little wing (neil young)

 this is my last post of this string of old songs.. thanks for following along if you have. this is a schnapped off cover of little wing i made at the birdhouse a year and a bit ago.got a bit chromatic on an epic drumkit, bass and the melodica on this one. one of my only two recordings of me playing melodica i believe, could have had a hired gun career on that thing i rekon.i think im playing dugis little pocketrocket bass here. i really love this song and its a classic neil rip off of magnolia by jj cale if you wanna know the chemistry behind it. gettin too chromatic here evidently but its a sentimental sign off with a sentimental cover as we dip our way into winter,, the best of all - radarbackwards

little wing (neil young)

 all her friends call her little wing

she flies rings around them all

she comes to town when the children sing

and leaves them feathers if they fall

she leaves her feathers when they fall

 

little wing don't fly away

when the summer turns to fall

don't you know some people say 

the winter is the best time of them all

the winter is the best of all

Mangroves pt. 2

 this ones a bit of a white whale.. if u know what i mean - radarbackwards

Mangroves pt. 2

D F# B D E F# (capo 1)

"I caught you yesterday, you looked so sad in the mirror.. things will fall into place, just give it time to heal. If only i could know what was wrong i could help you get there"

"I guess i have a leaky soul. Like running up and down the dunes, darling ill come back to you... Don't you wanna stay? You can't leave without your earring. I will fall into place, just give me time to recuperate"

Gold Summer

this ones from the past winter - radarbackwards

Gold Summer

C G C E G G

 

"Gold summer is gone. We are still sunburnt... do you feel alive?"

"My belly aches for another life. The wet skin of a frog takes me back to my birthplace. Were you around back then, or did you have something on?"

"..."

"I spent this winter on one single charcoal drawing.. Moss has covered my chest, the more I drew the less I felt. In it the moon has a light i remembered quite vaguely. It was made up of a quiet and the torch within me."

The world whirls around. The dove seems to cower.

"I'll ache it out."

There's no such thing as power.

"Magnet life, no one understands you. You and I, connected, we're tied, imperceptible light, connect us, magnet life."

Tas pt. 1

 

 radarbackwards here still kickin. this ones a year old. i like it more and more as it gets older

Tas pt. 1

D E A D F# A

Cold Sun

wakes up everyone

you had run

to be where things begun

to the hills i Come

the bottle has been spun

feels wrong

Wake up Gone

for so Long

get dressed

I've seen it attest

no Rest

weary Hearts they crest

there's no song in our bones

only aches and moans

burning lips

Screaming Clouds

Burn Around

Water House

Burn Me Out

 

?????

 

Wake up Gone

for so Long

Wake up Gone

 

Call Me Up

 

call me up (radarbackwards) 

painting by peter shear

it's nice to call me up

but ive had enough

i still need love

i still want

what you want

but it's nice to call me up 

this one's for the people upstairs

who saying nothing

will gladly fall beneath their floor

but what do you want?

it's nice to call me up

i still need love

Tangled Up

 hey guys 

joeys away so i (radarbackwards) am gonna be posting until hes gone. im just gonna up tracks i have on my hard drive. joey played the lead bit on this one. ill put the tuning up on this one as is tradition

Tangled Up

D F# A D F# A (CAPO 7)

as soon as your mouth opened this feeling that ive been coaxing.. i had to tell it to stop its hoping. no wonder my head is sloping. work another day. i pictured us eloping, my friend he stopped his smoking and i showed him this wound encroaching; all these voices sounding so thin.

tangled up

do people find bodies to rope in? leaving letters on their own windowsills? these pictures precede me, how will they receive me? now make your own trainlines; pick a fight with the concrete on the ground

the ground

 and as soon as the telephone rings, my heart she breaks her own strings... how long have i been drifting? not doing no heavy lifting. all these voices sounding so thin.

telephone tooth running outside

try to catch it ruining your life telephone tooth

telephone tooth look at it hide

spending all morning throwing ash into the sky

telephone tooth

Here, there or somewhere

HERE, THERE OR SOMEWHERE (D A D A B X)

I’m just smiling. Don’t kill me. I know you want to.
Multiplying. Flash flooding.

You must be here, there or somewhere.

 

And when the big sad left I turned my head. I crinked my neck.

It has to rain. It has to pour. We could never get dry if we had never been wet at all.

And it’s here, there or somewhere.

 

You want to cry but it’s not your fault.
You could never be good if you’d never been bad at all.

We could never be good if we’d never been bad at all.
And we’re here, there or somewhere.

'In Anticipation of the Day' by The Original Left Bank Orchestra Out Now!

Slow stroke

SLOW STROKE (D G D F# B E)

What you love. What you see. What are you thinking?

Where does that leave me? Where can you take me?

 

Up and down. He swims with a slow stroke. It’s a lesson for the young folk.

While I ride into the sunset with a bent spoke.

In the shadow of a sunrise we found hope.

In the jaws of the night we let go.

Buy/Pre-order 'In Anticipation of the Day' by The Original Left Bank Orchestra

I thought about leggy

I THOUGHT ABOUT LEGGY (D A D F# B E, capo 6)

I thought about leggy, I thought about the wind. I thought about Oscar, I thought about the rocks. I thought about the swell direction. I thought about the tide. I thought about leggy.

I thought about leggy, I thought about the sand. I thought about Neill. I thought about my stabiliser I thought about the wastewater treatment facility. I thought about leggy.

 

I thought about leggy, I thought about my bike. I thought about Yule Road, I thought about my quads. I thought about sewage, I thought about dysentery. I thought about leggy.

I thought, I thought, I thought about.
I thought, I thought, I thought about.

I thought, I thought, I thought about.

I thought about leggy.

Five sunflowers

FIVE SUNFLOWERS (D A D F# B E, capo 6)

There are five sunflowers on the kitchen table. They are staring me.

When the florist told me These are happy flowers and we call could use some happiness right now, I agreed.
But it’s not sunny today and clouds hover staunchly. Like secos at a seedy nightclub.

And these five sunflowers, like that friend waiting to see if I get in. If I don’t they come home in the taxi with me.

On the autumn equinox I think about haircuts. I think of petals falling on my shoulders.

And on every t-shirt and every chair I sit is that sticky yellow dust.

There are five sunflowers.

They are staring at me.

I wish they would tell me what they are thinking.

Snow is falling in Manhattan (David Berman)

SNOW IS FALLING IN MANHATTAN (D A D F# B E, capo 4)

(words and music by david berman)

Snow is falling in Manhattan
In a slow diagonal fashion
On the Sabbath, as it happens
Snow is falling in Manhattan
If it looks like it might be a bad one
The good caretaker springs to action
Salts the stoop and scoops the cat in
Tests an icy patch for traction

Snow
Snow, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa
Snow, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa
Snow, oh, whoa
Snow, oh, whoa
Snow, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa

Levels rising on the island
Shows no sign of soon subsiding
Drifting deeply down in Brooklyn
So much joy in merely looking
Inside he's got a fire crackling
And on the couch, beneath an afghan
Lies an old friend he just took in
Seeking shelter from the cold wind

Coming down in smithereens
On Staten Island, Bronx and Queens
It's blanketing the city streets
And the streets beneath are fast asleep
Songs build little rooms in time
And housed within the song's design
Is the ghost the host has left behind
To greet and sweep the guest inside
Stoke the fire and sing his lines

Snow
Snow, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa
Snow, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa
Snow, oh, whoa
Snow, oh, whoa
Snow, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa

Snow is falling in Manhattan
Inside I've got a fire crackling
And on the couch, beneath an afghan
You're the old friend I just took in

Is it leaving?

IS IT LEAVING? (D A D F# B E)

How long did she lie there? How long did she wait? How far were her closest? How long did they take?
Someone called at some point. Someone found her on her floor. I came in with a mask on.

A cockroach trapped on its back. A casualty wrapped up in a tissue.
(God bless you).

They said a big dark storm was right on the horizon but I didn’t believe it until it hit. I didn’t see it, does it mean it never existed?
I saw clouds roll past like out the window of a train, or even a firetruck. They would never leave if we could run fast enough.

 

Like a bird in the sky. Dynamic, peaceful. I see it. Is it leaving or am I?

Just in time

JUST IN TIME (D A D F# B E)

The water is clearing. Like a sunrise appearing. From a dark night. A feeling of relief.

The morning is softening. Each cell opening. With a deep breath. We’re hoping we’ll float.

You must have caught me just in time. Just before I went offline.

You must have saved me just in time.

 

Just before they answered. Just after I heard. Was a great big crash and blinding flash of light.

Now some of us are leaving and some of us are trying. But you are gleaming.

While the earth is parting. And the water is boiling. The dirt is speaking. The road is winding.

And the afternoons are blazing. The sky is reaching. The clouds are blooming. The fish are speaking. Your teeth are white and my heart is heaving.

Don’t lose your footing.

 

You must have caught me just in time. Just before I went offline.

You must have saved me just in time.

radarbackwards beats seven spears NG+ no HUD

She seems lovely

SHE SEEMS LOVELY (D A D C# F# E, capo 4)

 

She seems lovely and one day she will let her hair grow past her shoulders. Don’t tell her not to. Don’t be afraid she’ll change. Like I was.

It’s a good thing and it is happening. You don’t need to push.
Because she is lovely.

She seems lovely and one day she will learn to breathe from her lower back; into her middle back; into her upper back.
It’s a good thing and it is happening. You don’t need to hold your breath.

We won’t ever be like water.
The sky is a swimming a pool. And we are reflections.
We don’t need protection.

Citizens of the sky

CITIZENS OF THE SKY (D A D G A E, capo 3)

(Italicised lyrics taken from Joanne Kyger’s poem “Finger Pointing at the Moon Is Not the Moon”)

 

Say goodnight to the small field of daffodils while doves and sparrows pass overhead.

Stars as grand citizens of the sky appear near dazzled moon.

Still possible to read under its full light.

 

Doors of the little palace open. Messages go out. What happened last night?

It was that meteor flashing like a runaway gazelle down the coast.

 

And the world starts to turn.

A gaping mouth swallows me whole.

I tumble and roll until I’ve been tumbling rolling so long it doesn’t feel like I’m tumbling and rolling anymore.

Only notice when I stop.

Something like a camera flash in the distance.

 

An ocean lies between tumbling and not tumbling.

Turning and not turning.

And once we start swimming we get swept by the currents.

Carried by the waves.

And the longer we stay the harder it is to remember what the earth felt like.

If it wasn’t for gravity I’d be swimming in the stars right now.

 

Say goodnight to the small field of daffodils while doves and sparrows pass overhead.

The Brioche Breeze 1.1 Out Now!

The Brioche Breeze 1.1 (Jan/Feb) was curated by Joey Fkn Brioche, featuring highlights from the last two months, as well as an exclusive piece from regular contributor radarbackwards. Thanks to anyone coming along for the ride. 

 

Listen here

Old path white clouds #12

Old path white clouds #12 recorded Sunday 6 March 2022 by radarbackwards and Yev Kassem.

 

This is coping

THIS IS COPING (D A D G A E)

This is coping, he told me last night as I unstuck my hands from the bar. He spat in my eye but I didn’t flinch.

This is coping and he has a point. But I wonder how he’s coping his morning. I hope someone somewhere is bringing him bacon and eggs. I would if I had a spare ten bucks.

 

He told me a story about chairs. How he threw them at someone at the Lass. And he put his arm his partner.

She is driving to Hat Head next week to bury her placentas in the backyard of a house her great-grandfather built. They don’t own it anymore. It’s an Airbnb now. I chewed on ice until my face hurt.

 

This is coping; I am coping the best I can.

This is coping; I am building a fence.

When I close my eyes sometimes it feels like all the lights go out.

I’m just choking on my breath. I’m just choking on my neck.

I am coping the best I can.

Waiting to arrive

WAITING TO ARRIVE (D A D G A D)

I am not waiting to arrive. I am only wading through the rocks. I am not telling you to stop.

He is taking me by the hand. I can hardly see past his head. Each moment is thicker than the last.

Each night is darker than the one before. Each morning is brighter than I ever thought it could be.

Everyone has everything worked out.

No one ever needs to ask for help.

 

I am not waiting to depart. I can see clearly in the dark. I can see the world stretching apart.

I can feel myself tearing in half. Every single hair crying out. Tiny little pieces in the wind.

Each night is darker than the one before. Each morning is brighter than I ever thought it could be.

I don’t have anything worked. But I know I am closer than before.

I have to believe I am closer than before.

The OLBO album announce // Fins out now!

The Original Left Bank Orchestra (Joey Brioche, Ron Finemore, Arthur Cinnamons) are today releasing the track ‘Fins’, as well as announcing the release of their debut album ‘In Anticipation of the Day’ which is out 23 March. They are putting on an album launch party at the Seven Seas Hotel in Carrington on 26 March with support from Jesse Madigan.

 

 

 

Sitting duck 2.0

SITTING DUCK (E A D G A D)

Sitting duck on an outgoing tide. On the incoming night. Hold your breath. This fuel wants heat.

Sitting duck, shiny and green. Flapping its wings. Kicking its feet. This wave needs a beach.

I am tired and I am upset. I don’t want to say anything I’ll regret. I am sorry but I’m not mad anymore.

 

The mystery, on the edge of the world. At the end of a circle. In front of your face. Only notice when its gone.

The good days are good because they’re not bad. And the bad days are bad because of he good ones we just had.

We are tired and we are upset. Let’s try not to say anything we’ll regret.

On the outgoing moonlight we are sitting ducks.

 

When the water is brown let’s not go down.

It hurts me too much.

Being a sitting duck.

Sitting duck

SITTING DUCK (E A D G A D)

Sitting duck on an outgoing tide. On the incoming night. Hold your breath. This fuel wants heat.

Sitting duck, shiny and green. Flapping its wings. Kicking its feet. This wave needs a beach.

I am tired and I am upset. I don’t want to say anything I’ll regret. I am sorry but I’m not mad anymore.

 

The mystery, on the edge of the world. At the end of a circle. In front of your face. Only notice when its gone.

The good days are good because they’re not bad. And the bad days are bad because of the good ones we just had.

We are tired and we are upset. Let’s try not to say anything we’ll regret.

On the outgoing moonlight we are sitting ducks.

It's right there! (apparently)

IT’S RIGHT THERE! (APPARENTLY) (E A D G A D, capo 6)

Every moment incrementally beats louder than the last. You hardly notice until the thud, thud, thud stops.

It’s right there! It’s right here! some geezer from Birmingham shouts.

And then everything resets.

Like fog in the morning lifting. Where darkness melts.

Trees breathe a sigh of relief and the birds sing.

 

Where two cars meet head-on on the highway. Where a bomb is dropped on a quiet neighbourhood. Where a young woman is raped and killed in a park in the city.

 

Where the sun shines even though the forecast said rain. Where the water is warm and you know you’re loved. Where the waves crash on the sand and the grass pokes its head from the soil.

 

And Apparently is all that they said. Well, apparently, it’s all fucked beyond repair. Well, if that’s what is happening we might as well try to be happy.

I know it’s not that easy but I’ll try to make you happy.