1. |
Plastic Fruit
02:11
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Plastic Fruit
28.7.2013
Plastic hangs in the trees like fruit.
It is the kind grown in the fertilised soil of unethical consumption,
Mulched by the plastic generation.
But who will harvest this fruit?
The future people who will learn how to eat it?
The next-gen birds whose metabolism will cater
For the gut-strangling strands of indigestible poly-carbons?
Those fish who will evolve the ability to convert take-away coffee lids
Into scales of immortality,
Only killed when they are caught by bears with a taste
For anything from a two dollar shop.
And the fake plastic fruit on the kitchen table
Will be consumed by school kids who are able
To bite into the mal-nutritious doppelgangers.
And the dog won’t bring the ball back unless it’s organic,
Because the poly-vinyl acetate
Will make the K-9 salivate
Causing it to masticate
Every last Spalding-ace.
The cat will feast on plastic toy mice and milk bottles diced
Into sardine-sized morsels
And plastic milk bottle-lid droppings
Will lie beneath kitti-litter scrapings.
And those cows where the plastic milk bottles come from
Will chew their cud on astro-turf
And their four-chambered stomachs
Will form the production line
For all the single-use forks and knives
Required by this take away life.
The plastic clouds will send down a cacophony
Of every once-off object we will ever need
We will replace the sun with a disco ball
Which we will throw away when the batteries run low
For no one will know
How to think anymore
For our brains will have become
Solid...resin…globules…housing…a single…plastic…gold fish
That never learns from its mistakes.
And the plastic fruit will hang on the dead tree’s bow
Until it slowly, slowly breaks.
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2. |
Happiness Is
04:30
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Happiness Is
7/7/2018
Happiness is a distant memory
That plays on my mind most evenings
Since you left me babe
I ain’t seen nothing but stars
That don’t so much as shoot as fade away
Happiness is a faint melody
Played on a guitar with old strings
Since I came out east
Well even the trains
Are stopping dead in their tracks
But there’s 3 things stopping me
From going insane
Please let me explain
It’s coffee in the morning
Wine at night
And rain on a tin roof
Oh, baby come home tonight
Because I’m losing the fight
Baby come home tonight
Loneliness is beating down the walls
Since happiness walked on out the door
I guess I’ll walk on down the line
Because that mistress of joy
She’s no longer mine
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3. |
Give and Not Give In
03:30
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Give and Not Give In 2018
She changed her name by DEPOL
She was always ahead of her time
She learned to write before she could read
Learned to sing before she could speak
She was famous for doing all the wrong things right
She said “You gotta learn to box before you can fight”
With her ticket in her hand she gathered up her things
She said “I’m gonna give and not give in”
Gonna give and not give in (James harmony or vis-à-vis)x`
Gonna love not be done in
Gonna hold someone not hide myself away
Rise above this every day
She met up with her folks and
they said “You’re not the daughter we raised,
We taught you to love the Lord heaven be praised”
She said “If there’s a God above,
I’m sure that he loves me
More than this god damn family!”
I’m still famous for doing all the wrong things right
Busy putting out all those fires I set alight
But I’ll be god-damned if I’m gonna stick to some fool plan
Has me eating out of some fool’s hand.
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4. |
Friend of Mine
02:54
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Friend Of Mine 26/5/18
She’s got eyes that see for miles
She’s got curls
She’s got something that really shines
Oh, she’s a friend of mine
Across the room and down the aisle
She stops the world
She’s tame and a little wild
Oh, she’s a friend of mine
We called her ‘Angel’
Called her divine
I told her once
How I felt inside
Now she’s floating on cloud number 9
Woa, that friend of mine
When I think of time gone by
We were alone in a park
I got to thinking how we could shine
Oh, that was another time
Now she’s got a man by her side
He’s a good man
They’ve got something that really shines
Oh, they’re friends of mine
We called her ‘Angel’
Called her divine
I told her once
What was on my mind
Now I can see she’s doing fine
Woa, she’s a friend of mine
She’s got eyes that see for miles
Oh, she’s a friend of mine
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5. |
Circle of Confusion
05:51
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Circle of Confusion
25/4/2017
She wields that smile from left to right
Every shoulder a potential lover
Every knee willing to bend
Every heart already broken at the seams
Her smile catches every wave it seems
On a simple Monday evening we shared a drink or two
We headed out to hear the bands play
Every tune was a wrecking ball to my Miley Cyrus heart
I had to leave before I fell apart
It’s the circle of confusion
As she walks into the room
All the men stare in wonder
The women feel it too
They know the fragile fondness
That kept them close til now
Has just become like sand
To the beauty of her waves
She could tear a ship from its moorings
Shake a mountain right where it stands
Move a building from its foundations
With the smile she has at her command
I wanted you and I wanted you to want nobody else
I wanted nobody else to want you back
But truth be known you won’t belong to nobody but yourself
I left so I could be that way as well
On any other night I’d say ‘It’s alright’
On any other day I’d shrug it off
But something in the air
Has me hanging somewhere
Between the clouds and the bottom of the sea
I’m letting you leave me like so many hearts before
Your distant shores like heaven’s door are not fit for the likes of me
But if ever you happen by I’ll gladly have you by my side
I’ll give you something to smile about
Between Rumi and James Dean
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6. |
Girl with Cinnamon Shoes
02:37
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Girl with Cinnamon Shoes
10/5/2016
She’s out walking the dog
But who’s walking who?
And all the while she’s asking for the truth.
Every second corner is a primary school,
Fences of steel, bike riders of the wheel.
Backside of North,
Northside of home,
She’s taking me round,
On this uneven ground,
I’m in the wrong city
But man I’m feeling lucky
She’s the girl with cinnamon shoes.
Rendezvous with strangers never worked out so well,
A midnight feast is the only way to quell,
I think I held her in my arms
Before off her mind I fell
I’m not inclined to end such a beautiful night.
I read a book on Marx,
Actually I just made that up
But I do read a lot of words
Coming from her lips and heart,
It’s borrowed time on borrowed wine
She’s the girl with cinnamon shoes.
When the rain comes down I’ll walk in it
Even if I get lost in it
When the bus comes by I’ll ride in it
Even if it tears us apart.
Things come down they once were up
Her eyes are fire to warm this cup
I never thought there’s a thing called luck
But a recipe for truth is about to start.
Half-baked points of view about rain and the truth…
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7. |
Last Glimmer
02:59
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Last Glimmer by James Hickey
Last glimmer of a fading day
Reminds me each step I take
Is harder than the last
When the sand you’re sinking
Cool change often comes
When the day is on the run
Friends come and go
When relations seem the warmest
I reached out to touch you
Hoping you would shimmer
The best that I could hope for
Was a shudder and a shiver
One day I know
Everything I touch will turn to gold
Everything I touch will turn to gold
If the world is full of diamonds
Then a pearl is a valuable thing
If I could find just one of those
I’d declare myself king
I’ve swam through many an ocean
I’ve crawled along many a beach
Good friends are hard to find
Everyone is each to each
I reached out to touch you
Hoping you would shine
The best that I could hope for
Is ‘I’ll see you another time’
I’d like to see you
Look you in the eye
Tell you of my troubles
Hope to God that I don’t cry
I’m just a dreamer
A deaf and dumb believer
I should would love to please ya
So why don’t you stop on by
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8. |
Cry Over Cab Sauv
02:46
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Cry Over Cab Sauv by James Hickey 2016
There’s no point pining over Pinot Noir
No use moaning over Sauvignon Blanc
No need to mope over Chardonay
But if you must cry, cry over Cab Sauv.
I heard you spilt you bottle of wine
Spilt it like blood all over the tiles
Knocked over your favourite vase
It must’ve been a Cab Sauv.
You’re stronger than me old shaky thighs
Lid off the bottle let it oxidise
The tears that’s forming in both your eyes
Are a mixer for your Cab Sauv.
Darkly, darkly, please over power me
Hold me closely, please nebriate me
I don’t crave immortality
Soothe me, burn me, in your wicked flames
If the devil had a drink then Cab Sauv. would be its name.
I went down the road to buy some more
Couldn’t find a single bottle in the store
Cheap shiraz made me a dirty whore
I blame it on the Cab Sauv.
I’m neck deep in a sleepless night
Curvy green bottle your are my wife
Be with me the rest of my life
Me and that Cab. Sauv.
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9. |
Home Fires Burning
02:52
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Home Fires Burning
July 2017
Keep those home fires burning
Keep the thoughts of me churning
While I keep the wheels turning
Keep those home fires burning
Keep those dreams growing
Watching red sands flowing
And we’ll come together knowing
That our wild dreams are growing
There’s a road ahead sometimes straight
Sometimes winding
Maybe our love will be a book in leather binding
So keep those home fires burning
Keep on smiling like you do
Keeps on keeping me keeping true
And every drink will be for two
Keep on smiling like you do
Keep this new found friendship forming
Keep those heart shaped schnitzels warming
While the desert rains are storming
Keep those heart shaped schnitzels warming
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10. |
Red Coloured Dye
04:10
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Red Coloured Dye
2018
I don’t need you
But I want you all the same
Like a fading sunset
Your desire for me has changed
I gave you laughter
Taught you to be brave
I don’t need you
But I want you all the same
Red was the colour of danger
Red was the colour of your hair and eyes
When you thought you’d be a mother
Red coloured were your eyes
I cared for you then like red coloured dye
I cared for you then like red coloured dye
I hope you take me with you
Even though you left me here
I pray you live life
Without any fear
Though we’re not together
For the changing of the years
My thoughts will be with you
I will think of you my dear
Red is the colour of danger
Red is the colour of your hair and eyes
When you thought you’d be a mother
Red coloured were your eyes
I cared for you then like red coloured dye
I cared for you then like red coloured dye
I cared for you then like red coloured dye
I cared for you then like red coloured dye
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11. |
Moment in the Sun
02:48
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A moment in the Sun by James Hickey
10/12/2013
Some find strength when the fire subsides
Others get lost and lose their minds
Some get their moment to burn and shine
And I’ll have a moment in the sun oh yes
I’ll have my moment in the sun
Some get found in an antique land
Others look for love that they’ll never find
Some get caught in a sea of vines
She’s the lucky one
Found someone it seems
He’s a lucky one
Got found by someone it seems
Some settle down and forget who they are
Others move away for this to find
Some think that habits go away in time
Some look life right in the eye
Others fall asleep when the time’s not right
Some will hold you just to keep you alive
Some survive when they should have died
Others crawl back to the mess each time
Some will never forget how to smile
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James Hickey Australia
James Hickey was a programed performer at the Numeralla Folk Festival (NSW) and the Party in the Paddock Festival (TAS) in early 2018. He has been performing in Adelaide and Melbourne consistently since 2012. He completed a 12 date tour of Australia’s east coast in 2016 and a 20 date tour of Europe in 2014. ... more
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