We played a festive set in Liverpool's Kazimier Garden Friday 13th December: here it is! Most of these songs can be found on our Christmas album, Gaudete!, available from Bandcamp: http://mossandjones.bandcamp.com

Live At The Kazimier Garden

A new song! 

Lyrics:
I’m not sulking
There’s nothing wrong, I’m fine, just walk away
Yes, I’m sulking
But I haven’t the right to feel this way

I feel like
A cactus, prickly and dry
And all I say
Just sounds insufferably wry
I used feel so soft, and just a little daft

It’s not my fault
I’m reacting to you, you get the blame
It’s not your fault
I’m pretty sure I let it get this way 

I feel like
A cactus prickly and dry
And all I say
Just sounds insufferably wry
I used to be so soft, and just a little daft

When did it happen? What did I become? 
I’m like a girlfriend in a bad sitcom.
I’m always right; I just want to be wrong!
I’m like a girlfriend in a bad sitcom. 

I’ll start over
As knowing everything just makes me tired
I’ll remember
That we are meant to be, and we are kind
And just a little daft


Bad Sitcom

Folk-inspired song about making the most of summer. Recorded and mastered at The Sound Loft, Leigh. 

MOSS & JONES - Shepherd's Delight (It's Not Time To Go To Bed)

Home recorded, professionally mastered "b side". Mastered by forthaven (forthaven.biz). Downloading our début, professionally recorded single Shepherd's Delight (It's Not Time To Go To Bed) from Bandcamp will get you this track too as a bonus! 

We play a cover of The Shamen's Ebeneezer Goode at gigs sometimes. 
Here's a rough recording of it for those of you who asked, which in fairness, was quite a few of you. The original is here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/music-video/ebeneezer-goode/id269967313

iPhone Recording Of Ebeneezer Goode

Sixth track from the first collection of (mostly) originals we recorded together at home. 

Working Through An English Summer

Fifth track from the first collection of (mostly) originals we recorded together at home. 

When I Was In My Prime

First song from the first collection of (mostly) originals we recorded together at home. 

Quel Beau Jour

Ruth wanted to write a song about Yves Klein for AGES. So she did, and Marc helped put it all together. Track four from the first collection of (mostly) originals we recorded together at home. 

Yves Klein

Ruth was asked by her son to turn Kate Bush's Hounds of Love into a lullaby. This was the eighth track from the first collection of (mostly) originals we recorded together at home. 

Hounds Of Sleep

Home recording of the Lyke-Wake dirge, a traditional mediaeval funeral dirge which served as a dire warning to people to be kind to poor and needy people... or face dreadful consequences! 

Lyke - Wake Dirge (this ae night)

Home recording of traditional Christmas Carol, In the Bleak Midwinter, the Harold Darke version setting Christina Rosetti's words to music: 

 	
In the bleak mid-winter frosty wind made moan
earth stood hard as iron. water like a stone
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow
in the bleak mid-winter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold him, nor Earth sustain
Heaven and Earth shall flee away when he comes to reign
in the bleak mid-winter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day
a breast full of milk and a manger full of hay
enough for him whom angels fall down before
the ox and ass and camel which adore.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb
if I were a wise man I would do my part
yet what I can I give him, give my heart, give my heart.

In The Bleak Mid - Winter

Home recording of our original Christmas carol, Something About Mary. 

It wasn't silent that night
some of her cries were clear and bright
rose across the sleepy town
until the babe was fully born.

(silent night, holy night)

And when the baby was born
in early hours of the morn
she put baby to her breast
and then the babe did all the rest.

(silent night, holy night)

And then the visitors came
at first a few but then their fame
spread from shepherds as to kings
and all of them had gifts to bring.

(silent night; a hope for the future lies sleeping
in mother's arms
holy night; wholly filled with love and hope
to keep safe from harm, from harm)

And when at last she found space
to nurse her baby in some peace
love combined with thoughts of grief
knowing that this too would cease.

(silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright)

Something About Mary (home recording)

Home recording (not amazing quality this one, but enough to give you a gist) of our 5/4 take on traditional Christmas carol, Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing:

Hark the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born king
peace on Earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
joyful all ye nations rise
join the triumph of the skies
with angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
hark the herald-angels sing
glory to the new born king.

Christ by highest heaven adored
Christ the everlasting Lord
late in time behold him come
offspring of a virgin's womb
veiled in flesh the Godhead see
hail the incarnate deity
pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
hark the herald-angels sing
glory to the new born king.

Hail the heaven-born prince of peace
hail the son of righteousness
light and life to all he brings
risen with healing in his wings
mild he lays his glory by
born that man no more may die
born to raise the sons of Earth
born to give them second birth
hark the herald-angels sing
glory to the new born king.

Hark! The Herald - Angels Sing (home recording)

Home recording of our ukulele duet of mediaeval Christmas carol, Gaudete. We translated the Latin verses into English but left the chorus half in Latin:

Chorus:
Gaudete, gaudete: Christus est natus ex Maria virgine: gaudete!
Gaudete, gaudete: it means “rejoice now”; Christ is born of Virgin Mary to-day!

Now the time of grace is here and there’s no more waiting
let us with devoted verse start our joyful singing:

Chorus

God himself became a man; nature does admire it
for the world has been renewed by Christ, and we sing it:

Chorus

Ezekiel’s gate was closed (Mary was a virgin)*
now salvation comes with light; let’s rejoice by singing:

Chorus

Everybody gathered here praises our Lord and King;
bless the baby born today, greet him brightly, singing:

Chorus

*The original is ”Ezechielis porta clausa pertransitur” which is more literally “Ezekiel’s closed gate is passed through”, but the reference is to Ezekiel 44:1-4, which after doing a bit of internet research we learned had been interpreted by some people as a reference of some kind to Mary’s virginity, so we added the parentheses to try and make it make some sense.

Gaudete

Home recording of our cover of Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody!" with ever so slightly altered lyrics in parts:

(Spoken: it's Christmas!)

Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall?
It's the time when every Santa has a ball.
Does he ride a red-nosed reindeer?
Is there a tonne upon his sleigh?
Do the faeries keep him sober on the way?

Here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody's having fun.
Look to the future now; it's only just begun.

Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you sure that there's the room to spare inside?
Does your Granny always tell you that the old ones are the best
then she's up and rock and rolling with the best?

Here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody's having fun.
Look to the future now; it's only just begun.

There's more to this
than John Lewis
and the Coca-Cola truck
They're just adverts
We don't give a flying...
...thought about them.

Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall?
It's the time when every Santa has a ball, has a ball, has a ball.

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

Moss & Jones have recorded an original Christmas carol, inspired by existing carols, and by the practicalities of birth and parenting.
Song and lyrics by Moss & Jones (inspired by Christmas carol lyrics). All instruments and voices Moss & Jones. Recorded at Catalyst Studios, St. Helens: www.catalyst-studios.co.uk

Lyrics:
It wasn't silent that night
some of her cries were clear and bright
rose across the sleepy town
until the babe was fully born.

Silent night, holy night.

And when the baby was born
in early hours of the morn
she put baby to her breast
and then the babe did all the rest.

Silent night, holy night.

And then the visitors came
at first a few, but then their fame
spread from shepherds as to kings
and all of them had gifts to bring.

Silent night
a hope for the future lies sleeping
in mother's arms.
Holy night
wholly filled with love and hopes
to keep safe from harm, from harm.

And when at last she found space
to nurse her baby in some peace
love combined with thoughts of grief
knowing that this too would cease.

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.



MOSS & JONES - A Song for Mary

Song and arrangement: Ruth Moss
Vocalists: Moss & Jones

(There's No Such Thing As) Wandering Stars

Song: Meredith Wilson
Arrangement and vocalists: Moss & Jones
Instruments: ukuleles (concert and soprano)

I See The Moon

Song and vocalist: Ruth Moss
Arrangement: Moss & Jones
Instruments: Glockenspiel, piano keyboard. 

Millbrook

Song: Ruth Moss
Arrangement and vocalists: Moss & Jones
Instruments: soprano ukulele, mandolin, melodica

Ella Brown

Song: Marc Jones
Arrangement and vocalists: Moss & Jones
Instruments: piano, baritone ukulele, violin

Amateur Astronomy

Tune: Schiarazula Marazula, by Giorgio Mainerio (16th Century)
Arrangement and vocals: Moss & Jones, except for ukulele arrangement (Tony Mizen, from the book "From Lute to Uke").
Lyrics: Ruth Moss
Instruments: bodhran, soprano ukulele, descant recorder, psaltry

Stars And Moon And Me And You, Love

A folk-inspired original song written by Ruth Moss and arranged by Moss & Jones, about love, loss, and learning from those things. Played on the melodica, violin and ukulele, and with plenty of vocal harmonies, by Moss & Jones, this is a sweetly wistful melancholy song. Buy it from Bandcamp for two B-side tracks, too! 

Our take on folk ballad Reynardine (Roud 397). B-side to our single, Ella Brown, available on Bandcamp. 

Reynardine

Molly, based on traditional jig Molly/Polly put the Kettle On, played by us on violin and melodica, live in the studio. C-side to our single, Ella Brown, now available on Bandcamp (Pay What You Like).

Molly (live in the studio)

Moss & Jones are a fun, quirky, folk-inspired, multi-instrumental (and just married!) musical duo from Merseyside, playing wistful originals and imaginative covers. 

Moss & Jones consists of Ruth Moss and Marc Jones. They initially met through a shared love of Doctor Who, but music entered the equation quickly, with carolling, traditional folk, and eventually moving on to writing originals. They share their house with Ruth's son, two cats, and an ever growing pile of musical instruments, including a piano, mandolin, accordion, glockenspiel, treble and descant recorders, violin and of course ukuleles. They've had to put up more and more shelves as time has gone on.

Moss & Jones

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