Get all 11 Lew Bear releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Facebook Bullshit, Rose of the Shires, Revisited, Bubble and Squeak (Rest of Vol 2), Love Light Dark and Death, Beginners Luck, Loose Ends (The Rest of Lew Bear, Volume 1), A Time and a Place, and 3 more.
1. |
Ripples
03:23
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There’s a man who built upon a rock, To the ticking of a clock
As his life was speeding past
When he laid the final brick, he’d caught the carrot lost the stick
So he gave it all away
There’s nothing solid we can leave that’ll last down through the centuries
Nothing that won’t crumble into dust
But the ripples of our love and hate never stop keep going straight
When everything we’ve made has turned to rust
There’s a gal who raised a boy alone, Had no money ‘til he’d grown
And always felt she failed him
But he grew up with lots of care, He was always helpful always fair
And he never wanted for a thing
There’s nothing solid we can leave that’ll last down through the centuries
Nothing that won’t crumble into dust
But the ripples of our love and hate never stop keep going straight
When everything we’ve made has turned to rust
There’s a family who lost it all, It was illness caused the fall
And their hope was shorn away
Homeless on the streets they roam. Till a man gave them a home
A man raised by a single gal
There’s nothing solid we can leave that’ll last down through the centuries
Nothing that won’t crumble into dust
But the ripples of our love and hate never stop keep going straight
When everything we’ve made has turned to rust
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2. |
Echoes Of The Past
04:06
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Once upon a time there was a boy who wore my name
He thought he wore it well
Thought life was a game, and emotions simply names
He puts me through hell
And the echoes of the past grow discordant with age
Coz they don’t change the key, as I turn the page
The boy I once was, well he’s gone for good
Cant forget his deeds, oh no, I wish I could
Done too many sins and hurt too many things
To ever fully atone
But I gotta try – I use your pain to cry
I wish I had known
And the echoes of the past grow discordant with age
Coz they don’t change the key, as I turn the page
The boy I once was, well he’s gone for good
Cant forget his deeds, oh no, I wish I could
Wish I could forget all the things I said
That I didn’t mean that I do regret
Wish I could forget all the things I did
That I didn’t mean that I do regret x2
And the echoes of the past grow discordant with age
Coz they don’t change the key, as I turn the page
The boy I once was, well he’s gone for good
Cant forget his deeds, oh no, I wish I could
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3. |
Charlie The Crow
03:34
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Someone once asked me what I ‘member bout my Nan and Pap
She was a short skinny woman he’s a tall ruddy faced chap
He’d let out a scream when he put on aftershave
But the thing I ‘member most was a crow my pappy saved
Charlie the crow, called out his name
In the sun and the pouring rain
Charlie the crow is always the same
Charlie the crow’s pecking at my toes again
I lived there for a while when I was just a lad
Had to stay there coz my Mum was feeling bad
They put me in the garden and worked me like a slave
But the thing I ‘member most was a crow my pappy saved
Charlie the crow, called out his name
In the sun and the pouring rain
Charlie the crow is always the same
Charlie the crow’s pecking at my toes again
When pappy died it hit everybody hard
I went to see Charlie one last time in the yard
But he’d been sent off to an aviary
Once in a while I could go and see
Of course I miss pappy now he’s in his grave
But the thing I miss most is the crow my pappy saved
Charlie the crow, called out his name
In the sun and the pouring rain
Charlie the crow is always the same
Charlie the crow’s pecking at my toes again
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4. |
The Tramp
04:04
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If y’all will shut your trap, I’ll tell you bout a chap
Who was broke and up against it too for fair
He was not the kind to shirk and he was looking hard for work
But he met the same ole story everywhere
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
Walked up and down the street, till the shoes fell off his feet
In a house he spied a lady cooking stew
He said how do you do, may I chop some wood for you?
What the lady told him made him feel so blue
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
Across the street as sign he read, work for jesus so it said
And he said here is my chance I’ll surely try
So he knelt upon the floor, till his knees got rather sore
But at eating time he heard preacher cry
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
Cross the street he spied a cop and the copper made him stop
And he said when did you blow into town
So he took him to the judge, but the judge he said oh fudge
Bums with no money needn’t come around
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
Finally came that happy day, when his life passed away
He was sure he’d go to heaven when he died
When he reached the pearly gates, santa peter, mean old skate
Slammed the door right in his face, loudly cried
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
In despair he went to hell, with the devil for to dwell
For the reason he’d no other place to go
He said I’m full of sin, so for christs sake let me in
But the devil said o beat it you’re a bo
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping, nu’ing here for you
If i see you round about you’ll wear ball and chain
Tramp tramp keep on a tramping it’s the best that you can do
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5. |
If
04:07
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If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings -- nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run --
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!
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6. |
Entropy
03:42
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Time will grind, grind me down to dust
Time will grind, grind me down to dust
I’m 3 miles high and I reach up to the sky but
Time will grind, grind me down to dust
Rain will wash, wash away my crown
Rain will wash, wash away my crown
It is soft and I am strong but it’ll keep up till I’m gone
Rain will wash, wash away my crown
Tide will take, take away my roots
Tide will take, take away my roots
I’m tough as nails and you cant see how I’ll fail but
Tide will take, take away my roots
Core will heat, heat me till I melt
Core will heat, heat me till I melt
Burn and crush until I’m fiery slush
Core will heat, heat me till I melt
Then I’ll rise, I will rise again
Oh I will rise, I will rise again
I was born and then I died now I’m back for another ride
I will rise, I will rise again
Time will grind...
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7. |
Gimme Some Whisky
04:53
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Gimme some whisky gimme some wine
I don’t care what so long as it’s mine
Gimme some bitter gimme some stout
Put a shot of rum in to give it some clout
Coz every thought of you takes me to hell
So I need to kill some braincells
Every thought of you takes me to hell
I don’t wanna think like everyone else
Gimme some brandy gimme some gin
Anything to keep me in the state I’m in
Gimme some cider gimme some port
Anything that stops these rational thoughts
Coz every thought of you takes me to hell
So I need to kill some braincells
Every thought of you takes me to hell
I don’t wanna think like everyone else
I’m burning down those memories
I burn em down like ash trees x2
Gimme some opiates gimme some pot
I don’t care man whatever you got
Gimme some mushrooms gimme some E’s
I don’t care man whatever you please
Coz every thought of you takes me to hell
So I need to kill some braincells
Every thought of you takes me to hell
I don’t wanna think like everyone else
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8. |
No Return
03:25
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Place where I grew up when I was a boy
Nowhere held so much pain and joy
But nothing remains coz nothing stays the same
In the end who is the one to blame
I’ll never feel at home in the place where I was raised
No I never will return, I cant go back to those days
Gave community all that I had
For the work I gave all I got back was bad
Kicked in the teeth feet swept out from underneath
Then I was forced to question my belief
I’ll never feel....
But in the end I still had my friends
We had the kind of love that never ends
Then I fell ill and needed some support
You’re a scrounger was their retort
I'll never feel...
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9. |
Mad Ole Girl
03:02
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From good stock or so they say
And even born on a sunny day
The best start the world could give
Ruined it all by the life she lived
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
When she was young she was a beauty queen
But after years of the clubbing scene
Her face is lined her body sags
Fuelled by beer, drugs and fags
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Done it all in her past
But anything good it never lasts
Now she lives off the dole
Getting drunk to save her soul
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Before you think this tale is sad
She always happy always glad
And when you think of what she’s done
Have you had as much fun
But all the folks, they all still say
Yeah all the folks, they all still say
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
Mad ole girl mad ole girl propping up the bar she’s a mad ole girl
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10. |
There's A Storm Comin'
02:30
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A storm coming
There’s a storm coming
There’s a storm coming
And it’s bound to blow you down
There are nine angels on nine ships
Gonna put trumpets to their lips
Huff and puff and blow it all away
Say your prayers it’s the end of days
A storm coming
There’s a storm coming
There’s a storm coming
And it’s bound to blow you down
There are horsemen 1 2 3 4
When they come you’re gonna beg no more
War famine pestilence and death
Gonna steal your final breath
A storm coming
There’s a storm coming
There’s a storm coming
And it’s bound to blow you down
There’s a man with a thousand crowns
He’ll build you up and then let you down
Join the devil in the fiery pit
And that’ll be the end of it
A storm coming
There’s a storm coming
There’s a storm coming
And it’s bound to blow you down
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11. |
Merry Tom
04:45
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Young Tom the stable hand, loved the horses so
He’d always wanted one of his own
But times were hard in the Red Earls employ
From a farmer’s family he was a poor boy
Then one springtime fell a weakling colt
Young Tom rushed to him like a lightning bolt
From that moment the boy loved the beast
But any lame horse became a hounds feast
Tom went to Red Earl, loudly he did beg
“Please sir don’t kill this horse due to a poorly leg”
Red Earl said “if you can afford the feed
I’ll let you keep this poorly steed”
So Tom thanked Red Earl and went on his way
He could feed him on his family’s hay
And in time, the young colt he grew
His leg was healed and he stood proud and true
Young Tom said a name you shall need
One befitting such a noble steed
His father said he makes you happy
I suggest, the name of Merry
So Tom rode on proud Merry
Who proved himself the fastest of his breed
And in time became the Red Earls envy
Who commanded I’ll have back my steed
Young Tom wept but he gave up Merry
He knew Red Earl could harm his family
Red Earl took the horse who grew yet more strong
Said “I’ll name you for the boy – you shall be Merry Tom”
Merry Tom was ridden in the hunt
Wherever he went he went at the front
Red Earl rode him long and jumped him high
He said this horse could jump into the sky
Then one Autumn in came the heavy rains
The Nene was swollen and flooded in the drains
Red Earl thought he’d try a jump at the brook
Merry Tom broke his neck in the current he was took
Red Earl loved the horse of the jump he did repent
And so built a fitting monument
On it he wrote a simple piece
But young Tom had written underneath
Here lies the body of Merry Tom
Ridden to death by careless Red Earl John
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12. |
Twice As Near
04:37
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The couple made their vows til death do us part
In sickness and in health they’d be lovers
Then he fell ill, she had to pay the bill
And worked all the day and each night
Coz he was her rock but life ground him down
Though even concrete starts life as dust
She mixed in some tears and held him twice as near
Until he was strong once again
So with her love in time he was cured
But events had been harsh on her soul
So he worked hard as well and put himself through hell
And made a palace fit for his queen
Coz she was his rock but life ground her down
Though even concrete starts life as dust
So he mixed in some tears and held her twice as near
Until she was strong once again
They were each others rocks, but life ground them down
Though even concrete starts life as dust
They mixed in some tears held each other twice as near
Until they were strong once again
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Lew Bear recommends:
Here we Stand
by Cross The Border
Recorded by the only sound tech Djay Buddha, written by Stoo Nicol and Sketchy. Percussion by me and Paddy, violin by Yuuka and Bass from the gone but not forgotten Broon - what else could you want?
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All New
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Old Habits
by Kat Wallace and David Sasso
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Meet Me at the River
by Dawn Landes
On “Meet Me By the River,” Dawn Landes’s self-described “Nashville record,” buoyant country melodies settle deep into lush instrumentation.
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Overvalued Ideas
by Shaking Chains
Charmingly wonky, danceable post-punk from Manchester with a pop heart and the soul of protest folk.
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