Mes Amis,

I'm sure avalon_eyes is correct. W2 only heard it once and thinks our hero may have featured it on his own site. It was hauntingly beautiful and had a colliery band feel to it. Do any of you ageing hipsters know if it is available anywhere?

Returning to lyrics, one of W2's other absolute favourites is :

"Darkness falls on your window pane
A light still burns but just a smouldering flame
Is it the end of another affair?
An open engagement with gloom
Or will you be smiling
When the sun conjures up?
A broken spell au clair de la lune"

From the fabulous 'SERENADE' it is such a dramatic opening goes from gloom to optimism in one verse. Amazing n'est-ce-pas?

Salutations,
W2

The recording is indeed from the Isabella Blow memorial service which was held at Horse Guards Chapel, by the Band of the Irish Horse Guards.

A stunning version of her favourite Bryan Ferry song.

https://soundcloud.com/bryanferry/when- ... the-room-1

Cher Roxy,
A huge thanks for this - isn't it magnificent?
How do I get my own copy? I don't want it for free - I just want it!!
It sounds so County Durham. It could have been recorded by the Washington Colliery Band.
Absolutely amazing and he clearly gave so much thought to his friend.
Salutations,
W2

Check your PM's WS2.

I wasn't going to post to this thread, just because I didn't know where to start! BF is probably one of the best lyricists since Coward and Porter - it feels like an impossible task, but two huge candidates from the oft-cited in this thread 'Stranded' album must surely be 'Psalm' and 'Sunset' - not just for their magnificent scope but the sheer poetry they contain, especially the latter.

Oh look at the sun - it's all a-glow
Slow burning star - sinking low
Heaven knows where you go
Out of sight, out of minds eye, no
Aw such a shame - you must leave
All day long you were a friend to me
Still - the moon's company
Until morning when larks will sing
Horizon's appointment you'll keep
For sunswept flamingos must sleep
Scenes like these from my dreams
Cover cutting-room floors all over .....

Warm heart we spin slowly from view
Why are you sad - do you disapprove?
How we've wasted our time
Sunset - end of my day - my decline
Postscript you trace colours the sky
Red-letter light fades, is filed away
Sunburst fingers you raise
One last sigh of farewell - goodbye

Jaw-droppingly inspired.

Sunset is indeed a superb lyric , that could stand alone, but with that piano its a masterpiece.
I recall it was played live on the ATGB tour, but it didn't make the Paris Grande Rex video setlist.

Cher UKRichard,

W2 couldn't agree more but it's amazing how many fans don't really get it and it may be for a couple of reasons:

D'abord, the music and stylistic elements of his work are so strong it's easy to focus on other things.

Deuxiemement, when we had LPs you could read the lyrics while listening and really make the connection. The absence of album sleeves W2 finds to be a serious social regression !

More than this, you are correct 'Sunset' is an absolute masterpiece and avalon_eyes a raison it was played on the ATGB tour.

Salutations,
W2

"hold back the night with your sigh, always unknowing"

You guessed it, this is the last line from the last song Roxy released.


J.O'B.

BF has crafted some great lyrics and this thread has made me reflect upon the greatness of the album Stranded.

But the downside is that it simply reinforces how weak the recent offerings on Avonmore are. Midnight Train? Driving Me Wild? Whew...

As for me, there are many great BF lyrics but I have always been partial to In Your Mind. And Manifesto too...

Elegantly Ageing Hipsters,

DCJ is so right (W2 must stop saying this) but any reflection on our hero's lyrical prowess takes you to 'STRANDED'.

It is such an absolute power house of an album - W2 played it twice in its entirety yesterday and was intoxicated from start to finish. The eight tracks are back to back genius and the thing just builds and builds.

There isn't a duffer on the LP and W2 finds Andy Mackay's remarks -as reported under the albums section of this great site — that he considers it to be a 'safe' difficult to grasp.

As a hipster who is sufficiently aged to have lived through the launch
he remembers it being considered as far from safe — extremely brave in fact and was both shocked and pleased when it got to No.1 in the UK album charts.

It was the most innovative album of that year and showcased the strength of Ferry's song writing perfectly.

Yes, there are great songs across the entire spectrum of his career but if one example had to be picked out, it has to be this!

Salutations,
W2