1. |
Do The Hard Thing
03:21
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"Do The Hard Thing"
So you're gonna write your song
But you've been waiting for too long
Stop wasting what you've got
Do the hard thing
So you're gonna write your book
But you're still waiting for that hook
You're running out of life
Do the hard thing
There's something
Just out of reach
There are some things
You can't un-teach
Tom and Albert, they were right
About inspiration, about light
Switch on your mind and swim upstream
Do the hard thing
There's something
Just out of reach
There are some things
You can't un-teach
There are some things
Just out of reach
This is something
You can't un-teach
Do the hard thing
Words and Music © James Mark Percival, 2021
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2. |
The Light Before Dawn
04:06
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"The Light Before Dawn"
Fly in a 'plane
It's only me and you
Clouds in my eyes
Stopped me from seeing true
I was staring at the dark
And then I understood
What was there
I've seen the light
I've seen the light
I've seen the light before
Before dawn
Deep in your eyes
I'm in another place
We watch the sky
We watch the human race
I was playing in the dark
And then I understood
The song
I've seen the light
I've seen the light
I've seen the light before
Before dawn
© James Mark Percival, 2020
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3. |
Helsinki Winter
04:27
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"Helsinki Winter"
It's midnight in Central Station
And I'm far from alone
It's minus 15 on a Thursday night
And I want to know where all those people go
There's a machine blowing snow
From hotel window ledges
But it's ten storeys high
And so am I
Helsinki winter
Beautiful still
Helsinki winter
I will wait until
I'm outside in the frozen city
The razor sharp air already attacks
I see the lights of an approaching tram
But it's just clearing tracks
It's too cold for my phone
But I think I know where I'm going
Of course, none of this matters because
I will be with you
I'll be with you
Winter
Winter still
Helsinki winter
Beautiful still
Helsinki winter
I will wait until
Helsinki winter
Helsinki winter
Words and Music © James Mark Percival, 2020
[Very special thanks to Krina Cayabyab for singing with me. Thanks also to Daniela S via Keir K for seeing things that I did not see.]
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4. |
Insects Are Everywhere
03:44
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"Insects Are Everywhere"
The sun never shines for me
On the beach I am never free
Of a crawling fear
Coming nearer and nearer
Am I the only one that sees
They are coming
They are coming for us
No-one else is aware
It's not just an insect scare
They crawl and bite
Late at night
Any skin that's bare
They are coming
They are coming for us
Insects are everywhere
Demons are on the loose
Insects are everywhere
They suck blood like it’s juice
Oh yes, they're intelligent
And they, they are devil sent
To destroy us all
And they are very small
They eat us when we are spent
They are coming
They are coming for us
Insects are everywhere
Demons are on the loose
Insects are everywhere
They suck blood like it’s juice
Words by James Mark Percival
Music by James Mark Percival and Daniel Farrimond
© James Mark Percival, 2021
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5. |
Manila Traffic
04:07
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"Manila Traffic"
Standing outside the airport in 30 degrees
Everyone’s got somewhere to go
Someplace to be
And now the city’s sliding by
And now the Highway's name is Sky
Manila traffic's in my eyes
Manila traffic's inside
Sitting at Larry's Place with "dynamite"
The smell, the place, the people, exactly right
And now that music fills the air
Now I know how much I care
Manila traffic's in my eyes
Manila traffic's inside
Inside
Inside
Words and Music © James Mark Percival, 2020
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6. |
Radio Rules
03:17
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"Radio Rules"
Out of the dark (out of the dark)
And into the light
Your words make my day
And your music makes my night
Radio rules
Out of the past and into the now
And when the red light glows
I can talk and think and spin
We need you now, more than we'll ever know
Radio rules
Open up to a world of music
Open up to a world of ideas
Radio rules
Open up to a world of music
Open up to a world of ideas
Radio rules
Words and Music © James Mark Percival, 2021
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7. |
Heart Of The Storm
03:35
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"Heart Of The Storm"
Standing on the Arch
Above the flames
Above the world
Champs-Élysées beckons to us
It wants me
It needs you
You are the heart of the storm
Standing in your history
I saw tears
In your eyes
Echoes of another time
Are in your face
You feel them all
You are the heart of the storm
And I love to feel
The rain
On my face
You are the heart of the storm
You are the heart of my storm
© James Mark Percival, 2020
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8. |
Your Face
03:00
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"Your Face"
There's still so much that I need to do
And places I want to be
But every time I close my eyes
There's only one thing that I really want to see
It's your face
I'm still trying hard to fly
But in my scarlet dreams I'm falling
Out of the darkness because
There's something amazing calling me
It's your face
And when I wake before the dawn
Your light is the real world to explore
No shadow play, no running away
Now I know what I've been fighting for
I've been fighting for this
It's your face
Words and Music © James Mark Percival, 2021
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9. |
Impolite Aunt
03:22
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"Impolite Aunt"
When you were just a little girl
There was never any doubt
That falling in line was not your thing
Much more like falling out
You're so, oh, oh
Impolite
When the world pushed you
You just pushed it back
You were always in love with love
A romantic heart attack
You're so, oh, oh
Impolite
You're impolite
So impolite
Oh yeah
Women and girls rule your world
You inspire and energise
I wanna be with you wherever you go
'Cos the future's in your eyes
You're so, oh, oh
Impolite
You're impolite
So impolite
Words and Music © James Mark Percival, 2021
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10. |
Seoul Subway
03:17
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"Seoul Subway"
Sub-subway
Seoul Subway
I need a map, I need a plan
Or I'll lose my way, my way to you
Cable car up to the Tower
They dance with swords below
I'm coming down through August trees
To the watermelon truck that sings and goes
Sub-subway
Seoul Subway
I need a map, I need a plan
Or I'll lose my way, my way to you
Seoul Plaza
Nakwon Arcade
Han River
Bukak Mountain
Gangnam rains like 1982
The streets they shine with truth
In the Zeppelin Bar
They play a song I love, I think of you
I see lovers hiding in the dusk
Walking on the fortress wall
The dying sun falls on your face
And every second here is worth it all
Sub-subway
Seoul Subway
I need a map, I need a plan
Or I'll lose my way, my way to you
Sub-subway
Seoul Subway
I've got a map, I've got a plan
'Cos I've found my way, my way to you
I found you
Words and Music © James Mark Percival, 2021
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11. |
To The Wall
03:04
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"To The Wall"
Didn't want to do it again
Didn't want to see it again
Didn't want to feel it again
But there it is, right in my face
It's a love that doesn't make any sense
Like any kind of love ever does
Forgetting is worse than remembering
And remembering is better than imagination
Imagination, imagination
Face up
To the wall
Didn't want to do it again
Didn't want to see it again
Didn't want to feel it again
But there it is, right in my face
It's a loss like so many others
But the world remains the same
Sometimes the only option is to
Face the wall, to face the wall
Face up
To the wall
Face up to
Face
Words and Music © James Mark Percival, 2021
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Surface Cat Glasgow, UK
Surface Cat is a project by J Mark Percival, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Mark sings and plays all instruments on Surface Cat songs (and negotiates with drum algorithms). The songs are recorded at home on GarageBand and occasionally played live in Glasgow, Turku, Plzen, and Manila. Surface Cat "Eye" photo by Campbell Mitchell, negscratch@gmail.com, © 2019 All Rights Reserved. Other photos by Mark. ... more
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