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Genre Fluid

by Dave Bradley

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1.
History Written on the Water 04:13
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I’ve already talked about how it came to be and alluded to the origins of the title in the engraving on young English poet John Keats’ headstone – Here Lies One Whose Name was writ in Water With this song History Written on the Water I tried to weave a tapestry of imagery and metaphor, exploring themes of secrets, betrayal, faithlessness, loss, and the relentless passage of time. Artwork for the Dave Bradley song History Written on the Water Secrets and Betrayal: My lyrics refer to secrets, suggesting that there are hidden truths that have been concealed or obscured. Lines like “The secret’s out, they could’ve lied” and “A candle snuffed from sacred view” imply a sense of betrayal or deception, the allusion to candles hinting at faithlessness. Metaphorical Imagery: By design or accident, there are numerous metaphors, in particular the history being written on the water, suggesting an impermanence and fluidity of events and the idea that our actions leave no indelible mark on the world. They say history is a lesson to learn, but so often we inore it. Nature Imagery: Many of my songs talk of the sea, water, tides, often symbolizing loss, death, the passage of time, the inevitability of change, and the depths of the human condition. The mention of “crushing waves beneath the endless skies” hopefully conjures a sense of overwhelming force and vastness. Contract and Binding: The reference to contracts signed between the lines and the (legal) eagle’s talons tightly binding perhaps suggest a sense of entrapment or obligation, perhaps implying that choices made in the past have lasting consequences. Yearning for Redemption: The repeated references to finding one’s way back home and reclaiming secrets beneath the waves suggest a longing for redemption or reconciliation. There is a sense of urgency and determination in lines like “No more time left to roam” and “Promise me that you’ll be fine.” Desolation and Loss: The imagery of “empty bed” and “world gone dark” conveys a sense of desolation and loss, hinting at the aftermath of betrayal or abandonment. Turning Point: The line “The turnaround is where it ought to be” suggests a moment of realization or reckoning, where the protagonist comes to terms with their circumstances and resolves to move forward. A turnaround, of course, being a musical term for a point in a song where the chord progression or melody flips from the expected to something unexpected but nevertheless satisfying. History Written on the Water is hopefully a poignant exploration of human experience, using imagery and metaphor to convey themes of secrecy, betrayal, redemption, and the passage of time. In it, I reflect on some of the complexities of life, maybe the transient impact of our actions on the world around us.
2.
Like a Flame to a Moth 03:30
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Like a flame to a moth Someone's running up the stair Brushing metal, stepping hard The trembling painted banister The firedoor, insanely barred There's no smoking in the kitchen But, the fire's out of control The flames they flickered with your heartbeat The smoke it lingered in your soul Like a moth to a flame Like a flame to a moth You're finding its caress Feeds the burning of the cloth Like a flame to a moth Like a moth to a flame You're hiding your distress in the playing of the game Like a moth to a flame Like a flame to a moth It's knowing your success Is someone else's loss Like a flame to a moth Like a moth to a flame It's the ticking of the clock The acceptance of blame There's a light on in the hallway Its wires they go deep underground It's pulsing to the time of your heartbeat Yet it didn't make a sound
3.
It's not our time for the sea 04:30
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You'll never know what hit you You'll only bear the scars You'll never find the peace in you just staring at the stars Beyond the pain there's yearning to chase away the night The futile hope of turning the bending of the light I'll tell you what your problem is You never can concede Give and take will always fail when there is wanton greed You’ve got to find a shelter in your happy place It's not about your pride it's not about saving face We walked through barren fields We saw the forest fires We raised up all our wicker men The silhouetted pyres We felt the rising of the tide Our homes we had to flee She said "The world will always turn but it's not my time for the sea" They say that water always wins but that's the nature of the game The seasons are eliding yet the land can still reclaim She said 'Those scars will heal with time as dust returns to earth' The sea remains but still we chase the hope of our re-birth Barefoot in the water seems a lesson out of class Tread carefully now, there may well be a little broken glass If the pressure's on the rise, the change could crush our pride And in the end, my dear, we could always say that we all tried
4.
My Light, My Sky 06:10
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Chased the raindrop to the stream Chased the river to the sea There, my friend he waved at me But, my friend he could not see Chased the meaning out of me Gave permission to my grief Would the water wash over me So my faith could set me free? But, no raindrop, river, sea Can wash him back here to me When the world it buries me Will I wake to find I'm free? Hid the places she would scream Let her teardrops make the scene Could my friend still save my dream? But, my friend she cannot heal And, no raindrop, river, sea Can wash her back here to me When the world it buries me Will I wake, will I wake to find I'm free? Can I still not believe? Oh, I could still not believe I still cannot conceive That our hope was swallowed by the sea Found my way back to the sea Walked the shingle in a dream Ripped my soul, right out of the seams And my brother carried me I thought, no raindrop, nor sea Would sail them back home to me When the world it buries me I will wake, I will wake to find I'm free! Can I still not believe? Oh, I could still not believe I still cannot conceive Our hope was swallowed by the sea Oh I do like to be beside the sea Oh, this is a beautiful sky But, this is not my sky, no, this is not my sky And, oh, this is a beautiful day This is not my day, no, this is not my day And, oh this is a beautiful sight But, this is not my sight, this is not my sight And, oh, this is a beautiful light But, this is not my light, no this is not my light
5.
Ticking Clocks 03:10
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The key turns in the lock she pushed the door wide open with her suitcase It's a shock to find herself back here once again She locked the secrets deep inside Unanswered prayers her woe betide She finds the clocks They stopped the day she stepped away From the cruellest of hard knocks and all the fear that it revealed The silent screams, the sound that mocks Those echoes drowned by ticking clocks No need to knock She grasps the letters from the floor You know she's taking stock And gasps to know the secrets they don't hold her any more The key's inside the box. She didn't need to worry About secrets locked up deep inside Unanswered prayers her woe betide She winds the clocks And knows the secrets they can't hold her The cruellest of hard knocks and all the fears that they concealed She locked the secrets deep inside Unanswered prayers her woe betide She faced the shocks And knows the secrets they can't hold her The hardest of hard knocks And all her fears now gone forever
6.
Take the Waters 05:09
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Swimming cleanly through the water, way beyond the tide and time I can easily find my way back home, 'cause I never run out of line And as I'm out there floating oh so free Well, I never need to feel the air And the bitter taste of bleak anxiety I can shake without a care Spread your life across the ocean Find the waves don't hurt your pride Take your chances while you have them Moving forward with the water as your guide And as you're out there moving oh so free Well, you never need to care For feeling weaker with anxiety You can live without a prayer Take the waters like you're floating down Meet your demons half way there Sons and daughters who won't wear that frown Fight the fight like there's no one there Take the waters like you're floating down Meet your demons face-to-face The sons and daughters who don't wear that crown Fight the fight when they find the space
7.
Old Nick is Quick 02:44
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Old Nick is Quick I woke up today As you might have easily guessed There’s one thing I must say You might be less than impressed I read in the news There was a man with the answers For shaking off the blues With a shot he took his chances He made a pact with a bottle One more drink, he's on his way But, he had forgotten The liquor's quick and it made him stay The girl she had a message It was hidden in her underwear The punter paid his money first And took her in the chair She shivered at the thought of it His weapon in her face Sadly, so the story goes there is no other place She made a deal with her ego One more trick, she's on her way But, he's no amigo The money's quick and it makes her stay I woke up this morning As you might have easily guessed There’s one thing that I've got to say Aren’t you just a little impressed? They made a deal off the level One more trick, they're on their way But, they were bedevilled Old Nick is quick and he makes them stay To take them away
8.
Festival Friends (Cool as Folk) 02:53
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9.
Got it? 03:17
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Got it? Where you going? How'd you know how to find your way? What that's you're showing? How'd you know what to say? You'll get the message, when they cut away Life's so cruel but all you players fade some day Feel real free got it? Well you paved the way Seek, see, speak for it Might just get away What you knowing? Don't you run away! Well! Look who's growing You got to play today
10.
Sail Me Back (Remastered 2024) 03:47
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Take me down to the river Take me all the way out to sea Chill my heart with the spindrift Sail the memories home to me Take a look at the questions At the questions you have found Catch a wave without harbour Where the truth is surely drowned Yet you know how I wonder If the truth will be concealed In the safety of that harbour That's the time when all's revealed Sail me back to Uh-huh Town Sail me back for free Shake the water from the prow Sail me back for free Take me down to the river Take me all the way out to sea Chill my heart with the spindrift Sail the memories home to me Take me to the lost & found Sail me back to where I'm bound Take me to the lost & found Sail me back to where I'm bound Take me to the lost & found Sail me back to where I'm bound Take me to the lost & found Sail me back to where I'm bound Take me to the lost & found Sail me back to where I'm bound Take me to the lost & found Sail me back to where I'm bound Hey, hey, hey Sail me back, sail me back Sail me back to Uh-Huh Town Sail me back, sail me back Take me down to the river Take me all the way out to sea
11.
Take My Hand (Remastered 2024) 03:50
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Take my hand There are no saints only sinners, No prophets, No judges full of hate No happy ever afters spent in wonder No world beyond the distant shores of fate You might dream that there's a ghost in the machine But your dreams are only mists upon the waves So take my hand, take my hand I can't lead you to a promised land But take my hand, and be there with me We will play our time like ripples in the sand There are no answers in your breathing, No wisdom, No salve to take away the pain The sea is as wide as the summer And pity is the sound of falling rain
12.
Fishnet Strangler (Remastered 2024) 02:38
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13.
Juliette in Pieces (2015) 02:48
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14.
Goodybe, Well-fed Ex (2013) 03:16
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Two new tracks added to the Four Missing Keys EP and a rename to reflect musical diversity now makes this the Genre Fluid maxi-EP

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released November 24, 2023

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Dave Bradley UK

Guitarist, singer-songwriter. Acoustic and electric indie pop and rock originals. Singer, guitarist with C5, bigMouth, TyrannoChorus, CTW, with DJ Ad, and BarbD

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