songs with james
2026
braemar
the rhoddies were growing - you spoke like you knew it
to cut them was wrong here - got to ease from the root
the forest floor opened - we jumped on the moss
sung through the silence - she gifted back her song
James, we could have died
passed to the other side
I don’t mind … we’ll take our time
we’re smoking your rollies - in the front of your car
drove through the mountains - while Jeff plays his guitar
i know you’re hurting - she left for the circus
you can still grieve with me - the road will help us to focus
James, we could have died
passed to the other side
I don’t mind
We’ll take our time
the rock face was sparkling, the water fall was flying
your car window smashed in, a curse or a sign
they must know we’ve been hurting
seen the darker day
but life is for learning, for making our mistake
diamond dolls
Keep me excited, you’re over prescribed it, you try to be happy
it’s rough though.
Pushing the pills, you try to be thrilled, your days are too tough
in that tenement.
Living the nightshift, you try to stay aff it, It’s hard when you’re
sharing a kitchen.
Missing your mumma, your dad was a fucker and life is a
pain for the feminine
Winter gets you down in this G - Hill town
Girl I want to see you glow
Work in the club and you take your clothes off for the boys and the bill and the boozing
Up in your stilettos, up up on your tiptoes, you come with bashes and bruising
Some days you love it, some days you hate it and most days the money is decent
You’re built like a diamond, you push it your grind it and life's still a
pain for the feminine
Winter gets you down in this G - Hill town
January stole your crown
skinhead , skip, bed bound
waning / waxing
waning , waxing on my window
Colours bleeding moon glow
Softly touch my skin
leaning closer to your melody
Echoes in me
secret mirror in our gaze
Take me away
Silence obey
lying cautious on your carpet
tension in me
touching too much to be tame
Would I dare to risk the parts of me
yearning , aching
Pleading grass that was too green
Take me away
Silence obey
I’ll be content when i’m cradling
In your sugar, in your aching
Sour centre, bitter tasting
I’m a liar
to be waiting
for it all
Walking down in single file
you put your hand - behind your back - to reach for mine
Sleeping in the single bed too small for two, so we wrap our limbs together
You held my hair over the bowl
When she was mad and I was drunk and you got told
You cradled me on christmas day
told me we were gonna be okay
You are everyone.
Keep me in it, I don’t want to notice anything
Nothing makes me angry anymore
You are the reason for it all
my aching
Hear me where I speak the truth, between the pines and plywood,
Where we lay in secrets. My aching, is still aching
Hear me where I want to go,
See my as I see your soul,
Where our love it ebbs and grows,
My aching, is still my aching
Watch me as i’m watching you, can you see what i can do,
lying in the big bad blue of my aching, my aching
… is still my aching
Sorry. I’ve been waiting to return
Rescue the shallow air, I couldn’t really breathe in there
they eat it up, they do not share and my aching
… is still my aching
We dont really speak you know, it’s just a statement show,
everybody for their own and my aching
…is still my aching
So, I ran out to the coast, to eat the air I chose.
The fishermen sing their toast and we’re waking
We’re waking
Ca’ the Yowes (lyrics by Isabel Pagan - 1800)
Ca’ the yowes to the knowes,
Ca’ them where the heather grows,
Ca’ them where the burnie rows,
My bonnie dearie.
As I gaed down the water side,
There I met my shepherd lad;
He row’d me sweetly in his plaid,
And he ca’d me his dearie.
‘Will ye gang down the water side,
And see the waves sae sweetly glide
Beneath the hazels spreading wide?
The moon it shines fu’ clearly.’
Ye sall get gowns and ribbons meet,
Cauf-leather shoon upon your feet,
And in my arms ye’se lie and sleep,
And ye sall be my dearie.
common thread
2025
say
keep me in, keep me thin.
words don’t feel like the ‘real thing’
tell me off, tell me off twice
i could have you most of the time
finding ways/counting days
keep me in your palm
i’ll hold your handful
i’ll push and you’ll pull, i’ll pull, you’ll pull
words are rising up in the back of my throat,
catch it with my tongue in the form of a choke.
i don’t mind,
i don’t mind,
i don’t really mind
how could i be anyone i want to be here,
surface from the feeling but i want to be fearful.
no.
i don’t mind.
i don’t really mind.
say, say anything
anything…
just don’t say the thing i don’t want you to say.
watching your home turn to a toy
miles and miles beneath my aeroplane
digging tracks across my cheeks
at least we’re watering the flowers that grow beneath
patience for the people
dinner in my belly
dirty dishes smelling
cat hair on the cushion
sneezing in the kitchen
glasses on the table
surface isn’t stable
staining on the carpet
scrubbing ridding of it
everywhere,
everywhere,
everywhere,
we are everywhere
cuddle on the sofa
faces getting closer
smelling soap of jasmine
fingertips on my skin
leaving in the morning
missing you in calling
buffer on the signal
patience for the people
everywhere,
everywhere,
everywhere,
we are everywhere
lay in my land
now the darkness is shading us
now the stars guide our hands
there is nothing to temper us
when you lie in my land
well, it’s so good to stay with you
...now your miles away
i remember the shape of you
left in dents where we lay
love me like you do.
hold me high and hold me huge
you are me and i am you
wash the blood from your mouth now
purge your body of pain
you can sink to my cradle
you can bathe in my ache
how your fingers push deeply
covers acres within this body
speaking tongues of translation
you can sing it to me
love me like you do.
hold me high and hold me huge
you are me and i am you
you are me and i was you
crave
fever. you’re keeping me awake but i can’t mother your flame
fever. how much did i take, temptational crave
fever. you’re sticking to my teeth, like sugar so sweet
fever. you’re knocking through my night, so i’ll lock twice
my cup is brimming at the top and i can’t believe that i’ve gone and dropped it
the drinks they have been drunk and i can’t believe that i’ve gone and lost it
the songs they have been sung
sleeper. the dreamer stuck inside, night paralysed
sweat. pour the tide, the rivers wide, jesus christ
memory. she was a child, when waists were held too tight, a secret bedtime crime
wash your mind.
wasted
driving over land i will never comprehend. i’m a man, it’s a missionary.
tryna be the person i was tryna be. it’s a pleasure. it’s a periphery.
loving all the parts of me i never wanted.
it’s a pain to die with this dignity.
i could always have it,
i want it, i need it
...it’s a possibility.
i want it/ i love it/ i had it/ i waste it.
hearing all the sound, all the noise, all the drone, all the crow of the enemy.
tryna make a bomb, make a weapon, make a thing, make a song,
to be the remedy.
we went too long, went too deep, went too far in the car now i can’t pay the petrol.
mum’s on the phone, with a shout, with a scream, with a moan but i could never listen
i want it/ilove it/i had it/ i waste it
we went too far.
waking to the man, to the woman, to the girl, to the land, to the person i wanted to be.
will to take
my speakers hum a constant tone of high-pitched noise on chronic drones.
the cup of water sits upon my desk in its purple plastic vest, freezing.
cigarette filter tips, empty mugs leave coffee rims.
my mobile phone vibrates, and i can’t find the will to take it.
loose your mind. flames won’t flicker to wet logs. light won’t feed these damp thoughts.
picture frames hang on my walls of summer days from long before’s
now windowpanes are lined with snow but i’m far too cold to shake it.
you sit within your comfort zone, a palace on teranium glows.
watching as your people go but you stick to your known like a shadow.
lose my mind. flames won’t flicker to wet logs. light won’t feed these damp thoughts
so, burn me off.
distance grows between us all
of mind and metaphysical
and you could choose to let this go
but your problems won’t leave with a blindfold
doing good
i know you’re cold
your lips have turned blue and i can’t warm you
you’re too far through.
you told our friends that you’re using again
you did so great
but you held all you hated
how much is nothing.
when you’re searching for something that you can’t find.
through your veins you thought you might
you don’t know it yet
the love that i have for all you’ve got left.
i’ll sail you to safety
as much as you’ll hate me for it
just as long as i know
that you are doing good.
you are doing good
you are doing good.
common thread
the leaves are on the floor, they’re frozen in their form
and you are all i’m watching as i thaw
the morning dew has lifted and we are standing bare
naked and addicted to all that we have shared
i can’t give you up
as long as i have enough
i can’t give you up
sleeping between
the cause and the cries
waking to welcome you to this life.
good morning sunshine.
someone’s making coffee out the back of the truck.
sipping so politely, in harmony we trust.
in harmony there’s us.
between the greenish flowers and the creepy crawling legs
we are foreign bodies, tied in common thread
i can’t give you up
as long as i have enough
i can’t give you up
sleeping between
the cause and the cries
waking to welcome you to our life
good morning sunshine.
sisters - 2023
Reason
You’e reading all the books that can be read to find purpose in your bed. You sleep with lonesome.
The greatest gift that life could give to you, was your age…and every single thing that you do.
I’ve been getting older, and i tried to leave my youth behind… through a sense of shame.
Sometimes its just a bit of laughter to keep the blues away.
In all the clothes you like to buy, you think the earth is keeping it’s watchful eye on all the traits you’ll never really hide. In all the words you speak a loud to keep your ego proud.
I’ve been getting older, and i tried to leave my youth behind… through a sense of shame.
Sometimes its just a bit of laughter to keep the blues away.
I don’t know why, there’s a right, or a wrong, or a reason.
The teachers taught you not to swear. They told you not to wear your hair in the way you always wanted to.
Your mother told you not to shout, she told you not to raise your voice about the things she didn’t want to hear.
I’ve been getting older, and i tried to leave my youth behind… through a sense of shame.
Sometimes its just a bit of laughter to keep the blues away.
Gaps
She was young before she got old she had more than she could hold. She was high, before she got low. She thought hold this world, but little did she know that her mind would implode.
Tears they roll, down the cheeks of a girl who was too overwhelmed by the weight of it all
She would laugh and she would cry but with her head always in the sky. Dodging trip wires of freedom, holding on to all she believed in.
But, give her more time, she will find her freedom. In the gaps left between them, beneath books, no she did not read them. Well, she didn’t even need them.
Sticking to people with soluble glue,
‘what will we do with you.’
Her body isn’t yours to leave your dirty dinner plates on. Please just take yourself off at the nearest bus stop. Please tell me, is she remembering to sleep and does she get enough sleep, and rest, and repeat.
But, give her more time, she will find her freedom. In the gaps left between them, beneath books, no she did not read them. Well, she didn’t even need them.
Sticking to people, with soluble glue.
‘What will we do with you.’
Another
Well, I’ve woken up again in your bed. It’s so comfy that i dont think I’ll lay my head on another.
I’ve spent days on days in this time capsule space that i dont think I’ll ever see another.
I know that you don’t like to wake till mid morning, cause it makes you tired and fills your days with too much yawning, I know that you know that i dont like to be alone so i hope that you dont find another.
I’m so tired, and you are too stubborn. Too afraid to speak because your floorboards are too weak to house this truth from one and another.
Im pushing India ink into layers of your skin, hoping hard that i dont end up poisoning you. Our eyes become hazy empty cups make us lazy but I’ll always find room for another.
I’m so tired and you are too stubborn. Too afraid to sleep because your floorboards are too weak to house this truth from one another.
Your hair smells like strawberries and cigarettes and your brothers trying so hard to help you quit it. He’s just as bad as you, smoking out the window in his bedroom so you don’t crave yourself another.
I’m so tired and you are too stubborn. Too afraid to sleep because your floorboards are too weak to house this truth from one and another.
Sisters
Waves. They push and pull you in, just like the African air is so thin.
Sun. It radiates our skin, has cradled us since the beginning.
How. is all this meant to work, we’ve lasted this long on this earth.
Time. has questioned our worth, has made it blossom from it’s birth.
Be my sister hold my hand hear my whispers together we stand.
Children running around in bare feet,
running round they live so carefree,
parading round like they are kings and queens,
they built this land from the leaves of our trees
Be my sister hold my hand hear my whispers together we stand.
That’s Fine
Walking down your street, using two of our four feet. Glasgow sun rarely shines but, that’s alright. I’ve come to terms with the fact that’s fine.
That’s fine.
We take shelter in your flat. Second floor, red brick, it’s the cooncil batch. Said your dad was a drunk so you changed the taps to the push ones… so, the floors wouldn’t flood again.
That’s fine.
I know I said I hate it.
I know I said it gets me down…
it’s gets me down.
I know I said I want to leave this town
But, these streets they keep on keeping me around
The suns out.
We buy a tinny from the offy. The one on the road of Viccy. The guy always called me the greatest cash queen….and, it never fails to boost my self esteem.
…and that’s fine.