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March 9, 2010

Hard To Love Me

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I'm not always an easy person to deal with I know that. I want to be better especially for the sake of those close to me.
I take advantage, I do
of your love and your support
for all the crazy things I do
and I know, it's hard to love me
but you do
somehow you do

When I hold you, in my arms
whisper baby stick close by me
you'll be safe from harm
I can believe, the words I say
with your body next to mine

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Respect

Filed under: Song — admin (Rob) @ 1:00 pm
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In 2008 I attended a Stop the War coalition march (I donated and marched on and off for several years). I found myself inspired by the sight of so many people from so many disparate backgrounds coming together to say something they all believe in. Both the message and its delivery were non-violent to the last. When you don't have money or power and you won't use guns you use your feet to effect change by marching.
Through Whitehall walks a carnival of citizens,
who believe in something bigger than themselves.
Bohemians and veterans, destiny unites,
and winds them round the story that it tells.
Herded like the revolutionary livestock that we are,
By a gauntlet of uneasy enforcers.
Our hoarse voices are a mirror,
to the lies of those in charge.
We expose and juxtapose the smooth talkers.

Oh the...
...left is right but unrealistic,
the right is realistic but wrong...
...or maybe it's the right that's right, but unrealistic
and the left is realistic but wrong...




An old man plays Jerusalem,
on his saxophone.
A young girl beats a hand drum as we chant.
A festival of empathy, a bazaar of points of view;
we revel in the freedom conscience grants.
Anger at indignity,
breeches barriers of rich men in denial.
Onlookers freeze, undecided,
as their loyalties and frailties beguile...

Oh the...

Not pacified by TV
or possessions or the law.
We shame apathy with each and every step.
Intransigence be damned,
we'll just shout louder truth will out,
That every point of view deserves...
...Respect.


Soon. source recordings will be available to download here along with ecasound scripts, written musical score etc.

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Prince

Filed under: Song — admin (Rob) @ 1:00 pm
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I don't have to be a Prince.
I don't need to stand up tall.
No stiffened, regal upper lip,
no matter should I fall.
There is no disgrace in weakness,
in body or in mind.
I smile at some girl no shame
should she not respond in kind.

I dream men look on awestruck,
better yet with jealousy,
when I should be proud of who I am,
not who I want to be.
Others need not seem inadequate,
I be adequate myself.
I'm alike, no prideful principal,
that I be something else.

And perhaps my burnt ambition,
to be too good to be true,
holds implicit in itself,
the best I cannot do.
And if one day, of all these things
I can, myself, convince.
Then on that day, just maybe,
I'll at last, be crowned, a Prince.
A few years ago, in one of many desperate attempts to sort out my then miserable health, I tried EFT or the emotional freedom technique. As far as I can see it uses acu-pressure points and a bit of psychology to remove hang-ups and issues. As I recall, during the session, the practitioner was asking me to try to think of something I would like to feel better about. I wasn't co-operating so she asked me to just say whatever popped into my mind.

I was watching a lot of the cartoon Dragonball Z at the time and mentioned that in my life I felt like the character Vegeta. He is a Prince but has never been treated as such. In fact he spends most of his life being bullied and abused. His every waking hour is dedicated to being the greatest warrior so everyone will bow down to him etc. There are a few moments over this epic Manga where he starts to realise that although he is not the strongest he is very, very smart and has other things to contribute. Anyone who has experience of EFT will be amused to hear that I spent the next few minutes repeating "Even though I'm not a Prince, I accept myself..." over and over while the probably quite bemused practitioner tapped various pressure points on my body. Needless to say I didn't believe a word of what I was saying.

However the next day a lot of the chronic tension in my head and neck that was so painful at the time began to melt away and in my euphoria I wrote this poem. It sounds like quite an endorsement for the treatment, although soon after my health took a serious downturn with my digestion pretty much giving up on me. Nothing comes for free I guess...


Anyway, although I originally meant "Prince" to be just a poem I have nonetheless set it to music a few times. At the moment however, I think this reading catches the idea best. It's still one of my favourite verses that really comforts me when I try too hard. Given that for a while I was actually trying to be (the artist formerly and subsequently known as) Prince it's got a double meaning in the title.

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Back to 52 To Change The World Go to previous song "Money Don't Matter".
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March 2, 2010

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Food Can’t Make You Happy

Filed under: Song — admin (Rob) @ 5:20 pm
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Food has been something of an issue in my life. From it being an addiction to an object of blame and loathing it's been a rocky relationship... However, I think my attitude now is really very healthy and improving every day. In this song I wish to express how beautiful food is in it's simplest form. I also wish to say that however beautiful it is it cannot make you happy in any lasting sense. It is your attitude (to food and other things) that will do that for you.
Food can't make you happy
You have to do that for yourself
x2
But consider this!
What else this beautiful really grows on trees?

Consider the juicy oranges
Delicious, nutritious on your tongue
x2
One day I'll be satisfied and grateful
with just one

I used to chase after cheap thrills
pizza fries and pasta was my game
I used to chase after cheap thrills
curry crisps or ice cream it's all the same

Consider the humble apple
Sweet and crunchy as you like
x2
Sometimes when I'm eating you I pay more attention to the tv
I know that ain't right, surely that ain't right


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Back to 52 To Change The World Go to previous song "I'd Rather Die". Go to next song "Food Can't Make You Happy".
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February 23, 2010

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Money Don’t Matter

Filed under: Song — admin (Rob) @ 7:41 pm
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This is week 7! I read a load of stuff on the recent financial crisis as research. I tried very hard to think of something sensible and positive to say and eventually settled on this. Money is both a cause and effect of this list of things I wrote that "matter" and therefore in itself completely meaningless. As long as we give undue power to money in our lives we will continue to give undue power to those who handle it. Therefore bankers earn more than they should whilst controlling our livelihoods. Being human they make mistakes and naturally we blame them but be aware that it is each and every one of us who gives them their power by aspiring to their wealthy lifestyle. We need not.

Musically this was a blast! My lame yet strangely effective attempts at beatboxing made me feel like a one man rolling stone:-). Until I can get more kit out here to Italy it's a nice way to get my message across. Might try it again sometime...
A roof over my head
that matters
fresh food to eat
that matters
a warm bed at night
that matters
someone to share it with
that matters
clean air to breath
that matters
a healthy body to breath it with
that matters
friends and family who give a damn
they matter
like minded people to work with
they mater

...but money don't matter...

Having someone you can talk to when you're down
that matters
they'll be honest yet kind and not judge you
that matters
being appreciated for who you are
that matters
having people gladly accept your kindness
that matters
free movement for your body and your mind
that matters
the sacred right to speak as you find
that matters
the responsibility to let others retort in kind
that matters
a space in your life to create howsoever you're inclined
that matters


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