I don't know what this is really,probably just more DV bollox!

The inspiration for the track came last year when part of my favourite walk was closed for renovations,but I sneaked in past the barriers most days anyway!
Being alone is a landscape prompted be to imagine I was the only person left alive. This in turn took me to what we are doing to the planet and what we might do to help.
Yeah,I was right the first time,more DV bollox!

Taking the shortcut
Past the sign pathway closed
I know I really shouldn't
But as long as no one knows

The sea is ever present
Turning pebbles into sand
As I begin my descent 
Into no man's land

Could be the world has ended
Erased the human race
There are times I have pretended
We didn't leave a trace

Fragile our existence
Living unaware
Yet somewhere in the distance
A rolling nightmare

Reflecting on our being
We seek to understand
Looking but not seeing
We live in Wonderland

Could be the world has ended
Erased the human race
There are times I have pretended
We didn't leave a trace

Wonderland

A little 2 minute Instrumental thang for ya all on new years day. Digging into my Celtic roots again!

Happy new year,you talented bunch.

Celtic Thang

A bit late,but best wishes to y'all. 

I hope this is a good year
I hope for me and you
I hope for warmth and good cheer
In twenty twentytwo

I'll raise a glass,here's to you all
Together we can do
Before our final curtain call
Let live twenty twentytwo

May your time be ever golden
May you see your trouble through
May you never be beholden
In twenty twentytwo

Remember what we took for granted
Remember what we thought was free
Isolated disenchanted
Life has no guarantee

Here's to all the tired and weary
I wish the best for you
A year that's not so dreary
In twenty twentytwo

(Twenty) 22

My father passed away today 18th Feb 2022. The last few months were particularly hard for him and he just wanted to die.  This song is one of a few I wrote as catharsis. Sometimes we can live too long when quality of life has gone. 

Sometimes there's no justice
There's no need to try
You just need to trust us
'Til it's your time to die

It's painful to watch you
It's not living at all
Just waiting the days through
For that hammer to fall

I know you really want to go
There's nothing I can do
I want you to know

I feel so helpless
Impotent and scared
It's all so hopeless
But cannot be repaired

I know you really want to go
There's nothing I can do
I want you to know
I know you really want to go
There's nothing I can do
I want you to know

A Thousand Cuts

In his final days,my father vividly saw things which obviously weren't there. He was otherwise sound of mind,so this was very odd. That's when I found out about Charles Bonnet syndrome.

Charles Bonnet syndrome causes a person whose vision has started to deteriorate to see things that aren't real.

The hallucinations may be simple patterns, or detailed images of events, people or places.

They're only visual and don't involve hearing things or any other sensations.

It's important to be aware that hallucinations associated with Charles Bonnet syndrome are caused by failing eyesight. They're not caused by a mental health problem or dementia.

People with Charles Bonnet syndrome are usually aware that the visions aren't real, even if they're vivid.
There are 2 main types of hallucination that people with Charles Bonnet syndrome tend to experience.

They may see:

simple repeated patterns
complex images of people, objects or landscapes
Simple repeated patterns can take the form of grids, shapes or lines, which can appear in bright or vivid colours. The patterns may lay across or cover everything the person sees.

More complex hallucinations can involve people, places, animals and insects.


There's a great big dog
Outside my window
Why he's alone,I really don't know
I can see him there
Plain as the day

There's a small bird there
On my windowsill
If you look really hard
He's there still
I can see him there
Plain as the day

I think they're trying to kill me
But I don't really mind
I long to be free
To be unconfined
I can see it now
Plain as the day

I see myself with your mother
On a golden afternoon
No wheelchair to roll me
My legs still below me
I hope it happens soon

Charles Bonnet

To all the strangers out there pretending to be human every day. I find myself falling short all too often.


I'm not what you see
Merely a version of what may be
If you read between the lines

We just pretend
Wear our masks
We will defend
With all our power
Anyone who tries
To see what we really are

Best be on your guard
Divining the truth can be really hard
Hard to read the signs
Wearing my disguise
I can be what I want through another's eyes
You never see what's mine

We just pretend
Wear our masks
We will defend
With all our power
Anyone who tries
To see what we really are

I'm a stranger
I'm a friend
You don't see that I just pretend
I never cross that line

We Pretend

"The beatings. The coldness. You never saw a smile."

Jimmy Stewart recounts experiences which are piercingly harrowing - but not uncommon.

He is one of thousands of survivors of institutions for children in Northern Ireland, where abuse of young residents was widespread.

When he was eight, Jimmy was taken into Nazareth Lodge in Belfast - a place he quietly describes as "a nightmare".

His mother had died of cancer, aged 32. His father was deaf and unable to speak.

"Though he tried to look after us, he couldn't," Jimmy says.

He remembers the nun who met him and his younger brother Patrick at the door called them "wee mongrels".

The boys didn't know what that meant at the time, but later learned it was a reference to his parents' mixed marriage - one was a Catholic, the other a Protestant.

Jimmy Stewart remembers getting "the mother and father of all beatings" after he ran at a nun when she was physically abusing his younger brother, Patrick.

The vivid nature of his memories are clear when he describes how a nun beat him "with her weapon of choice - a rung from a baby's cot, with piping and light blue paint on it".

Explaining how he became an alcoholic, Jimmy says: "If you ask anyone who's a heavy drinker, they'll tell you that you don't dream in a drunken sleep.

"You don't have nightmares. You don't have flashbacks. It numbs you. Keeps all that stuff away. Until the point it's going to kill you. Which it nearly did to me."

He describes spending "three years behind a locked door in my own house".

"I hadn't bathed or shaved. I think the last three months I spent in the same bathrobe."

He began to recover after he went into hospital.

But his older brother, Victor, "drank himself to death".

Jimmy becomes particularly emotional when he talks about how Victor was "so much changed" by what happened in Rubane House.

"We were always close. But those years took it out of us."

As an adult, Victor "couldn't discuss it - he probably didn't think there was any help for him".

Jimmy regrets deeply that Victor hasn't lived to hear the state apology.

Lyrics.

Hello little mongrel
Come on in
This is just the place
To cure you of your sin

We'll beat you black and blue
With whatever comes to hand
You'll learn to obey
All of our demands

I drink to hide the flashbacks
I drink to numb my mind
Therapy's no good for me
I'm afraid what I will find

You took me and my brothers
Took us down to hell
We never had a smile or love
Became an empty shell

I can't believe in afterlife
I wish I could at times
They'd throw you in the darkest place
To pay for all your crimes

I drink to hide the flashbacks
I drink to numb my mind
Therapy's no good for me
I'm afraid what I will find

You got away with everything
Now you're not here to find
The children trusted to your care
You left broken and maligned

Suffer The Little Children

They wake you up,then lay you down
The part in between
Is just waiting around

The TV plays the same old shows
Groundhog day
From beginning to close

When your time is over And your picture's on that door
They won't need locks to keep you there
In room 54

The window shows the world outside
A million miles away 
From your bedside

When your time is over And your picture's on that door
They won't need locks to keep you there
In room 54

Your life's been lived and your time is done
The last great battle
Just can't be won

When your time is over And your picture's on that door
They won't need locks to keep you there
In room 54

Room 54

Play it loud.

I tried to look
But it hurts my eyes
Is this the truth I see
Or only lies

I can't see you
I can't fell you now
I can't hear you
I can't feel you now

Shadows

Shadows

SSMNF

The world is forever scrabbling for our attention,a constant jabbering commotion drowning out other things of importance.

Take time out to listen,to be at peace and to charge the batteries.

What are you afraid of,when you hide behind the noise
Fill your head with clamour,so you never hear the voice

I like the peace and quiet
I love a mind at rest
Well,don't be afraid to try it
Chilled out,laid back and unstressed

Alone with your thoughts may give you cause for doubt
So turn up the volume,drown everything out

I like the peace and quiet
I love a mind at rest
Well,don't be afraid to try it
Chilled out,laid back and unstressed

Still

A melodic guitar meandering,using an ebow among other things. A song of empathy,sympathy and hope for better time,for those feeling isolation.

Take heart good people,this one's for you.

Ode to the Lonely

Ode To The Lonely

From my first days on Soundcloud I've admired and enjoyed the music of The Turtle Project,so I'm over the moon to present this collaboration.

You can find his music here.
https://soundcloud.com/turtle-project/tracks

Words and vocals by The Turtle Project.
Music by Davy Vance.


Dry your eyes my dear
Take the stone out of my shoe
Neutralise my fear
Let me focus in on you
Take your time my dear
There ain't no sense in rushing through
This open fire my dear

Rest your head right here with me
Look up at the sky with me
You only see what you want to see
And feel what you want to feel
Open up your mind with me
Discard the realms of time with me
Learn to see the signs and we'll
Discover what is real

Mop my brow my dear
Pull the thorn out of my side
The time is now my dear
I've got nothing more to hide
Take your time my dear
There ain't no sense in rushing by
This open fire my dear

Rest your head right here with me
Look up at the sky with me
You only see what you want to see
And feel what you want to feel
Open up your mind with me
Discard the realms of time with me
Learn to see the signs and we'll
Discover what is real

The time is now my dear

Rest Your Head - The Turtle Project collab

The tribal leaders are ever at war to protect their power base,they try to force us to take sides.

The earth is my country and it's people are my tribe.

Warmongers can do one.

Tribal

Many thanks to Andy Cruse (Kafla) for adding his great vocals to the track. You can hear more of Andy's music here.. https://soundcloud.com/andrewcruse/tracks

Here's to you my comrades
Who've been and passed
Here's to you my friends
I raise my glass.

The times we shared
Those times are gone
Our lives are joined forever
We share a bond

We had our fun
And now it's time to pay
All the things we've said and done
Are washed away

Ah,the young will live forever
All of a single mind
Always rushing forward
Never need to look behind

We had our fun
And now it's time to pay
All the things we've said and done
Are washed away

Single Minds. feat Kafla on vocals

It's a one shot dearly precious thing
To be alive.


So glad to be here
Whole and sound
So glad I can be
Still around

I don't need your church or creed
To get me by
I don't need no alcohol or pills
To get me high

I don't need to fight with you
I don't need a gun
I'm doing what I was born to do
I'm having fun

I'm high on life

I don't need negativity
Don't drag me down
I'm the king of my own life
Don't steal my crown

Eyes wide open,high on life
That's when I thrive
It's a one shot dearly precious thing
To be alive

So glad to be here
Whole and sound
So glad I can be
Still around

I'm high on life

High On Life

You're led by the nose
And I think you suppose
It's the road to the promised land
Through the highs and the lows
You know how it goes
It's too late when you understand

It's too late when you understand
They've been playing underhand

It's Too Late

You always meant to
Put things right
You always meant to
Make amends
Twas your intent
Someday it's right
No argument
We'll still be friends

Now we've gone too far down that road
We've lost sight of the way
Erosion wears down the biggest stone
Leaves little left to say

I alway meant to
Do what's right
To be the one
To count on
Lose the need for
Fight or flight
Opportunity's gone

I Always Meant to

For Bruce and those similarly afflicted with the awful brain disease of dementia.

I used to live the life
I used to have a ball
I was the man,you don't mess with me
I used to have it all

Now the fog's descending
I don't see so clearly no more
I know my time is ending
But this is such a hard way to go

Memories are all we are
All we ever own
Mine are taken away from me
Everything is gone

Fading day by day
So hard to predict
This is one fight I'm never gonna win
The fabric is unpicked

Now the fog's descending
I don't see so clearly no more
I know my time is ending
But this is such a hard way to go

I used to live the life
I used to have a ball
I was the man,you don't mess with me
I used to have it all

Die So Hard

Musings on mortality.


I hear that countdown clock ticking
Remaining time is flying by
I'm still alive and kicking
But there are dark clouds in the sky

We thought that we'd be young forever
The sun is always in the sky
Our spirits light as a feather
The rules of life do not apply

Hold on the line
Hold on the lifeline

The best part is behind us
Our race is almost run
Failing bodies remind us
Soon we'll be undone

Hold on the lin
Hold on the lifeline

Hold On The Line

A cover of the Nine inch nails song,one which always resonates with me. It's one I wish I had written.

Hurt

The eternal quest for inspiration,starring the inevitable setbacks. 

Searching for inspiration
Sweating blood and tears
Sometimes all information
Just disappears

Easy times in days of youth
I knew the way
Time to face the hard truth
I've nothing left to say

It's all gone away

Nothing left to say

Running down a dead end street
Chasing the muse
Finding more chaff than wheat
Nothing to use

Nothing left but tired old tat
Done the same old way
Pick the lyrics from a hat
No one listens,anyway

It's all gone away

Nothing left to say

Chasing The Muse

No title for this one yet,so all suggestions welcome.

Careless and immortal
Time goes drifting by
Turning full circle
No time to say goodbye

I foolishly imagined
We'd go on and on
I never knew what we had
'Til it was gone

Behold the gift of hindsight
If only we had known
Contempt for our birthright
Trouble is homegrown

I foolishly imagined
We'd go on and on
I never knew what we had
'Til it was gone

Project 27.05.23

You don't fit in
They ask you why you don't do things like they do
It's unremitting
'Cos you don't comply
Peer group pressure down on you

The boots go in and the ribs will break
You curl into a ball
Every kick in fear and hate
It's the pack dog protocol

Bruised and bleeding
Inside and out
Will this pain never end
The pack is feeding
They scream and shout
You don't know how to defend

The boots go in and the ribs will break
You curl into a ball
Every kick in fear and hate
It's the pack dog protocol

The Pack Dog Protocol

A tribute to my Da. He's a shadow of his former self,but still hanging in there.

I was born in the golden time
Ten years after war
People didn't have too much
But they worked damn hard for more
All those years of uneasy truce
Before the long farewell
The truth of making peace with you
Was to make peace with myself

Well I don't really know if you're a good man as such
I don't really know if it means that much
All those years I held a grudge
But I'm old now myself and I'm slower to judge.

I used to think you hated me and punished me each day
But no father held your hand,no one showed the way
You did your best to guide me through the good and bad
But you never read the book,'How to be a Dad'.

Well I don't really know if you're a good man as such
I don't really know if it means that much
All those years I held a grudge
But I'm old now myself and I'm slower to judge.

Folk with religious leanings have their various collections of seemingly benevolent deities to ask for help and the odd time when things are going well,to show a little gratitude.
Being a heathen,I don't have that option,so this is a song to the indifferent universe voicing my slowly dying pleasure at still being able to place one foot in front of the other.

Walking is great,I love a good walk.

Pick them up and put them down...feet that is.  :)

I'm glad I'm still around
To pick them up and put them down
Standing up and breathing air
Happy just to be somewhere

Thank you for the air I breathe
Thanks for what I don't believe
Thank you for the freedom of choice
And the grand illusion of having a voice

Pick them up and put them down
I'm just happy to be around

Thank you for the air I breathe
Thanks for what I don't believe
Thank you for the freedom of choice
And the grand illusion of having a voice

Thank You!

For those too young to remember (most,these days!)In the early 60s there was very little of the new rock and roll on the radio. What you did hear was controlled by the BBC suits,who had no liking for this passing fad.

Young people in those days who wanted to hear their music all day long tuned into the pirate radio stations. My choice was Radio Caroline North,which was anchored just off the Isle of Man.

These pirate stations were involved in a running battle with the authorities,in the shape of the Postmaster General,Mr.Antony Wedgwood Benn,more commonly known as Tony Benn.

Eventually,Radio Caroline was shut down and the musical arse fell out of my world. I listened to the final sign off when they played the Tremeloes song "radio Caroline',then there was radio silence. I felt like I'd lost a friend.

The authorities gave us the token of BBC Radio 1,but although I listened,because it was all we had,it was never the same for me and I won't forget.

Here's to the young who misbehave everywhere and to the changes they bring.


I recall Caroline
Playing over the air
It takes me to another time
A fresh,new somewhere

Play to me,my radio
Put the music in my head
Make everything alright
That's what the DJ said

Playing on the airwaves
New stuff every day
Youth will always misbehave
Will always show the way

The Postmaster General
He didn't dig the sound
He plotted for the burial
Send music underground

Play to me,my radio
Put the music in my head
Make everything alright
That's what the DJ said

I heard the dying moments
When they took it all away
They gave us all a token
But I won't forget that day

Radio Caroline

A certain place I walk regularly gives me vibes,night or day. I'm never freaked out,just aware that I sense I have company,yet I'm alone.

Every time I walk here
'Tween the sea and the stone
I always get the feeling
I'm never quite alone

No one is with me
But someone,something
Feels like it's here

Footsteps behind me
'Tween the sea and the stone
After a while I turn around
But I'm still alone

No one is with me
But someone,something
Feels like it's here

'Tween the Sea and the Stone

'Tween the sea and the Stone (Paranoid)

The whole world spun away
The sound incessant
Perhaps I'm dying now
Not a thought I find unpleasant

I've hurt some people 
and I loved some too
Life is a steep hill
But we made it through

I knew I had done it wrong
When the earth became the sky
It seemed to last forever
I don't need wings to fly

I took my chances
Didn't hedge my bets
I played the game
I have no regrets

No regrets

No Regrets

No Regrets(Motorcycle musings....)

Ah,the times were good
We had a ball
We didn't make much money
Sometimes none at all

We played our songs
Believed the part
All that we played and sang
Came from the heart

Remember when the fire burned bright
Playing those songs every night

Ah time moves fast
But we move slow
Nothing ever lasts
We weren't to know

Burned out and faded
The passion gone
Going through the motions
For every well known song

Remember when the fire burned bright
Playing those songs every night

Remember when the fire burned bright
Playing those songs every night

No Principles-The Storyteller

There are times when we must step back and recognise certain events are beyond our control or influence. Rather than waste energy railing against this unalterable fact,we must learn to accept what we cannot change and find new ways of adapting. Although I say this,I struggle too. I'm a slow learner.
Some slide action to be played appropriately loud!


Don't be angry with the sun that sets
Or the wind and rain that blow
Nothing's gained by fretting
What you can't control

Don't get tight with things not right
Just let it all unfold
You can make it better
Just by letting go

Life is tough and treats you rough
If you swim against the tide
You can make it better
Let it all just slide

Let It Go

Second album of 10 songs 'Looking Up',available from bandcamp,Spotify and the rest.

https://vancemagill.bandcamp.com/album/look-up

First album of songs. 'Flying Solo'.
https://vancemagill.bandcamp.com/album/flying-solo

And on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/4BOvUv16dOl6cgcWANX1Dz
This is my first solo venture. It's an album of ten songs and it can be downloaded  from bandcamp free,or for whatever you deem it worth. I'd be happy if you just take a copy and listen to my musical ramblings. 
Thanks to all who take the time.  :)

Follow on Spotify  https://open.spotify.com/album/4BOvUv16dOl6cgcWANX1Dz
A while back I viewed s/c as merely a hosting platform for posting on forums,but then I realised there was access to so many wonderful compositions by other folk,it then became my prime source of listening to music.
This little corner of the internet is actually a thriving musical community where nobodies such as myself can share songs with the great and the good.
All that just has to be positive and welcome.
Thanks to all who listen and comment,be assured I will return the favour,as I love finding new artists. Please don't follow me if you are going to unfollow,I only wish to listen and share music,I am not a follower collector.


Songs are a mix of solo work with all instruments played by myself,plus my own world weary vocals! I tend to favour my home made Telecasters and a Strat,though the odd acoustic makes an appearance. I use Logic Pro X and am a recent convert to DAW.

I play and write for the joy of expression and always with the hope my songs may be a positive force to anyone who takes time to listen. I'm an old boy now,so I harbour no dreams of success in the conventional sense,having the odd comment is just fine for me. Thanks to all who bother.

 Also earlier songs from a project in 2015, with Fiona and Martin Magill,Vocals and keys. Martin is a very talented working keyboard player,but sadly Fiona no longer sings. Our loss.
Lastly there are tracks from late 80s/early 90s from SOS,a band I was in back then.

Davy Vance

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