Song #39 Hollywood's Real

 

HOLLYWOOD’S REAL

 

I’ve finally been to the US of A

I started my journey in the town of LA

Screamin’ down the freeway

Doin’ it their way

In the US of A

 

I finally knew that it ain’t no dream

Hollywood’s real, not just silver screen

They’re all cruisin’ down the freeways

Doin’ it their way – in LA

 

They got black people and they got white

All playin’ together on a summer’s night

But killin’ on the freeway

That could only be their way

In the US of A

 

Busker begs money (havin’ a bad day)

Too much talk, not enough song boy

“Get down” says a brother

And no one smiled ‘cept me

 

Pancakes for breakfast

In Lily’s Country Kitchen

You know what she told us?

It was the best in LA!

 

Putting every place on the map in a song

Putting every goddamn town in a song

Now listen to me

I’ve been to Sydney

But I sing of LA

In the US of A

In the US of A

 

(© Michael Coghlan 1987)

Commentary

It's true. After year's of swearing I'd never go there we decided to go back to Australia the long way - via the US. It was exciting to be there. I enjoyed singing this song for some years but have no idea how to play it anymore. Still like the lyrics :)

Light Cycles - Illuminate Adelaide

July 18th, 2021

Light Cycles is one of the flagship events of Illuminate Adelaide, and has been created by Montreal-based multimedia studio Moment Factory. The light and sound installations that entrance as you wander the lit path through the darkness are tailored to specific parts of the gardens. The bamboo garden becomes this wondrous spectacle of dancing light on the densely packed bamboo stalks. Mesmerising beams of light dance and bounce of trees on the other side of the lake in a hypnotic, wondrous spectacle. Elsewhere a myriad of twinkling lights gives the effect of wandering through vast open fields. And the beautiful Victorian glass (Palm House) seemed like it has been sitting there for a hundred plus years just waiting for Light Cycles to realise its full potential.

Each installation is accompanied by soundscapes that are part music, part sound effects. They tantalise as you draw near the next installation and perfectly complement the visual fantasies on offer.

It was a brilliant decision to hold this event in winter. OK – so a few nights may be lost to poor weather – but dragging yourself out into the cold winter night makes you somehow appreciate the whole experience even more. The cold no longer matters as you’re transported to a world of fantasy and wonder – just a little bit Zen really!

No doubt everyone wandering through Light Cycles is aware of how fortunate we are to be living virtually COVID free in South Australia. So it was even more alarming that the early part of the session I attended was a logjam of people in long queues ignoring social distancing and not wearing masks. Organisers have to sort this. Let fewer people in per session and monitor the crowd movement to keep people properly spaced. (As I write Illuminate Adelaide management are working on a plan to address this issue.)

But once past the logjam it was possible to enjoy the rest of the circuit wandering at a leisurely pace and let the senses take over; let your eyes, ears and mind explore the colourful darkness as art, light, technology and sound transform the gardens into – yes it’s a cliché – a winter wonderland!

Song #38 Song for Peter

SONG FOR PETER

LISTEN 

Hey, why are you going away?

Goin’ away you say?

I’ve been away

I’m goin’ home

 

I’m not saying it’s easy

I’m not saying it’s wise

But I know that it’s high time

To retrace my steps

To pick up my roots

To live in the sun and be warm

 

So it’s a journey way down south

As far south as you can go

To see how the other

The other half live

I know this was my home

You’ve all been so fine

There’s a place in my heart for you always

 

But I’ve lived on the other side of the world

The person you’re looking at grew up there

Maybe I’m crazy; maybe I’m wrong

Maybe I can’t stand that southern air

But I’ve got to find out

I’ve got to know

I’ve got to know if I’m dreaming

 

Goodbye good luck good friend

Goodbye good luck good friend

Goodbye

(Amsterdam 1986)

Commentary

Peter and I had gone to the same school in Adelaide, but we weren't close friends. I had just finished a busking in session Amsterdam one day and this guy approached me and said, "Remember me?"  I did and we became close friends. Peter had actually been born in Holland but some time later he decided he needed to return to Australia. I wrote this song for him as a parting gift. I sang it at his farewell party in the big white house in the picture above.

Song #37 Has Anybody Seen the Sun?

 

HAS ANYBODY SEEN THE SUN?

 

Has anybody seen the sun? (x2)

I know it’s shining way down south – shining way down south

On the other side

I know it’s not so important

There are people dying in far off lands

But it’s cold and grey right here

 

Has anybody moved from a land of sunshine

To a land where there’s always rain

If you have you will understand that rain can mean pain

As you sit around inside all day

Waiting for the sky to clear

As you sit around inside all day

Waiting for the rain to go

It’s depression and frustration inside

 

Have you ever lived in a world of beauty

Of space and clear bright light?

Where even in the middle of the darkest winters

The world will still seem right

‘Cos the sky still dawns a deep dark blue

And the sun shines down on you

Or so it seems

And though you may have your problems

They don’t seem quite so bad

When you can walk out into the sun

 

Has anybody seen the sun? (x2)

I know it’s shining way down south – shining way down south

On the other side

I know it’s not so important

There are people dying in far off lands

But it’s cold and grey right here

I’m cold and grey right here

(Holland, 1985) 

Commentary

I really struggled with the weather in northern Europe. In Australian terms they have a 9 month winter and a 3 month spring. And so much of life is spent inside. I did a a few solo gigs in Holland and sang this song at one of them. Went down like a lead balloon! Quite cheerful and upbeat despite the bleating. Needs to be recorded. Still play it live occasionally. 

 

Song #36 Face the Fire

 

FACE THE FIRE

There’s a river on the horizon

It flows any way you want it to

You can move the great big mountains

Move the ground in front of you

 

While the fire burns in front of you

The chance is offered just this once for you

To make your move towards your future

To take what’s there for you

 

You say there is no reason for never doing what you say

Take the path you know is calling

Before the chance is gone away

 

Now the fire burns in front of you

The future lies on the other side for you

Listen deeply to what you know

To what you know is true

 

It’s time to face the fire folks

To put it out before they do

They being those who hold the power

They who know not what they do

 

Yes it’s time to face the fire folks

Yes It’s time to stop all of these jokes

Before the fire burns forever

And swallows up me and you

 

(1985)

Commentary

I can't remember much about the background to this. I still remember how it goes - slow and melodic. It seems to be a metaphorical reflection of both what what was going on in my inner life, and in the external wider world. 

Song #35 The North Wind

 

THE NORTH WIND

 

I came here cos I loved you

I leave now for the same

And as I ride home in the rain

Tears cloud my view

 

I see you standing silent in the wind

Gazing out to see

I know you’re crying for it’s the last time you’ll see me

But soon you’ll sing when you know you’re free of me

 

I had no wish to hurt you, or take your soul

Our worlds apart; our cultures old

Wild and untamed, I don’t belong in your world

‘Cept when your hair is swept by the North Wind

 

It blows in my face now as I journey home

Stops the tears running down my face

It’s the same wind that blows in your land

The North Wind still joins both our hands

 

(Michael Coghlan 1985)

Commentary

The honeymoon was over. Back in Holland again. Relationship strained. I start dreaming about going home . A mournful, plaintive tune with a Celtic feel very much influenced by the music of Alan Stivell. It has the makings of a special song. Properly recorded it could be quite haunting.

 

Song #34 Dear Life

 

The song Dear Life was prompted by the joy with which my young son would crawl across the floor towards me as I sat on the floor playing the mandolin. I think he liked the fact that it was a much smaller instrument than the guitar, and I like to think he was also drawn towards the bright and infectious sound of the mandolin. Whatever his reasons it filled me with the joy of life whenever he did it – it simply gave me a greater appreciation of how dear life is. Corny perhaps, but true :)

Written in 1984.

Listen HERE

Lyrics HERE