Living A Simple Green Life

Wonderful blog by my friend Andy (The Dafthermit) Lowe outlining how to live a simple frugal green life in the Scottish mountains.
He tells the story of his journey to escape the grid and the ratrace.

Living A Simple Green Life

A Song A Day #5 - The Sailor & The Storm

Is this the sum of my life
Said the sailor in the storm
Is this the harbour I've been searching for
With riches beyond my wildest dreams

The Sailor & The Storm taken from the album Pushing The Envelope (2000)




THE SAILOR AND THE STORM

AS THE DAY FADES WITH THE RISING SWELL
I SEE THE LIGHTS OF A DISTANT LAND
ALL THOSE LIVES WINDING ON THEIR WAY
LIKE THE TIDES THAT CIRCLE THIS GLOBE

TIMELESS AND ENDLESS BEGINNINGS
AN UNSEEN HAND HOLDS THE COURSE
I'M ADRIFT UPON UNCHARTED SEAS
THE TIME AND DISTANCE BETWEEN

IS THIS THE SUM OF MY LIFE
SAID THE SAILOR IN THE STORM
IS THIS THE HARBOUR I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR
WITH RICHES BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS

I CAN TASTE THE SALT UPON MY LIPS
LIKE A MILLION SAILORS BEFORE ME
I'M NO DIFFERENT FROM ANY ONE ELSE
WHO'S TO SAY THAT THIS WON'T BE THE DAY

IS THIS THE SUM OF MY LIFE
SAID THE SAILOR IN THE STORM
IS THIS THE HARBOUR I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR
WITH RICHES BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS

A Song A Day #4 - A Very English Civil War

With a starched stiff upper lip
a cold unseeing eye
everything is in its place
the spider devours the fly





A VERY ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
ROSES ON THE CHINA PLATES
DOILIES ON THE LINEN
A COSY ON THE TEA POT
HALLMARKS ON THE SILVER
NOW THE TOADS ARE IN THEIR HOLES
THE HARES ARE IN THE JUG
WITH FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS
ALL BAKED WITHIN THE PIE
A VERY ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
IN A CULTURED SMILING WAY
I SAY WOULD YOU MIND SO TERRIBLY
IF I TOOK THE SHIRT FROM OFF YOUR BACK

I HOPE YOU’LL COME TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IT REALLY HAD TO BE DONE
FOR THE GOOD OF THE BRITISH POUND
AND TO PRESERVE OUR WAY OF LIFE
WICKER CHAIRS OUT ON THE LAWN
A GAME OF CROQUET SHARED
SANDWICHES WITHOUT THEIR CRUSTS
A GLASS OF LEMONADE
WITH A STARCHED STIFF UPPER LIP
A COLD UNSEEING EYE
EVERYTHING IS IN ITS PLACE
THE SPIDER DEVOURS THE FLY
A VERY ENGLISH CIVIL WAR
OH WE MIND OUR P’S AND Q’S
WE TAKE NO PLEASURE JUST YOUR LANDS
AN IMPOSITION WE REGRET

WITH GOD UP IN THE PULPIT
OUR BAYONETS IN YOUR GUT
WE WEAR THE BUTCHERS APRON
STEAL JEWELS FOR OUR CROWN
WE HOPE YOU’LL COME TO REALISE
THAT WE ARE THE CHOSEN RACE
WE REALLY MUST APOLOGISE
BUT ONE HAS TO KNOW ONE’S PLACE

A Song A Day #3 - The Last True Story In Pop

A reflective ballad taken from last year's album 'The Gospel According To St.Eve'.
The instrumental passage that commences at 2.15 is particularly effective I feel.
See what you think.




THE LAST TRUE STORY IN POP
NOTHING IS, AS IT SEEMS
NERO FIGHTING THE FLAMES
THE CONSEQUENCE OF DREAMS
A COMPENDIUM OF GAMES
SELL ME YOUR MANIFESTO
TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL
LOSE ME IN YOUR FANDANGO
PRETEND THAT IT’S FOR REAL
IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT
NOTHING IS, AS YOU FEEL
TEARDROPS MELTING IN THE SUN
THE STING OF THE ONCE SURREAL
THE ARTIFICE HAS JUST BEGUN
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU
AND OUR LAND OF THE FREE
DOES CAPITAL SERVE DEMOCRACY
YOURS, CONSIDERATELY
SELL ME YOUR MANIFESTO
TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL
LOSE ME IN YOUR FANDANGO
PRETEND THAT IT’S FOR REAL
IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT

A Song A Day #2 - Speak Only Of Flowers

Powerless ?
Oppressed ?
Frightened ?
Events beyond your control ?
Bide your time.
Speak only of flowers.




SPEAK ONLY OF FLOWERS
IN THE CLOAK OF NIGHT
THERE’S THE HYDRA AT THE DOOR
HAVE YOU BEEN TALKING OUT OF TURN ?
IS THE FORK IN YOUR TONGUE
THE ONE THAT THE POWERS TO BE
THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO TAKE ?
IF YOU MUST SAY ANYTHING
THEN FOR PITY’S SAKE
SPEAK ONLY OF FLOWERS
IF YOUR VOICE IS TO BE HEARD
FOR YOUR CHILDRENS SAKE
SPEAK ONLY OF FLOWERS
IN THE STILL OF NIGHT
FORCE AND VENGEANCE ON THE PROWL
THEY’RE SEEKING OUT THE INDISCREET
DOES THE TRUTH THAT YOU SPEAK
SAIL THE POISONED SHIP OF STATE ?
SAIL TOO CLOSE TO THE WIND
IF YOU MUST SAY ANYTHING
THEN FOR PITY’S SAKE
SPEAK ONLY OF FLOWERS
IF YOUR VOICE IS TO BE HEARD
FOR YOUR CHILDRENS SAKE
SPEAK ONLY OF FLOWERS

A Song A Day #1 - 40 Miles (From Anywhere)

Storming new track from Steve Kelly & Andy Towell

Saddle up the horse and draw that sabre.

Here we go, off on another coruscating romp.

Charge !!!!!




40 MILES (FROM ANYWHERE)

I WAS BORN IN THE WILDERNESS
THE ROAD TO NOWHERE …… MY ADDRESS
FAR AWAY FROM THE BRIGHT CITY LIGHTS
FAR AWAY FROM SUCESS

I WAS RAISED FAR REMOVED FROM GRACE
ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
I WAS SEEKING INSPIRATION
SEEKING TRUTH AND DEDICATION

I WAS BORN IN THE WILDERNESS OH OH
40 MILES FROM ANYWHERE
I WAS RAISED IN ANOTHER PLACE OH OH
40 MILES FROM ANYWHERE

MEMORIES MAKE CLOUDS IN YOUR EYES
HOW LONG BEFORE YOU REALISE
OF COURSE I’D BETTER BEWARE
‘CAUSE WHEN I DIE THEY’LL BURY ME

WHEN I DIE THEY’RE GONNA BURY ME OH OH
40 MILES FROM ANYWHERE
WHEN I DIE THEY’RE GONNA BURY ME OH OH
40 MILES FROM ANYWHERE

Waterloo Sunrise

This song reflects upon the themes conjured up by The Kinks 'Waterloo Sunset'.
Were the swinging 60s a myth.
Has anything really changed.
Did we still hanker after Empire - or are we Europeans now.
Or are we still unsure ?