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Turn Your Back On The Crown

by The Great Park

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    Includes a PDF of the lyrics / chord booklet, plus the portrait by Mina Reischer.
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  • Limited Edition CDr
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    The third in a trilogy of albums recorded in the kitchen at home in Nuremberg. 'Turn Your Back On The Crown' collects eight new songs and features Johny Lamb (Thirty Pounds Of Bone) on cornet, Sophia Basler (Myself When Young) on violin and Stefanie (Vivian Void) on backing vocals.

    The physical release comes with an eight page lyric / chord insert with unique map cover and a hand stamped CDr in a 100% recycled sleeve. All physical orders include an immediate download.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Turn Your Back On The Crown via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.
STICK TO THE ROAD THE MOMENT I WAKE UP THE SHADOWS THEY TAKE UP THE MORNING LIGHT FIGHTS BUT IT WON’T BEAT THE DARK AND THE WINTER WIND BLOWS AND THE WINDOWS WON’T CLOSE AND THIS IS ONLY NOVEMBER THIS IS JUST THE START OF IT ALL SO YOU WROTE ABOUT ME COMING AND I SPOKE ABOUT RUNNING AWAY TO YOUR BOAT WHERE IT WAITS IN THE DRY DOCK AND IT’S SAD TO SEE THE HULL BENEATH WHERE THERE COULD BE WAVES AND FISHES AND MYSTERY BLUEY-GREEN WATER HISSING WITH BUBBLES THE WEIGHT OF THE FATHOMS PRESSING DOWN FROM ABOVE US AND COLDER THAN DEATH AND WIDER THAN SKY NO PLACE FOR US BROTHER WE BETTER STAY DRY STICK TO THE ROAD BEWARE OF THE MOON THEY’LL FIND YOU IN PIECES IF YOU DON’T GET HOME SOON BUT I COULD LIVE IN THE HARBOUR WATCHING THE CARGO DREAMING UP STORIES OF SAILORS AND STOWAWAYS STINKING OF GIN AND HAPPY AND THIN AND NEVER AGAIN SPEAK ABOUT GOING AWAY JUST SET UP MY CHAIR MY STASH ON THE TABLE  MY WRITE IT ALL DOWN BOOK MY LIES AND MY FABLES THE LIST OF LOVERS I NEVER MET IN THE DAYLIGHT UNDER DARK COVERS IT WAS LUST AT FIRST SIGHT STICK TO THE ROAD BEWARE OF THE MOON THEY’LL FIND YOU IN PIECES IF YOU DON’T GET HOME SOON THERE IS A PATH FROM THE CLIFF EDGE GOES TO THE SEA IT RUNS STRAIGHT DOWN - IT’S QUICK BUT IT’S STEEP AND YOU CALL IT A SHORT CUT BUT I CALL IT A LEAP IT WILL CUT IT SHORT SURE BUT IT’S NOT FOR ME
2.
LEARNING HOW TO BREATHE UNDERWATER WE ARE LYING ON STONES OUR BELLIES TO THE SUN LEARNING HOW TO BREATHE UNDERWATER DO YOU THINK I AM AN AUTHORITY ON THIS KIND OF THING OR DO YOU NOT BUT DO YOU THINK THAT I OUGHTA THERE IS SO LITTLE LEFT OF THE MAN THAT YOU MET HE’S LIKE THE FLICK OF THE MATCH AFTER LIGHTING NOT GIVEN A GLANCE, OR HALF A CHANCE TO BE STRUCK AGAIN AND MAKE FIRE HERE BUT WHAT THERE IS IN A SHOUT CAN PUSH THE AIR OUT AND I STRUGGLE FOR BREATH AS IF DYING IT IS A STUPID MAN WHO WON’T KEEP CALM WHEN HE CAN AND WHO LOSES HIS NERVE WITHOUT TRYING COUNT TWENTY IN AND THIRTY OUT COUNT THE BREATHS AS THEY KISS ON YOUR MOUTH SUNLIGHT THROUGH TREES TRAIN WINDOW AT SPEED I ALWAYS DREAM ABOUT LEAVING THE SOUTH AND IN THE DARKEST OF DAYS WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR FACE AND IT IS WILD AND WET AND STREAMING TEARS FROM YOUR EYES HEAVY AND WIDE AND RESTING AND PACKING AND LEAVING IT IS NO WAY TO LIVE IT SHOULD NOT FIT IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BECOME A HABIT PLEASE LET’S THROW IT ALL OUT WITH A HAPPY SHOUT DISREGARD AND MOVE ON AND LET’S HAVE IT
3.
THERE’S NO SHAME IN A SONG I DREAMED WE WERE OUT IN THE MEADOW WE WERE DOWN BY THE BROOK WE WERE DEEP IN THE BUSH WE WERE LOST AND HOW THESE MORNINGS START SUDDENLY OUT OF THE DARK AND FROM THERE WE JUST RUN TO KEEP UP AND THEY’VE GIVEN US TWO WEEKS TO GET BACK AT THEM WELL WE’VE THE MONEY IT’S NOT REALLY ABOUT THAT THERE’S SO MUCH AT STAKE THESE DESPERATE DAYS AND WE’VE STOLEN MORE THAN WE COULD PAY BACK AND THIS IS NOT A NEW YEAR AND THAT WAS NOT A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THIS IS NOT A CLEAN SLATE, THERE’S NO PAGE TO TURN OVER IT IS A DAY AWAY AND DONE AND GONE DONE AND GONE AND THERE’S NO SHAME IN A SONG THEY SAID THE POINT ABOUT MOVING IS GETTING SOMEWHERE BUT THE DESTINATION HAS NOT MADE ITSELF KNOWN AND MAYBE WE’VE NOWHERE TO SETTLE DOWN BUT I NEED A CHAIR YOU NEED A BED WE GOT A HOME AND YOU WILL ASK WHERE I COME FROM AND I WILL SAY I DON’T KNOW AND YOU WILL ASK WELL WHERE WAS I BORN AND I AM THINKING ABOUT ENGLAND AND IRELAND AND WALES AND SWEETPEA AND KAYPHER AND THEM ALL AND THIS IS NOT A NEW YEAR AND THAT WAS NOT A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THIS IS NOT A CLEAN SLATE, THERE’S NO PAGE TO TURN OVER IT IS A DAY AWAY AND DONE AND GONE DONE AND GONE AND THERE’S NO SHAME IN A SONG
4.
FIVE MILES DOWN THE LANE I BELIEVE THERE IS A WITCH IN THE HOUSE SHE’S MARRIED TO YOUR BROTHER AND SHE WILL TURN HIM OUT SHE DON’T APPEAR WITH NO BLACK CAT SHE DON’T COOK UP A SPELL BUT SHE CUSSES AND CURSES US ALL DOWN TO HELL WE’RE ALL GOING TO HELL NOW I KNOW I’M SCARED BUT THEY ARE STILL AFTER ME JONATHAN AND SIMON AND THE WHOLE COMPANY THEY SEND LETTERS, THEY SEND THICK ENVELOPES STUFFED TO THE GILLS WITH THREATS ON MY THROAT AND THEY DEMANDED THAT I COME DOWN AND FIGHT WELL ID RATHER GIVE MY RIGHT ARM TO RUN AND HIDE ITS BETTER THE DEVIL I DON’T KNOW ANOTHER LAND BUT THIS HERE IS THE ONE THAT BREAKS A MUCH BETTER MAN AT LEAST A BETTER MAN THAN ME AND WITH THE BLACK HILLS ABOVE AND THE NEW TOWN BELOW FIVE MILES DOWN THE LANE WE SPILLED OUR OWN BLOOD AND WE SWALLOWED OUR TONGUES AND WE SPOKE NOT OF WOMEN NO WE ONLY FEARED WITCHES I FELL ON MY FLAT FEET, THE CLOUDS CAME UNDONE WE LOST A HIGH MILE OF GOOD GROUND TO THE FLOOD WE LOST THE RED BARN, THE BLACK BARN THE TREE BUT YOUR FATHER LOST A DAUGHTER WHEN YOU MARRIED ME I SLEPT IN THE COTTAGE I SLUNG THE PAINTINGS ON THE FIRE WE STILL GOT THE SKY I CRIED WE STILL GOT THE SKY YEAH I GOT MORE THAN A LITTLE OUT OF SHAPE AND YOU CAN’T MAKE A MAN FROM SAND AND CLAY ANYMORE AND WITH THE BLACK HILLS ABOVE AND THE NEW TOWN BELOW FIVE MILES DOWN THE LANE WE SPILLED OUR OWN BLOOD AND WE SWALLOWED OUR TONGUES AND WE SPOKE NOT OF WOMEN NO WE ONLY FEARED WITCHES THAT WINTER WENT SLOW WE HAD NOWHERE TO GO THE ROOF FELL IN WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE SNOW THE END CAME FAST WE NEVER STOOD A CHANCE YOU LOOK FOR A WAY OUT AND THEN THERE YOU ARE
5.
IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME SO THEY PAID ME OFF WITH A CROOKED PIECE OF GOLD AND NOW I GOT ME THIS HERE LUMP IN MY THROAT YES I AM DOWN WHERE THE LUCKY MEN GO I GOT A SKINFUL I GOT YOU LET’S HIT THE ROAD WELL I FOUND A SQUARE OF DIRT CLEAR OF LEAVES AND WEEDS I GOT A BONE IN MY LEG WILL YOU DANCE WITH ME  YOU GOT SMOKES I GOT THE BOTTLE LET’S MAKE A TEAM THEY GOT THE GUNS BUT WE GOT THE NUMBERS ME AND THEE AND WHEN WE LEFT ST FRANCIS WE DIDN’T HAVE TO WALK NO WE WERE CARRIED BY THREE BROTHERS WHO STOOD TALL AND THEY WERE SOLEMN THEY WERE SILENT BUT THEY KNEW IT ALL AND WE WERE JUST TWO WOUNDED BIRDS SAD AND SMALL AND WHEN THE CUCKOO GOT HIS CLAWS INTO OUR HOUSE ALL THE BAILIFFS IN THE WORLD COULDN'T GET HIM OUT HE’S NOT TO BLAME IT’S JUST HIS WAY AND IT’S NOT UNFAIR MEAN OR STRANGE BUT THERE WAS NOWHERE LEFT FOR US TO GO BUT DOWN AND IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME I KEEP MY GOOD EYE ON THE DOOR WE WERE THE BOYS WHO HAD EVERYTHING I WAS SO QUICK TO LOSE IT ALL BUT IS THAT OCEAN LOOK HOW THEY SKY IS CLEAR AHEAD I CAN SEE IT AS WE’RE COMING ROUND THE BEND YEAH WE'LL BE SAFE SOON MY FAIR FEATHERED FRIEND TAKE A BREAK HERE TO DRAW OUT THE END WE COULD ALL USE A QUIET PLACE IN WHICH TO SLEEP AND I’M A SIMPLE MAN NO NEED TO BE SMART WITH ME THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN ALL OF THIS WILL CEASE TO BE EMPTY BEDS EMPTY CHAIRS ME AND THEE I THINK WE ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE BOAT IN TIME SO SET YOUR TROUBLES DOWN AND LAY EM NEXT TO MINE BREATHE THAT SEA AIR DEEP WE’RE DOING FINE WE COULD ALMOST BELIEVE EVERY LIE WHEN I WAS YOUNG I WANTED TO RUN INTO THE TREES I SAT AND WATCHED PAINT DRY I WASTED WEEKS NOW YOU GOT THE SMOKES I GOT THE BOTTLE WE MAKE A TEAM THEY GOT THE GUNS BUT WE GOT THE NUMBERS ME AND THEE (Thanks to WP Kinsella for the inspiration)
6.
THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY I RODE OUT FOR SUPPLIES THE FIRST AFTERNOON THAT WAS FIVE WEEKS AGO I’VE STILL PLENTY OF FOOD I WOKE IN THE NIGHT HAVING SLEPT THROUGH THE DAY THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY YOUR FRIENDS CAME BY TO ASK WHERE YOU WENT I WAS UNDER THE TABLE UNTIL THEY LEFT MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE LESS TO SAY / A LOT OF THE TIME I HAVE LITTLE TO SAY THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY YOUR CLOTHES ON THE FLOOR WHERE YOU LAST LET THEM FALL I LAY DOWN THERE WHERE IT’S COMFORTABLE I HAVE A REGULAR HEARTBEAT BUT LATELY IT’S STRANGE THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY THERE ARE NOISES IN THE COTTAGE A LIGHT IN THE LOFT I TURNED IT ON YESTERDAY WHEN I WOKE UP IT’S OFF I START TO THINK I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PLACE THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY
7.
ALL THE CORPORALS SING A LONG SONG EVERY MINUTE LIKE EVERY HOUR LOSE A LITTLE MORE EVERY DAY I CUT THE CORNERS OFF WALKING HOME THESE WEEKS GET A LITTLE BACK GET A LITTLE BACK SOMEHOW I HEAR THE GOOD BOYS ARE BACK ON THE TOWN I KNOW THAT SHORE LEAVE IS HARD TO EARN THEY TRY TO FIT IT ALL INTO TWO DAYS AND THEN SLEEP IT OFF SOMEHOW SLEEP IT OFF SOMEHOW I THINK THE MEN ARE ALL OUT TO GET ME I KNOW THEY WONT LEAVE A STONE UNTURNED I ALWAYS GOT ONE EYE ON THE GLASSHOUSE KEEP AWAY SOMEHOW KEEP AWAY SOMEHOW AND WHEN THE DAY IS DONE ALL THE CORPORALS SING A LONG SONG AND WHEN THEIR SONG IS SUNG WELL THE TRAIN IS LATE AND IT WILL NOT WAIT FOR NO MAN’S SON I COUNT THE FRIENDS THAT ARE LEAVING EARLY I KNOW WE ALL GOT A BONE TO PICK I NEVER FELT SO LET DOWN AND STOOD UP WALK IT OFF SOMEHOW WALK IT OFF SOMEHOW I KNOW THE WOMEN WONT WORK FOR NOTHING I HEARD THEY ALL GOT IT IN FOR ME I GUESS I’VE NEVER BEEN WHAT YOU’D CALL HONEST FOB IT OFF SOMEHOW FOB IT OFF SOMEHOW AND WHEN THE DAY IS DONE ALL THE CORPORALS SING A LONG SONG AND WHEN THEIR SONG IS SUNG WELL THE TRAIN IS LATE AND IT WILL NOT WAIT FOR NO MAN’S SON I WAKE AT FOUR I HAD A SHIFT AT THREE NO ONE EVEN TRIED TO GET ME UP THEY SPEAK ABOUT ME LIKE I’M ALREADY AWOL SHADOW OF A MAN JUST A SHADOW OF A MAN I AM
8.
WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE SEA I CAN SAY IN A SONG WELL YOU CAN FIGHT ALL YOU LIKE YOU WON’T KEEP HER AFLOAT SHE WILL BUCKLE, SHE WILL TURN, SHE WILL SINK LIKE A STONE AND WE BOTH WATCH HER GO, NO RECOVERY HERE THE THING ABOUT THE NIGHT IS WE ALL DISAPPEAR CAUSE YOU CAN LOOK FOR AN ANSWER YOU CAN MEASURE THE RULES THE HOW AND THE WHY WELL WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE DO I TOOKA LONG HARD LOOK AT THE OCEAN TODAY AND WITHOUT ANY EMOTION I AM CARRIED AWAY TO WHERE THE LAKE MEETS THE SEA AND THE WATER TURNS THICK TO WHERE WE STOPPED FOR SUPPLIES BUT THERE WAS NOTHING TO DRINK AND YOU HAD QUESTIONS I DIDN’T ANSWER ABOUT THE PLANS WE COULD MAKE AND WHEN THE RESCUE WOULD HAPPEN THAT WOULD COME AND SAVE THE DAY BUT HAVE WE EVER BEEN THIS HUNGRY HAVE WE EVER BEEN SO LOW SO THIRSTY WE’LL POUR SALT WATER DOWN THROATS  WELL I SWALLOW WORDS, BREATHE THE NIGHT, SOMEONE RINGS THE BELL THEY CALL THE FLOCK IN FROM THE FIELDS AND SEND THEM ALL DOWN TO HELL AND LATER I PICK UP MY FEET AND I DRAG MYSELF AWAY I’M NOT A NATURAL BORN SWIMMER BUT I FLOAT JUST THE SAME AND WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE SEA I CAN SAY IN A SONG WHAT I TELL OF THE OCEAN IS ONLY SO LONG LIKE IF YOU SCOOP A CUP OUT THEN THE WHOLE LEVEL GOES DOWN I SAW HALF A MAN WASHED UP LIKE A STUFFED LEATHER BAG I SAW A PIECE OF OUR BOAT THAT I COULD REACH ON THE BED BUT IT’S TWENTY FATHOMS DOWN AND NO WAY UP FROM THERE NOW THE MORNING COMES GLOWING ALL WET AND ALIVE AND THE SAILS ARE SHOWING SO DISTANT AND FINE AND THE DIAMOND OF THEIR CANVAS CUTS HOLES IN THE BLUE AND TINY TRIANGLES OF LIGHT PUSH THEMSELVES BRIGHTLY THROUGH

about

The third of the 'Kitchen' albums, recorded alone at home in Germany. Eight new songs, this time with added cornet from Johny Lamb (Thirty Pounds Of Bone), violin from Sophia Basler (Myself When Young) and backing vocals from Stefanie (Vivian Void).

'Turn Your Back On The Crown' is perhaps the most personal of the recent TGP albums - peppered with images, names and places from a childhood spent in the Welsh countryside, half-remembered lines from eighties horror films watched through fingers from behind couches, a pet lamb and a lost Irish cat.

The vocals and acoustic guitar tracks were recorded together, as with all of the other albums - but in this case the entire album was recorded twice a day for 10 days, with the finished collection pulling complete takes mostly from the last afternoon. Johny Lamb sent his wonderful cornet parts over from Cornwall, but Sophia's urgent and imaginative violin were recorded in person on a short trip to Switzerland right at the end.

The CDr version includes an eight page booklet with the lyrics and chords, a hand stamped disc in a numbered 100% recycled sleeve. Buy it here and you'll get the download right away.

The download includes a PDF of the lyrics / chord booklet and the cover portrait.

The cover image, as with the other 2 in this group of albums, is by Mina Reischer.

credits

released May 8, 2016

Sophia Basler - violin
Johny Lamb - cornet
Stefanie - backing vocals
Stephen Burch - guitars, keyboards, percussion and vocals.

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The Great Park Germany

Stephen Burch. Problem folk, songs with words.

"Ein Singer-Songwriter ist immer auch Poet. Und Burch ist ein ganz besonderer." (Süddeutsche Zeitung)

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