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Illusion

by Nicholas Breeze Wood

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1.
'You think you're living in heaven, But you're living in Hell. You think you're living in heaven, Oh time will tell'. You know when I was young I used to think that Six strings could change the whole wide world. I still have a dream that that's true, believe it or not, That the right song will make it all unfurl, But in a million years from now - give or take, When human unkind's race is run, Who's going to notice these things anyway, 'Cos there'll still be life beneath the sun. So I'm going to dance with these six strings, Raise a toast to the last glass of fossil fuel, And in a most compassionate way… Well I guess the worlds still here, And human unkind too. And in a most compassionate way, I have to say. And in a most compassionate way, I have to play. I do believe that it can change the world, Got to be worth a try. Come dance with me.
2.
Here we go. The great cosmic adventure is now at hand, Time to take a stand. Watch my face. The child I was back then is now standing here, And all I feel is fear. Did I just dream. Life seems like thin ice above a lake dark, And the cracks are stark. I don’t swim too good. And the water is full of snags and I might drown And where is the solid ground. Here we go. The great cosmic adventure is now at hand, Time to change my plans. Look at me. You think you see someone who is so sussed, But all you see is dust.
3.
Depth 05:09
When I was younger I walked, Taking myself a chance. In the streets of the city where I used to live, Not dreaming of a door to the rest of my life, Just thinking of art. When I met a woman from people town, With her daughter on her knee. She asked me to teach her guitar, As if she could not play. Well the joke was that she was better than me, Knew all the chords and could play then, Steady and true, She had depth beneath her touch, Where I merely surface. Like the moon up in the sky, She shone her light on me. I remember how we talked for days and days, Remembering we knew each other, From a long time ago. When I think of then I see clear skies, And remember pleasant weather. She taught me how to love, And shared with me her home. Like a fool and a child I didn’t always do The things that showed her kindness, But she opened my life. And as years go past I love her more, For her depth beneath her surface. I’d say to her ‘gold’s the best’ She’d answer me ‘with life we’ve blessed’ I’d say to her ‘lets build it tall’ She’d answer me let’s keep it small’ I’d say to her ‘can’t you see?’ She’d answer me ‘it’s life mystery… life’s mystery’ Now I’m not so young, Many years have passed away. With so many tears and many faced fears, But yet she still remains here, God knows why. She’s the light on my earth And the moon in my sky, And I still have joy to see her. And she teaches still how to love, And tells of the beauty. And I wrote her this song as I want her to know, That I treasure deep her kindness. She opened my life, And as years go past I love her more, For her depth beneath her surface.
4.
Bardo Living 06:35
Bardo living’s a weird existence. Passing through one door to head for the next. Never taking anything tangible with you, Not even the script of a life in plain text. My body - your body, we don’t own them. Their atoms are borrowed, in use of the soul. And the soul’s just a fragment, a piece of creation, A laugh of the dancer, tired of being whole. Form to soul and soul to form. Here in this moment there’s a you and a me. Your soul to my soul under the sky. Let’s go out walking down by the sea. Your son and my daughter Are beyond our controlling. Their birth borrowed atoms To make their soul’s home. Just loaned from the cosmos for moments, Clothing the spirit, till it dissolves like foam. Form to soul and soul to form. Here in this moment there’s a you and a me. Your soul to my soul under the sky. Let’s go out walking down by the sea. The laughs of the dancer are fragments of all things. You, I and them are mere ripples in air. Soul to soul we’re one in illusion, Passing through here, but still staying there. The slings and arrows of our childhood memories, We try not to pass them on, on down the line. But each dancer’s fragment will seek out its learning. Soul to soul in the long run, it’s all doing fine.
5.
Well met, well met, said the man at the door. Well met, well met, said he. I've just returned from the salt, salt sea, And it's all for the love of thee. So come in, come in, oh my own true love, And have a sip with me. It’s been three forths of a long long year Since together we have been. Oh I can’t come in, nor I won’t sit down, For I have but a moments time. For they say you are married to a house carpetner So your heart wont never be mine. And yet I could have married a king's daughter fair. And she would have married me. But I forsaken her crown of gold, And it's all for the love of thee. So its won’t you forsaken your house carpetner, And come along with me. I’ll take you where the grass grows green On the banks of Italy. So she’s lifted up her darling young son, And kisses she gave him three. Stay, stay right here my darling little babe, And keep your pop company. Now they’d not been onboard above two weeks, I'm sure it was not three. When his true love began to weep and to mourn, And she wept most bitterly. Are you weeping for your silver and your gold? Are you weeping for your store? Or are you weeping for your house carpenter, Who’s face you’ll never shall see more? Oh a curse, a curse on you sailor she cried. Yes a curse a curse she swore. You robbed me of my darling little son, So I shall never see him no more. Oh what hills, what hills are those, my love, Those hills that shine like gold? Ah those are the hill of Heaven my love, Where you and I can’t go. And what hills, what hills, are those, my love, That are so dark and cold? Those are the hills of Hell my love, Where you and I must go. Now they’d had not been onboard above three, weeks I'm sure it was not four. Before there came a leak in the ship, And she sank and she never rose more.
6.
Mend It 06:52
Hey, what would you do with a hole in your heel, A hole in your heel, letting the rain through? What would you do with a hole in your heel, A hole in your heal, letting the rain through? Mend it mend it, that's what you would do. Mend it mend it, that's what you would do. Hey, what would you do with a hole in your sole, A hole in the sole, letting the rain through. What would you do with a hole in your sole, A hole in your spirit, a hole right in you. Mend it mend it, that's what you would do. Mend it mend it, that's what you would do. Did they tell you you’re shit at it, You’re shit at it, you’re shit at it, All the way through. Did they tell you you’re shit at it, You’re shit at it, you’re shit at it, All the way through. Mend it mend it, that's what you must do. Mend it mend it, you owe it to you. Well you might have been a ragged-arsed kid, Running around in a ragged-arse world. You might have been a golden-arsed kid, Running around in a golden-arse world. It makes no difference, it makes no difference, It makes no difference, it's still your own soul. It makes no difference, it makes no difference, It makes no difference, make yourself whole. All those kids with the beauty, kicked out of all of them. Dreams torn and scattered, Deep to their souls. Those kids who excelled, And were pushed to be excellent. Never let off from best, Deep to their souls, Mend it mend it, that’s what you must do. Mend it mend it, you owe it to you. Hey, what would you do with a hole in your heel, A hole in your heel, letting the rain through? What would you do with a hole in your heel, A hole in your heel, letting the rain through? Mend it mend it, that's what you must do. Mend it mend it, you owe it to you.
7.
Skin to Skin 04:30
To the freaks and the normals shall I raise a drink, And pull up a chair and tell you what I think? But there again, of course I might tell a lie, But on that you’ll have to judge. I can’t swear to you that I’ll be strong. I can’t swear to you I’ll do no wrong. I might mess things up, you’ll have to wait and see, Perhaps you’ll split your sides with glee. I remember when I was a just a child, I never had the courage to run free and wild. But I dreamt I might one day or so If I got half a chance to fly. Well, life gives you wings, and it clips them too, From the looks of it, it did the same to you. Well here’s a hand, just skin to skin Let’s pull each other through We’re not important, but we matter a lot. We have it all, and yet not a jot. Take all your time, in no time at all, And I will walk by the side of you. We’ve feet in the dirt, but a head in the sky. We’re quick to laugh, but still prone to cry. Take all your time, in no time at all, And I will walk by the side of you. And if you don’t mind, well I’ll make a boast, Without fuss or palarver or speech or toast, And it’s this, that I’m the best friend you’ll ever have. That’s a real pledge to you. I might not do all you expect of me. Sometimes I might need to feel a little free. But when you need a hand, just skin to skin, I’ll be there to pull you through. We’re not important, but we matter a lot. We have it all, and yet not a jot Take all your time, in no time at all, And I will walk by the side of you. We’ve feet in the dirt, but a head in the sky. We’re quick to laugh, but still prone to cry. Take all your time, in no time at all, And I willl walk by the side of you.
8.
9.
Illusion 06:50
There’s no side to side, Or back and forth, or up and down. No me, or you, or light, Or touch, or taste or sound. No sky, or ground, or sun, Or stars, or moon, or earth. No suffering, no joy, No life, no death, no birth. There’s a side to side, A back and forth, and up and down. A me, a you, some light, And touch, and taste, and sound. A sky, the ground, the sun, The stars, the moon, and earth. Suffering, and joy, And life, and death, and birth. Nothing here exists, But all things have their existence still. All things are not tangable, But still are not illusional. Are completely beyond anything, Like a simple truth, or simple lie. So a belly laugh will do, Just as well as any tear filled eye.
10.
A dog with a bone in its mouth Saw it’s reflection in a still lake Thought the dog in the water had a bigger bone Angry, it jumped at the other dog Which of course was a big big mistake Lost the bone it was holding, and hungry went home An angry man ruled a country But another then came to invade And steal away that country to be his own The angry king burned the country Turned everything sweet there to ash Just to own all those ashes For the throne
11.
I can’t know you’r hell love, But I know you've had enough. Some baptise in water, some in flames In flames... oh flames. Don't you give me a reason to mourn. Don't you give me a reason to mourn. Look into my eyes, with all your hate and scorn, But don't you give me a reason to mourn. What has life done to you? All you ever wanted was someone to run to. There' s more to life then what makes you cry. What makes you cry? I won’t say goodbye. Don't you give me a reason to mourn. Don't you give me no reason to mourn. You’ll remove the crown of sorrows, With which you are adorned. So don't you give me a reason to mourn. Don' t you give me no reason to mourn. Please don' t you give me no reason to mourn. Look into my eyes, with all your hate and scorn. But don' t you give me no reason to mourn.

about

Since things neither exist nor don't exist,
are neither real nor unreal,
are utterly beyond adopting and rejecting -
one might as well burst out laughing

Longchenpa Rabjampa -
Tibetan Nyingmapa Master, C14th

credits

released June 21, 2008

All tracks written by Nicholas Breeze Wood, with the exception of:
The House Carpenter - word and music traditional
Reason to Mourn - words and music Ben Harper

All tracks arranged and played by Nicholas Breeze Wood,

Nicholas Breeze Wood:
Acoustic, Electric and Bass guitars • Oud • Baglama saz • Cura saz • Banjo • Rebec • Sinfonye (medieval hurdygurdy) • Six-hole pipes • Accordion • Keyboards • Piano • Vox

Recorded at Tiger's Nest Studios, Pembrokeshire, West Wales

Remastered January 2024

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Nicholas Breeze Wood UK

Multi instrumentalist singer-songwriter drawing on Rock, Arabic and Medieval music, using instruments from all those traditions

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