Fractured Narratives
We argued last night
We tore some things apart
There’s so much anger
There’s fear and pain in our hearts
We need a common reality
Not this fractured one
We cannot communicate
With understanding so far goneThe futures we planned
The narratives we told
Are now fractured and torn
And now Winter brings cold
We look for entertainment
Provocation and distraction
To avoid the future
To huddle in factionsThere is a darkness
Hidden deep in us all
Maybe we won’t recognise
Those who make the call
As they unleash it to rise
Like a hungry dog to feed
They will hide in shadows
But they won’t bleedSomething’s fractured,
Something’s cold
In the future we planned
In the narratives we told.Fake enemies are blamed
In a circus of simple lies
To distract from complex truth
Of complex living on the rise
False gods are raised
In a false future portrayed
Have cake and eat cake
Have blind faith they said.Something’s fractured,
Something’s cold
In the future we planned
In the narratives we told
Brick Lane Graffiti
We met that evening
In the ICA cinema
We met that evening
In the ICA cinema
Your hands were so warm
My heart began to thawThey say the darkest hour
Is right before the dawn
They say the darkest hour
Is right before the dawn
It’s been brighter since I’ve met you
Is my conclusion drawnIn the dark at the Green Note
Music floated in the air
In the dark at the Green Note
Music floated in the air
Later we kissed and travelled North
As you moved your hand through my hairWe swim in dirty water
Sometimes we feel sick
We swim in dirty water
Sometimes we feel sick
Some say we’re too sensitive
But I wouldn’t change us a bitWe travelled through London
We saw better by bus
We travelled through London
We saw better by bus
On to Brick Lane graffiti
I love many things about us
I’ve Faith in the Future Coming
You’re on the phone
But you’re all alone
In your echo chamber zone
And that’s not good living
You can’t find what’s real
Or process what you feel
Our divisions never heal
Whose reality are you living?I’ve faith in the future coming
Gotta stand up & fight
I ain’t runningIt’s a fractured scene
With divisions between
And a dark screen
From the lies they’re saying
I hate this nasty stuff
It don’t mean they’re tough
It’s just a lying bluff
The patriot games they’re playingI’ve faith in the future coming
Gotta stand up & fight
I ain’t runningI close my eyes
Have we lost a prize?
Under dark skies
Are we spinning out of control?
Can we still aim?
To play the grand game?
With dignity in our name?
And honour in our soul?I’ve faith in the future coming
Gotta stand up & fight
I ain’t running
Black Mantilla
You’re in a black mantilla by my grave
In the black dress bought from money you’ve saved
You’re in black sunglasses dropping tears
You’re oblivious to quizzical glances here
Now throw in your red rose
To finish your design
And I’ll love you forever
…In the memories I’ve left behind
And I’ll love you forever
…In the memories I’ve left behindYou’re in a straw hat as the waves they pass
You’re drinking Rosado from a beaded glass
You’re in black sunglasses hiding your fears
You’re oblivious to admiring glances here
And the breeze it carries the sun
As the boats begin to dance
As the stars align one more time
…You have one more chance
As the stars align one more time
…You have one more chanceWe acquire knowledge,
And we pass it on down the line
We do what we can
As we pass through time
Even with our backs against the wall
There’s still hope for us today
We have no answers
But we still have stuff that we can say
And I know we have no answers
But we still have stuff that we can sayWe love each other
With our beautiful fractured hearts
We need something to hold onto
We need someone’s hand to grasp
Breaking Glass
It’s the sound you hear
That of crashing glass
From your broken bubble
Will this too now pass?The cold winds of change
The harsh winds of hate
Now threaten your world view
And threaten your fateWith ugly, ignorant intensity
Empty vessels make much sound
Many float on hot, false hopes
I stay lonely on the ground
Blind Faith
I speak those shallow empty words
Filled with so many lies, I sound absurd
But I accept no responsibility
I use insults and I use attacks as news
As clickbait in social media that I use
I pollute everything with incivilityI’ve undermined what experts say
The rule of law is now my prey
I’m your prophet, listen only to me
I call it fake media and I call it fake news
Cos I wanna own your reality too
I’m your prophet, listen only to meHave faith, blind faith in me
Have trust, blind trust in me,
I wanna be your reality
Have faith, blind faith in meMy lies keep you divided and confused
I’ve hidden real problems with that ruse
I’m so full of ignorant intensity
I’ve defeated those with passionate conviction
Who used foolish truth instead of fiction
And I don’t care about inequalityHave faith, blind faith in me
Have trust, blind trust in me,
I wanna be your reality
Have faith, blind faith in me
Loco Man
Worries about trust
Are you seeing someone?
Rationally I said no
But instinctively I said runI said I gotta go
You were stunned you began
But then you angrily said
You must be loco…manI’m not loco
I’m not loco
Just an ordinary
Ordinary…manWorries about trust
Accusation and doubt
You got a problem now
You wanna change me aboutSometimes, I stumble
Sometimes, into the dark
Sometimes, I handle it
Sometimes, it leaves a markI’m not loco
I’m not loco
Just an ordinary
Ordinary…man
