We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Blue Swan

by James Giles

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD  or more

     

1.
Blue Swan 04:14
lyrics
buy track
Blue swan, blue swan I've been wondering so long That day you flew away from me I heard your heartbeat on the breeze As you flew higher in the sky I felt the tears fall from your eyes Since that day they've rained/reigned o'er me Oh, blue swan, won't you set me free Blue swan, blue swan The time I've been living on Sends blue waves breaking on my shore Blue sky calls through an open door But somehow, I just can't move Lost inside I can never choose Sunlight shimmering off your wings Oh, blue swan will you never sing Blue swan, blue swan The summer's forever gone As winter opens its endless eyes There's no place left for me to hide No matter which way I turn There blows a wind so cold it burns Blue moon rising as night falls Oh blue swan can't you hear me call Blue swan, blue swan Blue swan, blue swan Blue swan, blue swan Blue swan, blue swan
2.
Shallow Graves 03:50
lyrics
buy track
In shallow graves On wanton hills There falls a rain Forever still He is buried But tosses and turns Never listens Never learns Ways that will show The wayward home Through the years They’ve roamed alone Nothing comes of His endless tries Shut in a tomb Beneath the cries That whisper through A shrinking door Dying slowly Forever more
3.
Just You and Me 03:27
lyrics
buy track
We took our hopes Casting them wide Windswept away Filling our lives Wand’ring away Heart of the sun Streams in the air Leading us on Just you and me Travellers in time Strolling the hours Your hand in mine Sand on the beach Washed by the tide Hand on my heart Held by your thighs Wond’ring which way Love took our lives Holding you close Morning of sighs Just you and me Travellers in time Strolling the hours Your hand in mine Wanting the way I have you now Take me away Showing me how Time takes its time Spaces that whirl Watching our steps Spinning the world Just you and me Travellers in time Strolling the hours Your hand in mine We took our hopes Casting them wide Windswept away Filling our lives Wand’ring away Heart of the sun Streams in the air Leading us on Just you and me Travellers in time Strolling the hours Your hand in mine
4.
The Waking Song (Instrumental) 03:32
info
buy track
5.
Ways I loved You 01:44
lyrics
buy track
My heart beat you caressed My cheek with your breasts Beneath the folds of Your sweet summer dress Your hair in plaits and Your waist next to mine Ways I wanted you And melted to find Motions your body Was mixing with mine Masking the matrix We made with our love Fitting together Like hand in a glove The ways I loved you I never could say Walking you home at The end of the day Softly stroking you through Your fluttering dress While you fondly caressed My cheek with your breasts
6.
Star Rise Eyes 02:57
lyrics
buy track
She came Through me Morning shone between her knees Moonrise Nightfall Those eyes, reflecting my recall Listen as the night calls Star rise eyes upon the wind Drifting ever to the place where Dreams begin Those days Now gone Still here where I’ve been all along
7.
The Hour Is Late 04:37
lyrics
buy track
Watch and wait The hour is late Still, I can never decide You smiled at me Across the sea And gently you took me inside We talked a while While your smile Played on the shadows of mine Something there Was in the air That we tried ever to find Which way were we facing As the moment drew nigh Set everything racing Nothing left to try We said goodbye As your lovely blue eyes Wove through the evening’s designs You kissed my cheek I could hardly speak As your hands let go of mine Watch and wait The hour is late Still, I can never decide Decide Decide How can I decide Let go of mine Your hands let go of mine
8.
The Western Sky 04:22
lyrics
buy track
With head aglow like a sunset He rose on the Western sky Stretching out over the forests Like a sheet of tears Calling the day to die Crouching in the causeway Casting shadows like fire storms Invisible among the houses But burning with alarm He pushed aside a cloud And stepping forth Set his foot upon the wind I raced to catch the loosened chimes But they were gone before I could begin An endless walk through the forest floor To discover empty leaves That had been full the day before I lost the ticket That could carry me away And sat among the rushes Watching them sway
9.
I Can't Stay 02:18
lyrics
buy track
Through a day of quiet watching Watch the entrance close away All about me whispers calling Calling me another way Wind through treetops Here my heart stops Closing down the day Through a wormhole new beginning Start a journey I can’t stay All about me footsteps falling Falling where I couldn’t say Light through windows Mixing shadows Taking me away
10.
When Mama Got Out of Prison 03:45
lyrics
buy track
When Mama got out of prison big sister hit the junk Yeah, when Mama got out of prison big sister hit the junk You know, Grandpa’s doing snowflake and me I like to funk Jumped the train to Alabama but couldn’t find my shoe I Jumped the train to Alabama but couldn’t find my shoe You know, I wound up in some poolhall head in a bag of glue When I woke up next morning, I didn’t have no cash Yeah, when I woke up next morning, I didn’t have no cash, I was trashed I don’t recall what happened I must’ve had a bash Well Well, I don’t know where I’m going, but thought I’d go there anyway Well, I don’t know where I’m going, but thought I’d go there anyway, hey hey I might go there in the night, I might go there in the day When Mama got out of prison big sister hit the junk Yeah, when Mama got out of prison big sister hit the junk You know that Grandpa’s doing snowflake and me I like to funk I like to funk, I like to funk Funky funky, that’s me Set your funky monkey free

about

This album is about a journey. It follows the loss of the blue swan to a burial in shallow graves. Here memories of just her and the poet become a walking song that brings them back to the ways he loved her. With the day's end, star rise is reflected in her eyes, the place where dreams begin. In this dreamland, the hour is late as she gently takes him inside. But in the end, her hands let go of his. There then arises on the Western sky a sunset in reverse, stretching out forever like a sheet of tears. Racing to catch them, he loses the ticket that could carry him away. But still, he can't stay. The light through windows, mixing shadows, finally takes him away. He doesn't know where he's going, but he’ll go there anyway.

credits

released November 29, 2022

All songs written by James Giles

The musicians are:

James Giles - guitar, piano, harmonica, synthesizer, and vocals
Michael Holt - guitar
Nikolaj Eibye - bass
Søren Munk - bass
Rasmus Grosell - drums and percussion
Anders Andersen - saxophone
Yoed Nir - cello and viola

Arrangements:

James Giles and Michael Holt

Album production: Kristian Dalsgaard, Emil Lei, Mark Giles, and James Giles

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

James Giles image

James Giles Copenhagen, Denmark

James Giles is an artist, poet, and philosopher who explores life through his lyirics and music. Love desire, fear, and loss weave their way through his compositions. beckoning the listener to linger in their shimmering spaces.

contact / help

Contact James Giles

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like James Giles, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now