Who’s pulling the strings?

The Puppeteers is a story told in fragments—memories, whispers, moments that slip through your fingers. These ten tracks by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett explore what it means to be shaped by forces we can’t always see—grief, love, regret, and the slow unraveling of control.

It’s personal. It’s political. It’s poetic.

Listen for what’s said—and what’s left unsaid.

Highlights: If Only for a Second, Shadows, This Is My Life, Stevie Drove a Taxi, The Puppeteers.

THE PUPPETEERS

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett

Lyrics...

Beautiful, beautiful you struck me down,
Unleashed your weapons and here I lay now.
I'm torn to pieces with a smile on my face,
A simple distraction at the end of the race.

Beautiful, beautiful you took your time,
Picking your moments in the blink of an eye.
I'm lost without you I'm so glad you're here,
A simple distraction replacing the fear.

I'm losing control in the heat of the day,
Where once I was lonesome too scared to play.
You ran with the wolf pack, you flew with the stars,
I stood in awe as you tore me apart.

Yesterday's gone but the future looks bright,
You've changed my mind if only for tonight.
Lovin' you sweetly and lovin' you true,
My heart's beating faster if only you knew.

Beautiful, beautiful you still hang around,
I don't have money and I don't have the time right now.
I watched you floatin' in a state of grace,
Love is just a simple twist of fate.

Beautiful, beautiful holdin' my life in your hands,
You rock me like a baby till I understand.
Intoxicate my senses to a state of bliss,
The remedy enveloped in a single kiss.

I ain't fat I've just got thick skin,
It protects me from the world that we're livin' in.
I roll with the punches I duck 'n' dive,
Got my motor tickin' over tryin' to stay alive.

Yesterday's gone but the future looks bright,
You've changed my mind if only for tonight.
Lovin' you sweetly and lovin' true,
My heart's beating fast if only you knew.

The Puppeteers

Beautiful

BEAUTIFUL

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett

Lyrics...

If only for a second do you stop and think of me,
Sitting in the shadow of a life that's set you free?
Wishing you remembered how good you had it then,
I only wish you well on your journey to the end.

And if by some small miracle you should pass this way,
I'd take you warmly by the hand but I wouldn't make you stay.
See memories have a thousand tricks they always like to use,
One day you think it's sunshine the next it's just bad news.

I'll stand and I'll be waving from the top step by my door,
As your car heads down the road and you're on your way once more.
Towards a lost horizon with wings upon your heels,
Tell me when you get there how good it really feels. 

These whispered words of sentiment come only when I drink,
If I was stone cold sober I'd take the time to think.
And wonder what the hell you ever saw in me,
Did you settle for second best or did you get lazy?

I guess in time you realised that I was just no good,
The secrets that I hid behind the cabin in the woods.
Were too far gone and so messed up they put me in the frame,
And the only things they've left me with are sorrow and my name.

If I could still be brave enough if I could be adored,
Would I be a slave to love or simply be ignored?
The weight of expectation is the thing that's killing me,
In time you came to cage the beast and threw away the key.

Systematic waves of panic are coursing through my veins,
I'd better light the signal fire before everybody blames.
The single reason I exist as a warning to you all,
I thought I flew among the stars but everybody falls.

I made mistakes that much is true and I paid the price,
I tried to hide the lies I cried and tried to be real nice.
Depression all consuming tore at my very soul,
But now I turn to face the truth before I get too old.

If only for a second do you stop and think of me,
Sitting in the shadows of a life that's set you free?
Wishing you remembered how good you had it then,
I only wish you well on your journey to the end.

If Only For a Second

IF ONLY FOR A SECOND

Please see the video that goes along with this song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRezIMtZQjo

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett
Lyrics...

NOTE...
Like most people, we cannot watch what is happening around the world at the moment without feeling a real sense of hopelessness and anger. Les and I have tried to express both in this song....

Verse 1
In a world of shadows, where the sun meets the night,
Old men play with fire, young souls in their sight.
A chessboard of nations, moving pieces on the sand,
But it's the innocents who suffer, caught in the command.

Chorus
Oh, the winds of change are whispering,
Calling out for hearts to sing.
Beyond the lines that they've drawn in the sand,
It's time for us, the people, to make a stand.

Verse 2
They like to speak in riddles, in a language cold and grey,
They trade in lives like pawns, that’s the price we all must pay.
That’s not the colour in our hearts, they sound a different beat,
We cry out for compassion, yet they send the fleet.

Chorus
Oh, the winds of change are whispering,
Calling out for hearts to sing.
Beyond the lines that they've drawn in the sand,
It's time for us, the people, to make a stand.

Verse 3
Hear the cries of mothers, see the tears in fathers' eye,
Bridges turned to ashes as their children die.
But in the silence of the night, a melody unfolds,
A chorus of unity, where compassion takes a hold.

Chorus
Oh, the winds of change are whispering,
Calling out for hearts to sing.
Beyond the lines that they've drawn in the sand,
It's time for us, the people, to make a stand.

Verse 4
Hear the cries of mothers, see the tears in fathers' eye,
Bridges burnt to ashes as their children die.
But in the silence of the night, a melody unfolds,
A chorus of unity, where compassion takes a hold.

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett
Lyrics...

Stevie drove a taxi,
He'd charge you by the mile.
He met a girl last Tuesday, 
Her laughter made him smile. 
She whispered in his ear,
That she was free that night.
She set his mind to overload, 
In the garden of delights.

She offered him a sentence, 
He offered her his life.
She took him in her arms,
And they danced on through the night.
To their own sweet music,
No word was ever said.
All the lights were turning green,
He didn't see a red.

Deep down South a grumpy old man,
Sitting on his own. 
Thought of better days, 
When the future lay unknown. 
He wished that he had told her,
How much he really felt, 
The sense of disappointment, 
Hit him right below the belt.

She counted on each finger,
The times he let her down. 
The memory that lingers,
His world turned upside down. 
He smiled and breathed in sweet relief. 
He knew he loved her then,
Why keep on pretending, 
That they could still be friends.


Tales of star crossed lovers,
And dreams you hold so tight.
Can sometimes be the wake up call,
That make you see the light.
Look in each direction, 
Before you cross the road.
Who knows what just might appear, 
To help you lift that load. 

Kiss those lips in your submission, 
As the warmth inside you grows.
Look deep into each other’s eyes,
Until your touching souls.
Give into the admission, 
That you've never felt so good.
This feeling elevates you,
As you knew it always would.

Stevie Drove a Taxi

STEVIE DROVE A TAXI

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett
Lyrics...

I built a wall
I locked the gate
Waited for time
To seal my fate
Was paralysed
Was so unsure
I felt unclean
And what is more

I looked in to
The mirror there
I fell apart
I didn't care

I hope that my body's never found
Perhaps some day
But never now
No, never now

What should I do?
Where should I go?
Why call a wind
That never blows?
I kept the peace
With the devine
I'm heading off
Which suits me fine

Now then, Now then
Dry your tears
For me my friend
Just dry your tears

This is my beginning
I'll see you at the end

I embraced
The blackest night
I wish I could
I wish I might
I dreamt of stars
That shone so bright
They still blind me
Today

I held out hands
To touch the world
It rejected me
In a ball I curled

I hope my body's never found
Perhaps some day
But never now
No, never now

This is my Beginning

THIS IS MY BEGINNING

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett
Lyrics...

Last night I threw my back out,
Dancing like I did in '92.
I guess I wished for something better. 
It's not down to my age,
But my brand new shoes.

You smell of cheap perfume and cigarettes,
You haven't got style and your hair's a mess.
I got sober and I got fixed,
You haven't got a potion in your little bag of tricks,
To ever make me wanna waste my time on you.

I spent my day in quiet reflection,
I spent what little time I had,
To show you the real affection.
Now isn't that kind of sad?
As always I am lying to cover up the pain,
You're beautiful my dear and I must be insane.

You smell of cheap perfume and cigarettes,
You haven't got style and your hair's a mess.
I got sober and I got fixed,
You haven't got a potion in your little bag of tricks,
To ever make me wanna waste my time on you.

Well pardon me for being so forward,
I've been wanting to ask you,
Are you feeling lonely?
Well so have I but that's too bad.
I can sometimes feel a rush,
That comes to me from out of nowhere.

I'm rambling on like a force of nature,
I'm talking too much,
Am I starting to bore?
If I could hold on for only a moment, 
I'd tell you, Id tell you the truth,
I couldn't love you, I couldn't love you more.

I Couldn't Love You More

I COULDN'T LOVE YOU MORE

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett
Lyrics...

Completeness of the sweetness is a bitter pill to take, 
Feel the earth move in loves embrace.

I was thinking to myself, 
how good it really felt.
To wake up in the morning,
When the cards were dealt. 

I hung up the phone,
I turned my back
One fatal moment,
When the deck was stacked

The sunshine was golden,
Your kiss lifted me.
Out of my slumber,
You rescued me.

As the warmth of our bodies,
Merged into one.
We lay there for hours,
In the rays of the sun.

You can keep your diamonds,
You can keep your cash.
I found my piece of heaven,
That's so much better than that. 

The sunshine was golden,
Your kiss lifted me.
Out of my slumber,
You rescued me.

Completeness of the sweetness is a bitter pill to take, 
Feel the earth move in loves embrace.

I lived in denial,
I starved myself of true love.
I prayed for the moment,
And to the heavens above.

I coasted through,
A lifetime of regret,
so  scared to take a chance,
and I never slept.

The sunshine was golden,
Your kiss lifted me.
Out of my slumber,
You rescued me. Rpt…

Sunshine Was Golden

SUNSHINE WAS GOLDEN

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett
Lyrics...

It doesn't mean that much to me anyway,
Wearing the same clothes I had on yesterday.
And I just can't believe it,
Even though you say it's true,
While in the meantime this is my life.

I woke again this morning with an aching in my chest,
Was it just a broken heart or simply loneliness?
I wished for pleasant weather,
To brighten up my day.
While in the meantime, this is my life.

When they tell me I'm too old, That I should know better,
No ending has a meaning,         If the stories never told.
I show what I can do, With smile upon my face,
and I'll sing you a song…  like lovers do.

MIDDLE 8ISH GUITAR BREAK

If you take me away from the place I want to be,
Show me a valley of green as far as the eye can see.
Fall asleep in your arms and dream of what might be.
But in the end my love…. I just have to leave.

It doesn't mean that much to me anyway,
Wearing the same clothes I had on yesterday.
And I just can't believe it,
Even though you say it's true,
While in the meantime this is my life.

This is my Life

THIS IS MY LIFE

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett
Lyrics...


Time slips away like grains of sand,
Memories fading, slipping from my hand.
Youthful dreams, they're now just ghosts,
A life once vibrant, now shadows close.

In the mirror, lines etched deep,
A roadmap of moments, promises to keep.
The ache of bones, the slowing race,
As life's swift river slows its pace.

Getting old, it's a bittersweet song,
The days grow short, the nights so long.
Friends and lovers, they fade from view,
Leave behind echoes of "I love you."

As loved ones, depart, like ships at sea,
We learn to let go, we learn to be free.
In fading echoes, a wisdom lies,
A silent understanding that never dies.

The world spins on, but we stand still,
Grasping at moments, trying to fill,
The void left by those who've gone ahead,
Leaving us to follow the paths they've tread.

Getting old, it's a journey alone,
As those we cherish find their way home.
Each goodbye, a tear in the soul,
Reminding us of life's ultimate toll.

So let the years roll on, let the stories unfold,
For in the heart of getting old, there's a beauty untold.
A tapestry woven with threads of gold,
As we embrace the journey, of growing old.

Shadows

SHADOWS

Original track by Phil Dutton & Les Corlett
Lyrics...

Oh What it was,
Oh What a shame,
We could have been.
One and the same.
With complications,
When things go wrong.
My paranoia,
Is growing strong.

In my confusion,
I kept on losing'.
My bad decisions,
Got in the way.
I kept on lying,
I kept on trying.
The only reason,
I'm here to stay.

I looked the wrong way. 
I took the wrong way.
My sense of purpose,
Was stripped  away. 
I never found out,
Who pulled the ground out.
From under me,
From under me.

You're never going to hear me say,
I love you,
You're never going to hear me say,
I care.
What the hell am I supposed to do now?
My days grow long whenever you're not there.

I looked the wrong way. 
I took the wrong way.
My sense of purpose,
Was stripped  away. 
I never found out,
Who pulled the ground out.
From under me,
From under me.

Oh what it was,
Oh what a shame.
We could have been,
One and the same.
With complications,
When things go wrong.
My paranoia,
Is growing strong.

I looked the wrong way. 
I took the wrong way.
My sense of purpose,
Was stripped  away. 
I never found out,
Who pulled the ground out.
From under me,
From under me.

Repeat…

One and the Same

ONE AND THE SAME

All links now active... 🎵 Original Music from Wirral, UK | Phil Dutton & Les Corlett AKA The DC Sound Project

The DC Sound Project. Eight albums deep and still going strong. It usually starts with a good old-fashioned jam session, then somehow ends in a coffee-fuelled recording marathon. We write songs about love, politics, heartbreak, and those occasional “what the hell is wrong with the world?” moments, all brewed fresh on the Wirral. Press play… it’s music therapy with better side effects!

We’re an independent duo creating everything from raw folk ballads to gritty blues-rock. Every video is carefully crafted with free footage and, sometimes, AI-generated visuals to tell the story behind the song.

💿 Albums: 
Snaggletooth (2025)
Addiction (2025)
Black Ice (2024)
Yellin’ at the Clouds (2024)
The Puppeteers (2024)
Burning Bridges (2023)
Rattlesnake (2023)
Melancholy Blue (2023)

🎶 Listen: SoundCloud • Spotify • Apple Music • Amazon • Facebook • Instagram • Twitch

Thanks for joining us on this journey, it’s all about the love of music! 🎶✨