Relationships – George Blamey-Steeden

JUST HEART TO HEART

Artwork via Kimberly Gillian

‘Just Heart to Heart’, a second commission per my POETRY TO SONG product, from the talented lady of many skills, working across any number of genres, who goes by the name Geetha Prod’hom.

Sometimes, when working on a new song, the words get to speak aloud, telling me they want to be dressed in the music rather than share the stage. This was one of those. After a chat, the words and me settled on a cloak with an orchestral pattern. They’re rare things and I think that’s why I enjoyed the project like I did. Geetha certainly has a strong relationship with her words. Here’s the new song that now belongs to Geetha. I hope you enjoy.

That’s not all. When Geetha posts on her blog, you don’t just get the words, you also find she adds audio readings. I’ve chosen two examples here – in fairness I was spoiled for choice. First, with the wonderful French accent that works for even those of us who aren’t fluent in French. Les Cadavres Exquis Exquisite Corpses

Next, Plains of the Free Lie

If you don’t follow Greetha’s blog already, you can find her at GEETHA’S BLOG I strongly recommend you pay her a visit.

As ever, if any poets out there are interested in having your poems turned into songs then click here to check it out: POETRY TO SONG

If you are looking for all my other music then you’ll find it to download on BANDCAMP or you can stream and/or make a playlist of it on SPOTIFY

If you’re thinking about new t-shirts and similar for the summer, you might be interested in ZOOLON’S MERCHANDISE

COUNTING STARS

‘Those Who Stayed Behind’

One time on a moonlit night
You sat there counting stars
Asked me how it was that heaven
Was on the other side of Mars

Darkness, I can’t do without you
Self-doubt, that’s much the same
I’ve lost myself inside of Pan’s shadow
A place where life is just another pointless game

Cut it and the world cuts it with you
Crash then they’ll never know who you are
Hang around in twilight’s embers
And you’re just another abandoned star

You can hear me but you’ll never see me
In those shadows I’ve a bit part in a film noir
Listen out for the sad chords I’m playing
Listen out for my best friend, my new guitar

A song still waiting for its place on an album. I can’t believe that I wrote this number 6 years ago. Time plays tricks on me. Some of you might have heard it before, but it hasn’t had an outing for ages. New songs are on their way, but for now ‘Busking in Berlin’, a song about interrelationships between members of a band of buskers. I hope you enjoy;

If any poets out there are interested in having your poems turned into songs then click here to check it out: POETRY TO SONG

If you are looking for the above or all my other music then you’ll find it to download on BANDCAMP or you can stream and/or make a playlist of it on SPOTIFY

SEVEN DAYS & THREE DISNEY T-SHIRTS LATER

mari13 (2) ‘Weird but Harmless’

‘The more things change, the more they stay the same’ – A French expression

On a sunny Saturday the white bloke wearing khaki shorts, a Disney ‘Lion King’ t-shirt and a battered tin hat carrying a rifle shot a pregnant lioness. Chuffed with himself he had his wife take a photo of him standing over the furry corpse. Come Sunday morning he went to church to thank his god for his good fortune. He got on well with his god although even he had to admit it was generally a one-way conversation.

Come Monday he carried the furry corpse off to the taxidermist to have it stuffed. The taxidermist was up for the gig but pointed out that inside the body of the furry corpse there were three unborn lion cubs. Two females; one male. The taxidermist asked the bloke still wearing khaki shorts, a Disney ‘Lion King’ t-shirt and a battered tin hat but no longer carrying a rifle if he wanted the embryos stuffed as well. The bloke who shot the lioness said, “No thanks. I think that’s disgusting.” The taxidermist just shrugged and got on with his work.

On the Tuesday, the lioness and the ‘cubs that never were’ killer got a phone call on his landline from a midwife who worked in the hospital down town. She told him that his daughter was about to give birth to triplets. Two girls and a boy.

Rather than take the shower he needed he changed out of his Disney ‘Lion King’ t-shirt because it was chucking up a bit into his Disney ‘Beauty & The Beast’ (remake design) t-shirt but kept the rest on, even the battered tin hat. He left his rifle locked up safe in the cupboard and drove off to the hospital.

When he got there he was introduced to his new grandchildren, Eric, Derek and Moonbeam. He wasn’t sure about the name ‘Moonbeam’ but kept his mouth shut. After telling his daughter he was chuffed to be a grandad he showed her the pic of him with the dead lioness. The daughter told him he must be sick in the head.

By Wednesday he was down in the dumps about falling out with his daughter. She’d also told him to get out of her and her kids’ lives. Finding that hard to take he went back home thinking he’d have a private chat with his god. His god must have been busy that day.

His wife asked him if it were possible would he bring the lioness and her three unborn cubs back to life if it meant getting along with his daughter again. He said ‘Yes, I’d never shoot a lion again. If that was possible I’d shoot Elephants instead’.

His wife left him on the Thursday. By Friday, to help get back into the hunting zone, he’d shot the taxidermist dead, just prior to doing what he saw as the honourable thing. He got himself a Disney original ‘Dumbo the Elephant’ t-shirt.

This post was prompted by a thing I saw on the news last week about some idiot Englishman who called himself a conservationist who thought it great to get over the South Africa and get photographed with lion he’d just murdered.

While on the subject of weirdness here’s probably the weirdest song I’ve ever written. It hasn’t had an outing for ages, so here it is. I hope you enjoy;

derek owl (2) ‘I Like Birds’ – An Eels song title

I like birds as well. In Australia they discovered the 19 million year old fossil of a giant parrot that stood over one metre tall. That got me wondering how tall pirates must have been back in the day as they generally have a parrot on their shoulder. Anyway, here’s the song ‘I Like Birds’ from Eels;

FOR THE RECORD YOU SHOULD KNOW I FEEL THE SAME

le touc2 (2) ‘After The Storm’ by Zoolon or, better put; ‘The wild and windy night, That the rain washed away, Has left a pool of tears, Crying for the day’ – Paul McCartney from the song ‘Long & Winding Road’

I’ve been reading Arthurian tales from various sources. I got hooked. Thought I’d write some words about them. ‘The Lady of The Lake’ legend for some reason fascinated me the most. For one thing she has so many variations to her forename mainly beginning with ‘N’ – none of which I can pronounce – but more than that is that she has a mystical rather than a magical feel, more so than the other characters.

I’ll play around with the words I wrote as I think when edited to fit a melody I might have a new song in the making. Anyway, first of all here’s my song ‘Pride & Time’ that pretty much fits the darkish mood of ‘The Lady of The Lakes’ words. The actual words follow on behind. I hope you enjoy;

lady of the lake (2) Artist unknown

‘N’

Sincerity counts for nothing to The Lady of The Lake

She’s forgotten all her secrets; all her vows

She paints pictures, speaks in riddles I can’t work out

Smiles, claps her hands and takes the bows

They called you an ‘enchantress’ in the legend

You said you were good with that and the fancy gig you got

Now you live in dread of tidal waves and suffocating

I’m thinking you got sick and tired and lost the plot

What about that sword you gave big man?

The death wish King; the one who time forgot

Did you ever regret you got mixed up in the trials and tribulations

Of a castle in the air called Camelot?

Somewhere I read you ‘transcended notoriety’

And that you once knew the ‘misty path to Avalon’

I heard you want to vacate your crystal cave apartment

Go abroad and soak up the rays in Babylon?

Falling stars and magic moments lost for ever

Now that the unicorns and dragons are no more

They’re all buried in an unnamed grave in a concrete wonderland

You’ve no idea you hold the keys to the unlocked door

Are you still regretting drowning in love’s sorrow?

Don’t you miss the limelight, the romance and the fame?

Wishing you could turn back time doesn’t help none

For the record you should know I feel the same

If you’re interested you can find the rest of my music portfolio at BANDCAMP

CLEOPATRA & THE BAGUETTE

I was about to enjoy my ham, cheese & salad baguette when she turned up in the form of a sweet little ginger cat who’d taken time out to cross a massive field in the middle of nowhere just to say ‘hello’ – well that’s what I thought until she spotted my ham, cheese & salad baguette.

What happened was that I fed her a piece of my ham which she ate like it was her first meal in a long, long time. So I gave her a bit more plus some cheese which she scoffed in just a couple of bites. Talking to me through sad eyes she made it clear that more food would be good – then some more, and a bit more still until I was left with a baguette of only salad. I didn’t mind that much, especially as for the next half hour she’d fallen asleep on my lap, purring away while I was hoping she didn’t have fleas.

Cleopatra’s Field

Once she’d woken up she gave me a friendly look and left, crossing back over the massive field to wherever she’d come from. After that she turned up at 5pm on the dot every evening to share a bite to eat with me. By then she was playful and answering to the name ‘Cleopatra’.

Come my last night in the middle of nowhere I played her my song ‘Goodnight Cleopatra’. I think she liked it as she was purring a lot. If the truth be told I’d like to have taken her back home with me. Here’s the piece I played for her. I hope you enjoy;

Here’s the link to my complete discography – all five albums – available from Bandcamp at just £16 (50% discount) or whatever currency you use.

‘MANDY’S DOOR’

folkestone sky ‘For Free’ by Zoolon

The brainwasher wearing the grey suit that sparkled said he drove an Audi Quattro. He asked what I drove. I lied and said a skateboard. He asked why I didn’t wear, “A smart suit like mine”. I couldn’t be bothered to answer. Also, he looked like someone who might end up on a #metoo rap. Maybe that was a bit harsh, maybe not. Later he mentioned that when he sees a door, he sees an ‘entrance’. When he spoke he acted as if he knew something no one else knew.

“What do you see when you see a door, George?”

I was going to say, ‘A door’ but said, “An exit” instead. He told me that was a negative reply. Probably was.

Outside his office, a giant office full of ethically sourced takeaway coffee cups and stressed people looking like they wanted to end it all, I noticed a fire exit door. I thought I’d like to have seen the brainwasher in the grey suit that sparkled try that door out as an entrance. Maybe my answer wasn’t so negative after all.

Out in the street just up from the office in front of a private house a white van pulled up at the same time a lady in a grey tracksuit that didn’t sparkle came out to greet the driver. A fat bloke in trainers. She apologized for collaring me before asking if I could give the van driver a hand carrying the door he was delivering upstairs. Said it was too heavy for him to carry and that she wasn’t strong enough to help. She hadn’t brushed her hair and only had one slipper on. Odd. The toenails on the foot without a slipper were, I think, painted lime green. I’m not good with colours. Anyway, I said OK, thinking all the time that this must be ‘The Day of the Door’.

The door wasn’t that heavy. Neat house inside. Now in her smart kitchen both her black cats left via the cat flap ‘exit’, reinforcing the positivity of my ‘exit’ theory of doors.

I noticed she’d brushed her hair and found her other slipper when she thanked me for helping out, offering me a smile, a fiver and a slice of wedding cake (?). I would have settled for the smile but she insisted I take the fiver. I took the fiver, not the wedding cake.

She told me her name was Mandy, after Barry Manilow. I said nothing but thought if she’s been named after Barry Manilow then logically her name should have been Barry. I suppose I could have said my name is George, after Lana Del Ray but though better of it.

I wonder what Mandy sees when she sees a door. I never asked, maybe I should have. I guess todays song should have been dedicated to Mandy, but it’s not. This one is for Mr Brainwasher, it’s called ‘Delusional Troll’. I hope you enjoy;

There’s a new album close to completion. It’ll be out there very soon. Below, my current albums available on Bandcamp;

SUMMER DIED ON A SATURDAY

montreil5 (3) ‘The Ghosts of Summer Bid Farewell’

It’s good to be back. First some words and pics, then a brand new composition – a pre-release from the new album that should hopefully be out there come December. It’s an electronic instrumental called ‘Summer Died on a Saturday’. I hope you enjoy.

montreil5 (2) ‘Dressed to Impress’

SCORCHED LYRICS

Summer died on a Saturday

She was always heading for a fall

A rosebud in a cloak of thorns

No fuss, eyes shut, no curtain call

Through the window of addiction

A cloudy glass impediment

A crumbling headstone, premature?

Just tough luck or heaven sent?

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

Goodbye to all that’s gone before

I keep memories of you under lock and key

You left me wanting so much more

Next the new composition;

Here the link to my albums at Bandcamp;

CLOUDS & TELEPORTATION

clouds7 (3) ‘A Scouting Party of Clouds’ – 1

I’d almost forgotten what clouds looked like because of this empty sky heatwave in South East England. So hot for weeks and weeks without a cloud in the sky. The photos taken Tuesday evening of a scouting party of clouds has given me some hope the weather might just be changing back to the usual unpredictable stereotypical kind we all moan about. 30+ degrees centigrade day after day had been killing any creativity I claim to have – worse still my studio where I work is in an attic. The heat up there is indescribable.

clouds6 (2) ‘A Scouting Party of Clouds’ – 2

On a different subject, I was, a few weeks back, asked a stupid question by that mate of mine I’ve mentioned before. He’s the one who asked me just before his driving theory test, ‘How many times am I allowed to drive round a roundabout?’ in case that question came up on his test. That alone says it all about him. So, this time he asks me, ‘What have seagulls and humans got in common – I bet I’ve got you with this one?’ He had got me with that one – until, on my walk back from the cinema (Ant-Man & The Wasp) the other day when I spotted a seagull attacking – as seagulls are prone to do – a black bin liner full of food waste. This particular gull had ripped the bag wide open and rubbish was scattered all over the road and pavement, but what he had got for himself was a banana. He gobbled up the banana, but left the skin. That, I thought was unusual because gulls normally scoff anything that might look edible. However, that gull had given me the answer to my mates question – i.e. the thing seagulls and humans have in common is that neither species eat banana skins! Got him good and proper.

When I told him my answer to his question, he said, ‘Wrong’. I said ‘Right’. He said, ‘The thing we both have in common is that neither the gulls nor the humans can teleport.’ The word ‘twat’ came to mind.

Given my heat induced absence of creativity I thought I’d give an older number another outing. I blogged it before, a long time back. It’s a longish lyric themed around the relationships and interaction between a fictional group of musicians busking in Berlin, hence the title, BUSKING IN BERLIN. Here it is, along with the opening few words;

Storm clouds on the horizon

No red sky tonight

The wind blows away the magic

Of a starry, starry night

Melissa cries for Candy

Candy dreams of John

John is suicidal

On how it all went wrong?

Larry plays the old guitar

Kate the mandolin

And Finn plays the accordion

They’re busking in Berlin

It’s a game of names and fortunes

A game played out in time

A game of life that ends in death

A mountain we must climb…

By the way, any poets out there who might want a poem put to song, then to find out how to contact me and learn more about this product, click here YOUR POETRY TO SONG

A new number, ‘A Trick of the Light’, from one of my favourite artists, The Villagers. Weird and excellent was ever;

THE BEST RESULT YOU GET IS A DRAW

(The floodlights know everything and rarely tell lies)

Here’s the basic lyric for a new acoustic number;

THE BEST RESULT YOU GET IS A DRAW

She dances while they quarrel

Over all the things he said

“I’m leaving you tomorrow”

He answers, “You go right ahead”

He wonders just what he’s done wrong

She’s not telling anyhow

He ends up looking shamefaced

She’s looking holier than thou

The best result you get in The Premier League of Life?

…The best result you get is a draw

You can cheat, you can take the dive

Do whatever you want, there’s no referee keeping score

The bits and pieces of what we’re made up of

Is the thing that makes us whole

No point in saying ‘Sorry’

When you’ve missed an open goal

The stand at the away end’s not a great place

To chill out and lose the blues

Eyes wide open, waiting for the final whistle

And the thing he can’t defuse

The best result you get in The Premier League of Life?

…The best result you get is a draw

You can cheat, you can take the dive

Do whatever you want, there’s no referee keeping score

No pre-match pint, no halftime pie

Kicking empty cans down an empty street

While she dances to a new tune now

Celebrating his defeat

Love’s like the ghost of relegation

You can’t see it, but you know it’s there

Only when the ball’s been kicked outside the ground

Does it vanish into thin air

A bit of music? Sampling this time. I composed this piece called ‘Decider’ a while back. It maybe fits the mood of the words.

https://soundcloud.com/zoolon/decider

Next, a Jarvis Cocker weird and dark number, ‘I Will Kill Again’.

I was asked me to describe the musical content of the ‘Dream Rescuer’ album. For what it’s worth it reads like this;

For this album, I have focused on an acoustic, folky type of theme with a few electronic elements added in and not rely too heavily upon percussion to help carry the songs. True to its title, with ‘Dream Rescuer’ the aim is to convey the surreal things we dream of when asleep. The love and hate things, likewise the happy and the sad.