Before becoming a musician I dreamed of being an athlete. Every weekend I would drag my parents to race after race, I was national champion at a few events and really loved it. In the end I came up short of doing running as a career, injuries took their toll and other things came to the fore. I still run every day, though not as competitively; I think I do it now as more of a form of meditation.
The songs describes a run back home in Scotland, along the River Leithen through the woods near my house. I’ve run that route so many times that I can close my eyes and picture every twist and turn, rock and tree.
lyrics
River runs through the crow wood,
Under bridge where the saint stood,
Cut our hearts in the limestone carvings,
Beautiful as a cloud break,
Count on me like a cave dance
Always moving towards you darlin’
Over solid ground
Solid ground,
Let me keep your pace
I’m on solid ground
Solid ground,
I’ll run to your shelter,
I’ll run in you race,
I’ll run I can’t help it (when I’m helpless)
I’ll run in your wake,
Tell me you felt it
With all the gods’ weight
With all of our courage,
Show me your courage
When I’m running down fate
When I’m running down fate
When I’m running down fate
When I’m running down fate
Change course when the cauld floods
Your name Is a rush of blood
Every way that I go I’ll find you
Nothing hurts in the last mile
Overtures by the roadside
If you fall I’ll be there beside you
Over solid ground
Solid ground,
Let me keep your pace
I’m on solid ground
Solid ground,
I’ll run to your shelter,
I’ll run in you race,
I’ll run I can’t help it (when I’m helpless)
I’ll run in your wake,
Tell me you feel it
With all the gods’ weight
With all of our courage,
Give me your courage
When I’m running down fate
When I’m running down fate
When I’m running down fate
When I’m running down fate
Drawn to you
Always drawn to you
Burning lungs
But my body’s born for you
I’m the crows flying
I go straight for you
Always high on the way I
Fall for you
Give me love
Give me love
Give me courage
A way to run
And I won’t break
I won’t turn
Feel the light coming
When I run to your shelter
I’ll run in you race,
I’ll run I can’t help it (when I’m helpless)
I’ll run in your wake,
Tell me you feel it
With all the gods’ weight
With all of our courage,
Give me your courage
When I’m running down fate
When I’m running down fate
When I’m running down fate
When I’m running down fate
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
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