I try to dance and have to walk, I try to sing and have to hold it.
My love cries hard inside a cage and broken wings cannot control it
I have my heaven and my hell, I know one road and my road only
I am the old man and the child and you should know it can be lonely.
Live my life
On a knife
Well I know you're concerned
But let me live my life by my insanity
And on my own head let it be
Just give me love.
(I meet a wall and try to scale it)
(it's a pointless game and yet I play it)
I watch the world turn round and round, but it's my world too, I'm a human being
No truth or lies behind your eyes, the only truth is what you're seeing.
Why can't we
Simply be?
Well I know you're concerned
But let me live my life by my insanity
And on my own head let it be
Just give me love.
The old man turned unto the child and took his hand and led him slowly
Through the clouds and the stormy seas, to God, creator, one and holy
The child he wept for sunny fields, he wept for love and for tomorrow
And knowing that the child was he, the old man wept for joy and sorrow.
Well I know you're concerned
You have a right to be, you're my brother
But let me live my life by my insanity
And on my own head let it be
Just give me love.
[With thanks to Inbar Grinstein for the transcription]
credits
from CAFÉ SOCIETY - Troubadour,
released September 1, 2023
Lead vocal: Raphael & Hereward / Acoustic gtr: Hereward / Lead gtr: Phil Palmer / Piano: Tom / Bass: Nick South / Drums: Jim Franks / Engineer: Roger Beale / Producer: Ray & Dave Davies
supported by 55 fans who also own “The Old Man And The Child”
Quite good songs from some new inexperienced band that I've never heard but I think they have promise though really they needed to start their career say in the mid-1970's during a time of strife & hope with clashing cultures & international conflict to help inspire the tempering of this raw talent into something folkish and joecoqueresque avec a nouveau sensibility of finger pickin' geetar and riddim&blooooozzz and glued back hair, sequins, glitter, safetypins & paperhats. A good first attempt. quangobaud
supported by 23 fans who also own “The Old Man And The Child”
So much atmosphere conveyed by so few words. This track truly lives up to its title and not only that - this version features Steve Laurie and Pat Davey - two old muso friends from the eighties. Richard Hayward
Ben Wheeler uses an East German synthesizer and a Soviet flanger to create hauntingly weird yet bright and open electronic soundscapes. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 10, 2022
supported by 19 fans who also own “The Old Man And The Child”
This album has stuck with my dad for the best part of 30 years, Tom's music has a timeless quality that doesn't age and stays with his fans for decades. Adam Stephens