Many years ago I worked on adventure playground call Mill Farm. It was known locally a Milly. Recently I saw a photo of a painting called Milly's Mudlark and had to buy it. On the train journey to pick up the painting I set down some ideas which became this song
So much to do - trying my patience
Last minute change of plans
I’d screwed up the arrangements
Hopped a train to Liverpool
Gonna buy a painting
From someone I knew once
He called it Milly’s Mudlark
Passing time on the tracks
Writing songs for a deadline
Rhythm of the journey helps the ideas flow
No time for letting thoughts simmer in the background
Pouring out like ink faster than I write
‘F I don't write it I'll forget it
It won’t come around again
Hope I’m not scribbling things I cannot decipher
Train rattles on - I fall into the flow
Disjointed lines - random words,
Forget about the deadline
Forget about the purpose
Only thing that matters is capturing the feeling
Train pulls in - old friends to greet me
Make our way to the gallery
Where Milly’s Mudlark waits
Steve in shorts and t shirt
Even though its freezing
Remember someone saying
They breed ‘em tough in Kirkby
Mudlark on the easel - takes my breath away
A single moment captured in months of work
Rope swing, tall tree, kid in freefall
Did he clear the river - guess we will never know
Green bus into town
Full of blank-faced passenger
Through railway arches Trees hazy in the distance
That picture tells a story
Forty years in the making
Might write a song about
One of these days
@andygriff Feb 2022
I'm so glad the painting inspired this, I remember you telling me about it and the artist and your connection to it all. Really like the lyrics particularly.
@nancyrost Feb 2022
This has an easy train rhythm and lightly bluesy feel. I like the story and the natural way you set it out. A nice slice of life with cool little details.