The Rain Falls in the Rain

The Rain Falls On The Rain

A song written in a low time looking forward to things getting better (which they did!)

Winters Snows

Troubled hearts in troubled times
Breaking, the ties that bind us
A darkened wood, a crooked path
That we must leave behind us
For yesterday took what it took
Tomorrow is an open book
Maybe the day that lady luck will come
And find us, and find us

(Chorus)
Oh, maybe. Oh, maybe
Our day will come, our day will come

Got to keep fighting
Got to keep, keep on trying
So sing our song, my precious son
And build a will of iron
Too soon you will become a man
Your future lies within your hands
For you were born under the stars Ram sign
Your birthing stone, a diamond

(Chorus)

And winter’s snows will melt away
When soft rain is falling
And all the clouds over our house
Will blow away one morning
And the breeze will bring us better days
Shining through the filtered haze
We will feel the scattered rays again
So warming, so warming

(Chorus)


Phil Riley 2006

Winter's Snows

Simply because I was born at a lucky time and in a lucky place I have never been obliged or forced into direct involvement in any of the cruel conflicts that have happened and are happening in the world. I find myself continually aware of this and grateful for it. This song is a kind of lament, I suppose, for those far less fortunate than myself.

The River Ran Slow

We thought we knew everything
Everyday was a spring
We didn’t know pain, we didn’t know change
But a change was to come
Yes, a change was to come
It came with a lie
It came from the sky
It came with a bomb

But how would we tell?
How could we know?
When our hearts were young
And the river ran slow

Watching darkening skies
Through rose coloured eyes
Hearing the sound that was shaking the ground
Well a pen or a gun
When all said and done
It comes to the same
When it comes to the blame
So why did we have to run

But how would we tell?
How could we know?
When our hearts were young
And the river ran slow

Flow sweet river flow
And blow gentle winds
Sway sweet willows-o
When will we dream again?

But how would we tell?
How could we know?
When our hearts were young
And the river ran slow

When our hearts were young
And the river ran slow

Phil Riley
October 2022

The River Ran Slow

UK-wise, in the ‘them versus us’ view of the world, there’s a school of thought that says the only time in the last few hundred years the lower echelons of society saw change in their favour was in the social initiatives after WWII (Pensions, NHS etc). Now all those advances have and are being clawed back by the rich and powerful. I personally see a lot of truth in this.

One of the many advantages ‘They’ have is their control of the media – TV is (or certainly used to be) one of the most ubiquitous and powerful. We ‘peasants’ are still easily manipulated by the propaganda poured forth.

I threw my last ‘magic lantern’ (television set) in the bin about 15 years ago and haven’t had one since – it’s one of the best things I ever did.  I know I’m still a peasant and still easily manipulated but I’m glad I took a tiny step away from at least some of the spin.

Musically I wanted to give the arrangement a pop/rock/80s synth feel.


Lying Tongues


Here come the lying tongues
Here come the lying tongues
It don’t take long once the magic lantern’s on
Here come the lying tongues

Your Daddy fought the war
Your Daddy fought the war
But it wasn’t you he was fighting it for
Your Daddy fought the war

Get back where we came from
Get back where we came from
‘Cos after all, we’re just peasant scum
Get back where we came from

Here come the lying tongues
Here come the lying tongues
It don’t take long once the magic lantern’s on
Here come the lying . . .

Yes, after all, we’re just peasant scum
Here come the lying tongues
Here come the lying tongues
It don’t take long once the magic lantern’s on
Here come the lying tongues

Lying Tongues

I don't have a faith (in the accepted use of the concept). I have a qualified respect for the faith others have and am even a little jealous of the peace and comfort many find in therein. This is a love song which has a little allegorical reference to my atheism (I might be a 'deist'!), though I am quite a spiritual chap in a contradictory way! Love and contentment is still to be found.

Thumbnail Photo by Egor Shitikov via Pixabay

Lyrics:

Way off in the distance see the forests burn 
And I’m walking with Christian on his long return 
Hey, Sweet Pilgrim, such a load on his back 
And I’m walking with him down that rocky track 
 
Oh I know you know 
Oh I won’t let you go 
 
I heard a crazy man raving, heard him call my name 
Ah but how do I save him, when I’m feeling the same 
Christian forgive me but I think I'm  lost 
I’ve got a treasure map with me but it don’t have a cross 
 
Oh I know you know 
Oh I won’t let you go 
 
I didn’t have any flowers or a saving grace 
But after walking for hours I found your sweet embrace 
So tell me why do we worry, what are we frightened of? 
When losing our way can lead us to love 
 
Oh I know you know 
Oh I won’t let you go 
 
Won't let you go now
I won't let you go

I Won't Let You Go

Our leaders, it seems, continue to fail us, but there's no hiding place for any of us, leaders included, if we reach a 'tipping point'. 

Thanks to Dave Wilson for the Strat fills and lead.
Thanks to Bob Whale for thumbnail artwork.
Thanks to Ian 'Turbine' Denness and Deborah Seabrook for backing vocals.

Blinding Sun   

You might not believe me but the Queen of Sheba told me
That a fool and his dreams are easily parted 
And peace of mind is just a dream from the past
Who took that away don’t get me started
You can’t run
From that blinding sun
No you can’t run
From that blinding sun

One might be a lawyer, one might be a priest
One might be a thief without a face
The seas they rise and they just spit out more lies
While we’re running out of time and out of space
Well you can’t run
From that blinding sun
No you can’t run
From that blinding sun

Please help me breathe
Please help me breathe

Well it’s many years since “Silent Spring” warned us we’d be harvesting
The whirlwind – we’ve known for long enough
They turn deaf ears to our worries and our fears
We’re shouting out but just not loud enough
Well you can’t run
From that blinding sun
No you can’t run
From that blinding sun

No you can’t run
No you can’t run
Oh you can’t run
Oh you can’t run
From that blinding sun

Written by Phil Riley

Blinding Sun

There are times in our lives when it's best to take one day at a time. Sometimes it's all we can do while we wait for the sun to shine again.

Thanks to Dave Wilson for the sweet strat
Thanks to Deborah Seabrook for backing vocals
Thanks to Bob Whale for thumbnail artwork

Take Your Time   

What are you looking for
Water and wine
You have been here before
Too many times
You turn your face away
You don’t know just what to say
		

Take your time
Take your time
Take your time
All will be fine


Why should you be afraid
Of ghosts from your past
One step out of the shade
Is a brighter path
Take that one step when you 
When you are ready to

Take your time
Take your time
Take your time
All will be fine

Though in the grander scheme
We are so small
Out there there is a dream
That waits for your call
You choose the moment when
You shout out but until then

Take your time
Take your time
Take your time
All will be fine

Take your time
Take your time
All will be fine

Take Your Time

There comes a day when the young ones fly the nest and go out into the world on their own. It can be quite an emotional time. This song has a fictitious scenario but  inspired by the real world adventures and peregrinations of Tabitha, my partner's granddaughter.

Thumbnail Art by Bob Whale. Thanks, Bob!

Oh Babe Oh

We hear you coming down our old stairs
Oh-babe-oh
Singing your songs, brushing your hair
Oh-babe-oh
Can we buy some time with our sighs
Now you’re flying the ties that bind
For we all know now is your time
Oh-babe-oh

You’ll be out of our hands by a wide country mile
Oh-babe-oh
Following plans, finding your style
Oh-babe-oh
Your horizons will all be brand new
May your new skies always be blue
And we'll still be under the same moon as you
Oh-babe-oh
Oh-babe-oh


Now you won’t get a dog and you won’t get a cat
Oh-babe-oh
You won’t get a man, well I won’t bet on that
Oh-babe-oh
So fly you free spirit fly
Don’t mind our watery eyes
For we all know now is your time
Oh-babe-oh

Oh-babe-oh
Oh-babe-oh
Oh-babe-oh

Phil Riley
September 2023

Oh Babe Oh

A whimsical reflection on a long ago situation

Better Than That

I bet on red again, I should have said black
I bet on red again, I should have said black

I should know better than that

I’m driving down this road again, my tyres are flat
I’m driving down this road again, my tyres are flat

I should know better than that
I should know better than that

If this is one of your tricks again, will I give you some slack
If this is one of your tricks again, will I give you some slack

I should know better than that
Better than that
Better than that

Phil Riley
October 2023

Better Than That

Sometimes it's good to keep things simple. Two acoustic guitar tracks, two vocal tracks and a stomp - hey presto! - and my bedroom 'blues' noodling finally finds an escape route to the outside world!

Lyrics:

I’ve never been in jail
But I feel like I’m in one
I’ve need to be a hero now
But, you see, I’ve never been one
I’m stuck inside a maze of anxiety and doubt

Oh no
Can’t find the right way out

I’m not a happy bunny
I’m not a happy soul
This warren’s such a nightmare
It’s a hell of a hole
Has everyone gone deaf?
Can anybody hear me shout?

Oh no
Can’t find the right way out

I’ve tried this and that way
I’ve been round every bend
I tried following the light
But I reached a dead end
I know there’s a way somewhere
I know there’s a door about

Oh no
Can’t find the right way out

Oh no
Can’t find the right way out

Can't Find The Right Way Out

Lost Legions

Lucky Man

Porcelain Hand

The Greeks name for the swallow (the bird) was ‘chelidon’. They named the (lesser) celandine after the bird as, traditionally, the first flowers bloomed as the first swallows arrived. In English folklore the flower symbolises, inter alia, ‘joys to come’. I hope particularly this year it is true. In my song I have returned the name to the bird, calling the first swallow to arrive ‘Celandine’ ( I hope it’s a ‘lady’ swallow!)

Celandine

Sitting Here Waiting

I started musical life a long time ago now in local folk clubs in the midlands - I think I was 16 when I did my first gig just solo. Over the years I knocked on the door of a 'proper' musical career but never got further than the hall! I had a single out on Polydor in '76 with a band called 'Kites' and Pete Townsend of The Who signed me up to his Eel Pie Publishing Company. I bounced about a bit and finally got another single out on EMI with a band called 'The Dots' and a deal with Virgin Publishing in '82. It reached the dizzy heights of number 96 in the charts but for some reason we never got a follow up. Ah well.. When The Dots expired I hung up my guitar and didn't really play again until the autumn of 2006.  I team up with an a couple of pals for duo and trio stuff and am actively seeking to get my new repertoire of 'folky'/'Americanary' songs out to see if I've got an audience (however small and select!)

Phil Riley

Pinned to spotlight

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