An alternate take on this song from last year.

The Pearl

Oh they say “it’s the grit in the oyster that
leaves the pearl”
And I would sail the seven seas
and catch the morning breeze, just to find that girl
It’s like her eyes were cast in from fires at
the dawning of the world
But you’d give it all up, you’d give it all up,
you’d give it all up the find the pearl
So this guy told a story a long time ago, it
lingers in the back of my mind
And so its consequences I might know,
yes and from Heaven you’d be cast out
and you’d be hurled
But you’d give it all up, you’d give it all up,
you’d give it all up the find the pearl
I didn’t come all this way to set you free,
just to bind my hands once more in love’s
captivity!
Oh it’s autumn for me and there’s no
doubting the the willow is starting to curl
But you’d give it all up, you’d give it all up,
you’d give it all up the find the pearl
Oh my thoughts are running faster than a
speeding freight train
I see that smoke stack spitting out sparks
into the driving rain
You know “Our Lady” things are crazy and
falling apart all over the world
But I’d give it all up, I’d give it all up, I’d
give it all up the find the pearl

© Martin Beek 2019

Demo take

The Pearl  (alternate version)

Instrumentalia

I could hardly forget you

Instrumental 

Shoreline

Neon lights

© Martin Beek 2020

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Don’t rush me

Heavy Cargo

A demo version of one of a bunch of songs / lyrics given too Jon Avison. My tune is somewhat different from his. Work in progress.

       Although 

	Although the sun is shining it seems as dark as night
		The seas are raging and the day is turned to night
		The beasts of the field run to their caves and nests 
		And yes I got your letter “told you I did my best”
		
		From the shoreline of the Gulf Coast to the frozen north
		To the islands in the ocean where the trade winds are caught
		There’s tears on my book that I hold in my left hand
		If only I could find a pathway to reach you on dry land
		
		It’s a threadbare excuse and the candle is burnt to the wick
		Hide me behind the engine although I’m choking and I’m sick
		The seven O’clock bell rung and my master calls
		"Watch out that you don’t flip way down the waterfall!"
		
		When the flames are burning hotter and the smoke chokes my        breath
		If you’d waited for an answer you’d have to call me back from death
		So you wave your flag in anger the people are like the lost sheep
		Who waits in the thicket with thorns about his feet
		
		So tread lightly on the earth hold on to what you know best
		Don’t fall asleep keep watch, later there’s time to rest
		Whistle in the corridor stay by the seawall in flood
		Haul me like a net and cover me in your blood 
		
		Shake your pretty head rock me from from side to side
		Close your dark eyes whose tears I’ve never seen cry 
		The tower is tall enough for me to get ahead
		Now that I’m gone away and you left me here for dead!
		
		Get in line and wait your time , raise your hat and don’t look back
		Hand in glove when push comes to shove there a fine line    between hate and love

© Martin Beek 2020  (Also © Jon Avison 2020)

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New song 

Although (demo version)

Waiting for a train  

I pulled into Grand Central, sheltered in that phone booth
When I whispered your name, you told me the truth
Oh the daggers are drawn, and the hit men arrive
I won’t turn my back, if I want get out alive!

I’m Waiting for a train, waiting for a train 

It’s three PM,  I’m staring into the bottom of my glass
Oh one minute you are young, ah, but that don’t last
Not a sparrow will fall, the wild grasses they are clothed 
To be burnt in the oven, like King Solomon’s robes

I’m waiting for a train , waitingfor a train 

Have you lost your sense of humour? Let’s get our facts straight once again
I’ll dress up in my Sunday suit, and turn my back upon the pain 
“Oh the people they are blind, I’ll deceive them one and all! “
As I move amongst them swiftly, I’ll push the on the tracks where they fall

I’m waiting for a train , waiting for a train 

These prison walls are high, as I peer through steel bars
Into darkness everywhere, there’s not even a star
It’s later than you think, I could have told you so much more
I have to put it behind me, and stillness will be as before

I’m waiting for a train , waiting for a train

© Martin Beek 2019 

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Demo for Douglas

Waiting for a train

Cover based of a "Luke The Drifter Song" by Hank Williams and based on a 1940's song by Bob Gazzawy

Virtual Walden Under

Just Waitin’

Gethsemane

Someone told me you were here, so the rumours were all true
Since that  call there is no cheer, not a thing that I can do 
I’ll be waiting patiently through summer til the sugar maple turns to brown
Nothing's happening fast since the world turned upside down

That panic of contagion which touches the distant blue shoreline 
Pandora keeps her deep secrets, “everything is beautiful in its time “
So stand before me as you are, or in your wedding gown
Paul Gauguin would paint you any-day since the world turned upside down

Get that fly out of the ointment and brush his tiny wings away 
I’d like to think that you remember me, and you and I still have something left to say
The August rain is falling and your smile is all the wrong way round
How come you always end up laughing, since the world turned upside down ?

Give me peace and a sweet disposition, the dust clouds disappear
Half a chance is better than none at all, so perhaps you’ll reappear
I wait for you at twilight when that first shooting star hits the ground
I’m awestruck and dumb, just holding on, since the world turned upside down

© Martin Beek 2020

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Home Truths 

The world turned upside down (demo take)

Martin is a visual artist who is also interested in songwriting. These tracks are home demo versions written by him over the past year . All were initially written on acoustic guitar or piano. A few of the songs have been performed publicly or by other performers. Martin is interested in collaborating with others on such projects.

I'm also including some very short instrumental sketches. Sometimes these form into backings for songs with lyrics , but other times not. I've not cleaned anything up, nothing is mixed down , rather everything is in a raw and working state that I may well work on at another point.

Martin Beek

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