Owed To The World

This song, for me, is a bit of a nod to The Killers' "Tidal Wave" because that was the melody that lodged itself under my skin, making me able to write the song. The title is a pun on "Ode to the World", as if this song is a poem to the world, but "Owed" also fits nicely because sometimes I feel we don't pay enough homage to the world that we live in, and how God seems to be a forgotten concept in today's modern world. In a way he owes us a better place, and in a way we owe that to ourselves.

So without further adieu, here's Memories Of Ghosts (And Their Memorandums) or, simply, Owed To The World:

The winds blow over on this town,

And it brings with it uncertainty

Under which we seem to drown.

And we had always wondered

Where we're going next.

And all these ghosts they swim around you

As you take it step-by-step.

These politicians they lie to us

And these martyrs they die for us,

Where is God in this?

God only knows.

This fire lights up the sky for us,

And higher it climbs for us,

But in this all I need

Is something to trust.

Years gone start to light up in your eyes,

And it brings with it the friends you loved,

Instead of all the lies.

And it seems you can't remember

Just how far you've come,

So you smile at them all around you,

And the drummers start to drum.

These politicians they lie to us
And these martyrs they die for us,
Where is God in this?
God only knows.
This fire lights up the sky for us,
And higher it climbs for us,
But in this all I need
Is something to trust.

So I'll wrap my arms around you,

Like I'm never letting go,

And I'll let time heal the scars it's made,

And don't you dare go running off

In the middle of the night,

Feel the world all around you,

And get ready to take your flight.

These politicians they lie to us
And these martyrs they die for us,
Where is God in this?
God only knows.
This fire lights up the sky for us,
And higher it climbs for us,
But in this all I need
Is something to trust.

And don't you dare go running off
In the middle of the night,
Feel the world all around you,
And get ready to take your flight.

We knew you would.

Alternate Song Titles

I decided to take a bit of a break from songwriting to focus on getting the year itself over and done with, though there are melodies floating around in my head. It seems I can't get them out. So for now I give you alternate titles for the already penned 14 songs, as well as the new front and back cover album arts. The front cover was inspired a lot by The Killers new record "Day & Age" and the back cover by a painting a friend did.

The back cover of the liner notes will contain the original "broken glass" artwork, for those who were wondering.

Onto the song titles:

• That Girl From The Bar At Two In The Morning OR Baby Better Get A Reason For Leaving Before Somebody Gets Hurt
• Middle of Nowhere OR Who Said Canoes Were An Effective Mode Of Transport?
• The Ins And Outs Of Love OR Cynical Cyanide
• Whitewash OR Hospital Walls That Smell of White and Holy
• Scary Stories OR Girls Fall For Things That Sparkle, Boys Fall For Things That Gleam
• Ciao, Bella OR There's One Thing On My Mind And One Bullet In My Gun
• In Dreams OR If The River Is Everywhere, Where's The Sea?
• Freefall OR Where's the Fire (And Honey, It's Not In My Pants)
• I Will Fight OR Boy, You'll Learn To Swim Soon
• Dream Chaser (Annie's Lullaby) OR The Only Thing You Don't Want To Hear Is The Only News I Have
• Waterworks OR The Love of Death (And Death of Love)
• What We Believe OR Ultimatums Are The Ultimate Secret Weapon
• Slow Song OR If Seasons Changed As Quick As Your Mind We'd All Be Dead By Now
• Autumns OR You Lie So Conveniently - Are You A Politician?

Autumns

This song is kinda weird in that it stemmed from a friend of mine, in essence going "C'mon, write me a song", like in "Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)". This is, in a way, my own Andrew McMahon moment, and I joked around with it - "You'll have to give me a keyboard and a beautiful night". Then I came out with this pure, rainy melody and these tranquil lyrics. They bled from every pore of me until this was what was left:

She said give me a keyboard,

Give me a beautiful night,

This song will bleed from every pore

Until I get it right.

I can hear you singing, singing underground

Singing look at all the love I've found.

In the autumn, my dear,
You seem swept away,
And the world is too much for you.
But don't stop singing, singing,
Cos I can hear your voice
When the sky's half grey and half blue.

Give me the starlight,

Give me the moon shining down,

Oh and watch as our

Love drowns.

I can see you watching the river

Singing of oh, how the moonlight drowns.

In the autumn, my dear,
You seem swept away,
And the world is too much for you.
But don't stop singing, singing,
Cos I can hear your voice
When the sky's half grey and half blue.

Oh, give me hope

That tomorrow will start anew,

My future's my present,

My present's my past

And these flowers bloom

Bloom in a garden,

And grow along the road,

That seems lost in your reds

And your yellows.

In the autumn, my dear,

You seem swept away,

And the world is too much for you.

But don't stop singing, singing,

Cos I can hear your voice

When the sky's half grey and half blue.

I can hear you singing, singing underground

Singing look at all the love I've found...

In the autumn, my dear,

You seem swept away...

Slow Song

I find it so weird at this point to have drafted a 13th completed song to actually be considered in the drafting of this album, but I love that I sat down and actually wrung it out last night. That's probably why there's the reference about having to finish the song in there. Again, it's a bit of a love song, about that realisation maybe that you can be there, and be safe with them.

I really should stop talking about love. At least, this much. Maybe that's just where I am right now.

All these slow songs

Roll off my tongue

While I ask you why the night's

Running slow

Like an old worn out watch

We threw away months ago.

And I know that

If I don't get this song finished soon

I'll never finish it,

Cos I'll be thinking of you.

And just how do you guide me through this

Cloud-filled storm

Of fear, and love, And the view from your window?

Honey, find a slow song

We just wanna dance to,

Because there's a storm raging;

A hurricane.

Through all the thunder, and the sparks

Watch the clock:

Time's running thin now, oh,

But we never stop.

This town, this town

Bleeds from every pore

It's the same shade of red

I've come to know:

The shade of your lips,

The blood in your cheeks...

Honey, find a slow song
We just wanna dance to,
Because there's a storm raging;
A hurricane.
Through all the thunder, and the sparks
Watch the clock:
Time's running thin now, oh,
But we never stop.

The storm has run its course,

And the Autumn comes down

Like the rain of Summer,

Slow down, it's only normal,

Speed up, you never listened anyway.

And one day you may find,

The world's been changing like the leaves,

Time's left you behind,

But honey you'll always have me.

Ticking clocks speed our lives,

"Make sure you heed us, lest you die"

But there's an answer to this problem,

Listen closely... Slow song.

What We Believe

This thing just sprung from me after reading someone's take on a backwards version of "Dark Blue" by Jack's Mannequin and I developed some of those ideas into what you see here. I think this time you've got inspiration from, of course, Jack's Mannequin and a lot of old Coldplay (Warning Signs and others from A Rush Of Blood To The Head). What's the song about? I guess it's just about feeling like you're really made for someone, and maybe even convincing them that that's true, no matter what you've done wrong in the past. You're trying to tell them to not believe all the lies, forget the wrong you've done, and telling them that, no matter what, to never change who they are for others.

I'm lonely, I'm lonely,
You're here but I'm lonely,
It's just you and me.
I won't stop until I'm done,
Don't leave me now, cos I'm not done.

Don't stop being you,
We believe we can be.
You were made for me.
You're here with me.
And when the rain burns the whole town
Together we will leave.

Turn away from the lie,
Yes I believe, yes I believe
You're a part of heaven.
I'm always by your side,
And we believe, we believe
You were made for me.

I was gone once, gone once,
And the crime it was red
Like the roads that led me away,
Away from you. Enough said.
We'll make it through.

Don't stop being you,
We believe we can be.
You were made for me.
You're here with me.

Turn away from the lie,
Yes I believe, yes I believe
You're a part of heaven.
I'm always by your side,
And we believe, we believe
You were made for me.

They said we believe, we believe
That you were made for me.
The astronauts fall from the sky,
Long lost, long gone, but not me.

No, not me.

Waterworks

This song had actually had the most amazing chorus sitting around for ages before (after three or four different variations) I picked up the current verse/bridge set, which I feel really fits the song. The concept picture's maybe a little strange, but for me it personfies the whole "Emerge from the water" motif. Basically the song's about... I guess it's about someone who's really just hurting inside, and I'm just addressing that and going "Hey, I care, okay? I still need you here, I still need you in my life, so there's no way I'm giving up on you."

It's been a while
Since the rain poured down like this.
I can't see through the haze.
Are you bound?
Are you broken?
Let the waters wash you away.

As I feel the rain,
Memories burn like fire again,
But our skies are clear
As far as I can see.

Emerge from the water,
Now I can see, now I can see
Crystal clearly: I'm alive.
Excuse me for a moment,
I've been drowning for a while
In your eyes.

It's been a while
Since we saw a day like this.
You are all I can see.
Where are you now?
Are you near?
Feel the tide pull you under.

Emerge from the water,
Now I can see, now I can see
Crystal clearly: I'm alive.
Excuse me for a moment,
I've been drowning for a while
In your eyes.

As the rain pours down
On this '66 town,
I need you more than ever.
I need you, so I call your name.
I need you, so I call your name.

Emerge from the water,
Now I can see, now I can see
Crystal clearly: I'm alive.
Excuse me for a moment,
I've been drowning for a while
In your eyes.

I'm so cold, bring me round.
You're so tired, I won't let you drown,
Cos I need you now...
I need you.

Our skies are clear,As far as I can see.