Candles For The Dead

from The Hole Around My Head by Will Varley

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lyrics

They’re lighting candles for the dead
A choir is singing loud
I’ll light a candle for the flame
As soon as it goes out

Today I met the raconteur
And read his doctrine
He seems to make it very clear
the trouble that we're in

I keep your painting on my wall
And watch it gather dust
The universe won’t rest until
We are salt and rust

And now they speak of family lines
While dressed in black she dances
If you go back far enough
Our limbs were roots and branches

So let us try to lose ourselves
For an hour or two
In this Spring of discontent
Where once the arrows flew

She’ll hold me in her drunken arms
And then we’ll rot away
This will be our victory chant
And our last parade

Oh Arthur how do I proceed?
And what about these ghosts?
How can I tell the things I need
From the things I chose?

The one who wrote her words in sand
And worshipped entropy
She was the only one I met
Who was really free

There’s new growth in the garden now
Shrubs have no time for fear
Just a little sun and rain...
And then another year

Once I dreamt she was a swan
And I a violin
First she tried to sing a song
And then I tried to swim

They’re lighting candles for the dead
And your grave is overgrown
I lit a candle for your painting

credits

from The Hole Around My Head, released October 22, 2021

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about

Will Varley UK

English singer-songwriter, musician and visual artist. Since self releasing his debut album Advert Soundtracks in 2011 he has toured extensively across the world as a headline act and opened for the likes of Billy Bragg, Valerie June, The Dead South and The Proclaimers. ... more

shows

Aug 25

Arboretum Garden Bar & Bandstand

Nottingham, UK
Aug 29

Barnstomper Festival

Dorchester, UK

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