Lyrics Guy Fawkes' Signature - James Yorkston

Guy Fawkes' Signature

Your friend from next door was around again
Telling me he knew what we’d been through
As his house was too small
And he was going to have to move
And his son had had his struggles with the piano
And for weeks they’d gotten by with no sleep
The dog’s saw tooth had kept them full awake
Lost and scurrying with worry
So maybe we could bond now over a drink
(Hopeless, helpless eyes)
Or at least I could play at their wedding, for free as a favor
Now we are the best of friends
And I tried to tell him at the last wedding I played
Where it’d been suggested I just strayed in drunk from some nearby Irish bar
«It'd do me good to leave the house», he did say
But I’ve been out all week
We just keep different hours
And I think of Guy Fawkes' signature
Before and after torture
What in the world he’d been through
To change his whole demeanor
Maybe I should buy myself a Japanese fighting dog
To ease my dealings with the world
I can wave at everyday passers-by
Tip my hat and twinkle my eye
I can fold my arms and smile like the next man
I can listen in and understand
I’m sure I can
You’re friend from next door came around again
He brought some good coffee and cheese that was just destined for the bin
Even the cat didn’t touch it
Just turned on it’s nose and fled
To the safey of your side of the bed
I almost invited him in
He said he had a book to show me
Some autobiography of a silver screen harmonica man
I smiled and told him, «We call it a movie»
But he didn’t quite understand
He askes: «You like real music don’t you?
A Pussy Riot and Louie Armstrong?»
Sure I like Billie Holiday and dobe dobe do
«Do you know here?
Well I guess you do»
And I think of Guy Fawkes' signature
Before and after torture
What in the world they are going through
To change their whole demeanor
And some of us are born with a luck
We never fall out, we never notice, we barely care
And some lovers decide that hate is the best way forward
They can not control what they feel in any other way
Well that’s not me
(I'm full of love for my fellow man)
Isn’t that what you just heard me say?
Some of us are born with a luck
We never fall out, we never notice, we barely care
And some lovers decide that hate is the best way forward
They can not control what they feel in any other way
Well that’s not me
(I'm full of love for my fellow man)
Isn’t that what you just heard me say?
Sure, sure, I’ll, I’ll meet you down the beach
I’m good by the sea, well I’m okay anyways
You know I used to think those jeans where haunted
But it was just the wind and the grass and the confusion underneath
We love it here, we’re a friendly bunch, I suppose
Just be sure to believe what we believe
And it was not the spirits that bent those branches
Just the topsoil reaping off the fields
I used to shelter there with my others
Turn the lights off, lay back, and watch the stars
And I can blame the priests
I can blame the cold
I can blame the dark and rank, bad rot
I can blame my trust in nature
(In the proclimations of strangers)
But it’s all just spit on the fire
(Seed in the snow)
And then a long walk home
I think of Guy Fawkes' signature
Before and after torture
What in the world are we going through
That has changed our whole demeanor