Posts

Deep, Still – inspiration

/0 Comments/in /by

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.

Back to The Ground – inspiration

/0 Comments/in /by

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!

Boy – inspiration

/0 Comments/in /by

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.

Sleeper on the Night Train – inspiration

/0 Comments/in /by

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 – lyrics

/1 Comment/in /by

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 – lyrics

/0 Comments/in /by

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 – lyrics

/0 Comments/in /by

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 – lyrics

/0 Comments/in /by

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

 

Disappointed – lyrics

/0 Comments/in /by

Disappointed

I’ve had a person do me wrong before
I’ve had to learn how to be strong before
But you gave me the greatest gift and then you stole it back
I’ve had a friend who broke my heart before
I’ve had to make a brand new start before
But you broke all my hopes and dreams, I’ll tell you, that’s a fact
And the worst part is not the pain in which I drown
But the worst part is the way you let me down, ‘cause

It hurt me when you hurt me
And I cried when you lied
But my heart and soul, they are disjointed
Because you disappointed me
Oh, how could you desert me?
Can’t move on though I’ve tried
Well my heart and soul, they are disjointed
Because you disappointed me

I know you never meant to do me harm
I know you never meant to cause alarm
But you scared me out of my wits and that has left a scar
And I don’t know if I can trust again,
Forgive and say that we can just be friends
‘cause you have changed and I can’t recognise you as you are

And the worst part is not the pain in which I drown
But the worst part is the way you let me down, ‘cause

It hurt me when you hurt me
And I cried when you lied
But my heart and soul, they are disjointed
Because you disappointed me
Oh, how could you desert me?
Can’t move on though I’ve tried
Well my heart and soul, they are disjointed
Because you disappointed me

How could you break the lamp that holds the light?
How could you speak of day but walk by night?
How could you let the tightrope slip?
You’re falling, lost your grip
I’m falling, I have tripped
You’re falling, lost your grip
I’m falling…

It hurt me when you hurt me
And I cried when you lied
But my heart and soul, they are disjointed
Because you disappointed me
Oh, how could you desert me?
Can’t move on though I’ve tried
Well my heart and soul, they are disjointed
Because you disappointed me

 

Hurting You Too – lyrics

/0 Comments/in /by

Hurting You Too

I know that you know it’s certain
I know that you know it’s true
I know that you know that they know, they say so
See, we know that you know it’s true

You’d like to run, hide, it’s certain
You’d like to hide from the truth
I know what you’d like, and they know that you’d hide
It looks like you’d best find the truth

It’s hurting me, why can’t you see
It’s hurting you too?
It’s burning me, why can’t you see
It’s burning you too?
It’s hurting me, why can’t you see
It’s hurting you too?
It’s burning me, why can’t you see
It’s bearing down on you?

They say that you know it’s hurting
And you say that they have the proof
They say that you know that they say that you know
So I say let’s cut the charade we’ve made

It’s hurting me, why can’t you see
It’s hurting you too?
It’s burning me, why can’t you see
It’s burning you too?
It’s hurting me, why can’t you see
It’s hurting you too?
It’s burning me, why can’t you see
It’s bearing down on you?

(guitar solo)

I know that you know it’s certain
I know that you know it’s true

It’s hurting me, why can’t you see
It’s hurting you too?
It’s burning me, why can’t you see
It’s burning you too?
It’s hurting me, why can’t you see
It’s hurting you too?
It’s burning me, why can’t you see
It’s bearing down on you?