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Alasdair Cameron

by Alasdair Cameron

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1.
She smiles as she puts down the phone: he’s calling from Kempsey and he’s nearly home. He’s been gone six days on the coastal road. She’s prays sometimes for his final load but she knows. She’s humming as she’s straightening the sheets, thinking of his style as he walks down her street. She was twenty five, working at the Golden Fleece. He dropped his knife and he asked for tea. Asked for her hand on his bended knee and she said ‘Oh, yes please’. Though these days he’s too tired, too busy or too wired he’s still the same sweet man she married. And though she takes to sighing and worries about him dying she wouldn’t want him changed because she knows that’s just his way. She thinks sometimes some kids would have been nice. Still, she’s got the dogs and they’re cheap at half the price. And you know dogs get fleas and she’s got her citrus trees, she’s got bingo at the Leagues. She’s got everything she needs. Now he’s talking to the dogs out on the lawn. Coming through the door with his name tag still on, he likes the way she looks there, in the place that she cooks there, likes the way she cooks ‘em: just a little pink in the middle.
2.
Parallel 03:31
I thought I sensed a change. Saw you searching for something that was out of my range. I thought I knew you well - well enough that I could tell. I guess I was wrong. And I guess we don't run parallel 'cause I'd know what to expect. And I guess if we ran parallel we never would have met. I thought you were the one. Though my searching days were done. I guess I was wrong. And I guess we don't run parallel 'cause I'd know what to expect. And I guess if we ran parallel we never would have met. Got a little closer to a kind of closure, then I thought I saw you lost a little of my composure. Got a little frightened thinking that I mightn't get over this one but you know secretly I've been wishing that I was wrong. And I wish that we ran parallel 'cause I'd know what to expect. And I wish that we ran parallel 'cause we never would have met. But after all we run diagonal and therefore intersect.
3.
Stoked 02:55
She's so excellent that I am bruised from pinching myself: I can't believe it. She's so wonderful that I wonder what's she doing with a guy like me? I'm so totally stoked this must be a hoax waiting for the punchline of this unlikely joke. I'm just blown away, I don't know what to say. For a change I'm at a loss for words. Blue's the colour of my sky when my baby's by my side you ought to see it. She's my Christmas in July. She brightens everything in sight, la lumiere de ma vie. I'm so totally stoked this must be a hoax waiting for the punchline of this unlikely joke. I'm just blown away, I don't know what to say. For a change I'm at a loss for words. She makes me feel like I'm the man. She makes me feel just like I can and I believe it. She love me just like I love her. We're just like cocktails and hor's doevres. We Adam and Eve it. I'm so totally stoked this must be a hoax waiting for the punchline of this unholy joke. I'm just blown away, I don't know what to say. For a change I'm at a loss for words. I'm so totally stoked this must be a hoax waiting for the punchline of this impractical joke. I'm just blown away, I don't know what to say. For a change I'm at a loss for words.
4.
Special One 03:25
When she comes I'll know so everyone keeps telling me. When she comes I'll know and I won't have this ache in me and you will see the world just as it's meant to be. When she comes I'll know. I won't need a photograph. When she comes I'll know. I'll probably recognise her laugh and she will laugh we'll be laughing in the aftermath. So where's my special one tonight? When she comes I know she won't mind my philosophy. When she comes I know she'll understand my theosophy, ideology and that at times I'm quiet or scholarly. So where's my special one tonight? Until she comes I s'pose I'll find something else to do. Enjoy my time alone and do the things that I like to and she will too and we'll meet doing that and it'll all come true. So where's my special one tonight?
5.
Weekender 03:08
I used to wish that I could take a risk and take a different train - end up in a different place just for the day. On the 0616 and the 1702 I'm just a regular guy like you with my briefcase, sandwiches and Financial Review, my cartoon tie and my slightly shiny suit, carrying a piece of fruit. But on weekends I ride my big black motorbike. My wife, she doesn't really understand. She says that it just goes to show I'm getting out of hand From the age of twenty seven to the age of thirty five I dreamed of a dog and a quarter acre, two point two and a wife. The only dream I've ever had and really held on to. Sometimes you want to punch yourself when sometimes dreams come true. But on weekends I ride my big black motorbike. My wife, she doesn't really understand. She says that it just goes to show I'm less of a man. The other day when I was standing at the kitchen sink I realised a guy in my position doesn't get enough time to think. Well she's been told the bike's been sold but I've got it stashed in my shed. I'm wondering can I come around and keep it in your instead. You can ride it through the week I know you'll take good care. I'll just come round Saturdays and she'll just think we're having an affair. And on weekends I'll ride my big black motorbike. My wife, she doesn't really understand. She says that it just goes to show I'm less of a man. on weekends I'll ride my brand new motorbike. My wife, she doesn't really understand. She says she liked it better when I was in a band.
6.
Kingswood 02:40
He was a little guy who drank to much. Seems he was just a little shy on the feminine side. She was a pretty girl who talked a lot. Maybe she was just a little unnerved by this quiet guy. Well anyway, he offered her a ride. She rode by his side and everything was good in the Kingswood. Her Dad owned a factory near Leipzig, Germany, or so he told me one time in a roadhouse near Narromine. He'd studied philosophy at university, dropped out and gone overseas on a whim: lucky for him. Share fuel and expenses. That's how it commences sometimes if you're in that frame of mind. He told me he knew it was bound to get him down when he dropped her outside Morningtown with a wave. But now he writes poetry more frequently, he takes in more scenery, he takes it all much less seriously even though she's gone.
7.
Strange as it seems you're the only one who's blocking up your dreams and I know I've got the same saboteur in me. It comes in the night, tells me I'm not doing nothing right and I believe it: don't see any other way that I could possibly perceive it. Do it today. Get it out of the way. Do it today. You don't need me or anybody else to say you're doing okay. Take some advice: don't think, don't think twice. Don't think at all. You'll find yourself on the other side of the wall. Do it today. Get it out of the way. Do it today. You don't need me or anybody else to say it'll all be okay.
8.
Pleasantries 03:14
When abstract threat turns to violent reality that's the time you should leave me. No sense clutching at my sleeve. Go. I don't really want to know. When to an end this whole thing comes as it must I won't be the one to stand clutching my head in my hand. Go. I don't really want to know. Don't try to facade your shortcomings with sophistry and lies. You know just as well as I do that you can't spend your life in a disguise. When you've reached the end of your rope and you've found it's as frayed as you don't tie it around your neck. Better just to live and forget. Go. I don't really want to know. Leave me alone. I don't really want to know.
9.
Might Fly 02:44
Turned on the kitchen light like I had an appetite. Walked up and down the hall waiting for your call. And it just might fly if we both just try and we both know why it can't go wrong. So what goes wrong? Took a walk into the yard. Took a good look at the stars. Took a good look in the mirror. Went and got myself a beer. And it just might fly if we both just try and we both know why it can't go wrong. So what goes wrong? Then I walked through the front door. Wondered what I'd been waiting for. It's like the minute I hit the street I found I found my feet. And it just might fly if we both just try and we both know why it can't go wrong. So what goes wrong? And it just might fly but you just won't try and we both know why it can't go on. It can't go on.
10.
What will you do when my song is through will you stand up and leave the room? Or will you stay a while, flash me a secret smile? Oh lord I hope you do. I didn't mean to embarrass you. It's just that there's so much to say sometimes the words come out the wrong way. You'll understand some day. Retrospect is a visual thing: you can see all sorts in it. Building a relationship's like building your own ship it takes a long time to begin it. I didn't mean to embarrass you. It's just that there's so much to say sometimes the words come out the wrong way. You'll understand some day. And what about your friend with the Fender? Do you really think he could be tender? Just 'cause his Dad is the town's money lender and he knows the words to The Great Pretender? I wrote you a love song in C and all you could do was laugh at me tee hee, tee hee, tee hee.
11.
Take my hand here in the dark. Noone can see, it's just you and me and the stars. Impressions of you leave me decidely blue. Period. I'd like to walk you down by the sea but that might cause disharmony with Debussy. And I could read you poems all day, pretend I was Verlaine or maybe Mallarme Impressions of you leave me decidely blue. Period. You're the missing dot in a pointillist picture. If you were a sculpture I'd make you a fixture in my home 'cause I'm just a romantic fool.
12.
Stay A While 03:09
It's true: the conversations I imagine with you are filled with shining wit but now my dreams have all come true and I'm here all alone with you it seems my mouth is filled with some kind of grit and I can't get my tongue around it. But that's just the half of it. So why don't you stay a while? And it's true: I think of you a whole lot more than you might think I oughta do and I think a little more of you than you might think I do but now my dreams have all come true and I'm here all alone with you it seems my mouth is filled with some kind of grit and I can't get my tongue around it. But that's just the half of it. So why don't you stay a while? I see through your certainty. Like it or not you're a lot like me. I bet the ones for who you fall are tanned and six feet tall and they don't need you. And so I stand here mumbling in the hope of tip or trick or trope or somebody to through me a rope 'cause it looks like I'm the dope. 'cause now my dreams have all come true and I'm here all alone with you it seems my mouth is filled with some kind of grit and I can't get my tongue around it. But that's just the half of it. So why don't you stay a while?
13.
Some Breeds 02:18
She glided through the room like a rabbit on a rail: wiggle in her ears and a waggle in her tail and I knew that I was done, knew that I was through, knew when it was all over I'd still go home with you. I was running like a motor. I was running like a fan, running like a man with a hand full of sand and an hourglass to fill. I've got no time to kill. Going like the clappers and it's like I'm standing still and I feel so alive. Some breeds stray. Some run away. Some love to run. They do it just for fun. Sliding out of turn two I move up from sixth to third. I've already got the feeling that I'll have the final word and I can feel the earth below, I'm putting on a show. Put the hammer down and the endorphins start to flow and I feel so good. Some breeds stray. Some run away. Some love to run. They do it just for fun. Flying into first as I face the final turn. Streaking down the straight and I've got energy to burn. I get to feeling kind of Zen as I go back to my pen. Wind the rabbit up and matey I'll go round again because I feel so alive. Some breeds stray. Some run away. Some love to run. They do it just for fun.
14.
Lullaby 03:08
It's been a lovely day. Hasn't the time slipped away? Well close your eyes sleepyhead. Close your eyes I'll tuck you into bed. I can see, see by your drooping eyes: it's clear to me you're ready for beddy-byes. Fold your wings butterfly. I'll sing this lullaby and I'll be here when you wake, and I'll be there with every step you take. I can see, see by your drooping eyes: it's clear to me you're ready for beddy-byes. Tomorrow's another day. We'll do it all the same way. So close your eyes sleepyhead. Close your eyes I'll tuck you into bed.

about

Best known as front man for Darwin's Dorkstain, and subsequently The All Ordinaries of Sydney, this is Alasdair's first solo release.

Engineered, produced and recorded by James Ryan, the album was recorded live in a solar powered caravan in the middle of a South Coast dairy farm and perfectly captures the intimacy of his words and the intricacy of his guitar playing.

credits

released August 1, 2013

Alasdair Cameron: Guitar, vocals
James Ryan: Producer, Engineer

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Alasdair Cameron Sydney, Australia

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