The word was out, they'd cast a spell over a broken mouth,
No room to shout, but you can feel it moving in down south.

We love and lie, so inspired, I'm only losing my mind.

You're holding out, I'm breaking in just to talk about...
... What lies ahead? What truths prove easier done than said?

We love and lie, so inspired, I'm only losing my mind.

Cynics and addicts are lining up, writing songs of how it all went wrong.
Put the pen down, just for a second, hold out the itch and reach for the method
drones are making my mind stoned, over-thinking just enough for the show.
So douse yourself, light the match, in the street martyrdom is a virtue, it's attention that you seek.
You're on fire, and that's a brilliant disguise,
But it's time they knew you meant what you said in your lies, and your life is so inspired.

I'm only loose in my mind.

My mind for my head, the gallows are calling... Only to thank you.
They'll hang up if you answer.

The Method ft. Jenko (B-Acoustic Demo)

Beautiful in Blue

Words and music by Derek King

Vocal and acoustic guitar - Derek King
Cello and Viola - Stephanie Kearley
Recorded and produced - Chris Clare-Stewart

This song was a finalist in the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge in November 2013.  The challenge was to write and record a song within one month, inspired by a piece of art in Liverpool's View Two Gallery.  Being part of the songwriting challenge was a fantastic experience!

This piece of art suggests to me that it's early morning and this young woman is putting on her make up and getting ready for the day, but she doesn't really know actually what she's going to do with her day. Perhaps there is a big hole in her life, someone important missing maybe.... but she's determined to put on a brave face and prove that, actually she's doing fine......

Why she rises the greet the daybreak, she doesn't know but lately she can’t sleep
In her blue silk robe she pins her hair up, puts make-up on a face that no-one sees
Eye shadow’s whisper, the perfect shade of lipstick
For lips that still can feel his kiss
On a long, lonely Sunday, what’s a girl to do?
Guess she’ll stay in again today
Yes, she’s got things to do today

She’s getting used to doing without him
She’s happy, sassy, you can see she’s fine
And if he’s thinking, wishing, hoping that she’ll take him back
He’d do well to change his mind
She’s feeling strong now, this is her song now 
Beautiful in blue

Drinking tea from a mug he bought her, she reads the leaves and thinks that she might cry
Drip, drip, drip from her kitchen tap, like her tears she could fix that if she tried
A text from an old friend makes her smile a little later
But his friends, they all treat her like a ghost
Of anything that she ever lost
He means the most
He means the most

She’s getting used to doing without him
She’s happy, sassy, you can see she’s fine
And if he’s thinking, wishing, hoping that she’ll take him back
He’d do well to change his mind
She’s feeling strong now, this is her song now 
Beautiful in blue

She’ll use his shirt to wash her car
And if she wants to she’ll read her stars
She’s enjoying life here on Venus 
He can stay on Mars

Beautiful in blue


Beautiful in Blue

1969

I’m a fool babe, 
But you know that by now, 
I don’t have rules my darling 
But you know that, you know that by now.

I thought destiny’s a fallacy, 
Two path’s can’t be tied, 
But there’s something about you 
That made me change my mind.

We used to lie together, confide to the night 
We trusted all our secrets to the moonlight.

But Darling have you noticed that we’re getting older? 
Remember the day I’d said I’d get to know you? 
I was young and wild, just a foolish child, 
Want to take you back in time 
To when I asked for that dance in 1969.

We used to run away from responsibility, 
There’s something about your love that sets me, sets me free.

We used to lie together, confide to the night, 
We trusted all our secrets to the moonlight.

But Darling have you noticed that we’re getting older? 
Remember the day I’d said I’d get to know you? 
I was young and wild, just a foolish child, 
Want to take you back in time 
To when I asked for that dance in 1969.

I thought destiny’s a fallacy, 
Two path’s can’t be tied, 
But there’s something about you 
That made me change my mind.

But Darling have you noticed that we’re getting older? 
… 
I was young and wild, just a foolish child, 
Want to take you back in time, 
So may I ask for this dance? 
Won’t you take my hand and have this dance? 
Like it’s 1969...

* The painting reminded me of my Grandparents, or a similar couple. The song is written from the perspective of either the man or the woman, reminiscing about the relationship they have had with each other and the night they first asked for a dance in 1969. The lyrics change in the last chorus where the partner asks to dance in this moment: "won't you take my hand and have this dance like it's 1969", transporting them back to the moment where they first fell in love. I like to think that the couple are alone somewhere in a grand hall, and can imagine them slow dancing to the song itself *

WINNER 2013 Judges' Award: Alexandra Jayne - 1969

songwritingchallenge

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Robin Rowley No 1

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