9. I NAME MY MIND AND THROW IT TREATS, HOPING IT WILL BECOME TRACTABLE (Music: Roberts/Read / Lyrics: Nagel)

every year it’s the same performance when i sit before the holy trinity / they test my “insight” and my current conformance; i.e. my acquired ability / to kick the ball through shifting goalposts, smile politely when they patronise / because i know when they say “be honest”, they’re not inviting me to speak my mind // (it makes me want to) / take drugs, get mad, abscond, be bad, just sleep / be loved, not judged, self- sabotage, repeat // they discuss my latest diagnoses, prescribe another programme of recovery / when they provoke me with the keys to liberty, i’m expected to feel nothing / they refuse to acknowledge that the system is broken and how it contributes to people getting “stuck” / the elephant in the room, institutional r-word? everyone knows they don’t give a - // (it makes me want to) / take drugs, get mad, abscond, be bad, just sleep / be loved, not judged, self-sabotage, repeat // (it makes me want to) / take drugs, get mad, abscond, be bad, just sleep / raise hell, not tell when something’s bothering me / fight back, change tack, question reality / take notes on those who keep taking notes on me / kick doors, stay calm, gnaw off my arm and scream / be held, get space, get out of this place, repeat

MING NAGEL – vocals / JON READ – keyboards, trumpet / ALAN ROBERTS – guitars / JAMIE VARLEY – Moog bass / DAVE TIDMARSH – drums / HARI TRIVEDI – tabla / LEE SPREADBURY – Moog Sub 37

I Name My Mind And Throw It Treats, Hoping It Will Become Tractable

Project Blackbird consists of five UK-based musicians: vocalist Ming Nagel (originally from the USA), guitarist Alan Roberts, multi-instrumentalist Jamie Varley, drummer Eddie Dublin, and multi-instrumentalist Jon Read, former trumpet player for The Specials. This "extraordinary" band, as BBC's Tom Robinson has described them, is rich with atmospheric groove stories that draw equally upon intellect and emotion. "Imagine a party at Ronnie Scott’s," one fan suggests, "where Sade, Björk, Jeff Beck, and David Byrne meet Portishead and then go for a late night curry to exchange ideas…sublime”. The band's third full-length album, True Names, has just been released as a CD, 12" double gatefold vinyl, and digital recording via Bandcamp.

See also BLUEBIRD PARADE.

This Page is Dedicated to the Songs + Artists I've Enjoyed on S.C.
Thank You 4 Filling my World with Music :)

Music fan, Glastonbury Emerging Talents Judge (2013 ,'14, '15, '16 & '17) and relentless gig goer.

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