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The Polyanna Cramp (wings it with a Musketeer's Liver)

by Matthew the Oxx

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  • Streaming + Download

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  • Polyanna got wings! (CD)
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    This is a carefully carved hi-def CD version of The Polyanna Cramp with a cover poster wrap including all the words. The cover is a photo of me as a toddler taken by my mum in Newnham England, just by the river Severn.

    *** Funds for these last 10 copies will be pass to Save the Children for their Nepal campaign ***

    A download will include secret track 'Don't Tell My Momma' which is exclusive to this site, the CD itself also:

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Polyanna Cramp (wings it with a Musketeer's Liver) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.
Waters Calm 03:46
Hat on, came in, hard is arrival Hell meant a lot as a child Now on, catching fish by the river I’ve got no time for the heavy mile Hello mother, old as the hills I came much further, tell me; have I paid all my bills? Still on, come to churches and graveyards How will I know when I see? People singing blues in the street Oh lord why must it be me? Hello father, wise as the sky I live illusion, won’t you please tell me why Come on slowly, I find religion Hiding inside a lover’s eyes I don’t feel lonely, no confusion I feel like I’m never gonna die But hello heartbreak, free as a bird Give me the daybreak, let my body become the earth Hello mother, hello father Hold me in your arms Rest me out of harm Sail me through the storm To waters calm
2.
Skibereen 02:56
Oh father dear I often hear you speak of Erin’s Isle Her lofty scenes her valleys green her mountains rude and wild They say it is a lovely land wherein a prince may dwell Why did you abandon it? The reason to me tell Oh son i loved my native land with energy and pride Until a blight came o’er my crops, my sheep and cattle died My rent and taxes were too high I could not them redeem That’s the cruel reason that I left old Skibereen Well I do remember that bleak december day The landlord and the sheriff came to drive us all away They set my roof on fire with a cursed English spleen And that’s another reason I left old Skibereen Your mother too god rest her soul fell on the snowy ground She fainted in her anguish seeing desolation round She never rose but passed away from life to mortal dream And found a quiet grave my boy in dear old Skibereen You were only two years old and feeble was your frame I could not leave you with my friends you bore your father’s name I wrapped you in my cotamore in the dead of the night unseen I heaved a sigh and bade goodbye to dear old Skibereen Oh father dear the day may come when in answer to the call Each Irishman with feeling stern will rally one and all I’ll be the man to lead the van beneath the flag of green When loud and high we’ll raise the cry remember Skibereen
3.
4.
Turn & Fold 04:35
She takes a man in the hallway and she creeps up your spine She takes a man in the hallway and she creeps How could we be so mean? So lowly so obscene? Burn slow, turn & fold She looks you up in the whole house and it reeks of your rage She looks you up in the whole house and it reeks How could there be so much? Slender is my crutch Burn slow, turn & fold I pretend I got a raise and I raised up your stakes and I caught you out and I won the crowd So slow, turn & fold
5.
Lucia 04:30
The north army got a hold on you The north army got a hold on me The north army got a big black cat The north army got an old machine The circles all came with free chocolate and a cup of tea Livius lived along a long long road Livius lived along a long black tie Livius lived along a long wrong code Livius lived and then Livius died The circles all placed across the sofa and a widescreen TV Oh Lucia we must keep the peace here Lucia you gotta go to persia They say one more one more one more one more time Caesar know about my statuette Caesar know about what I want to get Caesar know about you and me Caesar know and he won't let us be The circles all chained to the open deck and a summer breeze Oh Lucia I want to see you Lucia they won't let me see you Oh well they say one more one more one more one more time
6.
The lie in your eyes says you've had enough Don't be shy i will not be cross If you've had enough just say you have The sun will burn in spite of that Tell me the nurse sends out her love Try as she might she can't get enough Well I have had enough and there's nothing worse I'm feeling rough like somebody's stolen my purse Are we travelling salesmen? Lucky losers couldn't be more energetic Travelling salesmen, lucky losers couldn't be more energetic Feeling sick, energetic Are we travelling salesmen? Lucky losers couldn't be more energetic Travelling salesmen, lucky losers couldn't be more energetic Feeling sick, energetic
7.
Instrumental 02:51
8.
When it hurts so bad You can't even see my hand in front of your eyes Then it hurts so bad Someone like me has to close up his eyes and cry Summer night come away confusion Maybe I have had enough When it hurts so bad You can't even see my hand in front of your eyes Then it hurts so bad someone like me has to close up his eyes and cry Winter light come away illusion Maybe I have had enough Don't make me want to see you Don't make me want to cry Don't make me want to hurt myself Don't make me want to die When it hurts so bad You can't even see my hand in front of your eyes Then it hurts so bad Someone like me has to close up his eyes and cry So I close up my eyes and cry
9.
Those Eyes 03:29
In this song there's hard earth and land In this song, got my head in the sand Ended laughing on the point of dingal bay Ended hiding in the bottom of the tapestry In this smile so loaded and gold In this smile is holding the day as it folds In the cave behind the waterfall Is a dandelion to soften the blow In this talk: lead and soul In this talk we're under the snow You ended catching on the very next train You ended running from my motorcycle brain Now the sun is gone from my rusty willow's home When another comes to rise I will always remember those eyes Always remember those eyes
10.
Buskers Song 01:27

about

The Polyanna Cramp (wings it with a musketeer's liver), this is Matthew the Oxx in lofi folk mode on tape. Stripped back, open and honest.

This album was recorded in the death throes of an extremely creative and productive relationship spanning several years between Matthew, Steve Kidby (of Brickhouse Studios, Portslade) and Tim Lloyd who contributed so many different ideas and instruments along the way.

The recording was all done on Hi-8 tape and as such there is the occasional click and pop, for the time being I am leaving the recording unmastered as I feels it has something a mastered album might not. With me of course and as ever, this is subject to change!

The Polyanna Cramp is certainly amongst my favourite Oxx recordings and there are so many magical moments in there which strike me over and over. Like Madeleine Milla's backing vocals on 'Travelling Salesmen' which lift the song from a dreamlike state into something transcendent, a song i endlessly return to. Plus there is the song 'When It Hurts' which people have often asked me to play live, and i cannot! Somehow the song escapes me every time, it was a moment.

There are lots of different stories behind the songs and the parts that make up this album, and it is something a listener can explore quite easily. The production is sparse, warm, clear and intimate which is something I have always strived to achieve as a recording musician so this for me, is a true and very personal piece of treasure.

credits

released December 31, 2012

Steve Kidby is at the helm
Matthew plays guitar, banjo, mandolin and sings throughout
Tim Lloyd plays bass, percussion & backing vocals throughout
Madeleine Milla sings backing vocals on Travelling Salesmen
Shane Round plays melodica on Those Eyes

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Matthew the Oxx Lewes, UK

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