when I was a teenager, my nanna came to live at our house, she was starting to get quite forgetful and there were some pretty clear signs that she wasn't quite the same person we once knew. After not too long, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Watching that disease play out is a pretty horrific experience, for the person you love and the family and friends around you, and my heart goes out to anybody that's had to live with that experience. 

However...... this song is not my story, it's the story of Tom,  his childhood sweetheart, and love of his life, Lillian.

Tom came to visit his Lil at the nursing home, as often as he could. Not as often as he would like, he would of rather she could of stayed with him, at their home. But since Tom's fall and subsequent broken hip, matters had got taken out of his own hands.

When he visited he would often bring old photographs of him and Lil, In their younger days. Although she wasn't altogether compusmentus these days, the old photos always brung a glint to her eyes, and Tom knew she'd momentarily stabalised the marble's.

He remembered fondly when they rented their first flat together in Gateshead. On Friday nights, they'd look up at the stars, and wonder at these majestic islands in the sky, and drunkenly lay claim to the stars as their own special islands where they would remain together, long after thier bodies had left this land.

When he chatted to her about current events, her eyes just glazed over, oblivious to current affairs and who could blame her, Tom thought. But when Tom mentioned her childhood, it was as if she'd been transported back in time. She could tell you most of her classmates from her grammar school days. Tom thought she'd probably recall Edna Cotterill's vital statistics, or what colour Y fronts Arthur Clonk from 2E wore every second Tuesday of the month, her knowledge seemed so definite and incisive.

He thought back to the time they met, and how lucky he was, to have found such a beauty, he was definitely punching above his weight. When he chatted to her about those times, she smiled, a loving, knowing smile, so elegant, however fleetingly, this brief serenity was bliss!

One Friday night Tom was at the nursing home with his daughter Evelyn. She'd just nipped to see one of the carers as she felt her mother's condition was worsening. At that moment, Lillian shot up out of bed, grabbed Tom's hand and led him to her third floor window. It was a lovely clear, pristine winters night, with a chill in the air, they looked out at the stars together, in awe of their beauty. 

" That's our island" said Lillian, as Tom brushed a tear from his eye. 

look up into the sky 

lyrics

look up into the sky
there's an island there and it's waiting for you

I can see it now, and I hope you see it too

maybe faith can pull you through

so open up you smile
flick through photographs back from when you were a child

you know I love to hear you laughing about those times

sometimes you'd run, sometimes you fight, sometimes you don't care if it's day or night

so open up your door
lead me on a journey I've never been on before, you can be my sea and I can be you're shore (shoulder) to cry

So open up your mind, wind back the clock and take me to the time, when we first met and I held your hand in mine

sometimes we'd run, sometimes we'd fight, sometimes we don't care if it's day or night

I know there's a warning sign
ringing out inside your mind, make the most of your time


I know there's a warning sign
ringing out inside your mind, make the most of your time

look up into the sky there's an island there and it's waiting for you

and me



this was recorded at home on my 8 track

Look Up Into The Sky

A Quiet noise from Newcastle, Lo-Fi, homespun, acoustic, italicized songwriting. 
 
Thanks for stopping by, really appreciate all the feedback that I've had from the wonderful SoundCloud community. It's always a pleasure to  hear new music from other  artists, and I have been greatly inspired by  all the amazingly talented musicians, poets, singers and songwriters right here on SoundCloud.

All tracks recorded at home on my tascam 8 track.

I have some other music available in bandcamp,  but my latest music is generally here on SoundCloud. Cheers!

Leavin' E.P. available as a free download here
https://pashotthecanary.bandcamp.com/album/leavin

Debut album, Push It Down The River, available on link. My second album " Canary Song" is here on Sounclound in my albums section.
 https://pashotthecanary.bandcamp.com/album/push-it-down-the-river

Look Up Into The Sky

Pa' Shot The Canary