LYRICS
- Nice Place 3:58
©2016 Kristof Robert (IMRO)
The sky was grey
lights of dawn
down in the valley
lay this little town
where salmon and trout
sprawled for a while
sprawled for a while
Chorus
Just stopped by to that little town
trees were bare
leaves were on the ground
it looked like a nice place
to sit around
to sit around
The blood was raging
through my veins
a long journey
coming to the end
a lonely roaming stranger
to god knows where
to god knows where
chorus
The shrill of a whistle
in the lane
a loud singing
guitars waltzing
Just like the kind of session
i could sit around
could sit around
Just stopped by to that little town
the ebb is still coming around
it surely is a nice place
to sit around
to sit around
feet on the ground, sit around, sit around, sit
around….…
2. L’oiseau Lecteur 3:39
©2018 Kristof Robert (IMRO)
Il est entré par la fenêtre
une belle soirée d’été
puisque celle-ci était ouverte
pourquoi s’en empêcher
j’étais plonger dans mon récit
du genre où le monde s’arrête
quand l’piaf a montré son bec
l’ange du ciel se croit tout permis
Chorus
l’oiseau était lecteur
Prévert, La Fontaine et Hugo
pour s’envoler ailleurs
vers des horizons plus beaux
pour s’envoler ailleurs
vers des horizons plus beaux
son cou jaune de travers
trépidait de fierté
à la vue du repère
mon dieu, que de papiers
c’lui-là était artiste
il a découvert l’art du mot
sous l’oeil du chat d’Matisse
histoire de cultiver sa cervelle de moineau
Chorus
l’oiseau aimait les livres
mais la lumière du soir
n’inspire qu’à voler libre
loin du bitume des trottoirs
lassé de ces merveilles
il me siffle à quoi bon
pourquoi porter ces ailes
si c’est pour faire salon
l’oiseau était lecteur
Prévert, La Fontaine et Hugo
il s’est s’envolé ailleurs
vers des horizons plus beaux
il s’est s’envolé ailleurs
vers des horizons plus beaux
3. Nice To See You 4:23
©2017 Kristof Robert (IMRO)
The sun lifts the darkness
when the sparrow knocks on the window
he shakes off our slumber
just to say hello
Shakes off our slumber and say hello (x2)
Chorus
It’s nice to see you
comin’ in the sunshine
nice to see you
bring in the sun
He’ll come back tomorrow
perform his beak harmony
he’ll tipititap his mojo
can you hear on the balcony?
tipititap his mojo on the balcony (x2)
Chorus
I hear you in my sleep
when i’m down and blue
a familiar messenger
gone to the sky
familiar messenger gone to the sky (x2)
i miss you i miss you
Chorus
Repeat last verse
4. Starlings 3:21
©2019 Kristof Robert (IMRO)
you’re labelled invasive
borders mean nothin’ to you
country pate for the frenchy
songster favourite for Mozart
Chorus
starlings’ wave at dusk
rest in my roof
starlings’ wave at dusk
I don’t mind your company
gaze at your washin’ in the wind
take my black feathers to the sky
swirlin’, swoopin’ and dippin’
I make tunes for my courtship
rave at nightfall with young and old
you sit and stare at a shiny fold
a blind mole trapped two feet below
Chorus
I dragged my bones in the mire
carried none of your claims to fame
when you’ll nest and your bill is full
I’ll lay weary on my gunned down dreams
you’re labelled invasive
borders mean nothin’ to you
borders mean nothin’
nothin’ to you
Chorus
5. Leo’s Guitar 3:14
©2017 Kristof Robert (IMRO)
Born in sawdust
in the heyday of rock and ye-ye
oh born in sawdust
in the heyday of rock and ye-ye
in Leo’s smoky workshop
a double-cut strat saw the light of day
no one, no more,
does really know for sure
oh no one, no more,
does really know for sure
how it hanged in Foley’s store
thousand miles from its native shore
In spit and sawdust
you could hear her chiming spell
In spit and sawdust
you could hear her chiming spell
in the hands of Jeff and Gay
and many more if you heed to hearsay
Now you’d pay through the nose
to cradle her body really close
Now you’d pay through the nose
to cuddle her body really close
lads in Carrick are feeling sick
still play the blues with a lot of soul
lads in Carrick, legend or truth
still play the blues with a lot of soul
6. Another Man’s Wound 4:16
Written by Seamus McGrath / arr. ℗ 2016 Kristof
Robert (IMRO)
You died that we’d live and be free
did you fight for that freedom in vain
are your dreams in the clay where you sleep
do your ghosts hang their heads down in shame
do we just mouth the words that you spoke
or endlessly boast of your deeds
but it’s easy to talk now you’re gone
or to sleep on another man’s wound
but it’s easy to talk now you’re gone
or to sleep on another man’s wound
The shrewd men all said you were fools
that your high talk was nothing but lies
but we can look back on it all
and tell now the fools from the wise
now the clever men call out your names
and we clap and applaud when they speak
but it’s easy to talk now you’re gone
or to sleep on another man’s wound
but it’s easy to talk now you’re gone
or to sleep on another man’s wound
Your own people spat in your face
it was you heard the mocks and the jeers
but your bodies lay cold in their graves
when the shouting too late turned to tears
now we’ll carve out your names on a stone
put your heads on a coin and a stamp
You died that we’d live and be free
You died that we’d live and be free
but it’s easy to talk now you’re gone
or to sleep on another man’s wound
7. In The Dirt 3:19
©2017 Kristof Robert (IMRO)
Babies dare i say
underground lie
away from preying eyes
dressed in dust and clay
Chorus
Forgotten in the dirt
nothing to say
forgotten in the dirt
nothing nothing to say
bon secours for a shelter
we’ll do the best
your mother’s falling tears
we’ll bury them with the rest
Chorus
no cherubs and angels
no hearts of gold
refuse and rubbles
wasted barren lives
Chorus
digging in the dirt
for love not allowed
lucky ones to America
them skins and bones
Chorus x2
8. Hungry Midges 3:52
©2017 Kristof Robert (IMRO)
Chorus
Shake off hungry midges
They swirl and attack
your body and soul
They live off your glory
the catch of your hunt
they prey over me
waiting for a stunt
Chorus
Spectators of the show
you drink the joy
leave me the sorrow
the rest you can enjoy
Chorus
Wallpaper music
say nothing we don’t know
hollow bags of empty tricks
give nothing you don’t owe
Chorus
9. Searching 4:04
©2016 Kristof Robert (IMRO)
Like a bad dream in the morning
like a bad dream in the dark
I’m waking to the silence
of the birds
Chorus
Why do we have to walk?
Why so much lost souls?
We’re searching for our road
we’re searching for our road
The rain is falling slow
your breathing heaving loud
up above a moon
less sky
Chorus
We’re searching for our road
keep searching keep searching keep searching
we’re searching for our road
we’re searching for our road
we’re searching for our road
10. The Sky Is Blue 5:26
©2017 Kristof Robert (IMRO)
Chorus
The sky is blue / so is my heart (x2)
I close my eyes / and think of you
I walked the woods / mem’ries knock on my
shoulder (x2)
birds twitter / under the furze
what can you do, says you / come hear my new
song (x2)
leaves up Seskin / nod in the breeze
chorus
years are passing / ev’ry sunrise (x2)
the t-shirts from my teens / fall into rags
a wall of ancient tears / drips from the trees (x2)
Django’s tail / sweeps the heavens
chorus
the coffee beans / ground in the filter (x2)
volutes of steam / freeze in the air
the sky is blue, the sky is blue, the sky is blue,
the sky is blue, the sky is blue
Kristof Robert: vocals, acoustic guitar, octave mandolin, electric guitar (3,6) and ukulele
Gay Brazel: dobro, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass (2,4,10), lap steel, tricone and scheerhorn resonator
Cormac Hennessy: double-bass
Mick Grace: drums, cajon
Stéphane Lefort: acoustic guitar (10)
Ano: backing vocals and cello arrangements
Paddy Flynn: glockenspiel
Ano and Paddy appear courtesy of Anolog Records.
Photos by Kristof / Pencil drawings by Rita O’Dwyer
CD design by Declan Cusack at object.ie
Mixed by Alastair McMillan
Mastered by Denis Blackham at Skye Mastering
CONTACT
kristof.robert.music@gmail.com
CONNECT WITH KRISTOF ROBERT
All Kristof's photos by Andrew O'Dwyer Photography