Guy Fawkes' Signature - James Yorkston

Your friend from next door was around again

Telling me he knew what we’d been through

As his house was too small

And he was going to have to move

And his son had had his struggles with the piano

And for weeks they’d gotten by with no sleep

The dog’s saw tooth had kept them full awake

Lost and scurrying with worry

So maybe we could bond now over a drink

(Hopeless, helpless eyes)

Or at least I could play at their wedding, for free as a favor

Now we are the best of friends

And I tried to tell him at the last wedding I played

Where it’d been suggested I just strayed in drunk from some nearby Irish bar

«It'd do me good to leave the house», he did say

But I’ve been out all week

We just keep different hours

And I think of Guy Fawkes' signature

Before and after torture

What in the world he’d been through

To change his whole demeanor

Maybe I should buy myself a Japanese fighting dog

To ease my dealings with the world

I can wave at everyday passers-by

Tip my hat and twinkle my eye

I can fold my arms and smile like the next man

I can listen in and understand

I’m sure I can

You’re friend from next door came around again

He brought some good coffee and cheese that was just destined for the bin

Even the cat didn’t touch it

Just turned on it’s nose and fled

To the safey of your side of the bed

I almost invited him in

He said he had a book to show me

Some autobiography of a silver screen harmonica man

I smiled and told him, «We call it a movie»

But he didn’t quite understand

He askes: «You like real music don’t you?

A Pussy Riot and Louie Armstrong?»

Sure I like Billie Holiday and dobe dobe do

«Do you know here?

Well I guess you do»

And I think of Guy Fawkes' signature

Before and after torture

What in the world they are going through

To change their whole demeanor

And some of us are born with a luck

We never fall out, we never notice, we barely care

And some lovers decide that hate is the best way forward

They can not control what they feel in any other way

Well that’s not me

(I'm full of love for my fellow man)

Isn’t that what you just heard me say?

Some of us are born with a luck

We never fall out, we never notice, we barely care

And some lovers decide that hate is the best way forward

They can not control what they feel in any other way

Well that’s not me

(I'm full of love for my fellow man)

Isn’t that what you just heard me say?

Sure, sure, I’ll, I’ll meet you down the beach

I’m good by the sea, well I’m okay anyways

You know I used to think those jeans where haunted

But it was just the wind and the grass and the confusion underneath

We love it here, we’re a friendly bunch, I suppose

Just be sure to believe what we believe

And it was not the spirits that bent those branches

Just the topsoil reaping off the fields

I used to shelter there with my others

Turn the lights off, lay back, and watch the stars

And I can blame the priests

I can blame the cold

I can blame the dark and rank, bad rot

I can blame my trust in nature

(In the proclimations of strangers)

But it’s all just spit on the fire

(Seed in the snow)

And then a long walk home

I think of Guy Fawkes' signature

Before and after torture

What in the world are we going through

That has changed our whole demeanor