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if you want to fly you've got to let go (2015 10 track album)

by Redvers Bailey

supported by
Stephen Carradini
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Stephen Carradini A charming, evocative album that sounds like a cross between The Mountain Goats, Belle and Sebastian, and Wes Anderson. Favorite track: Young Romance.
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      €6 EUR  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    If You Want To Fly You've Got To Let Go CD album will be delivered shrink wrapped, or signed with a message, inside a beautiful cardboard gatefold with a 12 page booklet containing all lyrics and special edition artwork by Marbles at Sea.

    Includes unlimited streaming of if you want to fly you've got to let go (2015 10 track album) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      €9 EUR or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    If You Want To Fly You've Got To Let Go 12" Vinyl will be delivered shrink wrapped or signed with a message (please let me know if you would like a message), inside a beautiful cardboard gatefold containing the lyrics and special edition artwork by Marbles at Sea.

    Includes unlimited streaming of if you want to fly you've got to let go (2015 10 track album) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      €12 EUR or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Purchasable with gift card

      €21.25 EUR or more (15% OFF)

     

1.
will and sam are singing really loudly | now the girls are here they're not practicing any more | there's a quiet one asking me what i think and she's telling me her hero is friends with gustav klimt | and michelangelo carved his perfect david from an imperfect damaged block of marble || she's never had the armour i do | smiling with her hand in my sleeve | somehow she's disarming me and it's challenging | when she shows me that smile everything is worthwhile | we're lucky to know young romance || i can see exactly when i've kissed her | there's a rainbow of make-up on my glasses | and i know i should use my microfibre cloth but she thinks it's hot when i clean them on my t-shirt | i so love i know her in a biblical sense | i don't mind her 20 years to my 29 || she's never had the armour i do | smiling with her hand in my sleeve | somehow she's disarming me and it's challenging | she loves me like she's never been hurt | because she's never been hurt | oh lord don't let it be me | responsibility | when she shows me that smile everything is worthwhile | we're lucky to know young romance | we never fight, everything is just right | we're lucky to know young romance || and i asked in a dream what she sees in me? | well, she believes even a bag in the street that blows in the breeze and dances free is beautiful | i said my little pea that's a charming speech | was it egon schiele who drew your body? | she laughed | 'it's a dream' | and stole all the sheets | it's typical | it's typical | it's really cool | and i love to help polishing her self- esteem although usually she hides it for safe keeping | matthew asked exactly what i see in her and i didn't know | i do now it's the love that i learn | i can intertwine her time into mine | our lives interleave | i wish i didn't have to leave || she's never had the armour i do | smiling with her hand in my sleeve | somehow she's disarming me and it's challenging | she loves me like she's never been hurt | because she's never been hurt | oh lord don't let it be me | responsibility | when she shows me that smile everything is worthwhile | we're lucky to know young romance | we never fight, everything is just right | we're lucky to know
2.
i'm not pointing any fingers or mentioning last names | occasionally the rituals we perform are really strange | there are men in bars laughing at their vodka | it is dawn of the dead looking up the reeperbahn | you don't want to be in vegas when you feel like some chicago | some cities are like church, few understand but many go | i see a flock of angels, not quite a murmuration | if we dance like that then this will be some celebration || don't think don't speak just keep moving to the beat | i fantasise you love me while you're dancing with me | hold onto me and you might never see you are dancing with an elephant ballerina || some bet on winners, some bet someone's going to lose | and if you never gamble you don't get the one you choose | i'm people watching people, people watching, watching me | and caitlin broke her heel so she gave her shoes to steve | now steve's got dainty feet so he put on the high heels | and he's mincing round with kyle and they open gangnam style | everyone you meet are the only things that are really real | you always cry when you say goodbye, i wish i could feel . . . . . feel that loudly || don't think don't speak just keep moving to the beat | i fantasise you love me while you're dancing with me | hold onto me and you might never see you are dancing with an elephant ballerina || you do the macarena with your girlfriends when you're drunk and i'm laughing in the middle, i am shaking peanuts in my trunk and i'd love to dance with you although i really can't | but it's taking part that matters and it looks good in my heart | it looks good in my heart | we're shouting at the dj because the music stopped | and the dj's looking ashen, he's turning every knob he's got | and the music comes back louder than it's ever been before | there's a hundred michael jackson zombies filling the dance floor | and i am singing to my bottle because it's my microphone | i want find the chat to kiss you before you go home | and Laura's got a limpet clinging to her face | she said it's rude he grabbed her but he's hot so it's okay, he is hot so it's okay! || don't think don't speak just keep moving to the beat | i fantasise you love me while you're dancing with me | hold onto me and you might, you never see you are dancing with an elephant ballerina | you do the macarena with your girlfriends when you're drunk and i'm laughing in the middle, i am shaking peanuts in my trunk and i'd love to dance with you although i really can't | but it's taking part that matters and it looks good in my heart | it looks good in my heart | dance eye to eye with me and you might never see you are dancing with an elephant ballerina
3.
daydreaming about us | our future | getting carried away | a ride in my brain | our first date | our first kiss | first christmas | first holidays | our first place | i turned my head and you were staring at me | was i dreaming out loud or were you right here with me? || i look at you and i hope that i look like you look when you look at someone when you like them | i like you and i'm looking for a sign that if i say hi you won't avert your eyes || love is blind and dreamer here is blind | you look my way but i was busy in my daydream | love is blind || i drink so much coffee to see you in your café | i go out of my way | love is a fine art | it all starts with a pencil outline | saying hi works just fine | i turned my head and you pretended to work | i pretended too, i was looking at the woodwork || i look at you and i hope that i look like you look when you look at someone when you like them | i like you and i'm looking for a sign if i ask you on a date, it's appropriate || love is blind | cassanova here is blind | you looked my way but i was busy in my daydream | love is blind || talking and testing | investing in how we express the things we want to express | ravages of time require you love the creature inside for when we're saggy and tired | i turned my head and you were smiling my way | is this a daydream or my lucky day? || i look at you and i hope that i look like you look when you look at someone when you like them | i like you and i'm looking for a sign that if i leaned in for a kiss i wouldn't miss || love is blind | mark antony was blind | you look my way but i was busy in my daydream |
4.
flying along on the autobahn you're filling me up with your music and your endless charms | poke your toes between my leg and the seat unwrap me a starburst give it to me to eat | i will never forget the sound of the sea back on brighton beach it was one of those moments of clarity || you and me driving to my favourite city | you and me hanging out in my bird's belly | you and me and my fo vey || draw me a picture to make me laugh i'll tell a tall story about a giraffe | you dj all the way there you play helpless you play love is in the air | we were singing along to blonde on blonde we were making strange glue an unbreakable bond | it felt like home our first embrace two little kids running away far far away || you and me driving to my favourite city | you and me hanging out in my bird's belly | you and me driving to my favourite city | you and me falling in love in my bird's belly | you and me and my fo vey!
5.
In The End 03:58
i like the veins in your wrist | they lead to your heart | like the roads on this map | let's make a plan we can scrap | we both know sometimes expectations aren't our friends | once i was lost but found was just around the bend || everything will be alright in the end | if it's not alright it is not the end | you'll put your arms around me and hold me tight | in the end everything will be alright || this morning i found your hair | asleep in my bed | i wished you were here | i wrote and i said | it won‘t be long until we explore a new place | until we smell the sea and see the milky way || everything in the end will be okay | if it's not okay the end is not today | you'll put your arms around me and hold me tight | in the end everything will be alright || i like the lines on your face | every one tells a tale | of your fiery heart | and the wind in your sails | we both know any time that we catch a plane | keep us alive until we're together again || everything will be alright in the end | if it's not alright it is not the end | you'll put your arms around me and hold me tight | in the end everything will be alright || i like the sound of your heart | breathing flesh to your bones | we talked about having kids | the first thing they'll hear is it | let's give each other beautiful gifts every day | you followed your heart once you'll follow it again || everything will be alright in the end | if it's not alright it is not the end | you'll put your arms around me and hold me tight | in the end everything will be alright | in the end everything will be alright | in the end, we'll be together again
6.
the key to happiness i asked mum | she didn't have one | i looked upstairs | it wasn't there | i wrote to a minister of finance who wrote back 'just go and dance.' || i want to find the key to happiness and when i do i'll get a copy made for you | i want to find the key to happiness it's knocking at my door and i can get it open || i asked my lover | she gave me thrills | i asked the doctor | and he just gave me pills | i called obama | he's just a charmer | i looked to the pope and he gave me hope || i want to find the key to happiness and when i do i'll get a copy made for you | i want to find the key to happiness and if i don't we got a number for a locksmith | number for a locksmith | i want to find the key to happiness | i want to find the key to happiness || well i don't know where to look next | let's ask some dead people | i asked steve jobs | he said, 'i sold it.' | i asked gaddafi | man that guy was so nasty | i asked einstein | he said, 'ask elvis.' | i asked elvis and he just said, 'uh-huh!' || i want to find the key to happiness when i do i'll get a copy made for you | i want to find the key to happiness and if i don't we got a number for a locksmith | i want to find the key to happiness and when i do i'll get a copy made for you | i want to find the key to happiness it's knocking at my door and i can get it open | i can get it open | i want to find the key to happiness and when i do i'll get a copy made for you
7.
she talks to me casually and quietly as if we're old friends or exhausted enemies | she reminds me of my patchwork family | we fell in love at our own expense || living well is the best revenge || i can't afford this extravagant meal or the wine i just poured | it is a gift from my future self to nurture the now and the chance of good health | i have to love this mortal coil | life is an engine and living well is the oil | get through today maybe my heart's teeth will mend || living well is the best revenge || tyler turned to me he grinned as he chewed and asked what the poor people do | i laughed out loud at the exquisite irony | lucky for us that art slays money | love slays fear and supersedes art || living well is revenge for the heart || our history's my friend | i can know about now if i learn about then | peasants revolt when there's enough of them | i want better for my unborn but i'm almost content | living to work | living for the weekend || living well is the best revenge || my favourite war is one waged with friends that rages 'til dawn | some of them fight harder than the others do | weaponise their drink and drugs and dance to their own groove | in the bubble i'm safe from the world's pain | forget the war and politics that i can't vote against | stevie will dj | we sharpie sleeping friends || living well is the best revenge || i thought i was free but i can go nowhere without any money | making a living don't forget to make a life | or hear the charming insult that one day we'll all die | i recognise the good times | the yellow lights of paradise | a failed plan's disguise | i want to go surrounded by my friends || living well is the best revenge | living well is the best revenge
8.
Wanderlust 05:08
dante travelled through all levels of hell | up the mount of purgatory and through the realms of paradise | he said he was allowed a brief glimpse of god | i imagine as the strobe lights on the wings annihilate the dark | elliott sings and the distant pianos punctuate my new book | a nervous passenger utters holy words | and the girl behind me says she feels she's in a movie well me too | wait until we get to where we're going to || is this running away? | am i soul-searching? | am i chasing a dream? | no i'm wide awake. || i am no columbus, i am no yuri gagarin | i travelled less than laika | barcelona through berlin | never will we be together this young | will you trade with me in memories to forget to remember once again | have you looked outside the window? | well babe that's the real world | let it break your heart but never break your will | and i can't explain if i am homeless on a plane it's the most complete i've been | sitting there in limbo looking out the window || i’m not running away | i’m not soul-searching | i’d be living the dream if you were with me | life is short but it's the longest time i could ever know | i want tales for the grandkids come on it's time to go | i’ve got to go somewhere | i’ve got to go somewhere | i’ve got to go somewhere || i never should have had coffee number three | my heart is in my mouth excitement anxiety | and i could run away to the wilderness | to search inside my soul for a voice a route to suit me best | but i have no soul of my own we all have one small piece of one big soul | leaves on the family tree | and the wilderness is no good for us there's a tale to be told | unless my piece of soul is with the rest i will never be whole | i will never be whole || i’m not running away | i’m not soul-searching | i’d be living the dream if you were with me | life is short but it's the longest time i could ever know | i want tales for the grandkids come on it’s time to go | i got to go somewhere | i got to go somewhere | i got to go somewhere | and find the long way home | home | home
9.
Sarah 05:31
the bird in this story could sing into eternity | ideas are passed on until times change | i was never lonely the times that you made cards for me | weird little pictures on recycled boards | i can remember the smell of your hoody | i miss it like wildlife would miss natural light || oh sarah || i found you listening to a mix on my minidisc | you had been crying but wouldn't say why | they caught you driving half full of champagne my little sister to hospital | and i was too stupid to see that a driving ban would mean i saw you less than before | you moved away your new flatmates were always high | and your mum was frightened you'd drink like your dad | i was so jealous of your tight-knit family | i couldn't visit it was making me ill || oh sarah | oooh sarah || we were up top for a ride on the 85 | you showed me two tramps smoking by the food bank | and then you said that'll be chuck and me one day | but chuck is successful and i'm getting by | the streets of berlin will complete me or kill me | even in springtime my fingers burn | burn in the cold only memories to keep me warm | wretchedly stirring past moments of joy | i see us sitting side by side at the piano | and i can remember you painting your face | your beautiful body distressed me a hundred ways | and each time i heard your voice my cool would fade || oh sarah | oooh sarah | i promise you, i promise you i did care | ooooh sarah || all that you wanted was a lover to love you well | i couldn't give you that i lived in hell | i talked about you to some of the doctors | and they tried to help me but for love there's no cure | i hope you are walking into the sunset | wonderful people deserve lovely things | and i am the bluebird that sings in the backwoods | and these days i'm satisfied with what that brings
10.
after school, after the leavers' ball i went to see the advisor | she asked me, 'what do you want to be?' | i said, 'a singer, is what i've decided.' | she and her staff all had a good laugh | one of them choked on her sandwich | and she chuckled through her tears, 'wow that's not a career, you've got to choose something not as high risk.' | part of me died, tears welled in my eyes | will life really be like this? | i clung to fear as i chose from her list of practical jobs | well i didn't know then || if you want to fly then you've got to let go once in a while || so i cleaned cars i tried to sell photocopiers | my job changed more than my jeans did | and every month that passed i was further down that path | turned out i was the worst hoover salesman that ever lived | i can't count the jobs that i had and i lost | fate was telling me something | i should be a fighter ignore distractions pull all-nighters | make the leap of faith and be a singer songwriter | music was my faith to not have it was a waste | money was a pale substitute | jobs are hard even harder than art | hard to hold onto with music in your heart || if you want to fly then you've got to let go once in a while | i said if you want to fly then you've got to let go once in a while || so i did | i was the pits i didn't know my elbow from my hip | nobody came to my show | but i kept on anyway until one day something amazing | another voice singing the words i bellowed | it was my first real fan and she sang along | well she knew every word | and now you multiply it fills me with joy to hear you sing along like a choir || if you want to fly then you've got to let go once in a while | i said if you want to fly then you've got to let go once in a while || i don't want fame but i would take it if it came | long as i have my vocation | the magic berlin streets you individuals drunks and geeks allow me to sing myself into damnation | so thank you for being a pair of ears | thanks for scaring my fears | i hope you are inspired to follow your dreams and build a life to make you smile || if you want to fly then you've got to let go once in a while

about

If you purchase either vinyl or CD then a digital download will be available to you as soon as you've placed your order.

credits

released December 7, 2015

written, performed and recorded by redvers bailey in berlin and grace banks in london with her trumpet in elephant ballerina, andy schrav in london co-writing the key to happiness, mélissa brouillette in trois-rivières with her voice in wanderlust, james forest in shawinigan for spicy guitar in sarah, artwork by marbles at sea marblesatsea.tumblr.com, mastered by peter beckmann at technologyworks mastering london

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