New album and single

Pleased to announce that I have a new album ‘Rockdown’ now available from all the usual streaming services and also a single from the album – ‘Isolation’

Bit of a departure from my usual blues based music in that this album is heavy rock and only heavy rock. I hope you enjoy it. As you might guess from the titles, it’s kept me busy while I wasn’t allowed out of the house.

Give it a listen on Spotify or Deezer or one of the many free streaming services if you don’t already have a subscription to any of them. After all, you can always delete it of you don’t like it 😉

Take the Money and Run

Last track off the Handyman album. All done now and soon will be moving on to the next one.

This is about work. I used to love it so much that I couldn’t get enough of it. I think you can tell that from the lyrics.

Retirement was the best thing I ever did and I’ve never regretted it. Gives me time to write and record and do all the other things I like doing instead of climbing the greasy corporate pole. Anyway, I was never very good at office politics.

I wake up in the morning
Drag myself out of bed
Drink a cup of coffee and head for the train
Looking forward to the day ahead
Hey man it’s a beautiful day
But remember what they say
Somebody gonna spoil it
Cos they only want it done their way

Take the money and run
Don’t kid yourself you’re having fun
Ignore that crap that they’re dishing out
Take the money and run

Ain’t no use in arguing
It does no good
No-one is listening
Ain’t no reason they should
Going through the motions
Not giving a damn
Looking forward to home time
Remembering what they say

They say take the money and run
Don’t kid yourself you’re having fun
You’re no worse off than anyone else
So take the money and run

Everybody knows better than you
Everybody wants their own way
Keep your head down and zip your mouth
Don’t let them wreck your day!

I get home in the evening
Pour a good stiff drink
Watching the TV
And trying – not to think
Do it all again tomorrow
Earn my packet of pay
Remembering the golden rule
That gets you through the day

No such thing as a good job
Working for the boss ain’t fun
They’re gonna chew up everyone
So take the money and run
Take the money and run
Take the money and run
Don’t beat your head against a wall, man
Just take the money and run

Brexit Blues

I don’t know if something like this has been done by somebody else, but it seems to me that if Brexit is such a fuck up then it’s an ideal subject for a blues song. After all, it’s a pretty damn depressing situation.

Anyhow, as anyone who’s followed me for a while will know, I’ve always had a thing about writing songs around current affairs, politics, social issues and the like, so here goes nothing.

Crank up the volume and enjoy.

You can’t believe a politician
Can’t believe a word they say
They say they know what’s best for you
That’s how they get their pay
You don’t know who they work for
And they do just what they like
They are your lords and masters
And they tell you what to do
You know they want to frighten you
You know that’s what they do
To scare you into giving up
Although it isn’t true
They roll out project fear
They do it every year
It’s worked in other places
So it really should work here

They asked me what I wanted
They let me have my say
But they really couldn’t care less
Gonna do it anyway
I told you once I told you no
I got the answer wrong
It’s not the one they wanted
And it’s totally insane
Safer stronger better off
We know what’s best for you
It turned out weak and wobbly
And here’s what we’re gonna do
Safer stronger better off
It’s all a guess at best
Safer stronger better off
To hell with all the rest

There’s a right way and a wrong way
And mine’s the one that’s wrong
They are our lords and masters
And they sing the same old song
They bullied me and lied to me
So you could get their way
It was totally irrelevant
What I had got to say
Safer stronger better off
Nobody really knows
Strong and stable, weak and wobbly
Gets right up your nose
Yes we’re leaving, no we’re not
It’s all a pack of lies
Safer stronger better off
They’re telling porky pies
And if we tell them no
Then they’ll ignore the things we’ve said
And if we say we’ll go along
Then it’s full speed ahead
Never mind democracy
To hell with all of you

Learning to Fly

Been working on a new album and about half way there at the moment.

In the meantime here’s another rock track off “Handyman”

Don’t put me in a pigeonhole
Or hang a tag on me
Cos what you see
Is what you get with me
I’m not gonna be diverted
Not gonna be coerced
I’ve spread my wings
And now I’m gonna fly

You’ll never learn to fly
If you never try
Its better to fall down than not get up
Failure is another way
To find out how things work
I’d rather be a has been
Than be a never was

You criticize my dress sense
You say I don’t look hip
But I don’t care cos I’m relaxed with it
The car I drive is getting on
It feels a bit like me
I wonder if I’ll pass my MOT

If you don’t like my music
There’s nothing I can do
So look for something else more in tune with you
I play out what I’m feeling
Sometimes it’s out of tune
Sometimes I really wonder what I’m doing

Even if I fail at least know I tried
Don’t clip my wings or tie me down
Don’t tell me what to do
Don’t let me be a bird that never flew

We’re Through

Been quiet for a while so here’s a bit of bluesy rock to liven things up a bit.

You know that when I met you girl
You were such a sweet young thing
I saved up all my money
So I could buy you a diamond ring
Well you put it on your finger
And put another through my nose
You been leading me around like a goddamn fool
And I ain’t gonna take no more
This time it’s really over
You and I are through

It seems to me that you think it’s funny
That you can mess me about
Every day it’s those little things
Those nagging little doubts
Well I’ve had enough
Of your fooling round
And getting things your way
It’s been like this
For much too long
It’s time to call it a day

You’re messing around with every man in town
And I never know where you are
So I followed you last Tuesday
To a sleazy little run down bar
You were kinda friendly with a guy called Eddie
Then you went back to his place
And when I asked you
Where you been girl?
You know you lied right to my face
So I got news for you
Get it through your head

You been messed around for far too long
And you know I’ve had enough
It’s plain to see that things are wrong
And the going’s getting tough
This time it’s really over
You and I are through

It seems to me that you think it’s funny
That you can mess me ‘round
You’re fooling around with every man in town
I never know where you are
You been leading me around like a goddamn fool
And I ain’t gonna take no more
Get it through your head girl
You and I are through

Rock ‘n’ Roll Man

It’s Christmas so I thought I’d netter break away from the doom and gloom and give you all something upbeat!

This is where I came from really and where I still pretty much am today. I started in a band at school as a lot of us did. We had a lot of fun but we never made a lot of money but in those days money was seen as ‘selling out’ the music.

I love upbeat blues based rock which is why I enjoyed recording this song. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and may your God go with you. Like Christmas, it ain’t about the money.

I cut my teeth in a high school band
Copying the riffs of that ol’ Slow Hand
We sounded pretty bad so said everyone
Never made money but we had some fun
Had a beat up old guitar and a ten watt amp
With dreams of owning a six foot stack
And a Les Paul Custom or a Fender Strat
I had a cheap ol’ copy and made do with that

I know what I am – I’m a rock ‘n’ roll man
I been a big fan since the day it began
I know what I am – I’m a rock ‘n’ roll man
Ain’t no mistaking this rock ‘n’ roll man

Don’t give me reggae I’m sure that it’s fine
And don’t give me ballads in 3 4 time
Give me the rhythm and give me them blues
Ain’t nothing else that’s gonna do
Take me back to those days in the clubs
And the run down rooms over run down pubs
Piled in with the gear in the back of the van
It was all worth it to this rock ’n’ man

Give a guitar and give me those drums
Give me a beat that moves my feet
You can tell me I’m wrong – I give a damn
‘cos I know what I am – I’m a rock ‘n’ roll man

Give me a beat that drives along
And I’ll give you a smile as you play that song
It’s the rhythm of life that you just can’t beat
It makes me what I am – I’m a rock ‘n’ roll man

I know what I am
I’m a rock ‘n’ roll man

Bad News Girl

I’ve been quiet for a while while I’ve been working on the next album. Here’s a taster of what’s to come – a song inspired by the behaviour of my ex wife.

I’m not bitter and twisted about it as it was a long time ago, but they do say that the best stuff comes when you write about stuff that’s been significant in your life. If you listen to the words, then you’ll know what I mean.

I played this recently to a guy I met on a cruise that I’ve got to know quite well. His comment was “Christ, mate! You’ve just written the story of my life!”

I used to think that I knew her quite well
Only goes to show you never can tell
She had her very own version of hell
On tap
Met her at a party she was all on her own
Never asked why but I guess I should have known
She looked real scary so I should have known better
Oh well!

Soon found out that she was one of a kind
Never ever knew what was going through her mind
She’s not all there – you’ll never guess what’s coming
Next
She’s been screwing around with the guy next door
Fooling around – and acting like a whore
You get to the point you can’t take any more
No way!

The girl is mental – She’s a bad news story
I got stuck with her then now I’m glad she’s gone
I wish I’d never met her but it’s too late for that
Too bad!
It’s like a real bad dream – but you never wake up
A loaded gun that’s being pointed your way
She’ll never listen to a single thing
You say

She stole my cash and she drank my booze
I know should’ve dumped her while I’d nothing to lose
Or maybe I should just have palmed her off on you

Way of the World

This is the final track of the ‘Shooting for Pork’ album and I find it’s always good to leave on a healthy note of cynicism about the state of the world, society, all that stuff – so why break the habit of a lifetime?

Suppose I’d better start thinking about the next album…..?

I guess it’s kinda funny when you got all the money
And I Guess it ain’t so funny when you ain’t
Sitting in my penthouse looking at the slums
Waiting ‘til they’re cleared away
It’s spoiling my view -I don’t care about you
You’re getting in my way
I’m brushing you aside like a buzzing little fly
You know you’ve had your day

Watching all the big guys stomping on the little guys
Watching how the money goes round
Seeing all the rich guys buying out the little guys
Ain’t that the way of the world

So you reckon that I really don’t care?
You kinda nailed it there
You live in a slum and you’re – eating muck
In this life you make own luck
Sticking your hand out – begging in the street
I’m gonna walk on by
I did OK and I had my say
While no-body was listening to you

And if you wonder how it ended up like this
Well, you’ve only got yourself to blame

You let it all happen – you didn’t give a damn
No use to kick up a fuss
I get the money while you the blame
And it’s always gonna be the same
Moaning on Twitter, creating a storm
It’s just a waste of your time
It’s the way of the world, it’s how it is
You’re never gonna make it change

Start yourself a hash tag – see how you go
It’s just the way of the world

Single

Remember those good old days before the ol’ ball and chain? Great weren’t they? Out every night drinking, clubbing, havin’ a larf with yer mates?

Then they all got married, had kids, settled down, left you on your own. Then they got divorced and you could do it all again. Ain;t life great?

I never thought twice about the way that I dressed
Til a woman looked me up and down and said I looked a mess
My hair was all wrong, too short or too long
And the women that I liked never seemed to last long
I thought it would be great
Drinking beer with my mates
Rolling in pissed and sleeping in late
But life is never simple and it’s not like that
Being single ain’t that great

I like 60s music but they say I’m outta touch
And the women that I meet don’t really seem to like it much
I drive an old Volvo – it’s a really good car
But the girls don’t seem to like it so I never get far
So I bought a new motor to bring me up to date
But it didn’t really help me in my search for a mate
I styled my hair and bought some new clothes
And it cost me a packet for a reshaped nose

I bought myself the latest phone
It came complete with a great ring tone
I’m on social media so I’m never alone
And I’m out and about even when I’m at home

There’s wedges in my shoes to try and make me look taller
But you just can’t win ‘cos the women feel smaller
I drink sexy cocktails ‘cos it makes me look smart
But it sorta backfired when it made me fart
I tried sophistication by taking up vaping
And I tried being cool with the moves that I was making
So the me that was me wasn’t me any more
And I look really stupid when I’m on the dance floor

I thought it would be fun when I’m living on my own
The women would be queuing up and wanna take me home
Instead I’m watching TV ‘till it’s really really late
Let’s face it, being single ain’t that great

Black Jack

Say no more!

Old Jack Daniels is a good friend of mine
He makes me feel happy and he makes me feel fine
I forget all my troubles and I lose track of time
It’s much more effective than beer or wine

Gimme a beer, gimme a scotch
Hit me with tequila or hit me with gin
Another large vodka and then I’ll be done
Same thing tomorrow – ain’t we having some fun?

The doc says my liver’s a little enlarged
He tells me I’ll die if I keep drinking hard
He tells me stop smoking and give up the booze
But when you get to my age you’ve got nothing to lose

I drink in the morning and I ‘m drinking at night
I drink any time that I bloody well like
I’m not really fussy what I pour down my neck
And when I stop drinking it makes me feel sick

So don’t waste your money – take a tip from me
Go straight for the hard stuff and then you will see
Pour me a measure and make sure it’s big
And don’t you dare tell me I’m a drunken old pig

And when I lay dying drunk on the floor
That’s usually the time I don’t drink any more
I wake in the morning head ringing in pain
Then I reach for the bottle and I do it again