Signs Notes

After my first wave of songwriting (the numbered songsets) had crashed indifferently on the shores of public interest, I too lost interest for a while. It was no longer satisfying to just pick a guitar and work through what was happening as a standalone item. I had experimented with a themed song cycle before and this seemed a way forward, but finding a satisfactory theme was not easy.

So finally I set myself the challenge of writing songs based on the signs of the Zodiac. This was actually pretty desperate as there was no underlying unifying theme and it was bound to turn out as 12 independent songs, but I felt I had to do something. To make it more interesting each song would be in a different major key. This was in 1997 and I did get a few done then, but it tailed off as more interesting things came along.

But late in 2001 I got myself going again, wrote some more lyrics for the unfinished songs, abandoned the 12 different keys as too hard (but most still remain e.g. no 11 is in Db!). Then I talked Chris into arranging & recording some of them and I last worked on them in 2002.

I hope the (sometimes tenuous) connections to the signs are clear.

1. RAM (Random Access Memory)

We get older, with the best will in the world we get weaker. This is a shot into the future dark so that we have now is not forgotten.

2. Talking bull

As a male I have been cursed with the 'can't talk, won't talk' syndrome. Which makes trying to communicate 'who I think it is I am' is a little bit tragic.

3. The twin

In contrast to the previous song this celebrates the inner world and has rather a nice tune.

4. The crab

This is an attempt, a mere attempt, at what it might be like when life expectancy is suddenly out of control.

5. Lion

The male psyche, don't you just love it? With added disco beat, courtesy of Chris.

6. The sisters

Most people's ideas of nuns run no further than slapstick and puzzlement at their chastity. Those that I know leave me humbled at their bravery, commitment and generosity. This one's for you, sisters!

7. Keep your balance

How to stay balanced is something that has dogged me most of my life . Balance is good when the tensions open up new possibilities, not so good when the middle is the conformist way, grey instead of colours.

8. A sting in the tail

Drama becomes interesting when it is unpredictable. Likewise the cult of celebrity needs individuals whose lives are 'interesting'. Let he twist be in their tale, not ours, we pray.

9. Cupid

A plea to make the little man face up to his responsibilities!

10. Capricorn

Capricorn is each of us men setting up on the great sexual adventure and then realising that our behaviour is expected, taken account of and dealt with. (The inspiration was 'Capri' + 'corn' i.e. the car and the chat).

11. The water carrier

My favourite, and I hope the point is clear.

12. Gone fishing

Like a lot of things, not quite what it seems. At one level I am a normal comfortably salaried member of society, at another I still write these song things and I would not be me without them.