1. |
I'll Wait
03:57
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I’m aware that this might make me sound strange
But I’ve never felt the need to travel, roam or range
I respect those who do, and those who see it through
But I never really felt it was for me.
As we walked to the bus stop in the rain
There were things we didn’t say, and things we’ll say again
It was such a simple way to do such a profound thing
I’m not sure when I’ll see you again.
I’ll wait a long long time to see you
And when we meet I’ll know exactly where we stand
And if we part I’ll say goodbye goodbye, but follow you with my eyes
My head, my heart, I don’t think I’ll understand.
I don’t think I’ll understand.
When we’re talking on the phone you sound the same
You remind me nothing’s changed, repeat it time and time again
But the miles between us start to infiltrate my mind
And I’m not sure when I’ll see you again
I’ll wait a long long time to see you
And when we meet I’ll know exactly where we stand
And if we part I’ll say goodbye goodbye, but follow you with my eyes
My head, my heart, I don’t think I’ll understand.
I don’t think I’ll understand.
I have travelled many miles to see you
Over continents and oceans I have roamed.
I have slept in airport corridors and made my bed down on the floor
To see the place that you now call your home
Now I understand a little why you’ve gone.
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2. |
1000 Days
04:00
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Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
This is a stranger’s land
And things have changed since I began
My journey over foreign sands
Over 10,000 days ago
In a 1,000 days I’ll be
2 years 2 hundred seventy
Days wiser than I am today
Maybe then I’ll understand
Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
Though life is hard across the Earth
Be glad for what you don’t deserve
Don’t wait too long to tell them, friends
Don’t waste another day
We’ll join hands and dig the Earth
My 2 pence for what it’s worth
Is when we lend a helping hand
We reach across a 1,000 days
Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
I know where I am
Right now and where I want to be
But how to get there, I don’t know
Will it take a 1,000 days
But if patience is a virtue
And if impatience is a vice
I’d wait another 1,000 days
I’d wait and then I’d do it twice
Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
I don’t want to wish away
All the things I have today
By counting down a 1,000 days
And miss the here and now
So I look forward to tomorrow’s end
So I can live today again
A 1,000 times and bring to mind
All the things I have right now
Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
Won't let another go to waste
Oh, I’m counting down a 1,000 days
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3. |
Stoney Faces
03:36
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The stones made over time and over stretched out recollection
Rested their hand in mine, their warmth gave me piece at night
They have taken a piece of me, and crumbled into the sea.
And stoney faded faces captured in old photographs
Torn pieces half washed away but branded in my memory
I can see them smiling back at me, my soul is sitting silent with them now.
Cool breeze and dappled light, filtered sunlight
Your name in another life lets me sleep at night.
‘cause you’re still the piece that keeps driving me home
The love deep hidden in my soul
And your smile, your smile, it sets you apart
You’ll always be a piece of me
My memory’s still strong of you, I know exactly what you would say
How you’d dress and where you’d go, I know it all so well and yet
The edges have been softening, blurring and blending into one.
And though we are but formed of dust, and back to dust one day we must go
I am not afraid of it, I know that I could never lose you
We gather up the pieces of the people and the things that are worth remembering.
Cool breeze and dappled light, filtered sunlight
Your name in another life lets me sleep at night.
‘cause you’re still the piece that keeps driving me home
The love deep hidden in my soul
And your smile, your smile, it sets you apart
You’ll always be a piece of me
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4. |
The Stories You Tell
03:54
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You’ve the voice of a songbird and the heart of a lion
And make-up that can’t hide the tears you’ve been crying
There’s only so much you can hide behind sound
And bright lights that shine from your head to the ground
As you sing
As you sing out your songs
As you sing out your stories of life, loss and hope
You looked battered and bruised as you took to the stage
There’s whispers you’re finally showing your age
There’s panic in your chest as you showed my your soul
And though we cheered and encouraged and applauded it all
We couldn’t get through
We couldn’t quite get through
We couldn’t get through the way you did for me
Your face showed a story your words didn’t tell
Then you stuttered, recovered and hid it so well.
Then you turned to us all and smiling you said
‘there’s stuff going on here you don’t know about’.
But I think we know
But I think we know
But I think we know more than you think that we know
Sooner or later you’ll have to engage
Take off the guitar and step down from the stage.
Open yourself up and talk to us all
Your friends on the phone, and the family next door
Know what’s going on
Know what’s going on
We know what’s going on, but not what to stay.
The voice of a songbird and the heart of a lion
And make up that’s run from the tears you’ve been crying
I know that you’ve learned your lesson so well
It’s clear from the words of the stories you tell.
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5. |
Don't Be Anxious
05:02
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When the wind came in from the south west
I felt it’s weight upon my back
Baring down on me so heavily
Forcing it’s way in through the cracks
Every drop that falls would break my
Heart a little bit more.
I’d look up and wait for rivers to appear
Running down the plaster and the walls.
Don’t be anxious when the weather turns
The storms will pass and then
The wind will change direction
And the sun will shine on you again
I’m lining buckets on the floor to catch the rain when it falls
Bring some order to this scene
Eventually they’ll overflow and share with me their wealth you know
They’re always generous with me
When I take shelter from the storm I don’t know why it takes so long
For the rain to pass me by
I’m waiting patiently for sunshine to welcome me
Back into the warmth into the dry.
Don’t be anxious when the weather turns
The storms will pass and then
The wind will change direction
And the sun will shine on you again
You can’t stop the rain from falling you can store it up
Or let it wash away
The photographs and mementos it carries with it as it goes
Probably didn’t matter anyway
Don’t be anxious when the weather turns
The storms will pass and then
The wind will change direction
And the sun will shine on you again
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6. |
I Was Made In Birmingham
02:44
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Streets, towns and cities near and far
These places make us who we are
Of all the places in this land
I was made in Birmingham
Not everything quite goes to plan
But I know I’m a lucky man
I caught her smile, I asked her hand
I met my love in Birmingham
Oh, what are you waiting for my son?
Tell, tell me ‘bout the things you love
Oh sing, sing out of your heart and soul
Perhaps a song from each of us is what we need.
I took my love to Coventry
So we could see what we could be
Of all the places in this land
I was made in Birmingham
To pay the bills that came to me
I joined an insurance company
Four years of study, 1, 2, 3 (4!)
I became an actuary
Oh, what are you waiting for my son?
Tell, tell me ‘bout the things you love
Oh sing, sing out of your heart and soul
Perhaps a song from each of us is what we need.
My pride and joy, my little man
My son was born in Birmingham
Of all the places in this land
I was made in Birmingham
Time will pass, I’ll watch him grow
I’ll try to teach him all I know
I’ve settled here, I’ve laid my plans
I’ve made my home in Birmingham
Oh, what are you waiting for my son?
Tell, tell me ‘bout the things you love
Oh sing, sing out of your heart and soul
Perhaps a song from each of us is what we need.
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7. |
Wasted Time
04:28
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I woke this morning
New feeling in my chest
I saw that old picture hanging there
The one of you and me, and all our memories
But I took it down today
Carefully wrapped us up and put us away and
Softly kiss you goodbye
I feel no need to justify myself
It all adds up to wasted time
You said yourself
'my darling, move on with your life it's time to leave your tears behind'
I woke this morning
Joy running through my veins
I found that girl I buried long ago with you
Wallowing in grief, trapped without belief
But I picked myself up today
Gave you a smile and I went on my way
Walking into the new
I feel no need to justify myself
It all adds up to wasted time
You said yourself
'my darling, move on with your life it's time to leave your tears behind'
I feel no need to justify myself
It all adds up to wasted time
You said yourself
'my darling, move on with your life it's time to leave your tears behind'
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8. |
Come And Rest
04:53
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Come and rest a little by my side,
I’ll tell the story of your life, the story of your life.
All these things, those little dreams you have
They are bursting into life, watch them bursting into life.
You know I remember well when we were young
We tied our hands together so they couldn’t be undone
Spending our time in each other’s company
Everything was easy, everything so free
Come and rest a little by my side,
I’ll tell the story of your life, the story of your life.
All these things, those little dreams you have
They are bursting into life, watch them bursting into life.
Living life without you never made to me much sense
I never felt like anything, although I could pretend
On my own I’d be afloat with all my hopes and plans
But you built them with me piece by piece, I knew you’d understand
Come and rest a little by my side,
I’ll tell the story of your life, the story of your life.
All these things, those little dreams you have
They are bursting into life, watch them bursting into life.
Knowing you better, holding you closer
Breathing in deeper, feeling much stronger
Laughter is harder, tears flow much deeper
My smile is much wider, I’m seeing things clearer
The trees grow much higher, the sun shines much brighter
The birds sing more sweetly, the waters run deeply.
Summer is warmer, seasons are fuller
Friendships are stronger, the days getting longer
The winter’s much colder, I’m feeling much older
The frosts are much sharper, the night’s getting darker.
The weeks last much longer, the years go much faster
My dreams are much better, colours much brighter
The rain falls much harder, the wind blows much stronger
The seas rage much wilder, the waves crash much harder
With you here, with you here
With you here, with you here.
Come and rest a little by my side,
I’ll tell the story of your life, the story of your life.
All these things, those little dreams you have
They are bursting into life, watch them bursting into life.
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9. |
You Got It Then
04:01
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You play up to a crowd, you say
You just want to see them smile
But behind my back you take hold of my hand
Squeezing my fingers and striking my palms and then
Rolling my eyes I smile back.
Then you glance my way, and catch my eye
I can't help but give you my reply
I don't always understand the joke
But I love that you tell it with confidence
It makes me feel confident
And if you need my permission to tell
A silly little joke at my expense
Darling you got it then, darling you got it then
You put your hands on my face and say
You just want to see me smile
I think you've got to be bored, I pull away insecure
But you pull me right back and say 'just stay for a while' and then
Biting my tongue I stumble back
Then you glance my way, and catch my eye
I can't help but give you my reply
I don't always understand the joke
But I love that you tell it with confidence
It makes me feel confident
And if you need my permission to tell
A silly little joke at my expense
Darling you got it then, darling you got it then
There is a light up ahead
When I'm lost and feeling so alone
You pulled my close and you said
'Come with me I'll show you the way back home'
I don't always understand the joke
But I love that you tell it with confidence
It makes me feel confident
And if you need my permission to tell
A silly little joke at my expense
Darling you got it then, darling you got it then
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10. |
Summer's Over
06:56
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There's cold and sunny day, captured in a photograph long gone
I can see it now, we were still deciding where we should call home
Taking in the city view and wondering what the coming months would bring
We turned our jacket collars up to keep us from the biting wind
Summer may be over, but September may yet have more sunny days
What we had and what we lost remember through the music we played
There's a cold and sunny day, it has left a picture in my mind
I can see it now any time I choose to close my eyes
Something was moving over us, we were at the start of something new
We sat with friends and strangers, taking in the frozen sunshine view
Summer may be over, but September may yet have more sunny days
What we had and what we lost remember through the music we played
Summer may be over, but September has more sunny days than June,
Through the miles and differences I'll find a way so we can be renewed
We're coming out of winter's chill, the thaw has left us soaking wet and cold
What should we do with ourselves, just sit and wait for time to make us ill?
You don't know what lies ahead, you only know what's happening right now
It's times like these you realise everything's connected somehow
Soon the wait is over and the springtime brings the start of something new
So tie me down and hold me there, if nothing changes nothing can improve
In my hand I hold a seed, broken and covered in Earth
Let's bury deep and hope will grow, time show us its worth
In 10 years' time should we return, gathered far and wide
We'll search these fields one summer's day and find what we have made
We'll find what we have made
Soon the wait is over and the springtime brings the start of something new
So tie me down and hold me there, if nothing changes nothing can improve
Summer may be over, but September has more sunny days than June,
Through the miles and differences I'll find a way so we can be renewed
Summer may be over, but September may yet have more sunny days
What we had and what we lost remember through the music we played
Summer may be over, but September has more sunny days than June,
Through the miles and differences I'll find a way so we can be with you
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Midsummer Birmingham, UK
Midsummer are a six-strong collective, centred around the two singers and songwriters, Lizzy and Chris.
Based in Birmingham, they’ve been writing, recording and performing since summer 2015.
With sweet, melodic vocals accompanied by guitars, mandolins, trumpets, strings and vocal harmonies, they sing out contemporary folk stories of life, loss and hope with grace and charm.
... more
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