Lights Notes

These songs were inspired by an exhibition of paintings by the late Micheal Andrews at the Tate Britain in 2001. Copyright quite rightly prevents my reproducing them here but you can see some information about the exhibition at the Tate Britain website.I don't know if the exhibition book is still available. If so buying it may well help you understand the songs, as they are quite impressionistic. I'll give a quick description of the paintings, it may help.

1. Out-of-doors

A white balloon (with basket beneath) seen from above against a green country landscape, from another balloon.

2. The ship engulfed

A black balloon floats against a background of city skyscrapers lit at night.

3. The black balloon

The balloon is seen in another nightscape floating over a large city river, possibly the Thames.

4. The pier and the road

This is a seaside view of a pier with buildings and with a wide tarmaced road running along the shore. The sun is out! As I come from a seaside town this made me think about the leaving of it.

5. The Pier Pavillion

A large theatre-type building sat upon a pier, reminding me a little of the wonderful pier at Cromer.

6. The spa

Plunged back into night time this is another seaside view but overshadowed by a huge suspension bridge populated by a great many cars.

7. A shadow

A simple sandy beach with calm sea disturbed only with a shadow of a balloon.

8. Cabin

A close up view of a passenger jet with a night time coastal scene below..

9. Liner

A passenger liner pulls out to sea in darkness with the coast in the background.

10. Old town

A view of Edinburgh on what feels like a cold rainy day.

11. Estuary

The Thames estuary with a few figures on the edge of the mudflats.

12. Source

The source of the Thames: an impressionistic swirl of greens, browns & blues.