Every week for  nearly 4 years  I write and record  a song and I am up to 236 songs which I have started putting in this fine playlist. Blimey it takes almost as long to post them as blinking write them ! It’s a smorgasbord of genre , subject matter. Some are sketches others are almost finished if there is such a thing. Some Might be considered to be demos except there really is no such thing as a demo. Some are bad some are good  some are doing the best they can  some have warts some are just perfectly formed . Dip your toe or dive in. Share or ignore they will
Not be going away. The list will just get bigger . And you can support me by going to bandcamp and buying some music.https://allthebees.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-bees or https://3bucketjones.bandcamp.com/

Weekly Song

oh its a silly little heartfelt ditty about wanting to go out dancing but actually not wanting to go out dancing and wanting to stay at hoe with my slippers on.

Shiny Boots – Gitika Partington

BLUE –  Joni Mitchell – Acapella

I wrote this last spring in my I heart songwriting club  -then had the pleasure of hanging with Lukas Drinkwater in his studio where he added stuff to the demo ( no such thing as a demo) and voila! It's a great song for welcoming in the Spring here in the Northern hemisphere. Happy Days .

The Grass Isn't Going To Cut Itself ( You Know)

its an acapella version of the infamous spice girls track..job done!

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE - acapella

Check out my band 3 Bucket Jones  https://3bucketjones.bandcamp.com/album/catch-my-breath-album-5 https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/3bucketjones/the-singles-2017-2018 (visit)
Share on Twitter I had a dear friend Pete who sadly died a couple years ago..I have not seen him for decades but something stuck he said which was if the 'up was worth the down' whether it be an experience  a relationship or imibing something  you would do it. SO that was the starting point.. Thannks to lovely Lukas Drinkwater again.
LYRICS 
No hangover the morning after. No regrets,   after  honeymoon laughter. I want to invent a pill that only gives you spark. I want to invent a day that never fades into dark. no raven night after the sunniest time   no nasty side effects after saying you're mine I want  to invent a pill that only gives you a  spark I want to invent a day that never fades into  dark. Gonna  spend more time with you, Peter said that  the up’s worth the down. I'd wake up to days brand, new Peter said that  the up’s worth the down  that   the love it will  keep coming a round  No lyrics for the second verse I got no time No yin and yang no minus and plus sign

Peter Says

week 153 ..I write and record a song every week. 
LYRICS
how come I'm  the one putting my foot in it again
wearing my heart on my sleeve
telling the world how I feel
hoping it will  heal us  

How come I have constant knot in my refrain
expecting you to work it all out
thinking my feelings they shout
the bleeding obvious 
no one ever x2 , gave us the tools
only taught  us how to stick to, or break all the rules
 no one ever x2  showed us the way
how to ring our personal fire brigade
 no one ever told us how to stand up and fight
for the things we loved for things that were right 
  'how do you feel?'  no-one asked when we were young
oh oh oh oh oh    
when will we,  when will we ever learn
to stop going around
in circles, red hot circles  in circles again
three hundred and sixty degrees of pain
still going around
in circles,  red hot circles in  circles  again
Sing it for  me two more times
sing it  for me one more time

This 

week 153. Circles

another song a week it's a demo but it's not  
LYRICS
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. 
The second best time to plant a tree is right now you know .”
Drop the acorn, watch and wait, shoots slowly rise again
we tend with care watch  the soil bare
with eagle eyes my friend  

"family  grow great  when grandparents  
plant trees  whose shade they'll never sit in"
 grandchildren  scatter  ashes dance in circles 
at thanksgiving  

and love grows grows grows
and  love  love grows grows

Week 184–The Best TIme To Plant A Tree. Mp3

Inspired by a line from Emily Dickinson andother Song a Week..demo..since then I have created an acapella version of this too. Image by Sadhya Rippon. Have a listen to the acapella version too https://on.soundcloud.com/FJWDa
LYRICS 
feeling your senses
seed to a lemon
willow bending 
nature keeps on  growing 

picket white fences
care and attention
growing tending
reaping  what your sowing

CHORUS 
In the name of the bee
And of the butterfly
the gentle  breezes
Amen.
In the name of the trees
And of the time  that goes by
And as  heat follows freezes ( Amen )
the garden keeps on 
living and dying
breathing defying
 the changing weather
flowers mark  seasons
friends for a reason
beginning ending
life  follows  its cycles
fragrance they're sweeter
then bitter  and healing
we keep on wending
following the  spirals

From part poem by Emily Dickinson "In the name of the bee,
And of the butterfly,
And of the breeze, amen!"

Week 159 - Garden (Amen)

A Song about perseverance and putting one foot in front of the other that growth can be so slow if we forget to loook we might not even notice how we grow
 LYRIC 

I shall breathe

I shall build (stone by stone )

I shall reap

Gather up all I  sow 

One stone
One seed 
One step 
slow speed
revolve 
around the globe
I'll keep it slow
like snails go
but everyday 
A little growth 

just like the branches on the trees
just the branches on the trees

Week 183 -Branches On The Trees

another 'song of the week' that got refined with the help of Lukas Drinkwater  on bass  drums acoustic guitar and extra vocals
LYRICS 
my life   the lifeboat    rescued from the sea untie  old ropes    love and harmony  pocket full of  sand   tightly in my hand  skip  through la la land  sing off key my heart   the  rowboat   souls upon the shore walk my lover's tightrope what is mine and what is yours  memories  to dust     needs turn to  must  sailing over gusts in  stormy tides I'll be home in time for  bells pocket full of sand  pockets full of shells  draw a line  down on the beach hold  my heart we feel the  peace  we'll breath together  in and out   wait until the hour glass stills  the clouds  And the sands stop falling x2 and time stands still oh oh oh oh oh x2 moment  of departure tiny grains  of energy tears and then there's  laughter only love will set me free  pocket full of  sand   tightly in my hand  skip  through la la land  sing off key

Time Stands Still

first draft
The Stolen Child - by W B YEATS...
                     
Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake,

There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake

The drowsy water rats;
There we've hid our faery vats,

Full of berrys
And of reddest stolen cherries.
   
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim gray sands with light,

Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night,

Weaving olden dances
Mingling hands and mingling glances

Till the moon has taken flight;
To and fro we leap  
And chase the frothy bubbles,
While the world is full of troubles
And anxious in its sleep.

Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car,
In pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star,
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears

Give them unquiet dreams;
Leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears
Over the young streams.

Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

THE STOLEN CHILD

The Song of Wandering Aengus
BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire a-flame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair 
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

THE SONG OF WANDERING AENGUS

The Lake Isle of Innisfree
BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

LAKE ISLE OF INNESFREE

Never Dreamed of Slaying Dragons 
did the whole thing in about 45 minutes raaaaaaaa! have a soft spot for dragons for many reasons . Puff the Magic Dragon will have me in tears everytime.I and Shelly's dad have the same birthday ...St Georges Day. 23rd April..who is also patron saint of England I live a lot in Wales which the dragon is the emblem. I know its supposed to be about the year of the wood dragon but what is a brief but a word to play with ...grabbed a loop and I am really pleased with the sketch as think this line 'never dreamed of slaying dragons' brings me great joy!.....story has it that george finally went to slay the dragon when they started donating children and then the princess to quell the dragons appetite . I know already lots of changes I am gonna make structural and lyric changes .. very excited!
Lyrics
POOR GEORGE CHORUS poor george didnt want to be a champion poor george never dreamed of slaying dragons poor george he loved a girl a girl Sophia poor george dreamed one day they'de be together VERSE when george was a little boy he had small red wooden dragon it was a special specail toy they were always close close companions called him Prince of Wales it was his only proper friend with his crimson scales faithful to the bitter end BREAK had to protect her from the dragon's appetite had to protect her finish off the dragon's flight

Poor George ( Never Dreamed of Slaying Dragons)

Another little collab on the day before the equinox! Yowza got it on time. Thanks Andy for the track which I didn't carve up too much...changed the temp and added some distorted perc. found a new thing on logic when you pitch flex the vocals you then can change the tempo and the vocals change tooo...who know ...Based on the morbid fairy tale of the REd SHoes...probably not a keeper but enjoyed putting it together particularly with the odd time changes etc.
Lyrics
1.mother took her daughter to the shoemender to patch up her worn out shoes daughter charmed her mother bought her dancing slippers from the window old and used Just be careful said the shoe mender those old sippers have a mind of their own they used to belong to a girl who danced to her last breath pirouetted to an ... early death 2..mother took her daughter to the shoemender to give her old shoes new life daughter managed to charm her dear mother to buy slippers against all sensible advice Just be careful said the shoe mender those old red shoes have a mind of their own they used to belong to a girl couldn't stop her dancing feet threw herself from a mountain try to stop to stop the beat her feet are turning whirling spinning burning all over the town like they're flying, death defying dont think they will ever come down she's getting high, touching sky arms are thrashing through the air pirouetting just forgetting mama told her to take care but she couldnt stop her feet from dancing

Couldn't Stop her Feet From Dancing

week 190-writing recording a song a week the brief was 'fragile' The Boy who Thought He was Made of Glass 
fragile could have been a tough one as I aranged Fragile by Sting for Acapella years ago and its in my bones..then hurrah! I was listening to my most recent audio book in the middle of the night when I could not sleep ...a 20 hour book that sends me off fairly quickly which is good called '1000 years of annoying the french' by Stephen Clarke...and there was a little section about King Charles VI of France who was famously afflicted by the 'glass delusion'. He belived he was made of glass . he wore clothing reinforced by iron rods and did not allow his advisors to come near him due to his fear his body might accidentally shatter....I also used sounds in omnispere that had the word glass in them to get me started...
LYRICS
The Boy Who Thought He Was Made of Glass keep away keep away I might crash i might smash I might shatter keep away keep away you may not even see so me do I matter? keep away keep away my transparancy my fragility keep away keep away you cant touch me you look right though me CHORUS I might break I might shatter in the end will it matter? everyone can see right through me Im transparant crystalline I could smash at anytime keep away keep away my heart my bones are glass unbroken keep away keep away a spell was caste a magic potion keep away keep away I'm cursed am trapped my fear increases keep away keep away for fear I'll break into a million pieces CHORUS I might break I might shatter in the end will it matter? everyone can see right through me I'm transparant crystalline I could smash at anytime

The Boy Who Thought He Was Made of Glass

SHake Me week 206 -writing recording a song a week 
played the chords recorded first time just put hands on keys and pressed record..did not edit...I love a challenge! got the recorder out and my high waaaa voice. Onwards!
LYRICS
I'm shaken you've taken everything that was dear to me You've stolen no consolling turned the page just like i'm history you're walking No talking no chance to tell you how i feel I'm reeling just feeling like everything was just a dream, shake me shake me am I awake am i still sleeping? shake me shake me is this a nightmare am I dreaming shake me shake me am I alive am I still breathing ? now you have left me I'm shaken you've taken every cell of my heart and soul Yes stolen reopened all the wounds I thought that I'd let go I'm spinning beginning, reeling from the truth of who you were Ground Ceiling revealing loss between my heaven and my earth shake me shake me am I awake am I still sleeping? wake me wake me leaving the nightmare this shadow dreaming shaek me shake me am I alive am I still breathing ? now you have left me x2 I'm shaken you've taken every cell of my heart and soul Yes stolen reopened all the wounds I thought that I'd let go you're walking No talking no chance to tell you how i feel I'm reeling just feeling like everything was just a dream,

Shake Me Shake Me

'week 205 of write record a track a week -the word was 'Joke'
it's the only joke I remember and everyone gets sick of me telling it so ha! also we had this phrase...''ooo Miss Sharp, get back in the knife drawer'' when someone was being. bit cutting...
LYRICS
Samantha Sharp! get back into the knife drawer x2 Samantha went to an inflatable school la la la la Samantha kept on a breaking of the rules la la la "you've let the town down, your friends down, the Head down , the school down ' ( get it...let the inflatable school down ha ha ha )

You've Let The School Down

 First of Two tracks written for my lovely mate Mickey who left us 23rd December 2021. We met in the 80's and played music together for 30 years. He was a Capricorn with virgo rising the same as Howard Hughes which made us both laugh as he was a bit of a hermit. He used to say 'I'll get my coat' a lot when people were just being  generally annoying ! Love you Mickey x

Goat ( I'll get me Coat)

the lyrics are very specific..written for my mate Mickey who I was friends with and wrote and recorded music with for 3 decades... VERSE 1 
When I met you you had  a band called Boris and Doris
And a glorious  couch made of fancy William Morris 
 In a pattern called 'Golden Lilly' in  fig and burnt orange
you got to be kidding me ..orange!
BRIDGE 
We inherited we loved it together
You bought a  new  sofa  in  fancy faux  leather
Now your gone  it's been   given to me oh oh 
 
CHORUS 1
 I got  your couch 
you don't need   in  heaven   
and    I slouch 
feet up -never forgetting 

 you're chilling   on a  cloud 
you don't need a sofa
now that you're a super nova -A star 

VERSE 2
When I met you, you played guitar  were in a fancy band 
you asked me to sing along we went to wonderland
the rest they say is history you're up there  and I am down
one day we might just meet and sing together on that cloud
BRIDGE
We inherited we loved it together
You bought a  new  sofa  in  fancy faux  leather
Now your gone  it's been   given to me oh oh 

 CHORUS 2 
 I got  your couch 
you dont need  in  heaven   
and   I slouch 
feet up -never forgetting 

you're chilling   on a  cloud 
you don't need a sofa
now that you're a super nova

got  your song  
so good to remember  
Ill sing it strong 
with your telecaster fender 

you're strumming    on a  cloud 
you don't need a sofa
now that you're a super nova you're a star!

SOFA SUPERNOVA couch

Such a joy to be writing a song every week for nearly 5 years and I forget to share and now and then fall into what is like a diary of my life and the last 5 years have been one hell of a ride.!  They are one off could be called demos or fresh shoots but they give me such joy. This one is the idea being like being on a heavy pain killer when the pain somehow ends up begin ' over there' and the idea that maybe being high above the pain it would not hurt so much...
1. there's a boy in the sky  in a hot air balloon
to  the  blazing  sun and the slim  rising  moon
he looks down at the  houses as the people  they wave
they  get  smaller and smaller  and just for a day

 all cares and worries  have just  blown away 
then he jumps from the basket lets his body go loose
pulls the chord on the side
to release  his  parachute 
 
2.just a pie in the sky as she told him goodbye - (she's not gonna stay )
Knew he needed to cry felt he needed to fly- (she's walking away)


all the bad feelings need to blow away    
so  he jumps from the basket lets his body go loose
pulls the chord from the side
to release  his  parachute 

CHORUS OR SOMETHING
billowing rainbow silk
parachute unfurls
earth's  axis tilts
feeling free from the world
flying in  slow motion  looking down on the pain 
you almost cannot  see ( feel ) it anymore   x2

3. just a pie in the sky as she told him goodbye -( she's not gonna stay )
Knew he needed to cry felt he needed to fly-( she's walking away)
all the bad feelings need to blow away    
so  he jumps from the basket lets his body go loose
pulls the chord from  the side
to release  his  parachute 

CHORUS OR SOMETHING
( the pain has gone ...)
billowing rainbow silk
parachute unfurls
earth's  axis tilts
feeling free from the world
flying in  slow motion  looking down on the pain 
you almost cannot  see ( feel ) it anymore   x2

Almost Cannot Feel it Anymore

love potion number one 
your warmth envelops like the sun
it  smiles  deep in my heart
keeps me strong when we're  apart
 
you fill me up
you quench my appetite
with a loving cup
taste like the sunshine bright 
the pain is done
 the aching has taken flight 
 you are my medicine 
that helps me   through the night

love potion number nine 
Your loving make me feel so fine
deep inside my soul
keeps me warm when nights are cold

Love Potion Number One

inspired by a quote from the wondrous Elizabeth Gilbert called 'Know Your Shit" only wrote and recorded last night but hey!
Lyrics 

Now I am older I know the worst of me....
I know what makes me insane temporarily....
I know  my pride and my vulnerability.....
The stuff that makes me insecure 
Makes me flat out mean makes me flat out  ugly

 I'm gonna Own my shit
The biggest problem is me
I'm gonna own my shit
Admit to all my crazy
Own my shit
Know my demons personally 
Own it 
My shit
Make it  honest make it real 
Let the work begin.... 

Now I am older I know the worst of me
I recognise there can be some  recovery
I meditating  and find some way for  therapy
 From all the contradictions  
 that Make me flat out mean and ugly

 
 I'm gonna Own my shit
The biggest problem is me
I'm gonna own my shit
Admit to all my crazy
Own my shit
Know my demons personally 
Own it 
My shit
Make it  honest make it real 
Let the work begin.... 

OWN MY SHIT

Asked to write a song about goals for the next year and mine is to do my best to shine a light be a beacon .  Written and recorded in a morning. I have also arranged it for acapella choirs and we sung it with 50 lovely people on International Women's Day  march 2025.

Lighthouse (Everything Will Be Alright)

This is a song about not forgiving someone ..The title 'It's not usually in my nature' keeps repeating like a little hook and will get under your brine for sure...about being a really very lovely person who has been tested to  the limit by someone so unecessarily cruel...a nice bit of 'sing along' therapy..as its a little bit funny too...not tooo serious..Lyrics belowits not usually in my nature . I wrote and recorded it on one of those ridiculously hot over 30 degree day summer 2024..when I was not at my most relaxed...its probably still a demo..but hey there is really no such thing 

to hate someone as much as I hate you

Its not usually in my nature 

to  want to  hurt  somebody back the way I do   


It's not usually in my nature

to feel so ready for a fight to  revel in the idea of punching  out your lights 

It's not usually in my nature

 but your dancing card is marked  cos you've  almost crushed  my sweet forgiving heart 


its not usually in my nature 

but you have been   so blood sucking  cruel

Its not usually in my nature 

but I'm fantacising  about engaging in a duel


It's not usually in my nature

to feel so ready for a fight to  revel in the idea of punching  out your lights 

It's not usually in my nature

but your dancing card is marked  cos you've  almost crushed  my sweet forgiving heart


 And I cant forgive you ( thought its usually in my nature)

no I can forgive (all you show me is  a selfish  hater)

And I cant forgive you ( thought its usually in my nature) nature  

It's Not Usually in My Nature

Every so often I post one of the ‘song a week’ I do .  It keeps me sane and sometimes is a little like a therapy diary…sometimes not,.In a perfect world… this playlist would have all the songs I have worked on which would be like an impressive diary ,but time seems to evade me…this is week 261. SLEEP being the word to help us along

 LYRIC
​I wrote a song in my sleep it soared up high
An exquisite Melody lyrics to die ( for) 
"Quick get the voice memo" I say to myself half awake half asleep
It’s ok I will remember it in the morning if I keep 
repeating it over and over again

I wrote a song in my sleep Now its all gone
 I should have recorded it there and then  It's  gone all wrong
 I dig down down down   but nothings left in my head
Another dream of overnight success  I left in my bed my bed
​
Repeating it over  and over again
Singing in my sleep lu lu lu
I wish I could remember  just how it went 
​
​I wrote a song in my sleep it soared up high
An exquisite Melody lyrics to die ( for) 
"Quick get the voice memo" I say to myself half awake half asleep
It’s ok I will remember it in the morning if I keep 
repeating it over and over again

I Wrote a Song In My Sleep

new acapella arrangement of a song not written but made famous by the thin white duke...we are going to learn it this term in my acapella choir...

WILD IS THE WIND  -Acapella

here is the practice track i made for the choir for our Black and Blue sharing...its folk really...

BLACKBIRD SATB acapella

walking on sunshine -floating on cloud nine! SATB
no mention of any other song :)
a demo for my choirs..at the moment that is just me singing all the parts 

Walking on sunshine ( float

This is the full learning track for the choirs to listen to before we embark on learning..I have individual tracks too. written by me and Andrew McCrorie-Shand..It has gone through a few different versions..the is a versions for choir and trio with more unison and a two part version for primary schools and our album version https://3bucketjones.bandcamp.com/track/single-sky-single-of-the-month-april

Single Sky new acapella

This is my arrangement of this classic folk song. A little bit challenging if you are teaching /learning by ear..would do over a few sessions for sure

She Moved Through the Fair – Acapella

A lovely arrangement of the classic folk song for SATB gitika style. Hope you enjoy it.. I have the individual parts and score available. You can buy on 
https://www.choircommunity.net/downloads/i-will-give-my-love-an-apple-learning-tracks/

I Will Give My Love an Apple – Acapella

Now this is really really old...much older than the photo...My brother was 3, sister 5 and me 6, there was a lot of trouble getting   my little brother to sing a whole verse but he did, and I know there was some tape splicing that went on to...and from the same battered old cassette, which was transferred from a reel to reel, which has long been in a landfill. I sing verse one, sis sings verse 2...the first time I think I got to hear my voice on  a recording...

Go Tell Aunt Rhody -Partington Family Singers

 I am singing all the parts...the bass has a vocal transformer on it..( thanks LOGIC) its a new acapella arrangement of a Bob Marley classic...The Beautiful Bishopsgate Singers are going to give it it's first outing this term...spring 2013

Wainting in Vain ALL

i had a dream last week in the middle of all this madness that I was truly joyful and i was singing this song...so I arranged it for fun,..the end is cracking...it s a lot ore funky than some versions i have heard.

I'm Still Standing- acapella demo

A little demo with me singing all the parts of this lovely Folk song written by Cyril Tawney....published by Hal Leonard...so definately not public domain!

Grey funnel line ALL

Gitika -She Moved Through The Fair

Gitika -Desolate

Acappella Rock! It gets more finished..it is in fact the practice audio for the choir to learn their parts and not a performance track at all...but gives you a good look at acapella Kashmir in all its glory! thanks for listening...it will soon be available to buy on choircommunity.net both the notation and the audio tracks...watch this space!

Kashmir  - Led Zeppelin

I am working on tidy playlists..there is one for all my song-a-week and then other tidy playlists will follow ..it like a thrift shop of my songs..you gonna have to have a good rummage ..a great place for a demo  ( there is no such thing as a demo) is what I say. One day I will orgnise into tidy playlists. good luck - I will put the kettle one

gitika partington

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks