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Besta Venya

by Nick Parker

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1.
It's a quarter past embarrassing and the sun sets on my face They filter in in dribs and drabs, I need to get out of this place I'm the washing machine on your front lawn I feel like I shouldn't be here I'm the charger you left in the wall in the hotel in Langenberg last year But you say sit down there and make yourself at home Is the only place I really feel at home I'm the Gooner at the Shed End on derby day, I'm the Micra in the middle lane I'm the U2 record that appeared on your phone I feel so out of place I'm the CCTV in the changing room, the Euro in your purse I'm the vegan at the barbecue in Bonn, I always fear the worst But you say sit down there and make yourself at home Is the only place I really feel at home The ex at the wedding, the drunk girl you're bedding, the apostrophe on the greengrocer's sign The shampoo bottle you emptied six weeks ago still sitting on the side of your bath in your home Make yourself at home, is the only place I really feel at home
2.
We started in St. Margaret's Hospice then YMCA now it's British Heart Foundation it's the seventh one today and I'm wading through the PC games and books and DVDs so far I've found more than twenty seven Bourne Identitys and I sit down by the changing room and have a little rest and I see you with a Wrangler top held up against your chest I realise you're serious and my heart begins to sink as you smile and suck in your gut and ask "What do you think?" You should put that shirt back on the rail, pretend it wasn't there We all kept quiet when you mentioned growing out your hair But someone's gotta tell you and I feel kinda bad But I don't wanna be the kid with the double denim dad I don't mind you hugging me in front of all my mates And I let it go when you say 'bae', 'amazeballs', 'totes' and 'blates' And I understand that sometimes you are gonna wanna dance Even if it is the can-can you did-did last year in France I can even cope with Speedos when you take me to the pool Or flirting with my RE teacher at meetings after school Or hoonin' down the High Street, music blaring out the roof Although Besta Venya's not exactly 'Down with the Yoof' Put that shirt back on the rail, pretend it wasn't there We all kept quiet when you mentioned growing out your hair But someone's gotta tell you and I feel kinda bad But I don't wanna be the kid with the double denim dad I know it's your decision and you have every right But Whitney dressing up as Britney's not a pretty sight I know you're getting older and I know it must be hard but know that I am proud of you just the way you are So put that shirt back on the rail, pretend it wasn't there We all kept quiet when you mentioned growing out your hair Someone's got to tell you and I feel kinda bad But I don't wanna be the kid with the double denim dad No I don't wanna be the kid with the double denim dad
3.
I left it too late on the first train to Arklow this morning So I sat in the doorwell with a girl who was painting her nails And each tiny masterpiece, a pastiche of what came before it, was trying its hardest to stop me from turning away and just for a moment she noticed me looking she gave me a smile and it got me thinking What if my heart took my head by the hand and showed it where to go? Well I guess I'll never know I left it too late on the first train to Arklow this morning so I sat in the doorwell with a guy who was lost in his book the sound of each page as it turned was a gentle reminder we were nearing the station so I mustered the courage to look and just for a moment he noticed me looking he gave me a smile and it got me thinking What if my heart took my head by the hand and showed it where to go? Well I guess I'll never know I wish I had talked to you and asked how you're doing and found out who you were and where you were going and talked about travelling and movies and music I wish I had done that but I knew that I'd lose it What if my heart took my head by the hand and showed it where to go? Well I guess I'll never know, I guess I'll never know
4.
Es Tut Mir Leid Walking down the high street in the middle of Cologne I've got one eye on the pavement and the other's on my phone Checking data roaming's off and searching for WLAN I'm not looking where I'm going I nearly hit another man I said "Entschuldigung", he said "Kein problem" He said "Nichts passiert", he said "Alles ist okay" I went to find a cafe for a coffee and a cake And the waitress looked a little like the guy from Less than Jake If he had shorter dreadlocks and a West Indian dad I had to pay with fifty euro it was all I had I said "Entschuldigung", she said "Kein problem" She said "Nichts passiert", she said "Alles ist okay" "You really shouldn't go round saying sorry all the time The apology it never really seems to fit the crime You English you're all the same, you're far too polite" And I said "Yes, yes, es tut mir leid" Gonna find a Späti in the middle of the night I heard the engine roar and I was blinded by the light I woke up in a hospital and looked up at a guy Who said he didn't notice me as he was driving by He said "Entschuldigung", I said "Kein problem" I said "Nichts passiert", I said "Alles ist okay" And he laughed and said "You English, you're far too polite" And I said "Yes, yes, es tut mir leid"
5.
An audible sigh, I open my eyes As you get your guitar out again A new set of phosphor bronze, a me-eared pad And a borrowed Morrisons pen Here we go again, what will it be this time? Please tell me it is not another one about the road. I'm going to sleep, I'm not being rude, but I've heard it all before The strangled cat, the same old chords and the awkward metaphors But wait, what was that? what did I hear you sing? Please tell me it was not about the Government Coz you and stuff like that don't seem to fit at all And if anyone sang along it would be a miracle stick to tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic or satirical coz you don't know enough about politics to sing political You think an opinion poll is a cocky European I'm surprised you even vote We only saw Question Time earlier this week Coz I chewed through your remote Here we go again, what did I hear you sing? Please tell me it was not about the budget cuts Coz you and stuff like that don't seem to fit at all And if anyone sang along it would be a miracle stick to tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic or satirical coz you don't know enough about politics to sing political Stop writing that protest song Let's hear about the road Leave it to Bragg and Prowse and Chris T-T and others in the know Coz you and stuff like that don't seem to fit at all And if anyone sang along it would be a miracle stick to tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic or satirical coz you don't know enough about politics to sing political You'd take gunpowder into parliament but it wouldn't be lit at all You know the basics like to never vote UKIP at all You make a beeline for the polling station Coz you're not hypocritical But you don't know enough about politics to sing political You just don't know enough about politics to sing political
6.
Well the night it has borrowed the sun And the darkness hangs still in the air But the morning chorus will soon kick in Honey you'll make it I swear And there's a dream I've been meaning to dream You're a bird and you're no longer scared You've spread your wings and taken flight Honey you'll make it I swear
7.
It's so good to be here, I've travelled all day and all night And I was torn between Bla Bla and Mitfahrgelegenheit And I fell asleep for a while without even knowing And I awoke to the sound of a bloke asking where I was going And I said I'm going to Marburg and I'm gonna be some time Have a Schluck in the Schlucke and a Bier in the Hinkelstein Or a Rostige Nagel, or a whiskey, tequila or wine At Molly's or Sudhaus or Deli or any that rhyme So wake me up when we get there We still have a few hours to go 'Til we hit the station We still have a few hours to go Yeah I'm going to Marburg and I'm gonna see my friends Climb up to the Schloß and then swim in the Lahn again Start out at the Steinweg with the friendliest people I know And end up at Trauma mit Lecker Eck on the way home So wake me up when we get there We still have a few hours to go 'Til we hit the station We still have a few hours to go Now I'm here at Molly's, I'm tired and it's getting late And I'm staring cross-eyed down my SM58 And my T-shirt is soaked, it feels like I've been out in the rain But I can't tell you how good it feels to be in Marburg again
8.
Never gonna buy a jet plane Or a diamond wedding ring Chanel, Dior, Versace, Armani, can't buy these things I'd love to buy you everything I think you know it's true But all I have is a simple song for you I can't provide a big house Or someone to keep it clean Can't 'Ford 'Mustang Or stretch to a Limousine I'd love to buy you everything I think you know it's true But all I have is a simple song for you You can forget about the holiday in La Rochelle Because I checked my balance and nearly fell I would go to the Casino but I'm not into gamblin' And the royalties will always pay the bills Though we ain't ever gonna live like Kate and Wills I'll keep the wolf from the door with this old mandolin Maybe when we're old and doddery I will try and win the lottery "In it to win it" you gotta be after all I can't even give you my heart It's working five to five Spinning platelets round my body Keeping me alive I'd love to give you everything I think you know it's true But all I have is a simple song for you All I have is a simple song for you.
9.
Departures 06:18
The bus pulled into Heathrow and it left me on the street I went to find departures and I had a bite to eat Check-in wasn’t open so I had a little time To get a pen and paper and to watch the world go by The lady with the zimmer frame was first to catch my eye Part of me was thinking that she’s far too frail to fly The steward with her luggage clearly thought the same as me As he struggled with her trolley he smiled and rolled his eyes at me And daddy's in his Chelsea shirt it's bursting at the seams There's sunburn where his hair should be I hope he's packed some cream And Brandon's playing up again and Courteney's in a hess And mother's doing all she can to stay inside her dress And a bunch of lads are waving round a giant England flag Most of them in matching shirts and one of them in drag They've had a drink too many and they're getting out of hand And now they're off to Amsterdam to represent our land There's a girl who looks like Glastonbury with hair braids and a tan And tickets from the festy from her elbow to her hand She spent a year at uni and got lost along the way And now she's off to India to find herself again I'm trying to find a coffee coz my throat is getting dry I'm holding out for a Nero, so I pass the others by And I find a quiet table in the corner by the tree And a yuppie (or whatever you call them now) sits down next to me I'm really glad he did though as we had a lovely chat He asked about the kids, the house, the dog, the car, the cat And then he asked me what I really wanted from my life And only then I realised he was hands-free to his wife And there's a lady in her forties, she's crouching on all fours With bottles creams and aerosols all strewn across the floor She hadn't read the small print and she tried to take too much And now instead of sailing through she's holding everybody up And there's a final call for a Mr. Hall who's flying to Dubai Followed by a red-faced fella swiftly skipping by He'd been there for an hour or two, we met in Duty Free He must have settled in the bar or drifted off to sleep And there's a guy who looks like Rooney but with a couple extra pounds Writing in his notebook and occasionally looking round A strawberry blond with stubble and a double chin or three Reflected in the window, I realise that guy is me
10.
A friend of mine once told me he was moving to the city Coz he wants to get a job and get a flat and settle down and marry But two weeks later he was flat broke living back with his folks Maybe you should try to write a song about that Remember that guy Darwin who went out in his canoe one day But disappeared and never made it back and they all thought he drowned? Well they found him five years later hanging round in South America You should try to write a song about that So I did, What d'you think? Are you happy now? Are you happy now? You know that thing when you go shopping, forget a basket and end up dropping All the stuff you're buying on the floor, you pick it up again You try to leave but minutes later you've bought a dodgy generator In the car park? You should write a song about that So I did, What d'you think? Are you happy now? Are you happy now? Or did you want it to go more like this? More like this? Did you want it to go more like this? You know that thing that happens when you open up an app you didn't even need So you sigh and look away, pretend it never happened? And the licking of your fingertips to stop the chewing gum from sticking When you throw it away? You could write about that So I did, What d'you think? Are you happy now? Are you happy now? So I did, What d'you think? Are you happy now? Are you happy now? Or did you want it to go more like this? More like this? Did you want it to go more like this? Did you want it to go more like this? More like this? Did you want it to go more like this?
11.
You look so peaceful lying down there With one hand on your shoulder and one in your hair Your eyelids are flickering, you're pretending to sleep You're trying not to smile, but you're not fooling me No you're not fooling me You think with your hair up they won't notice you But with that smile and that heart, there's not much you can do The beauty is there for all to see Everything's perfect, you're not fooling me No you're not fooling me You're not fooling me No you're not fooling me So slow down your breathing and close your eyes I'm going nowhere I'll stay by your side But I'm dying to watch you so I'll keep on the light You need the sleep so I'll bid you goodnight I'll bid you goodnight I'll bid you goodnight I'll bid you goodnight
12.
Well the rain comes to terms with the ground And the thunder replaces the air But the sun does its thing above the clouds Honey you'll make it I swear And the winter seems so cold and so long And the trees have all gone bare But spring is just around the corner Honey you'll make it I swear

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released February 5, 2017

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Nick Parker Bristol, UK

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