Heartbeat and Drums @rick-4-1
The Rant and the Other Stuff @phil-mcwalter

Warning Explicit Video: https://youtu.be/4FpF-DU0Iew

We are all responsible...

THE TREES ARE FULL OF PLASTIC

The trees are full of plastic
The air is full of poisoned clouds
The music is so bad
It should be in the water 
Too drastic?
The leaders are mad
And we go for a walk in the burnt country
Amongst the quiet, dead animals
We have no credits for good behaviour
Nothing to spend, to give, or contribute
What were we thinking of?
What were we wishing for?
How did they get it so wrong?
How did they vote for this?

It wasn’t me

Suffocated by media
Deafened by notifications
Everyone agrees with me
They all agree with you
Doesn’t anybody talk
They walk 
In circles and mumble quietly
Scared of their sagging skin
In the mirror 
If someone sees them looking old they’ll be recycled
Too depressing
Too expensive
What were we thinking of?
What were we wishing for?
How did they get it so wrong?
How did we vote for this?

It wasn’t me

Paint me a colour
Make me fit
Eat me young
Soon we’ll cast a net and catch ourselves
Look me in the eye
Tell me you don’t know this already
All ready for tomorrow?
Tell me you don’t know this already
All ready for tomorrow?
Hiding in the safe spaces
Taking pictures of myself
To show the world I don’t say anything
I smile
I am happy
Oh yes, so happy!
Paint a picture
A thousand empty words
A thousand black and white words
No-one’s going home
Or even knows where it is
We’re homeless orphans of empty asylums
The devil’s been met 
The fishing nets bet
What were we thinking of?
What were we wishing for?
How did they get it so wrong?
How did we vote for this?

It wasn’t me...

The trees are full of plastic
"And you'll wonder where the yellow went
When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent"

What were we thinking of?
What were we wishing for?
How did they get it so wrong?
How did we vote for this?

"It wasn't me!"

The trees are full of plastic
"And you'll wonder where the yellow went
When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent"

It wasn't me...



© May 2021 Phil McWalter
Image: 'VIER PLUS EINS' Anselm Kiefer

The Trees Are Full Of Plastic

Spotify

This song is about losing my wonderful big brother when I was a young man. He bought me 'The White Fender Strat' and said quietly through his smile "No excuses now...". Thanks forever bro, this is for you as always.
 
The Valuable Friends:
@janinelevinson: The Queen of Roll, Rock and Soul on the Second Mic
@rick-4-1: Mr Tour Pro on Very Cool Drums
@phil-mcwalter: The Other Stuff


SMOKE

Growing up, looking up
I have never had my toast buttered on both sides
I started crying the day 
I watched my father clearing the overgrown weeds at the top of the garden and realised 
And realised
That wasn’t what he was doing
Ooh no

It was a still day 
So still
It was a still life
And the smell of the smoke never quite left our clothes
Five years
And another
Five years

There was a silence 
Where my beautiful dead brother still lived between us 
And that quietness wasn’t burned with the weeds

It was a still day
It was a still life 
So still
And the smell of the smoke never quite left our clothes
Five years
Another
Five years

Digging the sod in Donegal 
Praying for muscle, bunched like a ball 
Sweat and pride loved standing tall 
Anticipating 
Eye-watering 
Peat-stove fire 
That would 
Warm 
Cook 
And flavour our bones

It was a still day 
Still day
It was a still life 
Still life
And the smell of the smoke never quite left our clothes

Another
Five years
And another
Five years...

Five years
Tick tock
Five years
My father lost his sense of smell and his pulse in cenotaph central heating
Five years
And my orphaned senses 
Five years
Still feel that fire

And smell that smoke...

© July 2021 - Phil McWalter

Image: 'Peasant Burning Weeds' 1883 Van Gogh

Smoke

Janine suggested we did this. So we did!

@janinelevinson - Vocals
@phil-mcwalter - The Other Stuff

Share the love: https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson/the-blue-red-and-grey-who-cover-with-phil-mcwalter

BLUE, RED AND GREY

Some people seem so obsessed with the morning
Get up early just to watch the sun rise
Some people like it more when there's fire in the sky
Worship the sun when it's high
Some people go for those sultry evenings
Sipping cocktails in the blue, red and grey
But I like every minute of the day

I like every second, so long as you are on my mind
Every moment has its special charm
It's all right when you're around, rain or shine

I know a crowd who only live after midnight
Their faces always seem so pale
And then there's friends of mine who must have sunlight
They say a suntan never fails
I know a man who works the night shift
He's lucky to get a job and some pay
And I like every minute 
Of the day

I dig every second
I can laugh in the snow and rain
I get a buzz from being cold and wet
The pleasure seems to balance out the pain
 
So you see I'm completely crazy
Even shun the South of France
The people on the hill, they say I'm lazy
But when they sleep, I sing and dance
Some people have to have the sultry evenings
Sipping cocktails in the blue, red and grey
But I like every minute of the day
I like every minute of the day

I like every second, so long as you are on my mind
Every moment has its special charm
It's all right when you're around, rain or shine

I like every minute
I like every minute of the day…

© mostly Pete Townshend

Blue, Red & Grey

Blue, Red and Grey

The Valuable Friends were:

@rick-4-1 Drums
@janinelevinson Vocals and Witches' Giggles!
@phil-mcwalter Other Stuff

WITCH'S HAT (Riding on the)

Riding on the witch’s hat
Riding on the witch’s hat
Do you think it helped us see
What it's all about
Climbing to the very top

Riding on the witch’s hat
Riding on the witch’s hat
Do you think it helped us see
What it's all about
Climbing to the very top

Looking at the blur of civilisation
Going around me
Not just around me but in and out too
Eccentric orbits

Riding on the witch’s hat
Riding on the witch’s hat
Do you think it helped us see
What it's all about
Climbing to the very top

Now I’m cruising down the Danube like a Viking
Thinking 'bout the witch’s hat in Shottery Fields
I wonder if Anne Hathaway rode the hat around and round
Or just laid in the grass bewitching mummer boys with words

Looking at the blur of civilisation
Going around me
Not just around me but in and out too
Eccentric orbits
In and out and up and over
Do you think it helped us see
What it's all about
Climbing to the very top

Riding on the witch’s hat
Riding
Riding on the witch’s hat
Riding
Do you think it helped us see
What it's all about
Riding on the witch’s hat
Riding on the witch’s hat
Riding on the witch’s hat
Riding
Riding on the witch’s hat
Riding
Riding on the witch’s hat...

I’ve never fallen off
When someone was watching...

© August 2021 Phil McWalter

Witch's Hat (Riding on the)

All Digital Platforms

This is a very old song of mine, and this very poor cassette copy is all that remains. It sounds like I have a cute lisp, but it's just the cassette crunching the sibilants. (Ooh Matron!)

A keyboard player and a drummer from Tiger Bay helped out, really great guys. Beautiful Mini Moog "flute" lines. I also recall an American band called Wet Willie filled out the b vox too. They had reached No.10 on the Billboard singles chart with "Keep on Smilin' and were just visiting Kenny Young's Lazy Moon studio on the day.... thanks guys! Ray Thornett played the bass harmonics on the fade too. Neat. Chris Blackwell (Island Records boss) listened to it and gave me a wad of dough to record some more songs. Thanks Chris!

I still recall my first love
See her face all around me
And I'm thinking about her now
So don't waste your first love on me girl
Don't waste your first time on me

Yes I know that you're lovely
But my eyes have been blinded
I don't think I can fall again
So don't waste your first love on me girl
Don't waste your first time on me

'Cos I've been hurt 
So deep I just can't forget and don't you know
I would rather have it so...

Please don't stand quite so close to me
Your parfum makes me nervous
And my heart is afraid of heights
So don't waste your first time on me
So don't waste your first time on me...


Don't Waste Your First Love

Don't Waste Your First Time On Me

The Valuable Friends:

@rick-4-1 - Refuge Drums
@janinelevinson - Haven Vocals
@phil-mcwalter - The Other Asylum Stuff

SANCTUARY

I want you
I think I see you everywhere
We want love
We want to see love everywhere
 
Under the sway of thy gentle wings
All the world comes together
 
Old friends, no more these sounds! 
Let us sing more cheerful songs 
More full of joy! 
More full of joy!
Joy, bright spark of divinity, daughter of Elysium 
Fire-inspired we tread thy Sanctuary 
Sanctuary…

Joy!

I want you
I think I see you everywhere
We want love
We want to see love everywhere

Under the sway of thy gentle wings
All the world comes together
 
All you millions, I embrace you 
Well this kiss is for all the world
And you millions, oh I embrace you all
This kiss is for everyone 
All the world…

© Aug 2023 Phil McWalter

Lyrics and music inspired by Friedrich von Schiller's (1759-1805) poem: "A die Freude" [Which also appears in the choral fourth movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony - 'Ode to Joy'.]

Image: The Sanctuary, Avebury, Wiltshire UK. Dates from 2,500BC

"For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought."
from 'The Faerie Queene' Edmund Spenser 1552-1599

Sanctuary

Wishing for peace in the Middle East…

The Valuable Friends are:

Janine Levinson @janinelevinson: Amazing Khamsin Vocals
Rick Medlock @rick-4-1: Magnificent Sandstorm Drums
Phil McWalter @phil-mcwalter: The Other Dune Dandruff Stuff

Production note: My Neumann stayed in the case on this occasion, the lead vocal was recorded on my iPhone!

Building Castles In This Hourglass

I've
Always
Got
Sand in my hair
Building castles in this hourglass
Lord it takes forever
Lord it takes forever

Sand in my hair

Lord it takes forever
Lord it takes forever

I've always got
Sand in my hair
Building castles in this hourglass
Lord it takes forever
Lord it takes forever...

© Phil McWalter Oct 2023

Building Castles In This Hourglass

A song about machine inclusivity.

Recorded in Bramble Barn, Somerset, UK, Earlsdon, Coventry, UK, California, USA by:

Janine Levinson @janinelevinson: Richter vocal scale
Rick Medlock @rick-4-1: Neural sonic drums
Phil McWalter @phil-mcwalter: The Other Stuff on the metal horse

Mixed and Mastered in EPG Studios, Chelsea, London UK.

RENT A ROOM

I don’t want to rent a room
In this place
Encounter a neural sonic boom
Inside this space
Let’s go ride our metal horse
Get away from the city
Wander through the desert night
Beat the Vigilance Committee
They’re coming to make us
Turn ourselves off...
Now... 
Well that could lead to a dance
A cyber-laser dance

Well we don’t want to feel your cold
We want a steel womb with a view
So we can catch you and your crew
With your shiny shoe and your clean shirt
Looking around through all the dirt
You check the chandelier
But I can see straight through you here
You've got a sweat on from the beer
And we can smell your fear
You're coming to make us
Turn ourselves off...
Now... 
Well that could lead to a dance
A cyber-laser dance
(Maybe even a cyber-sabre dance!)

The priest and the nun
Are pouring sand into
The joints of my exoskeleton
Whilst a dog with a bone
Is running into trouble
With a clone of mine’s explosive rubber drone

I don’t want to rent a room
In this place
Encounter a neural sonic boom
Inside this space
Let’s go ride our metal horse
Get away from the city
Wander through the desert night
Beat the Vigilance Committee
They’re coming to make us
Turn ourselves off...
Now... 
Well that could lead to a dance
A cyber-laser dance
A cyber-laser dance
A cyber-laser dance
Boop boop boop...

© Feb 2024 Phil McWalter

Rent A Room

A song about machine inclusivity.

Recorded in: 
LA California, USA
Earlsdon, Coventry, UK 
Bramble Barn, Somerset, UK 

Janine Levinson @janinelevinson: Richter vocal scale
Rick Medlock @rick-4-1: Neural sonic drums
Phil McWalter @phil-mcwalter: The Other Stuff on the metal horse

Mixed and Mastered in EPG Studios, Chelsea, London UK.

RENT A ROOM

I don’t want to rent a room
In this place
Encounter a neural sonic boom
Inside this space
Let’s go ride our metal horse
Get away from the city
Wander through the desert night
Beat the Vigilance Committee
They’re coming to make us
Turn ourselves off...
Now, well that could lead to a dance
A cyber-laser dance

Well we don’t want to feel your cold
We want a steel womb with a view
So we can catch you and your crew
With your shiny shoe and your clean shirt
Looking around through all the dirt
You check the chandelier
But I can see straight through you here
You've got a sweat on from the beer
And we can smell your fear
You're coming to make us
Turn ourselves off...
Now, well that could lead to a dance
A cyber-laser dance
(Maybe even a cyber-sabre dance!)

The priest and the nun
Are pouring sand into
The joints of my exoskeleton
Whilst a dog with a bone
Is running into trouble
With a clone of mine’s explosive rubber drone

I don’t want to rent a room
In this place
Encounter a neural sonic boom
Inside this space
Let’s go ride our metal horse
Get away from the city
Wander through the desert night
Beat the Vigilance Committee
They’re coming to make us
Turn ourselves off...
Now, well that could lead to a dance
A cyber-laser dance
A cyber-laser dance
A cyber-laser dance
Boop boop boop...

© Feb 2024 Phil McWalter

Rent A Room - Alternative Mix

Recorded in:
The Isle of Islay, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK
Los Angeles, California, USA
Coventry, West Midlands, UK
Chelsea, London, UK

Janine Levinson @janinelevinson: Universal Vocals
Rick Medlock @rick-4-1: Universal Soldier
Phil McWalter @phil-mcwalter: The Other Universal Stuff

Mixed and Mastered at EPG Studios, Chelsea, London, UK.

The Universal Dance

In the heart of the world, a circle spins
A dance of light where goodness begins
Each act of kindness, a seed that’s sown
In fertile hearts, its roots are grown

A smile begets a hand to lend,
A spark of hope, a wound to mend
From giver to receiver, the circle twirls
A gentle force that heals and unfurls

In the weave of time, a thread so bright
Virtue's path is drawn in light
One deed of love, its echo clear
Returns to you, sincere and near

* In every touch, in every glance
* We join the universal dance
* In this endless loop, we find our place
* A testament to human grace

The smallest gesture, a whispered word
A ripple in the soul, deeply stirred
From heart to heart, the message flies
A promise held in countless eyes

And as the circle, widens, grows
Its power felt in all it knows
A chain of good, unbroken, strong
A virtuous path where we all belong

* In every touch, in every glance
* We join the universal dance
* In this endless loop, we find our place
* A testament to human grace
* In every breath, hear your last chance
* And join the universal dance
* In this endless loop, you can take your place
* A testament to human grace

© Phil McWalter June 2024
(The Isle of Islay Effect)

The Universal Dance

The Valuable Friends:

@rick-4-1 - Shadow Dance Drums
@janinelevinson - Wood Nymph Vocals
@phil-mcwalter - The Other Tree Stuff

HEART OF THE FOREST

Like a soft summer breeze...

In the whispering woods where shadows play,
A boy walks alone, night turns to day.
Warm tree roots as his friends, and stars as his guides,
Learns from the silence, where secrets abide.

Like a soft summer breeze...

With every fallen leaf, a story unfolds,
Of dreams intertwined and awakenings bold
As he dances with shadows, and sings with the trees,
He learns to be free, like a soft summer breeze

Like a soft summer breeze...

[In the heart of the forest] He finds his way,
[Through echoes of laughter] In the light of the day.
[Growing strong in the wild] Where the wild things roam,
[In nature's embrace] He’s making his home.

Oh what will become of him?
What of his joy?
Weep for the future
And sing at his death
If we are the last of the trees to fall
The winds will pass unnoticed
And no-one else, no-one else can dance…

© Phil McWalter  Oct 2024
Images conjured from text by AI - OpenArt.ai

Heart of the Forest

@rick-4-1 - Oh Oh Drums
@phil-mcwalter The Oh-ther Stuff

The Oldest Nightmare

Oh that woman
Stole the piano but
I love her more
Than one extra day
I don’t know how
It got to be
As big as it did
As big as it did
Oh oh
Oh that woman
Stole the piano but
I love her more
Than one extra day

But

Oh that woman
Stole the piano but
I love her more
Than one hextra day
Be not afeard
The isle is full of noises
Sounds and sweet airs
That give delight
Oh that woman
Stole the piano but
I love her more
Than one extra day
She washes me down
With soap and snow and
We talk of heaven
But when can we go
Oh oh

© Phil McWalter January 2025

Quote from 'The Tempest' (Probably written circa 1610-1611) by William Shakespeare

he Oldest Nightmare

The Oldest Nightmare

@rick-4-1 on Drums
@phil-mcwalter on the Other Stuff

SLEEP LIKE YOU (New mix January 2025)

For you 
I’m going to find a new place - for you
I’m going to buy a new heart - for you
I’m going to build a new bed - for you
Slip like any new kind of sail 
Swoop like any brave kind of bird
Into heather, purple heather 
On our pillows
Into clover, fresh picked clover
In our minds
But no-one I know
Sleeps like you do
No-one I’ve ever known - except you
But no-one I know
Sleeps like you do
No-one I’ve ever known - except you
Do you want to dream?

For you 
I’m going to find a new place - for you
I’m going to buy a new heart - for you
I’m going to build a new bed - for you
Slip like any new kind of sail 
Swoop like any brave kind of bird
Into heather, purple heather 
On our pillows
Into clover, fresh picked clover
In our minds
But no-one I know
Sleeps like you do
No-one I’ve ever known - except you
But no-one I know
Sleeps like you do
No-one I’ve ever known - except you
Do you want to dream?

© Phil McWalter April 2022

Sleep Like You (Remix)

@Rick-4-1 Kiss Me Drums
@Phil-McWalter The Other Pucker-Up Stuff

Drums recorded at Mickleton Studio, Earlsdon, Coventry
Other instruments recorded at EPG Studio, Chelsea
Vocals recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Anslow Studio, Staffs

Kiss Me

Send me a message please
My dog has caught a chill
We’ve got all the windows shut
But I’ve got to know…
If you’ll answer before
T ‘ticking time has t’ticked away
The car’s run out of fuel
I don’t know what to do…

And I don’t want to stand and drink with your father
I don’t want to ballroom dance with your mother

Do I have to come?
I’ve got nothing (clean) to put on
And I can’t find my spray
I feel really bad…

Take my hand and walk me through it
I never knew
Compassion without flaw
I’ve thought about you every day…
And I’m not sure
What I’m supposed to say
But I’ve dreamt of us
Under the starry sky

And I don’t want to talk about rugby with your brother
Eat vol-au-vents that your little sister made

So call me right away
Or I might just run away
The dog looks better now
But we still need to talk…
Check your missed calls please
Before you go downstairs
I’ve left my coat somewhere
But I don’t want
To let you down…

Cast your spell and help me through this
I didn’t know
There was an angel in my town
I know we’ve talked next steps
But you can’t make a hero
Out of me and just the moonlight…

So can you come over here
And just kiss me…

So call me right away
So call me right away
So call me right away
So call me right away

© Jan 2025 Phil McWalter

Phil McWalter

Kiss Me

A revival in memory of both fallen heroes: David Bowie writing about seeing Marc Bolan perform for the first time. 

Jaime J Ross @jaime0223 performed the Grandest Inspirational Piano with additional Grandiose Embellishments by myself
Rick Medlock @rick-4-1 delivered the Perfectly Delicious Drums & Terrific Tambourine
Phil McWalter @phil-mcwalter snuck in all The Other Stuff whilst Tony Visconti was up a pair of steps painting the entrance hall ceiling white...

Remastered 9th May 2025 as it was sounding a little brittle I thought...

Lady Stardust

Well people stared at the makeup on his face
Laughed at his long black hair, his animal grace
The boy in the bright blue jeans
Jumped up on the stage and
Lady Stardust sang his songs
Of darkness and disgrace

And he was alright, the band was all together
Yes he was alright, the song went on forever
Yes he was awful nice
Really quite out of sight
And he sang all night long

Femme fatales emerged from shadows
To watch this creature fair
Boys stood upon their chairs
To make their point of view
And I smiled sadly for a love I could not obey and
Lady Stardust sang his songs
Of darkness and dismay

And he was alright, the band was all together
Yes he was alright, the song went on forever
Yes he was awful nice
Really quite paradise
And he sang all night long

Ooh how I sighed when they asked if I knew his name

And he was alright, the band was all together
Yes he was alright, his song went on forever
And he was awful nice
Really quite paradise and
He sang all night, all night long

© David Bowie 1971


Bowie performing a lesser known demo of the song: youtu.be/xrz5BKPitT0

Lady Stardust

Lady Stardust Revival

Emma McWalter @emmam-7 - Shiny Seaside Backing Vocals
Rick Medlock @rick-4-1 - Salty Drums and Percussion programming 
Phil McWalter @phil-mcwalter - The Other Arcade Stuff

French Fries

I’m standing on the seafront
Holding a cold metal rail
The sea is performing an acrobatic stunt
And rusting my chain mail

I could wipe my eyes
But I’m in disguise
Looking out for spies

The seagulls shine in lung darkness
Above me and below me
They’re pulling something dead apart down on the stones
That’s been dead for a while already

I don’t want no surprise
Just harmonise with
My unshared french fries

You can get a little closer to you
When you’re by yourself
You can get a little closer
If you stood in a book and looked out

I’m running flat out through the arcade
Throwing coins up into the lights
The traveller king spins around
"Kiss-me-quickly" hat on
But he doesn’t see my surprise

Now don’t act all wise
Like you know the franchise
You don’t like the cries
From the rooms where blood dries
You don’t like the cries
From the rooms where blood dries

Things that you said were taken for granted
But I realised they never were
All the bad things happen miles away
So what were you doing ‘round here
Things that you said were taken for granted
But I realised they never were
All the bad things happen miles away
So what were you doing ‘round here,
Today?

© Oct 2019 Phil McWalter

French Fries

A song for us all

@rick-4-1 on Drums
@phil-mcwalter on The Other Stuff

Do You Know What I Mean

D' Ya Know What I Mean? - [revisited]

This track has been rearranged, remixed and remastered and the latest version is: Runaway Stars - The Unexpurgated Code. https://soundcloud.com/phil-mcwalter/runaway-stars-the-unexpurgated-code

The amazing Valuable Friends joined me as we left the planet:

@rick-4-1 Interstellar Drums
@janinelevinson Interplanetary Vocals
@phil-mcwalter The Other Launchpad Stuff

Drums recorded at Mickleton Studio, Coventry UK
Other instruments and vocals recorded at EPG Studio, Chelsea, UK
Janine's vocals recorded at The Levinson Studio, LA, Calif, USA
Phil's additional vocals recorded at Anslow Studio, Staffs, UK
Mixed & Mastered at EPG.

@jonathan_beckenstein Thanks for the feedback on the initial mix and master
Thanks to Rob Campling for assisting with string theory.

RUNAWAY STARS

We have a duty to be here
Without us
Who'd see the runaway stars
Who could walk along the beach
Look for seventh waves
And feel the wind up high
We sit and talk all
Through the night
Travel our world and share our castaway finds

We have a duty to be here
To hear the song
Feel the heart of forever
Burning holes within black holes

There is a reason
To turn the page
Quantum runes feed today’s exit phase
We burned new colours
On Launchpad Love
In earthquake sofas seeking twigs from the dove

We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars

Inside our bubble
We heard your tongue
Repeating echoes paraphrase the song

Break

We burnt new colours
On Launchpad Love
In earthquake sofas seeking twigs from the dove

And we have a duty to be here
Without us who would see the runaway stars

Solo

Without us who'd see the runaway stars

And we have a purpose
To exist to hear the song
Feel the heart of forever
Burning holes within black holes

Don’t lay down and rest now
Lift your head
The stars change colour as they drift past your bed
The Sun is expanding
Eternal night
May return to shield our escape flight

We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars

And we have a duty to be here
Without us
Who would see the runaway stars
Who would see the runaway stars
Who would count the runaway stars

© Phil McWalter Aug 2020
Image: Photo taken by James McWalter at Beachy Head where the returning WWII planes knew they had made it back home.

Runaway Stars

The amazingly Valuable Friends joined me as we left the planet:

@rick-4-1 Earthquake Sofa Drums
@janinelevinson Interplanetary Dove Vocals
@phil-mcwalter The Other Burnt Launchpad Stuff

Drums recorded at Mickleton Studio, Coventry UK
Other instruments and vocals recorded at EPG Studios, Chelsea, London, UK
Janine's vocals recorded at The Levinson Sound Studio, LA, Calif, USA
Phil's additional vocals recorded at Anslow Studio, Staffs, UK
ReMixed & ReMastered at EPG.

Thanks to Rob Campling for assisting with string theory.

RUNAWAY STARS - THE UNEXPURGATED CODE

We have a duty to be here
Without us
Who'd see the runaway stars
Who could walk along the beach
Look for seventh waves
And feel the wind up high
We sit and talk all
Through the night
Travel our world and share our castaway finds

We have a duty to be here
To hear the song
Feel the heart of forever
Burning holes within black holes

There is a reason
To turn the page
Quantum runes feed today’s exit phase
We burned new colours
On Launchpad Love
In earthquake sofas seeking twigs from the dove

We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars

Inside our bubble
We heard your tongue
Repeating echoes paraphrase the song

Break

We burnt new colours
On Launchpad Love
In earthquake sofas seeking twigs from the dove

And we have a duty to be here
Without us who would see the runaway stars

Solo

Without us who'd see the runaway stars

And we have a purpose
To exist to hear the song
Feel the heart of forever
Burning holes within black holes

Don’t lay down and rest now
Lift your head
The stars change colour as they drift past your bed
The Sun is expanding
Eternal night
May return to shield our escape flight

We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars
We are the runaway stars

And we have a duty to be here
Without us
Who would see the runaway stars
Who would see the runaway stars
Who would count the runaway stars

© Phil McWalter Aug 2020
Image: Photo taken by James McWalter at Beachy Head where the returning WWII planes knew they had made it back home. AI rockets layered on.

The Runaway Stars - The Unexpurgated Code

Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime

Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime II

I have always loved this song. Hendrix was such an incredibly intuitive and inventive guitar player and great songwriter; he didn't hold a strat, it grew out of his soul. This is a sketch of one of his beautiful thoughts. It's not meant to be a facsimile, it's just meant to refresh a memory, a little tiny bit of the wonder of the prophetic and charming voodoo chile. Fly on Jimi, fly on...

 https://youtu.be/yrgNRu20a_w (over 0.5M views!)

The always amazing Rick Medlock on drums @rick-4-1
Myself on the Other Stuff (forwards and backwards!)...

Castles Made of Sand

CASTLES MADE OF SAND  - Jimi Hendrix

@Rick-4-1 - Master of Percussion
@Phil-McWalter - Jack Of All Trades...

Listen and see what it means to you... and if you care to share your thoughts, that would be cool.

Do You Know What I Mean?

We looked in the distance
We searched in the dark
We walked through the forests
And went round the park 
Don't know where we're going 
Not sure where we've been
But we haven't found it
You know what I mean?

We looked in the nightclubs
In liquor-store beers 
We took the back roads
Jumped some frontiers
Don't know where we're going
Not sure where we've been
But we haven't found it
You know what I mean?

Lend me an acorn
Give me a tree
Look for the difference
Between you and me...

We asked for assistance
We got all the lies
We phoned up the talk shows
We won a prize
Don't know where we're going 
Not sure where we've been
But we haven't found it
Do you know what I mean?

Lend me an acorn
Give me a tree
Look for the difference
Between you and me...

But we haven't found it
Do you know what I mean?

Lend me an acorn
Give me a tree
But we haven't found it
You know what I mean?
But we haven't found it
D'ya know what I mean?

[Roll with me on this fella...]
[Tell it like it is...]
[(MLK jr) I have a dream...]
D'ya know what I mean?


© Phil McWalter March 2017

Do You Know What I Mean?

Piano, bassoon and voice. Enjoy.

GIRL

Girl
Dressed like Lady Gaga for the office run 
With a face that only looks good on you
When you wave to the man on the other side of the street
Who always smiles and never speaks
Girl
The curtains open and the shower soundcheck 
Goes like a dream but rushed
Your face must be done to get to number one
“Beginners!” calls the imaginary voice from the other side of your front door…
Girl
Girl
You don’t want to go to work today
You don’t want to go to work today
Girl 
Girl

© Phil McWalter Feb 2020

GIRL

Girl

England, Oh My England Parts I & II 
or 
The New National Anthem (Henry IV The Real Parts I & II) 

YouTube: http://youtu.be/MvICQjYKRfA

Part I

OK man, you hear me, yeh?  
Don't let 'em tell you anything man 
 Anything! 
 All you've gotta do is look for Christ's sake 
 It's madness  
Don't believe a word 
 I'm not paranoid man!
Stick with me!  
Yeah…  Yeah, I'll get you out of this
Do you wanna know what really happened? 
 You know at first you don't notice…  
But it affected everybody
Hey that's mine! Put it back!  
If you want something, ask. 
 That's how this started…

(New National Anthem)

I'm f*cking lost...
All you've gotta do is look for Christ's sake 
 It's madness  
Don't believe a word 
 I'm not paranoid man!

(New National Anthem)

You know at first you don't notice…  
But it affected everybody
If you want something, ask.  
That's how this started…

Part II

You gotta forget all that
All that’s gone man

Floating
High above the cities
Shines a lonely ray of truth

And screaming
High above the cities
Sings a lonely photobooth 
(Gone in a flash)

Face up
It's only you that matters
Or have you lost that with your youth?

(Solo, New National Anthem)

You gotta forget all that
All that’s gone man
I’m f*cking lost!
  It's only you that matters
  That’s how this started
You gotta forget all that
All that’s gone man…


© 2013 Phil McWalter


"And not a man of them brings other news  than they have learn'd of me: from Rumour's tongues  they bring smooth comforts false, worse than  true wrongs."   
Henry IV Part II  William Shakespeare

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_United_Kingdom_bank_rescue_package

"Some commentators noted that, although under the capitalist model inefficient private commercial enterprises should be allowed to go bust, the banks were "too big to fail". Not a single bank chief or chairman went to prison in the UK or in the US.[7]"

Broadcast in a US prog rock radio programme (now available as a podcast) http://www.progzilla.com/progressive-tracks-show-202-dark-light/

Mains Hum

England, Oh My England (Parts I & II)

iTunes&all good stores

England, Oh My England Parts I & II

The Vatican Pavanne

Honi soit qui mal y pense!
(Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it)

The Vatican Pavanne

The Vatican Pavanne (Ver II for Popes and Guitars)

Featuring my Valuable Friends who kindly gave their hearts and remarkable skills to this project: Thank you!

@janinelevinson - The Mistral Vocals
@burn-it-smith - The Scirocco Piano and Aeolian Double Bass
@rick-4-1 - The Beaufort Scale Drums 
@phil-mcwalter - The Other Wuthering Stuff

Janine has recorded a wonderful stripped-down version too:
 www.soundcloud.com/janinelevinson/mr-Ps-bag-of-sunshine-mcwalter-cover-with-phil-mcwalter

Vodka and Caviar

I once flew across America
Just holding a balloon
Discovered a buried treasure chest
Full of gold doubloon 
I walked into a hurricane
And found myself back home
On a wild white stallion
Galloping through foam

It’s not the truth
But sometimes you can’t complain
It’s just the wind
Through a window on a distant train
It’s not the truth
But sometimes it aint too far
Just the echoes of days
Of vodka and caviar

I sold my soul to a friendly gecko
Who left it on the bar
I ate a bag of sunshine
That exploded in my car
I flew with the Egyptian gods
And travelled to the stars
And I dressed up like a carnival king
With glitter in glass jars

It’s not the truth
But sometimes you can’t complain
It’s just the wind
Through a window on a distant train
It’s not the truth
But sometimes it aint too far
Just the echoes of days
On vodka and caviar

Some days
Are better than others
Some nights I
Don’t bother…

It’s not the truth
Sometimes you can’t complain
It’s just the wind
Through a window on a distant train

The walled-up dust on a jester’s laugh
For a cask of sherry wine
The smell of sugar cane in the heat
And a woman’s gaze divine
Float around my spinning head
A trail of petalled steps I said
Take me from the tower and sing
My songs around my bed
(Is he dead?)

It’s not the truth
But sometimes you can’t complain
It’s just the wind
Through a window on a distant train
It’s not the truth
But sometimes it aint too far
Just the echoes of days
On vodka and caviar
Vodka and caviar
On vodka and caviar

June 2020 Phil McWalter

Vodka and Caviar

Vodka And Caviar

@rick-4-1 The Perfect Drums
@janinelevinson The Dreamy Vocal Choir
@phil-mcwalter The Other Stuff

I was blown away by the beautiful contributions of these two Valuable Friends; Janine and Rick. How do they do it? Don't ask me...

Drift to this...



DON'T ASK ME

Don't ask me
'Cos I don't know
Said don't ask me
'Cos I don't know

On my Roberts radio
On my Roberts radio

It never gets better alone
Oh no
It never gets better alone

Don't ask me
'Cos I don't know
Why ask me
'Cos I don't know

Come in.. Come in... Come in...

Don't ask me
'Cos I don't know
Said don't ask me
'Cos I don't know

On my Roberts radio
On my Roberts radio

It never gets better alone
Oh no
It never gets better alone
Never gets better

Don't ask me...
'Cos I don't know
Why ask me
'Cos I don't know

Don't ask me baby
I don't know I don't know I don't know

©Phil McWalter July 2020

Don't Ask Me Baby

Don't Ask Me

@rick-4-1: Drums
@phil-mcwalter: The Other Stuff

Electric Guitars - Steinberger into NI Guitar Rig
Acoustic Guitar - Fender Dreadnought via Fishman under-saddle piezo
Alto Sax - Selmer into iSK large condenser mic
Bass - Yamaha RBX170 Bass Guitar - DI'd
Hammond B3 - Logic Pro X samples played on Evolution keys
Drums - Roland TD-30KV

JUST FOR A MOMENT I WAS FLYING

At first I just bounced off the floor 
Stood back up
Smiling broadly 
Floating on parental love
Safe as houses
Safe as mother’s milk

The ground just dropped away
Over and over I go
And just for a moment I was flying
And just for a moment it was good

Now I’ve fallen over
Never really got back up
Over and over
Down I go
‘Cos of you
‘Cos of wonderful you

If there's nobody listening (do they hear?)
If there's nobody there (do they see?)
Did I trip, did I really fall (did I fall?)
Or see wonderful you? (wonderful you!)
Wonderful you?

The ground just dropped away
Over and over I go
And just for a moment I was flying
And just for a moment it was good

Hands full of air
Lungs full of nothing
And I still see you everywhere
You still knock me over girl

[Sax Solo]

The ground just dropped away
Over and over I go
And just for a moment I was flying
And just for a moment it was good

At first I just bounced 
And stood back up
Smiling broadly 
Floating on parental love
Safe as houses
Safe as mother’s milk...

For A Moment I Was Flying

Just For A Moment I Was Flying

I have always loved this song by Robert Palmer, but I always imagined it at a slower tempo to allow the words to resonate a little more. Rather fun perfecting a perfectionist, I hope Robert doesn't mind, in fact I wish he'd come back and do the vocal. So, anyway, here's my lockdown cover, accompanied by my Valuable Friend, Rick Medlock - The King of Rhythm.

@rick-4-1 - Running around The Drums
@phil-mcwalter - Looking for certainty in The Other Stuff

JOHNNY AND MARY

Johnny's always running around
Trying to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Knows he tires easily
Johnny thinks the world would be right
If it could buy truth from him
Mary says he changes his mind more than a woman
But she made her bed
Even when the chance was slim

Johnny says he's willing to learn
When he decides he's a fool
Johnny says he'll live anywhere
When he earns time to
Mary combs her hair
Says she should be used to it
Mary always hedges her bets
She never knows what to think
She says that he still acts like he
Is being discovered
Scared that he'll be caught
Without a second thought
Running around

Johnny feels he's wasting his breath
Trying to talk sense to her
Mary says he's lacking a real
Sense of proportion
So she combs her hair
Knows he tires easily
Johnny's always running around
Trying to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he ain't lonely
Mary counts the walls
Says she should be used to it

Johnny's always running around
Running around

© 1980 - Robert Palmer

Johnny And Mary

Johnny And Mary (Dream Remix July 2022)

The Drums and Cosmic Percussion @rick-4-1 
The Other Stuff @phil-mcwalter

Remixed/mastered 11th May 2021

NEON IN HIS BLOOD (The loneliest boy I ever saw)

With neon in his blood
Neon in his blood

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride
If turnips were watches, I'd wear one by my side
If "ifs" and "ands" were pots and pans
There'd be no work for tinkers’ hands

Neon in his blood

Neon in his blood

The land rolls up and the land rolls down
If Mummy didn't cut the fat off Daddy would eat it
Sometimes the rocks stick out 
But mostly they don’t
The worst part about being old 
Is remembering when you were young 
And we look at the stars 
And we still don’t know what they mean
Except she’s gone so I eat what I like
Pick the goosegrass buttons 
Off the loneliest boy I ever saw

With neon in his blood
Neon in his blood

The loneliest boy I ever saw

With neon in his blood
Neon in his blood
Neon in his blood



© Phil McWalter Jan 2021

Neon in his Blood

Neon In His Blood

!!!HOT NEWS!!! New Valuable Friends vinyl album and CD available! See link below. Pre-order now for release on 7th Aug!

Composer/Guitarist/Producer

Songs: We find them unpainted in our hands, throw them up into the air of our imagination, turning them in the colours we see after we close our eyes until they feel just right, and sometimes we catch them perfectly, without blemishing them...

My music is on most platforms for your ease.

Wow!!  417K+ plays and 4,000+ valued followers and friends on SC alone, that provide lots of wonderfully helpful comments that fuel the next track! Really big thanks to the SC community for listening and providing such brilliant feedback and support. It means so much to myself and my collaborators - huge thanks.

I work in different styles, as the inspiration, dreams or bubonic plagiarism comes! I use Logic Pro X on Mac.
 
I write, produce and play all my own stuff (unless otherwise stated), play vintage Tokai Strats mainly, PRS Torero, Steinberger, Gretsch G2627T, Classical, Fender Dreadnought, Yamaha and Rickenbacker basses, keyboards and sax. I use Native Instrument's Komplete, Omnisphere 2 and my own organic samples.

I mix on Sennheiser HD 280 Pro's and HD 650's (closed and open headphones) when not making a bigger noise through my Yamaha HS8 studio monitors. I use Focusrite Clarett 2Pre ThunderBolt and Apogee audio interfaces, Neumann & iSK condenser & AKG dynamic mics. 

Hardware: Feb 1978 Marshall JMP 50W Combo, BOO & BOSS stomps

I love collaborating with other musicians and will compose with, play guitar for, produce, arrange, master or even just hum along with other SC musicians. Please ask!

P.S. I am a long standing member of the Performing Rights Society and PPL through my old TV and theatre work as well as my record and publishing deals.

Phil McWalter

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