Playing Prison

[Travellerman]

When you say that I have done it before
So it should come easy now
(well) Come the day when we show us to the door
There'll be sorrow
Throwing shadow
Chasing rainbow
Anyhow
And then I think of why I'm leaving again
And why I'll never settle down
Loathe to further so-called civilisation
Growing sorrow
Throwing shadow
Chasing rainbow
Anyhow
Somewhere in the world if I care I have my children
Somewhere in the world outside the ark
Somewhere in the world here and there I always left them
Somewhere in the world like you said I left my mark
Just a trace forever leaving
It sure comes easy now
From a place I disbelieve in
Growing sorrow
Throwing shadow
Chasing rainbow
Playing prison
Anyhow

I like this song. I know it's not an 'epic' Harper track, but never-the-less, it's one that always stops me doing whatever it is at the time, it '*****s my ears'...("P R I C K S") and something deeper, "...And then I think of why I'm leaving again
And why I'll never settle down..." hmmm.

The last few times I've seen Roy it's been (coincidentally) when he's been playing Stormcock. Personally, I'd really like to go to a gig and just hear the oddities, and tracks that 'don't come out so often' anymore, the shorter ones too. This would be one of them.

:D

[Barry]

Agree and Too Many Movies.

[pd]

Sorry about the overzealous bad word filter :)

I agree, Playing Prison is a great song. And yes, an evening of "rare" tracks would be superb, wouldn't it? I suppose though it comes down to how much time he's prepared to spend rehearsing songs just for a one-off rendition. I think that of late Roy has tended to settle on a list of songs for an entire tour. Bit of a shame really but I can see why he might prefer to do it that way.

[HarperPR]

Agree and Too Many Movies.


Yes, I love Too Many Movies.

And The Game, please!:biggrin:

[Travellerman]

After a gig one night, I said to Roy that 'The Monster' needed to be out there more, he mused a while and it seemed to strike a chord. I believe it did 'come back' a year later too, though I wasn't there to hear it (damn!)

I found myself enjoying the first set at the 100 club more than the Stormcock stuff, those shorter songs that I don't get to hear so often.

Anyway, if have been to enough concerts over the years there's usually a good 'spread' to keep everyone happy. One of the most amazing moments I recall was in the Bloomsbury Theatre years ago (1992/3) when Roy just drifted off into some guitar that I didn't know and I don't think anyone else did either, he was just jamming and it was awesome.

:D

[HarperPR]

.

One of the most amazing moments I recall was in the Bloomsbury Theatre years ago (1992/3) when Roy just drifted off into some guitar that I didn't know and I don't think anyone else did either, he was just jamming and it was awesome.

:D

I think I was there for that one!

[Travellerman]

Maybe.

There was another point in the evening, maybe at the end of that 'jam' (in either case, we'd been sitting there listening to this amazing piece of guitar work) when Roy suddenly stopped palying, leant forward to someone in the first row and asked what the first word of the song he was supposed to be playing was.

"I" was the reply.

Then he began again and sang 'Next to me', but I don't think he finished it. He stopped at some point and stated that he would never play the song again live.

It was a very intense time, and the gigs were amazingly open and honest experiences, it was raw, just raw. He even had a girlfriend of mine in tears after one gig (Brighton, Heineken Festival 1993). Nick did a set there too, nice to be stood near Roy as Nick played 'Crazy Boy'.

[Shane]

I got a hold of loony on the bus a week or so ago and have had this song (playing prison) on repeat ever since, I think its perfect! Does anyone know if it dates from the late 70s commercial breaks sessions or if it was a later track? It sounds like the 80s to me although I can imagine it would have fit on bullinamingvase quite well if it had a band on it. Used he play it live?

Loony on the bus is also quite a catchy tune, and I much prefer this version of ten years ago to the unknown soldier version.

[NoCelebrity]

I've only got so many albums by Roy to catch up on, and LOONY is one of them. Glad to hear I still have curious surprises in store.

[Travellerman]

...and then there are the 'curious surprises' not found on Roys albums but on those of other artists.

PD has mentioned a few on the podcasts, Aaros site has the most definitive list I have seen.

http://musicnaut.iki.fi/musicnaut/royharper/discography/guest.html (http://musicnaut.iki.fi/musicnaut/royharper/discography/guest.html)

http://musicnaut.iki.fi/musicnaut/royharper/discography/covers.html (http://musicnaut.iki.fi/musicnaut/royharper/discography/covers.html)

Have fun!