We are in the process of recording When You Walked In, so decided to release a live version first. It was recorded at the Con Club in Lewes using a TASCAM DR-05X on 19th April 25.

When You Walked In (Live) 250419

We're back.

Janine: voices, vocal melody and harmony, lyrics https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson
Jonathan: initial music, instruments, mix
David Levinson: image

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nature has conspired to bring a basketful of obstacles 
Pesky interfering things, not the things she ought to bring 
They pile up in my way like spiky beaver dams 
They just accumulate like unbrushed tresses,

Well surprise surprise, they can be wonderful

An infantry of shoulds and bags of promises 
Have all transmogrified and curl like willow branches 
That crown around my head and vine around my feet 
And where the fire burned, they slurp the ashes

But surprise surprise, they're kinda beautiful
 it’s all so beautiful


Surprise surprise, it’s pretty beautiful
Nature is a wild thing with no philosophy 
And where the atoms turn is helter skelter 
So on the sides of trees forever lichen grows 
And mossy destiny is in their shelter

Surprise surprise, it’s all so beautiful


Surprise Surprise (with Janine Levinson)

People walking by
I don't know why they're walking by
I don't know why I want to cry
I'm just keeping the world away

Sitting in the crowd
In the crowd they're really loud
In the dock she's really proud
I'm just keeping the world away

It's a feeling I get from time to time
Especially when I'm feeling this sublime

427. people walking by (harding).mp3

Recorded and produced
 by greyshoes#music-berlin
03/2025
............................................................................

Artwork by P. Werzlau  
using the photo:
Landscape, Uckermark #2 
(detail) 

..............................................................................

© All rights reserved

..............................................................................

Between Landscapes #2

For my sixth birthday for weeks and weeks I begged my dad for a dog
But my dad didn’t think I was responsible enough and he was also kind of cheap
But I kept asking him constantly and finally he broke down
He gave me a little cabbage plant growing in a Styrofoam cup

He said if you take good care of this cabbage plant
Next year I’ll consider buying you a dog

I named him Charlie and I planted him in the flowerbed in the front yard
And every morning I’d go outside, and I’d feed him water and fertilizer
I’d update him on what was going on inside the house
And as far as cabbages go Charlie was a patient listener

Every night before I went to bed
I’d stick my head out the window and say goodnight to Charlie.

Our friendship was more than one of those passing fads
And every day Charlie grew until his head was bigger than my dad’s

And I guess my dad must have noticed too because one crisp autumn afternoon
Me and Charlie were sitting in the flowerbed listening to a baseball game
My dad came outside, and he said to me, it’s time for you to become a man

He reached down and he ripped my best friend Charlie out of the ground
For a couple of seconds, I could see his little roots gasping for soil 
Then we took him in the house and we cleaned and we gutted him

 And I swore that would be the last time I’d ever have a personal relationship
 with a vegetable of the cruciferous type
And as we sat around the table, eating our cabbage soup
It occurred to me I was so glad my dad hadn’t bought be a dog

I dedicate this song to Charlie because he made such a big impression on me
Those months we spent together made me so happy.
I go down the produce aisle at the grocery store.  I see those cabbages and it makes sad
I’m glad for the time we spent together.  Sorry it had to end up so bad.

Charlie (Cabbage Song)

I used to work in a municipal council depot in the late 1980’s and met some brilliant characters. Ronnie was one of them - he used to walk 3 miles each way to work/home. He had interesting views on life! It’s a bleak folk song but with some humour thrown in. They all used quite fruity/earthy expressions and I wanted to capture some of that. I hope you enjoy it. Mastered by RCD Digital. 
Lyrics 

Cough up the green, like a dying mans wheeze 
Mould on the walls, there’s no enjoyment 
Clothes so damp, they’ll rot your bones
It’s all frustration and disappointment 

Life is a sore that never heals

Day after day it’s just
Walk to work, pick up them bags 
Throw them in as the packerplate screeches 
Home, eat, soak my plums if I’m lucky, then sleep
But it’s still dark when I wake up! 

In all weather we work, shine, snow and rain
Fevers and puking, we push through the pain
But don’t think the boss will let you be late 
The old man will lose it and show you the gate!!

Life is a sore that never heals

Day after day it’s just
Walk to work, pick up those bags
Throw them in as the packer plate screeches 
Home, eat, sink some pints if I’m lucky
And sleep, but it’s still dark when I wake up 

And the great and the good, shiny and monied
their perfect kids with daddy and mummy 
What’s it to me where they live, what they do
How they’re doing in school, or where they holiday to?
I don’t care , it’s not my life
Leave me alone! 

And now there’s lots of management around
To save some money and cut some rounds
But there’s only so much these old bones can take
Push me too hard and the old back will break

Scratch cards! Yeah scratch cards
Thank God for scratch cards 
One lucky match,  I break free
But until then, it’s the same old routine

Day after day it’s just
Walk to work 
Pick up those bags
Throw them in as the packer plate screeches 
Home, eat, sit and rest if I’m lucky 
Then sleep, but it’s still dark when I wake up! 

James Whiteman copyright (lyrics 2017; music 2025)

Ronnie’s Lament (The Loader)

'interyou'd'

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJpT3wlyg3N/?igsh=MTZ0MGFoeDhqMHA4ZA==

note: another shitty live phone recording

Let's make this house a home,
for I'll want you until I'm gone.
Just, please, don't leave this place
before me, as I couldn't take bein' alone.
Without you.

interyou'd

Written by James Geer

In the ocean of my mind
From subconscious deep
A storm may come my way
Troubling my sleep
 
I’m Skirting the abyss.   
My Circumstances dire 
What has wrought me this
Circling the gyre

And crashing are the waves
And howling is the wind 
I find I’m save at bay
When I reach for you again

When thoughts of empty years
When I had lost at love
Attack my inner peace
Like hailstones from above

Safe at bay

Lyrics

Ronald Duck your dollar dumb
Ronald Duck your dollar dumb

The politics is switched off
It's not humane
Though humane is their job
I try for fantasy in sounds
And try and spell that slop
But that spelling can't be found

So in the dreams we ditch them
And somehow make a new plan
Here survival is focused to every cell
Everyone
Everything
Every atom
The whole system
Donald Duck your dollar dumb
Your Euro tone & your Yen
Donald Duck dollar dumb

The politics is switched off
It's not humane
Though humane is their job
I try for fantasy in sounds
And try and spell that slop
But that spelling can't be found

It's fucking your job...

So in the dreams we ditch them
And somehow make a new plan
Here survival is focused to every cell
Every atom
Everyone
Survival of system
Donald Duck your dollar dumb
Your Euro tone & your Yen
Donald Duck dollar dumb
It's survival Son
Donald Duck their dollar dumb
Money can't save anyone
No coin fixes Earth blisters
Misses' and Misters

The politics is switched off
It's not humane
Though humane is their job
I try for fantasy in sounds
And try and spell that slop
But that spelling can't be found

Ronald Duck your dollar dumb
Ronald Duck your dollar dumb
