Information/Write-up
Ottawa songwriter and guitarist Terry Tufts is a gifted musician with a strong sense of melody and structure, and sensibilities rooted in the golden age of the big-voiced folk-pop troubadour, circa 1975. This collection of 13 originals, produced by Borealis boss Bill Garrett, is as good as or better than anything those guys ever did. Always eminently listenable, and notwithstanding the anachronistic overtones, Tufts takes a big step out of the folk realm that has been his home for the past few years and onto a musical stage that embraces elegant, almost symphonic arrangements, world music, jazz and progressive pop elements, as well as traditional forms. Melodies are breathtakingly beautiful, as is Tufts' pure and steely tenor, and his stunning guitar work is allowed to anchor every piece, though he's surrounded in these songs of warning and diminishing hope for a better world by some exceptionally fine players, among whom pianist Mark Ferguson, drummer Ross Murray and back-up singer Jesse Winchester are outstanding.
-Greg Quill, Toronto Star
Terry Tufts is the type of songwriter who takes no prisoners. His straight-ahead, carefully crafted songs leap off the disc. He includes a baker’s dozen of original and co-written songs, covers, a traditional song and a pair of instrumentals. The songs alternate between topical songs of social conscience and pop love songs. In the foldout lyric sheet he guides the listener with influences and/or intent for each song. Thus, for “Black Velvet Elvis,” for example, which he co-wrote with K.E. Briggs and D.J. Francey, he writes: ”Think Stephen Stills, The Outchibouec Nation,” “Dirty Little War” is a unique anti-war song filled with unusual images and phrasing that pointedly puts the message across. “Embracing The Addiction” protests another war, the one of man against nature, although it could be interpreted more broadly. “The Better Fight” suggests a positive life philosophy of no regrets, living for all you’re worth. He does an amazing interpretation of the traditional “Awake Ye Drowsie Sleeper”. He begins a cappella like the Ian and Sylvia version, then in the second verse adds subtle accompaniment. Each verse builds until the song explodes into a full dissonant rock interlude and then turns to the subtle accompaniment of the earlier verses to great effect. Tufts sings with an engaging, comfortable voice and he’s a dynamic guitarist. He also plays mandolin and cittern. Six able musicians accompany him on this highly produced CD by Bill Garrett. If you enjoy the pop side of folk, you can’t do much better than Terry Tufts.
Rich Warren, Sing Out! Magazine
Adapters: Ken Friesen; John Geggie; Ross Murray; Mark Ferguson; Terry Tufts; Bill Garrett.
Personnel: Terry Tufts (vocals, guitar, cittern, mandolin); Jesse Winchester (vocals, background vocals); Mark Ferguson (trombone, keyboards); Mark Ferguson (keyboards); John Geggie (bass instrument); Ross Murray, Ross Murray (drums); Rob Graves (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Ken Friesen.
Recording information: Signal Path, Almonte, Ontario, Canada (10/2004-03/2005); Sound One Hand, Ottawa, Canada (10/2004-03/2005).
Arrangers: Ken Friesen; John Geggie; Ross Murray; Mark Ferguson; Terry Tufts; Bill Garrett.Dirty Linen (p.53) - "Terry Tufts' tracks blossom like spring after a dark brooding winter."
Hey Jerusha
Hey Jerusha while the moon is high
Hear the message in my song
Come on out. This ain’t no lullaby oh and I
Can tell this magic won’t last long
Take you out to where no others go
Where the desert meets the sea
Tell you secrets only lovers know. This is so.
Jerusha come on, dance with me
REFRAIN
As the stars wheel above with a light made for love
And the palms sway to sweet ocean breeze
There’s a song in the night whisperin’ with delight:
"...me for you, you for me."
Sweet Jerusha with the raven hair
Hear how urgently I plead?
I saw you dancing in the Market Square, swaying there
Come on out and dance with me
Open gently to the fate’s demand
And the possibility
I’m a prophet from the desert land. Take my hand.
Come on out and dance with me
REFRAIN
There’s a saying of old that we’ve often been told:
“What will be oh forever will be.”
Gift of light, grain of hope. Endless chain, velvet rope:
“…me for you, you for me.”
The King of Fools displays a thorny crown,
A wooden scepter in his hand,
Regal vestments now a wretched gown that drags the ground.
Jerusha say you understand
Rhea circles ‘round The Giant’s Band,
Phoebe reaches apogee.
Culmination of the master plan now at hand
With the song inside of me
REFRAIN
Oh our coins both were tossed long before stars were crossed
And the shores ever kissed by the sea
For the path we traverse long ago was mapped in verse:
“…me for you, you for me.”
Top
W.T. Tufts
SOCAN
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Dirty Little War
You and I may not agree
On questions of philosophy
Certainly politic’ly
Then there’s the money
One thing I am certain of
Despite hell below or god above
It’s the children that we love
More than the money
While they all were making free
With finer points in history
They forgot ‘bout you and me
I won’t believe
Though they will obscure our view
Bomb us with the evn’ing news
March the lies out two by two
Do not believe
CHORUS
I don’t want to cry no more
That’s not what we were made for
Take this dirty little war and
Move it along
Sticks and stones and blood and bone
Dirges sung in monotone
Same old story, same old song
Move it along
Though we may not see eye to eye
Or ever know the reasons why
Manners and respect apply
This I believe
Cowboy hat or fine burnoose
Sow’s ear or silken purse
Turn it up and turn it loose
Get up and dance
CHORUS
I don’t want to cry no more
That’s not what we were made for
Take this dirty little war and
Move it along
Sticks and stones and blood and bone
Dirges sung in monotone
Same old story, same old song
Move it along
Top
W.T. Tufts
SOCAN
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The Better Fight
With some fines skills in my pocket
And a small sense of adventure
I will build myself a rocket, leave my self-imposed indenture
Do my very best to hasten and make ready my departure
Sail across a sea of stars with the true aim of an archer
Won’t look back in want or worry, just ahead to peace of mind
Watch the hassles and the hurry
And the bad times fade behind
Venture out and find my fortune, watch my futures all unfold
Live life to its full proportion with my heart and with my soul
CHORUS
And if I live to be a hundred
I may never get it right
But there’ll be no small consolation
Having fought the better fight
Well I have lived so long in anger and run too long in despair
I would now prefer to linger as my purpose becomes clear
Trace my pathway with one finger; give myself an equal share
I’d no sooner be a pris’ner than fall victim to my fear
CHORUS
And if I live to be a hundred
I may never get it right
But there’ll be no small consolation
Having fought the better fight
BRIDGE
How many days will fly?
How many years roll by?
Why would you wait so long?
For the moment only lasts until it’s gone
There’s so many miles before you, so little time to spare
There’s a grace here that implores you
And redemption if you dare
There’s no need for want or worry
No need for reckless ways
There is only life before you; there are only better days.
CHORUS
And if I live to be a hundred
I may never get it right
But there’ll be no small consolation
Having fought the better fight
TAG
But there’ll be no small consolation
Having fought the better fight.
Top
W.T. Tufts
SOCAN
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Awake Ye Drowsie Sleeper
Awake, awake ye drowsie sleeper
How can you lie and slumber so
When your true love is a going to leave you
Never to return no more?
How can you slumber on your pillow?
When your true love must stand and wait
And must I go and wear the willow
Forever mourning for your sake?
O Molly dear go ask your father
If you my love, my bride can be
And then return and quickly tell me
And never more I’ll trouble thee.
I cannot go and ask my father
For he is on his bed of rest
And by his side there’s a silver dagger
To pierce the one I love the best.
Down in yon valley grows green yarrow
I wish that yarrow shot through my breast
T’would end my grief, t’would end my sorrow
And put my troubled heart to rest.
Awake, awake ye drowsie sleeper
How can you lie and slumber so
When your true love is a going to leave you
Never to return no more.
Never to return no more.
Top
Traditional arranged by W.T. Tufts
SOCAN
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Black Velvet Elvis
I won’t pass this way again
So I won’t try to pretend
That all will be forgiven in the end
You gotta live right
Right or wrong won’t matter now
Never did much anyhow
And regret is something time cannot allow
You gotta live right
REFRAIN
Toss up a coin. What’ll it be
Black Velvet Elvis or Georgia O’Keefe?
You gotta live right
There is no one keeping score
It’s perspective, nothing more
Red poppy painted on a weathered door
You gotta live right
I believe a change will come
I can hear a different drum
We must send these lying thieves on the run
Why can’t they live right?
REFRAIN
Toss up a coin. What’ll it be
Black Velvet Elvis or Georgia O’Keefe?
You gotta live right
W.T. Tufts, Kathryn Briggs, David Francey
SOCAN
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That Was You. This Was Me.
Found a moment in my hist’ry, captured in a photograph
Back when time was free of caring,
You and me lost in a laugh
When it was hard keepin’ it simple and it was easy being free
It was far too sentimental
That was you and this was me.
Just a Brownie’s brief impression:
A tattered curl, a fading glow.
I only turned ‘round for a moment
Where did the moment go?
A lifetime vanished in a flash; a silver moment shudders past
Too fast to see
And still the mem’ry shines within me.
That was you and this was me.
BRIDGE
Could it be with passing time we lose our focus?
Could it be with passing time we lose our way?
So much better understood when laid out in black and white
And hidden for so long from light of day
Just when you least expect it
Opportunity walks in
Opens all the doors and windows and says “Let the dance begin.”
Making magic in the dark, hand in hand so easily:
Two shooting stars born from a solitary spark:
That was you and this was me
BRIDGE
Could it be with passing time we lose our focus?
Could it be with passing time we lose our way?
So much better understood when laid out in black and white
And hidden for so long from light of day
Found a picture in the bottom of a box
That held a chapter of my life
A telling scene from my back pages
One I can see in a new light,
When we knocked down all the barriers and baffles
To share the possibilities
And then stood stark among the ruins,
That was you and this was me.
Top
W.T. Tufts
SOCAN
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Embracing The Addiction
So you figure now you’ve nothing left to give
You see the candle dimming down to darkness.
Well I say live.
Remember conversation? Do you recall?
We are more like lovers than nations ‘cause we don’t learn from our mistakes at all,
Walk ‘tween ground and god and never master this affliction,
Move from cause to cause to cause embracing the addiction.
You used to back up and observe the overview
It may be time we sat down and
Analyzed the points misconstrued
You’re frightened of tomorrow, but aren’t we all?
Bouncing angry like a bee between window panes before we fall,
Walk ‘tween ground and god and never master this affliction
Move from war to war to war embracing the addiction.
Ev’ry father destined to perpetuate this cruel charade
Ev’ry mother destined to give birth astride an open grave
You walk a narrow path between cause and effect.
At times you seem as frail as
The faith you hang around your neck
Pull out the holy fervour like weaponry,
Clinging to the icon so tightly because it forgives so easily.
Float ‘tween ground and god and never master this affliction,
Move from grail to whip to chain embracing the addiction.
Hey, oh, I got to go
Down to the centre of town, you know
Talk to the ones makin’ up the rules
Tell ‘em to their face they’re just a bunch of fools
Ooh, hey, just want to say
Think of the loss and who’ll have to pay
Think of the horror / heartbreak / pain
Take a couple breaths and try to think again:
There’ll always be a prophet who will force a fight for freedom
And a god to hide behind and urge them on.
There’ll always be a profit for the television nation
As long as there’s a tragedy involved.
Anybody out there (listening / within / the sound of my voice)
(Not the) powerful, the pious, or the rich, but ev’rybody else:
We’ve little left of anything that has a real worth
(And) More in common with each other
Than anybody of wealth
You surely understand this is a money game to no one’s gain,
Got nothin’ to do with destiny or will
The loser’s gonna be the sorry geek who taps out first
And the winner will sit on a pile of rubble
Just tryin’ to believe they’re King Of The Hill so
EV’RYBODY STOP THIS WAR (x 8)
Anybody out there (listening / within / the sound of my voice)
W.T. Tufts
SOCAN
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Fly Away
Just a small town crime of passion
Who can slight you for ans’rin’ the call
When the far greater wrong one commits is the crime
Of having no passion at all?
There are ti -mes when time really matters
And there are moments you just don’t care
Though the weight of the world’s pressing down on your shoulders
Inspiration is lighter than air
You can do anything. There is nothing to stop you
And when there’s nothing to stop you, there is only yourself
CHORUS
I got a wild idea
Let’s fly away
Use the imagination
Saved for that rainy day
While the sun is still shining
Let’s make it pay
Call up that spirit
Let’s fly away
There was a time when the sky was the limit
A time we could fend for ourselves
We didn’t need anyone else’s permission
And we did not need anyone else
If I knew the responsible party
Who threw the hood over top of the light,
Who said we’d be crazy to act on our dreams
I would shout down that notion tonight
Once we could do anything. No one else to rely on
And when there’s none to rely on, you rely on yourself
CHORUS
I got a wild idea
Let’s fly away
Use the imagination
Saved for that rainy day
While the sun is still shining
Let’s make it pay
Call up that spirit
Let’s fly away
I was leaning last night out my window
I was lost in a blanket of stars
From a Dart to an Arrow it took fifty years
Fifty more, have we come all that far?
‘Cause we still love the wind in our hair
And we still tend to grow t’wards the light
Still enthused at the thought of a motorbike engine
On a tricycle strapped to a kite
We can do anything
Top
W.T. Tufts
SOCAN
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Slow And Easy
Good morning good neighbour, I saw you
Alone in what seemed such a mood
By the look on your face
You are in quite a state
With respect, may I beg to intrude?
Do you worry old allies have failed you
And from where you will get your next cue?
Your brain all agog
And blind to the fog
Of indifference you’re wandering through
REFRAIN
Sometimes you have to look right in their eyes
And stand with your back to the wall
Sometimes you just have to walk away
Slow and Easy
I’m not one who can easily criticize
I don’t really see the use
‘Cause I know on some days
You’ll astound and amaze
And on some days the bear will eat you
What we have here’s a sad lack of balance
What we need is a new attitude
Because right now I swear
That even the bear
Must be bored with the same old menu
REFRAIN
Sometimes it’s only a matter of choice
Sometimes beyond yes and no.
Sometimes you just have to walk away
Slow and Easy
These things that will hurt you can teach you
There’s a strength one can gain by and large
Triumph of the will
But what does not kill
In the long run can still leave you scarred
There is danger in passionate impulse
There is sorrow, regret, and remorse
And when reason departs it can harden the heart
Are you certain this is the right course?
REFRAIN
Sometimes your bluff is not quite enough
Sometimes you just have to call
Sometimes you just have to walk away
Slow and Easy
Top
W.T. Tufts
SOCAN
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Open Letter To The Earth
Holy Mother I have been so remiss
I am sorry and ashamed
Traded profit for The Fair Mother's kiss
And you've paid dearly in exchange
I want to heal again,
Before you kneel again
And have you hold me in return
CHORUS
And still despite my growing fear
I find I'm counting on rebirth
And a prayer for willing hearts to hear
My open letter to the Earth
Holy Mother you are worn from neglect
Can't say I'll ever understand
Forgot my promises to care and protect
Mother forgive me if you can
I want to feel again
To touch what's real again
And have you hold me in return
CHORUS
And still despite my growing fear
I find I'm counting on rebirth
And a prayer for willing hearts to hear
My open letter to the Earth
Before I turned so far away from your gift
I set my paddle to your song
Then I stopped list'ning and I've long been adrift
Though you've been singing all along
I want to hear again
To feel you near again
And have you hold me in return
CHORUS
And still despite my growing fear
I find I'm counting on rebirth
And a prayer for willing hearts to hear
My open letter to the Earth
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