John Martyn RIP

A brilliant guitarist, singer, songwriter and innovator. Anybody who wrote 'Solid Air' would be missed, anyone who also wrote 'May you never', 'Bless the weather' and 'One world' will be sorely missed.

Solid Air

You've been taking your time
And you've been living on solid air
You've been walking the line
And You've been living on solid air
Don't know what's going wrong inside
And I can tell you that it's hard to hide when you're living on
Solid air.

You've been painting it blue
And you've been looking through solid air
You've been seeing it through
And you've been looking through solid air
Don't know what's going wrong in your mind,
And I can tell you don't like what you find,
When you're moving through
Solid air.

I know you, I love you
And I could be your friend
I could follow you, anywhere
Even through solid air.

You've been stoning it cold
You've been living on solid air
You've been finding that gold
You've been living on solid air
I don't know what's going on inside
I can tell you that it's hard to hide
When you're living on
Solid air, solid air.

You've been getting too deep
You've been living on solid air
You've been missing your sleep
And you've been moving through solid air
I don't know what's going on in your mind
But I know you don't like what you find
When you're moving through
Solid air, solid air.

I know you, I love you
I'll be your friend
I could follow you, anywhere
Even through solid air.

You've been walking your line
You've been walking on solid air
You've been taking your time
But you've been walking on solid air
Don't know what's going wrong inside
But I can tell you that it's hard to hide
When you're living on
Solid air, solid air.

You've been painting it blue,
You've been living on solid air
You've been seeing it through
And you've been living on solid air
I don't know what's going on in your mind
But I can tell you don't like what you find
When your living on
Solid air, solid air.

I know you, I love you
And I'll be your friend
I could follow you, anywhere
Even through solid air.

Ice blue solid air
Nice blue solid air

The Art of being an English Gentlemen (Part 4)

Up early, out late, Stout brogues, fine mohair number, appropriate shirt and foppish tie. Stroll through the woods. Catch a tube into town. Visit publishers, express surprise at lack of activity. Get taken for a long luxurious lunch down by the Thames. Demolish half a crate. Punch publisher. Walk off to Tate Gallery. Dance around the Rothko room. Declaim tragic verse from the top of the steps outside. Convince effervescent young thing to follow to the ends of the earth. Stop off in the White Swan on the way. Head into soho a couple of crispy whites later. Send effervescent young thing home exhausted but in rapture in the taxi. Lean against bar, brush away stray blonde hair, catch the eye of the barmaid. Take deep breath order a glass of something noisy and vow to get some sleep tomorrow...

New Years Eve in Eastbourne

Running around from the Sussex Hotel to Bilbo's, Dewdrop, Dolphin, Frasco's. Nothing else to do but drink and wait for someone to discover where the party is. Then pile in the off-licence, pile in a car, pile out of the car, pile into the party, kiss the nearest girl at midnight and fall asleep in a pile at about 5 in the morning.

That'll be a small glimpse of paradise then!