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Never Give Up On A Song

by Kevin Hewick

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footandmouthdis
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footandmouthdis This is a great album. I've only heard Kevin Hewick previously on the A Factory Quartet album and some compilation tracks here and there and got to hear the track he did with New Order. This is a very good modern folk-rock record. The 70 Year Itch is spot-on protest folk about the current state of England while Wendy O is a tribute to late punk/metal icon Wendy O Williams and her commitment to animal rights causes. Stands up well next to Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs. Favorite track: The 70 Year Itch.
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1.
Red Song 02:06
I play a guitar that has 6 red strings And red lyrics are all that I can sing What am I doing on this stage? With nothing to say but all the rage! My delicate private feelings have become... ..an outburst to which this audience is numb I sing red songs Made up of red notes I’ve got a red voice I’ve got a red throat What am I doing on this stage? With nothing to say but all the rage! My delicate private feelings have become... ...an outburst to which this audience is numb. Outburst Outburst Outburst Outburst I play a guitar that has 6 red strings And red lyrics are all that I can sing
2.
Just how broken are you? Just how far gone? Well! Never give up Never give up Never give up on a song What’s with all the weakness? I thought that you were strong! Well! Never give up Never give up Never give up on a song Dust on my guitars Rust in my voice But the burned out phoenix has to rise And I’m a one man choir of desire Until my dying line Sonic visions The sound of dreams It makes me shake my electric tambourine! And I never give up Never give up Never give up on a song
3.
Humankind 04:42
I hear it in these chords a little How we could change the world a little at a time So let’s try to enjoy it Instead of trying to destroy it Hey! Humankind! We should be kinder to the planet and to ourselves Kinder not crueler Don’t send it all to hell Do we keep our faith in darkness Or do we head for the light that really shines? Let’s fight our fights for rights We’ve got something to unite called humankind We can ascend my friends Or we can decline Become the motherless fatherless orphans of space and time Keep the human part of humankind in mind Motherless Fatherless orphans of time and space Silently screaming Lost meanings Forever displaced The sun is only a fingertip away The moon will willingly show you her weeping face For the motherless fatherless orphans of time and space Belonging turns to longing long long ago We’re as scattered as the stars that distantly glow Motherless Fatherless orphans of time and space Come back to the Earth She never holds back her embrace For the motherless fatherless orphans of time and space Keep the kind part of Humankind in mind
4.
“Fuck off!” She said to him She gave her lover the unkind word He’d lost all he tried to win She gave her lover the unkind word Words hurt Make love seem like a pain not worth the having... ...if the pain adds up to more than the loving He’s an expert at tearing her mean He kicks her dreams into acid streams Words hurt... Did I ever hurt you? Did I ever hurt you? Did I ever hurt you... ...with an unkind word? Did I ever cut your heart in two Did I ever cut your heart in two? Did I ever cut your heart in two... ...with an unkind word? Words hurt...
5.
Free Cruelty 01:12
Goodbye afternoon tedium. When I get out of here I’ll run Across the fields of grief To find a pretty view that’s cruelty free Where I can sit and think about How you were always kind to me That I’ve ended up as a cornered rat is sad But at least the view is cruelty free
6.
The days dance by But I’m not dancing with them And will I ever dance again? On an island of thirst Surrounded by water but dying I dream of escape But reality is I’m not trying And it’s fear today And fear tomorrow Letting hope go Letting hope go Motionless statue Emotionless fool A frozen tear in a frozen pool I’ve got lonely plans There’s no hand in my hand I turned down the chance to be that woman’s man And it’s fear today And it’s fear tomorrow Letting love go Letting love go
7.
Time to end the war To make this the country that we fought for Mutual welfare Free healthcare Education for all Everyone housed with a living wage And our children standing tall But there are those Who liked it as it was When women curtsied And caps were doffed Fodder for cannons Fodder for factories Keeping the working class down on their knees The 70 Year Itch It’s an itch we’d better scratch Because the enemy we defeated is longing to come back 70 years to bitch 70 years to ruin the pitch Giving it up to fear and blame Now never again could happen again Thanks to those who pose like fascist Gods They love their rallies They love their baying mobs Gaslight sermons Truth gets bent Making people believe the crazy shit they invent The 70 year itch It’s an itch we’d better scratch Because we’re ignoring history so history will try to come back 70 years to build it up Tweet a few lies to smash it up To convince us that what’s worse for us is best for us There are those who hope that we’ve forgot Who was who And who did what They’re corrupting the file of our memories And putting us on the road to World War 3.. ..4..5..6.. It’s time to end the war So where is the country that we fought for?
8.
As the willow bends As the willow stings As the branches whip my hands I shape them into things I shape them into baskets I shape them into chairs Each is creation made with a craftsmens care I am the willow weaver I work in Thurmaston My loving wife and I We have us 6 fine sons But once I was a soldier In a war yet to be won I was destined to survive those battles and those guns Once 10 men of my regiment were in a trench with me 9 of them were soon to be chosen for eternity When death came from the sky It was sent direct from hell 11 of us faced the cruelty of the shell 2 of us were wounded 9 of us lay dead My wound became the faded scar you see on my forehead That’s where the shrapnel hit, just under my hairline It was my turn for a miracle God said “It’s not your time” In my wallet there’s a photograph Three lads in uniform I’m with a couple of the boys who perished on on that morn Though I rarely speak of them The comrades that were lost For the vanity of empires they paid the human cost As the willow bends As the willow stings As the branches whip my hands I shape them into things…
9.
Wendy O 05:47
Chainsaw Mama Blew up my TV She said “Live without it and your mind will be more free” Chainsaw Mama Cut up my guitar Punk rock ritual Destruction into art And then she walked into a forest clearing She fed the squirrels And fed the birds Her final act of compassion for the creatures of this earth There is no self Only calm Mercy trigger Do me sweet harm Senseless world Grant me release This loaded heart Must find its peace And then she walked into a forest clearing She fed the squirrels And fed the birds Her final act of compassion for the creatures of this earth
10.
Gold Plated 06:32
I walk with Sister Blackburn I walk with Sister James But however far we walk together Our paths won’t ever be the same Dismounting celestial bicycles They joined me on the ground They spoke to me of the golden plates And I asked them where could they be found? And they walked with me down Soar Valley Way Looking for the golden plates We passed by the smouldering wagons The dead bodies left behind On a concrete highway pilgrimage But no golden plates could we find And they walked with me down Soar Valley Way Looking for the golden plates My crash helmeted revelators made their spinning wheel reveal I told them my doubts were profound But they insisted that the golden plates were real And they walked with me down Soar Valley Way Looking for the golden plates Will you follow what your heart sees? Will you believe or disbelieve? Strange lands look familiar When you’re guided by your certainties Will you follow what your heart sees? Will you believe or disbelieve? The familiar looks strange As I follow my uncertainties And they walked with me down Soar Valley Way Looking For The Golden Plates I and I Sister Blackburn Sister James Looking for the golden plates
11.
They’ve cut down the old cherry tree To build another parking bay And they’re cuttin’ ‘em down On Victoria Park Because they were in the way Green City is Kill City is But won’t you leave just one little sapling for me The Millennium Oaks Will stand for a thousand years If the chainsaw crazies don’t come to interfere Green City is Kill City is But won’t you save just one little sapling for me The silver birch watches outside the house I haunt Its branches claw toward the moon Its roots they drink my thoughts Pick up the guitar Make the timbers vibrate Resurrect the splinters from the cross of hate In dark laughter forests The wayfarers wander afraid But then come sweet summers Lazing in their shade In winters we long for your reborn spring And in the bird cathedrals We hear the feathered choirs sing Green City is Dream City is Tree after tree after tree after tree after tree after tree Billions and billions and billions of trees Green city is Dream City is
12.
River Sense 04:03
Little river Dreaming big Through the centuries Little river Driving time On toward its seas Little river/riverrun Racing with the sun Little river Hold the moon Reflecting down on you Little river Overdoses Thirsty twisted trees Little river Overflows And floods surrounding fields Little river/riverrun Racing with the sun Little river Hold the moon Reflecting down on you Little river Little birds Nesting on your banks Little river Feather and fur And scales give their thanks Little river/riverrun Racing with the sun Little river Hold the moon Reflecting down on you Little river Waters dance So far so fast so free Little river Only still When winter makes it freeze Little river/riverrun Racing with the sun Little River Hold the moon Reflecting down on you I’ll lean over the bridge To throw My books into your depths My books of tears Take them all Merciful River Sense Little river/riverrun Racing with the sun Little river Hold the moon Reflecting down on you
13.
That masked horse is no villain His skin Is his prison Sweet-Itch Stallion In his coat of suffering Binocular stare across the fields Binocular eyes stare at me Sweet-Itch Stallion In his coat of suffering Grass scorched by sun’s blazing Happy flies dance around him Sweet-Itch Stallion In his coat of suffering Sweat and steam Shit and heat Heavy breath And the itch so sweet Sweet-Itch Stallion In his coat of suffering
14.
..In the song of circles In the circle of song.. From the cloud To the eye From the raindrop To the teardrop From the steam To the river To the sea To the ocean In tides And cycles And by the breath of God(dess) Be my yearning yearner Be my burning burner Turn to the see the SUNRISE WORLD that promises that LOVE will be.. ..In the song of circles In the circle of song..

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Limited Edition CD available via Burning Shed distribution:
burningshed.com/store/kevinhewick/kevin-hewick_never-give-up-on-a-song_cd

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released May 21, 2021

Lyrics and Music by Kevin Hewick © 2021

Recorded, Mixed, Edited and Mastered by Adam Ellis
Recorded at Deadline Studios, Leicester between September 5th 2018 - February 12th 2019

Kevin Hewick - Acoustic, Electric, Slide and Bass Guitars, Mellotron (10), Drum (8), Vocals
Adam Ellis - Bass Ukulele (8), Bass Guitar (11), Banjo (11), Organ (11), Programmed Drums (11), Bongoes (10)
Jonathan Read - Hohner Pianet (3), Trumpet (4, 8)
Roger Wilson - Violin (8,12)
David Anderson - Drums (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14)

Artwork and booklet photography by Jim Tetlow; cover photography by Miriam St Cloud

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Kevin Hewick Leicester, UK

Kevin Hewick (born 4 February 1957, Leicester) is an English singer-songwriter who was an early member of the Factory Records roster. Today he is known for his recordings on Pink Box Records, an independent label based in Leicester, and his recent work with Venetian collective Unfolk. ... more

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