wins

An analysis of why all cover versions suck. Always, Forever.

Dan O'Farrell & The Difference Engine

Why I Don't Do Covers

Light In Your Darkness

Widen out the lens, zoom right out there
There are places on this planet where they'll work for air
if the whole system's built on exploiting this
Are we really any better than the slave-trade ships?

Problems Inherent Within Global Capitalism

'these dark ages are hurting all the people that we love'

Everyone needs a Donald Trump song - this is ours.

These Dark Ages Are Hurting All The People That We Love

Safe House

Is this really love...or something even more messed up?

Death By 1000 Cuts

Escape

I’m coming to get you – I’ll be at your house soon – we’ll go for a ride
& all of the sunlight – pooling in your eyes – don’t look so surprised
& all of the waiting – can be put behind us – let it fall to the floor
& no hesitating – all that’s behind us – I put my foot to the floor

	We’re driving through fields of golden haze
	We’re driving away from shadowed grey
	We’re driving towards a rising sun
	& we’re not the only ones...

Societies crumble – the brick turns to jungle – there’s nothing much left
Tiger-teeth sharpen – memories darken – we’re put to the test
The motorways beckon – it just takes a second – to take this left turn
& drive through the autumn – leaves red & auburn - & never return

	We’re driving through fields of golden haze
	We’re driving away from shadowed grey
	We’re driving towards a rising sun
	& we’re not the only ones...

I’m coming to get you – let’s get out of Dodge soon – let’s kiss this goodbye
& all of the darkness – can stay right behind us – just stay be my side

	We’re driving through fields of golden haze
	We’re driving away from shadowed grey
	We’re driving towards a rising sun
	& we’re not the only ones...

We’re driving past lives hung out to dry
	We’re driving past mine-heads, black & high
	We’re driving towards a rising sun
	& we’re not the only ones...

Escape

On Scars

Sometimes she only knows she exists/ when she feels the scars upon her wrists
From where the pressures of her teenage days/ used to drive a razor blade
Now she’s self-conscious when she wears short-sleeves/ like people see into her soul
It’s like everybody sees her bleed/& the hurt you can’t control

	Well if you get through life with no scars
	Then you’re a lucky fool for sure
	But the rest of us are still feeling ours
	As we struggle to avoid more...

Sometimes she doesn’t want to eat/ because each mouthful makes her want to sleep
Every plateful tastes of hidden shame/ and she can’t face the whole battle again
Now she feels bad when people say she’s thin/ & bad when people say she’s not
As if her body is so interesting/ why don’t they find another freak to watch?

	Well if you get through life with no scars
	Then you’re a lucky fool for sure
	But the rest of us are still feeling ours
	As we struggle to avoid more...

	Oh – let me win
	Oh – let me win
	Just one – please let me win
	Just this one time in life – let me win

Now she lets the evenings drift away/ in a slow-fade medicinal haze
Because anything is better than pain/ even this
And the lights go on across this town/ like daylight feeling evening’s kiss
And there are thousands of us settling down/ just like this

On Scars

Ghosts
trees tall/still fall/ whether they are heard or not... they all still rot
time heals/reseals/concretes up the gaping holes...in your soul
clocks turn/oil burns/grains of sand run through the glass...burying the past

	but now I stand transfixed
	trapped in amber, I am bewitched
	I feel each moment like a new itch
	scratching at my memories again	

	ghosts keep crawling over everything
	ghosts keep crawling over me
	ghosts keep ambushing my memories
	ghosts keep crawling over me

faces/places/it’s like an overlay of dreams...that’s how it seems
voices/choices/haunting every step I take...each move I make

	but now I stand confused
	trapped in amber I stand bemused
	I feel each moment like a new bruise
	scratching at my memories again

	ghosts keep crawling over everything
	ghosts keep crawling over me
	ghosts keep ambushing my memories
	ghosts keep crawling over me

	but now I stand subsumed
	trapped in amber, I am consumed
	I feel each moment like a new bruise
	scratching at my memories again

ghosts

What Can I Do?
What can I do about the changes in the weather?
What can I do about the rising of the seas?
When all I know is that I need you more than you need me...

Somewhere behind me a clock ticks so slow that moments turn viscous, they ebb & they flow
the universe crumbles – molecules die - but I’m somehow still standing – your storm in my eye

What can I do about the changes in the weather?
What can I do about the rising of the seas?
When all I know is that I need you more than you need me...
What can I do about the pestilence & slaughter?
What can I do about the famine & disease?
When all I know is that I need you more than you need me...

	Selfishness breeds self-regard/ In every pump of my fat heart
	I want to care I really do/But all I think about is you

What can I do about the damage to the ozone?
What can I do about the plastic in the sea?
When all I know is that I need you more than you need me...

Somewhere in Congress decisions are made: factories close down & workers unpaid
Mortgages fore-closed, communities ripped...but all I can think of is the curve of your lips

What can I do about the financial institutions?
What can I do about the corruption & greed?
When all I know is that I need you more than you need me... 
What can I do about the pestilential poisons?
What can I do about the felling of the trees?
When all I know is that I need you more than you need me...

Somewhere in Pyong-Yang a warhead is armed - co-ordinates mapped out to maximise harm
& Pentagon generals plot their reply...but all I can think of is the light in your eyes

What can I do about the nuclear deterrent?
What can I do about the gathered weaponry?
When all I know is that I need you more than you need me... 
What can I do about the changes in the weather?
What can I do about the rising of the seas?
When all I know is that I need you more than you need me...

What Can I Do?

True North
& the road ahead
is tangled under thorns
like a secret path back home

& my compass-dial
is spinning wildly in the winds
true north is hard to find

So lead the way back through
Lead the way back to…
You’ve been sent to find me
& you’ve been sent to find me
& you’ve been sent to walk me through the dark

& the sea is rough
& the storm is coming in
& I’m rowing hard again

& the rocks are close
The lighthouse is lost in fog
I need rescuing again


 The dark is not here…anymore

True North

With Rick Foot on double-bass, and Chris Walsh on drums, Dan O'Farrell gives his solo songs a new spin. Welcome to The Difference Engine....

Dan O'Farrell & The Difference Engine

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