Notes from a small island
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"Notes from a small island" is a song by LorD and Master, who took the name from a book about travelling around the UK by Bill Bryson. The song is written about life in the UK, from a somewhat cynical point of view.
Lyrics
A train goes past the station There are leaves upon the line Commuters stifle sniffles With a plastic cup of wine Waiting at a level crossing Stands a silver four-wheel-drive Time to pick the kids up Who knows when they will arrive Down the lane a little cyclist With a little flashing light Slips past a little church Its little windows shining bright Around the back a graveyard With some ageing wooden benches Empty beer cans litter graves Of those who died in trenches We're all living on this island We're all getting by Empire lost, we count the cost but Stiff upper lips don't cry On the fields of Battle There's a kid flying a kite His parents pecking fingerfoods Discussing who is right He says they should move But she wants to stay put He's increasingly insistent But she's putting down her foot Across the road a pub is open Parasols out front People drinking continental lager Talking with a grunt The cat jumps up on to the bar A glass falls with a smash That's coming from your wages Says the landlord waving cash We're all living on this island We're all getting by Empire lost, we count the cost but Stiff upper lips don't cry Streets away, a tiny woman Pulls a basket on its wheel Inside the Yorkshire terrier Looks forward to its meals She stops into a corner shop Picks up a box of tea She strolls back home and watches Something on the BBC Next door a baby's crying cause she wants to have her feed Her mother doesn't notice 'cause she's settled down to read Up and down the country On the doorsteps and the drives All the British people Going about their British lives We're all living on this island We're all getting by Empire lost, we count the cost but Stiff upper lips don't cry We're all living on this island We're all getting by Empire lost, we count the cost but Stiff upper lips don't cry
Lthrboots remixes alternative lyrics (third verse only)
Streets away, a tiny woman Pulls a basket on its wheel Inside the Yorkshire terrier Looks forward to its meals She stops into a corner shop Picks up a box of tea She strolls back home and watches Something on the BBC Next door a baby's crying 'cause she wants to have her feed Her mother doesn't get up 'cause she's settled down to read Up and down the country On the doorsteps and the drives All the British people Going about their British lives
Redux 2 version alternative lyrics (third verse only)
Streets away, a tiny woman Pulls a basket on its wheel Inside the Yorkshire terrier Looks forward to its meals She stops into a corner shop Picks up a box of tea She strolls back home and watches Something on the BBC Next door a baby's crying 'cause she wants to have her feed Her mum lets out a big sigh 'cause she's settled down to read Up and down the country On the doorsteps and the drives All the British people Going about their British lives
Versions
- Appears on Miserablism.
- LorD and Master extended mix appears on Miserablist.
- Single mix appears on "Notes from a small island" maxi-single (q.v.).
- Remixes by LorD and Master, GX and Lthrboots appear on "Notes from a small island" maxi-single.
- Lthrboots radio edit appears on Flipside.
- Single mix appears on Singular.
- Redux 2 version appears on Redux 2.
Maxi-single release
- "Notes from a small island" (single mix) - 3.10
- "The resurrectionist" (live acoustic version) - 3.00
- "Notes from a small island" (LorD and Master united remix) - 8.28
- "Notes from a small island" (LorD and Master orderly queue remix) - 8.09
- "Dark streets 1984" - 3.48
- "Notes from a small island" (GX remix) - 8.15
- "Notes from a small island" (Lthrboots remix) - 6.08
- "Notes from a small island" (Lthrboots radio edit) - 3.28
Released 11 June 2012
Personnel
- Written, produced and performed by Daniel Bailey-Graham.
- Additional production and remix on tracks 1, 3 and 4 by Daniel Bailey-Graham for LorD and Master.
- Additional production and remix on track 5 by Graham Ellis for GX.
- Additional production and remix on tracks 6 and 7 by Jerry Jones for Lthrboots.