Rooted;
I plant your roots,
Deep within the ground,
In a forest of beauty and fruits,
Only small, weak and discreet,
You can grow tall, strong and sleek,
I am only a bit older,
Older than you, but not much wiser,
Together we shall age, become close friends,
In each others company till we reach the roads end,
I'll depend on you, like you will the weather,
Clouds open up and rain fall from the heavens,
So when everyone has left me,
You will still be here, taller than before and higher than the eyes can see,
I'll always remember,
your comfort and presence, and deep thinking slumber,
How a gentle piece of nature,
Could provide so much nurture, hope and love,
Never selfish, you just stand there caring so much.
Jasmine;
Beauty to stop a glance,
Reel you in and transform to a trance,
Something I can't describe,
And probably don't deserve,
Yet it feels like fate is on my side.
A radiance so sweet,
Colourful flower sweeping in the mist,
A princess to the world,
And a queen to me,
Someone my eyes only choose to see.
Elegant with innocence,
With us there's no pretence,
To me there is only you,
And to you there only be me,
I've caught you like the flu,
And I'm in no way immune,
But I just don't care because... I love you.
Umbrella Girl;
You're just an umbrella girl,
Put up your smile to keep the rain from my world,
You keep me grounded,
Always making me want to say 3 words and not caring how cheesy they sounded,
Everything is better in your presence,
Everywhere more pleasant because of your existence,
You hold me together like an entwined bracelet,
So whisper me your secret,
How your cheeks stay dry,
No tears, just a bright beautiful smile,
Cause your just an umbrella girl,
You put up a smile and keep the rain from my world.
"Say, look at me. Baby, we'll be fine. All we gotta do is be brave and be kind."
I suppose the greatest thing about being a kid is that you don't realise how good you have got it, not caring about anything and generally having a treat of a time. But then again, that is also the bad thing about being a kid.
You let every great moment pass without a care or thought because you believe it will all happen again tomorrow. You're not far wrong either, because your childhood is filled with so many fantastical adventures. If you had an imagination like mine then you could make a trip to Carpet World turn into an exploration of a far away planet full to the brim with carpet covered monsters and aliens pretending to be humans. You were the only one in on it, and it was bloody marvelous.
My childhood was brilliant. I loved every moment of it, and I class them as the best days of my life. Days being when exactly? Around 6 years old up until I was about 12. Starting at 6 because... Well, you gain an understanding of things and adults start to trust you that little bit more. You have been at school a full year, you know what the area is like because you walked through it to get to school and your vocabulary is getting pretty darned good. And it stops at 12 because obviously, high school begins; the place where imagination is kidnapped and locked up and fed to the dogs. All because they believe GCSE's determine where you will end up. Bollocks.
The reason I wanted to write this blog was because I wanted to discuss what I would like to think is the most important stage of my childhood. It wasn't a personal problem going on at home, it wasn't school work related and it certainly wasn't when I realised Father Christmas was one big lie.
It was the day I first came across Pokémon...
It only cropped up in my mind the other night/early morning when I sat up in bed and for about an hour and a half spewed out this massive nostalgic tale to my girlfriend (who seemed to enjoy the story). I remembered just how captivating the world of Pokémon was, how it gripped hold of your imagination without you having to really imagine anything. You lived for Pokémon. You practically breathed Pokémon.
My first interaction with that franchise came about when I was around 9. This was a year before it really captivated the hearts and souls of children all across Britain. Being in Year 4, every class gets a 'pen pal' and well it was time for us to get ours. Apparently, our school had a sister school in Canada or something a long those lines which enabled us to link easily with each other. This was before Facebook and all those other social networking websites so it was insanely exciting to think that you could write a load of old nonsense and some other kid on the other side of the world would read it and reply.
My 'pen pal' was a kid named Trevor. I remember the first time I received my letter, it was very surreal. Mainly because they had been given their pal before us. This enabled them to write directly to you... So as described it was simply addressed "To Jake".
I always try to reminisce the whole letter but I have no clue really as to the exact words. But I remember him speaking about how he played peewee Baseball and read books about Dinosaurs. Even though the whole letter was cool, it was something in which Trevor had attached that really had me mesmerised. In the top right corner of the letter, attached simply by paper-clip was a Pokémon card. At the time I had no idea what it was of course... But I still fell in love with it right off the bat. The colours , the artwork and detail put into the picture; it had my full attention.
I still remember what Pokémon it was;
A Charmander. It mattered not what his stats said and how powerful his moves were. I just wanted to show it everyone that would glance, even if only for a second. Right at that moment, the teacher called for "break time" and all of the class hurried to the playground. I rushed manically to see what everyone else had received from their pen pal and to see if somebody had also been given a card. But only 1 other kid had. It was a Diglett and was most definitely, not as cool as mine.
I had to wait a whole Summer nearly for the craze to arrive. Which it did, and boyo' boy did it. Pokémon was the biggest thing on the planet. Nobody could argue that, even if you were 25 years old and mad about the battle for Brit-Pop champion.
Once everyone knew what Pokémon was, you couldn't have a dinner time without someone debating what the best Pokémon was and why. Nobody knew why exactly, and even if everybody had the cards you still didn't really know how to play. But just like before, everything changed again. This change was to launch Pokémon into a whole new world of craze.
I'm sure everyone remembers how they felt when this played on the TV;
Every morning at 7:30 am, I woke up to catch up on Ash's latest adventure. Waiting in anticipation to find out what new Pokémon he would catch and most importantly; see when he would become a "Pokémon Master". I remember wanting him to be the best even more than he did.
When you become entwined in a craze as a child. You never really want anything other than to be surrounded by it. Birthdays and Christmas' all include asking for all the bits of merchandise and toys. PokémonPokédex's. All of them on the agenda of a Christmas list.
Waking up to find your Mum sat at the end of your bed with wrapped up presents concealing 2 booster packs of Pokémon cards for your Birthday. They are some of the best memories I have. Even if not just because I was happy at a present I received, but because I could see how happy my Mum was that she had made my world.
Moments like that don't happen anymore. I'm 21 and don't get me wrong, I don't expect to wake up in the morning and see my Mum waiting with a present for me. I have grown out of that but the thought and remembrance of such events makes me a little sad and crave for that childlike feeling.
Maybe that is what's wrong with adult life nowadays. There is nothing of real, genuine excitement to wake up for anymore. You wish you could watch 18 rated movies when you are younger, but the thought is always better than the real thing. I did wish madly that I could stay up later with all the older people when I was 10 but now I wish I could go to bed early like when I was a kid, just so I could wake up early to find Pokémon on my TV screen. But I know it won't happen. I wished for many thing when I was younger, most came true, and for the most part I am incredibly happy. But there is that little piece of me that desperately clings to the feeling of being a child. Seeing the world through tinted glasses, and not panicking over things that wouldn't have even existed at the age of 7, 8, 9, 10 and any of those other young ages.
Being a child is simple. You enjoy the finer things in life, and everything you come across shapes who you are when you grow up. Those life changing moments range from your favourite colour to a TV/game/toy franchise.
There are many, many more stories about Pokémon I have from being a child and plenty of other mad crazes I had such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Dragonball Z and Power Rangers. Though I am not going to keep rambling and instead leave it at that.
I have always wanted to know who Trevor was since first speaking to him. I only exchanged around 5 letters with him but I firmly believe he changed who I was that day I was first given a letter by him. Yes, I would have liked Pokémon anyway but the way in which I first fell in love with the franchise is a memorable one and I will never forget it.
For this, I thank Trevor and eternally grateful for that day.
"'Cause, I built a home... For you, for me. Until it disappeared... From me, from you."
Suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion.
I really, really like that quote. It was once said by the great Muhammad Ali and the meaning of those words could be depicted in many a way, especially from his perspective. However in general, not just from Ali's point of view, it is a truly strong sentence of words. In all walks of life you suffer, whether that be training for an upcoming fight or hardship from a lifetime of persecution. But the glory everyone feels when they have fought through it all is momentous and for either a short time or a long time, you feel immortalised.
For me suffering is minuscule compared to another human being that dies for a drink of water or a lack of warmth but I believe I still suffer. Just a whole lot less.
There are more positive, great things in my life than bad but being the pessimistic beings that we are; we just can't help but complain and feel lost.
It has been a while since I last blogged. Perhaps because stopping on a pretty cool number as 30 was sort of an achievement. I mean reaching 5 blogs was at first thought of as scary. For a time I lost my inspiration to write and then rediscovered it but recently felt as if I had lost it again...
My creative, thoughtful side seems to be pushed aside when I get back to 'studying'. University just tends to crush that part of my brain and it becomes more about drinking, sleeping and football. Don't get me wrong, I love all three of those things but they aren't everything that defines me. I've always thought what makes you who you are, are the little things. Those tiny characteristics, secret hobbies and hidden traits that define you as a person. Not the mechanisms on show for all to see, in which everyone hides behind.
My characteristics, secret hobbies and hidden traits? If you know me well enough, you know all three. If you don't then why not try and find out? They aren't any of my all knowing mechanisms after all.
So... Recently, apart from feeling creatively lost and sort of stressed about that. I have been living the high life through student money and Iceland prices. It is all candy canes and rainbows until you realise that you should check your bank balance every so often of course. Oh well, money isn't everything. Except the bane of my life.
Had an amazing week this week though...
Been to two gigs and they were extremely good. The first of which was on Thursday in Manchester where I saw the amazing Glasvegas. A Scottish band with a penchant for sunglasses, wine and anthemic sounds.
The second was in Preston where I had the mighty pleasure of seeing Benjamin Francis Leftwich. He's a solo acoustic artist from York who dabbles in folk and Indie (of course).
Both gigs were brilliant, yet so different. Both very intimate, but with different crowd types.
It's the beauty of music I suppose, where a man can stand alone on a stage with just a guitar and garner the attention of listeners just as much as a 4 piece band. And a 4 piece band can have as much attention focused on all of them just as much as the solo artist.
I have nothing but admiration for musicians. I truly believe they are the most influential people in the world. My mood is based around music and my motto for the day will come straight from a lyricists handbook.
I've always wanted to be in a band, but I can't play an instrument. I should learn I guess, that would be a keen start?!?!? I could try and be a frontman, but I believe I am poor at best and a karaoke singer when on a good day ha ha. My girlfriend tells me I'm good but then again, she would say that to keep me happy.
We can all dream.
I wrote this a while back and felt this was relevant anyway;
I dream so I know I am awake,
Eloquent footsteps in multiple directions,
Dreams in which I sleep and thoughts in which I say,
A life not worth living if I keep them in a collection,
I dream so I know I am alive,
Haunting chapters upon blank pages,
Tears in which I cry and laughter in which I smile,
An empty life lived, locked up in hundreds of cages,
I dream so I know I feel,
Clouds hang above in a gloomy sky,
Sinking in which I drown and settling in which I deal,
Coming up with new dreams to make up another lie,
"A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."
I find it funny how the atmosphere you are in, reflects on your thoughts and actions.
How you move to another area or house and because of those around you, the usual course of action awaiting you at 3 in the morning changes compared to when it would normally comprise of a dabble in a new musical artist or writing a blog.
I left Blackpool for the Summer the other week, and the place I now call home before returning to University is at my Dad's in Blackburn/Accrington. It's very close to Blackpool but yet it is a completely different atmosphere. I'd go as far as to say it's another world.
Both sides of my family are complete opposites; my Mum's side enjoy a trip to the pub for some lunch and maybe even a pint. My Dad's enjoy nothing more than to sit in on a Saturday night and making up a game of Family Fortunes or a harmless Ludo tournament. Yet the changes I feel in myself are much greater...
The only way I can describe it is primarily down to culture. I try hard not to split the two cultures by sounding resentful to each one but it's difficult because both have perks and downsides.
My Mum's side is very freely going, allowing you freedom to do what you want, when you want. Everyone has varying opinions and a range of tastes in movies and music. I also find that these aspects are never criticized when around them.
My Dad's side is a collective family. Everybody rallies together and enjoys each others company, despite age difference or gender. However, they are very like-minded so if anyone with a different taste strolls in, it's mocked upon and seen as weird.
I find it hard most times because I stand out from the crowd in many ways at my Dad's. Ranging from my hair to the bigger difference; skin colour. It's hard to fit in... But I plough through it because it's worth it. They are just as important as those on my Mum's side. And I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for both sides of my family.
One aspect of the big differences between them cropped up today. I have been staying at my cousin's house for the past 2 nights because of my Dad's house being decorated. It is where everyone usually congregates and a lot of discussions arise each night; from music to sport to religion.
I hate discussions on religion, mainly because it never causes anything but anger and disagreements.
Religion is a part of life, there is no way of denying that. But in a good way? I strongly disagree... Especially when you look at the events of a certain anniversary that we have just passed yesterday. People act recklessly when religion is involved, at first people think it's the most thought out plan but it's not.
Killing in the name of a higher power, is by far the most ridiculous idea ever thought up.
A debate arose earlier on tonight, in which certain family members believe the Sun is always getting closer to the Earth because God is becoming angry at our actions. First of all, they claimed this as fact. However, the next comment really shocked me; science is fake and nonsense. I of course had to comment on this little Sun comment, in which I said "where is your scientific proof?" They then replied with the previously mentioned statement. Apparently because science is hard to understand, it's not real. As well as psychology. But God's all noticeable self, up there in the clouds causing world wide disasters with his tear induced tsunami's and casual allowance of murder and rape is much more understandable.
It puzzles me to no end. I am not a firm believe in God, angels or any sort of prophet. But I have respect for it all, I even capitalise the name. Though some people cannot see things right in front of their face. To say science is not real, is like saying gravity does not exist and that a man simply came up with the idea of oxygen whilst simply blowing up a balloon.
In the eyes of most people, God is the ultimate Deus ex Machina. The problem solver to end all problem solving, abruptly entering right at the end of time to save every one's souls from the hurt and neglect in which we have caused our planet. A 'cheat' is what I classify it as, arriving out of nowhere to make everything okay again. A bit like at the end of a movie, a man about to be shot in the middle of the street by another main character, only to have the tide turn when the bad guy is run over by a random person.
My theory on it all has always been that God has never had a foothold in my living, so why would he/she have a hand in my dying.
I won't believe that all of these problems in the world is just a sign leading to 'the end of days'. Science has led people to becoming what we are today more than that of religion. Religion gives hope to people in times of need, but science can stop those times by creating penicillin for the diseased or the physics of a digger's controls to rescue those praying from under the rubble.
"You came on your own, and that's how you'll leave. With hope in your hands, and air to breathe."
Decided to put up a few poems that I wrote a while ago and a few in which I wrote recently.
They are just a couple that I thought were best to post now, because to be honest some of the others are a bit dreary and stuff even I don't like reading...
Don't.
Don't let me lye on the water, keep me afloat.
Keep me adrift, don't let me drown no-more.
Don't let me bathe in flames, keep me cold.
Keep me from burning, don't let me melt away.
Don't let me switch off the light, keep me from the dark.
Keep me from a shadow, don't let me lose my sight.
Don't let me sleep with misery, keep me completely solemn.
Keep me from pain, don't let me run away in fear.
Wishful Thinking.
Stood atop a building up high.
A few steps to the left, or a couple of feet to the right.
Plummeting to your arms with eyes shut tight.
Tears that cannot be seen but wholeheartedly felt.
Never wanting to be on this Earth without you, all by myself.
Barrel by my side.
And a chunk of lead in hand.
It would be a quick sight, a flash before my eyes.
Memories of false hope and a happiness full of lies.
I think I'll leave here now, fed up of being reminiscent.
Never wanting to be on this Earth without you, all by myself.
A quickening end, surrounded in a cloud of bubbles.
It might be quick, there'll still be a struggle.
How can I compare it to this hangover.
Where you are by yourself, the both of us never together.
All I wanted was to be sat between beginning and happy ending up on our book shelf.
Never wanting to be on this Earth without you, all by myself.
Selfish Regret.
I sleep in til late,
And ignore pleas for me to wake,
A lot of the time we share, so incredibly short,
Lets return to our beginnings, upon our honeymoon resort.
I'm feeling so selfish and I truly regret,
Absolutely all of it.
I've always been so selfish but you make me complete,
Every single little bit.
Colliding with each other,
A vast collection of nouns,
Each one so powerful, I'm shaken to the ground,
I wish we could start over,
Forgetting all the anger and reminiscing with sweet words.
I'm feeling so selfish and I truly regret,
Absolutely all of it.
I've always been so selfish but you make me complete,
Every single little bit.
Ocean Tide.
I'm swimming out towards you,
Right out into the middle of it all,
You push me back,
Pushing me away, back towards a desolate land,
Towards the centre of population in a big shipwreck,
The place on land where we all belong to heartbreak,
Fighting against you, and losing the battle,
I'm crashing against rocks held inside your waves,
The beat of your heart so quickening but steady,
Crazed and deranged, you suck me in like a whirlpool lagoon,
I'm not ready to sink towards the empty bottom,
Give me a chance to stay and tidy up the clutter,
Your current state of mind,
It's a different kind of current,
Unable to swim within and difficult to drown beneath,
Please I plead, stop sending me back,
The shore is a lonely place,
Around there you won't find a trace,
Of me and you wherever,
So calm your oceans and let me join you out there,
You and I together.
Prosper & Struggle.
August ends,
For a new day to begin,
We laughed and we cried,
But the sun starts to hide, no a longer shine,
The waves are calm, soon to be rampant,
Where the winds will soon blow the trees, to a haunting slant,
The air isn't clear,
But I'm okay to be here, right here with you,
Leaves once green,
Fade to a dustless stance,
Empty branches and a cold air romance,
We used to walk in the heat,
Now we will lye next to one another, to warm each others feet,
Clouds fade to a grey,
Among a moody sky, the rains here to stay,
The air isn't clear,
But I'm happy to stay right here, right here with you.
Gaze at the stars,
Hid among the cluster of dust,
Soothing sounds and a gentle lust,
We would stare for hours,
Without a fear of it turning sour,
The ground covered in frost,
Clambering to our feet out of fear of becoming lost,
The air is never clear,
But I'm in love here, in love with you.
Hope you enjoyed reading them, and if you want give me some pointers on what you think needs improving. I expect poem names to be among this list, as they are pretty, pretty lame.
Jake.
"I hope you find the love that's true, so the morning light can shine on you. I hope you find what you're looking for, so your heart is warm for ever more."
I think the last time I did a "Top 7 Favourite Songs" countdown was about 2 weeks ago, which was also the first I had done.
Like I stated in that post, the reason behind doing this was so that I just didn't have to be all philosophical so damn much but also share some music with you that I love. So like last time, I will do my countdown and post video clips up with it and if you don't know the songs then hopefully give you something new and inspiring to listen to...
The second artist/band that I will be doing this list for is none other than, White Lies.
An indie rock band with a modern punk look to them, they first appeared on the scene back in 2009 through their first studio album (To Lose My Life). Although they had been around for much longer than that like all bands, they originally started off under the name "Fear of Flying" later changing it to the name they are now known as. A lot of articles if you manage to read them state that the change of name was due to the darker tone of songs and becoming much more serious than they first intended to be.
I'd say that they are up there as one of my favourite bands of all time. And that is for various reasons... From just how dark they can be in their song meanings to how thunderous the chorus' of nearly every song is. Despite a sound which I would describe as quite a revelation compared to some bands around these days which are just a rehash of past groups and inspired semi-cover bands; White Lies are continually likened to other bands within the Indie rock category. Joy Division being one of them, and I find it hard to see the comparison. Although the meanings of some songs are dark and awe-inspiring, much like Joy Division, they never have that edgy sound which JD had. They are more of a super tweaked version with real direction and anthemic sounds. That is not what Joy Division were in anyway.
With only 2 albums under their belt and a handful of B-Sides, it's a much harder list to make than the latter list featuring John Butler Trio as it could generally be half and half or the whole list full of one album. Thankfully, they have 2 incredibly good albums and some pretty amazing unreleased songs which made it very hard for me to choose the list in any sort of order.
So without blabbering for much longer without giving you anything to listen to, here is my top 7 list;
7.
From The Stars
From the first album, I always class this as the song that had me hooked on White Lies. Songwriting to me is storytelling, but it's rare you hear a song that is actually telling a story. And that is what this song does, it describes a man returning to his home town for a funeral, a man that has gained some sort of fame but whilst there realises life is incredibly short and how despite his success he is still meaningless in a world so big. The chorus' lyrics capture it so perfectly;
"He catches raindrops on his window, it reminds him how he falls, From the stars back to our cities, where we've never felt so small"
The songs story reaches a climatic end when it appears he has had a breakdown to which the maid finds him shivering on the floor.
6.
The Price Of Love
Also from the first album, it won't be a recurring factor in this list I promise. The Price Of Love is a song by White Lies which I would call a hidden gem. One that most overlook but should be remembered as a song that had the audacity to close the first album yet went wholly unnoticed by many. A worthy song nonetheless to close any album and with a powerful meaning behind it in an almost comical way (much like some of their songs).
Right from the start of the song, you can tell what it's about. A man who's girlfriend seems to be held hostage by an unknown man and requesting an outrageous figure of 1 million for her release. The great part of the song is that many of it goes unnoticed, such as the opening 4 lines;
"Don't lay a finger I said, but he held her with five. Kissed the crest of her lips and put his hand on her thigh."
That already gives away an underlying tone, I see it as the woman already has a sort of sensual relationship with the kidnapper and perhaps a hoax kidnapping. They know he won 800,000 and set the whole thing up because the main man loves her dearly and would give anything up for her. Hence "The Price Of Love" but by the end of the song, the hoax hasn't worked and the kidnapper leaves the woman, leaving her alone without anyone at all.
5.
Is Love
First song on the list from their second album "Ritual". Very different from most of their other stuff but then again, so was the majority of the second album. One major difference between 1st and 2nd albums was the focus... The 1st being about death mainly and the 2nd being about love and heartbreak.
Is Love talks about love in a way nobody really explains, it's a great thing but people give it a simple name. A lyric within the song states this;
"She says 'the only thing I've ever found. That's greater than it always sounds, Is love"
Plus, the killer beat going on when it kicks in just enthralls me. It's as if the feelings pressed into the song are mish-mashing together forming this electric sort of sound.
4.
Streetlights
Another from 'Ritual' and another song with a different vibe to it than that of it's predecessor. The lead singers voice in this song is what makes it incredibly good for me. His words are just so drowsy that they ooze melancholy, something that is so key to a song coming across effectively if you are going to sing about boredom and doomed relationships. In my opinion anyway.
I read an interview with the band a while back and they spoke of the songs lyrics and what they meant; they went through each verse one by one and said how they could contribute to a bad relationship or explain why it has gone sour. One verse in which they described truly stood out for me...
"Bored girls and sad boys, Dull roads to anywhere. Bad sex and ethanol, High scores on solitaire"
They stated that both the boy and girl had become bored, to which they now headed down a road that neither wanted to be in the others company. Then said that due to this the sex had become bad but wondered if it had been down to ethanol (aka alcohol) for which makes me think that they now felt no attraction so relied on alcohol to go through with it. And everyone knows what happens when you consume too much alcohol ha ha.
The last line summed it up, nobody plays solitaire out of joy. Most of the time you do it when there is nothing to do and you are bored. They have played it that much out of boredom that they now have high scores. Metaphorically or not, it really captures the mood.
3.
E.S.T.
One of those rare songs that should be a single but instead becomes an album filler. Not in a bad way, it's one of the cult favourites among fans off of the first album. So in line with the dark motives of the album and an upbeat chorus that somehow makes you happy and sing-a-long.
One of the band members said in an interview that it was about his grandmother who was undertaking 'Electric-Shock Therapy', and I also wrote a blog a while back about the song and the therapy mentioned. People undergo it for depression because it sort of numbs any feeling that person may have, it's basically a dumbed down version of a lobotomy and is only used in serious conditions.
In the song, the person seems to be taking this therapy and during it he is skipping through reality and imagination. The narrator believes the depression keeps him sane and allows him to feel something sad rather than nothing at all. So he believes the therapy would make him like any other person... He'd rather die than fit in. To which it seems he achieves by the end, when he says;
"I'm only going where you'll be some day. So don't say, "Rest In Peace" in your prayers"
It is a weird, dark loving sentiment really, he is going to die and leave them but he looks forward to seeing them in the afterlife and knows at some point they will also die. So why ask for him to rest in peace when one day they will be together again.
2.
Taxidermy
Okay, so I have said in previous songs on the list that there are gems among some of White Lies' songs. Well this is the biggest. Having never featured on any of their albums, it instead was a b-side to the To Lose My Life single. White Lies have a number of deeply dark songs and songs with a hint of comical effect added in. The great thing about the latter songs are that some bands never pull it off effectively, but White Lies do it perfectly. Whilst being haunting, they make you chuckle because the way that they tell a story.
Taxidermy is the supreme definition of this. And I could pretty much guarantee nobody could really explain the meaning, however, the band explained the song and it's so strange that I was puzzled...
They said that the song is about a girl who outright despises her family, specifically her mother and father. Because of her hate, she runs away and years later her parents die. When she finds out, she immediately wants to see the will and the true joke and revenge is then played out in the song to which her parents had played on her. They requested that upon her death, they be stuffed and placed in the living room of their house in which she has now inherited.
It's so incredibly horrible that it's funny and a true act of revenge in that she must always see them in front of her whilst in the house. Now you know the meaning, the lyrics should whole-heartedly spell it out.
"You can burn your parents in the fireplace"
Is one that makes me chuckle because she really could.
But the defining lyric of the song is this;
"I saw you run through the cold, put ice in my heart.
Now tell me all your fears, I'll be your greatest fear"
From the perspective of a parent, she ran away into the cold out of fear and hate of her parents. Now her greatest fear is back again and her parents know it.
1.
Unfinished Business
One of the GREATEST pieces of songwriting in history. Dark, haunting and yet romantic in a horrifying sort of way. From their first album, and at one point released as a single but the song was changed for the album version. It was made more upbeat and Harry McVeigh seemed to put a bit more passion into the chorus making it all the more special.
When I saw them live, it was the one song I hoped I would hear them perform and I wasn't disappointed. Fantastic music and the story within the lyrics is a little bit special to be honest.
How can you sum up a song that has a meaning to it that shouldn't even be thinkable in terms of ideas and inspiration. Inspiration of course meaning you'd have to be dead to write it. Confused?
Unfinished Business is the story of a man who is, well to put it bluntly, murdered by his wife/lover. He then returns to her with no recollection of the act, only to realise he is dead and then remembers everything. The touching part of the song is that he realises his purpose of being there is to haunt her as it is his "Unfinished Business" but he still loves her no matter what, so therefore can't bring himself to cause her any harm or distress.
He can see the blood on her hands and see her whispering to God yet all he wants to do is dance like they used to. It's incredibly powerful songwriting and I have never heard anything like it before.
These lyrics sum the song up for me;
I looked in the mirror,
b
ut something was wrong.
I saw you behind but my reflection was gone.
There was smoke in the fireplace,
as white as the snow.
A voice beckoned gently - 'Now it's time to go'.
Well, that was my Top 7 Favourite White Lies songs. I'm partially sorry that it was incredibly long but I enjoy writing about music I love. If you are interested in any of White Lies' music or just want to talk about them, then sound off in the comments or something.
There are definitely more great songs by them, and to be honest both albums are incredibly good so there are more than what I just put on this list. Especially Death, To Lose My Life, Farewell To The Fairground and Bigger Than Us which I am anticipating a backlash for not featuring them on the list.
Until next time, I hope it was a decent read and a good listen.
Jake.
"Let's grow old together, and die at the same time."
Somewhere within the deep mountainous roads of the Lake District, a loud bellowing of singing could be heard for miles on end. And as the lyrics to Gold by Spandau Ballet were being belted out, many in the surrounding area perhaps believed it to be a reformation, an emergence of the late 1980's synthpop and funk band. But all hope was once abandoned as dog-walkers and carefree joggers witnessed a convoy of 3 cars carrying a group of 8 lads towards a perfect campsite destination.
Coniston.
The bastion of all Lake District towns and villages. A place where you can see for miles but feel like you are within touching distance. A place in which sun and rain come hand in hand. A perfect paradise in your own backyard.
It has become a ritual of mine and several others that each Summer we go on a 3 day camping trip. For the past 3 Summers I have sat beside a fire in the dead of night, in total peace but never felt more excited. I class our trip as something to look forward to each year... Where you can just 'let go' and enjoy the simpler things in life. No need for a TV or a gaming system; instead all you need is a fire, the odd bit of rain, a whole lot of sunshine and a lake. One big, intimidating, beautiful lake. I find it incredibly hard to describe in words just how much I enjoy being outdoors, under a bright yellow sun or a star filled sky. But once you are there, you feel no need to express how much you love the place but instead just take it in and revel in every moment in which you have there.
Coniston is a beautiful place, it's somewhere I think everyone should visit at some point in time but a place where many don't. In a country where more and more buildings are being constructed, buildings that are more often than not, put in place for others to gaze at in amazement. Such ideas confuse me, especially when there are emerald green hills, and magnificent forests full of so many different trees that have been there for possibly centuries. I have also always considered that it is the people that make the places... And I feel that if you were to approach 10 people in the Lake District, you'd find it hard to dislike them. Relaxed, polite and humble are some of the ways in which I would describe the inhabitants of the Lakes. They are people that have earned their place living there.
When 8 young lads turn up and seemingly disrupt this homely feeling in a place that has a sense of being untouched by any commercialised business plans, you have to wonder if you are out of your depth. All worries are quickly dispatched when you come to the realisation that everyone out in the Lake District just wants to enjoy the things you are there to enjoy. Sharing quality time with friends or family in the open atmosphere of freedom.
So, obviously as soon as you get there you instantly want the best spot on the campsite. It's a subject we all discuss whilst on our way down and I believe becomes harder every year due to there being more of us or just wanting to improve on what we have already experienced. Nevertheless, we approach the situation with a calm head and a slice of optimism. This year had to be the best. Without a doubt in my mind. Our little pitch which we came across due to our meeting of a pretty awesome guy who went by the name of GT Dave (the previous year) was our first thought. Sat atop a little mound, quite a way from the rest of the site and providing us with much cover from anyone wishing to be nosey.
All of our tents set up in a semi-circle with wind breaks blocking off the front entrance. Just to add risk to our little endeavour, there was a slight muddy patch in the middle that according to one person in the group would "go up and over once it starts to pour". We had a chuckle and ignored, like you do, not letting anyone spoil the fun.
When you are done with all the usual setting up of the site and indulging in some of the more finer cuisine purchased prior to arrival; you aim to participate in one thing. Getting out on the lake, swim or dinghy. It simply doesn't matter how you get out there, as long you admire just how free you feel when you have around 50m of water beneath you and 800m to the other side. I also doubt you have experienced cold water until you are up to your neck in the stuff and desperately trying to push a dinghy along whilst someone is inside it with one paddle.
No matter how you approach your time next to the lake, you can always see how many other people just want to be there as well. From children skimming stones, to a few amateur kayaks seeing how fast they are against an increasing current, and then a couple enjoying the breeze under a lake side tree. It sort of feels right, lying down on the grass even though you are surrounded by people who are totally different from yourself.
All of the days antics lead to the mystifying night. And night time is something of a blessing. You are not supposed to light open fires on the campsite apparently but we do each year. They are always something a bit special and regularly get out of hand. Usually down to a bottle of white spirit and a couple of cans of beer. It's all good fun and it won't be ruined by a bit of rain. An interesting aspect of the Lakes is that when it rains, it certainly does pour. But again, you get on with it and prevail with a bit of help from a gazebo.
Once that very helpful gadget is in place the celebrations continue, in a drunken lary fashion accompanied by a whole range of music.
If you have ever been camping you may have noticed that despite whatever sleeping pattern you have, you always sleep earlier than usual and nights seem to drag. Nights dragging is by no means a bad aspect of the trip as you want it to last forever, but when you look at the time due to it being pitch black and notice it is only 10:30 pm you don't half wonder what the hell is going on. And like all nights, they must end with you hitting the sack and waking up the next morning for some delightful selection of BBQ breakfast.
The following day and night comprised of another trip to GoApe and a raving fire that threatened to burn a drunken friend. They are all great memories and I feel that I could type forever but I suppose, in a selfish sort of way, that some memories should be kept to yourself. Memories that you want to share with just you and those there because I guess if you do this, you remain in that little bubble where you were all free and didn't have a care in the world.
Every bubble bursts in the end. But I'll pray it doesn't for just a little longer.
"Take me to the docks, there's a ship without a name there, It is sailing to the middle of the sea. The water there is deeper than anything you've ever seen, jump right in and swim until you're free."
