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Back Story

by Strangers Of Fiction

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1.
It’s not what you’ve got It’s not where you are And it’s not how hot It’s never that far It’s not what you’re thinking Whatever you’re wishing for It’s not what you’re drinking That’s keeps you coming back for more It’s the heart behind the beat It’s the fire beneath the heat The reason for the rhyme It’s the meaning that is mine And it’s the mind behind the face The you in your embrace The power in the play It’s everything, I say Everything It’s not what you do It’s not what you see It’s not you’re point of view Or who you trying to be It’s not how you look It isn’t the disguise you wear And it’s not how long it took To arrive at your somewhere It’s the heart behind the beat It’s the fire beneath the heat The reason for the rhyme It’s the meaning that is mine And it’s the mind behind the face The you in your embrace The power in the play It’s everything, I say Everything It’s the cause in the effect The reason you respect The thing under the skin The sunshine that you bring It’s the sense I’m trying to make The point where we break The hope at the end of the day Is everything, I say Everything, everything Everything - yeah
2.
I'm filling up my memory slots With whatever happens or not Storing up seconds split Into infinite bits I fit Every first, every last detail Every grain, every truth and nail I’m holding on to the last moment that's just flown past For the future that still exists in my fists - just got to save this For the record - It’s going down, wrapped in this sound For the record - I’m setting it straight, before it’s too late For the record - To heed the call that’s in us all With every line I’m marking time Zooming in, zooming out to frame The same scene, replaying over again Backing up in the cloud nine Where it’s fine all the time it’s mine Every piece, every part of the picture Every view, every new permanent fixture I’m holding on to the last moment that's just flown past For the future I’ve yet to find in my mind, I won’t get left behind For the record - It’s going down, wrapped in this sound For the record - I’m setting it straight, before it’s too late For the record - I’m tracking the years as they disappear With every line I’m marking time Looking back in this future If my memory should ever fail It’s there at the tip of my finger On the glass like a holy grail And to the end I pretend won’t come It’s someone else’s race to be won Forgetting everything I’ve learned As tides turned frozen fingers burned Every note is one more for the score Every straw that I choose to draw I’m holding on to the last moment that's just flown past For the future that still exists in my fists - just got to save this For the record - It’s going down, wrapped in this sound For the record - I’m setting it straight, before it’s too late For the record - For no-one knows how it will go With every line I’m marking time
3.
In Parallel 04:31
Everybody wants the best of both worlds And I’m no exception I want to please you and I want to please me I want to move in two directions But I know I can’t be happy Can’t be happy if you’re not Whatever it is you’re feeling That’s what I’ve got There must be a way to have it all To co-exist and never let the level fall Living in parallel The two roads we are travelling Are moving in parallel Side by side We’re living in parallel Apart by design Running in parallel Right to the end, to the end of the line Everybody’s looking for something For nothing and I won’t say no But it’s hard to believe you can give and receive All in one go Nobody has to lose Lose themselves, their identity Just keep following the path of least resistance Like electricity There must be a way to connect To keep the current flowing that’s perfect We’re living in parallel The two roads we are travelling Are moving in parallel Side by side We’re living in parallel Apart by design Running in parallel Right to the end, to the end of the line (Living in parallel) We’re living in parallel Living in parallel We’re living in parallel Living in parallel We’re living in parallel Living in parallel
4.
We’re pushing all the buttons in Pressing on the one marked play Planning on a dancing party ‘Cos we can’t stand still all day These dreams they drive us To distraction into action but when Deep down they divide us It’s David and Goliath all over again Because Just because Because we can - we do We’re working on a wheel that’s round To turn the world on its head Winding our way through the week Ending up down to Earth instead To the max, tracking back-firing On all fours we crawl Out of the woods, out of this world Into infinity we fall Because Just because Because we can - we do Because Just because Because we can - we do (because we can) we do We’re carving up the countryside Now that the car is king Canute couldn’t do it and he knew it You can’t stop the tides coming in Like iron stones we’re standing Waves crashing round, not quite drowning Staring with our eyes still on the prize Facing the future we’re founding Because we can Because Just because Because we can (because we can) Because There is no plan (Because we can) There is no plan
5.
Elephant 04:37
I don’t want to speak too soon But there’s an elephant in the room I don’t want to speak too late ‘Cos he's lost who hesitates I don’t want to fuel the flames But there’s a tiger that can’t be tamed I don’t want to seem too concerned But there’s a tanker that can’t be turned I don’t want to be the one To spoil the party, stop the fun But it’s my home that’s being wrecked And I’m not the only one to suspect: It’s the evening but we’re still thinking It’s still the morning, the sun’s not sinking We must be living in cloud cuckoo land If we should ever think we’ve got it planned Yes, we’re living in cloud cuckoo land Like dinosaurs in waiting still we stand still I don’t want to deny the fact There’s a monkey attached to my back I don't want to deny there’s a hope We don't yet have quite enough rope How much more it must take To separate the fact from the fake? ‘Cos me, I’ve not much left to lose But for those to come - they cannot choose We must be living in cloud cuckoo land If we should ever think we’ve got it planned Yes, we’re living in cloud cuckoo land Like dinosaurs in waiting still we stand - still Life force of course kicks in Doors break down right? It's quite normal Techno, expect so Coming to the rescue Reliance on science Now a state of compliance We must be living in cloud cuckoo land If we should ever think we’ve got it planned I guess we’re living in cloud cuckoo land Like dinosaurs in waiting still we stand - still Is it the evening? (Is it the evening?) Are we still thinking? (Are we still thinking?) It’s still the morning (It’s still the morning) The sun’s not sinking
6.
4 AM 04:30
I’ve come to confess I failed my driving test Too hard, I hit the brakes Now I need to retake I’ve come to believe In ghosts that live and breathe It’s just hard to justify It’s hard to see why It’s 4 AM again Brain is on repeat, refusing to sleep All my demon friends Are here to haunt me, they’re trying to taunt me 4 AM again Though the night is dead, it’s not in my head The hour is now not then Now is the reckoning, the dawn is beckoning I’ve come to imagine The past, to re-examine The dens, ditches and woods I’d go back if I could I've come to realise Promises I can't deny There's no escaping them So I'm re-creating them It’s 4 AM again Brain is on repeat, refusing to sleep All my demon friends Are here to haunt me, they’re trying to taunt me 4 AM again Though the night is dead, it’s not in my head The hour is now not then Now is the reckoning, the dawn is beckoning I've come to conclude The case is yet to be proved I've just got to wait until The morning comes, I know it will It’s 4 AM again Brain is on repeat, refusing to sleep All my demon friends Are here to haunt me, they’re trying to taunt me 4 AM again Though the night is dead, it’s not in my head The hour is now not then Now is the reckoning, the dawn is beckoning The dawn is beckoning The dawn is beckoning
7.
Maze 04:07
I get up, go down stairs Make a brew, listen to the news I take up a cup for you Crack a smile, linger for a while You put on your face, take off Break away, make to say it’s okay today I agree then reluctantly We become our other selves, as we break the spell So we go on, quick, slow, yes, no, wrong Ahead, left, right, dead end, back pedal turn instead again Two halves, you, me, trying to be who we could be Still in and willing to play but Are we just filling and killing the days? ‘Cos life’s a maze in the end When you get to the middle You’ve solved the riddle and then You find your way back to the start again You come in out of the cold Touching skin we begin to unfold Toast the day as it slips away Here’s to another one done, here’s to the next one to come So we go on, quick, slow, yes, no, wrong Ahead, left, right, dead end, back pedal turn instead again Two halves, you, me, trying to be who we could be Still in and willing to play but Are we just filling and killing the days? ‘Cos life’s a maze in the end When you get to the middle You’ve solved the riddle and then You find your way back to the start again When you get to the middle You’ve solved the riddle and then You find your way back to the start again
8.
20 20 Vision 03:50
I’ve been out in the fields Digging my own furrow Dropping in some seeds to feed My soul tomorrow I’ve been taking my time to find Something to fill The space between the lines To find some grist for the mill I've been taking you for granted For far too long Assuming love once started Would keep carrying on and on Good intentions - worth a mention They were always there Now you've got my full attention I'm not going anywhere I’ve got a 20 20 vision Appearing before my eyes With perfectly normal precision The future lies A 20 20 vision That I can clearly see Tomorrow is today’s decision Always for you and me I’ve got a 20 20 vision Appearing before my eyes With perfectly normal precision The future lies A 20 20 vision That I can clearly see Tomorrow is today’s decision Always for you and me I've been feeling the wind of change On my back it’s blowing Out of my range it's strange My cup is overflowing The facts found in the fiction They keep me guessing why There is no contradiction At least in my mind's eye I’ve got a 20 20 vision Appearing before my eyes With perfectly normal precision Our future lies A 20 20 vision That I can clearly see Tomorrow is today’s decision Always for you and me A 20 20 vision 20 20 vision A 20 20 vision
9.
The Story 04:55
Something from nothing to Somewhere from nowhere Somehow from right now to Some spark from thin air Someday from no way to Someone in the long run Some sense from nonsense to Some place in the sun It’s the business we are in The game that is the thing The art that is the king The story we are telling Anything from the left wing to Any race from any place Anywhere from the open air to Any trace from outer space Anyone from no-one to Anybody from Bangalore Any time from another time to Any more for any more? It’s the business we are in The game that is the thing The art that is the king The story we are telling We’re selling, yelling out, spelling out S.T.O.R.Y. S.T.O.R.Y. One thing from everything to One-way expressway One day from Monday to Sunday from may day One step from one stop shop to One hit wondering why One-track mind from way back to One more day to justify It’s the business we are in The game that is the thing The art that is the king The daily questioning The decision to begin The built-in conditioning The message from within The story we are telling We’re selling, yelling out, spelling out S.T.O.R.Y. S.T.O.R.Y.
10.
We all have to suffer changes of events Present tense Tomorrow never knows When you think you’ve found a better situation There’s a complication That’s just the way it goes Born in the same boat We’re all trying to keep afloat Sailing the same seas Blown by the same breeze Good times, hard times will come Somehow, something or someone But your time and my time is here So let it go, look ahead, the coast is clear You play those sad songs on your stereo There’s nowhere else to go There’s nowhere else to hide Yours is just one more dream destroyed It’s all null and void Wounding your perfect pride You’re sinking under But I’ve got your number At times like these Who needs enemies? Good times, hard times will come Somehow, something or someone But your time and my time is here So let it go, look ahead, the coast is clear, it’s clear Born in the same boat We’re all trying to keep afloat At times like these Who needs enemies? Good times, hard times will come Somehow, something or someone But your time and my time is here So let it go, look ahead, the coast is clear The coast is clear

about

This project set out to record a few of writer/producer Mike Greenway’s songs back in 2016. The sessions went so well that it was decided to carry on and produce a full album. After years of shunning the spotlight, Greenway had decided to take on the mantle of lead vocals - suspecting that it may be an acquired taste...

The result is a unique re-imagining of musical influences spanning the decades and given a fresh vibe by the band’s collective creativity. By finishing off some part-written lyrics along with new material, ‘Back Story’ represents a kind of retrospective. The final song, actually unearthed from Greenway's back catalogue and written 40 years ago... could qualify this album as being the longest ever to produce! 'The Coast Is Clear' anticipates the changing fortunes life can bring but promises release once problems are shared. It’s a fitting and optimistic way, in uncertain times, to complete the song cycle.

credits

released December 4, 2020

All songs written and produced by Mike Greenway

Mike Greenway - pianos, synths, vocals
Dan Godfrey - guitars
Sophie Alloway - drums/percussion
Dylan Behagg - bass guitar
Chris Hudson - bass guitar
Annalena Kleinert - backing vocals
Kate Blackwell - backing vocals
Andy Williamson - saxes
Kevin Ryan - extra ears

Robin Tyndale-Biscoe - Light Vessel Mastering

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Strangers Of Fiction England, UK

“does remind me of early prog bands like Genesis or PFM crossed with the pop chops and majestic overreach of a David Bowie - “Maze” conjures the piano-based songs of Paul McCartney or Brian Wilson, featuring gorgeous circular melodies which weave an unbroken lyrical lattice - “Elephant” is another smart composition which changes rhythm on a dime - ultimately the best moments are remarkable ” ... more

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