A song about war. Or maybe not. Could be just about competition. Or sort. Or a personal relationship. Or about Life.

Survivor

Sometimes you meet someone at the wrong time or in the wrong place. Song I wrote. Rough take on ZoomH4n (just to get started - first one I've put on Soundcloud). No EQing, warts and all.

Fool for You

Sitting at the bar, a long time ago. Friend walks in with on of the most beautiful girls I'd ever seen, says "This is Linda". Linda gives me a funny smile, says, "We've met before". Where? When? How could I have forgotten?

Linda

The take is off the Dame Tavern songwriters' compilation - 'Nothing but The Dame Old Story'. Fun days, back in the 1990s.

The Dark Side of Disneyland

Dedicated to Facebook friends and rock climbers Graham Proctor and Mike Wild

The Duel in the Sky

Is it about religion? Or about the capriciousness of public opinion? I'm unsure.

Bar Abbas the Robber

People come up to me saying these song is an allegory, pregnant with hidden meaning, maybe about how folk cocoon themselves to keep safe or shelter from the privations of the world. Bollocks. It's about a prick in a Volvo who nearly ran me down one morning.

Prick in a Volvo

Another Normal Night at The Domino

Spaghetti Western

3 from Toners Gig

Free #4

Early version with an English folk-influenced tune. This may yet emerge as "Americana"

The Beautiful Game V1#3

Pound Note George #2

The KIng of Speed

Inspired by the 1954 BBBC Children's series

Bill And Ben the Flowerpot Men #5(Monologue)

What Can You Do When Your Wellies Leak #4

St.Eskil's Day

Not quite the equivalent of "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" but I loved the snail-like, quirky "Whispering Ghost" anyhow. Nice wee song, imo, runs contrary to my usual sardonic vibe.

LE Velocette

Every Single Day

"If Bob Dylan, Louden Wainwright III, Billy Bragg, Cole Porter and George Formby got mixed together in a Petri dish this is what would come out." - Tim Magee.

"Chaucer with a six-string guitar"  - Tomas Clancy


First band: aged 17, played harmonica and a "bass" (one string, made from a tea chest and a broomstick) in a skiffle group, The Woodshed Sinners.
Later, played trumpet in a trad jazz band; then harmonica and mandolin in various blues/country rock/folk outfits. 
Organised and sang in folk clubs the length and breadth of England, 1962-1986.
Moved to Dublin, Ireland in 1987. Played guitar, harmonica, wrote songs. Involved with a singer/songwriter night in a Dublin pub for 10 years, running it for 6. Occasional gigs (Speciality: closing venues).
Now play mainly in home studio or with friends. Written, at the last count, 245 songs. In the process of putting the best ones on here.
Influences: The great lyric writers; jazz; English and Scottish folk music; bluegrass.
Musical heroes & inspirations: Bob Dylan, Richard Thompson, Joni Mitchell, Billy Bragg, Louden Wainwright III, Tom Petty, James Taylor, The Kinks, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Thelonius Monk, Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Dick Gaughan, June Tabor, the late Tony Rose, Kate Bush, Sam Bush, Mollie Tuttle, John Dowland, John Donne, John Keats, Philip Larkin, Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Frank Loesser, Fran Landesman, luthier Richard Hoover.
Wish I could write pretty tunes like Tom Petty
Wish I was a better guitar player.
Day job: Food and drink writer & restaurant critic.

SPIKE LANCASTER Lifelong lyricist

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