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Gallows Tree Tales

by Slim

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    with a full-colour 8 page lyric booklet, and some stunning photography in Ashdown Forest, Sussex, from Sam Moore

    Includes unlimited streaming of Gallows Tree Tales via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

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1.
Their force amassed upon the hill Awaiting our designs Ten thousand faces in stark relief A single enemy line We took our orders valiantly Executed their decline And the stake in our broken and bleeding hearts Was the Nuremberg Defence Such ordinance did we dispense Our grubby hands were tied The weight of history manifest As every last rank died Our guilty palms they begged the charms Of exoneration’s bride And the stake in our broken and bleeding hearts Was the Nuremberg Defence We marched upon a fallen man We never asked his name He appealed to our humanity While shouldering the blame Our crimes were immaterial The judge’s claws were tamed And the stake in our broken and bleeding hearts Was the Nuremberg Defence He looked me right between the eyes As I drew my dagger down Too late I felt complicity In this fading form I’d found In vain I tried to stem the flow But it drained into the ground And the stake in his broken and bleeding heart Was the Nuremberg Defence Yeah the stake in our broken and bleeding hearts Was The Nuremberg Defence
2.
There’s Damocles in the tavern He sings an endless melody He punches far below his heavy weight He’s the very first last man you turn to When the very last order’s called He’s fishing in pockets for everybody’s change He says his one and only true love She lives on the other side of the bar As he drinks away his masquerade He sends her a message in a bottle But he can’t steal her heart away And all his sorry scars they’ll never fade Cut off your nose to spite your face But you can’t wash blood with blood So hold me down under the sea A beauty no-one shall replace ‘Cause you can’t wash blood with blood So hold me down under the sea Harbour sharks they are a-circling And the ragged sails are high As he plots a course right through her broken heart But his anchor’s far too heavy As he sits there staring at the floor His quest it died ‘ere it could even start Cut off your nose to spite your face But you can’t wash blood with blood So hold me down under the sea A beauty no-one shall replace ‘Cause you can’t wash blood with blood So hold me down under the sea ‘If every body is a temple Keep the spirits safe outside’ Over his dizzy head these words would hang There was no message in the bottle It was in the bottom of his glass ‘I’ll drink to that’ the old man sang Cut off your nose to spite your face But you can’t wash blood with blood So hold me down under the sea A beauty no-one shall replace ‘Cause you can’t wash blood with blood So hold me down under the sea Just hold me down under the sea
3.
A cold morning broke as she moved through the fair Stole the silence from every last blackbird Her bonny complexion raised more than a smile His wings cut through the air to acquaint her She asked him “Pray what occupation have thee aside from your preoccupation with me?” He said “Everyone works for the man in this land But my undying service I give thee for free” And he said “Maybe I’ll never dance in your light Never kiss you goodnight But I’ll fight for your heart ‘til my dying day” In a town full with bragards, you trust none with your life But she warmed to his quick Highland fling Taking leave of all sense, she leapt out in the dark Like a flower too early for spring He stopped his old wagon in the heart of the square And he begged for her fair hand in marriage She fixed him a glare like a loaded gun They held up the town with their carriage And he said “Maybe I’ll never dance in your light Never kiss you goodnight But I’ll fight for your heart ‘til my dying day” They climbed to the foot of the mountainside They gazed up at the fells and the hollows He saw conquest in each magisterial crag She saw only the fields that were fallow He said “I know a sweet refuge in the rocks and the tors All your burdens will I gladly carry” She cried “Just leave me here whilst I know the way home” ‘Chased her shadow back down through the valley And he said “Maybe I’ll never dance in your light Never kiss you goodnight But I’ll fight for your heart ‘til my dying day” They came in the night with no warning sign He was loaded with rejection’s arrows She moved through the fair in the cold dawn air As her troubadour he swung from the gallows And he cried “Maybe I’ll never dance in your light Never kiss you goodnight But I’ll fight for your heart ‘til my dying day” “Maybe I’ll never dance in your light Never kiss you goodnight But I’ll fight for your heart ‘til my dying day”
4.
They locked her high above in a tower It was overlooking the gallows tree They had a family priest and on a moveable feast Well he swallowed the surviving key They told her the reach of each and every ambition Must terminate there with her maiden name You should’ve seen her grieve for the prince of thieves His advances they would all defame I don’t wanna reassemble my heart If it’s bleeding over you I don’t wanna reassemble my heart If it’s broken in two I don’t wanna reassemble my heart If it’s bleeding over you Now levitation never was his strong point But on the old oak beyond the tower Well there his eyes caught sight of a hangman’s might He drew the leash suspended by its power She said “We’ll be damned for such a desecration” But common sense succumbed to rare desire And this old hanging rope it was their only hope He lassoed a noose around her spire I don’t wanna reassemble my heart If it’s bleeding over you I don’t wanna reassemble my heart If it’s broken in two I don’t wanna reassemble my heart If it’s bleeding over you He climbed the keep and he begged her for to haul him in But every sight it was trained for to shoot them down into the night She never feared their fire, because in each cross wire There were two minor stars shooting into the light I don’t wanna reassemble my heart I don’t wanna reassemble my heart No I don’t wanna reassemble my heart If it’s bleeding over you If it’s broken in two No I don’t wanna reassemble my heart If it’s bleeding over you If it’s broken in two If it’s bleeding over you If it’s broken in two
5.
You can talk to me I’ll treasure every word Even though you’ve broken up my world I just need you to know I’m always here for you girl And my love is unconditional And I’m watching us fall It tears me apart to take it all And I wish you could know The pain in my heart, the love in my soul The pain in my heart, the love in my soul Remember times at the beach? Playing games in the sand And the smiles on our faces, hand in hand Remember times at the shows? How you wanted to know All the dreams that we could dream, and where we could go And I’m watching us fall It tears me apart to take it all And I wish you could know The pain in my heart, the love in my soul The pain in my heart, the love in my soul The pain in my heart, the love in my soul I’m begging you please don’t let me go How could you leave me on my own? I’ve never felt love like this before I’ve never wanted anyone more The pain in my heart, the love in my soul The pain in my heart, the love in my soul The pain in my heart, the love in my soul The pain in my heart, the love in my soul The pain in my heart, the love in my soul
6.
Cadogan 129 04:49
Good people all attend to me I pray, both young and old The most dreadful tragedy to you will I hereby unfold Of a murder staged aboard a train in 1864 For want of the price of gold in a jewellery store Now Thomas Briggs, a corporation clerk, his journey homeward bound From Fenchurch Street to Hackney Wick habitually was found Franz Muller a German tailor, on his brow the mark of Cain For a chain of Albert Curb, Briggs he was slain He kept coming like a freight train And with his A-game He stole the very last ticket from the man Who left his soul in Cadogan 129 With a black top hat and a gold chain Abel couldn’t beat Cain It was the very first murder of a man Who left his soul in Cadogan 129 The engine driver and the stoker found Briggs dying on the line So they laid him down in the tavern on Cadogan Terrace 129 Now the German pawned his plunder, he set sail for Americay For this chain of evidence would Muller pay Inspector Tanner did a steamer board, with his sergeant New York-bound Tracing Muller’s bloody tracks with extradition’s hungry hounds They dragged him back to London Town, and the jury did decree For to raise him high on Newgate gallows tree He kept coming like a freight train And with his A-game He stole the very last ticket from the man Who left his soul in Cadogan 129 With a black top hat and a gold chain Abel couldn’t beat Cain It was the very first murder of a man Who left his soul in Cadogan 129 “All you that in this condemned wretched hole do lie Prepare you for tomorrow, for tomorrow you will die Watch all and pray beseech I thee, the hour is drawing near That you before the hand of the Almighty must appear Examine well yourselves and in good time you will repent That you may not into eternal burning flames be sent And when St Sepulchre’s chiming bell tomorrow tolls May the Lord have mercy on your soul” He kept coming like a freight train And with his A-game He stole the very last ticket from the man Who left his soul in Cadogan 129 With a black top hat and a gold chain Abel couldn’t beat Cain It was the very first murder of a man Who left his soul in Cadogan 129 And may the Lord have mercy on your soul May the Lord have mercy on your soul May the Lord have mercy on your soul
7.
Come and follow me to the hanging tree, to a fate now I resigned Where the ivy climbs in double time, many footholds can I find Any alibi would satisfy, my senses all at sea But I won’t implicate or obligate from atop the gallows tree Heavy winds may thieve your autumn leaves, heavy storms will I arraign Early birds may turn against their worms, never I against your grain Endless love confess with no duress beyond the third degree I’m your devotee, and it’s all for thee, from atop the gallows tree Your roots entwine every tale and rhyme, every branch I beg to climb And your timbers groan, they rattle bones, a suspension so benign So a prayer for all the airs inspired will be your rosary But Hail Mary’s beads, they’ll never seed from atop the gallows tree No redwood spire could raise such ire, no weeping willow catch my tears Nor ebonies in minor keys, to me themselves endear Now events may make us once relent around the mulberries But all this forestry it’s mere debris when you’re atop the gallows tree On this weathered rope I hang all hope and I pray on bended knee For to swing beneath this mortal wreath , such a perfect penalty I’ll countenance your wayward stance if you’ll seal my destiny My soul will soar for ever more from atop the gallows tree My soul will soar for ever more from atop you, gallows tree
8.
Lay Me Down 04:18
You travelled far over land and over sea From a factory far away in China You reached my door long before I turned the key And every day I needed more and more I held you with me everywhere that I was going I fell in love but all the while you were making other plans Come on and lay me down, throw your loving arms all around Break my heart as you lay me down, with the ferryman singing ‘Golden Brown’ He’s knock-knocking on my door A mad obsession, I couldn’t put you down As tough as nailing jelly to a dartboard My best friends said you would only bring me down I was dying a happy man The hours flew way past stupid o’clock in the morning And in never-ending tears for days later I would drown C’mon and lay me down, throw your loving arms all around Break my heart as you lay me down, with the ferryman singing ‘Golden Brown’ Lay me down, throw your loving arms all around Break my heart as you lay me down, with the ferryman singing ‘Golden Brown’ He’s knock-knocking on my door He’s knock-knock-knocking on my door You gave me love, a thousand sparks, to keep this fire burning But something’s tearing up my heart, I just can’t sleep Oh won’t you lay me down, down, down Just lay me down, down, down Just lay me down C’mon and lay me down, throw your loving arms all around Break my heart as you lay me down, with the ferryman singing ‘Golden Brown’ Lay me down, throw your loving arms all around Break my heart as you lay me down, with the ferryman singing ‘Golden Brown’ He’s knock-knocking on my door He’s knock-knock-knocking on my door He’s knock-knock-knocking on my door C’mon and lay me down C’mon and lay me down C’mon and lay me down
9.
As she moved through the fair to Executioner’s Square And the crowd disappeared in the dusk As the old city walls gave a heave, took their leave And the troubadour betrayed their trust As they severed his withering frame from the beam With the mourners collapsing in floods As she turned the remains of two dead flowers Fell into the shadows underneath the Gallows Tree I’m tearing down the roses from your grave I’m dancing with a soul they’ll never save Two dead flowers, we fell into the shadows Underneath the gallows tree She set a course for the tomb in the gathering gloom And she rued all the chances spurned And she saved any prayers that remained while the devil Waited ’til her back was turned Now that old hanging tree, it came down in the night And the roses they drowned in the storm And the mortal remains of two dead flowers Fell into the shadows underneath the gallows tree I’m tearing down the roses from your grave I’m dancing with a soul they’ll never save Two dead flowers, we fell into the shadows Underneath the gallows tree The angels couldn’t roll your stone away And even though your name now I betray I can’t tell this gallows story on my own without you Two dead flowers, we fell into the shadows Underneath the gallows We fell into the shadows Underneath the gallows tree Two dead flowers I’m tearing down the roses from your grave Two dead flowers, we fell into the shadows Underneath the gallows tree
10.
Peggy Gordon 04:19
Oh Peggy Gordon, you are my darling Come sit you down upon my knee And tell to me the very reason Why I am slighted so by thee I’m so in love, I can’t deny it My heart lies smothered in my breast But it’s not for you to let the world know A troubled mind can find no rest I dun put my head to a cask of brandy Such is my fancy to declare That when I’m drinking, I’m seldom thinking Or wishing Peggy Gordon was here I wish I was in a lonesome valley Where womenkind cannot be found And pretty birds they change their voices With every moment a different sound I wish I was away in Ingo Far across the briny sea And sailing over the deepest ocean Where love nor care ever bothered me Oh Peggy Gordon, you are my darling Come sit you down upon my knee And tell to me the very reason Why I am slighted so by thee Oh Peggy Gordon, you are my darling Come sit you down upon my knee And tell to me the very reason Why I am slighted so by thee
11.
We get along, we feel alright, there’s sunlight in my eyes Then heaven stops and hell begins, we’re going back in time But I won’t let you go I see the sorrow in your eyes, when the day begins Every tear and little lie, as we fight to win Why, I'll never know But it's ok, it's ok Just walk on out the door and go away It's alright, it's alright We've had our time, our reason and rhyme You know I love you so Sooner now the storm will break, the leaden clouds will pass Fresh beginnings we await, as we're torn apart Please keep this in your heart I will love you far beyond, all the hurt and pain I will keep these open arms, though our feelings change So please now, let me go ’Cause it's ok, it's ok It's alright, it's alright We've had our time, our reason and rhyme You know I love you so We've had our time We’ve had time, we've had our reason and rhyme We’ve had time, we've had our reason and rhyme It's gonna be alright It's gonna be alright It's gonna be alright It's gonna be alright It's gonna be alright We’ve had our time We’ve had our time We’ve had our time, we had our reason and rhyme It’s gonna be alright It’s gonna be alright It’s gonna be alright

about

Slim's latest LP, 'Gallows Tree Tales', is a barn-storming folk-rock romp through tales of love, loss, booze, laughter and madness. With big productions, there's everything from americana rock, celtic folk, country balladeering, and even a gospel choir thrown in for good measure. Featuring Slim and a rousing rabble of beautiful players and singers, 'Gallows Tree Tales' will take you on a musical and lyrical journey like no other.

credits

released August 8, 2012

Produced and engineered by Slim. Mixed and mastered by Slim and Andy Adams. (c) Andy Black 2012. (p) Andy Black 2012

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Slim London, UK

Slim's new LP is a barn-storming folk-rock romp through tales of love, loss, booze and madness. With big productions, there's everything from americana, celtic folk, country balladeering, and even a gospel choir thrown in for good measure there'll be a full tour to come and of course, a fair few 'Gallows Tree Tales' to tell. Visit www.slim-music.com to keep in touch and join the Facebook page!:o) ... more

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