Songs For The Room - Single

Backing Vocals

Written & Produced by Dave O'Grady

Dave O'Grady / Guitar/ Vocals
Adrian Guatrey / Dobro/ Vocals
Chris Nicholls / Bass
Muireann McDermot / Long Vocals
Ben Gonzalez / Mixing / Engineer 

Recorded at Modern English Studios, Colne , England.






My Oldest Friend

Written & Produced by Dave O'Grady

Dave O'Grady / Guitar/ Vocals
Adrian Guatrey / Dobro/ Vocals
Chris Nicholls / Bass
Muireann McDermot / Long Vocals
Ben Gonzalez / Mixing / Engineer 

Recorded at Modern English Studios, Colne , England.





Whiskey

Grimshaw and the Fingerclaw was inspired by three characters I encountered whilst growing up in the outskirts of Liverpool; a lady we used to call 'The Witch of Melling,' because she looked like a witch, and hobbled past our house to the railway station everyday; an old-fashioned gypsy that used to call at our house and threaten to curse us if my mum didn't bring her what she asked for; and a mean dinner lady at my school, who had a claw instead of a fingernail on her little finger. 

Remembering these women got me thinking about how there has always been outsiders in society. People who are misunderstood and strangers in their own towns. I decided to amalgamate these three characters into one and call her 'Edith Grimshaw,' known to local children as 'The Witch of Melling,' or 'Fingerclaw.' 

This is the first of two songs about her on my album. Grimshaw and the Fingerclaw is all the the rumours about her, whilst 'Edith's Song, is a slow, mournful waltz, told from her point of view, with her voice. 

Edith Grimshaw is a key character from my album, who's life will be explored through an art installation, illustration workshops, music and dance at my Welsh Album launch at Theatr Clwyd, Mold, on August 4th, 2017. Visit www.elfinbow.com to find out more...

Lyrics:

Grimshaw and the Fingerclaw by Elfin Bow

Grimshaw and the fingerclaw
Kept a secret in the bottom drawer
Where there lay a skillet wrapped in a folded sheet
With old fish bones and salted meat

Grimshaw and the fingerclaw
Kept a secret in the bottom drawer
Where there lay a wedding dress in a darkened space
And a gown of threadbare cotton and yellowed lace

The secret was a ten pound note
Kept in the holy book that God wrote
That printed paper was cursed with wrath
Should you ever cross her path

Grimshaw and the fingerclaw
Kept a secret in the bottom drawer
Where there lay a wooden heart and a golden ring
And a soul never more to sing

Fingers boned from weathered years
Face of leather from shedding tears
Broken heart buried alive
A stitch in time it don’t save nine
Fingers boned from weathered years
Face of leather from shedding tears
Broken heart buried alive
A stitch in time it don’t save nine

Elfin Bow

Grimshaw And The Fingerclaw

This is the sister track to Grimshaw and the Fingerclaw, telling the story of Elfin Bow's character, from her point of view. It is a haunting, yet beautiful track that speaks of being misunderstood and alone. 

The character of Edith Grimshaw will be explored through an art installation, illustration workshops, music and dance at Elfin Bow's Welsh Album Launch in Theatr Clwyd, Mold, on August 4th 2017. To find out more, please visit www.elfinbow.com

Lyrics:

Edith’s Song by Elfin Bow

They call me ‘The Witch of Melling Town’
They call me ‘Fingerclaw’
Father called me ‘Darling Girl
My beautiful Edith Grimshaw’

Call me a flower on the water
With petals that float in the rain
Call me a branch on the willow
With leaves that wither and wane

Call me ‘The Witch of Melling Town’
That’s not a name I know
Once I had a soul that was gentle
Now a flower on a cactus it grows

Call me a flower on the water
With petals that float in the rain
Call me a branch on the willow
With leaves that wither and wane

Call me a flower on the water
With petals that float in the rain
Call me a branch on the willow
With leaves that wither and wane

Call me ‘The Witch of Melling Town’
Call me ‘Fingerclaw’
Father called me ‘Darling Girl
My beautiful Edith Grimshaw’

Call me a flower on the water
With petals that float in the rain
Call me a branch on the willow
With leaves that wither and wane

Call me a flower on the water
With petals that float in the rain
Call me a branch on the willow
With leaves that wither and wane
With leaves that wither and wane
With leaves that wither and wane

Edith's Song

All songs written and arranged by Mersey Wylie
All songs produced by Mersey Wylie, Alec Brits and Daniel Thorne 
Recorded by Alec Brits and Emilie Krogh Johannessen at The Cabin, Liverpool 
Mixed by Alec Brits
Mastered by Rogan Kelsey
 
Musicians:
Jack Taylor - Guitar
Jack Beacall - Fender Rhodes
Owen Roberts - Bass
Alec Brits - Drums and Percussion
Nina Cox - Backing Vocals
Muireann McDermott Long - Backing Vocals
Daniel Thorne - Saxophones and Bass Synth

Album Artwork and additional photography by Sam Wiehl 
Album Photography by Nata Moraru

My Oldest Friend

OGrady