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Ghosts In The Static

by Phil Matthews a.k.a.the Village

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    CD copy of the album Ghosts In The Static which comes with a 4 page booklet containing lyrics to all of the songs. Each copy is personally signed by Phil Matthews

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    edition of 25 
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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 11 Phil Matthews a.k.a.the Village releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Bells Of St Wystan's, Ghosts In The Static, Return to the Witchwood, Escape From The Witchwood, Memories Of Summer, Winds of Change, Carnival Of Fools, Voodoo Skull, and 3 more. , and , .

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1.
I don't want to isolate from you But that is what I'm told that l should do Temperature rising when l hear your name Being here without you would drive me insane l must be feverish to weak to resist you Don't put me into lockdown that would not feel right Living here without you all day and all night Anger and confusion how do l quell my rage Feel like a tiger locked up in a cage I must be feverish, too weak to resist you This won't last forever though you may feel it will Not having you with me leaves me feeling ill Don't call me selfish you feel it as well My life is empty living through this hell I must be feverish, too weak to resist you
2.
The mad king's in his counting house Worried about his money, Could he put his people first, Or would that seem funny Oh America what have you done? While you sit on your golden throne Seeking signs of more approval The vast part of the Western world Prays for your removal Oh America what have you done How could you have got it so very wrong Would you like to put one over on the lamestream media When your inflated ego is then one thing that will feed you Your people skills do not exist They never developed fully Your charm is easy to resist You're just a playground bully Oh America what have you done?Is he truly truly the brilliant one? Should we question your sanity, or those who support you, While you do your best to shut down those who report you Unlike Carly Simon's song This one is about you You are so very vain But we can live without you Do you love anyone more than yourself? Oh America what have you done?
3.
I've been painting my life in so many vivid colours, A kaleidoscope of dazzling hues, Shades only fade into a void of desolation, I know that much is true, If all the rainbow colours fade to black and grey, Don't forget tomorrow loves you more than yesterday. I wanted to melt right through the looking glass To see the view from the other side, But like observing life through a prism, It was too much for my mind, When the optimistic feeling turns to dark dismay, Be sure tomorrow loves you more than yesterday. Am I drowning in the air, struggling to breathe, The atmosphere so thick I can't find relief, Grasping for a hand that I can never find, A hundred million thoughts playing with my mind, But if those feelings refuse to go away, Remember that tomorrow loves you more than yesterday.
4.
Lone Horseman came calling and spoke from his steed He said these are strange times, strange times indeed A period of nightmares and bad dreams A time when nothing is how it should be If you think these are weird times, you've seen nothing yet I'll show you a future that you will never forget We're living in bad times, sad times you know I brought them all with me, they'll stay here when l go See my three brothers all riding behind If you knew what they were planning you'd go out of your mind They've caused so much sorrow, pain, brief and fear And now for an encore apocalypse is here
5.
Late night crackles on the radio take me back to long ago, Wavy lines on a flickering screen reminds me how life once had been, I ask myself if there are ghosts in the static, Reigniting all that childhood magic. Watch with mother, Muffin the mule, Mr Pastry playing the fool, Space Patrol Captain Larry Dart, Vision On and Tony Hart. When I was younger I used to wonder where did all those people go, Never seen when they face from the screen once the picture's lost its glow. Eamon Andrews, What's my line, Six Five Special right on time, Barbara Kelly, Gilbert Harding, Percy Thrower in his garden. I've got a dream, build a machine to set all those spirits free, Give those wraiths a second spell of grace, release those ghosts from the TV. David Jacobs, Juke Box Jury, champion the wonder horse or fury, Archie Andrews, this is your life, Freddie Fronton, Meet the wife. Tony Hancock giving blood, William Tell or Robin Hood, Arthur Haines, Patricia Hayes, Crackerjack and Peter Glaze. Barry Bucknell with his tools, Robert Dougall reads the news, Michael Miles Box 13, Double your money Hughie Green.
6.
Lady Macbeth was scared half to death by what her husband might do, While Winston Smith thought it was a myth that Big Brother was caring for you. Chorus You'll find friction hidden in fiction, It's novel what the novel conceals, It's exciting when the writing, Helps you cut to the reveal. Wuthering Heights looks good at night with flames lighting up the attic, The Invisible Man has got a plan if you see him now he's static. Chorus Do you want to take a look, peek inside the book. See what's hidden in there for you, Is it so absurd, secrets concealed in the words, Until they come into view. Tuesday Next enjoyed the text, but wasn't lost each time she read it, And Jude the Obscure was never quite sure why no one gave him credit. Chorus
7.
This guy came up and offered me a Green Glove Cigarette, He's the worst person that I've ever met, I wasn't upset at the sight of the man, But worried by what he held in his hand. Don't ever offer me a Green Glove Cigarette, It's the one infernal product I'll always regret, They've destroyed all my family and taken my friends, Green Glove Cigarettes are the living end. Chorus Green Glove Cigarettes aren't all that they seem, Smoking them won't send you into a dream, But don't buy them or sell them, Or even give them away, Whoever you are I don't want to play. Don't even show me a Green Glove Cigarette, I'll get very angry and that is no threat, Seeing the packet causes such pain, I'll relive the nightmares again and again. Before I met your mother she couldn't forget, The guilt surrounding a Green Glove Cigarette, If you think this cigarette is a real treat, You're not the sort of person that I'd want to meet. Chorus
8.
The Wizard 03:02
I met a man the other day behaving in a very strange way, He said he was a wizard and that must be true, He told me that he'd teach me to be one too. Do I have to spell it out to you? He stood tall in his velvet cloak, had a dark voice whenever he spoke, Runic symbols on his hat and his clothes, He had occult knowledge and it really showed, Do I have to spell it out to you? Chorus I don't want to hex you, please don't show alarm, My spells will protect you, They're part of my charms. You know the jars of potions, placed upon my shelf, They're only there for you and me, and no one else, Do I have to spell it out to you? Imagine sitting on a pure white stallion, With a wizard at your side, Does he enchant you? Does the thought entrance you? Will you stay on for the ride? Chorus He's a wizard, He's a wizard, And he wants me to be one too
9.
Instrumental
10.
Cottingley 03:40
A world ago I'll tell you how the magic people came, I know that we both saw them play again and again, And they danced for me, down in the beck at Cottingley, I took the pictures for the world to see, Down in the beck at Cottingley. Are you a disciple, I know that I am, Though the great Sherlock Holmes wouldn't understand, You'll never see them play at 221B, They wouldn't leave the beck at Cottingley. True believers, new believers, hoping it is true, No evidence that you present will alter what they say or do, Will history's lies both fall and rise, Before the last act of the play is through. So many trusted you for so very long, You'd never say that they all were wrong, And when you told us the fairies were a tale, You couldn't know that they would turn up in Rossendale.

credits

released March 22, 2021

All songs written, performed and recorded by Phil Matthews.
Artwork by Andy Dobson.
Mastering by Jason Marshall for Studio 74.

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Phil Matthews a.k.a.the Village Derby, UK

The Village is a magical place for outsiders and oddballs.
Phil has built up a following around the Midlands and South East winning hearts and minds with his performances.
Phil has written and performed with many bands over the years and the Village is his latest alter ego, with his music played on hundreds of radio stations worldwide and his album music streamed and downloaded thousands of times.
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