NOTES TO SONGS FROM THE ALBUM

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From Here to Rosedale

 

A song about Robert Leroy Johnson, the Delta blues player about whom we know everything and nothing,

except he was a man hounded by misfortune and constantly looking over his shoulder

 

Good Company

 

All songwriters have draws full of unfinished songs and like old friends you sometimes look them up to see

how they're getting along. Usually you say goodbye and look forward to meeting up another day,

but just occasionally you strike up a renewed acquaintance; then it's time to see if it can carry itself

in front of an audience. When it does, you walk in good company

 

You Can’t Always Tell

 

Doug Morter once introduced me to an old protest song from the 1960s which I used to sing occasionally

but over time the significance and nuance of the words seemed less relevant. There were elements of the tune,

however, which stayed with me and it wasn't long before I found a home for some new lyrics I was working on.

 

Dave’s Song

 

This is a very early song which we never recorded and rarely sang live, mostly because  I could never find the

vocal range to deliver it properly, so it gathered dust in the bottom of my guitar case.

Step forward Gayna Taylor who brought it to life

 

By The Light

 

This is a first for me: a  jaunty combination of Fats Waller and Leroy Carr and a welcome change of mood

and tempo amidst my usual poignant melancholy

 

Falling More Slowly

 

“The general synopsis at midday: Low  Cromarty 997 expected southern Norway  1001  by midday tomorrow”.

We don’t pretend to understand it but for non-fishermen everywhere, the shipping forecast  reads like a radio ballad

- an incantatory litany of the sea around our islands, reassuring and terrifying in equal measures as we pull

the duvet closer and think of those poor sods out there

 

Jesus On the Mainline

 

An African/American religious call and response song, probably originating in the early twentieth century

which came to light following Alan Lomax’s recording of the song by Mississippi Fred McDowell in the 1950s

 

 

A Little Kindness Now

 

As Richard Thompson once said: “I can sing you sad songs, or songs that will really bring you down.”  

I don't know where this came from but there can't be a living soul who hasn't felt like this at some point  in their lives

 

She Broke My Heart

 

Roger Trevitt, Hunter Muskett's bassist, introduced me to this song a couple of years ago. Originally recorded

by the Hoosier Hotshots in 1944, I’ve included it partly because it’s become a favourite in my live shows and also

because it lightens the mood - especially when audiences try to join in

 

One Of These Days

 

I’m grateful to my old friend Noel Gander whose smoky vocal carries a sense of hope and longing in a song

which was written after a visit to Alcatraz  

 

Alabama ‘64

 

CSS Alabama was a sloop of war built in Birkenhead in 1862 but sunk two years later at the Battle of Cherbourg.

The sea shanty “Roll Alabama Roll”  tells the official story while mine is one of romance and intrigue

 

Where Are You Now (Sweet Marie)

 

Audiences of a certain vintage always listen in near total silence to this song as we head back to 1966

and student riots, Vietnam War demonstrations, Dylan’s “Blonde On Blonde” and always, always

someone remembered from those distant days