Every summer, my home town of Coventry put on a free festival in the park. It's a great thing, you can't really ask much more for free!!
I haven't been able to attend for the last couple of years, for various reasons, but in years prior to that I've had the chance to play with my old band on one of the stages. This year, we had Idlewild headlining the saturday night. I fell in love with Idlewild's first album when I was about... hmmm.... seventeen, so that's a good ten years ago. They've softened a lot since then, but it was still great to be there last night. I wore a suit and ended up in a moshpit... two things I haven't done for a long time!
While listening to them play, I couldn't help noticing how strongly I connected with some of their lyrics. He's quite a talented wordsmith. So if you have the time and the inclination, I've posted three of their songs, together with the lyrics. I always like to read lyrics as I listen to a song play, so you could do the same. I find it always enhances my enjoyment.
There are times that I should try,
To be so much more alive
But if time was right then I would be with you again
Or do you worry that I try to avoid the point
And then deny
The time I spent deciding it was you again
It`s when I live in a hiding place
It`s the only way I feel safe
When I`m safe in a hiding place
(That`s not hidden now)
I`m safe in a hiding place
It`s the only way I feel safe
When I`m safe in a hiding place
And you`re full of facts
But not things that could add up to words
Think about meaning more as an after word
As in afterward
I return but don`t remain,
I`m impatient for a reason
To complain about winter,
Making me see through again
Or is it your damaged reply,
That makes me realize that
The more I try
The less that plans will help me comprehend again
So I live in a hiding place
It`s the only way I feel safe
When I`m safe in a hiding place
(That`s not hidden now)
I`m safe in a hiding place
It`s the only way I feel safe
When I live in a hiding place
And you`re full of facts
But not things that could add up to words
You think about meaning more as an after word
And you`re full of facts
But not things that could add up to words
You think about meaning more as an after word
As in afterward
Songs when the truth,
Are all dedicated to you,
In this invisible world I choose to live in,
And if u believe that,
That now i understand,
Why words mean so much to you,
They'll never be about you.
Maybe your young without youth,
Or maybe your old without knowing anythings true,
I think your young without youth.
Then you contract the American dream,
You'll never look up once,
You've contracted American dreams,
I'd aqquire you to stop and look up.
Sing a song about myself,
Keep singing a song about myself,
Not some invisible world.
Constantly searching to find something new,
But what will you find when you think that nothings true,
Maybe it's that nothing is new,
So you let me hear songs that were written all about you,
The good songs weren't written for you,
They'll never be about you.
Then you contract the American dream,
You'll never look up once,
You've contracted American dreams,
You'll never look up once,
Don't look up.
Sing a song about myself,
Keep singing a song about myself,
Not some invisible world. (Rptx2.)
And i won't tell you what this means,
'Cos you already know,
And i won't tell you what this means,
'Cos you already know.
So, sing a song about myself,
Keep singing a song about myself,
Not some invisible world. (Rptx3.)
You'll find what you find,
When you find there's nothing. (Rptx2.)
I'm not really sure of all this pressure,
i'm never going to lose any of my old letters
They'll stay with me, until i can see,
until i can see that i'm no-one
They'll stay with me, until i can see,
until i can see that i'm no-one
So don't slight it off cuz you'll be fined,
don't start slighting off cuz you'll be fined
All you ever do is build it up inside,
All you ever do is build it up inside
I'm not really sure of all this pressure,
i'm never going to lose any of my old letters
They'll stay with me, until i can see,
until i can see that i'm no-one
So don't slight it off cuz you'll be fined,
don't start slighting off cuz you'll be fined
All you ever do is build it up inside,
All you ever do is build it up inside
You smoke too much when you talk too much,
and when i argue syd barrett makes me laugh
I laugh at your conversational skills, or lack of
I laugh at your conversational skills, or lack of
I'm not really sure of all this pressure,
i'm never going to lose any of my old letters
They'll stay with me, until i can see,
until i can see that i'm no-one
They'll stay with me, until i can see,
until i can see that i'm no-one
So don't slight it off cuz you'll be fined,
don't start slighting off cuz you'll be fined
All you ever do is build it up inside,
All you ever do is build it up inside
You smoke too much when you talk too much,
and when i argue syd barrett makes me laugh
I laugh at your conversational skills, or lack of
I laugh at your conversational skills, or lack of
Cuz when i argue i see shapes [x10]
You smoke too much when you talk too much,
and when i argue sit back it makes me laugh
I laugh at your conversational skills, or lack of
I laugh at your conversational skills, or lack
I saw Idlewild a few years back, supporting REM. But if you want to see another side to Roddy Woomble, you should check out a lot of the work he's been doing on the folk circuit, including the brilliant project, Under One Sky, as well as his own solo stuff. I'll give these a good listen later.
I'vealways managed to miss the Godiva festival...Was it as big as last year? there were people from all over the midlands turning up last year...My mate went and I asked who was headlingin but he didnt know...so I dont think he'll ever make a music correspondant!
All the best!