Justin Sullivan, lead singer of
New Model Army, put out an amazing solo
album in
2003 in the seafaring folklore tradition entitled Navigating by the
Stars. Very personal and moving lyrical melodies without the staunch electric guitar and driving bass/drum rhythms characteristic of
NMA ~ but just as powerful I would argue.
I've added a few 'special sound effects' along the way to add to the atmosphere and link the songs together thematically ~ namely, the ocean waves along the way, plus 3 distinct elements (can you pick them out?)
I believe these minor elements honour the spirit of this masterful work, and I hope it works for you as well
...
Lyrics:
OCEAN RISING
----------------------
I dream of the ocean and the beautiful skies rolling out to sea
I dream of the ocean and the rip of the tide west of Finnistair
The weight of the water pouring down, holding on to me
I dream of the ocean, rising, rising
I dream of the ocean, rising, rising
I dream of the ocean - through the night the ghosts are sailing still
The James Caird steering east by north-east through the wild
Atlantic swell
The men lie soaked and cold beneath the sail on a bed of ballast stone
They hear the boss cry out - I can see them now, the snow-capped peaks of land
But it was the ocean, rising, rising
A forty foot wall of water crashing down
They held their breath and prayed to God in the hour of death - To save them
From the ocean, rising, rising
I dream of the ocean, rising, rising
And so the years they flow and journey's end
The old crew sailed south again
And they buried the boss by the melting snow
In the summer winds on the island
And now the ice it cracks and falls away, driven in the storms
And I'll be there - where the sky touches the sea
At the edge of the ocean where the beautiful world fades into the grey
I dream of the ocean, rising, rising
I dream of the ocean, rising, rising
I dream of the ocean, rising, rising
APOCALYPSE
DREAMS
-------------------------------------
((I understand there are different lyric interpretations out there and it may in fact reflect the incarnations with NMA, but this version best represents this rendition of the song
as I hear it))
I went up to the mountain, apocalypse dreams in my head
There was fire upon the horizon but it was just the sunrise turning red
Maybe it's time, maybe it's time
. . .
Each night I walk to the edge of the city out to where the darkness begins
I made a promise out here a long time ago and I've been waiting ever since
Maybe it's time, maybe it's time, maybe it's time . . .
This world has become an empty place
Of wide open landscapes and weird painted skies
Dawn breaking open lit islands of light
And people move as shadows never touching at all
I've never been afraid to die... (die...)
I've been across every ocean just chasing after the storms
My crew are long dead or deserted now and the sea ~ nothing but calm
Maybe it's time, maybe it's time ~ to turn this ship around
~
Enjoy
- published: 09 May 2011
- views: 9890