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Before and After

by Suzanne Rhatigan

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Signed 2 Song Christmas single in a full colour Card wallet

    Includes unlimited streaming of Before and After via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 500 
    Purchasable with gift card

      €3 EUR or more 

     

1.
Time To Put Things Right Here it comes again no way you can escape Rudolph and Santa and good will out of tune carolers in your face Counting the pennies up No credit to take the strain Shake out the shabby old tinsel and trusty paper chains Making promises Don't know if you can keep looking for ways of doing it on the cheep because... It's Christmas time Time to put things right Even your darkest days Brighten in the fairy lights because... It's Christmas time Don't put up a fight It's easier to just give in Buckle up it might be a bumpy ride Feel the spirit rise With every brimming glass Extending heart felt seasonal greetings to every one you pass Rejoice in Excelsius Following the herds Making the annual pilgrimage somewhere I think it's called the church? Even you can't resist Hard as you try Even the die hard hum bugs crack a smile because It's Christmas time Time to put things right Time to feel the love again maybe more than once or twice because... It's Christmas time What have you got to lose Wear your cheesy jumpers, sparkly dresses and suicidal shoes Like a child again Where's the harm in that Before you know it it's over and you've got to deal with all the crap Pack it all away do it with good cheer Along with resolutions you fail to keep next year Gather the ones you love And the even ones you don't Bury the grudges and have some fun because... It's Christmas time Time to put things right Time to forget everything Leave it all behind because.... It's Christmas time Time to put things right Time to feel the love again maybe more than once or twice........
2.
Please raise your glasses to love life and laughter Smile for a moment be sad ever after I'm raising my spirits by drowning my sorrows Continuing living in all my tomorrows The future is rosy it's so effervescent But surprisingly quickly becomes the present For one singular moment forgetting your fears Can never allay The spinner of years Time keeps on ticking so drink to forget That you can't remember a person you met Who made you feel comfortable Made you be you Your soul bared and naked Afresh and anew Please raise your glasses to love life and laughter Smile for a moment be sad ever after Time keeps on ticking And all of your tears Will never betray The spinner of years I'll pour you a tumbler of good sound advice A bitter as lemon translucent as ice The spinner of years The weaver of life

about

Well it's kind of an acoustic 'concept' Christmas single. 2 songs. One song for Before... 'Time To Put Things Right', it mentions Christmas a lot but there are no sleigh bells. And one for After... 'Spinner Of Years' which is an acoustic version of the closing track on my 1st album 'To Hell With Love'.

It was a bit of a last minute affair recorded and manufactured over 3 days last week in fact. I'm sure if I had a wonderful band at my disposal or an orchestra and producer and studio and manager and agent and and and I could produce fully realised recordings of the material the way I hear it in my head, but in the absence of any of that I decided to press record and I just played the songs the way I do everyday in my kitchen for my kids, just me singing and playing the guitar and harmonica. Concept? you betcha.

Sounds straight forward enough but it's not.. There's a reason why very few records comprise so little adornment as a voice guitar and harmonica. It's all but impossible to pull it off, I think. It took exactly 203 takes before I finally felt I had a 'performance' with enough going for it to sustain the listener for 3 and 1/2 minutes. I kind of bottled it a few hours before the manufacturing deadline and called in reinforcements by way of my friends Sonja and Charlie to sing along with the end choruses though. Still I almost backed out altogether till my daughter Billie who is wise beyond her years said 'please do it mum cos if you don't you'll be sad and take it out on us'. So in an effort to be a better mother and in order to have any chance of a 'Happy Christmas' I am going to see it through...

credits

released December 10, 2013

Suzanne Rhatigan.... Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar.
Sonja Kryzanowski and Charlie Stuart... Backing Vocals

PS Special thanks to my niece Jess Fitzsimons for the photo of her 'suicidal shoes' and John Morrison for the ambient shortwave track xx

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Suzanne Rhatigan Dublin, Ireland

Check Suzanne's blog 'Fifty Greatest Misses' for more songs and stories
www.suzannerhatigan.com/blog

Following her debut album on imago, To Hell With Love Suzanne and bass player John Morrison formed Rhatigan and released Late Developer Org.
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