LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN RIDE THE ROCK DIG WITH FEATHERS SWIM IN THE OCEAN RIDE THE ROCK FLY WITH FEATHERS SING WITH YOU, WITH YOU, WITH YOU WITH YOU. LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN WE’LL RIDE THE ROCKS LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN WE’LL RIDE THE ROCKS LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN WE’LL DO THE THING WE DO. AND ALL I THOUGHT WAS HOW BETWEEN THE THOUGHT THE LADY IN THE CLOUD. I WAS ALONE AND I FOUND A PHONE ME AND THERE YOU AND I LAY AWAKE JUST LIKE THERE AND THEN. LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN WE’LL RIDE THE ROCKS LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN WE’LL RIDE THE ROCKS LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN WE’LL RIDE THE ROCKS LETS SWIM IN THE OCEAN WE’LL DO THE THING WE DO.

The old ways are leaning in They hear my song Leaf and wind are on my back Shooing me along. The old ways are leaning in The old ways are leaning in They hear my song Leaf and wind are on my back Shooing me along Spellbreaker you Spellbreaker you Meet the shadows calling forth Living on a wing and a prayer Hallelujia Hallelujia Hallelujia Meet the shadows calling forth Living on a wing and a prayer Living’s a long time coming Enjoy it while I’m here It might break me It might fall on me The might of it is great oh mighty stone It might break me It might fall on me The might of it is great oh mighty stone The old ways are leaning in They hear my song Leaf and wind are on my back Shooing me along Shoo shoo. Shoo shoo. Shoo shoo. Shoo shoo Shoo shoo. Shoo shoo. Shoo shoo shoo shoo Hallelulia Hallelulia Hallelulia Spellbreaker you The old ways are leaning in They hear my song You spellbreaker you

I hear me voices calling The world is a sound The world Who will wind blow Who will wind blow Ooh, come home. Come home come home Bring me home Bring me home Bring me Bring me Hey a ro ho ya hey o Hey a ra ho la ho ra Hey a ro ho ya hey o Bring me home I hear me voices calling

A geologist told me the stone is metamorphic It’s more than four hundred million years old and has been through many ice ages, extreme heat and pressure This extra hard metamorphic rock made good mill stones and that is what this stone seems to have been. A mill stone used for centuries for grinding oats and barley. The oats were grown for food and rent and the barley was eaten and drunk. May thy will be done on our earthly shrine Shimmer and shine, shimmer Shimmer and shine, shimmer Holy stone how shimmer and shine What have you seen oh holy stone how you shimmer and shine May thy will be done on our earthly shrine What have you seen oh holy stone Holy stone how you shimmer and shine What have you seen oh holy stone how you shimmer and shine May thy will be done on our earthly shrine What have you seen What have you seen So many layers So many layers So many layers

I’ve been feeling this stone for seven long years. It meets me in my deepest place. I love the feel of it, cold and hard yet so alive and light. But I’m also scared it might become a millstone around my neck.  I feel it says sing me, sing the whole of me. The whole of me? The whole of me or the whole in me? I am to find the hole in me and sing from there, the whole of sorrow, the whole of dread, the hole through which we need to pass, the hole through which we are living, see the whole story. Holy moly. This felt like a huge task, that’s why I circled back live on Lismore to be quiet enough to hear the stone and just stop. Stop wanting, stop making, do nothing, get bored, listen to the hole in me. It was time to be alone, to make stone tables for the birds to feed from, to watch the fire, to sleep, to swim in Killecheran loch. I needed to recalibrate. Tune in and tune up. Because I had tuned out.  I’d returned to a habit from back in the day, of having a toke, a smoke as a way of relaxing my body, releasing my mind from the crazy world and the daily grind. Maybe I’d have been fine if I’d held it at bay, but no, that didn’t happen, that wasn’t the way. It got under my skin and I just couldn’t stop and from morning I’d smoke until night when I dropped.  I knew I was hiding, avoiding the glare of the news and, well, I was scared.  But I’d also been ‘digging where I stand’, with ancestral energies from this land and so up come these feelings and meet me head on, the shame is unbearable, its tail is so long and it’s roots are so deep I just wanted to sleep. .  And the fear of going mad, devotion to stone, I can’t even look after a pot plant at home. I’m not equipped with the knowledge I need, I know nothing of flowers or trees or seeds. What is this pull towards land and stone and what is this journey I must do alone? If I am to drop into this deep hole. Lord, carry me through and protect my soul.

LET ME DOWN GENTLY, LET ME DOWN SLOW YOU LANDED ME HERE A LONG TIME AGO STONE IS MY BELLY TREES ARE MY LUNG ROOTS ARE MY FEET LEAVES ARE MY TONGUE LET ME DOWN GENTLY, LET ME DOWN SLOW YOU LANDED ME HERE A LONG TIME AGO WATER MY BELLY  AIR IN MY LUNG TREES MY LEGS FRUIT MY TONGUE WATER MY BELLY  AIR IN MY LUNG TREES ARE MY LEGS FRUIT MY TONGUE PEOPLE COME AND GO, RETURNING TO THE EARTH LET THE DYING DIE, LET THE MOTHERS BIRTH OH DARK LIGHT, DARK LIGHT WHEN WILL THIS BE DONE OH DARK LIGHT, DARK LIGHT WHEN WILL THIS BE DONE LET ME DOWN GENTLY, LET ME DOWN SLOW YOU LANDED ME HERE A LONG TIME AGO YOU LANDED ME HERE A LONG TIME AGO

THROUGH THIS FOG OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS THROUGH THIS MURKY, DUSTY DEN MOTHER NATURE COME TO MY SENSES AGAIN HEAR THE PEEWIT’S SONG ON HIGH TURN MY EYES TOWARD THE SKY TOUCH THE EARTH, BREATHE THE AIR COME TO MY SENSES AGAIN FEEL THE BITE AS I STEP OUT THE DOOR WATCH THE BIRDS HOVER AND SOAR AND THE BREEZE AS IT BENDS THE SAPLINGS AND TREES COME TO MY SENSES AGAIN COME TO MY SENSES, SENSES, SENSES AGAIN ) It may look like I’ve left but I’ve not gone away That’s what I do, that’s how I sway ‘cause I know that I’ve fallen into a trap but it was for the journey to return and come back TO MY SENSES, SENSES, SENSES AGAIN BACK TO MY SENSES, SENSES, SENSES AGAIN

Look in deep. What do you see. I see snake, I see bear, I see bird on the wing I see snake I see bird on the wing, bird on the wing I see snake I see bear I see bird on the wing, bird on the wing I bear, bare it all can you bare it bare it all, I see snake I bear, I see bird on the wing, bird on the wing What have you come to teach me Spirit bear, Spirit bird, Spirit snake? Lie, rest and hibernate Fly, turn your wings to the wind. Learn to see in the dark Shed a skin. When you’re ready shed a skin. Oh Spirit snake what’s to be shed, what’s to be let go what’s to the be let in? Come to your senses. I see snake I see bear I bird on the wing bird on the wing I see snake I bird on the wing bird on the wing I see snake I bird on the wing bird on the wing I see snake I bird on the wing I bird on the wing I see snake I see bear I bird on the wing bird on the wing

SEE THE ROPE TIED AND TAUT ASKING US TO TIE A KNOT RISE, RISE UP AND SING WE ARE THE SOUND OF ONE STRING SEE THE STONE HANGING LOW ASKING US TO TAKE IT SLOW ROOTED TO THE EARTH WE SING WE ARE THE SOUND OF ONE STRING SEE THE HAZEL STANDING STRONG PROTECT US AS WE SING ALONG THREE CHANNELS RISE WITHIN WE ARE THE SOUND OF ONE STRING EVERYONE ONE A LIVING STONE BUILDING NOW A HOLY HOME STAND STRONG WE RISE AND SING WE ARE THE SOUND OF ONE STRING WE ARE THE SOUND  WE ARE THE SOUND WE ARE THE SOUND OF ONE  WE ARE THE SOUND  WE ARE THE SOUND WE ARE THE SOUND OF ONE WE ARE THE SOUND  WE ARE THE SOUND WE ARE THE SOUND OF ONE STRING WE ARE THE SOUND  WE ARE THE SOUND WE ARE THE SOUND OF ONE

MINE IS A RETURNING STORY, ONE THAT’S BEEN BEFORE MINE IS A RETURNING STORY. MINE IS A RETURNING STORY, CIRCLING BACK TO THIS LAND, THE ISLAND OF LISMORE TO THE NORTH THE HILLS OF MORVERN TO THE EAST THE LINN OF LORN TO THE SOUTH OF PAPS OF JURA TO THE WEST THE SOUND OF MULL PLAY A MELODY THAT MARKS THE CONTOURS OF BEN NEVIS AND OUTLINES THE PAPS OF GLENCOE DESCRIBED AS A JEWEL IN THE THROAT OF LOCH LINNHE THIS LOW LYING SLIVER OF LIMESTONE IS FERTILE, TRANQUIL AND GREEN. LISMORE HAS LAYERS OF CIVILISATION ENCRUSTED INTO THE LAND. BROCHS, VIKING CASTLES, AND HERE WAS THE SEAT OF THE PICTISH KINGDOM OF THE WEST. IN 533 MOLUOG ARRIVED TO ESTABLISH A CHRISTIAN SETTLEMENT MOLUOG MEANS MY LIGHT THE LAND IS HUMMING WITH LIFE. A BLACKSMITHS ANVIL CUTS THE AIR. CHURCH BELLS ARE RINGING, MILLSTONES GRIND THE BARLEY AND OATS. WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE SINGING. Air an leabhaidh ‘s mi  m’ onar  hi horann o ro ho  hi horann hi ui a  hi horann o ro ho  ’S mi ‘g ionnrainn mo leannan

I WANT TO BUILD A BAND THAT SOUNDS LIKE JIMMY SHAND BUT WHY YOU SAY, BECAUSE HE WAS THE BEST IN THE LAND HIS BEAT IT GOT YOU SWINGING, DANCING HAND IN HAND AND FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO REPRIMAND WE’LL HAVE TO SOUND LIKE JIMMY SHAND KATY’S ON THE KEYBOARD SHE LOVES A GAELIC SONG KNOCKING OUT THE CHORDS AS THE DANCERS HUM ALONG SHE KNOWS ALL THE LYRICS FOR THE OLD FASHIONED WALTZ SO WE ALL FALL IN LINE AS KATY EXHULTS SHONA CALMS HER DOWN WITH HER LEMON AND GINGER PIE SHE PLAYS GUITAR WITH A MIGHTY SWING AND A TWINKLE IN HER EYE BUT NOW I’M HEARING MUTINY, MUTINY IN THE RANKS. THEY'VE SLIPPED INTO REGGAE FOR THE CANADIAN BARN DANCE I WANT TO BUILD A BAND THAT SOUNDS LIKE JIMMY SHAND BUT WHY YOU SAY, BECAUSE HE WAS THE BEST IN THE LAND HIS BEAT IT GOT YOU SWINGING, DANCING HAND IN HAND AND FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO REPRIMAND WE’LL HAVE TO SOUND LIKE JIMMY SHAND ARTHUR PLAYS THE WHISTLE, THE MUSIC’S GONE IN DEEP PROBABLY HELPED BY SHEPHERDING AND ROUNDING UP THE SHEEP HE’D LIKE TO SEE US LIFT OUR EYES FROM THE BUSY SCORE AND WATCH THE SMILING FACES AND THE DANCERS ON THE FLOOR NOELLE TENDS TO ASK IF WE HAVE TO PLAY SO FAST CAN’T WE DROP THE TEMPO, I RESPOND, FLABBERGHASTED JIMMY PLAYS A REEL AT A HUNDRED AND TWELVE BPM JUST PLAY HALF THE NOTES UNTIL WE REACH THE END I WANT TO BUILD A BAND THAT SOUNDS LIKE JIMMY SHAND BUT WHY YOU SAY, BECAUSE HE WAS THE BEST IN THE LAND HIS BEAT IT GOT YOU SWINGING, DANCING HAND IN HAND AND FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO REPRIMAND WE’LL HAVE TO SOUND LIKE JIMMY SHAND A BOX IS A REQUIREMENT TO SOUND LIKE JIMMY SHAND AND I’M HAPPY TO SAY WE HAVE A CREW TO COMPLIMENT THE BAND TO FILL THE SHOES OF JIMMY WE TRULY ARE BLESSED ANNE PLAYS THE RIGHT HAND, WHEELY DUNCAN PLAYS THE LEFT YORICK IS OUR DRUMMER, THE ONE WHO FOUND THE STONE HE GREW UP IN DEVON BUT NOW CALLS LISMORE HOME BUT WAIT, SOMETHING’S SHIFTED, YORICK’S INTO SAMBA SEE THOSE HIPS A SWAYING IT’S A DASHING WHITE LA BAMBA! I WANT TO BUILD A BAND THAT SOUNDS LIKE JIMMY SHAND BUT WHY YOU SAY, BECAUSE HE WAS THE BEST IN THE LAND HIS BEAT IT GOT YOU SWINGING, DANCING HAND IN HAND AND FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO REPRIMAND WE’LL HAVE TO SOUND LIKE JIMMY SHAND

THE OLD WAYS ARE LEANING IN, THEY HEAR OUR SONG AS WE CLEAR THE HOLY WELL I HEAR THEM SING ALONG THE OLD WAYS ARE LEANING IN, THEY HEAR OUR SONG LEAF AND WIND ARE ON OUR BACK SHOOING US ALONG HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH THE OLD WAYS ARE LEANING IN, THEY HEAR OUR SONG LEAF AND WIND ARE ON OUR BACK SHOOING US ALONG THE OLD WAYS ARE LEANING IN, THEY HEAR OUR SONG LEAF AND WIND ARE ON OUR BACK SHOOING US ALONG HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH