with Pat Bannon on guitar. a song inspired by the last couple hanging in the UK which happened here in Leeds.

Follows is a story I wrote about what happened, mainly inspired by the final words they apparently said to each other.

I married young. It was expected of us once we left school. To get a job, meet someone and then settle down. Bill was the first man who courted me, the first man I slept with. That's how things were. It seemed alright to start with but then the moods and the arguments began. If I set his clothes out wrong on a morning or his stew wasn't seasoned to his liking - any little thing seemed to be an excuse for a cuff or belt. It became normal and I'd often be avoiding the neighbours with a black eye or wearing long sleeves because of a bruise I didn't feel like explaining.
Times were tough so we took in a lodger to help make ends meet. John was a sweet man, seemed quiet at first. He was studying at the college in town. I'd not met someone so bright as him. We took to talking on the afternoons he didn't have his studying to do, we talked about ideas and places he'd been to. I could've talked to him forever. After a particularly bad bruising, he made comment, said my fella should take more care with me. He put his arm round me and kissed me. I'd never before felt such tenderness and what eventually led to so much passion.
We talked of running away and starting a new life together, away from everything here. As we made our plans though, I suffered an awful beating which caused events to take a turn none of us expected. 
Bill was drunk and brutal after a bad week at work and more than enough whisky at the local on his way home. I was feeling a bit nervous and by accident I dropped the cooking pot, wasting the evening meal. He just snapped and started hitting me. I was on the floor and thinking this was going to be the end of me when John came in and saw what was going on. He tok one look at me and then  grabbed something from the sideboard. I saw his arm swing back then the next thing Frank's face went from rage to an odd look that was surprise and a sort of innocence. He slumped on top of me and I don't remember much of what happened after this until the police were there. The neighbour had heard the commotion and called them, concerned for my welfare, I think, but it ended up being me and John getting taken away in handcuffs and Bill getting brought out on a stretcher with a sheet covering his face.
I woke at dawn on the day of the hanging. It was a silent and misty October morning. Looking through the bars I watched the city I had been born and lived in for all of my 27 years. The mist made it seem peaceful, almost like another world. 
I didn't feel much like breakfast and when the time came, the wardens took me up. I knew he'd not known that it was to be both of us being punished in such a way. They'd found out that we'd been lovers and took the opinion we'd hatched a plan to get rid of Bill as no one cared to act as witness to how he was with me when we were alone.
I couldn't believe that something so beautiful as what was between me and John could come to such an end. I was dreading what was about to happen but I couldn't wait to see his face again, even if it were to be for the last time.
They took me up the stairs and I rounded the corner to see him stood at the gallows, dressed in his best suit. His face dropped as he saw me. I could see so much flash through his eyes as realisation dawned and we just looked at each other. "Good Morning, my love," he said as I stepped up onto the gallows. "Goodbye, my love." I said as they slipped the noose around my neck.


Swann Song

Between The Bridges A Walk From Spurriergate To Lendal 03.22

Queen of the tides

 a cover of the very well known and touching Joy Division track. With Troy Faid on guitar. Just a rough practisey thing really

BucyLarker