My days felt wrong.
My nights were long.
My dreams turned grey
Then went away.
I’ll never forget 
You were my first breath.

You brought me to life

My hope was gone,
My hands were numb.
I heard my name
I turned away
I’ll never forget 
You were my first breath.

You brought me to life

My soul feels new
My eyes need you
My fears have gone
You are the one
I’ll never forget 
You were my first breath.

You brought me to life
You brought me to life
Breathe in, breath out your love.


My First Breath

I’d never pass by you my friend.
It’s good to see you again.
It’s hard to think what we should say.
I’ll understand if you can’t stay (please stay).

Time flew so fast in your arms.
We used to talk until dawn.
Laugh about how we’d grow old.
It’s funny how things can unfold (unfold).

But I’ve seen you naked
I’ve felt your breath shaking.
You promised you’d never let me go.
I’ve seen you broken,
I’ve heard secrets spoken.
Now all we can say is hello.
“Hello.”

We were so young and so sure.
We never thought we could fall.
No one had felt love like us.
We though that would be enough (it’s not enough).

But I’ve seen you naked
I’ve felt your breath shaking.
You promised you’d never let me go.
I’ve seen you broken,
I’ve heard secrets spoken.
Now all we can say is hello.
“Hello.”

I’m glad for the time that we shared.
I know we both truly cared.
Remember us like we were then.
Instead of just two distant friends (are we friends?)

But I’ve seen you naked
I’ve felt your breath shaking.
You promised you’d never let me go.
I’ve seen you broken,
I’ve heard secrets spoken.
Now all we can say is hello.
“Hello.”

I've Seen You Naked

I walked across the line,
Eyes closed.
I showed you deep inside,
Where it hurt the most.
I looked at all I am.
Soul searching.
Tried to be a better man.

It’s all for you baby.
It’s all for you darling.
It’s all for you.

I made this house a home.
Safe and sound.
Somewhere you can belong,
So lay your head down
And my bed will keep you warm
In the cold mornings.
Whatever’s mine is yours.

It’s all for you baby.
It’s all for you darling.
It’s all for you.

I’d take all the clouds from your sky
If it made you happy.
Just to see the look in your eyes.

It’s all for you baby.
It’s all for you darling.
It’s all for you.


All For You

Does she believe
When you talk about your dreams?
Do you look to her
When you don’t know where to turn?
When you touch her skin
Do you feel alive again?
When she goes away
Do you sit and count the days?

If she’s the one you think of in everything that you do,
Then you should thank your stars she chose you.

When you take her hand
Does it make you a stronger man?
When she says your name
Does the loneliness go away?
When there’s nowhere to hide
Is she the one by your side?
If she ever hurt
Would you cry instead of her?

If she’s the one you think of in everything that you do,
Then you should thank your stars she chose you.


She Chose You

I will let you know
When my ship comes in.
We’ll go to Tokyo
And start again.
Everything will change
When I am king.
I just need to wait
And buy some time.
But that’s all I ever did.
Buying time.
That’s all I ever did.

I’ll write on the walls 
And make a scene.
I will have it all
And you’ll be queen.
Tokyo will stand
And sing our names
It could be just like I planned
Just not this time.
But that’s all I ever said
Not this time
That’s all I ever said

You heard this all before
Just yesterday
But it feels like Tokyo
Is not far away
I’ll need it the most
When your not here
I know that I’m so close
But I need more time.
That’s all I ever said.
Give me more time.
That’s all I ever said.

Tokyo comes and goes
It won’t leave me alone.
Won’t leave me alone.


Tokyo

Album Notes by The Olde Wee Plinth
What did you think happened?  That Jason Lee Dunkley had disappeared off the face of music?  That his muse had escaped whilst he tended to other matters?  Or simply that he was now a listener, no longer a creator of terrific pop?
Either way, all talk has been laid to rest with this, his debut solo offering, which should be an opportune moment for us to finally hear just JLD and his trusted acoustic guitar, together as they were always meant to be, right?
Wrong, friend.
Under the guise of Jump Look Drop these five tracks are unencumbered with the weight of JLD’s previous outings.  Everything’s new.  The songs are different; musically oddball, more textural, lyrically more dynamic, interesting flickers in the production.  
His songs have come of age, becoming more rewarding with each listen, more interesting, using a wider palette of colours and shapes.
And then there’s the voice.
Previously a dark, northern, often mournful sounding vehicle, here he has found something he wasn’t even looking for.  More confidence, brave harmonies, lilting falsettos, more soul. 
Listen to the softly beating She Chose You, for example.  Backed by simple drums and electric piano, there’s nowhere for the vocals to hide, so they flaunt themselves instead and he makes the vocal performance of his life so far on what could easily be the greatest song he has ever written. Yet.
That song demonstrates a less-is-more approach that you can also hear in the pattering electronica of I’ve Seen You Naked.  Like what Prince might sounds like if he hired Kid A-era Radiohead as his backing band; like stacking a few hundred JLD’s into a tight room to sing their heads off; certainly like nothing you’ve heard before.  JLD’s previously unheard falsetto dominates proceedings and what a falsetto!
But let’s go right back to the start.  It’s the slow-burning Tokyo that introduces this set and listeners may notice there’s not a guitar to be heard, drum machines, bleeps, strings and JLD’s song of hope and defiance.  Turn your stereo up, but not too much.  The song builds and some surprises lie in store within its six minutes.
The hardest thing to write is a song of happiness without it dissolving into a mawkish soup.  JLD has succeeded; the beauty of All For You is in its simple joy - a catchy melody, a warm heart and a mini pop classic.  In the background, simmering synths and a drum kit with no cymbals drive things along behind the singer who sounds at once joyous and effortless.
What would it sound like if you combined Off The Wall-era Michael Jackson with Elbow and a healthy dose of gospel?  My First Breath may have the answer.  It was the track with the longest gestation; numerous different arrangements, chord sequences and takes were stripped back to the only two chords that matter, another great vocal performance and a take off at the end.
At the end, you’re left wondering where it all came from. And where you’ve just gone. And where you’re going to now.
One things for sure; everything’s going forward so you may as well face the right direction.
