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Blitz Spirit

by Jess Silk

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1.
S.W.A.L.K 03:29
This past year has been a mess And I’ve kept every single note that I’ve been sent ‘Cause in the absence of arms and hearts Words are all we’ve got left And it’s something substantial to touch ‘Cause these small screens sometimes just simply aren’t enough And they remind me I’m not so far From all the people that I love Well, I don’t like calls but I’ll do letters Words from friends make me feel better Lift me when it’s all getting too hard And I’m sorry for my slow replying Some days I just feel like crying It’s not that I just simply can’t be arsed To keep up with the people that we miss The internet’s all well and good But you can’t seal an email with a loving kiss So hold out and hold on ‘Cause one day we’ll be back together Smiling as we sing our favourite songs It’s been too long But we’ve got to keep fighting Even when it seems like everything’s gone wrong This past year’s been pretty hard But I’ve found solace these words and this guitar And now that light at the end of the tunnel Doesn’t seem quite so far But I’ll keep on gathering these notes ‘Cause some days they’re all that’s keeping me a float And when there’s nothing else too look forward to There’s always the post Well, I don’t like calls but I’ll do letters Words from friends make me feel better Lift me when it’s all getting too hard And I’m sorry for my slow replying Some days I just feel like crying It’s not that I just simply can’t be arsed To keep up with the people that we miss The internet’s all well and good But you can’t seal an email with a loving kiss So hold out and hold on Cause someday we’ll be back together smiling as we sing our favourite songs It’s been too long But we’ve gotta keep fighting even when it seems like everything’s gone wrong And I’ll see you down the front Just as soon as it is safe I’ll be back out there with my mates Singing songs and getting pissed Just being happy to exist But until then just take this note I’ll put it in an envelope For all the people that I miss I’ll sign my name and seal it with a loving kiss
2.
They’re storming the Capitol They’re staging a coup Wind up your windows sir Because this one’s on you The fascists are flying now They’re flying the flag Their very own swastika For their very own land And they talk of freedom Like it’s something they’ve lost It only happened last century But it seems they forgot You wanted a riot And they answered the call Now they’re storming the Capitol And they’re dressed for war But they’ll make America great again They’ll cheer the land of the free While those that built it look on in shame From sea to shining sea They can see Lady Liberty And they just watch as she weeps But they’ll make America great again They’ll make America grieve Dressed up in Civil War t-shirts Stars and stripes in their eyes Holding tight to the mantra Sold propaganda and lies They carry hammers and zip ties They’ve got their feet on the desk I violent act of sedition But isn’t that what you said? There are people fleeing the Senate Carried between them a box A simple thing in the making A precious thing to me lost Not just the fate of a country Perhaps the fate of the world A democracy rescued Just before it could be burned But they’ll make America great again They’ll cheer the land of the free While those that built it look on in shame From sea to shining sea They can see Lady Liberty And they just watch as she weeps But they’ll make America great again They’ll make America grieve And as the movie’s playing out across their TV screens The rest of the world’s looking on in disbelief As that old familiar serpent bares its teeth People fought so in this house that flag would never fly Now you’re fighting a campaign you’ve built on hate and lies And they’re crying out your name as the country weeps But they’ll make America great again They’ll cheer the land of the free While those that built it look on in shame From sea to shining sea They can see Lady Liberty They watch her fall to her knees But they’ll make America great again They’ll make America grieve
3.
Broken boots on streets of cobblestone Distant memory as he groans In the gutter he calls home Medicine to soothe his aching head And the existential dread That is creeping up ahead Oh Captain! Captain! Can’t you see? The writing’s on the wall this time And it’s turning to ash But his weary feet On those familiar streets Will always lead him back Now he’s heading for oblivion He’s heard it’s nice this time of year That bottle in the bottom draw Has promised him that it will see him clear Until the sun comes ‘round He hears the distant beating of the drum As he pours another one And then his feet go marching on Dragons breathing fire in his head And his vision turns to red As he sees the path ahead Oh Captain! Captain! Can’t you see? The writing’s on the wall this time The letters all aglow And they’re spelling out a future He abandoned in the bottle Long ago Now he’s heading for oblivion He’s heard it’s nice this time of year That bottle in the bottom draw Has promised him that it will see him clear Until the sun comes ‘round Now he’s heading for oblivion He’s heard it’s nice this time of year That bottle in the bottom draw Has promised him that it will see him clear Until the sun comes ‘round
4.
Blitz Spirit 04:43
I can’t recall where I was when the world fell apart A slow poison unleashed heading straight for the heart Now they’re raising their arms with their palms to the floor You’d think we’d’ve learned from what happened before But it seems this is just the start Another free thinker that’s murdered for what they believe The same old story again but with somebody new left to grieve The blood still runs red as the shirts fade to black It’s the same bloody cause just a different flag Makes you scared to wear your heart on your sleeve And still they have the nerve to ask Where’s your Blitz Spirit? Making out that we both walk the same bloody line But we’ve no foe in common to bring us together this time They say come and stand with me as if we were at war marching on the front line But I’d not be beside them if it ever came to that fight This ideal that spreads through the lost souls is growing too strong Like a wound that’s ignored, left to fester unchecked for too long And those up in charge just add fuel to the flames Distracting us all with the games that they play They dictate who is right and who’s wrong And still they have the nerve to ask Where’s your Blitz Spirit? Making out that we both walk the same bloody line But we’ve no foe in common to bring us together this time They say come and stand with me as if we were at war marching on the front line But I’d not be beside them if it ever came to that fight I’d be looking in their eyes Now they’re chanting the name of a leader that nobody chose While they’re picking out lamp posts to hang up all those who oppose Because this is their flag and they’ll wear it with pride With smiles on their faces and hate in their eyes Those same eyes that they keep firmly closed And still they have the nerve to ask Where’s your Blitz Spirit? Making out that we both walk the same bloody line But we’ve no foe in common to bring us together this time They say come and stand with me as if we were at war marching on the front line But I’d not be beside them if it ever came to that fight I’d be looking in their eyes
5.
No Mans Land 05:51
I met you in no mans land A war I didn’t understand You smiled at me and took my hand And then you lead me on We walked through trenches filled with mud Through rolls of barbed-wire stained with blood Past young me cowering where they stood Who just a quick were gone The guns and shells not your concern You’re cursed to let the fires burn And wonder if we’ll ever learn As we just prove to you we won’t And as I watched you walking there Your face the picture of despair I wondered if you’re doomed to care ‘Cause it must seem to you we don’t And as the sun sets on the battlefield And the moon rises in its stead There stands a lonely, hooded figure And he gently bows his head I’ve traced your steps through burning streets Rubble falling at our feet Mothers cried and children screamed And bombs rained from the sky And as the artist took his knife All of his colours drained of life Rendered the scene in black and white He didn’t see you stood behind And as the sun sets on the battlefield And the moon rises in its stead There stands a lonely, hooded figure And he gently bows his head I’ve followed you ‘cross land and sea Seen all the pain there is to see You go to offer them reprieve The only certainty we share And as I watch you standing there Your face the picture of despair I hope that you’re not doomed to care ‘Cause that’d be too much to bare And as the sun sets on the battlefield And the moon rises in its stead There stands a lonely, hooded figure And he gently bows his head
6.
We're back here again and I thought this time it'd passed But it's always darkest before the dawn and I am holding on to that We got it wrong and it seems that they're getting more right And as the storm clouds all creep in it's getting hard to see the light But there is hope and we've got enough to go around There's a light that in the darkness can be found There's a flame; a beacon that's not going out There's a cause And if we're damned we'll all go down together We'll keep up the fight through the dark and stormy weather 'Cause that's all we've got; we'll hold on to each other And we will mend We'll get there in the end The next act begins as the actors take to the floor Whether a pantomime or a tragedy the crowd still calls for more The curtains rise and it seems like everything's changed But it's just a little bleaker now; the cause remains the same But there is hope and we've got enough to go around There's a light that in the darkness can be found There's a flame; a beacon that's not going out There's a cause Yeah, we've something left to fight for And if we're damned we'll all go down together We'll keep up the fight through the dark and stormy weather 'Cause that's all we've got; we'll hold on to each other And we will mend We'll get there in the end To the people sleeping rough tonight Out underneath the cold street lights And the one's who sing their kids to sleep Who starve themselves so they might eat To the people who've been left behind And the ones we've lost to suicide To those who don't know what to do Listen up; this one's for you To everyone who fought so hard Now black and blue and battle scarred To those who thought that we'd give up We won't sit down we won't shut up To those who stood and had their say Who live to fight another day Hats off to you the bold the brave All I can say Is if we're damned we'll all go down together We'll keep up the fight through the dark and stormy weather 'Cause that's all we've got; we'll hold on to each other And we will mend And if we're damned we'll all go down together We'll keep up the fight through the dark and stormy weather 'Cause that's all we've got; we'll hold on to each other And we will mend We'll get there in the end
7.
Black Cat 04:05
I was walking home at midnight Through the darkness and the gloom There was no comfort in the street lights No beauty in the moon Then he stepped out of the shadows And he stared into my soul And he asked without a question Won’t you let me share your road We walked on for a while Tears masked now by the rain And I saw the moon return And found the beauty once again Something new and yet familiar Walking silent by my side With his coat of deepest black And his gleaming, soulful eyes These things come and go just like the weather It’s just another mile down the road Through the darkness and the rain I will find myself again ‘Cause there’s a black cat’s always there to guide me home And those days they are the hardest When the black dog comes to call You’ve locked the doors and windows But it’s scratching through the walls And it seems there is no good there Just an overwhelming fear One that’s tightening your chest And that brings you close to tears It’s on those days that you struggle You should open up your eyes Hold on tightly to your soul Try to follow its advice Find one thing that makes you smile And then count up from there Find the beauty in the small things And let yourself repair These things come and go just like the weather It’s just another mile down the road Through the darkness and the rain You will find yourself again ‘Cause there’s black cat’s always there to guide you home Through the darkness and the pain There’s a soul that still remains And there’s a black cat always there to guide it home
8.
A friend of mine once asked what’s the point of us Writing these words if we’re not gonna try and change the world It could be down to us when all is said and done When every other avenue’s been plugged and they won’t let our flags unfurl And on that day We can’t just stand by and let them get their way Come what may Our futures are defined by the actions that we take So grab your flags and grab your banners raise them high Make your hand into a fist and point it to the sky Because all of us together is the only way that we’ll affect a change There is power in a union and together we won’t let them get their way No not today He said it’s your turn now, go out and make a row But when you sing make sure it’s from the heart so people know they’re not alone It could be down to us when all is said and done Cause everybody needs a song to sing to match the feeling in their bones And on that day We can’t just stand by and let the powers get their way Come what may Our future is defined by the actions that we take So grab your flags and grab your banners raise them high Make your hand into a fist and point it to the sky Because all of us together is the only way that we’ll affect a change There is power in a union and together we won’t let them get their way I’ve heard people say I’m wrong putting politics to song But I know we can change the world when our collective voice is heard If only one life at a time. I’ll watch your back you watch mine And they might think us naive but in the end you’ve got to be what you believe So grab your flags and grab your banners raise them high Make your hand into a fist and point it to the sky Because all of us together is the only way that we’ll affect a change There is power in a union and together we won’t let them get their way
9.
It’s rare I ever hope for rain But I’ll keep my fingers crossed it rains today I hope the river bursts its banks And it washes that smug smile from your face Yes I’m bitter, yes, you won And it seems that there is nothing to be done But sit and wait pen in hand And write it all down in another pointless song You see I falter now and then And I think of giving up and giving in Throw down the gauntlet, join the ranks Worship the clown behind the door of number ten It could be easy, I could be free But I couldn’t live with who I’d have to be I can’t ignore it, I’m not like you I can’t watch it topple and pretend that I don’t see So you ring your bells, you ring ‘em loud ‘Til they’re drowning out the roaring of the crowd Ring them for peace, ring them for hope For this country you’ve left broken and alone I’m scared of what’s to come And I’m scared of what my country has become But we’ve got it back now let’s celebrate Forget we’re staring down the barrel of a gun The world’s on fire, the right’s on the rise And they’d love to take us back to nineteen-thirty-nine There are people starving, people lost And all you’ll give them’s empty promises and lies So you ring your bells, you ring ‘em loud ‘Til they’re drowning out the roaring of the crowd Ring them for peace, ring them for hope For this country you’ve left broken and alone So it’s done. I understand I’ll let you have today, I’m holding up my hands So raise the colours, raise a toast To our new Jerusalem; this green and pleasant land
10.
I met a stranger on the tube today Saw all the people as they turned their heads away Kept my mouth shut; didn't know what I should say But I doubt it would've mattered anyway She was dressed up in red, white and blue A bag on her back that she kept fumbling through It was full of badges, flags and the posters that she drew And I honestly could not think what to do The silence in the dark there Stalled the beating of my heart She'd come to brag If they wave that flag They shall not pass She wore proudly a cap on her head That she kept removing to admire what it said A bloody red colour and stitched in silver thread The words she lives by: Let's Make Britain Great Again She had a UKIP badge in her lapel A "Free Tommy!" placard and a flag to match as well A racist rhetoric in merchandise to sell Yeah, she'll fight to spring her prophet from his cell A stranger on a train Is spreading hatred once again Please mind the gap If they wave that flag They shall not pass I asked her quietly what she believed She said, "We march today to set our country free They're coming over here to steal from you and me Yeah, we need to get this filth off of our streets" I looked around the people on the train The different colours, creeds and classes, all afraid Just to speak out against one stranger spreading hate On the doorstep of the home that they have made Stuck there underground And all too frightened to speak out To voice the facts If they wave that flag They shall not pass She got off at Westminster to join the crowds The ranks assembled made their way through London town Marched to Trafalgar Square with Nelson looking down On the mass of Union flags upon the ground Well, they wear my flag but they don't speak for me I will not buy into their ideology 'Cause when the fascists come to set my country free Well, that is not a sight that I am proud to see So stand and raise your fist Just like in nineteen thirty six We will fight back If they wave that flag We'll voice the facts If they wave that flag Please mind the gap If they wave that flag They shall not pass
11.
The sun on the leaves sparks a song in my head And I know how it feels though it’s not written yet Looking through a kaleidoscope of yellows and greens The sun soft on my skin and a chill on the breeze There’s a memory of something that I’ve felt before A kind of synesthesia; a crack in the wall The colours are warm like a fond memory Like the peace of a sunset or the roar of the sea It’s the warmth of a jacket two sizes too big It’s like finding the toy that you loved as a kid It’s those nights that you’ve spent sitting under the stars With your family of friends as you pass the guitar It’s those moments you know that you’ll treasure for life It’s the stories you tell on those cold, stormy nights It’s that old pair of boots that are falling apart It’s the feeling of home you hold dear in your heart It’s the song that they play at the end of the night It’s your fist in the air, comrades stood at your side It’s those words when they hit you so hard in the heart It’s the arms of a friend after too long apart It’s those moments you know that you’ll treasure for life It’s the stories you tell on those cold, stormy nights It’s that old pair of boots that are falling apart It’s the feeling of home you hold dear in your heart If I could do anything to capture that shade I’d paint a picture so I could escape Into all of the memories, the nights and the days And I’d smile though I know I can’t go back there again
12.
There’s a bar at the end of the world where we’ll meet when it’s over There’s a light at the end of the tunnel you’re heading towards Know that every week passed means that you are another week closer To when you’ll sing and you’ll dance and you’ll laugh and you’ll smile like before For now that door has been closed and you’re left all alone with your feelings You’ve got time to get back on track but you’ve never known how I can offer a song if it helps in the fight with your demons Well, I know it’s not much but it’s all that I’m good for right now And if you just hold on then I’ll try and help figure it out With the same four chords and this knackered guitar With a pint in my hand and a seat at the bar I’ll be waiting when you get there With these open arms and a seat by my side With a hand you can hold and a safe place to hide I’ll be waiting when you get there There’s a bar at the end of the world where we’ll meet when it’s over There’s a scratched up old record that plays the same line on repeat And it’s hard to keep fighting the pull though you don’t want to go there As you slowly get dragged back on to that same old dead end street There’s a hand in the dark that’ll guide you if only you take it Some wise words to be heard even over the roar of the crowd I can offer a song if it helps you believe you can make it Well, I know it’s not much but it’s all that I’m good for right now With the same four chords and this knackered guitar With a pint in my hand and a seat at the bar I’ll be waiting when you get there With these open arms and a seat by my side With a hand you can hold and a safe place to hide I’ll be waiting when you get there If you need me to be There’s a bar at the end of the world where we’ll

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released August 30, 2021

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Jess Silk Dudley, UK

Jess Silk is a guitarist, singer and songwriter from the Black Country. Her shouty but melodic brand of folk/punk music often has her being likened to a female Frank Turner or Billy Bragg, and it gets people sitting up and listening. Armed only with an increasingly sticker-covered acoustic guitar and a distinctive, gravely voice that many don’t expect, Jess plays to audiences up and down the UK. ... more

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