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IN NORTHERN TOWNS LIKE THESE

by David Heavenor

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about

A song about childhood growing up along the river Forth in the East Lothian town of North Berwick living a rather protected life. The Bass Rock teamed with Gannets (Solan Geese) and the islands seemed like secret places and Fife was another universe with its town lights twinkling at night.

Nicola took a shine to me in primary school and required love notes written on all occasions. I would pass them to her in class. I failed before long as my poor heart was too immature at that stage… I used to have a black bible embossed with gold with a zip round the edges and impossibly thin 'India' leaves with every line numbered with annotated. Church services were excruciatingly boring conducted in a foreign language. Dirgy organs, ladies in florid hats, stiff collars and kilts.

lyrics

IN NORTHERN TOWNS LIKE THESE

In northern towns like these
The town clock has been stopped
Since nineteen sixty three
When a cub shirt was on his back
But he's so shy, he's so dumb
He's leaning out his window
To wait for Kingdom Come
For he's never learned to feel
Feel for the joy
Where the light on this river
Is much more forgiving
Than light on steel

In northern towns like these
He drags a stick along the sands
To trace the ferris wheel
That burns and turns within his mind
Along the May, around the Bass
The Solan Geese go circling
On a sea of glass
But he's never learned to feel
Feel for the joy
Where the light on this river
Is much more forgiving
Than light on steel

So reel him in
Reel him out
Holy river

In northern towns like these
The lovely Nicola will pout
And mind her Q's and P's
At least until the class streams out
'My loving boy, my loving boy
Write me secret letters
Using active verbs
But he's never learned to steal
Steal away to the joy
Where the light on this river
Is much more forgiving than light on steel

In northern towns like these
Black bible spines unzip
And the whispering India leaves
Fill up his world with doubt
'Your name in vain, Your name in vain'
He's dreaming of the hills
In the blessed rain
For they've never learned to feel
Feel for the joy
Where the light on this river
Is much more forgiving than light on steel

credits

released September 13, 2014
Voice, Guitar and Garage Band samples: David Heavenor

From the album: In Northern Towns Like These

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David Heavenor Edinburgh, UK

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David Heavenor is a Scottish singer songwriter based in Edinburgh Scotland. He has produced 8 albums plus 3 EP's.

I'm Watching Rosanna. ' An insightful song....beautifully written and observed. Iain Anderson. BBC Radio

'Jenny & the Cold Caller. One of the best songs ever written...' Ricky Ross ... more

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