My grandma was a poet and writer. I think, seeing me as a budding songwriter, she saw a kindred spirit; she bought me many books of poetry and books on the writing process. She had a love of William Blake, shared with my grandad who was a painter and sculptor. Seeing me as a boy who loved birdwatching, fishing and being outdoors, I think she steered me in the direction of naturalist poets, William Blake is well know for his naturalism, as was Robert Burns, Ted Hughes, Seamus Heaney, and Norman McCaig. Those poets are a big influence on my songwriting now.
When I was finally hit by my own poetry obsession she was no longer around to ask about it. All I have are the books she gave me, the poems she wrote and most of all, a love of writing, a subject I had always struggled to be inspired by in school.
lyrics
Betty Thompson said she was with you,
Good morning, still in your red shoes
Silver lining sits in a gold cloud,
My horizon’s wide as your eyes now.
She’ll come round like the sun in your bedroom,
Patience, be film in a dark room
Take your time, say hi with a haiku
You’re not mine, I just like you.
Oh, it’s a beautiful day,
Oh, such a beautiful day,
First love, wild flowers and a split knee,
Fall fast, in the hope that you catch me,
Leading horses down to the river,
You go first, I’ll always love her.
Oh, it’s a beautiful day,
Oh, such a beautiful day,
Call the boys in,
Call the girls,
Call your friends,
We’re diving for pearls.
Swim the waters,
Simmer down
When you find one,
Pass it round.
Freeze frame, on a glance at midnight,
Keep your eyes on me and hold tight,
Run the rain, through the concrete glistening,
Go against the grain, find out what you’re missing.
Oh, it’s a beautiful day,
Oh, such a beautiful day,
Oh, it’s a beautiful day,
Oh, such a beautiful day,
Oh, it’s a beautiful day,
Oh, such a beautiful day,
credits
from Lamplighter,
released March 3, 2023
Written: Tommy Ashby and Karl Zine
Produced and Mixed: Sam Okell
Mastered: Felix Davis
Tommy Ashby’s background is a rather unusual one for a singer-songwriter. Awarded a PhD in the perception of sound in his
early 20s, Tommy manages to blend a technical understanding of the way our brain processes sound with the indisputable pure creative energy of someone who grew up writing and playing music in the wilds of Scotland....more