Lyrics by Carroll Kiphen (@carrollkiphen)
Music, all instruments and vocals, engineering and production by me

In September of 2020, my lyricist friend Carroll Kiphen sent me some words to a couple of new songs. At the time, my Dad was living in a care home with the rigours of Alzheimer's and vascular dementia and the words of 'Blessed Be', one of the songs Carroll had sent, just struck a nerve.

A few weeks later, Dad took poorly with Covid-19 and I began to work on this song as a bit of a release. Sadly, he passed away in mid-October and I recorded the lead vocal to this track on the evening of that day.

It seems timely to release it today, which marks seven months to the day since we lost Dad, and I dedicate it to all my friends who work in care but especially the staff of Dryclough Manor Care Home, Royton who looked after Dad.

I hope you like it x

Dedicated to the staff of Dryclough Manor Care Home, Royton, Oldham, UK

The old the sick and the helpless
Sometimes need a helping hand
Blessed be the ones who care
And do whatever they can

I want to thank the kind and caring
And take my hat off to the brave
The ones who care for other people
Who go out of their way

They do for others without asking
They don’t ask for a thank you
They don’t seek headlines or attention
They just do what they do

Blessed be 
Blessed be
Blessed be 

I’d like to think there’s space in heaven
For those who care for the weak
I only wish that there were more people
Who would let their actions speak

Heaven holds a place for their kindness
Their deeds don’t go unseen
God He sees them helping other people
They help fulfil l his dreams

Blessed be 
Blessed be
Blessed be

The old the sick and the helpless
Sometimes need a helping hand
Blessed be the ones who care
And do whatever they can

Blessed be 
Blessed be
Blessed be

Blessed be 
Blessed be
Blessed be

Blessed Be

Lyrics by @CarrolKiphen
Music, all instruments, vocals, production, etc by me at IronJay Studios
Picture created with Leonardo.ai

I was tinkering around with the chords on my friends piano earlier this month (September 2023) and then I found Carroll's lyrics, after which the song simply wrote itself...which is good as I haven't written a song for three years!

A Beautiful Place To Know

At sea in a storm with sails that are torn. 
In a desert of endless sand. 
With you in my arms, with you in my arms. 
I am the worlds luckiest man.

In the dark of night with no stars for light.
In a forest of giant pines.
With you to hold me, with you to hold me.
I’m the happiest man alive.

Any time of the night, anytime of the day,
Anywhere in the world that I go.

When I’m with you, when I’m with you, 
It’s a beautiful place to know.

At night on the road with miles and miles to go.
On a highway with winding curves.
With you by my side, with you by my side,
I have more than any man deserves.

Any time of the night, and anytime of the day
Anywhere in the world that I go.
 
When I’m with you, when I’m with you, 
It’s a beautiful place to know.
When I’m with you, when I’m with you, 
It’s a beautiful place to know 
 
In Idaho in the snow,
In a jungle in Brazil,
In the middle of nowhere,
Being with you is a thrill.

At sea in a storm with sails that are torn. 
In a desert of endless sand. 
With you in my arms, with you in my arms, 
I am the worlds luckiest man.

For any time of the night or anytime of the day,
Anywhere in the world that I go.

When I’m with you, when I’m with you, 
It’s a beautiful place to know.
When I’m with you, when I’m with you, 
It’s a beautiful place to know.

A Beautiful Place To Know

Lyrics by Carroll Kiphen (@carroll-kiphen)
Music, instruments, vocals, whisting, engineering and production by me

I’m angry; I want to cry
I’m lost and I’m confused
My confidence is shaken
I’m not sure what to do
It seems like every morning
I get some more bad news
I feel I’ve been forsaken
By everyone but you

It’s a hard, hard mean old world
It’s a cold heartless place
In a world full of haters
You’re my one friendly face
You hold me when I’m crying
You soothe me with your smile
You build up my confidence
When I’m in denial

You hold me, you listen
You don’t make judgement calls
When I need a friendly face
You’re a soft place to fall

You hold me, you listen
You don’t make judgement calls
When I need a friendly face
You’re a soft place to fall

You’re my harbour in a storm
You’re my soft feather bed
A refuge from the cold world
Where I can lay my head
And when the cards come tumbling down
You say don’t worry you're my girl
No matter how bad things get
It’s us against the world.

You hold me, you listen
You don’t make judgement calls
When I need a friendly face
You’re a soft place to fall

You hold me, you listen
You don’t make judgement calls
When I need a friendly face
You’re my soft place to fall

You comfort me and say sweet things
You’re my soft place to fall

I see your face and my heart sings
You’re my soft place to fall.

A Soft Place To Fall

Lyrics, music, guitars, lead and backing vocals by John Stewart (https://soundcloud.com/john-stewart-13).

All other instruments, samples and weird ideas by me!

Produced and engineered by John and I.

When I was a little kid, the whole world seemed a bright place
Now it's funny how perspectives change
It's really true that you only remember all the good times
if that doesn't sound too strange

And you know that they'll never believe you, my friend
Yes you know that they'll never believe you deep inside
And you know that they'll try to deceive you, my friend
Yes you know that they'll try to decieve you deep inside

Growing up has not been easy, I've had my hard times
It seemed all sadness on the horizons.
Some people find it hard to cope with the pressure and they don't make it,
And it don't seem hardly surprising

And you know that they'll never believe you, my friend
Yes you know that they'll never believe you deep inside
And you know that they'll try to deceive you, my friend
Yes you know that they'll try to deceive you deep inside

And looking back at all my friends, they all seem easy
Or am I graspin' at the greener grass?
So I'll look forward and hope for sometime the better the fortunes
But I'll take what comes to pass

And you know that they'll never believe you, my friend
Yes you know that they'll never believe you deep inside
And you know that they'll try to deceive you, my friend
Yes you know that they'll try to decieve you deep inside

Never Believe Me (new mix)

Lyrics by Carroll Kiphen (@carroll-kiphen)

Music, instruments, loops, samples, vocals, engineering and production by me.

I’m not saying to be reckless 
Or throw caution to the wind
But sometimes it’s just exciting
When you dive right on in.
Don’t get caught up in the waiting.
The right time might not come.
It might be that your comfort zone’s
made you comfortably numb.

Nothing lasts forever
Enjoy it while it’s here.

There are colours on the palate
That you have never used.
Landscapes that you’ve yet to paint
In a world of different hues.
Rainbows of possibilities
Bright gardens yet to bloom
There are sides of your sweet lover
She’s yet to reveal to you.

Nothing lasts forever
Enjoy it while it’s here.

Life is full of wonders
Alas no guarantees.
All you can do is
Be all that you can be.

I’m not saying to be reckless 
Or throw caution to the wind
But sometimes it’s so exciting
When you dive right on in.
Don’t get caught up in the waiting.
The right time might never come.
It might be that your comfort zone’s
made you comfortably numb.
 
Chorus
Nothing lasts forever
Enjoy it while it’s here
Enjoy it while it’s here
Ooo, enjoy it while it’s here

Enjoy It While It's Here

Lyrics by Carroll Kiphen (@carroll-kiphen)

Music, instruments, loops, samples, vocals, engineering and production by me.

They fake news just to make news.
They’ll tell you what to choose
Contort it, convolute it
To sell their point of view.

Fake news

They’ve got the tools, to make the rules
To tell you that it’s true.
They spin it, reinvent it
And we don’t have a clue.

It’s fake news
It’s fake news

Inconceivable…unbelievable
They’ll make you think it’s true.
Inconceivable…unbelievable
They’ll make you think it’s true.
 
But it’s fake news
It’s fake news

Perception is deception
They’ll play you like a fool.
Repaint it, decorate it
Perpetuate the ruse.

It’s fake news
It’s fake news
It’s fake news

They fake news just to make news.
And tell you that it’s true.
Repaint it, decorate it
They make you think it’s true.

But it’s fake news
It’s fake news
It’s fake news
Fake news!!

Fake News

Lyrics by Carroll Kiphen (@carroll-kiphen)

Music, instruments, loops, samples, vocals, engineering and production by me.

I suppose that I’m afraid
To show someone I care.
To reach out for happiness
And find it isn’t there.
I suppose that I’m afraid
Coz you can’t unbeat a heart.
If she were to tell me no
Would my life fall apart?

I’m afraid of feeling love
And not have it returned
Of reaching out and touching fire,
The chance of being burned.
It might just be that caution
Has been my great demise?
The mask that I hide behind,
Why I feel paralysed.

What if I would have?
Maybe I should have?
I guess I’ll never know.

I went to the dance I had my chance
I never got out on the floor.
I passed on my chance at romance.
Love’s never been re-explored.

If I’d asked her for a dance
Would she have told me yes or no?
Better to have had a broken heart
Than to suffer and never know.

But what if I would have?
And maybe I should have?
I guess I’ll never know.

I went to the dance and I had my chance
I never got out on the floor.
I passed on my chance at romance.
Love’s never been re-explored.

I might have been a happy man.
With children and a home.
A wife that loved me dearly
and always told me so.
I wonder what she would have said
Would she have told me no?
I guess I’ll always wonder. 
I guess I’ll never know.

What if I would have?
Maybe I should have?
I guess I’ll never know.
 
Coz I went to the dance and I had my chance
Never got out on the floor.
I passed on my chance at romance.
Love’s never been re-explored.
Yes I went to the dance I had my chance
I never got out on the floor.
I passed on my chance at romance.
Love’s never been re-explored.

I Guess I'll Never Know

My friend Jenny Corke came round to record some tracks for her website/ CD. We worked on this as a pretty straight version of the Alannah Myles song but then I got to thinking about adding loads of BV's and messing around with it a bit - and this is what came out. I don't even know if i've finished with it yet but have a listen to be going on with!!

Black Velvet remix

My mate Gavin said, "You should sing In A Broken Dream", the old Python Lee Jackson song. I said, "OK".

I had some time to myself tonight, so here it is - thanks for the idea Gav.

In A Broken Dream

I was sent a piano demo of this song by lyricist Carroll Kiphen and composer Robert Baitinger who asked me to perform the vocals. 

Being quite taken by the song I offered to create an orchestral setting to it, which I'm delighted to say was welcomed by the other guys!

Lyrics by Carroll Kiphen (@carroll-kiphen) 
Music, piano by Robert Baitinger (@robert-baitinger)
Orchestral arrangement, instruments, vocals, engineering and production by me.

It seems like only yesterday 
You and I were young
Our life was an adventure 
Living it was fun

I don’t know where the time has gone 
But it’s gone by too fast
We couldn’t keep up with the pace 
So we re-live the past

The future seemed uncertain
The past kept us content
We closed our eyes for a second
Now we don’t know where it went

Reels of old home movies
Postcards of yesterday
Echoes bounce off the walls
As stories are re-played

It’s life as we recall it from
Postcards of yesterday
Echoes bounce off the walls
As stories are re-played

It seems like only yesterday
We said and did those things
We’re comfortable in this life
And its familiar ring

We’re older we don’t look the same
But that is all that’s changed
We’re still stuck in the same old rut
That’s where we will stay

The future seemed uncertain
The past kept us content
We closed our eyes for a second
Now we don’t know where it went

Reels of old home movies
Postcards of yesterday
Echoes bounce off the walls
As stories are re-played

Postcards Of Yesterday

Lyrics by @carrollkiphen
Music, instruments, vocals, engineering and production by me.

The passing of the seasons
Have brought me to my knees;
Changed the way I look at life,
The turning of the leaves.
The failure of my wisdom.
All that I didn’t see.
It is all a part of life,
The turning of the leaves.

Foolish expectations,
Unrealistic dreams.
Unfulfilled fantasies
of how I pictured me.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.

I look at life in new ways.
See things I’ve never seen.
No longer have fantasies
Of how things should be.
I’ve seen the way the leaves fall
Like sacrificial lambs.
Their death a necessity.
Part of a greater plan.

Foolish expectations,
Unrealistic dreams.
Unfulfilled fantasies
of how I pictured me.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.

The wind blows they rustle.
A few fall at a time.
I know that no day soon
A child will rake up mine.

The passing of the seasons
Have brought me to my knees.
Changed the way I look at life.
They’ve got me to believe.
Look at me I’m beautiful
Though I’m no longer green.
I’ve learned to appreciate
The turning of the leaves.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.

The Turning Of The Leaves

A different take to the other version!

Lyrics by @carrollkiphen
Music, instruments, vocals, engineering and production by me.

The passing of the seasons
Have brought me to my knees;
Changed the way I look at life,
The turning of the leaves.
The failure of my wisdom.
All that I didn’t see.
It is all a part of life,
The turning of the leaves.

Foolish expectations,
Unrealistic dreams.
Unfulfilled fantasies
of how I pictured me.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.

I look at life in new ways.
See things I’ve never seen.
No longer have fantasies
Of how things should be.
I’ve seen the way the leaves fall
Like sacrificial lambs.
Their death a necessity.
Part of a greater plan.

Foolish expectations,
Unrealistic dreams.
Unfulfilled fantasies
of how I pictured me.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.

The wind blows they rustle.
A few fall at a time.
I know that no day soon
A child will rake up mine.

The passing of the seasons
Have brought me to my knees.
Changed the way I look at life.
They’ve got me to believe.
Look at me I’m beautiful
Though I’m no longer green.
I’ve learned to appreciate
The turning of the leaves.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.
It’s all a part of life;
The turning of the leaves.

The Turning Of The Leaves (Alternative Version)

A new and more upbeat version of a song from a few years ago.

Lyrics by Rod Barry

Engineering, production, loops, organ and vocals by me.

Do as you would be done by
Has constantly held true
Act with love and kindness
See the others point of view
Try to spread some happiness
Wherever you may be
A heart that’s full of joy
A spirit that runs free

Those who fed you hatred 
Are nowhere to be found
You’ll be on your own my friend
When Karma comes around

You are going nowhere
When you tread the path of hate
The forces of the universe
Will decide your fate
You give nothing to the world
When evil is your guide
You will soon discover
That there’s no place to hide

Those who fed you hatred 
Are nowhere to be found
You’ll be on your own my friend
When Karma comes around

Some believe in Satan
Some believe in God
Neither one will help you 
When you ride roughshod

Those who fed you hatred 
Are nowhere to be found
You’ll be on your own my friend
When Karma comes around
You’ll be on your own my friend
When Karma comes around
When Karma comes around
When Karma comes around

When Karma Comes Around (2020 Version)

A song inspired by the scary times we live in. 

Please stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives.

Lyrics by Rod Barry
Melody and vocals by me
All instruments and loops by Big Fish Audio, arranged and produced by me

Everything is changing
Life has turned upside down
Please curb your desire
To go out on the town
The rules have been rewritten
The message now is stark
For the sake of everyone
Please don’t go to the park

Stay at home, stay at home 
Don’t cause more distress
Stay at home, stay at home 
Protect our NHS, stay at home 
Stay at home, stay at home

If you respect your fellow man
Practice what you preach
Take responsibility
And don’t go to the beach
No matter what temptation
That you may feel to roam
Respect our wide society
You must stay at home

Stay at home, stay at home 
Don’t cause more distress
Stay at home, stay at home 
Protect our NHS, stay at home 
Stay at home, stay at home

You may be hale and hearty
But other folk are not
This is not a party
This virus is soon caught, so

Stay at home, stay at home 
Don’t cause more distress
Stay at home, stay at home 
Protect our NHS 
Stay at home, stay at home 
Don’t cause more distress
Stay at home, stay at home 
Protect our NHS, stay at home 
Stay at home, stay at home

Stay at home

Stay At Home

I've always loved this song - even when, as a staunch rocker in the 70's, Charles Aznavour had the original hit. Elvis Costello recorded it for the soundtrack of Notting Hill and I thought I'd give it a whirl!

Lyrics by Carroll Kiphen (@carrollkiphen)
Melody by me
Guitar and drum loops by Big Fish Audio
Piano, organ, percussion, all vocals engineering and production by me

I heard the bell in the tower ringing
I heard an angel singing our song
I saw her blue eyes and I realized 
That I had found where I belonged

I saw a star in the night sky shining 
Saw an angel pointing the way 
I saw her blue eyes and I realized 
I’d love her till my dying day 

In her arms forever 
Forever in love 
Together forever 
Forever in love

I heard the bell in the steeple ringing 
Heard the chorus singing our song 
And I saw those blue eyes and I realized 
The old me that I knew was gone

I burned the bridges to my past 
Buried the man I was 
I gave her my heart and I gave her my soul 
Gave her all my love

Gave her my heart, gave her my soul
Gave her my heart, gave her all my love

In her arms forever 
Forever in love 
Together forever 
Forever in love
 
Gave her my heart, gave her my soul
Gave her my heart, gave her all my love

Forever in love 
Forever in love

Forever In Love

This song was a reaction to the British Government turning their back on the arts and suggesting that people in that sector retrain for more 'viable' careers! 

Lyrics by Rod Barry
Music, instruments, vocals, engineering and production by me

Get thee behind me Satan
Boris is thy name
We can’t entertain the public
And you’re the one to blame
I’m an entertainer
Who dances, acts or sings
I only want to be onstage
But you’ve left me in the wings

We’re singers and we’re jugglers
Romancers and dancers
We just want to work
We’re not dodgers or chancers
We’re the ones who make the music
We act, like dolls and guys
Our audience is waiting
You’re the devil in disguise

What we do is our vocation
And you want us to retrain
We uplift the nation
Where did you leave your brain!

We value our traditions
Our chutzpa and our skills
Hearing the applause
Is how we get our thrills
We want to use our talent
Dancer actor and artiste
It now runs into millions
The number of the beast

What we do is our vocation
And you want us to retrain
We uplift the nation
Where did you leave your brain!

You’ve left our lives in ruins
Our careers are wrecked
Won’t you wake up to this reality
Treat us with respect

Get thee behind me Satan
Boris is thy name
We can’t entertain the public
And you’re the one to blame
I’m an entertainer
Who dances, acts or sings
I only want to be onstage
But you’ve left me in the wings

We’re singers and we’re jugglers
Romancers and dancers
We just want to work
We’re not dodgers or chancers
We’re the ones who make the music
We act, like dolls and guys
Our audience is waiting
You’re the devil in disguise

What we do is our vocation
And you want us to retrain
We uplift the nation
Where did you leave your brain!

What we do is our vocation
And you want us to retrain
We uplift the nation
Where did you leave your brain!

Where Did You Leave Your Brain!

I've been a semi-pro keyboard player and singer since the mid 70's but only started writing songs whilst at a loose end in February 2011 - don't ask why!

In no way am I a lyricist so I rely on collaborations with others, nameley my fellow Soundcloud members Paul Beaumont (found on here as The Time Zones), Carroll Kiphen (found on here as Carroll Kiphen!) and Lucy Prasad (yea, you guessed it, on here as Lucy Prasad!!), along with my buddy, Rod Barry.

If you have any comments to make please add them :-)

Ian Jenkins 3

Popular tracks