Look here…
‘s a song.
It’s new.
It’s “Up The Blue”!
Right NOW
Hit play.
Chas could really
Make your day…
New Song- Up the Blue
All posts by Chas
New Vid, old song! -The Horses Stay Behind
In World War One Australia and New Zealand shipped thousands of horses to the middle east.
When the fighting was over they were commanded to leave them behind… as the government “couldn’t afford to bring them back home.”.. As the troops had a low opinion of how the locals treated animals generally, most couldn’t bring themselves to leave the animals behind- especially after four years relying on the horse to survive. Check out The Broken Years- by Bill Gammage for the story. There’s a kiwi version of the story also but i can’t locate my book at this stage…..
Based on the poem by Trooper Bluegum
I’m the one
I’m the one has been stripped bare with just John B on piano and Cathy Irons on violin…. both are amazing musicians. This track was played at two weddings (my son and my daughter) while the signing was done).
The Network News
The Network News was recorded some time ago – not long after some of the Abe and the Slaves of Reason team got back from their Blood Sweat and Money Tour…. which took a toll I can tell you!! Unfortunately there were difficulties with getting the piano mixed to sound right – so it had to be ditched. note- the backing singers role is the media telling you something they want you to hear….
There’s Something About This Place
There’s Something About This Place
Music & Lyric Chas Williams (c)
If you and I simply try
We’ll make something of this
And though I wish I was wrong-
In truth I’m not strong- lost my nerve I guess
But there’s some thing about this place
I don’t know what it is
But I can tell you know too
And to do nothing would be such a waste
Don’t say no don’t say I’m fooling myself
Don’t say no
Don’t say “you’d be better keepin’ your ideas
to your self”.
Solo
I’ve been searching my mind hoping to find
Something clever to say
And though there’s nothing profound
I can learn from the ground
I keep staring there anyway
But there’s something about this place
I dont know what it is
But I can tell you know to
And to do nothing would be such a waste
Don’t say no….don’t say I’m fooling myself
Don’t say no..
Don’t say “you’d be better keeping’your ideas
To yourself”
Shooting From the Shadows
Shooting From the Shadows (c)
Music Chas Williams Lyrics Chas and Wings Williams
This story is true. Michael Ronald “Wings” Williams was one of the initial 26 NZ SAS sent TO Vietnam in the late 1960s.The more oblique lines will become clear when his book is published- hopefully soon.
We left in the dead of night
With barely a soul to testify
Twenty Six- on a secret flight
With no allowed to even wave goodbye.
Nui Dat..? Means “hill of clay”..
Don’t know for sure if it’s even there today..
But the “Long Green”and the “Horseshoe”…?
I know damned well (they) won’t be referred to
It was long ago … and far away..
Seems though like yesterday.
Memories of patrol remain fixed to my soul
As do the faces of the “left behind”
But it never did pay to mix… with the “Faceless 26”
We only moved with one objective in mind.
Ah but “wait a while” and a voice from out of no where
Kept me from being misled
Leaving me years of endless wonder…
Oh i know these things.. aren’t just inside my head.
It was long ago… and far away
Seems though like yesterday
I Came back.. in the dead of night
Wound so tight i ended sleeping’ on the floor
Trying my best to forget
Many things not forgotten yet…
All that shit that goes in hand with war.
Violin/Piano solos
Well you can change the place
And you can change to day
and in time we’ll just fade away
But time won’t change that Viet conclusion…
(YEAH,,,)We must have seemed an illusion.
It was long ago…and far away..
But WE… were the ghosts of grey.