That's What The Whisky's For - Lyrics

VERSE 1:

Nobody knows what the next person's feeling,
Nobody knows what's in their heads.
Struggling with confusion in broad daylight,
Reflecting on life,
What I haven't done yet.

CHORUS:

When I'm feeling down and out,
Just want to scream and shout,
When I don't know just which way to turn.
That's when I stop to think baby,
That's when I take a drink, baby,
That's what the whisky's for.

VERSE 2:

Nothing's better than someone to hold you,
Nothing's worse than being alone.
Like a fire burning up with desire,
Like the flames,
My dreams end up as smoke.

CHORUS:

When I'm feeling down and out,
Just want to scream and shout,
When I don't know just which way to turn.
That's when I stop to think baby,
That's when I take a drink, baby,
That's what the whisky's for.

BRIDGE:

Where are you when I need you?
Feels like all my hopes have gone,
Think I'll drown my sorrows,
Think I'll go get stoned.

CHORUS 2:

When I'm feeling down and out,
Just want to scream and shout,
When I don't know just which way to turn.
That's when I stop to think baby,
That's when I take a drink, baby,
That's what the whisky's for.

That's when I stop to think baby,
That's when I take a drink, baby,
That's what the whisky's for,

That's what the whisky's for,
That's what the whisky's for,
That's what the whisky's for,
That's what the whisky's for.

Forever My Love - Lyrics

Intended as an offering for that special day that celebrates love, this was originally called 'Valentine'. It then turned into a song called 'The Magician'.

The lyrics were a way of describing how a person you love can seem at times to be capable of magic.

The melody came about when wandering in some woods near our home in Kent. I already had an idea for the lyrics and had watched the film 'Ray' the night before. As I wandered, a tune came into my head, inspired in part by 'What I'd Say' by Ray Charles. And a little of Dusty's 'Won't Be Long'.

Through research into the Ray Charles song I set about trying to create something of that upbeat, gospel feel.

VERSE 1:

Untangle my branches,
Let me ride on your wave,
Weave your magic spell,
Let me hide in your cave.
Untangle my branches,
Let me ride on your wave,
Weave your magic spell,
Let me hide in your cave.

CHORUS:

Be my lion, be my dove,
Be the hand that fits my glove,
Be the stars I see at night,
And the shining moon above.
Be my lion, be my dove,
Be the hand that fits my glove,
Be the stars I see at night
And the shining moon above.

VERSE 2:

Stop my tears from flowing,
Be there when I awake,
Warm me when I'm cold,
Be there to stop me shake
Stop my tears from flowing,
Be there when I awake,
Warm me when I'm cold,
Be there to stop me shake.

CHORUS

BRIDGE:

Be forever, be forever,
Be forever my valentine,
Forever my love.

VERSE 3:

Take me to the horizon,
Raise me up when I fall,
Write my name on the wind,
Run to me when I call.
Take me to the horizon,
Raise me up when I fall,
Write my name on the wind,
Run to me when I call.

CHORUS

BRIDGE:

Be forever, forever,
Be forever my valentine,
Forever my love.
Be forever, forever,
Be forever my valentine,
Forever my love.
Be forever,
Be forever my valentine,
Forever my love.

Soaking All The Blues Away - Lyrics

I woke one morning, opened the window, heard the birds singing and a breeze blowing and in my slightly dreamlike state, started to hum what became the tune to this song.

There wasn't any direct inspiration, although some of the more haunting Chet Baker songs definitely came to mind. Written in the early stages of my M.E., it reflected a very calm, thoughtful time. 

Someone in critiquing it once asked: "What is the point?"

There isn't really a point. That is the point. Sometimes there doesn't have to be a point. It is about letting your mind run free and questioning what life is all about - not in a negative way, just wondering about the puzzle that life can be. It is a peaceful song or as someone else said, it could be a lullaby.

CHORUS:

Soaking all the blues away,
Lie back, drift away, get to dreaming.
Soaking all the blues away,
Lie back, slip away, close to sleeping.

VERSE 1:

Why is life sometimes so strange?
Why do the plans get rearranged?
Why do we take the hardest way?
When we were born to play.

CHORUS:

Soaking all the blues away,
Lie back, drift away, get to dreaming.

VERSE 2:

How come we love, but then we hate?
How do we know, what is our fate?
How do the flowers know when to grow?
The clouds move oh so slow?

CHORUS:

Soaking all the blues away,
Lie back, drift away, get to dreaming.

SOLO

BRIDGE:

Love or lose,
Misunderstood, confused,
Feeling thoughtful, feeling puzzled,
Bemused.

VERSE 3:

What makes birds sing a pretty tune?
What works the sun, what moves the moon?
What makes us fear, what makes us pleased?
What makes us love with ease?

CHORUS:

Soaking all the blues away,
Lie back, drift away, get to dreaming,
Soaking all the blues away,
Lie back, slip away, close to sleeping.

Don't Judge Me No More - Lyrics

This was a very hard song to craft.

Close to my heart, this is about prejudice and discrimination in its many forms. In relation to the bigger subjects like sexuality, race, religion, age, disability - but also the way we might look, dress and how we might be judged for that.

Often discrimination isn't direct, but imposed by society in general and the supposed norms we feel we are expected to live by. The sadness is quite often that when people don't 'get' something instinctively, they don't try to, but rather react in a variety of ways that can equally be hugely damaging and painful.

When we face prejudice against us, we also react in a variety of ways. If we actively choose to remain silent and don't protest openly, it doen't mean that the depth of feeling is any less.

If people don't understand the way someone else is or lives their life, they should manage that at least, in an intelligent and civilised way that shows respect - which is the very least we can all expect from each other.

So this song is personal but more importantly it is a message on behalf of all people who at times in their lives and for whatever reason, have been unfairly judged. It is a plea for people to be less judgmental, more thoughtful and a little more generous towards each other - something we could all do with being.

It was very hard finding the melody for this song. I listened to a lot of different music - Paolo Nutini, Melody Gardot, Elvis, Passenger, The Smiths - much of that may not be obvious as an influence. Rolling Stone magazine described Rehab by Amy Winehouse as having a "banging beat" and I liked that idea for this song, but I was also keen to contrast the colourful spirit of the lyrics with a smoother, cooler sound. Janette suggested listening to some Roberta Flack and it started to fall into place.

VERSE 1:

That snide little aside,
That open confrontation,
That silence cos you don't understand.
Do you know how much those hurt?
Just because he's in a skirt,
Just because she walks with her hand in hand.

VERSE 2:

Maybe you didn't think,
Maybe the wrong assumption,
Good reason for the way you stand and stare?
Are you saying it's a sin?
The colour of their skin,
An affront the way I wear my hair.

CHORUS:

Open up your hearts,
Open up your minds,
Respect us all,
Treat everyone kind
Please don't judge no more.

VERSE 3:

Is it the lines upon his face,
Or the fact that she's a woman,
Their religion, illness, being gay?
What is it that offends you,
Makes it ok to be - so cruel,
You have no right to treat them that way.

VERSE 4:

Some choose not to conform,
Most don't have many choices,
Not things that can justify the shame,
I've no problem being me,
Look closer you would see,
Underneath it we're really all the same.

CHORUS:

Open up your hearts,
Open up your minds,
Respect us all,
Treat everyone kind,
Please don't judge no more.

Please don't judge no more,
Don't judge me no more.

Brief Encounter - Lyrics

A mixture of several different ideas that I'd worked on, this was initially called 'Soul Child', then 'Solitary Woman'. It meandered along quite a journey.

It is a story about an imaginary brief encounter. One that started as a diversion; some fun that turned into something more. The excitement and anticipation of that, coupled with a sense of acceptance that this relationship appears to be one sided. The lover being part time, distant, absent.

The references to being solitary, as in 'solitary lover' are double edged. They may be about the absent lover being a solitary person or the only lover. However, this was born out of a period in my own life when it was both important and necessary for me to have solitude and that is where the original concept started.

VERSE 1:

I know you need to be alone,
Feel the freedom that surrounds you.
A foreign beach, a local shore,
Months away, a few days more.

VERSE 2:

Just lay me gently on my side,
If you return while I am sleeping,
Whisper softly if you will,
Let me know you love me still.

CHORUS:

It was a brief encounter,
Not meant to make me love you.
A sweet indulgence,
To kick start my emotions,
A fleeting moment
To brighten up my day.

VERSE 3:

You are my solitary lover,
Soulmate, best friend.
Sometimes a place to lay my body,
In dreams of you to rest my head.

VERSE 4:

I wish I lived inside your world,
Unspoken boundaries be declared,
Have you ease my distant longings,
Let hidden feelings be shared.

BRIDGE:

Then I'll feel
Kissed by the sun,
Caressed by the breeze,
Blessed by the beat of your heart.
Kissed by the sun,
Caressed by the breeze,
Hoping this is where it starts.

SOLO

CHORUS:

It was a brief encounter,
Not meant to make me love you,
A sweet indulgence,
To kick start my emotions,
A fleeting moment,
To brighten up my day
To brighten up my day.

Turn On The Moon - Lyrics

Possibly the hardest song for me to write, this was created out of a mass of different ideas. It came out of listening to Billie Holiday, Melody Gardot, Eartha Kitt and Amy Winehouse.

It is actually more innocent than it may appear, contrary to what the sultry undertones may suggest. It is about waking in the night and what might ensue. But... it started out being about what happens when you are an insomniac. And thinking of other people who may be awake during the night. And how if you lived nearby, you could get together and share those moments. Well, that's how it began. Being in a dreamy state, liking the idea of company or imagining the innocent excitement of a kid sneaking out in the night. But then it's up to you how you interpret it.

CHORUS:

Come over to my place,
If you wake in the night I'll be here.
Come over to my place,
Show me how much you care.

VERSE:

Turn on the moon,
So I can see you.
Turn on the moon,
So I can see too,
Endless possibilities
Fulfill my fantasies.
Slowly free me from anxieties
Come over baby won't you please,
Let the rhythm
Of your sighs soothe me.

BRIDGE:

I'm full of wild imaginings,
Images and little gems,
Imagine what could happen,
If we'd only dare to dream.

CHORUS:

Come over to my place,
If you wake in the night I'll be here,
Come over to my place,
Show me how much you care.

SOLO

BRIDGE:

I'm full of wild imaginings,
Images and little gems,
Imagine what could happen,
If we'd only dare to dream.

CHORUS:

Come over to my place,
If you wake in the night I'll be here.
Come on over to my place,
Show me how much you care
Come over to my place,
If you wake in the night I'll be there
Come over to my place,
Show me how much you care.

Heavenly - Lyrics

A simple upbeat, happy song. For when love is in the air and life feels good.

I came up with the lyrics to this whilst wandering on a beach in North Wales when the tide was out. Looking down at the wet sand, the pools of water and tiny fish darting around, I started thinking about nature and the wonderful tricks it plays.

VERSE 1:

Like tumbleweed rolling down the road,
I'm inside out,
I'm back to front,
And upside down.

VERSE 2:

Like a butterfly surfing the breeze,
I'm back to front,
I'm upside down,
And inside out.

PRE-CHORUS:

But if I wait I know the clouds will pass,
I'll feel tall,
Knowing you adore me.

CHORUS:

Heavenly...
That's what you are,
Heavenly...
That's what life is,
Heavenly...
As long as you're here
It's a good day,
It's just heavenly.

VERSE 3:

Like a bird flying high up in the sky,
I'm upside down,
I'm inside out,
And back to front.

VERSE 4:

Like fish dartin' round in a shallow sea,
I'm back to front,
I'm upside down,
And inside out.

PRE-CHORUS

CHORUS

SOLO

VERSE 5:

Like the rays of sun fallin' down on me,
I'm inside out,
I'm back to front,
And upside down.

PRE-CHORUS:

But if I wait I know the clouds will pass,
I'll feel tall,
Knowing you adore me.

CHORUS:

Heavenly...
That's what you are,
Heavenly...
That's what life is,
Heavenly...
Heavenly...
Heavenly...
That's what you are,
Heavenly...
That's what life is.

You Do Me Good - Lyrics

When people have heard this they do think it is about a person. In fact, it is about my relationship with London, which was my home for 25 years. Whilst I love Kent I will always be in love with London and this song is about that. Otherwise, no hidden meanings.

VERSE 1:

It's said the world's a small place,
Where I am - you will be.
You captured my imagination,
Long ago when you kidnapped me.

VERSE 2:

You gave me my independence,
Let me go like a lover who cares.
Set me free from strings that bound me,
From fears, fun, games we shared.

CHORUS:

You're simply irresistable,
You mesmerize me,
You hypnotize me,
You stupefy me,
Oh boy you do me good,
Oh mama you do me good.

VERSE 3:

Like a wild horse I've been broken,
Kept out of reach, away from your touch.
Am I ok with the distance between us,
Away from the one I love too much?

PRE-CHORUS:

Who cares what the past did,
What the future may hold.
You still intoxicate me,
I'll be yours, yours, yours,
Until I'm old.

CHORUS:

You're simply irresistible,
You mesmerize me,
You hypnotize me,
You stupefy me,
Oh boy you do me good,
Oh mama you do me good
I say you do me good
You do me good.

VERSE 4:

My heart will always be with you,
Although no longer my home.
The place that lifts me, shaped me,
Gave me freedom, comforts unknown.

CHORUS:

You're simply irresistible,
You mesmerize me,
You hypnotize me,
You stupefy me,
Oh boy you do me good,
Oh mama you do me good,
I say you do me good,
You do me good.

(REPEAT x1)

Me And Mrs Peel - Lyrics

The fun song. A big nod to the original Avengers series and in particular the Mrs. Peel episodes and all thing 60s!

Despite seeming to be quite simple, it wasn't an easy one for me to put together. I had a basic melody but had to try and pull together several different musical parts, including a twiddly jazz bit and ultimately the Bridge.

VERSE 1:

Groovy, fab, far out
Man that really was the time,
Get on down, express yourself,
Hook another line.
Jagger and The Beatles,
Dusty the real deal,
Such a blast, a real gas
With me and Mrs Peel.

VERSE 2:

Groovy, fab, far out,
Man that really was the time,
Bum a smoke, make out,
In the juke box stick a dime.
Jagger and The Beatles,
Dusty the real deal,
Such a blast, a real gas
With me and Mrs Peel.

BRIDGE:

Don't you love them madly,
Don't you love them madly,
Don't you love their ways,
Swinging sixties days.

VERSION 3:

Groovy, fab, far out,
Man that really was the time,
So hip those threads, real gone sounds,
The scene - out of sight,
Jagger and The Beatles,
Dusty the real deal,
Such a blast, a real gas
With me and Mrs Peel.

VERSE 4:

Groovy, fab far out,
Man that really was the time,
Cool those chicks, hot those cats,
Those dudes - so divine.
Jagger and The Beatles,
Dusty the real deal,
Such a blast, a real gas
With me and Mrs Peel.