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Never Stop Moving

by John Jones

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1.
DOWN BY THE LAKE He was just another lonely boy, running wild in a sleeping town He was just another kid, putting his markers down. Who gave him the gun, that crazy evening down by the lake? Just one shot, one stupid shot, that's all it takes And he ran so fast, ran the gauntlet of a secret shame And he ran so fast, the trees bent down and beat his face Chorus Down by the lake, where the wild birds spun and called his name No place to run, he just hid his head in a secret shame And they carried her back, on alder branches covered with fern And they laid her down at the roadside edge where the back road turns And they looked for life, held her hand in a silent prayer And the silence broke as sirens whined and headlights glared And he ran so fast... And he ran so fast... Chorus Down by the lake, where the wild birds spun and called his name No place to run he just hid his head in a secret shame Down by the lake where the wild birds left and sing no more No-one goes 'cept a lonely girl on an empty shore And she looks for life, holds her hands in a silent prayer And she calls his name, but no one answers any more
2.
Ferryman 03:34
FERRYMAN Skimming stones on a diesel river Hold my breath ‘til they disappear Reflections broken, circles widen Lots of things now coming clear Words you said I still remember Words hit harder than rocks and stones You thought you could change me I thought I could change the world, but now we know They say I’m lucky to live here Born in a boom in a promised land Times have hit this place so hard Faces lined and empty hands I love this place as much as you I love this place and maybe more I see beauty not faded glory A helping hand on a welcoming shore Chorus If you should need a guiding hand When the sea of trouble is wide If you should need a rock to cling to When you're struggling against the tide I'll be your ferryman and I'll never ask you why I'll be your ferryman and I'll carry you over, over to the other side I go with what I feel What I see and where I walk A local boy that loves the stories The old music and the crazy talk I speak as I find Then regret when I'm alone So when you go, remember I'll be here still skimming stones Chorus
3.
The Wanderer 03:47
THE WANDERER The sun shines down on a pure white horse Carved in the ground before time got lost Shadows of clouds like a lava flow Cross these downs I have walked before I cannot stop - the path has hold on me The devil can’t take my energy My feet have wings that turn to white Five miles to sunset in a fading light Chorus And I will sing for you tonight And I will sing for you tonight Glass towers in the distance fade from view More windows, less space, rain on the roof Another ticket to ride, permission to sing But out here I do not need a thing I cannot stop - time has hold on me I'll follow this path to eternity Borne on a winged horse that turns to white Carried by winds that whip like kites Five miles to go and a welcoming light Chorus Songs of love, songs of loss and yearning Pain we never imagined bearing But the journey’s always worth the taking Chorus For the pain I carry I can never tame If I keep on walking, there's no need to explain Treading in footsteps that carry the weight Of travelling heroes who left it too late I cannot stop - time has hold on me I cannot stop - I know where I want to be This path bore many, now it's my lifeline It carries their hopes, now it carries mine Borne on a winged horse that turns to white Down in the valley I can see light Chorus
4.
SHE WROTE HER NAME TODAY Anxious faces gather round A broken body on the ground Pale skin, looking old A young face growing cold Does anyone know her? What's her name? Does anyone know from where she came? Home to hostel, heroin poor Did she find what she was looking for? Chorus She wrote her name today (she wrote) She wrote her name today (she wrote) She wrote her name today She wrote her name today. Curtains closed in a quiet street Suburban garden kept so neat Father sits with an empty gaze And Mother cooks and counts the days Slanging matches, hurt and pain No-one prepared to take the blame Bitter words then out the door Did she know what she was looking for? Chorus Weeks of waiting by the hospital bed A silent vigil, nothing said Mother sits and takes her hand And whispers prayers no-one understands Then one day coming to her bed A doctor smiles and lifts his head And holds the pad for them to see And they read the words they just can't believe Chorus
5.
Jim Jones 03:49
JIM JONES Come and listen for a moment lads and hear me tell my tale How across the seas from England I was condemned to sail How the jury found me guilty - then the judge says he For life, Jim Jones, I'm sending you across the stormy sea But take a tip before you ship to join the iron gang Don't get too gay in Botany Bay or else you'll surely hang Or else you'll surely hang says he and after that, Jim Jones, It's high upon the gallows tree the crows will pick your bones Our ship was high upon the sea when some pirates came along But the soldiers on our convict ship were full five hundred strong Well they opened fire and somehow drove that pirate ship away But I'd rather have joined that pirate ship than gone to Botany Bay With the storms a-raging round us and the wind a-blowing gales I'd rather have drowned in misery than gone to New South Wales There's no time for mischief there, Jim Jones, remember that they say They'll flog the passion out of you down there in Botany Bay Now it's day and night the irons clang and like poor galley slaves We toil and toil and when we die must fill dishonoured graves But by and by I'll slip my chains and to the bush I'll go And I’ll join the brave bush-rangers there - Jack Donahue and co And some dark night when everything is silent in the town I'll shoot those tyrants one and all, I'll gun the bastards down Oh I'll give this land a little shock - remember what I say And they'll yet regret they sent Jim Jones in chains to Botany Bay Jim Jones Remember what I say Jim Jones Remember what I say Jim Jones Remember what I say Jim Jones
6.
THE BLACK AND WHITE BIRD Chorus To the girl on the chestnut horse Please tell her I'll be gone tomorrow. I leave to her this black and white bird Two for joy, one for sorrow And to the girl on the chestnut horse Please tell her not to follow And think of me as the black and white bird Two for joy, one for sorrow He left his lover of 7 years Caught in the eye of small town wrongs Scorned by family and friends He turned his back on the biting tongues His gaze was turned to someone else Did she know, had she heard, Had she seen how he loved her still? Enough to leave her his black and white bird Chorus He couldn't speak, he couldn't say Just what it was went on inside him The weight of love he couldn't bear He had to leave, he had decided She never looked as she rode out Never saw him standing there He left the magpie in a bag Touched the bridle and walked away Chorus And in his mind she still rides out Passes him without a word Turns to look with a smiling face Above her flies the black and white bird Chorus
7.
BANKS OF NEWFOUNDLAND O you western ocean labourers I’d have you all beware When you're on board of a packet ship no dungaree jumpers wear But have a big monkey jacket always at your command And think of the cold nor’westers on the Banks of the Newfoundland Chorus So we'll rub her round and scrub her round with holystone and sand And say farewell to the Virgin Rocks on the Banks of the Newfoundland As I lay in my bunk one night a-dreaming all alone I dreamt I was in Liverpool way up in Marylebone With my true love beside me and a jug of fine ale in hand When I woke broken-hearted on the Banks of the Newfoundland Chorus We had one Lynch from Ballynahinch, Jimmy Murphy and Mike Moore It was in the winter of ‘62 those sea boys suffered sore They pawned their clothes in Liverpool and sold them out of hand Not thinking of the cold nor’westers on the Banks of the Newfoundland Chorus And now we're off Sandy Hook, my boys, the land's all covered with snow The tug-boat will take our hawser and for New York we will tow And when we arrive at the Black Ball dock the boys and girls will stand And we'll bid adieu to the packet ship and the Banks of the Newfoundland Chorus
8.
NEVER STOP MOVING If a siren lived in every village I would never stop moving I'd follow her voice and her haunting image I would never stop moving Through the quiet lanes and the silent fields I would never stop moving When the red swan sailed, as the flood recedes I would never stop moving To keep the faith in which I'm held To follow the thread of lifelong friends Goodwill I've earned and the pain I've felt. Then the rains came and the river rose I will never stop moving We left the house in just our clothes I will never stop moving In the darkest hour when time did freeze I will never stop moving Stone in the water, voice on the breeze I will never stop moving Through the labyrinth of empty halls Frozen hearts that can't recall Just what it was made the rains fall Just what it was made the rains fall We look and look for who's to blame Was it men in love that brought us pain Like the falling leaf that stopped the train We searched and searched to find a thread I will never stop moving Flood waters rising in my head I will never stop moving We fracked the earth and the waters rose I will never stop moving We bruised the land, we sold our souls I will never stop moving Through the labyrinth of empty halls Frozen hearts that can't recall Just what it was made the rains fall Just what it was made the rains fall...
9.
PIERREPOINT'S FAREWELL He looked so vibrant standing there He held her gaze, he held the floor Felt her look and he took her in She wanted him, she wanted more A marriage made in heaven they said As they heard the vows they spoke Two troubled souls had found their place Now her life was full of hope He quickly changed and dark clouds grew Pulled the world down on top of him Took it out on her slender frame Left his message on her skin A marriage made in heaven now broke She went to hell and back and never spoke Held the demons deep inside Clenched her hands waiting for the time She pulled her dress down across her thighs Felt her lips and her aching jaw Brushed her hair with a painful sweep Now she knew what her hands were for She raised the knife and held it high A moment’s doubt, then down it fell Deeper than she had ever known Deeper than the deepest well The hangman's wife she knew that look She knew it well, she let it pass So many times going through that door Hoping this would be his last He dressed himself and checked the rope Checked the trap and the creaking doors Crossed himself in a silent prayer Today he knew what his hands were for I thought I saw the hangman cry He tied the rope with a trembling hand Wished himself to another place Washed the stains from a bitter land Her blonde hair hung, her body shook And Pierrepoint turned and walked away His hidden life was at an end And she was free again
10.
GHOSTS OF THE VILLAGE The hidden village sleeps well tonight Caught in the peace of an imagined eye That never blinks as prices rise And rise and rise and rise and rise... Beneath these walls men bend in line Children stare through tired eyes And carry out all the things we need The lead, the copper, the limestone scree To carry on this English dream Chorus But maybe the time is coming when Maybe the time is coming when The ghosts of the village will rise, will rise again Maybe the time is coming when Maybe the time is coming when The ghosts of the village will rise, will rise again All is meant as it's meant to be Safely gathered in the key of G And beech trees tumble in autumn gales All neatly stacked and in their place Council houses tired and worn It's hard to live in the place you were born And voices raised in muffled pain But above the ground no one ever complains Chorus And the walls will breathe and the dust will clear The museum will shake into life again And the pub and the church, they will sing as one And a child will dance down the road, dance down the road Dance down the road, dance down the road Dance down the road, dance down the road Dance down the road again A man from the city has bought these hills Where we played as kids and wander still And locked in time his rural dream Locked out life and a chance to breathe ...But maybe the time is coming when The fields and streets will come alive again And the village is where you work and play Not build your dream and hide away Chorus
11.
RAMBLING BOYS OF PLEASURE You rambling boys of pleasure give ear unto these lines I write It's true I am a rover and in roving I take delight ‘Til I fixed my eye on a fine young girl and she did me beguile But I never could be right easy when my love she was out of my sight The first time that I saw her I thought in my heart she’d be mine That there could not be another and we never change our mind But gold is the root of all evil though it shines with a glittering hue Causes many a lad and lass to part let their minds be ever so true Down by yon Valley Gardens one evening as I chanced to stray It's there I saw my darling but she did not look my way She told me to take love easy and blow with the leaves on the trees But I being young and foolish with her I could not agree If there's one thing that does grieve me to be called a runaway To leave where I was bred and born for there is no reason to stay To leave my life and friends behind o pray what can I do Must I become a rover in a land I never knew? You rambling boys of pleasure You rambling boys of pleasure You rambling boys of pleasure

about

JOHN JONES is best known as the powerful, charismatic singer with OYSTERBAND, one of the leading folk and roots outfits on the UK music scene, acclaimed by music critics and fans alike; recipients of numerous Music Awards. The group more recently reunited with an early collaborator – the singer June Tabor - and took this second pairing on tour, to the Folk Awards and on ’Later… With Jools’ on TV. John also has a parallel solo career and ’Never Stop Moving’ is his second and most creative album.

The background to the album is interesting in that it came at a time of change for both Oysterband and John Jones. The group had lost another of its long-time members, Ray ”Chopper” Cooper, to a solo career and had begun to simplify towards a more spare, trad rootsy sound. Then, out of the blue, John had a brush with a serious illness and, as these things so often do, it focused his songwriting even more clearly.

”’Never Stop Moving’, says John, “is the album I have been making alongside (Oysterband’s) ‘’Diamonds on the Water’ over the past three years, inspired in no small part by my walking tours across the length and breadth of the country. Hopefully it reveals my fascination for the hidden villages and voices of this beautiful, curious and contradictory country and the haunting stories that exist beneath the surface. Inevitably my own story, having been diagnosed with colon cancer at the end of last year, became intertwined with it and following a really creative period, what I always thought of as my English folk, country album of big songs from small stories has become an expression of my own revival and celebration of being alive. I wanted there to be a mood of gentle uplift on the album, even in the darker stories and, when the song ‘Never Stop Moving’ arrived late, it seemed to capture my own feeling of being a survivor and became the title.

“Somewhere and sometime in my life”, he continues, “the grandeur of folk music, the power of story-telling, church music, punk and Northern Soul have intertwined and helped form my music. Somehow my voice just gets stronger and more inventive and at my age that is pretty amazing. The songs are a product of my imagination, which seems to be freer to roam these days, reckless but not as bitter or angry”.

Along for the musical ride is a host of talented musicians and singers, including Al Scott, Benji Kirkpatrick, Lindsey Oliver, Tim Cotterell, Boff Whalley, Rowan Godel and François Deville, their instrumental and background vocal contributions a perfect fit for John’s lead vocals, compositions and musical vision.

“I always think that unlike the small, personal songs of a huge country that seems to characterize, say, American country music, British folk ballads here on such a small island have an epic scale and sweep to them. 'Big songs from a small country' is how I’d like to sum up this album but of course that might be a hostage to fortune”.

credits

released September 4, 2015

Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Al Scott
Coverartwork by Neomania design

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Westpark Music Germany

Label, Production- and Publishing Company, founded 1987, based in Cologne, Germany. Releases are CDs, Vinyls, DVDs, sheet music and biographies. Mainly concentrating on music from North of latitude 40. - means: roughly the area above the latitude that goes through Paris. ... more

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