New York City

God Bless the USA

down the winding road
to where the sky meets the land
i found a lonely pilgrim
looking for a merry band

i bid them on their way
as they cast off from the bay
with hope in hand
the hungry tide laps up
their footprints from the sand

whistling as i wonder
laughing with the birds
with a spinning wheel and thread
i'll weave them into words

i'll collect up all my sorrows
a big bright beautiful blue
glue them all together
make them into something new

and when the spring rain
washes away
all the smiles i traced
onto the window pane

when the sun comes up
to fill my cup
christening the day
it's alright

because every cold night ends
with warmth on the horizon

and as the sky cracks
and breaks into the sea
i will love you

your tears dull as diamonds
graze my cheeks
i'll still care

i'll write a million songs
until there's no more words to speak
and i'll scream until
there is nothing left

and i will love you
i will love you

until the end

until the end (demo)

scarecrow

embers

My take on an old lullaby written for Queen Elizabeth I

Weep you no more

I came upon the holy village 
Where they said the angels tread
But when I spoke unto the doctor 
She said they ain't been here yet.

They said Lord the lake is empty 
They said Lord we prayed for rain
They said Lord remember Maggie Carter,
Don't let her die in vain.

Well I asked after the pastor 
They said he'd gone for help 
Somewhere further up the mountain
Close to where the angels dwell 

Well I found the sacred headstone 
Of the certain latter day saint
Lord here lies Maggie Carter 
Don't you dare turn her away 

I came upon the holy village 
Where they say the angels tread 
And we still stand out in the long grass
Yet to walk in their footsteps 

Maggie Carter and the Angels

Your Name Is Wild (Guided by Voices Cover)

The second single from the next album has just dropped on all the usual streaming and download platforms on Wednesday.

It's a bit of weird mix of Americana and spoken word that tells the tale of a couple of lads playing truant from school.

It may, or may not, have some autobiographical properties...

Me and my friend ran away from school
Escaped over the old brick wall
Through the fence to the viaduct
Hearing Colm Cannon's Call

And we would run until we could no longer see the highest point of the buildings
The third floor windows hidden by the trees on Blackfriars Street
Where we would have to avoid Colm's aunts
Lest word got back our parents and we would get a second beating

Passing down Coppergate we make our way swiftly to the harbour
In the hope of learning some tricks from hands far tougher than our fathers
And there was no danger there of being seen by a teacher taking on an illicit early jar
South of Peppermill Road they wouldn't hazard those bars

In truth there was nothing more interesting for two young boys at the harbour
Than there was in those high-ceilinged class rooms so eagerly and riskily escaped
But when a life is measured in half and quarter years
A day of freedom counts double to a troubled soul

And after time the memory of the pain of a belt subsides
And any door left ajar becomes an invitation
A siren song to a face that doesn't fit and a heart that won't lie still
A heart that will never never lie still

Me and my friend ran away from school
Escaped over the old brick wall

Colm Cannon's Call

When we had our own fire
I'd feel that wooden old wardrobe of desire
But how many times
Would we shout out in line?
And how would you go
Without any word alone?

Way out by the last bus of the bay
Out by the long, long way that we change
Out by the pier where you had lain
All of your best of friends
In the regime change

18. Crash Course In Wondering

Micah Kart

Robert Pollard on vocals and Tobin Sprout on piano. The original track is higher than natural pitch. This is an attempt to get it back to normal speed.

Guided By Voices - Universal Nurse Finger (pitch shifted)

Capturing song fragments and lo-fi experiments on old cassette machines in the tiny back bedroom of a scarborough terraced house. 

Debut EP Back Down Woe Betide Ravine out now on bandcamp!

18. Crash Course In Wondering

The Hydrogen Trees