Lights come on, the stage is set,
Promises made, but do they forget?
The people wait, the nation sighs,
Hoping truth ain't drowned in lies.

[Verse 1]
The chamber’s full, the lights shine bright,
The leader steps into sight.
He speaks of dreams, of work well done,
But half the room just bites their tongues.

[Pre-Chorus]
One side cheers, the other sneers,
The cycle’s lasted years and years.
A handshake turns to cold, clenched fists,
Tell me, how’d we end up like this?

[Chorus]
The pendulum swings, left to right,
Back and forth, we fight the fight.
But somewhere between the black and blue,
There's a place for me and you.
Not too high, not too low,
Meet me where the middle grows.

[Verse 2]
A soldier stands, a hero true,
But only half rise in the room.
A mother’s son beats all the odds,
Yet silence cuts like cannon shots.

[Pre-Chorus]
A simple truth, a helping hand,
Shouldn’t be a party’s brand.
We’re losing sight of what is real,
Trading vision for the deal.

[Chorus]
The pendulum swings, left to right,
Back and forth, we fight the fight.
But somewhere between the black and blue,
There's a place for me and you.
Not too high, not too low,
Meet me where the middle grows.

[Verse 3]
They talk of change, they shout and swear,
But nothing moves when no one dares.
It ain't about just red or blue,
It’s what this country’s meant to do.

[Bridge]
Compromise ain't giving in,
It’s where new roads begin.
No more echoes, no more spin,
It’s time to build again.

[Final Chorus]
The pendulum swings, left to right,
Back and forth, we fight the fight.
But somewhere between the black and blue,
There's a place for me and you.
Not too high, not too low,
Meet me where the middle grows.

The Pendulum Swings

Home was full of landmines, each step unsure
Words like shrapnel, sharp and impure
The table shook when his shadow grew
We learned the script of what not to do

Eyes on the clock, hands never bold
A fragile child, too young to grow old
Walls held secrets, screams left their trace
We wore our silence like armor and grace

We’re written over, but never erased
Each line a layer, each wound interlaced
Ink from the past, yet here we persist
A palimpsest of scars and twists

I am the palimpsest, lines entwined
Old shadows whisper, but they’re redefined
Erase, rewrite, the page still holds
The story bends, but it’s never sold

The past lives on in subtle refrains
A flinch at kindness, the weight of chains
I scan the faces, I read the air
Still braced for storms that aren’t really there

His voice lingers in the back of my head
A phantom editor of words unsaid
Even love feels like a test to pass
A trembling echo in fragile glass

We’re written over, but never erased
Each line a layer, each wound interlaced
Ink from the past, yet here we persist
A palimpsest of scars and twists

I am the palimpsest, lines entwined
Old shadows whisper, but they’re redefined
Erase, rewrite, the page still holds
The story bends, but it’s never sold

The ink may bleed, but my hand is steady
The future waits, the pen is ready
What was a prison now feels like grace
I’ll draw new maps on the same old space

I am the palimpsest, bold and free
A story unbound, still writing me

Palimpsest

Track by Combstead
Lead Guitars by Robert Grigg

Book Marked

"Bright Lights, Big City" (Jimmy Reed) [08.11.25]
J Dulva and Counting Coup
(c) 2025 Cenote Music

Poolside Residency 2023

Bright Lights, Big City [08.11.25]

A lovely May.
You peaked too soon, my summer child.
Alive? 
Just trying to get by.
With a smile inside my eyes.
Ignore the scars.
Acting hard.

You're on a beach.
A weever fish/your feet.
You try to eat a peach.
But those things are bloody hard.
You can't look upon the stars in summertime.
Don't ask why.

I've been on the scene.
I've been in a dream.
I've let people down in many ways.
Sweep me off my feet.
Trapped in the machine.
I can't escape.

I've been on the wane.
I've been home again.
Nobody'll listen what I say.
Sweep me off my feet.
Trapped in the machine.
I can't escape.

Another day.
You'll want for nothing summer child.
Arrived.
At always the right time.
You didn't recognise it was your salad days.
Within the haze.

You're out of reach.
You can not hear my speech.
You've nothing left to teach.
Condescending meek.
You wouldn't wait another week.
To run away.
Run away.

Not part of a team.
Living in a dream.
I've let people down in many ways..
Swept me off my feet.
Trapped by the machine.
There's no escape.

Singing in the rain.
From heaven to the drain.
Nobody'll listen when I say.
Sweep me off my feet.
Trapped by the machine.
I can't escape.

I've been on the scene.
I've been in a dream.
I've let people down in many ways.
Sweep me off my feet.
Trapped in the machine.
I can't escape.

I've been on the wane.
I've been home again.
Nobody'll listen when I say.
Sweep me off my feet.
Trapped by the machine.
I can't escape.
There's no way.



Summer Child

This is a preview of a track that was inspired by a conversation I heard between a group discussing 'work' they had  done. I exaggerated it for impact.  Thanks for listening.

TWEAKMENTS

A lack of hope won't keep me sane.
Hold off the rain.
Maintain my brain
Whilst I'm awaiting soft release.
Don't read me meek.
Down with them freaks.

One day, I was drinking, and the years were flying by.
Next, I'm overthinking, and I'm walking down your line.
One day, I was somebody with nothing left to lose.
Next, I'm softly glistening, in middle age, refused.

A little escape from this storm.
My thoughts are worn.
My trousers torn.
You might be calling out the fakes.
You left me; shakes.
You took my breaks.
I need a holiday from you.
You leave me blue.
You give no clue.

One day, I was flying, and the clouds were far below.
Next, I'm overthinking all the facts  I used to know.
One day, I was heavenly, yet now I'm back to front.
Now I'm slowly wrinkling, in middle age, begun.

One day, I was drinking, and the years were passing by.
Next, I'm overthinking, and I'm taking down the lines.
Once, I was just nobody with somebody to love.
Next, I'm barely listening to guidance from above.

Overthinking

Melodic progressive metal with brass jazz infusion from the debut self-titled album by Red Dust of Mars

Data

Title track from our title track from our forthcoming debut album out 4 October 2025!

Lyrics - 

Too broke, too broke

Wallet’s empty, tank on E
But who needs cash when we’re wild and free
Skip the rent, burn the mail
Turn this night into a fairy tale

We don’t need your validation
We’re the broke-ass generation

I’m too broke for money, but I’m rich in friends
Living off pizza crusts and weekend plans
Laugh at the bills we’ll never pay
Who cares anyway

Too broke but still alive
Rowdy as hell, we’ll survive

Too Broke For Money

No Escape

Heavy I Am

It's a blessing to be able to create music and if someone enjoys my work, that's icing on the cake! All blessings come from God.

As a retired DOD Civil Service worker, I have time to record some. I have been recording at home sice around 1990 and some of my tracks are very old.  I‘ve had 50+ years in bands playing music of many types. I still play the club scene 3 to 4 times a month. Life is good!

I'm a Guitarist who likes to write, record and sing many styles of music. Please check out my tracks. I'm also enjoying the occasional collaborations.  Meeting some good friends on here and continuing to grow. Thank you for listening!


Es una bendición poder crear música y si alguien disfruta de mi trabajo, ¡eso es la guinda del pastel! Todas las bendiciones vienen de Dios. Como trabajador jubilado del Servicio Civil del Departamento de Defensa, tengo tiempo para registrar algunos. He estado grabando en casa durante unos 23 años y algunas de mis pistas son muy antiguas. He tenido más de 50 años en bandas tocando música de muchos tipos. Todavía juego en la escena del club de 3 a 4 veces al mes. ¡La vida es buena! Soy un guitarrista al que le gusta escribir, grabar y cantar muchos estilos de música. Por favor, echa un vistazo a mis pistas. También estoy disfrutando de las colaboraciones ocasionales. Conocer a algunos buenos amigos aquí y seguir creciendo. ¡Gracias por escuchar!

Book Marked

Robert Grigg

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