Get all 8 Alex Seel releases available on Bandcamp and save 15%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of All Sails to the Sun, Spell on a Tin Drum, Satellites / Grass Is Greener, Circles EP, Broken Faucet, Other Paths, Oh The Glamour, and Shifting Sands.
1. |
No Goodbyes
03:20
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When the wind is changing in direction
And you come falling out your bed
Into this world of heavy traffic
And with a time bomb ticking in your head
Thinking on the way to work if I could just keep walking
Straight on past the office right up to
The airport bus
No goodbyes & no fuss
Well Monday’s medinas in Morocco
Tuesday is tea in Tokyo
Wednesday a jamboree in Deli
Thursday is some Colorado snow
Friday I haven’t got a clue - bring on the weekend!
Oh there’s a million other things that I could do
Come get on the bus
No goodbyes and no fuss
Well if yesterday is cold hard repetition
Tomorrow is a radiant tapestry
I can see the golden threads a-pullin’
I’m wondering what it is that’s stopping me
Oh fear and doubt is such a silly sin for any man I know
I could walk on and leave it, leave it all, so far behind
Leave the grey
And leave the grind
The wind is changing in direction
And there’s no telling where it’s gonna blow
But these shoes were surely made for walking
And I think I know which way they’re gonna go
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2. |
Greylight of the Moon
04:00
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Well they pour towards the station in the twilight of the morn
In as well defined direction as the sun is at the dawn
So sure in all their doing
And so far from my own form
And I think I should go back to school to check on careers advice
I tried living in the country and the city here now twice
And I’m confused as the little boy
Who was looking for his lead
And told to keep tidy
And told he must achieve
And then I hear that old crazy voice
Singing in abandon and free
Hailing all sails to the sun
And singing straight into the heart of me
That tells me not to follow
The grey light of the moon
Yes the singing man is striding down the street come rain or shine
And claims his path of glory with no sense of place or time
Such sweet crazy singing
Or just a way of getting through
Needs every minute of this sunlight
Not the grey light of the moon
And many heads turn in confusion wondering “what the hell is he?”
But for all of us familiar with this display we see so free
We don’t judge him by his music
Nor claim him our own fool
He’s oblivious to us anyway
While he makes his own rule
And when I hear that old drunken voice
Singing in abandon and free
Hailing all sails to the sun
Singing straight into the heart of me
I feel the world could smile and keep turning
As he cares enough to not give a damn
And if I’d leave my foolish self-pride & pity
Maybe even I‘d see the whole world in a grain of sand
And know I need not follow
The grey light of the moon
And that the only song worth singing
Is our own & to our own tune
Yes the singing man is striding down the street come rain or shine
And claims his path of glory with no sense of place or time
Oblivious to any other way
And the grey light of the moon
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3. |
Change In Me
03:19
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The clouds have rung out all their rain today
They couldn’t hold it anymore
Thought I was sinking beneath your cool blue wave
But find I’m calmly sitting here ashore
You’re bringing out a change
A change in the sea
You’re bringing out a change in me
Said you were looking for a new road through
And you wished I’d move to catch the breeze
While I was rooted like a strong old oak
Now I’m falling just like it’s leaves
You’re bringing out a change
Setting all things free
You’re bringing out a change in me
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4. |
Luna Star
04:36
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On the edge of a dreamer’s world
Where the wind blows a song brooding & low
Driving rain & the winter sea sprays
Leave but a house safe & full of warm summer days
‘Cause there’s a heart who can hear the call
To pinch a smile from the deepest fall
And there the arms that can all embrace
From the troubled, tired and the darn disgraced
Well I’m a hundred mile
Down a wild crooked road
Carrying a heart full of sorrow
Heavy load
Looking for your light any light here alone
Shine my way home
If I’ve the luck of your light shine the way
I’ll leave these blues here & the devil to his own play
I’ll kiss the hand & receive the smile
That lifts the spirit up a thousand miles
And we will sing from top of our lungs
And we will talk in a million tongues
And we will drink and celebrate
And meet the burning skies of dawn as the new day breaks
Well I’m a hundred mile
Down a wild crooked road
Carrying a heart full of sorrow
Heavy load
Looking for your light any light here alone
Shine my way home
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5. |
Prayer to the Ancestors
03:53
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Let’s climb down the steep
From the clouds round our eyes on
Down ‘neath the graves
Through the soil, through the caves
Of our stories untold,
Forgotten though bold
All but gone
Cracked pots & old bones
Lost possessions & homes
Of peoples & things
Trashed thrones & old kings
And the treasured smithereens
Of foot soldiers & queens
All but gone
The shield & the sword
The plunder’s hoard
From exile, from flight
And farewells in the night
Both survival & greed
Now pushing up weeds
All but gone
O, come distant voices & guide me along here
Come long lost voices be present & strong here
And help us to live & love & live once again
The cradle, the plough
The shoes & the boat
The pedant, the needle
And broken wheel spoke
From the spear, the gourd
And the ochre that wrote
On the wall
Success & the failure
The accidents of birth
The bribes & grand gestures
And all the salt it was worth
From the recycled clay
In the ever-giving Earth
Some call home
Come distant voices guide us along here
Come long lost voices be present & strong here
Come lend your strength & grit to the strain here
And help us to live & love & live once again
And lead us to live & love & live once again
Who are you now?
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6. |
Wild Goose
02:59
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I walk on eggshells round the breakfast table
Sour milk poured on my aching heart
My poor aching heart
My ears wander out the kitchen window
Where rooster crows another question mark
Another question mark
There’s a picture of her far above these blues
That keeps me rolling along when there’s no good news
Don’t mind a day when the sun ain’t shining
Don’t mind her eyes hiding in the dark
But miss the glimpse and the spark
It ain’t right to loose the silver lining
It ain’t perfect, but still a place to start
There’s a place to start
Got a picture of her far above these blues
That keeps me rolling along when there’s no good news
Seems the only good thing that I don’t want to loose, my wild goose
Ooh my wild goose
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7. |
Wishbone
03:16
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Lil’ mole in the ground
Keeping his little head down
Birdsong the only sound
Now all the people gone
Far away from the hammer’s blow
Hanging there on his own
Keeping out of old harms way
And digging for a wishbone
Whole world on it’s side
It’s a white knuckle trying to hold on
Ghost train ain’t no ones ride
So he’s staying where he belong
Headlines shouting all about it
And little mole turn to stone
But he ain’t praying or drinking hard
Just digging for a wishbone
Dirt flying high in the air
With his muzzle to the grind stone
Searching for some meaning there
With a fine double-tooth comb
Gone as far as he can go
He’s gotta real need to roam
He’s gotta peek his way out soon
And keep looking for that wishbone
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8. |
Trailblazer
03:08
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Hey Trailblazer won’t you wait for me
I’m running as fast as I can, can’t you see?
You showed me a trail & this is what I’ve found
But anywhere near you is unsteady ground
Now I know over your shoulder
There’s a shadow so much colder
Than the face that appears to me
Confident & carefree
But has perfection’s price always been agreed?
Your heart is pouring out gold, mine is lead
And if I pedal your words I only lose my legs
But something’s stirring deep down in my soul
Though I’m tired of shovelling no gem, just black coal
Now I know over your shoulder
There’s a shadow so much colder
Than the face that appears to me
Confident & carefree
But has perfection’s price always been agreed?
So Trailblazer
Shine some light for me
’Cause it’s only one in a million
That get away free
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9. |
Circula
06:50
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I’d rather burn than fade
But I can’t choose my time
Rather make mistakes
Than tow the usual line
I’d rather reap than sow
But love know the seeds
I’d rather watch things grow
And clear my mind of weeds
Don’t wanna sink or swim
I’d rather float down stream
Leave the whirlpool spin
And sink into my dream
I’d rather gaze up high
And lose my shuffling feet
Sail the brilliant sky
Than think of counting sheep
I’d rather burn than fade
But feel fused in time
I’d rather green than red
But could be colourblind
I’d rather reap than sow
But leave the hand that feeds
Rather pass but I throw
All caution to the breeze
Don’t wanna sink or swim
I’d rather float down stream
It’s just the bag I’m in
A Hazelnut Ice Cream
I’d rather gaze up high
And lose what I can’t keep
Take one big last sigh
And one giant leap
I’d rather burn than fade
May even cross the line
But this the tree I shake
It’s the only one that’s mine
In a navel gaze
I see my wants from needs
But never see the track
Before the next train leaves
Don’t wanna sink or swim
I’d rather float down stream
Leave the whirlpool spin
And sink into my dream
I’d rather gaze up high
Than at my shuffling feet
Sail the brilliant sky
Than think of counting sheep
I’d rather burn than fade
But I can’t choose my time
Rather make mistakes
Than tow the usual line
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10. |
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Alex Seel London, UK
In the tradition of folksinger/guitarist but with contemporary musings...
“Exquisite and
powerful songs from one of the best composers, guitarists and singers in the UK today. Alex Seel has influences from blues, pop and the British Folk Revival guitarists but his sound is all his own” - Twickfolk
More info at www.alexseel.com
... more
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