From the King of Crows album, Up From the Ashes: The Ayrial Sessions [2013]
Download the album from iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/up-from-ashes-ayrial-sessions/id705927785

Lyrics:


Who are you? Who are we?
What happened to what we used to be?
I often wonder if we are three.
Another party I’ve never seen.
Since I’ve been cut off from the source,
I’ve been feeling pretty sore.
I ofter wonder if you see, What all of this is doing to me?

Am I the only one?  Am I the only one?
What’s killing me is the uncertainty.
What I’d give to believe.

Look at you. Look at me.
All the twisted words in between
Honestly, some honesty please?
An honest word is all I need.

Am I the only one?  Am I the only one?
What’s killing me is the uncertainty.
What I’d give to believe.

That everything’s alright.
That everything is fine.

But I’m scared that when I leave you,
You’re not really on your own.
Scared that when I call you,
Someone else will pick up the phone.
I’m lying in bed next to a stranger.
A hundred miles in between.
Watching the ghosts walk around our room.
The ones of everything we used to be.

I loved you. You loved me.
Now there’s something in between.
It might be something I can’t see.
All I can say is how I feel.

Am I the only one?  Am I the only one?
What’s killing me is the uncertainty.
What I’d give to believe.

I’m not alright.
I’m not okay. 

Music and Lyrics Copyright D. McLaren 2007

King of Crows - Something Going On

Vinyl - Right In Your Pocket

I've got a number of numbers on my phone. 
I know if I don't want to, I don't have to wake up alone. 
My friends they applaud me and show their respect.
Guess I've been getting a little name for myself.
Oh, they can never, never know the truth.
But I'll whisper it softly, softly to you.

I would drop 'em all, drop 'em all like a stone.
I would drop them all and leave them alone.
I would drop them a hundred stories down.
A hundred stories down.
A hundred stories down.
If I thought for a second you'd come back around.

I see a smile and I can't resist. 
I guess there's a part of me that likes it like this. 
So I say all my lines, but they just don't ring true.
They just feel like repeats since I said them to you. 

I would drop 'em all, drop 'em all like a stone.
I would drop them all and leave them alone.
I would drop them a hundred stories down.
A hundred stories down.
A hundred stories down.
If I thought for a second you'd come back around.

So watch when I'm smiling, if I'm smiling at you. 
Cause I'll take your heart, I'll smash it and break it in two.
I'm not a Devil, just a broken hearted man.
Who's just trying to get by the best that he can.
I'm just trying to get by without you, I am.

A hundred stories down.
A hundred stories down.
A hundred stories down.
If I thought for a second you'd come back around.
If I thought for a second you'd come back around.

Music and Lyrics Copyright D. McLaren 2013

King of Crows - One Hundred Stories Down

Splendid Gentlemen - Ho Hey [The Lumineers]

Splendid Gentlemen - I Want To Break Free [Queen]

Splendid Gentlemen - Mr Brightside [The Killers]

Splendid Gentlemen - Use Somebody [Kings of Leon]

Splendid Gentlemen - Medley II

Dakota (Stereophonics)

I Predict A Riot (Kaiser Chiefs)

King of Crows - Happy Valentine's Day [Demo]

Download Dee McLaren's [Splendid Gentlemen/King of Crows] debut album, Up From the Ashes: The Ayrial Sessions on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/up-from-ashes-ayrial-sessions/id705927785

I Want You To Want Me (Cheap Trick)

King of Crows - Never Say Enough Goodbyes

We had it all, you and me.
We met and fell almost instantly.
You were everything I wanted you to be.
Someone more perfect, I couldn’t even dream.

I opened the doors and let you in.
Cut myself to let you underneath my skin. 
Showed you my broken heart and you made it beat again.
I never noticed the doubt creeping in.

You’ll never know the tears I’ve cried.
You left without even saying goodbye.
You’ll never know that at nights I slowly die. 
I just cant get you off my mind. 

You made me crawl down on my knees,
Searching for answers and something to believe. 
All the pieces just wont fit for me.
For all I look, there’s something I can’t see. 

Life carries on but theres a hole inside of me.
I got the car but honey, you got the keys.
I’m done with metaphors, lets speak honestly.
I miss you so much. Please come back to me.

You’ll never know the tears I’ve cried.
You left without even saying goodbye.
You’ll never know that at nights I slowly die. 
I just cant get you off my mind. 

Remember how it felt when I first looked in your eyes,
And sang you every line. 
And your promise at the time was a kiss for every road. 
Please don’t make me go the road alone. 

You’ll never know the tears I’ve cried.
You left without even saying goodbye.
You’ll never know that at nights I slowly die. 
I just cant get you off my mind. 

Lyrics and Music Copyright D. McLaren 2012

King of Crows - You'll Never Know [Demo]

They say variety is the spice of life.
If you show me anything once, I’ll try anything twice.
I’m always game to roll the dice and see.
 
I know what I want. I know what I like. 
I’m old enough to know my own mind.
I think about you all the time.
It’s true.
 
The hangover wont go.
I’m stuck in your afterglow. 
 
Because there’s no, nobody like you. 
You know there’s no, nobody like you.
The hangover wont go.
I’m stuck in your afterglow. 
 
Oooooh
 
Some girls kiss and some girls wink.
Only you know how to put the K in kink.
You know what they say about how great minds think. 
 
I’ve tried and i’ve tried to get on with my life,
But I circle around here time after time. 
I’ve worn holes in the floor, 
Look out, I’m coming back for more. 
 
The hangover wont go.
I’m stuck in your afterglow. 
 
Because there’s no, nobody like you. 
You know there’s no, nobody like you.
The hangover wont go.
I’m stuck in your afterglow. 

I just can't get over you.
I just can't get over you.
Can't get over you.  

The hangover wont go.
I’m stuck in your afterglow. 
 
Because there’s no, nobody like you. 
You know there’s no, nobody like you.
The hangover wont go.
I’m stuck in your afterglow. 
 
Music and Lyrics Copyright D. McLaren 2012

King of Crows - Nobody Like You [Demo]

Does Anybody Speak My Language?

Verse 1:
Would you like to hear the noise inside my head?
You might not get it, but it speaks in a language I understand.

Pre Chorus:
It’s a thousand sighs by a funeral pyre. 
It’s the buzz and the hum of an uncovered wire. 
It’s in a minor key and it’s sung by a choir.
Inside my mind is a fire.

Chorus:
Does anybody speak my language?
Do you understand a single thing I’ve said? 
Does anybody speak my language?

Verse 2:
Does it make it clearer now I’ve put it down on paper?
If you read it, can you feel it, even if it has no meaning? 

Pre Chorus:
I’ve been talking in tongues. Riddles with reason.
I’ve been screaming my lungs out, whispering secrets.
Writing confessions in code trying to contact a kindred.
I’m just trying to tell you the truth.

Chorus:
Does anybody speak my language?
Do you understand a single thing I’ve said? 
Does anybody speak my language?

Bridge:
Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now? 
Can your hear me now? Can you hear me now? 

Chorus:
Does anybody speak my language?
Do you understand a single thing I’ve said? 
Does anybody speak my language?

Bridge:
Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now? 
Can your hear me now? Can you hear me now?

Does Anybody Speak My Language?

Drinking Water in a Flood

Verse 1:
Here and then you’re gone.
Sitting trying to figure out what I said wrong. 
I scored perfect on the tests.
You said you were different from the rest. 

Pre Chorus:
I’ll show you everything in a photo.
But just for once, I’d like to get to know you.
Hit ‘Reply’ and send. 

Chorus:
You’ve tried so many times but you never find love.
It’s like trying to find some drinking water in a flood.
You’re a lonely, lonely soul, but you can’t give up,
Trying to find some drinking water in a flood.

Verse 2:
Here we go again.
Another lost soul, in a bar, looking for a friend.
Are we even going to pretend,
That after sunrise I’ll ever see you again?

Pre Chorus:
Then I’ll message you one some when I’m lonely,
Saying, “Fuck me if you want, but please hold me.”
It says the message was read. 

Chorus:
You’ve tried so many times but you never find love.
It’s like trying to find some drinking water in a flood.
You’re a lonely, lonely soul, but you can’t give up,
Trying to find some drinking water in a flood.

Bridge:
So I’ll call you up at 3 o’clock in the morning.
And I’ll wake you up with an invite, if you want it.
I’m calling. Calling. Falling

Verse 3:
I call to ask you why you ignore me.
You said, “I fucked you once. Don’t call me.
I don’t need another friend.”

Chorus:
You’ve tried so many times but you never find love.
It’s like trying to find some drinking water in a flood.
You’re a lonely, lonely soul, but you can’t give up,
Trying to find some drinking water in a flood.

Drinking Water In A Flood *Demo

In memory of the Love that never got to be. This is for you.

King of Crows is the third original music project from Singer/Songwriter, Dee McLaren, previously with Ayrial (2005-2007) and Vinyl (2008-2010). Dee has also been the frontman and manager of popular Glasgow based cover band, Splendid Gentlemen since 2010 and continues to play continuously with them to this day. 

This project has been in the pipeline and under various different titles and line ups since the break up of Ayrial in 2008, but never seemed to be able to take the simple step from a good idea to a living, working reality. The original intentions of forming the wedding band, Splendid Gentlemen was to enable Dee to leave the day job behind and focus on writing, recording and performing original music in the free time created. Still, two and a half years passed from the beginnings of Splendid Gentlemen and still there was no original music. 

It was not until the closing months of 2012 that fate sent a messenger who was able to finally restart the rusty engines and firmly kick this project from a dream to the beginnings of a reality. Though she came and passed in the blink of an eye, to watch her move so gracefully through life was nothing short of inspirational to witness and so, this is the legacy she left. 

This project began with one song. Ayrial released their second and final record, 'Long Time' in 2007, and since then, though Dee had written scores of work, no one had heard a thing. Doubt always creeps in where uncertainty lies. So, although there was scores of work written, the longer it was left to lie, the less inclination there was to share it, and so, there it lay. 

But the events at the close of 2012 lead to the song, You'll Never Know being written one hungover morning, and reluctant though he was to share it, a friend convinced Dee to put it online. The reaction received from this one song was so positive and inspiring that it finally set the wheels in motion again and through that song, all that is now was born. 

After deciding to make things more formal, King of Crows was finally decided as the flag to fly under and it was time to start work. 

The first record, 'Up From the Ashes: The Ayrial Sessions', due for release on CD and MP3 in Summer 2013 comprises the best of the work written during 2005-2007, while with Ayrial. 9 of the songs included on the album were originally recorded and released on either 'The Life E.P.' (2006) or 'Long Time' (2007). The last 5 are a selection of the songs written for the never released 'Ayrial III'. 

The Ayrial sound was a combination of Dee's unique voice, high energy bursts of distorted guitars with anthemic, sing along choruses and hooks, dealing with the subject matters experienced during late teens/young manhood. Though Ayrial never achieved any commercial success, Dee found that people still fondly remembered songs like Someday, some 8 years after it was written. So this album is more a labour of love, than anything else. Hopefully this time around, with harder work and the advances in ability, understanding and technology, these songs can be brought to a much wider audience, laying the groundwork for all of the future releases to come.

King of Crows UK

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