Written, Performed & Produced by Dougal Kenny


Autumn Leaves

Written & Performed by Dougal Kenny
Produced by Dougal Kenny & Chris Senior

A little bundle of positive karma in a crazy world

Thing Of Wonder

Written, Performed & Produced by Dougal Kenny

A song I was inspired to write about the fascinating early life and career of the model and actress, Twiggy - a true Neasden Girl.

The girl from Neasden town
Blessed with legs so fine
Raising hemlines
Making headlines now

The face of '66
In fashion, cosmetics
Stunned New Yorkers
Are your fashion stalkers now

You're my Neasden girl
Fame all around the world

The bells of St Catherine's ring aloud while your away
But my heart remains in Neasden, where I will stay...

The Twiggs & Justin show
Set to rule the world
London's groovy and
You're in the movies now

Let's light up Tinsel Town
You & Polly Browne
It won't be so long
Till we're singing your songs now

You're my Neasden girl
Fame all around the world

The bells of St Catherine's ring aloud while your away
But my heart remains in Neasden, where I will stay...

The girl from Neasden town
Blessed with legs so fine
Raising hemlines
Making headlines now

You're my Neasden girl
Fame all around the world


Neasden Girl

"Air in Arden" is a song I was inspired to write about the all-too-short life of the guitarist and singer-songwriter Nick Drake.
Having dropped-out of his degree course at Cambridge University to pursue his music career aged 20, Nick went on to record three marvellous albums that were pretty-much ignored by the record-buying public at the time(early 70s), selling only a few hundred copies.
A depressive illness followed and he died tragically in his childhood home in Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire, aged only 26.
Posthumously, his timeless music has enjoyed massive success across the globe and he has finally found the recognition that so sadly eluded him during his lifetime.
Words & Music written by Dougal Kenny
Performed, Arranged, Engineered & Produced by Dougal Kenny

"Air in Arden"
The air in Arden is thick with dreams
Floating clouds and running streams
The time has come for you to flee
Or sleep beneath the old fruit tree

Breezing down the river Cam
Picking chords and making plans
The world's about to feel the force
Of songs of love, of light, of loss

I don't want to lose you
Your mother's going to soothe you
Ease your pains and worries
With the blossom of her words

I could share your sorrow
Guide you through tomorrow
Help you see the light
Before the day is done

Wrapped up warm in clothes of sand
The master lends a guiding hand
To etch the lines into the wax
But the faceless crowds won't love you back

The bells they chime, the bells they toll,
St Mary's calls the faithful home,
Across the fields over the styles,
Guided by the Northern skies

I don't want to lose you
Your mother's going to soothe you
Ease your pains and worries
With the blossom of her words

I could share your sorrow
Guide you through tomorrow
Help you see the light
Before the day is done


Air In Arden

Words & Music written by Dougal Kenny
Performed, Arranged, Engineered & Produced by Dougal Kenny

"Up On Harrow Hill"

Up on Harrow Hill the voices ring so clear
Up on Harrow Hill the mist is drawing near
Sent down for burning to the ground the farmer's barn
The hanging judge cries guilty but I've done no harm

Up on Harrow Hill the mob all point and jeer
Up on Harrow Hill my heart is filled with fear
The steps creek one by one as I ascend on high
Sweep down oh loving Angels take me to the sky

Up on Harrow Hill
Up on Harrow Hill

I'm free in my heart now those Angels will carry me...

Up On Harrow Hill

Words & Music written by Dougal Kenny
Performed, Arranged, Engineered & Produced by Dougal Kenny

"Rainbow Riches (Many Years From Now)"

Looking down I saw your eyes 
I knew that love was coming home 
Your tiny soul began to rise
Through the rain and through the snow
It's time to hold your head up high
Time to spread some hope around
Welcome to this world of mine
Time to learn what you have found

I'd hold you in my arms
Protect you from the fear and harm

When the daytime turns to night again
Moonlight beams come out to play
Shining forth the path you'll walk along
Riches all the way
Many years from now

Seven years have been and gone
Your thoughts have changed to growing old
A little here, a little there
You never did what you were told
When the tears began to flow
For the crime of being you
You picked yourself up off the floor
You knew just what you had to do

Time brushes us aside
Leaving dust for us to find

I hear the drums beat out the sound
The city lights are calling now
I see you step on to the train
And disappear into the crowd
There'll be times when you'll be sad
Times you want to change it all
But don't regret a single thing
There's nothing else you could have been

Life will hold you in its arms
Protect you from the fear and harm

When the daytime turns to night again
Moonlight beams come out to play
Shining forth the path you'll walk along
Riches all the way
Many years from now




Rainbow Riches (Many Years From Now)

Words & Music written by Dougal Kenny
Performed, Arranged, Engineered & Produced by Dougal Kenny

"If I'd Gone To Nashville"

Who's songs would I be singing now, if I'd gone to Nashville,
And sowed the dreams I had when I was young?
Hit the stage at the Bluebird,
Perhaps one day the Grand Ole Opry
But in the end, dear old life got in the way

Would things have turned out good for me, if I'd gone to Nashville
Before I settled down and towed the line?
But I couldn't summon up the courage,
To leave the sure thing I was on,
After all, who else is gonna pay your bills?

It's not that I'm unhappy now, or so my friends would tell you,
My girlfriend makes me smile from time to time,
But something lingers in my soul,
Like a sore that never heals,
Something's gone, will it ever come back home?

The stars light up the highway all the way to Tennessee,
But I made my bed and lay down watching time roll over me,
The old songs swirl around my head like unfinished symphonies,
I've still got time, I still got time...

I know that it's the end of us if I move to Nashville,
I'll make you cry and no doubt break your heart,
I hope you'll try to understand,
That with a six string in my hand,
That's the only way I think that I can be.

Well things have turned out good for me, since I got to Nashville,
Though it's hard to scrape a dollar and dime,
I've found a little backstreet bar,
Where I can play all through the night,
Someday soon, sure I'm going to be a star...

The stars light up the highway all the way from Tennessee,
And I've made my bed and laid down where my dreams have followed me,
The old songs dance around the streets now that I've set them free,
I took my time, I took my time...



If I'd Gone To Nashville

"The Palais de Danse"

Words & Music by Dougal Kenny
Performed, Arranged & Produced by Dougal Kenny

In the shadow of the steel and the glass she still stands
Clinging on for dear life in developers' hands
The cracks have appeared, the paint flakes from her face
Most think she just spoils the view

As the cold wind blows hard through the Fountainbridge night
She recalls all the good times she had in full flight
This lady is old now she's fallen from grace
But the memories never will fade...

Of the Palais de Danse
The big band strikes up
And the couples they sway
Passion start burning 
At the Palais de Danse

Here come Jimmy and Glenda looking dapper and fine
All the pretty young couples stand waiting in line
Excitement is building on Saturday night
As Big Tam flings the doors open wide

Then the brass band breaks out a familiar refrain
Like the piper of Hamlin it steals them away
Nestled in Cupid's Corner boys lead girls astray 
Jimmy holds onto Glenda so tight...

At the Palais de Danse
The big band strikes up
And the couples they sway
True love starts yearning 
At the Palais de Danse
Cheek touches cheek
As the night turns to day
First lines were fumbled
But young love has blossomed tonight...

Now the music has faded and the crowds have long gone
She knows that it's over, no longer belongs
Nobody remembers the joy she once brought
Except for one lady who knows...

Glenda passes each week on the old 34
She looks out of the window and still she's in awe
Their looks may have faded but they both still stand tall
In her mind she's with Jimmy again...

At the Palais de Danse
The big band strikes up
And the couples they sway
True love starts yearning 
At the Palais de Danse
Cheek touches cheek
As the night turns to day
First lines were fumbled
But young love has blossomed
At the Palais de Danse

Your best days are gone but you'll always stay deep in our hearts

The Palais De Danse

"Sweet Rosita"

Music by Dante Enekvist
Lyrics by Dougal Kenny

Dante Enekvist - Bass & Guitar
Dougal Kenny - Vocals & Arrangement

Produced by Dante Enekvist & Dougal Kenny

Sweet Rosita, silver mermaid of the seas
Sweet bonita, flying high upon the breeze
Laying back, our bodies melt into the sand
The waves wash up and gently brush her hand

Sweet Rosita, whispers promises to me
But sweet bonita, if your man could only see
We could leave this town, by midnight we'd be free
But you seem drawn to him so hopelessly 

Watch your back!
Here comes her boy again...
Shark attack!
He wants some sweet revenge...
He wants Rosita!

Beat up, broken I lay crumpled on the floor
His arms around her, asking do I want some more
The party's over, she is heading for the door 
Goodbye bonita, to our love forlorn...

Sweet Rosita

A song inspired by the fascinating story of Steve Hindy who went from being a teacher, to a war correspondent in the Middle East for the Associated Press and then on to co-found one of the USA's most successful and iconic craft beer producers, Brooklyn Brewery.

Music & Lyrics by Dougal Kenny
Recorded, Arranged and Produced by Dougal Kenny

"From Beirut to Brooklyn"

From Beirut to Brooklyn 
Is one hell of a view
Dodging bullets and gangsters
For the love of the brew
I must take the hard road
No quiet life for me
Now I live and I breathe
the American Dream 

For I once was a teacher
But the kids they taught me
So I threw in the towel 
And would a journalist be
Then adventure came knocking 
When I joined the AP
So I packed up my bags 
Sailed away to the East

I covered war-torn Iran
The bloody streets of Cairo
Saw the president shot
Sitting in the front row
Through the bombs and the shrapnel
The shock and the fear
All my buddies and I
Home-brewed batches of beer

So inspired by New Albion
I crossed the Green Line
Mass beer tastes like water
But mine tastes devine
You can't focus-group taste
You can't follow the herd
So I founded my brewhouse 
In Williamsburg 

But the days of good fortune 
Didn't show right way 
Working all of God's hours to make the gig pay
So it's hats off to Milton
And to Garrett's fine crew
For the flavours they multiplied, profits they grew

We hit rocks on the road
Had our brushes with hell
The mafioso demanded a drink from the well
After hours spent pleading
The black limo was gone
And I knew right away it was here we belonged

Now disciples keep joining all over the land
Folks see in us something we all understand 
The quest for good beer it can never grow old
As it sweeps round the world a new chapter unfolds...

From Beirut to Brooklyn
Is one hell of a view
Dodging bullets and gangsters
For the love of the brew
I must take the hard road
No quiet life for me
Now I live and I breathe the American dream

From Beirut To Brooklyn

Vasa (the shipwright's lament)

Words & Music by Dougal Kenny
Performed, Arranged, Engineered and Produced by Dougal Kenny

10th day of August they lined the shore
The king’s loyal subjects did stand in awe
The mighty Vasa towered o’er the crowd
The proud ship’s captain stood on the bow

As he gave the signal, the sails rolled down
A gentle breeze blew through Stockholm town
The finest war ship to be deployed
Would soon set sail on her maiden voyage

INSTRUMENTAL

Cast off her moorings, the crowd did cheer
Blind to the sorrow soon drawing near
She pulled away, the wind picked up its force
Then the fateful gust heeled her far to port

The gun ports were open to salute the king
And cold sea water came rushing in
The crew felt terror hit like a wave
And the Vasa sank to her watery grave

INSTRUMENTAL

30 souls lost below the sea
“Chastise all guilty!” the Crown decreed
The inquest formed, the council it did find
The fatal flaw was the ship’s design

So shipwright Henrik, he took the blame
He had no chance for to clear his name
He could not answer nor make a sound
For he lay 6 feet below the ground

Dougal Kenny

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