Pick me up when I am down

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The Ballad Of Herbie Jones (RPM)

Uploaded February 21, 2010 5:35pm.

237

A folksy number inspired by the stories my nan told me many moons ago about her uncle Herbie..

Herein lies the story, of a man named Herbie Jones.
Not a million miles away from a man you might have known.
A miner in the twenties, blue scars filled with coal,
Hit the City in the thirties, and in the forties war explodes.

Herbie and his miner friends, return to their Terraced homes,
Their wives scrub their black skin, to reveal the flesh below.
Rivulets descending, little mue in tow,
Watching, recording, for future stories told.

A night class here some time there, soon the great escape,
Freedom from the coaldust, where the countryside was raised,
Megan’s pickled onion turned out to be a girl,
And for Herbie now Herbert, a new entire world.

From the dark coalfields,
To the home cooked meals,
Throw your hat down in the street,
These cards will not be beat,
A man amongst Welshmen,
In the land of the midnight sun,
Is not where you belong,
Its not where you belong.

Up and out to Newport, and a job above the ground
Working for an HP company in the centre of the town,
Happy now and carefree, soon to be disturbed,
By the Devil’s invasion, and the ugliest of words.

Later on a policeman, with a number for a name
Never thought he’d find himself, in a job he hated again.
Later on to Oslo, in a mission for the war
Never thought he’d find himself in a job he hated more.

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James Michael Taylor said April 16, 2012 7:30pm

Like your sound. Maybe a tad less f/x on your voice. I want to understand your words. What are you recording on? (jamesmichaeltaylor@jamesmichaeltaylor.com)

Nick P said August 28, 2011 4:50am

Nice tune...I'm looking forward to listening to more your songs

Dirty Spirits said March 18, 2011 7:59pm

this is a great tune. dynamic and rockin. another sweet set of songs.

Guest said October 8, 2010 9:41pm

nice mixture of cool tone and breaths. vocals are sublime.

History Machine said September 5, 2010 12:59am

Sounds really good when the whole thing kicks in

Guest said August 19, 2010 4:56am

sup bud?

Guest said July 20, 2010 2:00am

This one is SO cool! On the iPod! Thanks!

Guest said June 15, 2010 2:03pm

Hey Alex, how are things?

Dave Berry said June 2, 2010 11:25pm

Nice, real nice. I love songs like this.

corbinSound said May 10, 2010 11:14pm

LOVE IT! seriously! just awesome!!

Gu Djin said April 9, 2010 6:27am

I love story songs that have that touch of authenticity. Love it

Guest said March 6, 2010 4:34am

The more I listen...just keeps gettin' better! I agree with Kirk, great writing!

kirklynch said March 5, 2010 4:20pm

Wow! Great writing!

Johnny Stone said February 27, 2010 2:47am

Nice one mate great lyrics dig it.

Guest said February 25, 2010 9:14pm

You have such a great style!! Great song!

transmit said February 23, 2010 4:46pm

You have a serious gift for writing good lyrics! This is great!!

dAb said February 22, 2010 11:01pm

Was there a female vocalist in there? Give her more space. Otherwise I really enjoyed this. :)

dwalsh said February 22, 2010 10:43pm

great song man, love the keys and the drums. Ar the drums recorded live or a program?

launched said February 21, 2010 10:16pm

Those vox are money, Alex. I love the gated sound - I want to do that. Great songwriting. Brilliant lyrics, just awesome, man!!!

Guest said February 21, 2010 6:36pm

Fabulous!

Guest said February 21, 2010 6:15pm

Wow, what a tribute. Kinda Neil Young vibe. (I always fancied that scrubbing by the fire thing, but was several decades too late.) "Very well put together," says Husband. And he doesn't mean me.

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