A dark blue / punkabilly song about consequences and going past the point of no return. Features tremolo guitar. If you like the lyrics, get in touch:

Boom gates on the railway tracks 
Too late to be turning back
See the driver with her eyes wide
See the letters neon bright 

Saying
Bluestone Express
[repeat]

Train drivers catching flashbacks 
Shut your mouth or get the sack
Bottle it up and hide the bottle 
Bottle it up and hit the throttle 

Singing 
Bluestone Express 
[repeat]

Carriage three and out of nicotine 
Rambling breathless words obscene 
Fifty three is far too young 
Hidden shadows on her lungs 

For the
Bluestone Express [repeat]

Police hold the train at the station 
Boy stashes his medication
Boy’s not gunna make the drop
Boss says it was his last shot

On the 
Bluestone Express 
[repeat]

Bluestone express

This is a laid back, acoustic track with harmony vocals. Beneath the quieter vibes there are some hidden edges to the lyrics which focus on maintaining your identity in the age of social media. Written for my daughters. If you are interested in licensing any lyrics, get in touch. Lyrics for this one are: 

Stop with the filtration 
Stop with the curation 
Stop all this rose tint lens
And the good time friends

Cut out the whitening 
Tone down the brightening 
Cut out the light ring
And the bling, bling, bling 

Turn off the cheap shots
Turn off the chat bots
Turn down the non-stop,
What’s hot, jack pots

Too much blah, blah, blah
So much nah, nah, nah
Bit much ooh, la, la
And the uh, uh, ah

No more buying all the glam 
I’m not falling for the same old scam
You don’t 
Make me
Who l am
Who I am
Who I am 

Enough with the click bait 
Enough of the deep fakes
Enough with the high stakes
And the toxic hate

Stop with the gaslight
Stop with the late night
Stop with this half life
All out of sight 

I see clearly through the sham 
No more falling for the same old scam
You don’t 
Make me 
Who I am
Who l am
Who I am

Start with the human touch 
Start with the positive
Starting to rise above
With the simple love

Bring up community
Bring up the listening
Bring on humility 
And some honesty 

I see clearly through the sham 
No more falling for the same old scam
You don’t 
Make me 
Who I am
Who l am
Who I am

Who I am (you don’t make me)

Dirty acoustic, finger-picking blues. Some dark themes on oppression with a hint of hope at the end. Lyrics below - get in touch if you are interested in licensing any lyrics …

I hold it in
Your holding out
I’m holding up
But I don’t know how

You hold me under
I hold my breath 
I’m holding on
By a single thread

You hold me down
hold me down
You hold, hold, hold me down

No holding back
No holds barred
You look down on me
With your head held high

I hold my tongue
And swallow my pride
You hold all the cards
And you still want mine

Don’t hold me down
Don’t hold me down
Don’t hold, hold, hold me down

Block up the windows
Lock up the doors
Black out the lights
Block out all the noise

Lock down the borders
Lock out the press
Lock up the children
That wash up on our shores

You won’t hold me 
You won’t hold me 
You won’t hold me down
You won’t hold me down
You won’t hold me down
You won’t hold me down
You won’t hold me down
You won’t hold me down
You won’t hold me down
You won’t hold me down

Hold me down

This is a slinky little blues built around the title hook ‘Burnt Matches, Old Flames’. A cautionary tale about rekindling old love leaving you more lonely than before. Acoustic guitars, brushed drums and a whispered chorus.

Lyrics can be licensed - let me know if you are interested. Full lyrics below:

Burnt matches and old flames 
Burnt matches and old flames
They’re two things I can’t explain
Burnt matches and old flames 
Burnt matches and old flames 

You play with matches  
You're gonna get burnt 
You fool with old flames  
You're gonna get hurt
But you know, they’re just the same  
They’re just burnt matches and old flames

Burnt matches and old flames 
Burnt matches and old flames
Burnt matches and old flames 
Burnt matches and old flames
 
Some people put their matches  
Back into the box  
Some chase their old flames  
Like they’re hunting a fox 
But to me, they’re just the same 
They’re just burnt matches and old flames

Don’t play with matches  
You’re sure to start a fire  
You’re bound to get burnt 
 Re-igniting past desires
But you know, they’re just the same  
They’re just burnt matches and old flames

Now I beg please hear me  
And heed this tale of woe 
It happened on a lonely night  
When my heart was hanging low

I know the path to trouble 
It’s a well worn track 
I knew right where it lead  
And I should’ve double back

But I followed my footsteps  
I followed my footsteps 
 I followed my footsteps 
I followed my footsteps
I followed my footsteps 
I followed my footsteps   
And guess right where they led?

I found my way to her front door 
I’ve never craved anything this much before 
It was warm in her arms 
It was hot through the night  
But I’ve never been more lonely in my life

Some fires burn slowly 
Some are hard to put out 
Some will consume you  
But do not have a doubt
Wo-oh-yeah

Some fires burn slowly 
Some are hard to put out 
Some will consume you  
But do not have a doubt 
Once it’s been struck 
There’s no use in laying blame 
They’re just burnt matches and old flames

Burnt matches and old flames 
Burnt matches and old flames
Burnt matches and old flames 
Burnt matches and old flames

Burnt Matches, Old Flames

This a riff-driven punk number on the theme of dominance and control. It is either dark, or darkly dumb, depending on your point of view. I played around with gender pronouns to spread the joy!

I can license lyrics if people are keen. Full lyrics below:

Grip

[verse 1]

She’s got a grip on my heart [repeat x3]
Like a monkey wrench

Monk, key, wrench, twist

She sits on my chest [repeat x3]
To get leverage

He’s got a hold on me [repeat x3]
Like a harpoon

Hook, me, up, pull

He’s got his hooks in me [repeat x3]
Like a slaughter house

We hold each other tight [repeat x3]
Like a tourniquet 

Bleed, me, dry, stop.

We share everything [repeat x3]
Like a parasite 

They really turn me on [repeat x3]
In the electric chair

Strap, me, in, switch

They put me up on the altar [repeat x3]
For the sacrifice

You really make me move [repeat x3]
Like a voodoo doll

Pin, me, down, cut.

You know me inside out [repeat x3]
Like an autopsy

[coda]

Well you play the tune 
And I will dance for you
Until I’m all worn through

Yes you play the tune
And I will dance for you
Until I’m all worn through

Grip

This is a ballad about a ‘hired gun’ with a price on his head. Three bounty hunters are trying to bring him in. Who will survive the shoot out and claim the prize? It has dirty guitars, harmony vocals, hammond organ and a twist.

I will license lyrics if you are interested, full lyrics follow:

He was a gun
A hired gun
A gun for hire
come to gun me down

[Verse 1]

You could tell
he was a cruel man
from just one
look in his eye.

Said he wasn’t
in it for the money
quarry came in
more dead than alive.

[Repeat Chorus 1]

[Bridge]

Ten thousand dollars
Ten thousand lies
That’s what ten thousand
dollars will buy

Ten thousand dollars 
Ten thousand lies
Three cold riders
coming for their prize

[Verse 2]

Rider two
was a law man
a crooked man
full of pride.

He hired me
for dirty deeds
then he turned
and testified.

Swore on the bible
Swore on his soul
Then he straight out lied.

[Chorus 2]

I was a gun
A hired gun
A gun for hire
come to gun you down

[Repeat Bridge]

[Verse 3]

Third rider
Chilled me to my bones
They called her the black angel
I count the nights we rode side by side
By the scars on my hide

[Chorus 3]

She was a gun
A hired gun
A gun for hire
come to gun me down

[tempo change, quick spoken]

Lined them up to shoot them down
single file, my final round
One slumped and a second fell
Then the ground gave way to the gates of hell

Someone threw some dynamite
Someone prayed to Jesus Christ...
Like baby Jesus gunna save some sinner
get ‘em through a gun fight

Couldn’t see what happened next
listened hard and guessed the rest
a knife, a thrust, a groan, a twist
bellowed out in bloody bliss

Through the haze the angel prowled
halo of smoke and wings a shroud
I swung my pistol, she grabbed by wrist
A crooked smile, a poisoned kiss.

[Repeat chorus 3, to end]

Hired gun

A circle song for the break-up, make-up, break-up loop. Acoustic guitar based. Kissing tears lead to a salty embrace … which always ends in tears. Full lyrics below. Get in touch if you are interested in licensing any lyrics:

You hold my hand I stroke your hair
You hold my hand I stroke your hair
The sun rays play with dust in the air
You hold my hand I stroke your hair

We sit on my bed in the pale afternoon
We sit on my bed in my bedroom
I know you’ll be leaving me, leaving me soon
I know you’ll be leaving me, leaving me soon

You kiss the tears as they roll down my face
Kissing tears turns into salty embrace
Salty embrace always ends in tears
Tears just lead to kisses on the face

I touch your back as you turn away
I help you pack and ask you to stay
You won’t be back and won’t be swayed
I watch your back as you walk away

All old promises of youth
All hold faith with the truth
All told honest and naive
All so you wouldn’t leave

You kiss the tears as they roll down my face
Kissing tears turns into salty embrace
Salty embrace always ends in tears
Tears just lead to kisses on the face

Kissing Tears

This started with romantic lyrics but soon turned from nostalgia into melancholy with some quiet, improvised guitar in a jazz style. 

These lyrics play on the idea of the multi choice response 'all of the above' while mixing in some changing sky imagery. I snuck in a bridge about bridges.  

Lyrics are:

Jacaranda and a silver sky
Your smile and a look in your eyes 
And all of the above

Bergamot and cinnamon
I close my eyes and breathe you in
And all of the above 

Silhouette and sunset
I coldly hold these sweet regrets
And all of the above 

Moonlight and a midnight swim
The milky way and a cheshire grin
And all of the above

A, a bridge too far
B, below the water flows
C, see it burning at both ends
D, deeply churns the undertow

Howling out the angels sing
There is no heaven if there is no sin
And all of the above

All of the Above

'Clear signs' is a mournful track which deals with memory loss. The sentiment comes from time spent in a dementia unit with my Grandfather. This is a setting many of us have been confronted with. In my experience, there were glimpses of clarity and beauty, especially when singing old songs together. This song is a collaboration with my friend Robbie. It is Robbie on vocals, euphonium and percussion. I provided the guitars, mandolin and most of the lyrics. Full lyrics below:   

Fades in, fades out
Checks in, checks out
Clear signs are hard to find
Through the static

Tunes in, tunes out
Drops in, drops out
Clear signs are hard to find

An old friend brings a faded memory
A sweet song sings a soothing melody
Blue skies are calling through the clouds
Sundown and shadows crowd around
 
Tunes in, tunes out
Flows in, flows out
Hard signs are clear to find

Ease in, ease out
Glide in, glide out
Clear signs I here define

Cuts in, cuts out

Clear Signs

Jay Olivine is Ziggy Stardust’s fourth favourite lyricist in Northeast Brisbane. 

He is a hitless wonder who scratches out demos in a dark booth beneath his kitchen. 

Sometimes he adds distortion to cover the snores of his dog. Sometimes he gets away with an acoustic number. 

His dream (not his dog’s dream) would be to license his lyrics to someone who would take them somewhere beautiful. He keeps dreaming. 

Olivine is a common green rock. Jay Olivine is not.

This track is not available anymore.

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