1. |
Passion Fruit
03:51
|
|||
|
Passion Fruit
The game is up - the allegations are true
You’ve found out at last that I’m not the one for you
And I should sit and gnaw out my heart
As the old friends say I should have known right from the start
But that’s the way it goes, we’re not forever any more
And the old friends say they like us better that way for sure
That’s the way it is, we’re not together any more
And we shrugged our shoulders as we kissed goodbye at your door
We burst into song as we threw in the towel
I skipped down the road, at least that’s how
I like to remember it now
Soft fruits are turning rotten, your passion plays are long forgotten
Don’t feel like I ever knew you at all
Joint friends are all divided, home truths have long subsided
Don’t feel like I ever knew you at all
We’ve reached the pips and thrown away the core
New seeds have taken root, you’re my passion fruit no more
But that’s the way it goes, we’re only pebbles on a shore
Old friends come and go like the clouds, the snow, the thaw
I don’t feel, I don’t feel, I don’t feel like I ever knew you at all
|
||||
2. |
Bag Full of Charm
03:58
|
|||
|
Bag Full of Charm
I first saw her smile when she looked in my eyes
Her teeth were sharp and so were her lies
She’d poisoned her mind with spite
And that’s got to hurt
She promised that she’d follow wherever I went
I should have walked quickly, I hadn’t the sense
Her footsteps were dainty and so was her scent
And her thirst
Oh - she is west and I am east
But her beauty riles my beast
She is west and I am east
How her beauty riles my beast
A lover and a mother all rolled into one
She cooked the dinner while I had the fun
She loved like a daughter and cared like a nun
So she said
She twisted and she tainted all the words that I spoke
Repeating her woes to pitying folk
Who took her in hand and me by the throat
As I fled
(She’s west, I’m east)
Her beauty riles my beast
(She’s west, I’m east)
Her beauty riles my beast
A final indulgence she did herself harm
I closed her eyes and folded her arms
She calmly packed a bag full of charm
And went home
An occasional letter comes through the post
And floats to the floor like the purest of ghosts
And I still love you is her boast
And her curse
|
||||
3. |
The Cat's Got My Tongue
02:53
|
|||
|
The Cat’s Got My Tongue
The cat’s got my tongue, she’s had it all week
I’m all tooth and gum, so I cannot speak
The cat’s got my tongue but has nothing to say
She tries to meow but my tongue’s… in the way
The cat’s got my tongue and I am struck muted
As for the cat, well she just looks stupid
The cat’s got my tongue and is washing with care
She raised a hind leg, oh please… don’t wash there
I’m full up with words but they do not come
Thanks to my cat, I am struck dumb
Some think I’m suited to a life more muted
But it is no fun when the cat’s… got your tongue
The cat’s got my tongue and a dry tickled cough
‘Cos when she laps milk, it slides straight back off
The cat’s got my tongue, it’s quite an obtrusion
She laps as slow as Zola Budd… with her shoes on
The cat’s got my tongue, she won’t give it back
She was last seen heading out the cat flap
And I cannot call her, I can just hum
Oh it is no fun when the cat’s… got your tongue
|
||||
4. |
||||
|
The Night The Wheelie Bin Fell Over
You wanted to leave but had nowhere to go
You said to stop playing my tinny banjo
You wanted to talk but I wanted to sing
You wanted to cry, and I wanted to bring
A smile upon your face
That was the night - the wheelie bin fell over
The garden chairs tip-toed upon the lawn
And the rows of beer bottles clinked against their glassy selves
Calling out ‘please save us from our shelves’
You wanted to sleep, but it wasn’t with me
You took to the bed and left the settee
You wanted to sleep and it came quick
You pulled up the covers and quietly hid
The frown upon your face
And in the morning wherever I went
Earthquake discussion centred on Kent
It cleared our thoughts while we slept on
It buried my faults and then it was gone
And you woke with a smile on your face
And when we woke, the wheelie bin slept soundly
The garden chairs stood still upon the lawn
And the rows of beer bottles leant against their glassy selves
And kept their thought solemn to their shelves
|
||||
5. |
Should Have Known
02:46
|
|||
|
Should Have Known
We should’ve known it only takes a bit of time
We should've known it’s not the end of the line
We should've known that moments can capitulate
We should've known the only difference it makes
Is the time it takes to learn from our mistakes
We should've known we’re getting wiser every time
We should've known that everything will work out fine
We should've known that moaning won’t improve our fate
We should've known we’ll cope whatever trials await
In the time it takes to learn from our mistakes
Every time we’re feeling down
We can wallow in the gloom
Or remember happy days
Will follow one day soon
We should've known, we should've known, we should've known
That we can make the world a better place
|
||||
6. |
She's the Lady Who
02:38
|
|||
|
She’s The Lady Who
In the shadow of a village, past the pond and down the lane
Lives a lady who keeps something that you might find very strange
I’m spoiling the surprise if you haven’t met her yet
She’s the lady who keeps a wasps’ nest as a pet
It’s not for her protection or to try to get folks stung
So people keep their distance or to make the children run
She cannot stand to see a single creature’s neglect
She’s the lady who keeps a wasps’ nest as a pet
So be careful if you hug her and don’t ever try to mug her
You’ll get a sharp reminder if you ever forget that
She’s the lady who keeps a wasps’ nest as a pet
She’ll always help a blackbird if it has a broken wing
Or a rabbit, mouse, or squirrel, or a similar type of thing
Save a spider from a sink and fish a newt from a net
She’s the lady who keeps a wasps’ nest as a pet
She’s the only one riding when she takes it on the bus
She’d take it to the church but some goers make a fuss
And she clears the waiting room when she takes it to the vet
She’s the lady who keeps a wasps’ nest as a pet
|
||||
7. |
Awfully Sorry
04:23
|
|||
|
Awfully Sorry
Just airing out the dirty washing
Wiped spilt remorse from the floor
Busy clearing up your conscience
When you came knocking at my door
You helped put anger in the dustbin
Put last night’s shouting in the sink
Gathered your tears and wrung your hands out
Then helped me pour us both a drink
Oh Lord…
Conversation turned the tables
Our gritted teeth bit the dust
Self restraint fell from our arms then
And hid its face while it blushed
Now you go your way I’ll go mine, dear
We’ll keep moving straight ahead
And I swear it’s a trick of the light, dear
If you see me turn my head
Oh Lord…
|
||||
8. |
||||
|
Accidental Death of the NHS
From the year of 1948 when the lady came and took our fate
In her hands
And her public service was the envy of all the lands
From Africa and the Caribbean, came angels to care for our well-being
With love
But the devils at the desks spent their money on other stuff
Now she’s wallowing in sickness – fairly soon we’re going to witness
The accidental death of the NHS
Lock the doors, shut the wards, don’t want anyone to see her
Fail her final test, draw her final breath
Now close your eyes, we don’t want anyone to see her die
We don’t want anyone to see her die
Then we watched her suffer and we saw her toil and we spent our taxes on Stealing oil instead
Now there’s no medicine, no money, and no beds
Through bureaucracy and political acts, austerity and made-up facts
Came to pass
It’s a Commedia dell’arte, it’s a farce
Time of death won’t be recorded – as the doctor’s been deported
This is no accident (There’s no emergency)
On the desk there lies a claims form
There’s always someone who will gain from
The accidental death of the NHS
There’s no respite, there’s no reprieve
So turn the lights out as you leave
|
||||
9. |
Dave's Dad's Dog's Dead
04:12
|
|||
|
Dave’s Dad’s Dog’s Dead
Well this story is sad and I've usually had
Too many drinks when I tell it
'Bout a dog named Dylan, and Dave's dad, who's given
To shout and to scream and to yell it
Dave's dad was wishing we'd take him sea fishing
The sea it was still, calm, and blue
But Dylan he whined when he got left behind
So he boarded as part of the crew
Now Dave's dad's dog's dead, he was called Dylan
Dave's dad's dog's dead, but we didn't kill him
Dave's dad's dog's dead, he came with us fishing
Dave's dad's dog's dead, or at least he's still missing
Out on the sea, Dave's dad had gone green
His tummy and tide on the turn
But Dylan was pert, he was lithe and alert
As he raced from the port to the stern
As fishermen go, most of us know
That Dave's dad was quite a naive one
When from the boat we cast out our floats
Dylan jumped in to retrieve them
As he went in, Dave said 'He can't swim!’
And as the dog sank we believed him
As his hindquarters slid into the waters
His head disappeared from our view
Of the canine, there was no sign
Just an air bubble or two
We called nine, nine, nine, and the RNLI
His name we shouted and yelled it
But of the breed, all we had was his lead
And Dave's dad he solemnly held it
With Dylan no more, we set course to shore
The just this sad tale as I’ve telled it
|
||||
10. |
Frog in a Pot
02:37
|
|||
|
Frog In A Pot
From the time we were newly wed
We swore not to part ’til faced with death
Soon you’re on a par with Lady Macbeth
I’ve waited years to hear my last breath
In all that time you have loomed near
I proclaim myself doomed dear
While you read you books by Germaine Greer
I’m your homme-grenouille
I’m your frog in a pot that’s slowly getting hot
I’m too dim to recoil as you bring me to the boil
I’ll sit there blistering while you keep whispering
Your double, bubble, trouble and toil
You insist that it’s a long time since
You thought when we kissed I’d turn into a prince
I gave you a smile, but you didn’t give an inch
Just turned up the heat to see if I’d flinch
It’s not true never the twain - take Birnam Wood to Dunsinane
As you turn up your burners once again, I’m your homme-grenouille
All this time I’ve been stuck with your curse, I promised to suffer for better or worse
The only way to leave would be in a hearse, so in your water I’ll immerse
All those years are behind us, since you cast the spell that entwined us
Ghosts always there to remind us , I’m your homme-grenouille
|
||||
11. |
Poor Man's Levellers
05:51
|
|||
|
Poor Man’s Levellers
When you’re lying on the slate to justify the hate - Who’s going to listen now?
They’ve tied up your tracks and papered up the cracks - Who’s going to listen now?
You’ve martyred your mind, and left the world behind - Take it back, take it back
The politics of spite keep you up all night - Take it back, take it back
And you’re sitting on the floor with a bunch of drunken revellers
Playing protest songs like a poor man’s Levellers
All the while you snap, ‘We’re gonna take it back, wait and see…’
Or you’re singing in your bed with nowhere to be going
Songs of love and hate, like a poor man’s Leonard Cohen
You think that you’ll attract, the one to take you back, wait and see…
When you’ve played your little riff, and think you’ve got the gift -
Everyone will listen now
You’ve laid some overdubs, and played it in the clubs -
Everyone will listen now
You’ve copied and you’ve cloned, but still you’re on your own -
Take it back, take it back
You’re mind is full of greed, but that’s not all you need -
Take it back, take it back
And you’re playing in a band with a bunch of drunken stragglers
Gripping your guitar like a poor man’s Rory Gallagher
The fame that you seek, talent without technique, wait and see…
Or you’re dreaming of the headline of a gig up at The Bowl
Playing your piano like a poor man’s Billy Joel
But your bowl’s a beggar’s cup, and no-one’s turning up, wait and see…
|
||||
12. |
The Half-Shut Pub
04:44
|
|||
|
The Half-Shut Pub
Every Sunday, ten-forty, the time bell is rung
Those not established are quickly moved on
The door is bolted, the curtains are pulled
But none of the locals are that easy fooled
The Landlord is left with the usual crowd
We delve in our pockets for round after round
’Til one of us buckles, his head in a spin
Lets himself out and lets the Old Bill in
The Inn was -
Half-full in the policeman’s eyes
Half-empty, the landlord surmised
The time was half twelve and we were half-cut
The pub, though not open, was only half shut
“‘Ello, ‘ello, what’s going on ‘ere?
I see lots of folks drinking whisky and beer
The licensing laws, they clearly state
That none of you oiks should be drinking this late
“Now I’m growing tired of playing these games
I’ll open me notebook and take all your names
Your first names’ all Mickey, your surnames’ all Mouse?
I think we should shut down this public house”
“Oh Copper, oh Copper, I sees you’re irate
But what you suppose is clear a mistake
The till it is closed and no money I takes
It’s a private party and these are my mates”
On hearing these words, Old Joe pricked up his ears
His legs all unsteady from all of the beers
He’s up from his stool and with unknown stealth
Leaps over the bar and starts helping himself
“Oh Landlord, I think that you’re blowing me smoke
The till it is clearly brimming with notes
Now down with your beer and on with your coats
Or it’s down to the Station for all of you scrotes"
Within a minute we all made to leave
The Landlord quite nervously earned a reprieve
Our pockets are empty, our beer’s down the drain
But we’ll come back next week and get locked in again
Now youngsters today can keep drinking ’til three
But discos and nightclubs are no place for me
These poor youngsters, one thing they lack
Is the joy of a lock-in, so let’s bring it back
|
||||
Swamp Duck Canterbury, UK
Swamp Duck are based between Canterbury & Folkestone, hidden away in the enigmatic East-Kent countryside. The band have many
connections with community work, including education; arts; health & social care; wildlife, environment, & habitat management. Our eclectic songs span a wide range of topics, including the ghosts of Pluckley & the charms of Challock church.
www.swampduckmusic.co.uk
... more
If you like Swamp Duck, you may also like:
The King's Blues Box
by B.B. King
Cleopatra Blues recently unleashed a barrage of reissued essentials from Bo Diddley, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells, etc.
go to album
Live at The Triple Door
by James Apollo
Imposing, echo-drenched, and soulful, James Apollo’s “accidental live record” captures the singer at the peak of his powers.
go to album
The Canadian singer marries the sound of classic folk and jazz with a modern-day spin.
go to album
An intimate collection of previously-unreleased recordings from the Texan singer-songwriter: first drafts, alternate takes, covers and more.
go to album
Soul Provider
by Elizabeth King
New on Bible & Tire: The searing new Gospel record from Elizabeth King, the Queen of Sacred Soul.
go to album
The second album by French-Moroccan power quartet Bab L' Bluz is packed with dizzying melodies and rich instrumentation.
go to album
This collection of work is the final album from the late Memphis gospel singer.
go to album
