The Reckoning

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What’s a guy got to do to get a little bit of tenderness?

All these women are so cool like they’ve been through a holy mess

Waiting

Watching

Listening

Understanding

(As best you can)

 

Being mother to your man must be the hardest thing

To have you love turned around is so disheartening

Listening

Accepting

Waiting for the

Reckoning

(That rarely comes)

 

WHISTLING BRIDGE

 

I must have paid my dues trying to be a gentle man

It was the right thing to do – just didn’t fit the master plan

Waiting

Watching

Listening

Understanding

(As best you can)

 

What’s a guy got to do

To get a little bit of tenderness?

 

FEMALE BACKING VOX:

 

Grow up!

 

 

© Ian Lilburne 2017

Bridges (John Harris)

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A bridge is a crossing to the same end

It’s people to people and then back again

A bridge gives a city its sense of pride

Be it over the Mekong or over the Clyde

 

Bridges are stone wooden or steel

To bear the great weight of the boot and the wheel

A bridge in a battle is worth fighting for

A bridge is a prize in peace and in war

 

A bridge is a river over the sky

A bridge is a river o’er the sky

 

A bridge is a place where you take a fall

When there’s no one to turn to―no one at all

A bridge has a side hidden from light

The homeless find shelter under its flight

 

CHORUS

 

Bridges and lovers are deeply entwined

They’re seen on the bridge o’ the river that winds

A bridge is an excellent place to be kissed

Then crossing alone your lover you’ll miss

 

CHORUS

 

As we travel the roads and rails of our time

We come to a bridge at the end of the line

A bridge that will take you to the unknown

Every woman and man must cross it alone

 

CHOURS

 

© John Harris 2017

Sail Away (on the Wind)

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I rolled and tossed all night on a sea of battered dreams

My spirit longed for flight, to sail off on the wind

 

Been caught up in a chain of emails + deadlines

Pressure, stress + strain, those petty thieves of time

 

Is that how it’s meant to be?

Oh for a timeless day

I’d head down to the sea and simply swiftly

Sail away

(On the wind)

Sail away

(On the wind)

 

The sun shining bright – the sea riding high

I’ll cruise off like a kite across a clear blue sky

 

Now darling don’t you hold me back

Just let me slip away

On this horizon tack

On this clear timeless day

 

Sail away

Sail away

Sail Away

 

SOLO

 

I rolled and tossed all night on a sea of battered dreams

My spirit longed for flight, to sail off on the wind

 

Sail Away

(On the wind)

Sail away

(On the wind)

 

© Ian Lilburne 2011

Hanging By A Thread

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It’s not the first time – it won’t be the last

That I walk this broken line

Between the darkness and the break of day

Between the blessing and the curse

Hanging by a thread

 

Between the devil and the clear blue sky

Between the fire and the storm

Between the camel and the needle’s eye

Between the hound and the wolf *

Hanging by a thread

 

SOLO

 

Beneath the softness of a gentle hand

Between the heartbeat and the sigh

Beneath the deadlock of a one-track mind

Between the promise and the lie

Hanging by a thread

 

It’s not the first time – bet it’s not the last

That I walk this broken line

Between the gloaming and the still of night

Between the blessing and the curse

Hanging by a thread

 

© Ian Lilburne 2015

 

*   A variation on the French phrase, ‘entre chien et loup’,  literally ‘between the dog and the wolf’, i.e. between twilight barking and night howling, metaphorically between sunset and the dead of night, as echoed in the last verse.

Pete Grandison – Shanghai Twang Studio

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Pete Grandison

Pete Grandison

Ian Lilburne’s debut album Ghosts and its companion piece, the EP, Against the Odds, were recorded, mixed and mastered by Pete Grandison.

Pete is the man, the musician, and the producer behind the workings of Shanghai Twang, a boutique recording and production studio based in Fremantle, Western Australia. Pete works in all forms of music and audio production, but specialises in production for singer / songwriters and the recording, mixing, and mastering of roots, rock, folk and world music. Pete has recently built a new studio (designed by John Sayers), with three separate recording rooms and a large mixing and mastering suite. Read more

Phil Bailey – Bass

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Damn! I have to write a bio for Ian’s website.

I hate writing these things as they seem to me unending lists of things I have done radaradarada.

So I asked Ian to write one for me and although that had merit, I wasn’t truly happy (if indeed one can be).

But some things Ian wrote were interesting and he has reminded me of some things. That is a good thing.

It is true that I was once described by Perth guitar virtuoso, Errol Tout, as ‘Mr Effortless Fretless’.  This came from my preferred instrument at the time – a fretless bass.

It is also true that I can look deceptively calm, hence the effortless bit, while playing music despite the inner whirl that may come with a gig.

It is also true that I have been performing in Perth bands for longer than I care to remember. Lately it may be more like ‘do I want to remember?’

I don’t know, however, that being “accomplished” at anything is true as I prefer to dabble in many things and have accumulated a wide variety of skills that do me nicely, thank you very much. For this I am grateful and blessed. Jack of all trades, master of none. Read more

Abe Dunovits – Latin Percussion

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Abe Dunovits

Abe Dunovits

Abe plays an array of Latin percussion instruments on Against the Odds, the title track of the Ian Lilburne EP.

Argentinian/Australian, multi-instrumentalist and artist Abraham Dunovits lives and works in Fremantle. He is the driving force behind Funkalleros, a highly energetic original band that fuses rock, blues, jazz, funk, reggae, Spanish rumba styles and Latin American Mestizo roots music.

Born in Argentina, Abe grew up in Spain, soaking up the music as he went along, studying in the Madrid “tablaos” where flamenco music was played and going to see rock concerts at night. He has lived and worked in Australia since 1989. He is a musical virtuoso on string instruments, but also extends to percussion and piano. Read more

Ben Franz – Double Bass

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Principally a roots and jazz player, Ben Franz has also worked in eclectic genres ranging from noise bands to post rock. Since 2000 he has been actively involved in record production and engineering.

After studying jazz at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts in the early 90’s, he began a seven year stint with Lucky Oceans’ band The Zydecats. In 2001 he joined The Waifs as their regular bass player, with whom he remains to this day.

Ben plays double bass on Lolita on Against the Odds.

Read more

Kate Hall – Backing Vocals

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Kate Hall is an actor, singer and teacher, who has been prominent in the Perth theatre and music communities since the early 1980s.

While studying theatre arts at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), she performed as lead singer in various rock bands, most notably the infamous Satch Band (1984 to 1987). She performed with the Satch Band at the Toodyay Folk Festivals in 1985 and 1986, and at the W.A Concert Hall in 1987. Kate sang in Dave Warner’s Sensational Sixties during its Perth seasons and subsequent regional tour in 1986. Read more

Reuben Kooperman – Percussion

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Reuben Kooperman

Reuben Kooperman

Reuben Kooperman plays snare and brushes on Cast My Twisted Ways on the EP Against the Odds.

With a minimalist approach to percussion, a listening ear and a friendly smile, Reuben is at home in almost any musical setting that has a groove or a feel.

A second generation drummer, Reuben has been gigging in Perth and at festivals around the country since the early 1970’s. With roots in swing, blues and rock and roll, early bands included I Don’t Love You Harry (with Dave Brewer), Polly & The Baby (with Cathie Travers), Tarzan’s Grip (with Linda Nutter) and Just Friends (with Lois Olney). The 1980’s started with Midget & The Farrellys (featuring Dave Faulkner), and continued with the Nansing Quartet and Jam Tarts with various Gares and Lemanns, and The Hawaiian Hotshots (with Lucky Oceans) interrupted only by a 2 year stint in South East Asia. The 1990’s saw the emergence of good time band Rich’n’Famous (with Kavisha Mazzella), the strongly Celtic flavoured Press Gang/Fling (with Ormonde Waters) and the broadening of musical horizons to encompass festivals from Maleny/Woodford to Port Fairy and The National Folk Festival. Bands in the 2000’s include Jane Germain & The Yahoos playing country and bluegrass, Peter Woodward and the Hiltones playing country blues, Irish band Tatterjack, the Bayou Brothers, Dot Combo, Tin Dog, The Cortinas as well as various guest appearances with  Frencham Smith, The Spooky Men of the West, Mic Conway, Frank Jones and The Western Furphies, and many others.