Live at The Sage Gateshead [EP]

by Fran Smith

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  • Digital Album

    "It’s really exciting to discover a songwriting talent as intelligent and insightful as Fran Smith... who knows how to sing her own stories with such conviction and grace."

    - Karine Polwart


    Fran Smith is one of the finest young singer-songwriters in the UK today. Her songs have been described as "lyrical works of Art", and she blends a background in folk music with varied influences such as Patti Smith, Kate Bush and Antony and the Johnsons.


    Here you can discover her music for yourself, by downloading an entire live performance by her for just £5.

    Buy Now  ₤5 GBP  or more

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about

Recorded live at The Sage Gateshead on Sunday 3rd April 2011.

credits

released 11 April 2011
Thank you to The Sage Gateshead, the Karine Polwart Trio, and to Prof Sparks for the fantastic live sound and recording.

tags

tags: alternative fran smith karine polwart the sage gateshead female folk live piano singer-songwriter songwriter United Kingdom

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Track Name: We Will Have No More Marriages
Words/Music ©Fran Smith (PRS)

You can tether me down to the ground.
Cover my cage, and I won’t make a sound.
I have scorned every free bird that chose not to fly,
now wing-clipped and pinioned am I.

You can anchor my heart, here in the sand
And I’ll sink like a wreck in the palm of your right hand
And let them all say “she drowned in sin”
‘Cos only you and I know just how true I’ve been.

I will wear your embrace like a warm coat,
and the collar of kisses you’ve sewn at my throat,
and if ever my fickle heart leads me awry
you can tug at the leash of my wandering eye.

So tether me down to the ground.
Cover my cage, and I won’t make a sound.
I have scorned every free bird that chose not to fly,
now wing-clipped and pinioned am I.
Track Name: Take These Bones
Words/Music © Fran Smith (PRS)

Take these bones and this heart and these lungs
And make from them what you will
To get you through the night.
You know that I’m extreme,
And subtlety’s lost on me,
So don’t burn if you can’t burn bright.

‘Cos I only like myself about half the time,
And I only like you a little bit more,
And I don’t have too much love left inside of me these days,
Remember you’re taxing the poor.

We’re like the sun and moon
We’re separate, but still in tune,
And together we light up the room.
We’ll make success
out of being a bloody mess,
And laugh all the way to our doom.

‘Cos I only like myself about half the time,
And i only like you a little bit more,
And i don’t have too much love left inside of me these days,
Remember you’re taxing the poor.

I’m first to admit I’m a magnet for accidents,
And we’ve always had our fair share of those arguments,
But you know that I’m just a glutton for punishment,
So you’re doing just fine by me...

So take these hands and this kiss
And we’ll lie here like this
'Til boredom – or hatred – takes hold.
‘Cos I sort of love you,
And you sort of love me too,
And between us, we’ve sort of struck gold.

And I’ll try to like myself about half the time,
‘Cos I really like you so very much more,
But i don’t have too much love left inside of me these days;
Remember you’re taxing the poor.

I’m first to admit I’m a magnet for accidents,
And we’ve always had our fair share of those arguments,
But you know that I’m just a glutton for punishment,
So you’re doing just fine by me...

So take these bones and this heart and these lungs
And make from them what you will
To get you through the night.
Track Name: 1,035 Days
Words/music © Fran Smith (PRS)

Stolen away
in the crook of an arm,
by the sleight of a hand
on a lawless bed,
in a bullion dream
that you spun out of straw,
where a golden heart
could be easily le(a)d.
So mine led to you:
your impossible temper,
your kisses so tender,
your laughter like sin.
And I cut my teeth
on the blade of your shoulder
as you bowled me over and over again.

But I can't sing the blues
of your eyes
I don't hold the key to one lock
of your hair
No I can't sing the blues of your eyes,
And what's behind those lies -
That's your affair.

I've been spelunking
and diving in search of
the cave where your heart goes
when you fall asleep.
Don't you get lonely
down there in the shadows
with all of the secrets
you're trying to keep?
Typical me:
indiscriminate giver,
to drink from
the muddiest river around.
I've cried you an ocean
of selfless devotion,
and still I'm the
likeliest sailor to drown.

'Cos I can't sing the blues
of your eyes.
I don't hold the key to one lock
of your hair.
There's no part of you that is truly mine,
and nothing in your heart you want to share.

I can't sing the blues
of your eyes.
I don't hold the key to one lock
of your hair.
No I can't sing the blues of your eyes,
And what's behind those lies -
That indelible disguise -
Whatever hides in there -
That's your affair.
Track Name: Orion
Words/music © Fran Smith (PRS)

To my night architect, my voluntary anchor:
It’s time to raze the place that we built together.
I’ve tried to be golden; I’ve tried to look further
Than the dust on your sword or the blood on your shoulder.

Together we tasted the fear in our pleasure,
The comfort in danger, the joy beyond measure,
But you shouldn’t live by such hazardous water
If you won’t dive in and become a night-swimmer,
Orion.

It startles like birds, or like four-letter words
When you light up, Orion,
But you’d rather burn out than turn out like someone like me.
A fire needs fuel, so be cruel
but don’t misunderstand me, Orion,
If it’s your time to shine, I’ll be back for mine,
someday, you’ll see.

You hunt me with arrows through shadows at midnight,
Unleash your wintry hounds in the half-light.
How many of these scraps can we make a meal of?
You need to fight it but I need to feel love,
Orion.

It startles like birds, or like four-letter words
When you light up, Orion,
But you’d rather burn out than turn out like someone like me.
A fire needs fuel, so be cruel,
but don’t misunderstand me, Orion,
If it’s your time to shine, I’ll be back for mine,
someday, you’ll see.

My heart is the dawn, and it breaks every morning:
Tamed by the dark, then ignites without warning.
But I’ll reassemble my plumage and ribbons,
I’ll rise from the ash and we’ll both be forgiven,
Orion.

It startles like birds, or like four-letter words
When you light up, Orion,
But you’d rather burn out than turn out like someone like me.
A fire needs fuel, so be cruel,
but don’t misunderstand me, Orion,
If it’s your time to shine, I’ll be back for mine,
someday, you’ll see.

A fire needs fuel, so be cruel,
but don't misunderstand me....
Track Name: Bee-lines
Words/music © Fran Smith (PRS)

Here I am kicking up the fallen leaves
From every tree the wind disarms,
And I am wishing
That it might blow you from your pedestal,
And carry you into my arms.

And I’ve been saving all your letters;
Like you, they’re beautiful but hard to read,
And there are
So many words but you can’t tell me
Who you want and what you need.

Some lessons go unlearnt:
Why’d you say ‘sorry’ if you weren’t?

You can’t just land on my branch, and then suddenly take flight:
No one wants an apple after someone’s had a bite,
And you insist on making bee-lines for the stickiest of hives,
Then leave for finer weather, soon as the first winter arrives.

Sometimes I dream of you so vividly:
I draw your outline and the colours that fill your eyes,
Brimming.
I wish your actions were as beautiful,
And you gave my questions some replies.

Though I’m a little black and blue,
I can live without you.

You can’t just land on my branch, and then suddenly take flight:
No one wants an apple after someone’s had a bite,
And you insist on making bee-lines for the stickiest of hives,
Then leave for finer weather, soon as winter arrives.

You can’t just land on my branch, and then suddenly take flight:
No one wants an apple after someone’s had a bite,
And you insist on making bee-lines for the stickiest of hives,
Then leave for finer weather, soon as the first winter arrives.

Here I am kicking up the fallen leaves
From every tree the wind disarms,
And I am wishing
That it might blow you from your pedestal,
And carry you into my arms.