Kings Call

Today was another stormy day and again as the weather cycled through and we sat in the eye of the storm I managed a short walk by our river. As I walked I could see a new sink hole where the high tides have undermined the sea wall and caused a collapse. I was looking for another moody, atmospheric shot for today for a reason...

Today in 1986 Phillip Paris Lynott passed away, a name some of you may recognise, many may not. Phil Pynott was the leader, bass player and vocalist with Thin Lizzy. He lived the Rock and Roll life to the full, like many of the players that passed through the band over the years did too. Ironically one of the players who made me want to become a better guitarist Gary Moore died in recent years and he left the band twice as he could not work with or watch his friend destroy himself.

Today I walked not with the noise of the wind but with the joyous rich voice of Lynott and Thin Lizzy as my companions, the river to myself I was singing along not a care in the world but a a smile as I did.

I was 17 when he passed away, young, long haired, a rebel without a clue, playing in bands, convinced I was going to be a rock star, my dream wasn't to be but I had a lot of fun playing, dreaming, making people smile and enjoy themselves from the music we played. I still wrote in the same battered old lyric book, I still have demo's, studios recordings and live tapes from back then and very occasionally I indulge myself and listen to some of them and even more occasionally I set up my rig and play along for old times sake, but only when I am totally alone. Sorry I digress... I was young and I remember quietly sitting with tears on my cheeks listening to Lizzy after hearing of his passing. I think this lyric kind of says it all.

It was a rainy night the night the king went down
Everybody was crying it seemed like sadness had surrounded the town
Me I went to the liquor store
And I bought a bottle of wine and a bottle of gin
I played his records all night
Drinking with a close, close friend

Now some people say that that ain't right
And some people say nothing at all
But even in the darkest of night
You can always hear the king's call
You can always hear the king's call

Well they put him away in memphis
Six feet beneath the clay
Everybody was crying
Everybody said it was a plain grey day

Me I went to the liquor store
And I bought another bottle of wine and another bottle of gin
I played his records all night
And I got drunk all over again

Now some people say that that ain't right
That ain't right
And some people say nothing at all
I say nothing
But even in the darkest of night
You could always hear the king's call
You could always hear the king's call

I wonder if you're lonesome tonight
And I'd rather go on hearing your lies
Than to go on living without you

Now some people say that that ain't right
And some people say nothing at all I say nothing
But even in the darkest of night
You could always hear the king's call
You could always hear the king's call
You could always hear the king's call
Now the stage is bare and I'm standing here
They might as well bring the curtain down
I cried the night the king died

I liked the framing in this shot, the tree consumed by ivy and arcing to the river, a tranquillity about it on a day when again the weather turned and consumed us. I hope you enjoy the shot and hope tomorrow is a better day for us all.