Artwork & Lyrics

Under A Different Sun

March 7, 2016

Under A Different Sun

on a different day
down a different road
in a different car
with a different load

a different start
a different run
you might have stuck around
under a different sun

under a different sun, a different sun

with a different you
and a different me
who knows what might have been
in a different skin

a different land
far far away
with a different tongue
you might have understood me

under a different sun, a different sun

all our old ways have gone stale this old sun won’t help us today
we’ve come far dear but this might be it unless we wake
unless we wake unless we wake under a brand new sun

in a different game
with different balls
where a different hand
makes the dice fall

and roll my way this time
the pot of gold will be all mine

under a different sun, a different sun
under a different sun, a different sun
under a different sun

words and music: Neal Hoffmann

Maybe Arizona

March 7, 2016

Maybe Arizona

maybe cacti are secretly wishing they could fly
maybe tumbleweed are thinking about moving to the seaside
maybe rain clouds don’t ever want to waste a drop
maybe you and I are waiting for everyone to not look

or maybe Arizona, be honest I know you want to
maybe Arizona

maybe the rivers are meant to show the way
maybe the wind has messages if only we could hear
maybe the sand dunes remind us of what happens to mountains
maybe you remind me of Sunday mornings on the beach

or maybe Arizona
be honest I know you want to
maybe Arizona, take your coat and let’s go now

maybe the lizards know exactly where to hide
in the desert where big ships remain strangers in the night
maybe loose ends play hide and seek in the shade
while icicles are far too clever to come this way

or maybe Arizona
be honest I know you want to
maybe Arizona take your keys it’s been a long time
it’s been a long time
let’s go now

words and music: Neal Hoffmann

Not Johnny Cash

March 7, 2016

Not Johnny Cash

well I’m walking down this road
no-one can carry my load
it’s made for my back
well I’m not turning back

I don’t know what is real
I don’t trust the way I feel
it’s let me down before
led me through all sorts of wrong doors

but I’m not turning into Johnny Cash
not turning into anyone
not turning into anyone else for you … … for you

pretty women make my day
I don’t care if they look away
distracted by a prettier face
maybe I’m not to their taste

I’m not going to Jackson
I don’t have no ticket to Reno
haven’t felt like shooting no-one yet
each day I do get meaner

well I’m not turning into Johnny Cash
not turning into Johnny my dear
not turning into anyone else
cause I can’t keep saying this over and over
come on tell me tell me tell me, tell me tell me
tell me, do you hear … … hear

my trajectory
is of no concern to thee
every single breath I take
I will fight for till my back breaks

there’s no-one better you can hire
to drag you from your ring of fire
who remembers your name and what he says
shows you how the stars sleep in their beds

I’m not turning into Johnny Cash
I’ll keep walking down to the bitter end
I’ll keep walking down this road
no matter who you send … … who you send

I’m not turning into Johnny …

words and music: Neal Hoffmann

Untrained Heart

March 7, 2016

Untrained Heart

for the untrained heart …

women I meet
give me a wide berth
they seem to know
you’re still around still around … somehow

but you can’t see the bird up in the sky
he flies too high for the naked eye
for the naked eye (for the naked eye)

you don’t believe
what your heart tells you
it gets in the way
of how you want to live you want to live

but you can’t see the bird up in the sky
he’s much too high for the naked eye (for the naked eye)
you can’t feel love play its mysterious parts
they’re hidden away from the untrained heart from your untrained heart

violin

you can’t see the bird up in the sky
he flies too high for the naked eye
you can’t feel love play its mysterious parts
cause they can’t be seen with your untrained heart (with your untrained heart)
by your untrained heart (untrained heart)
with your untrained heart (untrained heart)

words and music: Neal Hoffmann

Give Way

March 7, 2016

Give Way

.. sometimes it feels like I
will be too late too late
the night is cold it is dark
but it won’t fail to give way ..

I’m staring down
into the stream below
watching leaves float by
brown red orange and gold

I’m a fruit on a tree
drying slowly in the wind
I’m a nail in the side
of my boat that’s about to sink

I used to have a winning streak
the planets they all lined up
a twinkle in the eye
the fun just never ever stopped

sometimes it feels like I will be too late too late
the wind is rough it blows hard but I hold on till it gives way

don’t know if I’ve come far
or just walked for a long long time
the road is all but gone
there’s only sand and I can’t see no lines

in my dreams I can see myself running for the gate
coming down in slow mo cutting off the only way ahead

sometimes it feels like I will be too late too late
the night is cold and it is dark but it won’t fail to give way to give way to a new day

violin

sometimes it feels like there is a big weight riding on me
pushing me down further down but i hold on until it gives way
sometimes it feels like I will be too late too late
the night is cold and it is dark but it won’t fail to give way to give way to a new day

words and music: Neal Hoffmann

Vanity and Pride

March 7, 2016

Vanity and Pride

you know the reasons why we
aren’t together tonight
something is keeping us apart
could it be vanity and pride
or is it something else
have we had our time
is our future in the past
has the sun stopped to shine

you and I only do have one chance
if we manage to end this romance
with vanity and pride it gets in the way again
vanity and pride I hope we won’t stay friends

I’m lying on my bed
staring up into the air
you are thinking of me
far away somewhere
but still close somehow
you know I go by feel
and I can feel your heart
it believes in you and me

you and I only do have one chance
if we manage to end this romance
with vanity and pride it gets in the way again
vanity and pride I hope we won’t stay friends

guitar

the two keep drifting around in our veins
as long as something stays hard wired in our brains
will vanity and pride get in the way again
vanity and pride I hope we won’t stay friends
vanity and pride gets in the way again

words and music: Neal Hoffmann

Instinct and Feel

March 7, 2016

Instinct and Feel

I go by instinct I go by feel
keep my eyes wide open a great deal
listen to noises in the night
keep what’s important in my sight
I go by instinct I go by feel

I don’t trust my own head
cause you never know
what it might come up with
when it decides for you
my body might disagree
nothing’s written in stone
hammered in steel
I go by instinct I go by feel

I don’t like great heights
but I don’t look down
I love the colours
I love the sound
I love the smell of gasoline
the rust and paint on your machine
I go by instinct I go by feel

guitar

I am with you
because it makes no sense
but I got used to
the strange ways we blend
I noticed the secrets you conceal
the world is cruel the world is mean
I go by instinct I go by feel

you think I like numbers
and cold hard facts
but you’re misled by
the way I act
I’d love to follow the birds south
and watch new words drop from your mouth
I go by instinct I go by feel

I go by instinct I go by feel

I go by instinct with you and me

words and music: Neal Hoffmann

One Of Them

March 7, 2016

One Of Them

you all know my face
know my history
you know where I have been
don’t know where I long to be
know what I have done
and what I should have done instead
you don’t appreciate
all the big mistakes I’ve made

but you don’t know I want to go home

I will sit there and I’m one of them
they all know me more than just my name
more than just my name I am one of them

I used to have such fun
to talk to people in the street
hear what they had to say
about what made their hearts beat
the element of surprise
has become a friend of mine
the element of surprise
turns traitor in time

but I just hide I just hide

I will sit there and I’m one of them
they all know me more than just my name
more than just my name I am one of them

bassoon

song by song and line by line this wall starts to turn see through
and the distance between us shrinks to nothing but the truth
nothing but the truth

now I stand here and I’m one of you
you all know me now what i feel and do
don’t you I am one of you

words and music: Neal Hoffmann

Summer Time Bliss

March 7, 2016

Summer Time Bliss

summer summer summer time
we’ll be playing in the sunshine
winter winter good bye
we’ll be playing … playing
playing playing playing in the summer time

summer summer summer time
we’ll be laughing and drinking wine
dark thoughts melting like ice
they’ll be melting … melting
melting melting melting in the warm sun shine

summer time summer time summer time summer time

summer time summer time I feel your hand in mine
when I look into these eyes of yours
I can’t help but wonder
if I’m wasting all my oh so precious time with you

summer summer summer time
I want to walk along the water line
dangle legs wait for the tide
we’ll be sitting … sitting
sitting sitting sipping from that summer wine

summer summer it’s high time
we’ve been waiting for your kind
want to play our guitars in time
in the park in the grass
desperately waiting for your golden shine

summer time summer time summer time summer time

summer time summer time I feel your little hand in mine
when I listen to what my heart says
I can’t help but wonder
if I’m wasting all these oh so gorgeous summer days

summer time summer time …

words and music: Neal Hoffmann

Track Info for Untrained Heart

March 7, 2016

TRACK INFO

All vocals and instruments by Neal Hoffmann unless otherwise stated.

Under a Different Sun: Mix: Anders Bjelland (Broen Studio, Bergen)

Maybe Arizona: Cello: Celine Barry Backing vocals: Joakim Persson
Mix: Julius Mauranen (Studio Kekkonen, Helsinki)

Not Johnny Cash: Horn: Oli Hickie Trombone: Sarah Mann Backing vocals: Joakim Persson
Mix: Peter Junge (RecordMixing, London)

Untrained Heart: String arrangement: Neal Hoffmann Violins and violas: Antonia Pagulatos
Cello (bass and staccato hooks): Miriam Wakeling Cello (legato parts): Celine Barry
Mix: Anders Bjelland (Broen Studio, Bergen)

Give Way: Cello: Celine Barry Violin: Eva Wilde Drums: Jari Salminen
Outro vocals: William Hut Mix: Anders Bjelland (Broen Studio, Bergen)

Vanity and Pride: Cello: Miriam Wakeling Mix: Anders Bjelland (Broen Studio, Bergen)

Instinct and Feel: Drums: Jari Salminen Trombone: Sarah Mann Backing vocals: Joakim Persson
Piano: Jens-Kristian Mørkeby Rimau Mix: Anders Bjelland (Broen Studio, Bergen)

One Of Them: Bassoon: Corinne Camillo Cymbals: Josh von Staudach
Mix: Neal Hoffmann (Fleetwood Road Studio, London)

Summer Time Bliss: Mix: Anders Bjelland (Broen Studio, Bergen)

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