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Mother, Waiting

from Bleeding Sketches by The Whisky Priests

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a jewel case with an attractive 16-page booklet including lyrics to all songs, comprehensive CD liner notes by Gary Miller & Keith Armstrong, beautiful individual track artwork by Keith Lawrence Palmer, individual track notes by Keith Armstrong, full recording details and credits, etc.

    NB: - CD is the original 14-track version and does not include the 2 bonus tracks available with the digital version.

    IMPORTANT MESSAGE for non-UK buyers:
    Please be aware that if you are ordering from outside the UK, due to reasons beyond our control, you may be liable for additional charges, e.g. customs tax. Please note: we will NOT refund payment for any items refused or returned to us due to non-payment of these charges at point of delivery.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Bleeding Sketches via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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      £6.99 GBP

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

I got the idea for this poem from an anthology of Bulgarian poetry which I bought in Varna when holidaying there. It could be about any mother who pines for, and eventually grieves for, her 'soldier-boy son' lost in a futile war waged by the powers that be. It could well apply to Bosnia, although it was written some 14 years ago.

(Keith Armstrong - from original liner notes)

lyrics

MOTHER, WAITING

Mother is waiting in the candlelit quiet
For her soldier-boy son to come home
Fireflies swarm in the fallen night
Beneath the black mountain a river seeks rest
As this mother waits on in her charcoal country
Knitting at her nails
The tears that stream from an ancient agony
Hiss like rain on the grate

She is a scrapbook of ancient cuttings
The pregnant wishes the bleeding sketches
The stretch-marks that etch her path
All draw her to damned pictures like these
A mother is waiting waiting waiting
Her thunder stolen from such lightning
As a blinding passion, flesh on heat
And her hands demanding ways

Such a wait on this night
The burden of a life
A soldier she sweated skin for
Lies felled by a blow to the Nation
And over the fields she knows she knows
A letter is coming coming slowly
From a mad king who has killed much time
And killed her gentle son

(lyrics: Keith Armstrong / music: Gary Miller)

credits

from Bleeding Sketches, released October 2, 1995
Gary Miller - acoustic guitar, backing vocals
Glenn Miller - accordion, piano
Mick Tyas - lead vocals, bass
Nick Buck - drums
Chuck Fleming - fiddle
Marie Little - backing vocals

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all rights reserved

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The Whisky Priests Durham, UK

The Whisky Priests (1985-2002) was founded by twin brothers, Gary & Glenn Miller (“the Joe Strummer and Mick Jones of Folk Music”). The band was internationally renowned for its energetic live shows, released a number of critically acclaimed albums, toured extensively and developed a worldwide cult following. The band reunited to tour in 2018 and release a 12-disc Complete Discography CD Box-set. ... more

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