War & Harvest: - March 2025 -

Volume 23 in the ongoing series collecting the song lyrics written by the Irish singer-songwriter Paul Murphy, this anthology contains all the material created during March 2025.

Picking up where Purification: February 2025 ended, this anthology collects the works Paul managed to complete before succumbing to the muscle-wasting neuro-degenerative condition that he had battled for over 10 years. Amazingly, Paul crafted 47 songs in just 25 days, including works as diverse as the Trump-world-order observation 'This Is Now'; the excoriating UK racism commentary 'Tears Fallin' From The Stars', and the associated barb at those who see and hear nothing, 'Passers-By'; the heartbreaking 'I Heard An Angel Crying', an apologetic pean to the children he lost, and its near-twin, 'As My Eyes Close', his farewell message to the 2 children who lost him.

Also included are the extraordinary 'A Dish Served Cold', an Internet smash described as an Agatha Christie mini-movie in song; an extended re-write of his 1983 ballad 'Yesterday My Love'; and 'Interwoven', which Paul notes, 'I read on the internet that this song ['Interwoven'] is an undefined era twist-in-the-tail relationship song with a sprinkling of Biblical allegory. So I guess it must be.'

Also included are a song-by-song backstory essay by Paul, 'To The Last Chord', YouTube drop-card artworks, and photographs of the original handwritten lyrics.

A final collection of storytelling and narrative prose-work from a master of the genre.

From 'Passers-By'

Callin' for help and no-one's around

Everyone's got someplace else to be
Hissin' at the victim Don't look at me
I'm sure there's two sides to the story
Don't want to hear you beg 'Please, don't ignore me'

All of them are heroes in their mind
Come the moment, not a one can you find
Show you two faces an' their backs
Head the other way with flame in their tracks

.....

From 'A Dish Served Cold

What's that you're holding in the back of your hand
Are you here for no reason, or do you have something planned?
You're looking evasive, you won't catch my eye
Will be both see the morning, or will one of us die?

Did somebody send you, to exact some revenge?
Was it someone I crossed once, was it one of my friends?
Who gave you permission to go through my things?
Which one of us will answer, when the telephone rings?

How did you enter, when the door was locked?
Were you given the key? Why aren't I shocked?
Did I see you put something in my drink?
Why do you keep on staring - don't you know how to blink!

Why are you pausing at my daughter's photograph?
Put it down right now, I don't like the sound of your laugh
Someone will come soon - you had better leave
Why are you putting gloves on, and rolling up your sleeves?

....

From 'Tears Fallin' From The Stars'

Tears fallin' from the stars
They know what's goin' down
Steps fadin' into the distance
Pool of blood widening on the ground
Empty hand a twitchin'
Lips trying vainly to make words
Callin' card placed on a slow-beating chest
Mocking 'Do Not Disturb'

It don't pay to be different
In any kind of way
Tomorrow it might be your sexuality
It was the wrong colour skin today
Sometimes it's a bunch of bad names
Or suggestions made to a wife
Tonight it was a red-eyed fury
An' a silver-bladed knife