Valley Below I: Running Rites (2007)



These are the lyrics I wrote for the first Valley Below -album, Running Rites (2007). 
Preface - as well as the lyrics - appear also in the album cover / booklet. 


00. Preface: A Prodigal

Well, it’s been a long journey, but I’m still burning, yearning to find out what was this message I was given in the first place. Was it something between you and me – a kind of bridge, this eclipse. Or was it written on skin, the words and the deeds, buried deep within. But there’s no sign of ink on my skin - and I have to begin from the beginning, by floating in this driving cage. And what a speed! It is to rage. Over the land, over the dreamland, I spin over the hills, over the cities and their prairies; not knowing what I’m carrying, bringing home – seeds or stone, a volcano. Next thing I remember I’m gasping, floating to the next station. There’s no-one around, no other incarnations. Except this lonesome rover, dressed in rags and holding a fancy bowler hat. What was it he gave me? A walking stick? And what it was I was doing here, I don’t care. The only thing I’m looking for is a new door. And I open the first door, the green door - and suddenly the wind blows - and opens all the doors - and I slide from one room to another. In the first one there are fancy wall to wall papers with thistles and of course, young couples playing poker all over the place, each one has got a fireplace – ablaze.

As if I’ve seen this all, I’m off. In the next room, in this particular doghouse there is music, god damn there is music, and everybody’s dancing and among all others I can see there is Johnny, Mike and Mr. B and the whole band of good old sisters and brothers and friends, bookends, and they are all still running, running and chasing, taming the poor old dog, it’s a working-man-waltz. Tori on piano. And there, before my very eyes the same old rover is tranformed into a beautiful young lady and she’s holding the strings and the guitar rocks and weeps - and this brings me out on the street. As soon as I get closer I recognise it is neither a coin nor a four-leaf-clover she’s holding, but a snail on the palm of her hand. And she reveals the snail itself is the message. Relief. And  I can feel somewhere out there the Galway Bay is breathing, bringing wreckages on the shore and more than ever before I’m aware of the waves and their weight, and everything is wide open and green, green and I realise this is not just a dream. Nothing is. And I feel this is just the beginning.

Fishguard - Capel Curig, Wales 1993 - 2003

01. Souvenir

Many happy returns

were mislead or never sent

And your sentence, all over again

you’re chasing Zen.

Many happy returns

now or never it’s – heads or tails

And the year of the Deer

running in North Wales.

All along the road

stories were told

All along the coast

on and off like waves

Break on to the shore

the line they walk along

and hold on strong.

All along the road

stories were told

All along the coast

they walk alone – in pairs

Up and down the number of the stairs

and footsteps you were to share

and take care of your Souvenir.

02. Selling Down the River

This river is running faster 

everyday, my Captain

she brings me another 

chapter - or so they say 

the Dice, my Partner 

in front of my eyes.

On the riverbank

you’re always looking back.

There is another show

that’s sliding slow – you hesitate

and then make a date

where the wild things grow.

My Luck how Fair you run like the River

Double six – now could you fix – I wish

All this makes me shiver.

’Cross the Ocean to the other side

where you want is hard to find

an Iceberg, you’re drifting blind

and river it runs oh so wide.

’Cross the Ocean on the other side

where there’s so much Love to hide

even in the Rising Tide 

and all you want is to be kind.

Take me to the place I know.

Take me to where I belong.

My Luck how Fair you run like the River.

Double six – now could you fix – I feel

like Selling down the River.

03. Jukeboxing

You sleep alone in the dark

corner of this hip-hop block.

Your face of plastic in this harbour

of ground breaking stock.

Is switched off 

your jukebox

is kicked off.

Touch the Button

choose the ground

movin’ – tunin’

the forgotten one.

You stand alone like a stranger here

his hand on the shoulder.

Your colourful armour 

in this harbour of laughing stock.

Just another fingertip

will kick you through this trip

And play this piece all over 

and over again.

04. Handyman 

You can – you take

advantage and blame

the driving rain

it’s all the same.

You’re ready – steady

for every fall

You’re dressed up

for another Ball.

In your Toolbox

all the shame

heavy tools without a name.

In your Toolbox

pride or groom

fills this lonesome living room.

Walking on

his battlefield

a useless tool

without a shield.

Afraid of nails

on the floor

waiting for – another

hammer to fall.

Walking all the way back home

feel it so close to the bone.

You think your balls

and holding hands

could break this wall 

to new romance.

05. Absence

Take a good look in your pockets

What have you got behind the seams?

The face of your running dreams, indeed.

What you really need lies underneath.

Are you carrying the power, bringing the flower

in full bloom in the darkest room?

Or what if you think, you know what I mean

the wall inbetween you and me.

This is your Moor, once more

you enter the Door.

This is your Moor, once more

you’re standing at the Door.

This is your Moor, once more.

Let alone the one who flew to Dublin.

All the way - and just in time, you’re running

through suburban - and what if you think,

the one bringing the ring? You’re genuine.

This is your Moor, once more

you’re standing at the Door.

This is your Moor, once more

you knock on the Door.

This is your Moor, once more.

And you’re watching me - like the TV

could I be like the one

from Notting Hill.

06. In Gratitude

Suddenly 
without any warnings
shedding tears invisible

for the sake of unknown reasons.

Suddenly

the echoes of the nature

covering everything

from heavenly sounds to undertones.

And you couldn’t fall in the Big Sleep

you had that September night

and the dream still in full bloom

in her moonlit room.

Suddenly

without any warnings

shedding tears invisible

for the sake of unknown reasons.

Sometimes you’re not that strong

and the weakness it might scare you

you recall in the moonlight

one of the last days in the fall.

When everything’s so close

you’re too close to be caught

know this what they call solitude.

But this song’s in gratitude for you.

When starting to appreciate

the Beauty of it all

When starting to see those yesterdays

in this light of day – who would you call?

07. The Driver

I’m a Driver

god damn I am

the deep diver

to Nothing’am.

With all the rage

you know this age

in this driving cage.

Would you be my guest

and drive until you dive?

Would you be my guest

and drive until you find

the end of the line

the ways you drive

to the rhythm and rhyme

that shivers down your spine.

I’m a Driver

god damn I am

the deep diver

to Nothing’am.

And it’s taking

me higher than high

ways ’cross this time.

Would you be my guest

Someday you’ll find the rest.

Would you be my guest

Someday you’ll find the rest

back against the wall

you’ll never fall

I could have sworn.

I could have flown, 

my only Jewel, I could have shown

my best Pint of Fuel.

08. Capel Curig

Silence - only streams

continuing, over the hill.

You were to share the view

and this is - you’re standing still.

Higher than the fall of streams

you’re head over heels

Closer than the four-leaf-clover

and you start all over, like the New Rover.

Today – this is a good start

all the way from Fishguard.

Today – will you grow like tree

when you’re living like a falling stream.

Today – today – you keep falling on.

Today – today – she wore a Yellow Ribbon.

And you know we might grow old - or remain unfold.

Silent – only dreams 

continuing, in the Closing Time.

On and off outdoors - you’re given 

nature of your great rewind 

in this fading daylight.

Today – like all the other Knights

you know there are no other times.

Today – you see the setting sun

the only Rover in the long run.

And if I watch carefully

I can see those streams

Flowing in the – flowing in the

eyes of my dear friend.

Today – today – keep on telling the Tale.

Today – today – your own Grail.

And you know we’re a falling flow

in the valley below.

09. Running Rite

Circle is the same.

Running every day.

Release – and this breeze

is taking over you.

Release – wild as child

hound you’re running round

and colourblind

carrying out

the Cheyenne Rite.

Dog, you’re Dancing

on your own way

for the Chief.

Dog, you’re Dancing

running every day

to an easy relief

Circle is the same.

Circle is the same.

Running every day.

Understand – there’s a chance.

This one dance.

Who’s in command?

Understand – you’ll join

or run out of reach

maybe retrieve 

and follow the chief, if you please.

Circle is the same.

Running every day.

Freeze – still this breeze

and the same old melody.

Freeze – still out of reach

you run in Cities 

and their Prairies, in front of me

the same old ceremony.

And the Seekers drumming

the ground in Circles.

And the Seekers drumming

the ground in Circles.

10. Liverpool

You know the Fields

are fine and every day

closed in time.

And every day I try

to work in my own

class without a mask.

Never mind – I’m on your side

I could be sold – I could be tied

skin and bone, your stepping stone 

I know the show and will follow

run the risk maybe sorrow.

Brush the boots

rather than Red Cherries

more black and bitter

are the berries to pick

in this Public House of tricks.

And even if I lose

someone like you

I’ll never choose

their loony tunes

and if I choose

any bride or groom

Must be as cool as you.

And in Liverpool

You’ll never walk alone.

Lyrics by AP KIVINEN (2007)