Name: I Am The Oak Tree Sept 23 by Christine Summers
Duration: 4 min 23 s
Description: Inspired by the painting 'Merry England' by York artist, Gerard Hobson. One year in the life cycle of an ancient tree and the community of species it supports.

I wrote this tune on the piano today to express my feelings of having happily arrived at the other side of a major spinal operation after a 19 month wait.  I’d been thinking of imagery lately of a calm sea, lapping at the shore, then rising into a storm and then ebbing away again.  This is how I feel.  I started the tune with what I think might be a Bb6 but I can’t be sure! I heard the chord on a James Taylor song and thought it’s a great place to begin.  I hope you enjoy it and that it becalms you too!  Thank you for listening. X

Relaxing Piano. After the Storm

Oh where’s my mango chutney 
In the curry house at 5am 
And you realise you’ve got no money 
You’re in your overdraft for the taxi on the way back home 

Harbour bar at ten to 9
Then you loose your mind 
Cause your 99’s got no Flake in it 
And you loose your shit
cause your fish and chips 
Just aren’t cutting it 

Nothing seems alright 
You can right your wrongs 
But your rights aren’t right
No nothing feels alright 
Cause your drinking gin 
On a Tuesday night 

Your friends say you’re uptight 
Cause you won’t ask him if he’s busy 
In the taxi on the way back home 

Scarborough fayre is just not fair 
The harder you scream the faster the ride
Can you taste the salty air 
Oh are you surprised? 

Nothing seems alright 
You can right your wrongs 
But your rights aren’t right
No nothing feels alright 
Cause your drinking gin 
On a Tuesday night 

Your friends say you’re uptight 
Cause you won’t ask him if he’s busy 
In the taxi on the way back home 

You’ve stayed out too late 
And you’ve lost your bra somewhere in the plaza 
And hollywoods not far, but I’ve lost my wings so I’ll take the car 

Always out too late and You’ve lost your bra somewhere in the plaza 
And hollywoods not far, but I’ve lost my wings so I’ll take the car 
Yes I’ll take the car , smoke cigars 

Nothing seems alright 
You can right your wrongs 
But your rights aren’t right
No nothing feels alright 
Cause your drinking gin 
On a Tuesday night 
Your friends say you’re uptight 
Cause You won’t ask him if he’s busy 
Wait Somethings not quite right 
The lights are on but your mind ain’t right 
No nothing feels alright 
Cause you’re drinking gin on a Tuesday night 
Your friends say you’re uptight 

Cause you won’t ask him if he’s busy 
Whilst your head was feeling fizzy 
In the taxi on the way back home

Oh where’s my mango chutney 
In the curry house at 5am


****** 
Clean/radio version available on request

Taxi

An episodic piece to which you can make up your own story

Doloroso

My heart, the house 
with the roof that's giving:
fight-or-flight feeling
- the glint in your eye
Even my skin 
is panicking...
Follow on the road 
of ragged old dreams...

A thousand seas sound 
in the swaying baby pine
The ragged cries of crows
climb
If I find my old heartbeats 
I'll follow them like 
stepping stones 

My heart, the house 
with the roof that's giving:
fight-or-flight feeling
- the glint in your eye
Even my dreams 
are scattering...
Follow on the road 
of ragged old dreams...

The shifting weight of rain 
on the skin of the sea
The sky-change like a brow
furrowing 
Rising up to disappear:
the words escape 
like cigarette smoke...

My heart, the house 
with the roof that's giving:
fight-or-flight feeling
- the glint in your eye
Even my skin 
is panicking...
Follow on the road 
of ragged old dreams...



ROOF THAT'S GIVING

My brother (piano player of many years) suggested to me (self taught piano player of a couple of years) that I should think about introducing a walking base into my left hand when playing.  This piece recorded on my propped up iPhone on the piano is a record of the noodling with the left hand doing more than pressing just the 1st and 5th notes.  Progress!! The photo is Alnmouth beach, Northumberland last night at dusk, also IPhone.

Walking Base Noodle

Summersville

All these great new ideas that you’ve heard somewhere before.

The Hippies Were Right

When You Visit a Witch

When You Visit A Witch Sept 23

Inspired by the painting 'Merry England' by York artist, Gerard Hobson. One year in the life cycle of an ancient tree and the community of species it supports.

I Am The Oak Tree Sept 23

"Boolavogue", the famous Irish ballad commemorating the Irish Rebellion of 1798, played on chromatic harmonica by me. This is also known as "Father Murphy's Air". 

Boolavogue

Let It Rain

Acoustic singer songwriter, performing in the folk clubs of North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

I Am The Oak Tree Sept 23

Christine Summers

Related tracks