Written and recorded in the space of 2 days, just after the pandemic hit - I was reminiscing about the old days, and feeling extremely lucky to have such amazing, long-lasting friendships. I was partly inspired by a song written by Chris Bradford: 'Coconut Rum' which we recorded together in 2019.
lyrics
LYRICS:
In 2006,
way back when we were only kids in our local parks,
doing anything to make us laugh,
we all found parkour,
and we were training every day till we got sore,
no drugs, no beers, we kept that up for 4 years - what happened?

Through 2008,
I never thought we'd be best mates.
Different backgrounds, schools and age,
jumpin' round town where the friends we'd made,
would just roll up.

Here we are: years have passed.
I never thought that a decade could feel faster than a year back then,
could be all the weed since 2010 we rolled up!

Rooky-Roo disappeared,
I know he's living in the same town,
but his knocking don't grace my door,
he got other friends now he likes more.

Since Mungo went up North,
I ain't even heard a single word from him,
I've been rolling on since he's been gone,
he and Rooky-Roo could never take too long to roll up.

Joe smokes every day now,
we all thought he'd be the clean one!
He's working on an application,
We all knew he's gonna take the world by storm.
When he rolls up in his Lamborghini,
He'll no longer see me,
Coz he'll be rolling with his rich new friends,
I'll have open arms when he's back again and we'll roll up.

James you've always been there,
and you're such a character,
our little puppy-dog-eyed lamb-chop,
lapping all the food up that we got,
when we roll up.

I won't ever be mad,
I'm grateful for all the times we had,
and you just can't beat -
having such friends right up your street,
who just roll up.
Just roll up.

Roll Up

In 2014, I was living in Cornwall for a year after completing my degree, when my girlfriend at the time broke it off with me. I had nowhere else to go but back home to Taunton, Somerset. A year later I had written this song, which quickly became a fan-favourite. I was greatly encouraged to get it recorded, but it took until 2020 to do so; by which time I had lost all gigging momentum.
lyrics
LYRICS:
I had so much faith,
In what we could've made,
from all my dreams and fantasies.
And I pined, for our sakes,
to let go of the heartaches,
that brought us to our knees,
At least they brought you to me...

So please don't, please don't call me just your friend,
and please don't, please don't bring us to an end.
Coz now I must confess how much I love you so.

I brought a flag to the gunfight,
you pulled your trigger when it felt right,
and I let your bullets rip through me.
I became a pillow on your sideline,
just an accessory to fill your spare time,
with my heart in your guillotine.
With my heart in your guillotine.

Singing please don't, please don't call me just your friend,
and please don't, please don't bring us to an end.
And now I must regret,
how much I love you so.
Coz you didn't wanna know,

So I go back,
to what I know.
And walk an old track,
I wandered so long ago.
Where I'm alive, just about getting by,
But I'm desperate to move on,
Coz I'll always love you so.

Guillotine

Written in 2015 in response to my life-long friend Becca suffering from insomnia. When I recorded this song, I was hit by inspiration when fiddling with a new (to me) guitar gadget - The TC Aeon infinite sustainer on my hollow-body electric guitar (Aria Pro ii TA-40) with a slide, with plenty of pedal effects. I achieved a pretty wild second take; nursing the Aeon/slide position that produced the cello/synth-like ambience.

LYRICS:
How long have you been in this half awakening?
Struggling with sleep since your last yarn started unravelling,
down the staircase descending in it's spiral down.
It feels never ending, till it all runs out,
and chasing it's ending, is all you know,
coz all your worries are in control.

And the tighten their grip on you,
in the tide that you've been ripped through.
They keep telling you what path to choose,
with everything you've got to lose.

So why are you up at such a time? Is there something on your mind?
You're so tired now you forgot where you put your pen,
and you're needing it to draw the line,
through the weight you've been lifting and dragging on.
Compiling your lists in, but their order's wrong,
and then subconsciousnesses aren't coming on
'coz all your worries are in control.
credits
released August 13, 2021
Written, arranged, performed, recorded and produced by Samuel Cockram

Sleepless Friend

A song for the great mothers of the world. My mum's name is Fiona and I love her very much. Anyway, here are the lyrics:

She's an angel above,
giving me unconditional love.
I'm her baby, her son,
she's been saving from,
all things of harm.
Coz she's my Mum.

When Life swallows me whole,
and sorrow takes hold,
she's there no question.
She will let me unfold,
and then cradle my soul,
'till I'm whole again.
Coz she's my Mum.
She's my Mum.

Where will I be without her guidance?
A man all the same all in all.
But where else would I find the will to commence,
and pick myself up when I fall?

Coz she's my angel above,
all memory of unconditional love.
I'm still her baby, her son,
she can't save from,
all of life's harm.
She's my Mum.
She's my Mum.
She's my Mum. 

Written, recorded, produced and released by Sam Cockram 
(Kindred Rivers 2022)

My Mum

Doodled the melody on a Bb whistle, expanded it into a song on the guitar (in an open C#sus4 tuning), recorded it the next day while live on Twitch, then edited and uploaded it the next day. When inspiration strikes, you've just got to roll with it. 

Big thank you to my supporters on Twitch. Please do drop a follow and catch me live on Sundays at 7pm GMT - www.twitch.tv/kindredrivers

Faerie Mantra

Written and recorded by Samuel Cockram 2016

Lyrics:

Racing Feet
On the street
Faces Down
Through each lonely town

Zooming through
With tunnel view
Landscape is drowned
By these busy clowns

With fancy shoes
and matching suits
On mobile phones
Wondering like zombie-drones

All I see
Sickens me
Makes me frown - I wanna
Turn those smiles
The right way round

Reality is
so sad to see
How no-one moves
Out their grooves
Incase their shoes get dirty.

Zombie Drones

Dig me a shallow grave,
On my dawning day,
For when my mind has gone,
My body too must move on.
Down into the soil.

Dig me a shallow grave,
Don't keep my bones awake,
Leave me to rot and to spoil,
With no memorial,
With the memory; down into the soil.

Dig me my shallow grave,
for bugs to feast away,
Who'll to feed the birds that soar,
Higher than I've ever been before.
Take me higher than I've ever been before...

Written, recorded and arranged by Samuel Cockram 2018.

Shallow Grave

A very old folk song made popular by Simon & Garfunkel during the 60's. He's my more medieval bard sounding version

Scarborough Fair

A song I wrote which was then co-rewritten by Brian Brough in 2010. It's been lying around on my computer for ages so I suppose maybe someone might like to hear it.

The lyrics are about moving down to Falmouth - a place full of talented and humble people and finding it hard to compete and maintain confidence.

Two Ways (Feat. Brian Brough)

Created by Sam Cockram, a musician and producer from Taunton, Somerset, UK.

Kindred Rivers

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