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Bedrooms And Basements

by A P Clarke

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1.
Camden Town 03:18
CHORUS Raise your glasses! Hold them high! Tell all your friends and don’t you lie! Coz the coppers said the bodies were never found When Johnny met the Devil in Camden Town. Johnny came to London from Colchester With a head full of noise and a shit guitar But of all the stops on the underground Johnny came up at Camden Town Johnny picked a pub and he sat at the bar And a Man came over looking at his guitar Now he had been a handsome one in his time with jet black lines around his yes He said ‘Johnny do you know my name? I can give you riches, I can give you fame. But first we’re gonna play this little game: line the glasses on the bar, the first round is on you, son’ CHORUS Raise your glasses! Hold them high! Tell all your friends and don’t you lie! Coz the coppers said the bodies were never found When Johnny met the Devil in Camden Town. Well 1,2,3 the glasses went down and nobody dared to make a sound 4,5,6 the crown started leaving As Johnny and the Devil both started steaming The Devil said ‘who do you think you are? Just another pretty boy with a shit guitar! Every last one of you leaves here, pal, floating head down in the canal’ Johnny just laughed he said ‘in my home town, There’s nothing else to do but drink until you drown.’ The Devil said ‘Fine!’ His eyes were wide. ‘Line the glasses on the bar, let’s have another round, son!’ CHORUS Raise your glasses! Hold them high! Tell all your friends and don’t you lie! Coz the coppers said the bodies were never found When Johnny met the Devil in Camden Town. Well the Devil slurred his words with a sibilant hiss And Johnny lit a cigarette but Johnny missed And the wood of the bar was split in two But every time the Devil drank, Johnny drank too And the Devil rose up! The Devil rose high! Said ‘I coulda made it, if I tried!; The Devil waved a gun around as he sang Johnny made a finger gun and Johnny said ‘bang’ No-one had ever lasted this long Johnny did clap at the Devil’s song The Devil said ‘You’ll never be more than you are: Just another old man sitting at the same bar.’ Well Johnny said ‘Devil now you’re here too, So I guess I’m the same as you.’ And the Devil cried out, the roof fell down And Johnny picked up two more glasses ‘let’s have one more round, son!’ CHORUS Raise your glasses! Hold them high! Tell all your friends and don’t you lie! Coz the coppers said the bodies were never found When Johnny met the Devil in Camden Town. When Johnny met the Devil in Camden Town. When Johnny met the Devil in Camden Town.
2.
So I was drinking on another nothing night in Shoreditch I met a wanker from The City had some pills to sell He popped two blues into my hands and said ‘now this’ll sort ya’ And I weren’t doing nothing else so I said ‘what the hell’. And suddenly my head went numb He grinend just like a skeleton and then I knew I had to run glass to the floor, out of the door, and on in to the city Way-o, Ah Diddly-o! Another night in London! Hey-o, Ah Diddly-o! Didn’t we have some fun? Everybody running for the last train on the underground Hey-o, Way-o, down in London Town! Running through the streets and I got lost in no short order And if I kept on moving everything would be OK Went into a shitty club just to get a drink of water Went on to the dancefloor just to keep myself awake The bass was mud, the lights were Tron, Their eyes were all like Pokemon And then I started on a bouncer Glass to my throat, lost my coat here we go again, so! Way-o, Ah Diddly-o! Another night in London! Hey-o, Ah Diddly-o! Didn’t we have some fun? Bottle of rum, pop of a gun, sirens in the distance, Hey-o, Way-o, down in London Town! Everything behind the houses looks like it’s on fire Everyone was screaming now I’m pretty sure I went into a party down a side street My God who’d bring children? I met him later on that night in an all night cafe in Dalston To cut the story short he had had four more than me He couldn’t blink his eyes and he had blood upon his trousers He said the guy he got them from swore blind that they were pure And he said ‘Oh God I’m sorry, man.’ And I said ‘Don’t you worry, man. We’ll find the cunt you got them from’ And I gave him some gear, a bottle of beer, ‘hair of the dog’ll sort ya!’ Way-o, Ah Diddly-o! Another night in London! Hey-o, Ah Diddly-o! Didn’t we have some fun? Sorrow’s drowned, watch the sun come up on Hackney Downs Hey-o, Way-o, down in London Town!
3.
On the seventh day of July, a woman had seven girls Just one little body, but seven heads full of curls The mother died, the nurses cried, the dad cut off his hands But all the girls survived and they decided to form a band And they made a lot of money, at a certain type of party ‘The Seven Sisters’ were the darling of the scene The damndest thing you’ve ever seen! They could fuck a football team, And still sing out in perfect harmony! A man in a bar he told me, about a man who had holes where his eyes should be and if you licked the insides you could see in to next week And if you fucked him up the arse, you could see in to the past or touch his toes if you only wanted a peek Well a girl was born in a far off land, she only wanted to hold his hand And he was so happy he whispered in her ear ‘You want to know what it’s all about, well suck my dick and you’ll find out’ And when she did she came for a hundred years A woman tried to sell her soul, but it weren’t worth very much A little bruised, a little ragged, the Devil said ‘i’ll keep in touch’ And I met her at the bar, we hit it off right away, I wasn’t much for listening and she didn’t have much to say. Well the last I heard of her she was trying to sell her toes, they’re the perfect shape for replacing a burn victim’s nose and as for us it didn’t last, I guess I’m being kind I could say we came together, but we left at different times. Did you hear about the man who bought a lucky monkey’s paw? He was killed by a three legged monkey or the man who ate a magic bean, he died within a week? He saw a pretty lady and hick dick turned in to a tree. The politician with three fingers, the parson with six toes the bridesmaid with no knickers, and the bride with a broken nose Well we gather here most every night, while the one foot piano player fights until the barman calls out for the end, until the bar man calls out for the end.
4.
Oh My Lady 03:24
Oh my lady lock your door, Hide away, in the darkness Oh my lady they are here, your brother sold you freely Turn your lights down low, hush your baby silent Oh my lady they are here Leave your home behind Oh my lady it’s too late Leave your home, leave your home now See your city lit by fire and the sound of screaming Hold your baby close, burn what you can’t carry Oh my lady they are here, leave your home behind Oh my lady it’s all gone, To the sound of revolution Oh my lady cross the sea, Where your name means nothing Hold your baby close, hide now in the mountains Oh my lady don’t back, this is country not yours The snow came earlier this year Wrap your babe in rags feed him blood to keep him warm Here they come No forgiveness shall be asked For none shall be given Your father’s sins lay on your skin Now here they come Hear the banging of their drum Oh my lady who are you? Hidden away, hidden away now Oh my lady don’t you cry, what good will it do you? And if they find you here, This I promise only To raise the baby as my own And carry your body home And carry your body home
5.
Fireworks 05:52
Darkness, crowds of people I am running, I can’t find you Burning, echoed shouts, I see you Smiling, pointing upwards Fireworks explode in the night Tracing their arcs on the sky Flowers in bloom, for me and for you As you turn to me as you sing I hold you in my arms Reds and greens and crashing thunder I put you on my shoulders Explosion! With your arms up over my head Fireworks explode in the night Tracing their arcs on the sky Flowers in bloom, for me and for you As you turn to me and sing Stars in bloom Lighting up the crowd below You laugh at every new sun I should let you run Sparklers trace The line of a spinning dance In between the shadows Dragons in the air Final fire Eyes grow tired On the way home in my arms In my arms Flowers in bloom, for me and for you As you turn to me and sing
6.
Good Times 03:24
Well I tiptoe past the rubbish bins the pigeons eat the chicken wings but still I must admit it London’s never been more beautiful And I don’t know what’s come over me, the melody the harmony and it falls and then it rises and it’s pleasurable to my soul Good times, are gonna follow soon Good times, under a summer’s moon You got your man, baby, I got this tune Good news for a whiskey singer Tired of singing the blues I hear it everywhere I go, The car horns on Green Lanes and Soho Even the old dirty river’s Flowing on slow And I find it hard to keep from smiling Tower blocks hold up the sky From falling down on me coz I got somewhere new to go Good times, are gonna follow bad Good times, they were the best I ever had Even down in this old town I found something new Good news for a whiskey singer Tired of singing the blues So goodbye Time to pack away the memories and leave them behind By bye baby, baby bye bye Good times, are gonna follow soon Good times, under a summer’s moon Every time I hear that song I dance like a loon Good news for a whiskey singer Tired of singing the blues
7.
Lead Me 03:45
Lead me up to your bedroom door Leave cups and clothes upon the floor I don’t another, I just want a lover like you I don’t another, I just want a lover like you Show me, all the places where you play Take my hand, they’re still warm from the day Not for the sake of it, it’s not like you’re with me, now please Not for the sake of it. it’s not like you’re with me, now please Lead me, Lead me, Lead me I’m old enough to know Old enough to let it go Old enough to know I need you, to lead me I don’t another, I just want a lover like you I don’t another, I just want a lover like you Lead me, Lead me, Lead me I’m old enough to know Old enough to let it go Old enough to know I need you, to lead me
8.
As the singer breathes before the line The grape still falling from the vine As the coin still turns upon its line Come dance with me As the flame still licks the cloth As the light still taunts the moth As the pop turns into froth Come dance with me Lover, lover, come take my hand Come dance with me tonight The cut before it starts to bleed The slave before he’s told he’s free The drowning man who has to breathe Come dance with me The things you said you would not do The times to use and to be used And the holy place between the two Come dance with me Lover, lover, come take my hand And let your foot dance one step over the line Dip your fingers in to the wine Oh my lover, just what were you going to say? Lover, lover, come take my hand Come dance with me tonight Lover, lover, come drop your glass And watch it shatter Lover, lover, come take my hand And let your foot dance one step over the line Dip your fingers in to the wine My love
9.
Welcome to The Black Keys Where we dance like crabs and monkeys There’s a pot there for your car keys coz we know what you’re like And we’re there every night at seven, But it was a little past eleven When this lady walked inside out of the night So come on over if you’d like a little dance Maybe a little conversation, maybe a little romance My baby’s got a secret, let’s just see how long she keeps it in The Black Keys on a Friday night Well she looked like Audrey Hepburn ‘Cept she still liked to keep her hair long and it cam down to the start of her short silk skirt That was made by Pierre Cardin I’ll admit admit I got a hard on And I undid the top two buttons of my shirt So come on over you can share my little booth I wouldn’t trust the water how about a dry vermouth My baby’s got a secret, let’s just see how long she keeps it in the Black Keys on a Friday night Now upstairs there’s a hotel, Where the porter swears he won’t tell All the scenes he sees through the keyhole he says ‘I don’t know what you mean?’ The blood pooling in the ashtrays And the semen on the lampshade Where it burns, and then it turns into steam It’s getting late, I think you missed the last train I’ll buy you another drink, if you tell me your middle name again My baby’s got a secret, let’s just see how long she keeps it in the Black Keys on a Friday night The rest of the night was a haze of tequila and rum What can you do when you’re done? I woke up in suite 35b, But she wasn’t there beside me And the bed was as empty as a squeezed lime She didn’t even leave a note But in the pocket of my coat Was seventy-six dollars, for my time I knew the score but what the hell was I supposed to think? I went down to The Black Keys, bought the bartender a drink My baby’s got a secret, let’s just see how long she keeps it in The Black Keys on a Friday night in The Black Keys on a Friday night in The Black Keys on a Friday night
10.
What else are you doing? You smoked your cigarette Come on, there’s nothing on the TV The Slaughthouse is open, every Friday night There’s a party, you can go with me And from the blood on the floor, the gristle on the saw The piles of glasses teeth and car keys The scratches on the door, tell us those that came before Went down, down, down to the Slaughterhouse To The Slaughterhouse, to The Slaughterhouse Let’s go down to The Slaughterhouse And have some fun There’s tinsel on the handles, and flowers on the grate Boys will follow girls wherever they go And the blades will make the rhythm, the screams will make the tune When the first cut comes, that’s the start of the show There is petrol in the air, and the smell of burning hair When the angel’s dress goes up she does a striptease And at night the only lights on anywhere in the town Are down, down, down at The Slaughterhouse At The Slaughterhouse, at The Slaughterhouse let’s go down to The Slaughterhouse And have ourselves a time Your bedroom smells like newspaper, your linen smell like smoke And the cities are all empty but for people You can hear the road from anywhere, the tiny clacking sound Machinery to keep a corpse alive See how much you’ve grown, have you ever seen your bones? Don’t worry every part of you is used And when all that’s left is shoes, someone else will sing the blues Down, down, down at The Slaughterhouse At The Slaughterhouse, at The Slaughterhouse Let’s go down to The Slaughterhouse Let’s get killed
11.
Haul Away 04:38
There’s a man in the water, just off the port side Haul, haul away boys By the time we turn round he’ll be lost to the tide Haul, haul away boys Would you rather it was you in the water instead? Keep your heads down, there’s along night head Haul, haul away boys Haul, haul away Throw his trunk over, it’ll just weigh us down Haul, haul away boys I’m sure he was dead before he started to drown Haul, haul away boys Don’t look at him now, as he raises his hand There’ll be plenty more lost before we ever see land Haul, haul away boys Haul, haul away Always the same, calling your name The man in the water, over and over Always the same, calling your name ‘Hail! Hail! What has become of me? Hail! Hail! Can you not see me now? Can you hear me?’ Always the same, calling your name And the crew turns away as he lowers his hand And you can still see his eyes, as he realises Says ‘friend, friend, there’s nothing that you can do Leave me, I will be fine I will see you in the new land’ Haul, haul away boys Haul, haul away Now it’s been a year since we folded the sheet And it isn’t his face that you see in the streets Haul, haul away boys Haul, haul away
12.
Come on gather round, there’s a storm outside There’s a tale to tell about a man who lied And he left his bride there on his wedding night To sail across the sea and there to fight And I tried to make her happy as I kept her warm at night But I know that she was lonely for her own And when he died they brought her back his burnt black bones Clap you hands! Clap your hands! Claps your hands to the funeral band! Clap your hands, come on, clap your hands! We’re going way down, to the bottom of the world Well we saved some wood and piano string For the happy songs we forgot to sing So come in close, it’s getting cold Now the fires are down all around the town Did I ever tell the story of my sweetheart Saint Marie? The only thing she left us were her shoes And when the fire dies down we can burn them too Clap you hands! Clap your hands! Claps your hands to the funeral band! Clap your hands, come on, clap your hands! We’re going way down, to the bottom of the world Come on now the band’s about to play We had our time and now it’s gone away So boys and girls now if you please Everyone get on your knees and pray... Can you feel the beat? Filling up your ears? Like a steady drum, like a rising hum Now you can scream, if you are scared But nobody will hear you for the beat in theirs Everybody has a monster on the other side of the world And every beat’s another step towards you And when he’s right behind you he will STOP Clap you hands! Clap your hands! Claps your hands to the funeral band! Clap your hands, come on, clap your hands! We’re going way down, to the bottom of the world To the bottom of the world

about

This album is a collection of songs drawn from the many sessions i have done over the last 18 months, recorded in many bedrooms and basements across London.
I would like to thank all those generous and foolish enough to have welcomed me into theirs and to have accepted the invitation into mine.

credits

released February 19, 2010

Cover Design: Richard Dufty richarddufty.com
Cover Illustration: james Ward jimbobart.co.uk
Cover Photography: David Thorburn davidthorburn.com

All songs written by: Andrew Clarke (unless where stated)

Please see Individual songs for production and performance credits.

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A.P. Clarke City Of London, UK

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