shaun belcher songwriting

 

songwriting pre trailer star
home made cassettes 1991-1998

 

FLINT FIELDS Horseshoe Tapes 007 ( unreleased)

 

1. WHISKEY
2. EARLY MORNING SUN
3. SHE DIDN'T MARRY ME
4. POPLAR ROAD
5. A SERVANT'S LIFE
6. MAKE DO AND MEND
7. WIND BLOWIN' AROUND THE OLD BARN DOOR
8. SOUND OF THE RAIN
9. DROWNING MOON
10. GREAT SONG
11. SMALL YOU ARE
12. TRUCK IN THE TREES

 

WHISKEY

WHISKEY'S MAKING ME STAGGER
WHISKEY'S GOT A HOLD OF MY BREATH
WHISKEY'S DEEP INSIDE OF ME
IT'S A DEVIL THAT CAN'T BE FED

OH WHISKEY YOU BEEN MAKING ME BLIND
WHISKEY YOU'VE LEFT ALL MY BEST YEARS STAGGERING BEHIND
OH WHISKEY, OH WHISKEY, OH WHISKEY

WHISKEY TOOK MY FIRST WIFE
TOOK MY BABIES TOO
PUT THEM ON A FAST TRAIN
STRAIGHT OUT OF WATERLOO

NOW I SLEEP HERE EVERY NIGHT
WITH ONE EYE ON THE TRAINS
WAITING FOR THOSE TRACKS
TO BRING THEM BACK AGAIN

OH WHISKEY YOU'VE TAKEN THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE

 

EARLY MORNING SUN

EVERY YEAR WHEN I WAS A BOY
THE FAIR CAME TO MY TOWN
I'D GO RUNNING OUT TO THE FIELD BEHIND MY HOUSE
BUT THE FILLING STATIONS ARE CLOSED NOW
AND THERE'S A NEW ROAD TO THE SOUTH
AND IN THE FIELD I USED TO KNOW THEY'RE BUILDING ANOTHER HOUSE

AND EVERYONE I EVER KNEW THEY'RE ALREADY GONE
TOOK A CAR OR TOOK A TRAIN
IN THE EARLY MORNING SUN

WELL SOME OF 'EM I KNEW GOT MARRIED
AND SOME OF 'EM HAVE ALREADY DIED
SOME OF 'EM STILL LIVE AROUND HERE
BEEN WORKING ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR LIVES

BUT I AIN'T NEVER SEEN ONE OF 'EM AS HAPPY AS THE DAY THAT FAIR ARRIVED
ALL OF US KIDS WOULD GO RUNNING DOWN THE STREET BEHIND
I STILL REMEMBER THOSE LIGHTS LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY
AS THEY FLASHED BEHIND OUR HOUSE

I REMEMBER WAITING FOR SOME MONEY
THAT MEANT I COULD GO RUNNING OUT
BUT NOW I KNOW THERE'S NO PRIZES TO BE WON
YOU GET OLD AND YOU WORK AWAY AND YOU WAIT FOR THE SUN
AND ALL YOU'RE LEFT IN THIS LIFE IS A FIELD OF MUD AND STRAW

IN THE EARLY MORNING SUN…

SHE DIDN'T MARRY ME

HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUBURBAN WHITE WASH
I'M STARING BACK AT THE YEARS I'VE LOST
I'VE BEEN CLEANING THE WINDOWS WTH A LITTLE WHITE CLOTH
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING OUT THERE IN THE FOG

BUT SHE NEVER DID MARRY ME

WELL NOW THE LEAVES ARE RED AND THE SKY IS GREY
AND I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THAT FATEFUL DAY
HAVEN'T HEARD A VOICE FOR NEARLY THREE WEEKS
NOT SINCE I TALKED TO THE WOMAN WHO COMES TO CLEAN

BUT SHE DIDN'T MARRY ME

I HATE THIS SUN I JUST DRAW THE BLINDS
LISTEN TO THE RADIO UNTIL LATE AT NIGHT
SOMETIMES I WONDER WHAT LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN
IF I'D TAKEN A CHANCE AND MARRIED EILEEN

SOMETIMES I CAN'T EVEN SLEEP

POPLAR ROAD

ON POPLAR ROAD THE TREES ARE HIGH
SEEMS LIKE THEY MUST TOUCH THE SKY
AND I AM ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD
STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

ON POPLAR ROAD

ON POPLAR ROAD THE FENCES ARE WRECKED
THERE'S COWS IN THE CORN, THERE'S RATS IN THE SHEDS
HEAVEN KNOWS HOW IT CAME TO THIS
NO-ONE KNOWS, NO-ONE EVEN GUESSED
AND ON AND ON IT GOES
ALL THE WAY UP TO HEAVEN
ON POPLAR ROAD

WE QUIT THE FARM IN 1966
MY DAD WENT TO WORK ON A FACTORY SHIFT
NOW I COME OUT HERE EVERY CHANCE I GET
TO LET THE WIND TEAR AT MY HEAD
NOW EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT ME
STANDING HERE IN A FIELD OF WEEDS
BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHO PLANTED THESE TREES
THE NAME OF EVERY MAN WHO'S PLOUGHED THESE FIELDS

ON AND ON IT GOES
UP TO HEAVEN ON POPLAR ROAD

A SERVANT'S LIFE

I WAS PLOUGHING WITH RAIN IN MY EYES
WHEN CROMWELL'S TROOPS CAME GALLOPING BY
AND I WAS STILL THERE WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS
THAT TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS HAD DIED AT WATERLOO

THAT'S THE LIFE
THAT'S A SERVANT'S LIFE

I WAS FIRST OUT THE TRENCH WHEN I HEARD THE WHISTLE BLOW
ALL THE WAY FROM THE SOMME TO THE BELFAST ROUTE
I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO DIE
I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A SERVANT'S LIFE

I'D BEEN WAITING TABLE FOR THEM
FROM 1850 TO 1910
NEVER EVER GOT MORE THAN A PITTANCE
WHEN I RETIRED THEY SAID GOOD RIDDANCE

I WORKED IN THAT CAR FACTORY FOR FORTY YEARS
I FIXED THE HEADLIGHTS THAT WAS MY FIELD
I NEVER KNEW WHAT THE SUN WAS LIKE
FOR I WAS THE ONE THAT ALWAYS WORKED NIGHTS

I CAME OVER FROM JAMAICA IN 1956
ENDED UP CLEANING FOR THIRTY YEARS SINCE
WHEN I LEFT THEY GAVE ME A WATCH THAT EXPIRED
THAT'S A SERVANT'S LIFE

NOW IF YOU GO OUT ANY NIGHT
IN ANY CITY WHERE THE LIGHTS SHINE BRIGHT
YOU'LL SEE MY FACE BEHIND THE GLASS
SERVING YOU BECAUSE IT WILL NEVER STOP

THIS SERVANT'S LIFE.

MAKE DO AND MEND

SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THAT HE SMILED WHEN HE TALKED
SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY HE DRAGGED HIS HEELS WHEN HE WALKED
THREW DOWN HER PAD, THREW AWAY HER PEN
SHE SAID I AIN'T GOING BACK TO NO MAKE DO AND MEND

MAKE DO AND MEND

NEXT THING SHE KNEW SHE WAS IN HIS CAR
SHE WOKE UP NEXT MORNING IN ANOTHER PART
PARKED ON A BEACH , SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE
SHE DIDN'T REALLY EVEN CARE, SHE AIN'T GOING BACK TO…

WELL THAT AFFAIR LASTED THREE WEEKS THEN SHE FOUND SHE WAS LOST
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STATES WITHOUT A JOB
SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO NOW, ENDED UP IN A BAR
YOU KNOW HOW IT IS YOU ALWAYS END UP SOMEWHERE

BUT SHE AIN'T GOIN BACK TO…

BACK IN ENGLAND NOW THERE'S A MAN THAT WAITS
WHO SAYS HE WO N'T MAKE THE SAME KIND OF MISTAKE
BECAUSE HE'LL SEE TROUBLE COMING ROUND THE BEND
AND WON'T EVER END UP WITH JUST THE MAKE DO AND MEND

NOW TAKE A WARNING FROM THIS STORY, BEWARE
YOU CAN RUN ALL YOUR LIFE BUT NEVER GET THERE
SOMETIMES IT IS SAD BUT YOU JUST CAN'T ESCAPE
EVEN FOLLOWING A STAR WON'T FREE YOU OF THE MAKE DO AND MEND

WIND BLOWING AROUND THE OLD BARN DOOR

THE CHICKENS ARE SCRATCHING AT THE GROUND
THERE AIN'T BEEN A GOOD HARVEST SINCE THE SHIP WENT DOWN
MEN THEY SAY ARE GETTING HUNG EVERY YEAR
FOR DOING NO MORE THAN ASKING FOR A BEER

THERE'S A COLD WIND BLOWING AROUND THE OLD BARN DOOR
BRINGING NO GOOD, BE YOU RICH OR BE YOU POOR

THE SQUIRE'S GOT A MONKEY AND A BLACKJACK OF BEER
AND HE'S THINKING OF LAYING OFF MEN AGAIN THIS YEAR
WELL I BEEN TO THE FAIRS ALL ACROSS THESE DOWNS
BUT THERE AIN'T NO WORK NOWHERE TO BE FOUND

WELL I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M A GONNA DO
SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN IT'S TRUE
I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR TWENTY YEARS
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA BE A MAN OF DECISION
OR A MAN WHO TRUSTS TO FATE

WAITING AROUND FOR WHATEVER'S BLOWING IN THE WIND

(THAT'S OLD DAVEY BELL GETTING REAL HIGH ON SOME OLD RYE WHISKEY.)

SOUND OF THE RAIN

THIS GRAVEL TRACK IS FULL OF RAIN
HILLS ARE DISAPPEARING AGAIN
I DON'T KNOW WHAT BROUGHT ME BACK
TO THIS OLD TIN SHACK

MAYBE IT WAS THE SOUND OF THE RAIN
FALLING DOWN AGAIN
SOUND OF THE RAIN

I MET A GIRL IN LONDON TOWN
OH HOW SHE SPAN MY HEART AROUND
NOW I'M BACK HERE IN THESE FIELDS
WATCHING THE MUD DRY ON MY HEELS

AND LISTENING TO THE SOUND OF THE RAIN
POURING DOWN ON THIS TIN ROOF AGAIN

ALL OF MY FAMILY ARE BURIED NOW
I GO TO THE CHURCH AND I SEE THE GROUND
AND I LISTEN TO THE SOUND…
FALLING ON THE BURIAL GROUND TODAY.

DROWNING MOON

I MADE A CROSS OUT OF STICKS AND BONE
THEN I WALKED TO TOWN
KEPT IT IN A POCKET HID
SO THE DEVIL WOULDN'T SEE IT

I WAS SHIVERING LIKE A DROWNING MOON

TALKED TO A CROW IN A SYCAMORE TREE
HE SAID NOW GO CAREFULLY
'COS I'VE SEEN THE DEVIL WALKING IN FRONT OF THEE
I WAS SHIVERING LIKE A DROWNING MOON

THE DEVIL BETTER BE AWARE
I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM STOP ME
SEEING MY DARLING MARIE
'COS SHE MEANS THE WHOLE DAM WORLD TO ME

AND I'M SHIVERING LIKE A DROWNING MOON

THE CROW SAID HE'D SEEN BETTER MEN THAN ME
THROWN BY THE DEVIL IN THAT DARK COLD STREAM
BUT I FEEL NO FEAR WITH MY CROSS ON MY CHEST
I'LL SEE HER BECAUSE I FEEL BLESSED

THE DEVIL TOOK MY BABY AWAY FROM ME
NOW I'M SHIVERING ALL OVER
I'M SHIVERING LIKE A DROWNING MOON

GREAT SONG

I SAT DOWN AND WROTE A GREAT SONG
DIDN'T TAKE ME VERY LONG
I WAS SAT LOOKING OUT AT A FIELD
THINKING OF TRAINS AND FERRIS WHEELS

THAT'S HOW IT FEELS
GREAT SONG, GREAT SONG

MY SKIN IS LOOSER NOW, MY HAIR IS GREY
BUT THEY CAN'T TAKE YOUR LOVE AWAY
THE CATTLE ARE RESTLESS, THE MOON IS ON THE WANE
I AIN'T NEVER GONNA BUILD A FENCE AGAIN

GREAT SONG, GREAT SONG

WELL THE TIN ROOF IS RATTLING
THE WIND IS COMING THROUGH THE DOOR
BUT I STILL THINK I CAN FEEL YOUR BREATH
ON MY NECK LIKE WHEN YOU CALLED

GREAT SONG, GREAT SONG

SMALL YOU ARE

THIS IS FOR THE UNBELIEVERS
FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME
JUST WALK OUT IN THE DARK
AND LOOK UP AT THE STARS
YOU'LL SEE HOW SMALL YOU REALLY ARE
SMALL YOU ARE

YOU CAN BE BORN TO WEALTH AND STILL DIE IN PAIN
YOU CAN BE BORN IN HELL AND STILL FIND A WAY
AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME…
THIS IS FOR THE BULLIES AND FAKES

PEOPLE WHO WASTE THEIR LIVES AWAY
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS TOWN
AND SPEND ALL DAY STARING DOWN AT THE GROUND
GO WALK OUT IN A PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
AND LOOK UP AT THE STARS
YOU'LL SEE HOW SMALL YOU ARE
SEE HOW SMALL YOU ARE

YOU'LL SEE HOW SMALL YOU REALLY ARE

 

TRUCK IN THE TREES

THIS IS THE BEND THEY DIDN'T MAKE
THIS IS THEIR LAST RESTING PLACE
THESE WERE THE TREES THAT THEY MISSED
THESE ARE THE TRACKS THAT THEY LEFT

IT'S A SMOULDERING MESS
ANOTHER TRUCK IN THE TREES

WE FOUND THEM LYING THERE TOGETHER
SHE WAS WEARING HER NEW WEDDING RING
AND HE WAS WEARING THE FOOTBALL SHIRT
SHE BOUGHT HIM LAST SPRING

IT'S A SMOULDERING MESS
ANOTHER TRUCK IN THE TREES

A YEAR AGO HE BOUGHT THE NEW TRUCK
USED IT EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
NOW IT'S JUST A SMOULDERING MESS
AND THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE IT AWAY

NOW THEY'RE PULLING IT OUT WITH A CRANE
AND THE ENGINE'S STEAMING IN THE RAIN
AND A PATROL CAR IS HEADED OFF TOWARDS TOWN
A ST.CHRISTOPHER IN THE OFFICERS HAND

IT'S A SMOULDERING MESS
ANOTHER TRUCK IN THE TREES

 

© ShaunBelcher / Horseshoe Songs 1998.