Ukulele lessons can be so much fun… worth noting that John was convinced he was never going to be able to play when he had his first lesson nearly a year ago now.
It is so distressing how many people have that silly ‘i can’t play music’ voice stuck permanently in their heads and so much fun helping them to overpower it.
…this made me smile…
An old traditional tune I learnt from Rachael Dadd called ‘Two Sisters’ set to new words of my own.
Written about the Hawkwood nursery run by my friends at Organiclea.
There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland
Mulch, sow and then reap
There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland
And he has green fingers on both of his hands
I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me
With the vicar’s fine daughter he dreamed a bold dream
To grow food for his kinsmen as nature decreed.
By the edge the forest they spied a fair patch
And to grow fruit and veg there a plan they did hatch.
The men of the hour dreamed of buildings not plants
A development would far more there profits enhance.
Our forefathers fought for this fair forest land
So now against the law was the businessman’s plan.
After two years had past did the council relent
So now we’ll work the earth as our forefathers meant.
Now if you past by here you may hear a tune:
Mulch, sow and then reap
Now if you past by here you may hear a tune,
The melody is old and the words will be soon.
I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me
a bit of fun in one take with two of my guitar students – not quite sure why it goes out of sync but hey… this is not hollywood…
i think this song is going to be the first track on my next album. happy days.
oh and you can download it free from here as long as you give a copy to your mum – http://www.robingrey.com/mp3/younger.mp3
Joseph’s in the forest looking for the man that they call Peter.
I am in the bathroom looking for the marbles that I’ve lost.
The pig if flew out of the window, landing deftly in the garden.
Elly is in Hampstead desparately hunting for some moss.
I don’t like your fashion business, mr.
I don’t like those drugs that keep you looking so thin.
I don’t like your fashion business, mr.
I don’t need no cream to give me younger looking skin.
Ruth is down in southern spain, talking to my long long twin brother.
I just washed my eyelids and hung my blue coat high upon a cross.
The fish and spoon returned with plans for getting married in the autumn.
Jakob’s leaving puddles in the bathroom for the bugs to skate across.
Making sense of wedsnesday is only rivalled by making sense of tuesday.
Tuesday’s only rivalled by monday and perhaps sunday too.
A drink, a fuck, some luck and maybe we might keep the boat a floating.
Patching up the scars with some cardboard and some karma just might do.
I did a gig last weekend at the Hideaway in Archway for a lovely lady called Shireen who runs the ‘Mighty Ukuele’ website.
There were some awesome performances by other ukulelists and I got to try out a few new tunes, one of which was captured and posted on youtube here – http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BJHUK7-yoqY.
A little song inspired by the lovely Joanna Newsom and some of Michael Stipe’s more obscure moments…
Tell me which colour is blue –
Then stand in a line and shout “Idiot, yours truly”
Nothing compares to this feeling of flying
And gravity wants to join in for the ride.
I don’t know which one is true –
The fool and the knave they both have intuitions
But foolproof plans which require ten volumes
To explain the subtleties just don’t sound right.
I will determine the last day on earth
And I will determine what Winston was saying
So I can make way for the peach and the pear and the plum
And you cannot fault what I’ve done.
The concrete must yield to the steel
And some sun could reach me despite of the morning.
Patio living with no remote features
Could be a solution but think of the mice!
I will dig deeper than others will dare
And I will dig deeper regardless of warning
and I will make way for the peach and the pear and the plum
And you cannot fault what I’ve done…
no, no, no, no
no, no, no, no
no.
Iain and I recently came up with a guitar and banjo arrangement of ‘Happy Man’ by Sparklehorse and recorded it just for fun.
As I have buggered my wrist Iain has taken over guitar duty which has meant learning how to use a mic stand, or failing that, a broom…
A Joanna Newsom cover recorded on my slightly out-of-tune old piano…
Here is a quick peek round the little room where I spend most of my time…
