For the last few weeks I have been working from dawn to late at night repairing and redecorating the shop and flat in Lancaster.
Atticus Accordions has moved to Liverpool.
The plan for the new Atticus is a book and small musical instrument shop supporting some indonesian charities. But not a charity shop as such, that would be too restrictive.
As I was sorting the books I came across a notebook Kit had given me years ago and that I had decided to use a dream book, and did so until it was filled up. I'm not sure how long that was. About a year I think.
There was to be a section on waking dreams and daytime delusions but I never got around to recording these.
First Dream.
Songs from a dream dreamed on Pulau Tiga 2004.
I had been given the lead role in a West End Musical set in a large department store. My leading lady was a friend I shall call M.
We were rehearsing two songs on set and as this was just a rehearsal we were not in costume. It was a traditional Busby Berkley style musical with lots of song and dance and splendid sets.
I awoke clearly remembering two of the songs.
The first was a duet featuring myself and M and a full chorus of shop workers on the last line.
You can imagine it.
I start the first verse M does the next and we end in chorus.
We never buy anything from the Germans!
Say I have a brother, hypothetically speaking, and just supposin',
That this brother is fond - he is not of course - is fond of wearing lederhosen.
And somehow from somewhere I start to hear reports
That said brother is badly in need of a new pair of shorts.
I'd do my best to help - naturally - but we're determined
That we'll never buy anything from the Germans!
Say I have an aunt - I have - who is very fond of eating saurkraut.
And as we take afternoon tea she says, 'Dearest, could you send me just a little more pckled cabbage?'
She's such a dear, so somehow I know I'll manage.
But bevertheless we're determined
That we'll never buy anything from the Germans!
(repeat)
Next is a torch song that I sing at night in the menswear department, moving wistfully through a forest of dummies - the chorus - who hum tunefully in the background.
I spoke to the dogs and the crocodiles
And told them how much I still miss your smile.
But the dogs and the crocodiles just snort
And say, 'Everything passes, each love and romance.
It's over now. Ther's no second chance.
You'd better get used to the thought…
The thought (chorus)
I went and spoke to the ape and giraffe
And told them how much I still miss your laugh.
But the ape and giraffe just said, 'Tell that to the gecko.'
Who said, 'The laugh's gone like the smile, but there's still a faint chance
that you might
If you stand still and silent on a tropical night
Cathch the very faint sound of its echo.'
…. its echo… echo. (chorus)
With songs like these the show was sure to be a great success in the Republic of Mimpi but unfortunately it never managed to cross over into this world, and I was never able to revisit my role in the unnamed musical in my dreams.
Atticus Accordions has moved to Liverpool.
The plan for the new Atticus is a book and small musical instrument shop supporting some indonesian charities. But not a charity shop as such, that would be too restrictive.
As I was sorting the books I came across a notebook Kit had given me years ago and that I had decided to use a dream book, and did so until it was filled up. I'm not sure how long that was. About a year I think.
There was to be a section on waking dreams and daytime delusions but I never got around to recording these.
First Dream.
Songs from a dream dreamed on Pulau Tiga 2004.
I had been given the lead role in a West End Musical set in a large department store. My leading lady was a friend I shall call M.
We were rehearsing two songs on set and as this was just a rehearsal we were not in costume. It was a traditional Busby Berkley style musical with lots of song and dance and splendid sets.
I awoke clearly remembering two of the songs.
The first was a duet featuring myself and M and a full chorus of shop workers on the last line.
You can imagine it.
I start the first verse M does the next and we end in chorus.
We never buy anything from the Germans!
Say I have a brother, hypothetically speaking, and just supposin',
That this brother is fond - he is not of course - is fond of wearing lederhosen.
And somehow from somewhere I start to hear reports
That said brother is badly in need of a new pair of shorts.
I'd do my best to help - naturally - but we're determined
That we'll never buy anything from the Germans!
Say I have an aunt - I have - who is very fond of eating saurkraut.
And as we take afternoon tea she says, 'Dearest, could you send me just a little more pckled cabbage?'
She's such a dear, so somehow I know I'll manage.
But bevertheless we're determined
That we'll never buy anything from the Germans!
(repeat)
Next is a torch song that I sing at night in the menswear department, moving wistfully through a forest of dummies - the chorus - who hum tunefully in the background.
I spoke to the dogs and the crocodiles
And told them how much I still miss your smile.
But the dogs and the crocodiles just snort
And say, 'Everything passes, each love and romance.
It's over now. Ther's no second chance.
You'd better get used to the thought…
The thought (chorus)
I went and spoke to the ape and giraffe
And told them how much I still miss your laugh.
But the ape and giraffe just said, 'Tell that to the gecko.'
Who said, 'The laugh's gone like the smile, but there's still a faint chance
that you might
If you stand still and silent on a tropical night
Cathch the very faint sound of its echo.'
…. its echo… echo. (chorus)
With songs like these the show was sure to be a great success in the Republic of Mimpi but unfortunately it never managed to cross over into this world, and I was never able to revisit my role in the unnamed musical in my dreams.