One for the night

the tune brought the lyrics with it somehow - a sort of desert nightscape. I've always liked the idea of pouring a drink for the earth first as you take one. It can be a bit tricky indoors and you wouldn't want to do it too much with your best islay malt. but there you go.

One for the night

One for the road by dombailed

Pours one for the road
And one for the earth as she grows cold
As the light fades from the sun
There's cracks like fault lines
On my mouth as my lips dry
And so it's begun
The night

Look down at the sand
Footsteps lost where they fall
And I understand
What's right
I howl at the moons scowl
And the wind in the rocks keeps tune
And so it's begun
The night

How could i turn
My back on the sun
And chase those fault lines
For a fight?
Pours one for the road
And one for the earth
As she grows cold
In the night

Black tobacco (she tastes like)

No one in particular really. But what if a smell or taste could bring something or someone back - really bring them back rather than just a memory of them. So an unrequited ghost voodoo love song. I think the idea comes from a few candomble sessions I attended in Brazil a while ago. Cigarettes and rum play a large part in the ceremony and woe betide anyone crossing their arms and legs. The guitar was quite tricky even though I made it up myself but finally think I nailed it - although this is just a rough recording.


She tastes like black tobacco


A taste, a kiss unlocks the mind
Puts skin and flesh upon the bones of time
The light plays tricks and dances on the floor
Then she is standing there once more

She tastes like black tobacco
black tobacco
Her heart is black tobacco
black tobacco

I'd watched and caught her eye sometimes
I've caught my breath as hers met mine
A smile that dances on those lips devine
She shakes her head, it's so unkind

She tastes like black tobacco
black tobacco
Her heart is black tobacco
black tobacco

Don't cross your arms before me child
Don't cross your heart and hope to die
We all fade through the rolling mists of time
But breath is blessed and love is blind

She tastes like black tobacco
black tobacco
Her heart is black tobacco
black tobacco

Homecoming: a song for remembrance day

There was a very good Panorama on a while back called Forgotten heroes - what happens to soldiers when they leave the army. It was a candid look at their lives and how their experiences of training , the army and war had affected them. Coupled with reading reports of other inquests of bomb disposal experts killed in Afghanistan, a few phrases and images stuck in mind mind and I wrote this.


Homecoming

I should've stood in the doorway and shaken the sand from my boots
Got a kiss from my wife and my kid as he fumbles and roots
for the presents he knows that I've stored
In the Bergen a few days before,
Before my homecoming,
Last days of the tour.

I should've stood on the pavement,
my heart beating time with the crowds
Pressed my hand to the glass and wondered aloud
Just who why and what is it for?
Or at we just settling scores?
Before my homecoming,
Last days of the tour.

And there's no sand in the valley still
And there's no sand in the valley still
Just a little boy standing alone
And his voice on a satellite phone
"take your time daddy
But it's time to come home"

I should have turned out the lights and retreated into my shell
Faced the demons, the vampires the blood and the hell
But every man's trying to hide
the child that is hiding inside
Before my homecoming, last days of the tour.

I should have stood in the doorway and shaken the sand from my boots
Took the praise and the medal, all the salutes.
But a shadow moves over the shire
I'm freed just by cutting the wire
Its my homecoming, last days of the tour.

And there's no sand in the valley still
And there's no sand in the valley still
Just a little boy standing alone
And his voice on a satellite phone
"take your time daddy
But it's time to come home"


Homecoming

Westward sunrise

Written on a train heading back from the west country when I'd rather be hanging back to it.
Looking out the window is a good way to pass the time.
Westward sunrise by dombailed


Facing backwards on the train
Gives me headaches, all the same
At least I'll see the sunrise
At least I'll see the sunrise
See your face among the clouds
Like a friend lost in a crowd
I'm blinded by the sunrise
blinded by the sunrise

Chorus:
And I'm westward ho
Snaking back across forgotten moors
Just a one man show
I'll be left bereft, becalmed, unburdened in the arms of, well, who knows?

Kite gets hounded by the crowds
A taw cross twisted by the blows
Bloodied in the sunrise
Bloodied in the sunrise
Swifts go screaming down the lanes
Silent shadows through the pane
Like kisses in the sunrise
Like kisses in the sunrise

left my book upon the floor
Of your bedroom as you swore
We'd never see the sunrise
We'd never see the sunrise, again
So I don't know how the story ends
Happy endings just depend
On how you see the sunrise
On how you see the sunrise

Sleepy river - sew up my mouth

Think I must have written this after watching some sandals and swords epic.

Sleepy river by dombailed


Sleepy river

Bathe my skin girl
Dress me up in White
Theres no shadows that I fear
Stop my watch
I've no need for time
I'll wake when my lips taste your tears

Lull me to sleep, sleepy river
Lull me to sleep my dear
Lull me to sleepy river
whisper your dreams in my
ears.


Sew up my mouth,
place a penny on each eye
I could sleep for a thousand years
Push off my boat,
heed the ferryman's lies, and
I'll wake when my lips taste your tears

Lull me to sleep, sleepy river
Lull me to sleep my dear
Lull me to sleepy river
whisper your dreams in my
ears.

Running with your eyes closed

Cedit for the key line in this goes to my four year old son. He said he'd fallen over in the playground at school. I asked him how and said "we were running with our eyes closed". Try it, it's fun. But try in on a big beach with no one around - it's safer than a crowded playground.
Try running with your eyes closed by dombailed


Try running with your eyes closed
Just as far as you dare
Who'll you run into god knows
But why should you care?

Caped crusaders at cross roads
Taking a stand 
I've seen the roadside matador
Jacket in hand
Says I've fought bulls before
In a suit of lights
Now the horns just call for
The end of my fight

I've seen the whites of
The fortune tellers eyes
Cloud and search for
More half truths and lies
Says I can't work for
These trinkets and rings
With what's in store, you're 
Better off without those things

A blind sculptor whose hands carve
His pieces in stone
only face he carves though
Is that of his own 
Says I can feel that
There's light in his eyes
One thing's for sure though 
A statue never cries

Try running with your eyes closed
With the heart of a child
Try running with your eyes closed
With your arms going wild
You'll soon see that 
Nobody cares
Try running with your eyes closed
Just look out, look out for the stairs

Try running with your eyes closed
Just as far as you dare 
Had a friend called Flatnose
Cos he didn't care

Just blink and wipe my eye

Just blink and wipe my eye by dombailed

I've been walking through these hills for far too long
Tired of talking
tired of waiting on my song
And I don't know where
and I don't know why
Just blink and wipe my eye

Boots keep walking
Feel the souls beneath my feet
Rubbersole man
Making light of who I meet
And I'm not scared
And I'm not high
Just blink and wipe my eye

Girl keep watching
Oxeye daisy kind of stare
hand hopscotching
Combing flowers from here hair
And I won't smile
And I wont cry

On till morning
through these hills I'll wander on
Wander, gazing
Wonder what the hell went wrong
And I don't know where
And I don't know why
Just blink and wipe my eye

http://soundcloud.com/dombailed/just-blink-and-wipe-my-eye