History Written on the Water
from Genre Fluid by Dave Bradley
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about
History Written on the Water
The secret's out, they could've lied
The silent treatment terrified
The missing link, the dimmest spark
The wording just a little too dark
It was always written in ascorbic ink
Unread terms that make you think
A contract signed between the lines
The Eagle's talons tightly bind
I had to find my way back home
No more time left to roam
My grand designs lost on the breeze
The faithless falling to their knees
Time and tide they wait for no man
Empty promises in disguise
Shallow seas will claim your secrets
Crushing waves beneath the endless skies
[They won't wait for you
Promise me that you'll be fine
Won't you just reclaim your secret
Beneath the waves, there's a better view]
The secret's out, they could've told you
A candle snuffed from sacred view
A world gone dark your plans unmade
An empty bed the price that's paid
It was always written in ascorbic ink
All terms unread won't make you think
A contract signed between the lines
The Eagle's talons tightly bind
You're history written in the water
The turnaround is where it ought to be
Unholy ground that nothing saves
The words unread, far beneath the waves
From the critics: "Ah that’s great!! It’s a proper banger! This is awesome! Proper REM meets George Harrison meets DB vibes...
"Teenage Fan Club meet The Byrds"
"Propulsive!"
"You make beautiful music. The best, the most musical, the most calming and magical is the coda. That tinkling of notes after the singing sounds like fairies dancing."
The secret's out, they could've lied
The silent treatment terrified
The missing link, the dimmest spark
The wording just a little too dark
It was always written in ascorbic ink
Unread terms that make you think
A contract signed between the lines
The Eagle's talons tightly bind
I had to find my way back home
No more time left to roam
My grand designs lost on the breeze
The faithless falling to their knees
Time and tide they wait for no man
Empty promises in disguise
Shallow seas will claim your secrets
Crushing waves beneath the endless skies
[They won't wait for you
Promise me that you'll be fine
Won't you just reclaim your secret
Beneath the waves, there's a better view]
The secret's out, they could've told you
A candle snuffed from sacred view
A world gone dark your plans unmade
An empty bed the price that's paid
It was always written in ascorbic ink
All terms unread won't make you think
A contract signed between the lines
The Eagle's talons tightly bind
You're history written in the water
The turnaround is where it ought to be
Unholy ground that nothing saves
The words unread, far beneath the waves
From the critics: "Ah that’s great!! It’s a proper banger! This is awesome! Proper REM meets George Harrison meets DB vibes...
"Teenage Fan Club meet The Byrds"
"Propulsive!"
"You make beautiful music. The best, the most musical, the most calming and magical is the coda. That tinkling of notes after the singing sounds like fairies dancing."
lyrics
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.
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.
credits
from Genre Fluid,
released November 24, 2023
Words & Music, vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, production, and final mix by dB/
Featuring the incredible Dave Oliffe on drums
Words & Music, vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, production, and final mix by dB/
Featuring the incredible Dave Oliffe on drums
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
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
discography
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Nov 2023 -
Jan 2022 -
Jul 2021 -
Feb 2020 -
Oct 2019 -
May 2018 -
May 2017 -
Jan 2017 -
Jun 2016 -
Jun 2016
contact / help
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