Lyrics

1. 20,000 VOLTS

(Silke/Kabs) 3:05

Can’t be direct, I take my time
I skirt the issue, the sorrow in your eyes
[Gifts and lies / Marking time]

The long day softened, here comes the new
A lonely kiss, and almost pulling through
[Gifts and lies / Marking time]

A kiss in so much loneliness
Is tempting and so sweet
I can’t shake off a feeling of defeat

A love we never knew
You were never gonna come on through
You can’t deliver, you are too remote
And I needed 20,000 volts
Always looked so confident
All you gave me were promises
You can’t deliver, you are too remote
And I needed 20,000 volts

Constant reassurance
Turn on the light, a laser in the gloom
[Gifts and lies / Marking time]

Carefully withholding
The love I need and some day it’ll be true
[Gifts and lies / Marking time]

A kiss in so much loneliness
Is tempting and so sweet
I can’t shake off a feeling of defeat

A love we never knew
You were never gonna come on through
You can’t deliver, you are too remote
And I needed 20,000 volts
Always looked so confident
All you gave me were promises
You can’t deliver, you are too remote
And I needed 20,000 volts

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

Dance music on one level appears to be easy to write. It is repetitive, often features the same chord sequence throughout and seldom showcases intellectual lyrics. But it is extremely difficult to write effortless-sounding dance music.

Ed Sheeran co-wrote an absolutely perfect dance hit when he composed “Shape of you”. From the memorable opening tune (now featured extensively in an expensive M&S advertising campaign) to spot on lyrics, not to mention a variety of internal melodies, “Shape of you” remains terrific even after numerous plays. The very best dance songs (Dua Lipa’s “New Rules” is another example) are works of art.

When I compose a dance song, I have the luxury of knowing that my producer/ arranger Chris Kabs will embellish the framework I give him with additional catchy tunes and well thought out rhythms, elements which make all the difference between an “okay” dance recording and a great one.

The words of “20,000 volts” deal with a relationship running out of steam – singer HeatheR bemoans the fact that her current man has consistently failed to deliver. She needs high electricity while he delivers only promises. Which is the hallmark of the 21st century!

2. SEA OF DREAMS

(Silke/Kabs) 3:16

You dreamed the dream, so deep and wide
You dreamed the details while passersby
Were planning dinner and making lists
Imagination too crowded to think

You spent the hours in secret dreams
All so unlikely – you lacked the means
To make things happen, or so it seemed
You set out daily on the sea of dreams

And the dreams continue for they came alive
And you kept on going though the loneliness died
For the heart expands when love moves in
And you daily visit the sea of dreams

Gave yourself over to the power of dreams
You walked with your lover on Camden Street
Sat in a café where the students meet
They mingled with you on the sea of dreams

Locked in rapture, away you fly
Journey invisible to the eye
Like a gift from heaven, from your heart it streams
You set out daily on the sea of dreams

And the dreams continue for they came alive
And you kept on going though the loneliness died
For the heart expands when love moves in
And you daily visit the sea of dreams

You dreamed the dream, so deep and wide
You dreamed the details while passersby
Were planning dinner and making lists
Imagination too crowded to think

You spent the hours in secret dreams
All so unlikely – you lacked the means
To make things happen, or so it seemed
You set out daily on the sea of dreams

And the dreams continue for they came alive
And you kept on going though the loneliness died
For the heart expands when love moves in
And you daily visit the sea of dreams

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

What do you need to do to keep your dreams alive? How do you sustain the illusion? In many Latin American cultures, the dream of love saturates the culture. Love songs are not set aside for a niche market. Romantic love, overpowering romance, fascinates nearly everyone. Perhaps the dream is more intense where life offers few options.

“Sea of Dreams” is a tribute to those who continue to cultivate their inner spirits, who lavish attention on their imaginative lives, and who persist in carrying the torch, no matter what.

“Like a gift from heaven, from your heart it streams // You set out daily on the sea of dreams”.

I name check Dublin’s Camden Street in the lyrics for its vigour, its unrestrained night life and its vitality.

3. THE DEATH OF CULTURE

(Silke/Kabs) 3:06

She’s on her fourth lover / They cramp her style
She likes high drama / She rips up the sky
She cries like a baby / She howls at the moon
Acts like innocence / Can be bought in the store

So what’s her story? / Where’s the thread
That runs through the narrative / Making some sense?

The death of culture / The end of an age
Trade intelligence / For fashion and rage
Replace ideas / With a cynical phrase
The death of culture / The post-modern way

She’s on her fourth lover / Hasn’t lost her touch
He’s no improvement / He drinks too much
Reverse charisma / It’s zero hour
Pretends it’s not happening / Turns on the shower

So what’s her story? / Where’s the thread
That runs through the narrative / Making some sense?

The death of culture / The end of an age
Trade intelligence / For fashion and rage
Replace ideas / With a cynical phrase
The death of culture / The post-modern way

She changes her lovers/ She runs from her kids
Won’t listen to anyone / (Is) tempted to leave
Everything’s personal / Turns on her heels
Some sort of madness / Runs through her dreams

So what’s her story? / Where’s the thread
That runs through the narrative / Making some sense?

The death of culture / The end of an age
Trade intelligence / For fashion and rage
Replace ideas / With a cynical phrase
The death of culture / The post-modern way

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

A friend in Lima has a sister who worries the family. She has had a series of undependable partners. Her family life is chaotic and she neglects her kids. She is at the mercy of her uncontrolled moods.

This song takes a human tragedy and intertwines it with the musings of Nobel Prize winning Peruvian author, Mario Vargas Lllosa, about the decline of the intellect in modern society. His book, “The death of culture”, addresses (in the words of the Irish Times reviewer) “the chaos of hypocrisy and emptiness into which our globalised culture has plunged and to which we seem to have little option but to subscribe.”

The same review (by Anne Haverty) adds – “We live in the Society of the Spectacle. A name that recalls the bread and circuses offered to a debased populace in the declining Roman empire. Exploited by the blind forces of rampant consumerism, we are reduced to being spectators of our own lives rather than actors in them.”

Can you write a song a dance song about such things? Yes, you can. But whether or not it can be a chart hit remains to be seen!

4. NIGHT SHIFT, BABY

(Silke/Kabs) 4:47

Coming off night shift / She’s exhausted
Moves like a phantom / A little exalted
Mind on automatic / Yeah, she’s drifting
Someone took a chance / Her heart is lifting

Here comes her future / Bursting with hope
All those expectations / They are set out in a row

Night shift, baby / But it’s all looking good
Eyes may be closing / But her heart is full
Night shift, baby / Say goodbye to the blues
On track and steaming / And right in the groove

Moving down the corridor / She is thinking
Of new found energy / The weekend shimmers
Summoned up his courage / He asked her out
She never knew he fancied her / Goodbye to doubt

Here comes her future / Bursting with hope
All those expectations / They are set out in a row

Night shift, baby / But it’s all looking good
Eyes may be closing / But her heart is full
Night shift, baby / Say goodbye to the blues
On track and steaming / And right in the groove

Takes so little for a change of view
Someone to notice, take a second look
A night out planned and her heart on a roll
A new flame rising to warm the soul
Putting on make up, there’s a spring in her step
A sense of direction on the upper deck
Walking past shutters of the city shops
Heading for a rendezvous, no longer lost

Night shift, baby / But it’s all looking good
Eyes may be closing / But her heart is full
Night shift, baby / Say goodbye to the blues
On track and steaming / And right in the groove

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

I was in St. James’s Hospital in Dublin a while back and observed a nurse coming off night duty, tired but in good spirits. Which gave me the idea of an optimistic song structured around something most of us hate – the night shift. Instead of slumping home in a bad mood, the nurse’s love life is in full swing, her future is bursting with hope, and she is looking forward to an exciting weekend. The bluesy melody is just right for a song full of positive vibes.

5. DISCARDED

(Silke/Kabs) 4:10

I passed your house last night
You left your printer outside
I know you bought a new one
You left a little sign
Beside the old outdated one
Invitation to the world
‘Take me’, it said, ‘unwanted’
Surplus, need a new home

That’s exactly what you did to me / Discarded, by the wall
‘Take me, take me’, read the note / Seen and read by all
That’s what you do to everyone / Cynical to the core
Goodbye, goodbye, Mr. Sociopath / I am worth so much more
Not devalued / By a careless stroke
I am worth much more / Than words on a note

Truly, I could ruminate
Cry over wasted time
Instead I thank my lucky stars
I was foolish, and not blind
Could have settled for money
For all the outward signs
But fate was kind, discarded
(I) already read your mind

Despicable what you did to me / Discarded, by the wall
‘Take me, take me’, read the note / Seen and read by all
That’s what you do to everyone / Cynical to the core
Goodbye, goodbye, Mr. Sociopath / I am worth so much more
Not devalued / By a careless stroke
I am worth much more / Than words on a note

Discarded – such a masculine word
Full of dishonour and shame
I scorn you and all your tribe
Masters of the mundane
When I give my precious heart
To a fair and noble king
He will place me on an altar of joy
Give me everything

Despicable what you did to me / Discarded, by the wall
‘Take me, take me’, read the note / Seen and read by all
That’s what you do to everyone / Cynical to the core
Goodbye, goodbye, Mr. Sociopath / I am worth so much more
Not devalued / By a careless stroke / I am worth much more / Than words on a note

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

What would songwriters do without the topic of break ups? The end of relationships holds the key to analysing and understanding so many emotions.

In the quirky “Discarded”, the heroine veers between relief at getting out early (escaping the clutches of a manipulative, selfish and dishonourable man) and devastation (being yet another victim of someone who discards everyone).

She finds comfort in a strong feeling of self-worth, believing that she deserves “a fair and noble king” who will treat her well; she has not been devalued by the experience.

6. UNLUCKY IN LOVE

(Silke/Kabs) 3:41

Unlucky in love / That’s what you tell yourself
But lately I’ve been thinking / You oversell that line
No point pulling my punches
No point mincing my words
Time to say what you need to hear
You get what you deserve

Unlucky in love
You hold back, honey, you hold back
Unlucky in love
You weave in and out, you backtrack
A master of mixed messages
You hint, you imply, you pretend
Unlucky in love – It makes no sense

Unlucky in love
Not from my point of view
You place your money, you change your mind
You like to be untrue
You’re a guy who sleeps without dreaming
A rumour, a forgettable tune
You don’t absorb what life teaches
You slip in and out of the room

Unlucky in love
You hold back, honey, you hold back
Unlucky in love
You weave in and out, you backtrack
A master of mixed messages
You hint, you imply, you pretend
Unlucky in love – It makes no sense

I read some words about comfort
How a good friend nurtures the soul
You will always be inconsistent
Don’t understand drawing close
You’re a guy who sleeps without dreaming
A rumour, a forgettable tune
You don’t absorb what life teaches
You slip in and out of the room

Unlucky in love
You hold back, honey, you hold back
Unlucky in love
You weave in and out, you backtrack
A master of mixed messages
You hint, you imply, you pretend
Unlucky in love – It makes no sense

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

We live in an age when the art of political spin has become something everyone engages in – through Facebook. We paint ourselves in the best possible light – a fun social life, fantastic holidays, everything going well.

“Unlucky in love” looks at a boyfriend who uses sophisticated personal spin. He has had a succession of romances but regards himself as ill-starred in love. But his current female interest will have none of this – your relationships fail, she says, because you know nothing about intimacy. You are a “master of mixed messages”, you hold back, you “weave in and out”.

I like the phrase “commitment-averse”: it sums up this situation perfectly.

7. FADING

(Silke/Kabs) 4:18

You’re fading, baby / See it in your face
Starting to look older / Like one who fell from grace
Too late for the make up / To flatter and conceal
You’re fading, baby / Slipping out of reach

You’re fading, baby / Energy is gone
You light up momentarily / Then drop the shutters down
You’re fading, baby / Need it be that way?
I’m ready and I’m willing / To smooth away the cares

I know you think it’s only life / On a losing roll
Barking at your coat tails / Routine takes its toll
But don’t you think that something could / Restore the former gleam?
I’m ready, willing and able, baby / To step into the breach

You’re fading, baby / Lost that early glow
Now, unlike the hopeful years, / You don’t light up the room
So tell me what price happiness / And being treated well?
I’m offering another road / I’m right here, take my hand

I know you think it’s only life / On a losing roll
Barking at your coat tails / Routine takes its toll
But don’t you think that something could / Restore the former gleam?
I’m ready, willing and able, baby / To step into the breach

You’re fading, baby / Need it be that way?
I’m ready and I’m willing / To smooth away the cares
To wrap my arms around you / Give the loving that you need
Before you start to freefall, baby / Pick a different dream

You’re fading, baby / Lost that early glow
Now, unlike the hopeful years, / You don’t light up the room
So tell me what price happiness / And being treated well?
I’m offering another road / I’m right here, take my hand
I’m right here, take my hand / I’m right here, take my hand
I’m right here, take my hand / Oh take my hand

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

It’s a shock to see the appearance of someone you know quite well suddenly disimprove. I had this experience recently and the word “faded” came to mind. I constructed a love song in dance style around the idea (and changed the title from “Faded” to “Fading”). The lyrics fall into the “romantic rescue” category – where one person gives love to another to “save” them from their current fate. Whether or not this motive can ever successfully deliver happiness and mutual fulfilment is debatable but I reckon it has been an element of the love dynamic since time began. Ellen Cosgrove shows her usual flair with bluesy dance numbers on this track.

8. IT STAYS UNKNOWN

(Silke/Kabs) 3:24

It lies there, an undiscovered shore
Sun of paradise overhead
The surf is high, the waves sail in
And birds bob in the air
You can walk for miles along the sand
And never see a soul
Like you, it’s something perfect
Like you, it stays unknown

It lays its treasures open
It dazzles us with light
And yet remains mysterious
Dissolving into night
You cannot hold it in your hand
It cannot be enclosed
Like you, it’s something perfect
Like you, it stays unknown

It’s cool tonight, the day was hot
The evening brings a breeze
The seabirds linger for a while
Relaxed and calm and free
I keep on walking aimlessly
And never see a soul
Like you, it’s something perfect
Like you, it stays unknown

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK

So let me grasp the moonlight
The stars so pale and true
God can keep his heaven
As long as I keep you
I hold on to my longings
My dreams I carry home
Like you, they’re somehow perfect
Like you, they stay unknown

It lies there, an undiscovered shore
Sun of paradise overhead
The surf is high, the waves sail in
And birds bob in the air
You can walk for miles along the sand
And never see a soul
Like you, it’s something perfect
Like you, it stays unknown

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

Huanchaco is the Bray of Trujillo (Peru) with the bonus of superb surfing conditions. Unlike Bray, it is haunted by bohemian and sports-mad foreigners. An attractive pier provides opportunities for gorgeous photographs as the sun sets in a blaze of colours (see here).

Inundated with visitors at weekends, Huanchaco has long lost its original isolated loveliness. But if you drive northwards along the narrow twisting coastal road, you eventually come to the wonderful beach of Magdalena de Cao. No one comes here.

You can imagine ancient explorers setting foot on these sands. “It stays unknown” is a song celebrating a memorable visit here and the lyrics liken the beach’s treasures to the enchantments of a lover.

For one line, I am indebted to “The Seducer’s Diary” by Søren Kierkegaard – “God can keep his heaven so long as I can keep her.”

9. HONEY AND CREAM

(Silke/Kabs) 3:23

Lay it on me, baby,
All that honey and cream
Those “take your time” kisses
Make me ready for sleep

Roll over, baby,
Let me tell you the news
Gotta give me real real lovin’
No substitute

Don’t want the symbols
What money can buy
Just be mad about me, baby,
Crazy with desire

Lay it on me, baby,
All that honey and cream
Those “take your time” kisses
Make me ready for sleep

Jump to attention
When I enter the room
So hot, so hot I’ll make you, baby
Wanna go home soon

I’ll be devastating
Good enough to eat
Make you proud of me, baby,
When we hit the street

Tell me you adore me, honey
Every valley and curve
Love it, love it when we spend the night talking
Until the break of dawn
Love it, love it when we spend the night talking
Until the break of dawn

Lay it on me, baby,
All that honey and cream
Those “take your time” kisses
Make me ready for sleep

They call them sweet nothings
Like it’s insincere
(But) It’s the only thing that matters, baby
You can take it from me

Jump to attention
When I enter the room
So hot, so hot I’ll make you, baby
Wanna go home soon

I’ll be devastating
Good enough to eat
Make you proud of me, baby,
When we hit the street

Tell me you adore me, honey
Every valley and curve
Love it, love it when we spend the night talking
Until the break of dawn
Love it, love it when we spend the night talking
Until the break of dawn

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

In 2012, when I began to learn my craft in more detail and started recording demos to upload onto Soundcloud, I worked with a young woman from Lagos (Nigeria) named Juliet Areghan. “Honey and Cream” was the first recording we made together. I envisaged the song as a jazz-blues number; it was a thrill to develop a striking dance version with Chris Kabs some five years later.

“Honey and Cream” is like a modern-day “Song of Solomon”, celebrating the total infatuation of romantic love – those unrepeatable conversational highs, that swooning desire, and the overwhelming sensuality exuded by the beloved one.

10. ARETHA'S FACE

(Silke/Kabs) 4:05

Hope shining out
And a little reserve
A price to pay for ecstasy
Something great unveiled
She is ready for destiny
The spirit of her race
And when I look at you
I see Aretha’s face
And when I look at you
I see Aretha’s face

Not quite innocence
Ripples of grace
A comet at the starting blocks
Fireworks before they flare
All she needs is a song to sing
A symphony arranged
And when I look at you
I see Aretha’s face
And when I look at you
I see Aretha’s face

Testifying (yeah) – Aretha doing her thing
Liberating (yeah) – the music sets her free
Testifying (yeah) – Aretha doing her thing
Liberating (yeah) – the music sets her free

Piano in the corner
Sits and feels the keys
She looks insignificant
Until she starts to sing
Then she’s gone, she’s flying
To a place without any cares
Aretha soars to heaven
To say a little prayer
Aretha soars to heaven
To say a little prayer

Testifying (yeah) – Aretha doing her thing
Liberating (yeah) – the music sets her free
Testifying (yeah) – Aretha doing her thing
Liberating (yeah) – the music sets her free

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

“Aretha’s face” is about Aretha Franklin in the Fame recording studios getting ready to make her first recording for the Atlantic record label. There are some famous black and white photographs which show her to be both confident and vulnerable at that time. The song is about the excitement of that time – a great artist ready for take off, her voice and unique style ready to soar.

(you can see some fine shots of Aretha at the piano at the bottom of this website page)

11. WRITE ME A LETTER, BABY

(Silke/Kabs) 5:00

Write me a letter, baby
Woo me with words
Let me linger over
The feelings you stir
Seduce me with some poetry
Captured by a phrase
Alone I will consider you
In a secret place
I will think of you
In a secret place

Write me a letter, baby
Uncommon nowadays
Nothing electronic
Something on a page
Make an impression
On this heart of mine
Make me believe in
Romance divine
Wanna believe in
Romance divine

Stretch that bow and arrow
Carefully take aim
Put your thoughts in order
Write with art and grace
Feed my imagination
Make my spirit soar
You can win me over
In the silence of my room
Yes I will surrender
In the silence of my room

INSTRUMENTAL SOLO

Write me a letter, baby
Slowly, by degrees
Words invade my being
Sweeter than a kiss
Soft delicate phrases
Take hold of my mind
Let me move as in a dream
And leave the world behind
In a dream
I leave the world behind

Stretch that bow and arrow
Carefully take aim
Put your thoughts in order
Write with art and grace
Feed my imagination
Make my spirit soar
You can win me over
In the silence of my room
Let me read your letter
In the silence of my room
Let me read your letter
In the silence of my room

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

The lost art of letter writing has been replaced by texts and (sometimes) by Facebook declarations of affection. But nothing can more powerfully convey the intimacy of love than a carefully crafted letter. Such is the theme of “Write me a love letter”.

The song emphasises the concrete nature of a letter. It is something you can touch, re-read, store safely for future reference and enjoy all over again at another time. A really sincere and expressive letter is something to relish, something that even years later can bring a blush of pleasure to the face.

The Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, was a fan of the love letter as an effective means of communicating one’s feelings. He wrote:“A letter is a secret communication; you are master of the situation, (and) feel no pressure from anyone’s presence ..” In my song, a girl longs to receive a romantic letter which would feed her imagination and make her spirits soar. Because, Facebook fans, that’s what a love letter achieves!

12. AT THE TOUCH OF LOVE I AWAKEN

(Silke/Kabs) 3:20

Sleep makes my eyelids heavy
They tremble and they close
Floating down the corridor
The melody of my soul
He hasn’t yet engaged me
No contact face-to-face
Yet his look is firm and tender
Holds me like an embrace

Before I was a secret blush
My feelings well concealed
(But) At the touch of love I awaken
Awaken to a dream
My heart is pounding, my soul is high
My skin takes on a sheen
At the touch of love I awaken
Awaken to a dream

Eyes rest on me, just a gaze
Lingers like a touch
What is that strange mystery
That oh so alien force?
No longer an observer
Can’t let the moment slip
All of a sudden surprised by love
A necessary thrill

Before I was a secret blush
My feelings well concealed
(But) At the touch of love I awaken
Awaken to a dream
My heart is pounding, my soul is high
My skin takes on a sheen
At the touch of love I awaken
Awaken to a dream

Before I was a secret blush
My feelings well concealed
(But) At the touch of love I awaken
Awaken to a dream

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

This dreamy composition was inspired by thoughts in “The Seducer’s Diary” by Soren Kierkegaard. Here are some extracts from the book.

Today my eyes have for the first time rested upon her. Someone has said that sleep can make the eyelids so heavy that they close of themselves; perhaps my glance has a similar effect upon Cordelia. Her eyes close, and yet an obscure force stirs within her.
It is at the touch of love that she awakens; before that she is dream…
I can make her forget both time and eternity.
He approaches on the wings of longing.
She moves in the melody of her own soul.
I can no longer remain a mere observer without letting the moment slip from me. She has to be surprised, that is necessary; but to surprise her one must be on the alert.
He will be able to let his eye rest upon a girl with a desultory tenderness that affects her in the same way as if he had accidentally touched her; he will be able to hold her as firmly with his eye as if he held her in his embrace…

13. WHAT IT FELT LIKE THEN

(Silke/Kabs) 3:34

What could go wrong / We had our youth
Paid daily worship / At the shrine of love
I did all this / Got little in return

Wanted things fixed / Have a thing about change
Hate improvising / Like things the same
I try to recall / What it felt like then

Life untroubled / Once in a while
A soft bed of dreams / A promise of light
I try to recall / What it felt like then

Life dealt a hand / Which suited me well
The cards were careless / I fumbled the game
I try to recall / What it felt like then

A time without worry / Everything is right
Smooth is the passage / Sweet the night
A soft bed of dreams / A promise of light

Once in a while / There’s a happy end
We take to the side roads / Daylight fades
I try to recall / What it felt like then

Life untroubled / Once in a while
A soft bed of dreams / A promise of light
I try to recall / What it felt like then

Life dealt a hand / Which suited me well
The cards were careless / I fumbled the game
I try to recall / What it felt like then

Remember that wedding / In the heart of the south
Things fell apart / As if without thought
I went for a cigarette / And kept on walking

I thought my luck / Unlimited
Not how it works / My portion ends
I try to recall / What it felt like then

Life untroubled / Once in a while
A soft bed of dreams / A promise of light
I try to recall / What it felt like then

Life dealt a hand / Which suited me well
The cards were careless / I fumbled the game
I try to recall / What it felt like then

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

Songs of regret have a haunting quality because we all have gone through events we would change if we could. “What it felt like then” is a song in which happy times are recalled side by side with bad decisions taken.

If you take a wrong road in life, all you can do is look back and remember how good it was once upon a time.

14. IT'S BABY

(Silke/Kabs) 4:26

It’s baby
Haven’t been in touch for a while
Now I’m back in town, I’d like to spend a little time
Catching up on the news
Seeing how things are with you
A little good will is due
Hope we can meet real soon

It’s baby
I know I messed up last time
I went crazy, I raised the bar too high
But a girl can change
I hope you can make me some space
Another time, another place
Not too late to re-engage

(Boy) Hello, baby
You never really left my mind
Oh baby, you lodged in there like a virus
Though I remember
The glory of your eyes
Can’t forget you sucked me dry
And I know there is no turning back

It’s baby
The girl who really wore you out
I went crazy, I clung to you like a cloud
And I ground you down
Shattered your resolve
I know it’s asking a lot
Maybe we can make a new start

Hello, baby
It is hard drawing lines in the sand
You’re compelling
That was always your strength
But love is only one part of the deal
You still have those bottomless needs
And I know there is no turning back

INSTRUMENTAL BREAK (PIANO)

It’s baby
I know I messed up last time
I went crazy, I raised the bar too high
But a girl can change
I hope you can make me some space
Another time, another place
Not too late to re-engage

Hello, baby
It is hard drawing lines in the sand
You’re compelling
That was always your strength
But love is only one part of the deal
You still have those bottomless needs
And I know there is no turning back

Yes love is only one part of the deal
You still have those bottomless needs
And I know there is no turning back
And I know there is no turning back
Oh yeah

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

Letting go is a big issue when a relationship breaks down. The other risk is being tempted to mend fences. “It’s baby” is a song structured in a call and response fashion. The girl is phoning up her -ex late at night, reaching out and hoping for a reconciliation. She accepts that she was at fault but hopes it is not too late to start again. At first, it looks like the boy is ready to re-engage, but then he recalls just why things went badly the first time round; and he knows that nothing has changed to justify a second attempt. The lyrics fit many failed or struggling romances and are all the more poignant for being so realistic

15. THE LAST TIME

(Silke/Kabs) 3:47

I turn to look at my house of dreams
I hold them close, they are so complete
For the last time, for the last time
Future promises on their knees
A string of pearls tumbling free
For the last time, for the last time

And so we are together for the very last time
Cresting the ocean, all our hopes on the line
Ferry in the harbour waiting for the tide
Count up the promises and kiss them goodbye
For the last time, for the last time
For the last time, for the last time

No longer willing to protect
Do I want to remember, do I wanna forget
For the last time, for the last time
With so much care this house of dreams
Was reconstructed piece by piece
For the last time, for the last time

And so we are together for the very last time
Cresting the ocean, all our hopes on the line
Ferry in the harbour waiting for the tide
Count up the promises and kiss them goodbye
For the last time, for the last time
For the last time, for the last time

Tuning up for the time of my life
Putting my nerves aside
Run my fingers along the frets
Thinking of so many lies
Sound of courage, sound of faith
On my own, facing the wind and the rain

No longer willing to protect
Do I want to remember, do I want to forget
For the last time, for the last time
With so much care this house of dreams
Was reconstructed piece by piece
For the last time, for the last time

And so we are together for the very last time
Cresting the ocean, all our hopes on the line
Ferry in the harbour waiting for the tide
Count up all the promises and kiss them goodbye
For the last time, for the last time
For the last time, for the last time

Background to the song (by Seán Silke):

Not too long after his death, the Irish Independent published a tribute supplement to Con Houlihan, the much loved sports writer and essayist. Two quotations in one of the featured pieces made an impression on me.

Con Houlihan wrote – “I look at my house of dreams and it isn’t there anymore” …. “Three sad words in any language – the last time”. These evocative thoughts created the springboard for my song, “The last time”. Our house of dreams is something we hold together with difficulty. At times we reconstruct it. And there also comes the time when it no longer exists.

Surprisingly, “The last time” is a dance tune, the upbeat music softening the bitterness of the resigned tone.

1. 20,000 VOLTS

2. SEA OF DREAMS

3. THE DEATH OF CULTURE

4. NIGHT SHIFT, BABY

5. DISCARDED

6. UNLUCKY IN LOVE

7. FADING

8. IT STAYS UNKNOWN

9. HONEY AND CREAM

10. ARETHA'S FACE

11. WRITE ME A LETTER, BABY

12. AT THE TOUCH OF LOVE I AWAKEN

13. WHAT IT FELT LIKE THEN

14. IT'S BABY

15. THE LAST TIME

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