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)
