Month: July 2019

Pick My Pocket (rough demo)

From a time when I was playing mostly blues, and even my own songs were mostly in that idiom. First time I’ve played it in decades, and a different arrangement, so a bit rough, but gives the general idea.

Backup:

Got no fare / For a boat or plane
I got shoes to walk / But I’m here just the same
Buddy, you can pick my pocket / Got no greens to lose
Just a handful of empty / And a head full of blues

I keep looking for a highway / I can make it down alone
With every hobo, sewer rat / And rolling stone
Buddy, you can pick my pocket / Got no greens to lose
Just a handful of empty / And a head full of blues

I’ve got a new way of spelling / Ecstasy
E is for Exit / And the rest is blowing free
Buddy, you can pick my pocket / Got no greens to lose
Just a handful of empty / And a head full of blues
Just a hat full of empty  / And a guitar full of blues

(c) David Harley 1972

Before I Fall (later demo)

A slightly more confident version of the tune…

Remastered:

Backup copy:

Before I fall (Harley) 

Words & music (c) David Harley

I know I can be clumsy / I’m hamfisted as they come
I’m blessed with two left feet / And my fingers are all thumbs
But I can tie my own bootlaces / I can use a knife and fork
I get there in my own time / And if I can’t run I’ll walk

I don’t need a nanny or a minder and if I can’t cope, I’ll call
But please don’t pick me up (x3) before I fall

I know I tend to stammer / And my tongue gets tied in knots
I get confused and nervous / Tripping over my own thoughts
But I’ll make up my own mind / If I’m wrong I’ll take the blame
And I can finish my own sentences / Thank you all the same

I don’t need an interpreter and if I ever do, I’ll call
Only please don’t pick me up (x3) Before I fall

I’m defensive and I’m obstinate / When things I say and do
Turn out upside down and in reverse / I may get mad at you
As well as me, but I’m sorry / And I hope you understand
I appreciate your putting up / With me the way I am

I’m trying to do better, for you, most of all
Only please don’t pick me up (x3) before I fall

 

Animal Charities Fundraiser CD

Dave Hughes tells me that he is trying to secure some advance orders to offset production costs for a CD ‘Quantum Entanglement’ he has compiled as a fundraiser for two animal charities:

The two-disc CD is expected to contain 32 tracks, and artists whose tracks have been contributed include Julie Felix, Fairport Convention, Dr. Strangely Strange, Mike Absalom, Keith Christmas, Daevid Allen, and Gryphon.

The early cost is £5 plus p&p. When the CD is released in October, the cost will be £8 plus p&p.

Please contact davehughesmp@gmail.com for more details.

Crossing the Bar [demo]

Backup:

A work in progress. A well-known poem of 1889 by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. A ‘moaning’ noise is characteristic of a harbour sandbar when the tide is  low and the water may too turbulent for a boat to put out to sea across it in safety. Kingsley’s ‘Three Fishers’ – set to music by John Hullah as recorded by Joan Baez and many others –  uses the image of the moaning of the harbour shoal to represent danger.  Tennyson’s poem uses it as the starting point for describing the final passing from life into death. It’s reported that before his death three years later he asked his son Hallam to have the poem placed at the end of all future editions of his verse.

Since then, the poem has been a popular choice for funerals, whether as a reading or in a musical setting such as the one by Sir Hubert Parry, the choral setting by Ian Assersohn, or the very popular folkier tune by Rani Arbo. In fact, I read it at my own mother’s funeral in 2018, but always felt that I wanted to set it to music myself for an ongoing project. This is the second draft of my setting, and it’s sounding nearer to what I wanted.

Sunset and evening star,
      And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
      When I put out to sea,
   But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
      Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
      Turns again home.
   Twilight and evening bell,
      And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
      When I embark;
   For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
      The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
      When I have crost the bar.
David Harley

Before I fall [early demo]

I promised myself that when I retired I’d start doing something with some of the uncompleted songs I have lying around here. The words for this have been around forever, but I think its time has come.

Making up the tune as I go along, but well on the way.

Before I fall (Harley) Copyright 1982

I know I can be clumsy / I’m hamfisted as they come
I’m blessed with two left feet / And my fingers are all thumbs
But I can tie my own bootlaces / I can use a knife and fork
I get there in my own time / And if I can’t run I’ll walk

I don’t need a nanny or a minder and if I can’t cope, I’ll call
But please don’t pick me up (x3) before I fall

I know I tend to stammer / And my tongue gets tied in knots
I get confused and nervous / Tripping over my own thoughts
But I’ll make up my own mind / If I’m wrong I’ll take the blame
And I can finish my own sentences / Thank you all the same

I don’t need an interpreter and if I ever do, I’ll call
Only please don’t pick me up (x3) Before I fall

I’m defensive and I’m obstinate / When things I say and do
Turn out upside down and in reverse / I may get mad with you
As well as me, but I’m sorry / And I hope you understand
I appreciate your putting up / With me the way I am

I’m trying to do better, for you, most of all
Only please don’t pick me up (x3) before I fall

David Harley