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From The Ground Up

by Robin Grey

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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 6 Robin Grey releases available on Bandcamp and save 40%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of From The Ground Up, David Cameron's Busker EP, More Than Today, The Nearest Door, Strangers With Shoes, and Only The Missile. , and , .

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  • Hand made CD with full lyrics booklet
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    I make these myself in batches of ten with the feel of a little poetry book/zine with a cd at the back.

    Includes unlimited streaming of From The Ground Up via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.
Hymn For Her 02:55
Hey ho, how you doing mister? Oh no, think you're going to miss her? Don't show too many feelings, They will come out when the time right. I said "Candles can be dangerous," and she agreed with a smile And the dusk it settled slightly around us into a peaceful night But my heart knew none of that peace and I lay there for quite some time Sleep it was a sweet release and the rain came down from the sky There are many proverbs and more than a few cliches Tripping on my tongue tonight but I box them up and I bury them away The world it turned, a storm it passed. Some days the world and I we just don't relate. Still every twist and turn it helps this blood keep pulsing through my veins
2.
Building from the ground up, aiming for the sky, taking my time thou' cos I don't want to fall by the wayside | C | % | % | % | F | % | G | % | and you might be laughing at the state of my shoes but there's no way today I'm catching your blues | F C F C | F C F C | G | % | cos i have been round and round and round and round again | F C F C | F C F C | G | % | i have walked some paths that came to a dead end | F C F C | F C F C | G | % | % | % | and i have been frowned upon for things that i have said, for somethings that i have said excuse me mr fancy tie, greed is good and cash lives fast, would you care to join me? you sure look like you could do with a laugh! i see those lines wearing deep into your face - open your eyes look around and see the love and wonder in this place you tell me what goes up must come down, i said they put a man on the moon you say it's a grey rainy day, i sing don't worry the sun will be here soon you tell me that the glass is half full and i might disagree but am i wasting my words? there are other ways I could spend my energy chorus excuse me mr fancy tie, please don't buy and sell the sky think of your childrens children as you scratching around for an alibi now you might be laughing at the state of shoes but there's no way today I'm catching your blues chorus Building from the ground up, aiming for the sky, building from the ground up, aiming for the sky aiming for the sky, aiming for the sky, aiming for the sky
3.
D A the world gently turned A E the sun she was hiding D A as i made my way home E D back through the marshes D A A E and miles away degrees are debated by D A the powers that be A E now i don't give weight to all their fancy bluffing D A A D its just so much hot air and back slapping leave it in the ground i want our world to avoid being drowned the coots are still up they love this weather oh would they give a fuck if we were not here people on the streets reclaiming the rhetoric oh money might talk but well so can we so stand up and sing, you'll wonder at the difference a voice can make when we all speak together leave it in the ground i want our world to avoid being drowned leave it in the ground i want our world to avoid being drowned
4.
Caitlin Roberts - Accordion Chris Venables - Backing vocals Naomi Wilkins - Backing vocals Emma Dyer - Clarinet Robin Grey - Vocals and mandolin
5.
6.
Gm Gm F C That old familiar tree, Gm Gm C Am Whose glory and renown Gm Gm F C Spread over land and sea, Gm Gm C Am And you would hew it down? Dm Dm C C Woodman, oh woodman, you must spare that tree! Gm Gm Bb Bb Touch not a single bough for in my youth it sheltered me, Am Am Dm Dm And I'll protect it now. 'Twas my forefather's hand That placed it near his cot: There, woodman, let it stand, Thy axe shall harm it not! My mother held me here; and father pressed my hand For all that we hold dear, the old tree it must stand We stand here in a ring, Close as your bark, old friend! Above the wild-bird sing, And still thy branches bend.
7.
C F There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland C F Mulch, sow and then reap C C There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland C C And he has green fingers on both of his hands C G C F C G C I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me With a coop of comrades he dreamed a bold dream To grow food for his kinsmen as nature decreed. By the edge the forest they spied a fine patch And to grow fruit and veg there a plan they did hatch. But the men of the hour dreamed of buildings not plants A development would far more there profits enhance. Our ancestors fought for this fair forest land So now against the law was the businessman’s plan. After twelve months had past did the council relent Now we’ll work the earth as our forefathers meant. Now if you pass by here you might hear a tune: Mulch, sow and then reap Now if you pass by here you might hear a tune, The melody is old and the words will be soon. I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me
8.
Ghost Around 03:41
Am Fadd9 C G/B I turned on the light and the shadows they were gone was that it were so easy in our mind and we'll laugh about it one day but for now it's just not funny and i ghost around this crazy town, might hit the ground on the way down if i'm lucky i never ask, i never ask some things aren't mine to know i never ask, i never ask, dear no cos you're always out of focus in the background (or turned the other way) and then i climbed up to the top of the hill and pretended that i was a tree but i wasn't fooling you, I wasn't fooling the lord and I sure the hell wasn't fooling me now from inside here to outside there and every place between in the half light with smoke and mirrors, with sweetness and with sin i never ask, i never ask some things aren't mine to know i never ask, i never ask dear no I turned on the light and the shadows they were gone was that it were so easy in our mind was that it were so easy in our mind
9.
who by fire and who in love stand so tall, bless their tongues i had hope to go but then i ended up inside so many emotions with a dash of foolish pride who in strength and high esteem more than a word democracy the curtain's wearing thin and now the people must be heard i button up my coat and then i step out in the world as it was so shall be begin the walk, fill the street the prophets find their tongues in many places i've not seen when the telegraph opines you know that this is not a dream
10.
11.

credits

released July 19, 2017

Hymn For Her
Candy Parfitt - Backing vocals
Robin Grey - Vocals, guitars, percussion and bass

From The Ground Up
Iain Macleod - Banjo
Joe Allen - Drums
Ben Oliver - Piano
Amy Bowles - Bass
Basia Bartz - Violin
Robin Grey - Vocals and guitar
Jonny Cole - Engineering

Leave It In The Ground
Tim Graham - Guitar
Robin Grey - Vocals, double bass and brass

Hackney Gentrification Song
Caitlin Roberts - Accordion
Chris Veneable - Backing vocals
Naomi Wilkins - Backing vocals
Emma Dyer - Clarinet
Robin Grey - Vocals and mandolin

Pat Do This Pat Do That
Tim Graham - Vocals and guitar
Chance Kellner - Backing vocals and percussion
Naomi Wilkins - Backing Vocals
Robin Grey - Bass, ukulele
Jimmy Friend - Engineering

Woodman, Spare That Tree
Tim Graham - Guitar and backing vocals
Chance Kellner - Violin and backing vocals
Naomi Wilkins - Flute and backing vocals
Robin Grey - Vocals, uke, bass, percussion and harmonium

The Ballad Of Hawkwood
Flora Curzon - Violin
Naomi Wilkins - Flute and backing vocals
Adam Rees - Banjo
Robin Grey - Vocals, bass and ukulele

Ghost Around
Candy Parfitt - Backing vocals
Robin Grey - Vocals, guitar, harmonium and double bass

Underneath The Skin
Robin Grey - vocals, body percussion and guitars

Woodman interlude
Chance Kellner - Violin
Naomi Wilkins - Flute
Robin Grey - Harmonium

Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy
Chance Kellner - Vocals
Naomi Wilkins - Backing vocals and flute
Tim Graham - Guitar
Clarissa Carlyon - Cello
Robin Grey - Bass

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Robin Grey Sheffield, UK

“The poetic mastery of Grey’s folk tales is a joy to behold.”
Camden New Journal

“Robin Grey has a lovely fresh approach to the folk genre. A honeyed yet clear voice and his lyrics are arresting. A real treasure.”
The Londonist
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