Flight (2023) - The Daniel James Songbook
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The Writer's Thoughts
This is my latest LP. I took inspiration from artists like CSH, Galaxie 500, Oasis, Mac Demarco,
and others. "The Dragon of The East" is filled with in-jokes and obscure references. "Blue Guy"
is just a fun little pop song. "Biscuits Hibiscus" was an experiment with nonsensical lyrics
with a vibe I felt was addictive and lazy. "The 4th Part" is a continuation of "Song in
Three Parts" from Further Guitar Music.
Takeoff
[Instrumental]
The Dragon of The East
In a field in Milton Keynes
Hiding chickens from the council
Blue-ray players scanned as potatoes
TV dinners reviewed and slated
Aim for the head and hit the heart
I don't even know how all this started
With a guitar, no single remark
Can hope to find the dogs barking in the dark
[I have a heart of ice,
You have a heart of fire]
The night is dark, it's self-evident
Self-fulfilling prophecy maleficent
Machine gun turrets left on sticks
A hole no tailor could ever fix
From California to Carolina
Inverness to Salisbury Plain
The beat is moving
And I just lost the game
Sports Direct and Harrods can't beat Dollar Tree and Walmart
Silly guitar music can't beat pictures of us
I am the dragon of the east
You are the fox to the west
[I have a heart of ice,
You have a heart of fire]
Blue Guy
Blue guy
Why you looking so blue guy
Don't you know it's your time
To shine
Cool guy
Why you looking so cool guy
The past years have been so long
They almost feel so unreal
Get addicted to the wind
As it blows through the trees
Get addicted to the wind
As it blows through the trees
Blue guy
Don't you wish you had blue wings
To fly
Escape across the sea
I see
Out of these eyes I see
Your fur
Your fur
Get addicted to the wind
As it blows through the trees
Get addicted to the wind
As it blows through the trees
And maybe you will see someday
How blue I can get
And maybe you will see someday
How close you can get
Blue is just a colour
And I'm happy that it's mine
What's yours?
What's yours?
Blue guy
Why you looking so blue guy
Don't you know it's your time
To shine
Cool guy
Why you looking so cool guy
The past years have been so long
They almost feel so unreal
Whirlpool
Lost at sea
Won't you find me
Caught in a whirlpool
Of my own derision
Can't you see me
Won't you find me
Can't you feel me
Won't you help me
Thrown overboard
Makeshift sailboat
Void of life
Save my life
Can't you see me
Won't you find me
Can't you feel me
Won't you help me
Empty regret
Secrets best kept
Stolen valour
Every hour
Can't you see me
Won't you find me
Can't you feel me
Won't you help me
Icarus
Two minutes from my door
I walked down to the store
Every single day
The same way
I could cross the road
Along the marked lines
But I would rather fly
Away from this home
Away from this home
I flew close to the sun
I did not fall
I'm stronger than I think
We're closer now
Time and space converged into one
Consciousness emerged for us
Millions of years might be God's deception
Under one hundred years just to meet you
Just to meet you
Just to meet you
Just to meet you
Orange and green
Linked, linked in forever
The way it was meant to be
Black star, why are you so afar
So far away
So far away
[I'd tie the knot with you]
Miniature Cows
Roasting miniature cows
Roasting miniature cows
Roasting miniature cows
Roasting miniature cows
Biscuits Hibiscus
Blended minutes washing clothes a bore
The steel remains of a broken whore
Thermometer lampshade space indoors
Printed again on the plastic doors
Wide angle pictures of street lights
Close cropped photos of my life
Wide angle pictures of street lights
Close cropped photos of my life
Pasted wasted crumbled biscuits
We don't know what the risk is
Rated catered sheltered bitches
Drink a sip of our hibiscus
Longwave memories set in stone
Shortwave horrors down to the bone
CQ CQ operator
The number's out so call it later
Take a left turn to the right
Let the guitar play into the night
Read a horoscope to see what's fated
Mr. Bungle is underrated
Cabbage stew left on the side
That last bowl was far too wide
Yesteryear in final fury
Who tied the knot for the hung jury
Offices available for decent rent
Radios forbidden except in Kent
Seven nation army doesn't say it's so
Experimental Christian music radio
Ilya
Ascend to heaven as he did
But life is better back down here
As the Jordon split in two
So can this damned ocean
Your God is Yahweh
And you're mine
As the heavens rained down fire
On this cursed land
Your God is Yahweh
And you're mine
As we change our lenses
Chasing greater sharpness
Flowers to me and birds for you
As the prophets cursed him down
Don't let it get to you
Your God is Yahweh
And you're mine
Nothing happens overnight
Except this final flight
Your name is Ilya
And I'm yours
The 4th Part
I know who you are
I love you because you exist
And you are no longer an idea
You materialised
I had the weirdest flight
Now we're together
And I am in your arms
The ocean can't keep us apart
The ocean washed over your grave
Waves are just our souls conversing
The ocean feeds our thirst
I know who you are
I love you because you exist
And you are no longer an idea
You materialised
Landing
[Instrumental]