The lyrics for “Disappointed” are here.
When someone who calls himself your enemy inflicts pain upon you, it hurts for a little while but then you can move on. But when someone who is dear to you inflicts pain upon you, it hurts deeper and can last a lifetime. This song is about a time when I was sorely let down by someone I loved dearly and held in the highest esteem.
The lyrics of “Hurting You Too” are here.
This is my political song… I address it to the leaders of the world, who too often think of their own personal gain before the benefit of the people they serve. The world of humanity is like a human body – when you hurt one part of the body, you may not realise it, but the whole body is affected. When you hurt others, you are in fact hurting yourself too.
The lyrics of “Deep, Still” are here.
For a long time I wanted to write a love song for my husband, Kia, who has been my rock and support for the years that we’ve been together. But the task seemed impossible… all the love songs that I’ve heard and known are about the excitement of the first meeting, the throws of physical attraction, or just plain superficial puppy stuff.
At the same time, on a completely seperate tangent, I was toying with the idea of writing a song in the time signature of 5/4. Could I possibly write a pop song in an odd meter? This idea sat with me for months.
Then, late one night, on a long reflective drive home by myself, the concept came to me. I don’t know in what order in occurred – it seemed to happen all at once: the melody, the lyrics, the groove, the chords all swam into focus in my mind at once. So when I arrived home I raced to the keyboard, grabbing my song book and pen and probably knocking over something on the way… it’s a song about long-term, stable love; the kind that goes through the tests of life and stands strong like rock.
So here you have it. My love song, in 5/4. I dedicate this song to my husband Kia; thank you for the amazing love that you show me.
The lyrics for “Back to The Ground” are here.
I wrote this song while in London, in collaboration with Grammy-winning producer James Bryan and song writer Nick Whitecross, who was a member of British 80’s dance/ synth band Kissing the Pink. We initially intended to write a house track, but in the end we felt that the melody works better with a more medium-tempo groove.
This song is the story of my life, and could be yours too – living the busy-busy-busy 21st century lifestyle, and wishing that you could somehow untangle yourself and have a little break!
The lyrics for “Boy” are here.
I wrote this song while on tour in the north of WA. I was thinking a lot of my younger brother back home (then aged 14), and all the hopes I have for him as he grows up. The band was also listening to a lot of Michael Jackson on the long drive, and discussing how awesome the bass-lines in his songs are (hence the featured bass-line in this song). This is my big sister song, dedicated to Justin.
The lyrics for “Sleeper on The Night Train” are here.
I first penned some of these lyrics years ago, but discarded them as I couldn’t come up with any sound musical ideas. Much later, I came up with a guitar riff and bass groove that formed the basis of this song, and re-worked these lyrics from long ago.
When things are tough, it’s very easy to blame fortune for your bad day. One of Aesop’s Fables that I read as a child told the story of Dame Fortune appearing to a young boy who had fallen asleep while lying on the edge of a water well. She begged him to wake up, saying that he would surely fall into the well, and that when he did, the people would lay the blame on her.
This is a song about taking charge of your own destiny. I believe that life gives us a set of tools to use, and that it is up to us to wield them to create our own reality. We are not prisoners of fate.
In Time
Saw the evening sky was crying
a star fell to the sea
and I saw the splendour dying:
a single teardrop shed for You and me
And though I can’t see You, it’s alright
’cause I know I’ll feel You in time
Felt the fire burn my will down
till my heart beat no more
I was tortured till I was found:
A candle humbled low upon the floor
And though I can’t see You, it’s alright
’cause I know I’ll feel You in time
In time, in time…
And though I can’t see You, it’s alright
’cause I know I’ll feel You in time
In time I’ll see
that this madness is Your mercy
Strawberry
Strawberry, I am not afraid of what they say
Strawberry, these are just the stupid games they play
Strawberry, you’re what makes me so unique you see
Strawberry, I’m alright whenever you’re with me
They think that the same rules apply to everyone
I don’t agree with how the damage has been done
They think that all should fall into conformity
But I still have a sliver of integrity
Strawberry, I am not afraid of what they say
Strawberry, these are just the stupid games they play
Strawberry, you’re what makes me so unique you see
Strawberry, I’m alright whenever you’re with me
Imagine how the world would be if it were so
That everybody acted like each others’ clones
They put me down, sometimes they even make me cry
But I’ll stamp my mark on life until the day I die
Strawberry, I am not afraid of what they say
Strawberry, these are just the stupid games they play
Strawberry, you’re what makes me so unique you see
Strawberry, I’m alright whenever you’re with me
It’s plain to see
Both you and me
Are much better off trying to be who we were meant to be
(scat solo)
It’s plain to see
Both you and me
Are much better off trying to be who we were meant to be
Strawberry, I am not afraid of what they say
Strawberry, these are just the stupid games they play
Strawberry, you’re what makes me so unique you see
Strawberry, I’m alright whenever you’re with me
Parents and Children
What do I do when I see you do the things that you told me not to do?
What do I do when I see you do the things you told me not to?
What do I do when I see you do the things that you told me not to do?
What do I do when I see you do the things you told me not to?
Do I see you through different eyes?
For before I trusted you, relied on you, modelled myself after you
Was I foolish to think you wise?
Now, somehow you trust in me, rely on me, but there’s no model I can see
What to do now? I’m here against my will when
Parents become children
What to do now? It’s a whole new skill when
Parents become children
Was I foolish to think you wise?
Now, somehow you’re playing games, calling names and quick to assign the blame
Do I see you through different eyes?
For before I stayed here, just oblivious, but now I have to adjust
What to do now? I’m here against my will when
Parents become children
What to do now? It’s a whole new skill when
Parents become children
What do I do when I see you do the things that you told me not to do?
What do I do when I see you do the things you told me not to?
What do I do when I see you do the things that you told me not to do?
What do I do when I see you do the things you told me not to?
(guitar solo)
What to do now? I’m here against my will when
Parents become children
What to do now? It’s a whole new skill when
Parents become children
What do I do when I see you do the things that you told me not to do?
What do I do when I see you do the things you told me not to?
What do I do when I see you do the things that you told me not to do?
What do I do when I see you do the things you told me not to?
(drum solo)
Yin
It is hard to rise when you are looked down upon,
When you are frowned upon
Oh, where’s my rightful crown?
It is hard to rise when you want to prove yourself
Why do I need to fight
To earn my rightful crown?
I am yin, I’m your kin
We are each a wing of the bird of life
We can fly together, or die and never know why
I am yin, I’m your kin
We are each a wing of the bird of life
We can fly together, we could fly forever if we fly together
How can I give when my gifts are minimised,
Marginalised?
I offer you my crown
How can I give when my gifts are turned away,
When they are spurned away?
I offer you my crown
I am yin, I’m your kin
We are each a wing of the bird of life
We can fly together, or die and never know why
I am yin, I’m your kin
We are each a wing of the bird of life
We can fly together, we could fly forever if we fly together
(keys solo)
You are our fathers, brothers, husbands; we need you
We are your mothers, sisters, wives; you need us too
This is the balance for in spirit we are the same as you
But a one-winged bird will never fly, this much is true
I am yin, I’m your kin
We are each a wing of the bird of life
We can fly together, or die and never know why
I am yin, I’m your kin
We are each a wing of the bird of life
We can fly together, we could fly forever if we fly together