Written after a trip to The National Arboretum in Derbyshire. The shear enormity of the wall of names dedicated to the fallen is breath taking, and then you realise there are no ranks mentioned at all. It evokes the thought of all the war memorials throughout the world and the fact that those names would have been carved out by the survivors of war, all with their own crosses to bare. “Names In The Stone” tells the story of a son’s relationship with his Father, a stone mason and survivor of war.
lyrics
Born to a stonemason 1904
My father’s apprentice after the war
He taught me my trade and to start where I stand
I know Portland stone like the back of my hand
The carbon tip’s sharpened the blades are honed
We’re unified by the peace of stone
Scratching the surface
Names in the stone
Waving him off down the road from the door
Desperate to follow my Father to war
I read his smile as the pride for his son
But he was just thankful that I was too young
And I see that look in his eyes again
Where memories break free and they rise again
Breaking the surface
To be carried like dust on a cruel breeze
Float like the wreckage on merciless seas
Cut like the letters that spell out the names in the stone
Safe behind borders our flags are unfurled
And mark out the still point of each turning world
Poets united in unrestrained verse
The truth is uncovered for better or worse
As the tip of the iceberg deceives the eye
It’s the love of a Mother that sees the lie
Under the surface
Carried like dust on a cruel breeze
Float like the wreckage on merciless seas
Cut like the letters that spell out the names in the stone
As the tip of the iceberg deceives the eye
It’s the love of a Mother that sees the lie
Summoned on Sunday the toll of the bell
The constant reminder of all those that fell
Some finding solace some finding faith
Others stay silent renouncing their faith
supported by 82 fans who also own “Names In The Stone”
Absolutely hooked on this album from first listen. How rare is that with prog!??? Excellent songwriting and musicianship. Can’t wait to dive into the rest of the collection. Thomas Lock