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So after my one-take song this one has been a few years in the making.
A couple of years ago I wrote the lyrics and melody for this Queen Caroline song about the shopkeeper who doesn't want to go but was never happy with it and asked Richard Marris to help out. He duly rewrote a verse, gave me another verse, a bridge and a coda and even played guitar on them. Two years on I thought I ought to try and finish it. There are always songs which never quite work out how you think they might….
Richard Marris : guitars
Me : guitars, vox, keyboards
And in answer to Doug a CPO is a Compulsory Purchase Order which forces people to sell a property against their will.
The Shopkeeper © Langford/Marris
My name is Arthur William Hall but it's Albert to my friends
I've run this shop for many years and I really can't pretend
that it's been a bed of roses or a stress free comfy life
at the sharp end of a drunken robber's knife
I can't explain the reason but I just don't want to leave
I always try to think the best of folks and perhaps I am naive
I know that nowadays it's mostly just lottery and beer
hope and comfort for the folk who live round here
They’re going to take it and there’s nothing.... that can be done
while we were sleeping ... it seems they won.
I was looking forward to the new flats and all the things that I might sell
Real coffee and organic bread, I thought I might do well
But the message that they're giving is becoming plain to see
And there'll be nothing for the likes of you and me
Now the council want to give me what they call a CPO
I've told them they can stuff it cos I just don't want to go
But I know it's not the end of it, they'll come for me again
What used to be an if is now a when
I don't want to be a victim
I want to stand and fight
But they'll come at me with lawyers
And it won't matter if I'm right
And tell me who I turn to
I can't fight them on my own
Authority is on their side
And I am all alone
A couple of years ago I wrote the lyrics and melody for this Queen Caroline song about the shopkeeper who doesn't want to go but was never happy with it and asked Richard Marris to help out. He duly rewrote a verse, gave me another verse, a bridge and a coda and even played guitar on them. Two years on I thought I ought to try and finish it. There are always songs which never quite work out how you think they might….
Richard Marris : guitars
Me : guitars, vox, keyboards
And in answer to Doug a CPO is a Compulsory Purchase Order which forces people to sell a property against their will.
The Shopkeeper © Langford/Marris
My name is Arthur William Hall but it's Albert to my friends
I've run this shop for many years and I really can't pretend
that it's been a bed of roses or a stress free comfy life
at the sharp end of a drunken robber's knife
I can't explain the reason but I just don't want to leave
I always try to think the best of folks and perhaps I am naive
I know that nowadays it's mostly just lottery and beer
hope and comfort for the folk who live round here
They’re going to take it and there’s nothing.... that can be done
while we were sleeping ... it seems they won.
I was looking forward to the new flats and all the things that I might sell
Real coffee and organic bread, I thought I might do well
But the message that they're giving is becoming plain to see
And there'll be nothing for the likes of you and me
Now the council want to give me what they call a CPO
I've told them they can stuff it cos I just don't want to go
But I know it's not the end of it, they'll come for me again
What used to be an if is now a when
I don't want to be a victim
I want to stand and fight
But they'll come at me with lawyers
And it won't matter if I'm right
And tell me who I turn to
I can't fight them on my own
Authority is on their side
And I am all alone
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Doug Somers
This is a poignant tune Dick, particularly the fade and solo box at the expressing the hopeless inevitability of the situation. I'll admit I got lost admiring your mix and clever musical ideas, but the impact of the lyrics was not lost by any means.
I also liked your almost folk song chord progression for the verse which makes the story all that much more approachable. Vocals, harmonies and touches like the left right panned synth and even the distant but tasteful electric guitar all make this a powerful tune as well as a good listen.
Take a bow gents. You've created a gem.
Doug
Ps -what is a CPO?