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In The Company Of Thieves (digital download only)

by Gaz Brookfield

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1.
Today I spent an hour and a half at Temple Meads Waiting for a train that's waiting 'til the flood recedes And being mid November it's more than a little cold I feel it in my bones these days 'coz I'm getting old And normally, as well you know, on tour I drive my van But I've got this lift to Leeds on the tour bus from Nottingham So this time I will take the train and I'll have to travel light 'Coz I'm on tour with my heroes from now 'til Sunday night Oh there's no two ways about it, this is quite the life I chose It's not glamorous or sexy, but that's just how it goes It's service station sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and tea And I wouldn't change a thing, it's the land pirate's life for me After I had waited for an hour and a half I gave up, I relented, not a single train had passed If I am to make sound check then I will have to drive So I went home and got in my van and hit the old M5 The motorways were kind to me and I arrived with time to spare Met up with the other bands who were already there Sound checked, had a bite to eat and then opened up the show Then hung out with some strangers, they're just friends I don't yet know Oh there's no two ways about it, this is quite the life I chose It's not glamorous or sexy, but that's just how it goes It's service station sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and tea And I wouldn't change a thing, it's the land pirate's life for me And now I'm miles away from anywhere I've been In the company of thieves who stole my heart, my new found friends And given half a chance I'd do it all again, Oh I'd do it all again, do it all again, In the blink of an eye I would do it all again So when the show was over I headed up to Leeds Kept one eye out for a lay-by, I'm a man of simple sleeping needs Then on to Birmingham, and the London final show But I can't drive my van inside that low emissions zone So one more time, with fingers crossed, I had to get the train And I hoped to God he hasn't let those rivers flood again One more show to play and then for me this tour is done Done at least 'til next week when I start another one Oh there's no two ways about it, this is quite the life I chose It's not glamorous or sexy, but that's just how it goes It's service station sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and tea And I wouldn't change a thing, it's the land pirate's life The land pirate's life, the land pirate's life for me
2.
Oh this place meant so much to so many that we know For some it was one of the few places we'd go So we'll stand here and revel in all our past glories 'Coz if these walls could talk They'd tell one hell of a story I had my first legal drink in the Rolleston Arms £1.80 a pint, I soon fell for it's charms In more recent times not the cheapest around But the Sunday roast beats any others hands down A regular there by 1999 And every weekend we would drink the place dry And at time head downstairs to our favourite club That resided just under out favourite pub Oh this place meant so much to so many that we know For some it was one of the few places we'd go So we'll stand here and revel in all our past glories 'Coz if these walls could talk They'd tell one hell of a story Remember the dance hour when no-one would dance? And we'd all use those sixty short minutes to chance Our luck with a lady in some darkened corner To find out your best friend just got there before you Remember the songs that they'd end every night with? Song 2, Place Your hands, and that Rage one we liked It felt good to have somewhere that we could belong From the first drink of the night to the DJ's last song Oh this place meant so much to so many that we know For some it was one of the few places we'd go So we'll stand here and revel in all our past glories 'Coz if these walls could talk They'd tell one hell of a story Did the scene lack support? Was it rising drink costs? Did the brewery put the rates up? Was it making a loss? Did the alternative kids all leave town and grow up? Well I'm betting at times it was all of the above And it feels a bit like the death of an old friend And it's a shame that the glory years came to an end So please charge your glasses, lament now with me To good times! To the Rolly! To old Level 3! Oh this place meant so much to so many that we know For some it was one of the few places we'd go So we'll stand here and revel in all our past glories 'Coz if these walls could talk They'd tell one hell of a story Yes if these walls could talk They'd tell one hell of a story Yes if these walls could talk They'd tell one hell of a story
3.
Towns 05:18
I grew up in Swindon but that's not where I was born I drew my first breath in Kettering one sunny Wednesday morn' Born unto a preachers wife, and a preacher man Folk called them the Brookfields I call them Mum and Dad And they had this tiny cottage by a leather factory That's where I spent my first few weeks, sister, Mum, Dad and me And we didn't have a lot, but what we had we made it count My first few weeks were happy, of that fact I have no doubt Oh work took Dad to London when I was just a few weeks old I don't remember much, but we moved to flat in Streatham, so I'm told And my only memory here was condensation ran the walls And in winter it would freeze, but Mum and Dad would keep us warm Four years in we moved again as Dad's job took us East Only as far as Essex, to a town called Chadwell Heath And that's where I started school, and I hated every day But we moved on to pastures new, September '88 Oh I had lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more As I drive these songs around, finding folk to play them for I've lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more So we packed up Dad's Montego, and my family headed West Settled down in Swindon town, that's where I spent the rest Of my formative years learning how to get things right and wrong It's where I had my first love, it's where I wrote my first song Oh I left home at 17 and it's funny how things go In Northamptonshire again, with Kettering just down the road And I spent two years there trying to make sense of who I am Oh I left home boy, but returned a man Oh I had lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more As I drive these songs around, finding folk to play them for I've lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more And at 24 I joined a band and moved back to London town Feeling like I'd chased the ghost of my younger self around And we thought we knew everything, but we didn't have a clue And we did all of the stupid things that all guys in bands do But it was doomed to failure, so I went where I felt safe That bungee chord of Swindon town took me back once again And I've never felt as low as then, never felt as beat But I'm not the kind of person easily admits defeat Oh I had lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more As I drive these songs around, finding folk to play them for I've lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more These days I live in Bristol, but I still travel round And by the law of averages I'll soon be in your town And we can share a drink or two and dance into the night 'Coz playing songs to folk like you is what keeps me alive And that keen sense of belonging, and that feeling that I'm home Comes from every town I play in, and I don't feel so alone And when people ask the question, "Where do you come from?" Oh I'll say, "I come from everywhere!" And I'll play them this song! Oh I had lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more As I drive these songs around, finding folk to play them for I've lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more One more time! Now I had lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more As I drive these songs around, finding folk to play them for I've lived in many towns, and I'll live in a hundred more
4.
A busker plays to fill his belly He plays to entertain the crowds You won't see him on the telly but he's playing pretty much Anywhere he is aloud And some might say he is a nuisance And others swear he is a bard And you've any number of excuses why you never drop a coin But a busker's life is hard 'Coz he's out playing in all weathers Come rain or shine he's got a tune No don't confuse him with the beggars my friends 'Coz when a busker plays, a busker plays for you And he's just trying to make a living And people shout, "Oi get a job!" And he knows that relies upon the giving nature of the passers by But if you ask he'll play your favourite song And if you think this isn't grafting Well maybe you should have a go And we will see how long you last friend, on the streets of England's towns And we'll see how many songs you know 'Coz he's out playing in all weathers Come rain or shine he's got a tune No don't confuse him with the beggars my friends 'Coz when a busker plays, a busker plays for you And even if no-one was watching, he'd be playing anyway It's in his blood, in it's in his nature, it's just a bonus if he's paid And if you think he'll spend your money on heroin or crack cocaine Not every busker is a junkie, just like every passer by is not the same 'Coz he's out playing in all weathers Come rain or shine he's got a tune No don't confuse him with the beggars my friends 'Coz when a busker plays, a busker plays for you A busker plays for you A busker plays for you A busker plays for you
5.
It's the last time, the party's over for you now I hope you savor that last drop of liquid in your mouth I know you'll miss that sense of detachment from your brain But no you won't miss waking up each morning in pain You let it get the best of you, but don't let it take the worst Drowning is no way to go, but now you'll have to die of thirst its not the first time, the first time you had to turn and run Run from a substance that in moderation can be fun You always do this, you're always taking things too far And now you're drowning, drowning miles from the shore You let it get the best of you, but don't let it take the worst Drowning is no way to go, but now you'll have to die of thirst And when you're on a roll Who is in control? You, or alcohol? It's the last time, the party's over for you now I hope you savor that last drop of liquid in your mouth
6.
Wagons Roll 04:14
It's easy for you to say, "You'll just have the one today won't you?" You know that I've never been that kind of clever don't you? You say that I don't need whisky and wine to have fun here If you think that's true then maybe it's you who's the drunk here I can't wait for this night be over I just can't stand being around drunk folk when I'm sober And I've not touched a drop since that night I got lost on my way home A ropy kebab, dodge a fight, call a cab from a pay phone And I can't say I like being sober at night but I'll get though it 'Coz I need to prove to myself and to you I can do this And it's too much weight for my shoulders I just can't stand being around drunk folk when I'm sober No one said this would be fun And it's easier said than done Now I'm right back to square one Three months gone by and although I'm still dry I'm still thirsty So if should choose to get back on the booze will you hate me? It's good for the soul to let old wagons roll without you And I'll get back on when I'm feeling strong enough to I can't wait for this night be over It's just far too weight for my shoulders So I will wait 'til I'm older I just can't stand being around drunk folk when I'm sober
7.
LW3 03:03
Loudon Wainwright blows my mind More and more all of the time I hope that one day or one night I write as well as Wainwright rights To put one's life, one's family On display for all to see Albeit in poetic prose It takes bravery to be so exposed To lay one's sins out on the ground Scrutinised by all around Easily could go so wrong To tell your stories in these songs Songs of travel, songs of home Songs of being fine all alone So witty it's easy to miss What the real meaning is Songs of fame and songs of wealth Songs of age and fading health Songs of family, songs of loss Songs name dropping Dylan, and The Boss When I play your songs at shows I can see the ones who know The people out there just like me The ever loyal fraternity And I always say, "This song's not mine, Loudon Wainwright's who it's by" And I'm pretty sure you wouldn't care If I play the odd one here and there And I only play your songs because I just love them so damn much I just borrow that's no crime And of course you're more than welcome To borrow some of mine Such elegant simplicity From Red Guitar to Song In C The bar's been raised, the standard set And I haven't even come close to it yet Such honest music should be praised In such dark dishonest days So let's celebrate such gems as he Oh every song, every LP Get lost in the discography Of LW3 Loudon Wainwright blows my mind
8.
Do you feel like you're outnumbered? The idiots are winning by a country mile And everywhere you turn yo're lumbered With the need to hide contempt behind a smile Have you lost faith in religion? The politics of faith hang heavy on your heart Another wasted education Another ending taken right back to the start Just let it go It's the only way to save your soul Just let your anger go Is your relevance in question? Is it inversely proportionate to age? Will you ever learn your lesson? Or are these remnants of an adolescent rage? Do the ghosts of your decisions Haunt the outcome of the choices that you make? Second guessing apparitions Is a pointless endeavour to undertake Just let it go It's the only way to save your soul Just let your anger go I heard you say under your breath, "If you're not angry, you don't care" I can't profess to feel the same, 'coz anger is a young man's game Just let it go It's the only way to save your soul Just let your anger Let your anger Let your anger go
9.
No Tomorrow 03:02
It's just me and it's just you Sat here waiting for the moon Apollo will descend to shine on foreign friends so very soon It's just you and it's just me Sat here waiting for the sea Waiting to be saved, waiting 'til the waves crash round our feet And we'll sing into the night As if it's alright and there is no tomorrow If we just save enough to get good and drunk and drown all of our sorrows I don't have a penny to my name You are pretty much the same So what if we're poor, we've been skint before and we're ok Oh it's just you and it's just me That is all we'll ever need Learning not to worry about not having any money sets us free And we'll sing into the night As if it's alright and there is no tomorrow If we just save enough to get good and drunk and drown all of our sorrows Yeah we are taught to save our minimum wage all of our lives But I would rather spend, 'coz in the end you can't take it when you die And we'll sing into the night As if it's alright and there is no tomorrow If we just save enough to get good and drunk and drown all of our sorrows And we'll sing into the night As if it's alright and there is no tomorrow If we just save enough to get good and drunk and drown all of our sorrows
10.
You don't need a record deal to make a record now Just a laptop and some software, and someone who knows how And you don't need a manager, you're managing just fine You just need a search engine, a phone, and dedicate some time Oh you don't need anybody else Yeah you can do it all yourself One day you might have all of those things that you don't need The record deal, the manager, the whole world at your feet But if you do it all yourself and get used to it now It won't be such a culture shock on the way back down You don't need a publicist to publicise your name Just play a thousand shows instead, the outcome is the same You don't need an entourage to pander to your whims And you don't need a roadie, you can carry your own things Oh you don't need anybody else Yeah you can do it all yourself One day you might have all of those things that you don't need The record deal, the manager, the whole world at your feet But if you do it all yourself and get used to it now It won't be such a culture shock on the way back down On the way back down You don't need a rider, mad back stage requests Just a sandwich and some cider, maybe somewhere to get get dressed You don't need a driver as long as you can drive, And you don't need a hotel, your back seat will suffice Oh you don't need anybody else Yeah you can do it all yourself One day you might have all of those things that you don't need The record deal, the manager, the whole world at your feet But if you do it all yourself and get used to it now It won't be such a culture shock on the way back down You might get the publicist, the roadie and the driver The entourage of sycophants, the hotel and the rider But if you do it all yourself and get used to it now It won't be such a culture shock on the way back down On the way back down On the way back down
11.
That old dog knows how to find me It matters not which road I travel on And I thought those days were behind me But it turns out I could not have been more wrong And he sits right there on my shoulder His cold, wet breath upon my neck And they said he would leave when I got older But he still creeps up when I least expect And it's hard to say why it has to be today And I can't explain how it feels But a black dog day could be just one sleep away And I'll never see him coming but I'll keep running with him snapping at my heels And there's no good reason for his visits He requires neither catalyst nor cause And he'll push me to my very limits And leave with nothing but the scars left by his claws And he steals the wind right out my sails And he leaves me at the mercy of the waves And I've tried but I have failed to outrun him But I'm not fast enough on my feet to escape And it's hard to say why it has to be today And I can't explain how it feels But a black dog day could be just one sleep away And I'll never see him coming but I'll keep running with him snapping at my heels At my heels And it's hard to say why it has to be today And I can't explain how it feels But a black dog day could be just one sleep away And I'll never see him coming but I'll keep running with him snapping at my heels And it's hard to say why it has to be today And I can't explain how it feels But a black dog day could be just one sleep away And I'll never see him coming but I'll keep running with him snapping at my heels
12.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining I'd never moan about doing this But it is more than just a saying To say that home is where the heart is And I would take the rush of playing Over almost anything But I have felt no better feeling Than the glow the home fire brings So let the eat winds blow And let them take me home Down this lonely road To see my love again You see I miss my creature comforts My comfy sofa and my big TV And the love of a good woman And I like to think she misses me You see there are troubadours who wander Content to endlessly rove alone But I like to strike a healthy balance Between the open road and home So let the eat winds blow And let them take me home Down this lonely road To see my love again So let the eat winds blow And let them take me home Down this lonely road To see my love again I love to travel but I ain't no Kerouac I hit the open road and it hits me right back So let the eat winds blow And let them take me home Down this lonely road To see my love again Oh let the eat winds blow And let them take me home Down this lonely road To see my love again Oh let the eat winds blow And let them take me home Down this lonely road To see my love again

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released December 2, 2013

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Gaz Brookfield Bristol, UK

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