South To The Sun

This was written on a BASCA songwriting retreat with the brilliant Lisa Fitzgibbon. It grew from a combination of a top line and a chord progression that Lisa had and a theme that had been found by both of us going through my old lyric book looking for lines that would fire our imagination. The track was pretty much done inside 24 hours and I’m really, really pleased with it.

The more sharp eyed readers will notice not only a line that has been used elsewhere in another song, but also part of the story as well which has been re-examined through a different view through the prism. As is the case with a number of my works, its core subject is around loss and transformation and change – and adaptation to the changing world around us.

It hasnt been used on any album as yet, it only exists so far in an MP3 that Lisa has sent me of that weekend; this was the first time that I had collaboratively written with anyone outside of my very tight circle of Silent Edges/AlterZero members and it proved that I could play nicely with real writers and provide some lyrics that had depth and resonance and painted an image with words.

So, it met the spec. Dunno if Lisa will ever do anything with it….

South To The Sun

Verse 1/
I whispered a wish into the palm of my hand (hello, hello)
My memory drinks from a solitary glass (let it go, let it go)
The autumn rain falls on my face
And the leaves on the trees turn brown
As the birds fly south to the sun…

Verse 2/
Wearing two gold bands attached to a chain (I know, I know)
They’re here to remind me that you wont go away and I know… (let it go)
The autumn rain falls on my face
And the leaves on the trees turn brown
As the birds fly south to the sun…

Middle 8/
Your coat’s in the hallway
Your shoes at the door
I turn on the lights and watch the dust settle
Days growing shorter and the shadows grow longer
And I look at the sky and I smile a little
As the birds fly south to the sun…

Verse 3/
Time is a thief, makes the memory fade, I know (I know)
He comes and he steals a little piece every day and I know, ‘cos I let him go
Autumn rain falls on my face as the leaves on the trees turn brown
Todays not just another day
Because I’ve nothing left to fear now
As the birds fly south to the sun…