Who’s There?

Why did the chicken cross the road?
I don’t know. Why?
To visit the idiot.

Knock Knock.
Who’s There?
The chicken.

Yep. It’s a classic.

And actually, I’ve been visited by the chicken on more than one occasion. Well actually it was a different chicken each time.

They all got roasted.

Ba Dum Tss!

I know. I’m probably more suited to writing songs. But until you try you don’t know.

I did once get a “knock knock” joke into a song though. It’s the one in which I’m Everybody’s Favourite Alien.

Bending A Dream

“I’ve gotta dream, and I put a lot of effort into that dream, and I’ll be damned if I ain’t gonna make that dream happen in the way that I originally intended, even though time has moved on, circumstances have changed, and that dream, in it’s original dreamy state, doesn’t even look like such a good idea to me anymore”.

And there you have the recipe for a restless unhappiness, which can negatively affect everything from personal peace of mind to close relationships.

Bending A Dream, isn’t the same thing at all as trashing it.

And the specifics of how we learn to adapt and flex our dreaming muscles will vary for all of us. But nobody wants or needs an arthritic dream.

Live With It

For those who have experienced it, depression is an often stormy sail through a sea of dark emotions. But the worst of all is when the tears stop falling and the winds cease. And fog descends.

And then it’s hard to feel anything. You really want to feel something.

I never thought I would leave that particular sea. I honestly didn’t. Or if I did, it wouldn’t be via the “keep on living” route.

But I did.

And here you find me, the fairly cheery soul I am today, albeit very aware of the sorrow and confusion in the world. I get sad about that still it’s true. But the thing that makes me saddest is the kind of cynicism that fears or sneers, or simply cannot believe, in the possibility of positive change. Personal or communal.

”The World Is Crap. Live with it”.

Maybe I’ve become like the ex-smokers who become a pain in the arse, preaching about the virtues of a smoke free life (I’ve been that guy too).

But, anyway, this is who I am. Live With It. I have to! ;-)

Stuck In My Head

I had a nice comment from someone about a melody of a song I’d written being “Stuck In My Head”.

It’s always good to know that something you’ve created, or said, or sung is memorable. Who doesn’t want to be remembered for something?

But as I get older it’s not enough in itself. If I’m going to do something that has an impact I want it to be something that makes a life better, leads to reflection and positive change, heals, or brings joy and peace.

I hope that isn’t too grandiose. But if it is then you’ve got me. I’m a grandiose bugger, detached from reality.

But it’s really not difficult to do something that someone will remember for a moment or two. Go for a walk down the street in your underwear, and make that kind of impact.

I’d much rather be there at the start of a ripple effect which stretches so far that its initial beginning is soon forgotten. I don’t want to make memes. I want to make fertile memes. And I happen to think that we’re all capable of doing that.

I know it’s hard, nearly impossible sometimes, to believe in positive change when confronted by our own experiences and the world out there that we keep hearing about. But these days, that’s the kind of change I do seem to find myself believing is possible.

Most Of The Time.

Advice From Beyond

I’ve been reading through my previous blogs in an attempt to archive and organise. In doing so I frequently bump into comments from my friend Steve Byrne who, as I mentioned a few days ago, has just passed away. All sorts of little encouragements, and “Steve-isms” to be found there. I’m going to miss them too.

Here’s one little piece of practical advice he dropped. It felt a little bit like Advice From Beyond.

“If you take the time to write down all your failures in your chosen field, and then your successes, you will find the failures far exceed the successes. If you then get someone else to look at the list they will add to your successes and cross out most of your failures. You have achieved more than you realise”.

Steve was always crossing out my failures, and reminding me of my successes. I’d like to get into the habit of doing that more myself. It would feel like I’d be honouring his memory in the process.

Finish On A High

It’s the last week of a recent song challenge I’ve been part of. I wanted to Finish On A High. This is they lyric of the song from yesterday.

See You On The Summit

There’s a big, wide world out there
But you don’t stand and stare
From your window, oh no no
I know your head is full of cares
Well that’s something you share
With me, yeaheheaah

So you open the door
You go for a walk
Breathe  air in your lungs 
Before you know it
You’re climbing that hill
Feeling the wind
Starting to fly
Like Halley’s Comet

I’ll see you on the summit
I’ll see you on the summit

Oh the crazy things we do
And there’s always new directions
To plummet oh no, no
But I knew we’d see it through
And it helps when I see you
Went and done it, yeaheheaah

You opened the door
Went for a walk
Breathed  air in your lungs 
Before you knew it
You’re climbing that hill
Feeling the wind
Starting to fly
Like Halley’s Comet
              
I’ll see you on the summit
I’ll see you on the summit

Only one life 
So bang that gong
And sing along with me
Only one life
So bang that gong and
Let the mountain
Let the mountain
Set you free

Open the door
Go for a walk
Breathe  air in your lungs 
Climbing that hill
Feeling the wind
Starting to fly
Open the door
Go for a walk
Breathe  air in your lungs 
Now you’re climbing that hill
Feeling the wind
Starting to fly
Like Halley’s Comet

I’ll see you on the summit
I’ll see you on the summit
I’ll see you on the summit
I’ll see you on the summit

Better Letters

I play an online scrabble game against the computer. After I’ve played my move I can check if I did the best move possible. Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn’t. But I almost always try to do the best move I can. And when I don’t try enough, it’s not for lack of trying.

Even when I try hard though, and even when I make the best moves possible, the computer still wins sometimes. Because the computer sometimes has Better Letters than me. And all the best moves.

There are things that we control in life. And many things we can’t.

So be kind to yourself.

Random Thought

Random Thought: What if someone you respect tells you that such and such an artist is a living genius? But you don’t like that artist’s work, even if you can appreciate the point.

Is it a bad reflection on your own taste?

Is “genius” in the field of The Arts a subjective opinion or an objective fact?

Well my own take, as I ask myself the question, is that there are far more important things to be worrying about.

I mean, really, there are.

nb. And here’s a guilty secret (one of many!): I’ve got a wee pipe dream to write a song for The Netherlands entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. And win the bugger. I know! What’s all that about? That would be genius, wouldn’t it?

I Is Stupid

I tried to do a search for a video on Youtube, but with my “Firestick” on the tv. I was looking for a short half hour video - “Didi - The North Face” - which a friend had recommended. And which I recommend too.

As I typed out the letters - not with a keypad but that much slower way, when you laboriously click across to find each letter one at a time - you’ll know this - suggestions began to appear in a side panel.

And you’d think that when the “i'“ in Didi came up that my choice would appear somewhere in that panel. Not many programmes beginning with the word “Didi” you’d imagine. But no. I kept getting suggestions that started with the word “Did”. Because, presumably, the algorithms were assuming that I couldn’t spell, or that I’d mistyped and that I wouldn’t notice.

This is perhaps understandable for the first couple of letters. But it carried on through, till I’d typed out the whole title. And still the suggestion list was full of “Did” titles. No sign of the actual title I was looking for. And so I pressed the search button at the end and finally the title came up.

This might seem like a small thing. But it ain’t. Because the assumption here was not that I, the user, knew what I was doing, or would notice my mistake. The assumption was that I Is Stupid.

Now I know what you’re thinking and that’s very naughty of you. Even if that thought may have some truth contained within! But still…it’s a very bad starting point for any interaction to begin with that kind of assumption.

There’s a lot of it around these days though. Whether it be on search engines, help lines, customer services, staff meetings, political declarations, or whatever. And we do it to each other too.

Here’s the message. Take it or leave it…… I’m not as dumb as I look.

And I’m pretty sure you aren’t either. So why don’t we start pretending, for the sake of argument, that we’re all capable, competent, smart, human beings.

Maybe we’ll find ourselves pleasantly surprised when we take that leap of faith.

Steve Byrne: You Don’t Have To Be Strong

In my blog The Special One from a while ago, I name checked a friend called Steve Byrne and said this:

"It is amazing that somebody, even one, is prepared to commit their precious time to watching you do your thing on a regular basis.”

Steve was the fella who was my biggest supporter, sometimes my only supporter, musically, and I’m sad to say that he died yesterday.

We’ve known Steve our whole time in Kintyre, from when we first lived out in the sticks miles from anywhere 26 years ago. He was our nearest neighbour, living about 1/2 miles away and had also recently moved here. Straight upon meeting him he invited me round for a home made curry at his house.

That was typical. Steve was always outgoing and generous with his time and possessions. He was always on the side of the underdog. I know the loss of a sense of compassion in the highways and bye-ways of power over recent years has infuriated him. He was also a massive supporter of the Homesong idea, and attended pretty much every one that happened at our house and at Gareth and Lori Silvan’s house in Clachan.

Anyone who knew him will tell you he could blether for Scotland AND for Liverpool, and name drop (!) about all the things he was involved with. He did a lot of voluntary work for the Scottish Government regarding various issues, including in an advisory capacity for new tenancy legislation. That was ironic for us because, at his request, a few years ago we had ended up becoming the landlords of his flat, when the previous landlord sold, and he had asked us if we could or would take over.

It was in the attic of that flat where I recorded my only actual physical album so far “A Human Being”. And it was the first time he heard a particular song, which he has kindly been trying to get the whole world to listen to ever since, blowing my trumpet when I was too shy to blow it myself.

I’d like to link to the stripped back version of that (which he always preferred) in memory of Steve, and with a tear in my eye.

You Don’t Have To Be Strong. RIP Steve Byrne.

Cry Little Baby

Below is the lyric of lullaby I wrote yesterday for all the babies that get separated from their mothers for short or long period’s of time. It came about after this weekend’s restless Saturday night’s sleep, in which I was remembering my mum telling me a story going back to when I was 3 months old. I needed an operation that involved staying at the hospital for a week and, in those unenlightened times, she wasn’t allowed to stay with me through the night. It made me think about, having had lots of kids and grandkids, how that must feel for a baby.

Cry Little Baby

You can’t change the fact that
Mummy wasn’t there for you
Even though she wanted to
Oh it doesn’t seem fair

So cry little baby
Don’t you sleep
But this is not the end of things
Though that’s how it feels

When there’s nothing you can do about it
There’s nothing you can do about it
Hey, it’s always been this way

Cry little baby
Mummy’s still out there
You’re gonnna know love again
One fine day

So cry little baby
But mummy’s still out there
You’re gonnna know love again
One fine day

Break A Rule Day

I broke a rule today.
It’s my Break A Rule Day.
The rule, on my break a rule day
Is to break a rule.
One day I’m going to sneak up
On break a rule day
And keep the rules.

Ha, that’ll show ‘em!

Guidelines

I did everything right last yesterday to get a good nights sleep. I exercised during the day, didn’t drink any alcohol, only had coffee in the morning, finished early with my screen time, turned down the lights low well before going to bed, opened the window for fresh air, treated the bedroom simply as a place to sleep.

I went to bed with a relaxed mind, breathing slowly, and feeling calm.

And then followed a very restless night, where I was awake for long periods, and aware of a darker taint to my emotions during those times.

That happens to me anyway occasionally. But sometimes, even when we follow all the Guidelines, it still doesn’t go to plan.

It doesn’t mean that the guidelines are wrong. Just as it doesn’t mean that the 100 year old smoker proves that smoking is good for your health.

Sometimes you’ve just got to roll with it.

A Sense Of Adventure

Reading a book all about challenging yourself to start something new “The Doorstep Mile” I was asked a question. By the author, Alastair Humphreys. Not by the imaginary voices in my head, you understand.

The question was: why do you want to live more adventurously?

And that gave me pause for thought. Do I really want to live “more adventurously"? In actual fact I like a quiet life. I like to observe from the outside. I like the familiar. Sometimes I just like to curl up in a ball.

”Adventure” … going into the unknown , whether that be the physical world, or habit challenges, or learning new skills, is uncomfortable for me. As it may well be for you. These are not things that I have a strong urge to do. And yet I still finding myself doing, or trying to do them, sometimes.

So yesterday, as I read the question, I didn’t have an easy answer. I do know that when I’ve tried to do anything that extends me, I’ve usually come away with a sense of achievement. But that was all I could think of at the time.

Today, reflecting about it a little bit more, I realise that even though I don’t have the urge for adventure, I do really want to have the urge. I don’t want to always have to push myself really hard. Even though there will always be some amount of “push” involved in leaving The Comfort Zone.

So really Adventure, in every sense of the word, is for me simply an act of faith.

The belief that it is possible to change. To become the sort of person who relishes new challenges. The sort of person who possesses A Sense Of Adventure.

These days I’m a little bit more of that kind of person than I was. Which is a step in the right direction as far as I’m concerned.

That Kind Of Faking

We’ve all got the ability to forget a thousand kindnesses when the sequence is broken by some slight or hurt administered by the previously kind dude.

In fact that one hurt, hurts so much more, BECAUSE it came from them.

Maybe they were faking all along.

And maybe they were.

But if they were gonna fake anything, credit to them for faking a GOOD thing.

The world could do with a lot more of That Kind Of Faking.

The Great Healer

Misunderstanding.

It happens even if you’ve tried to be clear. If you’ve tried to be kind. If you’ve tried to be honest. And if you’re happy to acknowledge that you never manage to do all of that perfectly.

But it won’t change the fact that we will all be misquoted, misconstrued and misunderstood.

And it can be hard to take, especially if someone you like is unnecessarily upset.

First thing to realise is that we might sometimes do, we probably do, the same thing to others on occasion. And if we’re upset by being misunderstood, it’s probably better to wait, listen and reflect before reacting.

And though it is often good to try to talk things through, that won’t always work. It won’t always solve the problem.

Sometimes we have to live with being misunderstood, make sure we don’t pour the salt of self pity on our own wounds…and then simply let that water pass by under the bridge.

Time, as they say, is the great healer. And in the meantime, breathe.

I’m With Gary, Jack

According to Wikipedia - “"I'm alright, Jack" is a British expression used to describe people who act only in their own best interests, even if providing assistance to others would take minimal to no effort on their behalf.”

It’s not a healthy attitude really. Having an “I’m alright Jack” attitude might benefit our pockets in the short term, but it will undoubtedly shrink our souls. Sometimes you can watch it happen in real time.

And doing the opposite of this, is not a bad place to start when we are deciding how to make personal and political decisions from a position of relative wealth and security.

It’s especially important to do this when the people in power, and the people who have the Big Microphone, are not doing so.

The world feels like it could go in all sorts of scary directions. But for some people the things many of us merely fear are a present reality.

So I’m with Gary, Jack.

ps. If you don’t know the story in the UK news at the moment, the above might seem a little opaque. All you really need to know is that it’s about football, and not music.

Every Single Day

100,000!

That’s what my pal Gary Carey told me. And I just checked with Mother Internet and she says he’s right. Not that I ever doubted him, you understand.

That number is the amount of songs which are released EVERY SINGLE DAY on Spotify and other digital music streamers.

Gary also just asked me if I wanted to come down and write another song. (I think I’ve mentioned that I’m on a songwriting retreat). I told him that on this occasion I had this blog to write, but that I might come down at the very end just to add a word or two in order to get in there for the royalty cheque.

Yes, you’ve got to laugh.

And you might well ask - why add another drop of water to an infinite ocean?

But if you do have to ask that, then maybe songwriting’s not for you.

Big G

Over the last 3 days we’d known that my step father in law was going to die soon. My wife Ineke was particularly close to him, and managed to get across yesterday to be with him in Rotterdam. He was a true Rotterdamer. It’s not a sad story, because he lived a long and good life. But we’re still sad because he died last night at 11pm.

Gerrit has been an inspiration to all of us, and I had already written a song about him a couple of days ago. Here’s the lyric below:

Big G
Big G made things out of wood
Did what he could
Stood taller than a tree
Laughed at the storms
And that comforted me

Big G he never complained
“Just put on a coat
And you can handle the rain”
Called a spade a spade
No make belief
               
And ain’t it the way of the world
To make things complicated
Ain’t it the way of the world
To fake the news
Ain’t it the way of the world
To sow confusion
But hey
That’s  the same world 
That made you…Big G

Yoo hoo, yeah heh!
Yoo hoo, yeah heh!

Big G was a generous guy
Like there was only one life to live
Under this sky
Didn’t hang on to anything, for too long
And if that man ever fell off a bike
He’d me back in the saddle
Like a lightening strike
You couldn’t stop him
He was strong

And ain’t it the way of the world
To make things complicated
Ain’t it the way of the world
To fake the news
Ain’t it the way of the world
To sow confusion
But hey
That’s  the same world 
That made you…Big G

You hoo, yeah heh!
Yoo hoo, yeah heh!

So I don’t pay and any heed to the Social Media
There is nothing here to see
If I want to find out the true story
I’m better off listening to Big G

And ain’t it the way of the world
To make things complicated
Ain’t it the way of the world
To fake the news
Ain’t it the way of the world
To sow confusion
But hey
That’s  the same world 
That made you…Big G
Hey, that’s  the same world 
That made you…Big G
Hey, that’s  the same world
That made 
You hoo, yeah heh!
Yoo hoo, yeah heh!

Unfinished Song

I’m on a songwriting week with friends. I’m so lucky to have this, and it’s always a great blessing. The friendships are even more important than the songs these days. But we do still write songs.

And below is an Unfinished Song I prepared earlier. Not prepared it well enough yet obviously, because it isn’t finished. But I can’t really come to a blog about songs and community, while I’m on a songwriting week without something to show you. Don’t know if this is a keeper yet, but we’ll find out.

Don’t Forget To Breathe
For the very first time
You find yourself there
Standing on the edge of the edge at the end
Of the universe

A journey through space and time
Oh you struggled for air
But now you’re standing on the edge of the edge at the end
Of the universe

Don’t forget to breathe
Don’t forget to breathe
Don’t forget to breathe
Don’t forget to breathe

And the milky way
Is a distant memory
Like the way she held your body when your body was
The only thing there

And when the light of day
Was a lifetime away
But here you are standing on the edge at the end of
The universe

Don’t forget to breathe
Don’t forget to breathe
Don’t forget to breathe
Don’t forget to breathe