WEEK 52 - SONG 52 - Bouncing Away (1987 - 2012)

WEEK 52 - SONG 52 - Bouncing Away (1987 - 2012) - FREE DOWNLOAD @ BANDCAMP

So here it is. My final song of the year. 

For this I used a recording of myself, at 7 years old, singing in the kitchen. Performing my first ever original composition, which was completely improvised and totally off the top of my disturbed little brain. My sister filmed this and there have been many years of laughing at the state of me bouncing away until my heart's content. 

I thought it was a cool way to end the year, but it's also very odd to remix my childhood self. 

The track has a lot of different styles and hopefully my 7 year old self would be most proud of how I bounced his voice to the beats yo!! 

Made with Ableton Live 8, Reason 5, Magical8bit plugin and some samples I downloaded from Looperman.com and Freesound.org

It's been a fun year!! Hope you enjoy this last sonic contribution to 2012!! 

Happy 2013!!! YEHA!!!!!!

WEEK 51 - SONG 51 - The Festive Conversion of Mr. Tinsel (feat. Martin McCullough)

WEEK 51 - SONG 51 - The Festive Conversion of Mr. Tinsel (feat. Martin McCullough) - DOWNLOAD FOR FREE @ Bandcamp

OPENING CHORUS

Make the yuletide gay

…aaaaah…

Bah Humbug I say

…oooooooh…

VERSE 1

You can keep your Christmas farce

And stuffing your hand in a turkey's arse

Brussel sprouts, fairy lights

Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ!!

Cracker jokes, they make me moan

Won't everyone just leave me alone?

BRIDGE

What does Father Christmas do when his elves misbehave?

He gives them the sack.

What do you give a dog for Christmas?

A mobile bone.

What’s brown and creeps around the house?

Mince spies.

VERSE 2

Hot mince pies and brandy butter

Panic buying, shops a'clutter 

Christmas trees and cranberry sauce

Jingle bells, I couldn't give a toss

Fairytale in New York? Not again, I say

Won't this winter wonderland ever go away?

BRIDGE 2 

Narrator: 

T'was the night before Christmas 

And he'd not given an inch

Mr. Tinsel was still complaining, 

Like an old grinch

Until a bright light, yon he did see

T'was the fairy Gaybreel atop his Christmas tree

CHORUS

Why you so like, anti-Christmas?

Has Santa never showered you with his sparkly festiveness

When he spread his good will all through the air

Were you never there to receive your share? Don't you care? 

Baby Jesus would cry

At the sight of your misery, Oh my!

Narrator: 

And with that Gaybreel waved his big wand

All at once Mr. Tinsel found he was quite fond

Of tinsel and pressies and festive cheer

He exclaimed, "Maybe this is my year!" 

 

CODA

Oh my goodness! Everyone was right

I have seen the sparkly light

Hark the herald! I lost my way

Maybe the yuletide should be gay

WEEK 50 - SONG 50 - The Journey of Sturdy Ron Chiclet (feat. Rachel Austin & Conor Barry)

WEEK 50 - SONG 50 - The Journey of Sturdy Ron Chiclet (feat. Rachel Austin & Conor Barry) - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

Words:

Jangle
Keynote
Assist
Shorten
Bowling
Farmer
Sinnew
Leisure
Syntax
Fanfare
Amen
Polar
Implore
Undo
Sender
Setdown
Undue
Convoy
Tenpin
Habit
Spindle
Offset
Setup
Recluse
Akron
Chiclet
Forcefeed
Table
Explore
Marvel
Tampon
Sturdy
Hormone
Ponder
Circle
Django
Shellac
Excuse
Scabbard
Rabies

Below is an image of the words that Rachel and Conor used for their vocal parts: 

WEEK 49 - SONG 49 - Parallel Lines (feat. Amidships & MENDER)

WEEK 49 - SONG 49 - Parallel Lines (feat. Amidships & MENDER) - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp!

Parallel Lines

I took a lot of heat in the passenger seat,

I only had three minutes to speak.

Inhaled a few times, tried to clear the lines,

You know my pulse was at it's peak.

There is a parallel line, that decomposes in time, when it's missing there is a problem.

There is a way that you realise, it's in the eyes, the eyes, the eyes.

It's in the eyes, the eyes, the eyes.

I've only got four seconds, before I fall asleep.

We never really had a chance to weep.

It only took a second to measure the minute.

Then your face began to sleep.

You know a parallel line decomposes in time, when it's missing there is a problem.

There is a way that you realise, it's in the eyes, the eyes, the eyes.

It's in the eyes, the eyes, the eyes.

Cause there's a parallel line that decomposes in time, when it's missing there is a problem.

And there's a way that you realise, it's in the eyes, the eyes, the eyes.

It's in the eyes, the eyes, the eyes.

Because I took a lot of heat in the passenger seat,

I only had three minutes to speak.

I inhaled a few times, trying to clear the lines,

Because my pulse was at it's peak.

WEEK 48 - SONG 48 - VISUAL RESIDUAL (feat. Chris Allen, Paul J. Fox, Rory McCadden & Szever Peradi)

WEEK 48 - SONG 48 - VISUAL RESIDUAL (feat. Chris Allen, Paul J. Fox, Rory McCadden & Szever Peradi) - FREE DOWNLOAD @ BANDCAMP

I put out the feelers on Facebook and asked friends if they wanted to collaborate via the internet this week. 4 people got involved, sending me audio files via Dropbox throughout the week. 

Today I mashed all their offerings together into this ugly beast of a thing! It's pretty dark and menacing in places and it's a fairly abstract composition overall. 

I'm down with this shit. 

It's also got some seriously sexy upright bass playing from Chris Allen. Some lovely textural / pastoral sound scape stuff from Paul J. Fox, field recordings from the set of a film made by Rory McCadden and some guitar riffery by Szever Peradi. Chris also threw in some guitar stuff too (that massive crescendo stuff at the end was his). 

Hope y'all enjoy it. 

WEEK 47 - SONG 47 - IMMERWAHR (feat. Amy & Adam McCausland)

WEEK 47 - SONG 47 - IMMERWAHR (feat. Amy & Adam McCausland) - DOWNLOAD NOW FOR FREE AT BANDCAMP.

In chemistry these things are very clear to me 
I collect these poisons and store them safely 
Subservient to his ideals, 
Can't he see what will become of these things? 

The cloud of smoke advanced like a yellow wall, 
You were there when 6000 choked 
Nothing slowed you down when my heart tore 


In twelve years, your son follows my lead 
Suicide in the dark, like a poisonous cloud 
Hitler's scientists planted the seed 

Or the death of all you know and love 
My heart was pierced by your military pistol

WEEK 46 - SONG 46 - Bard's Sic Now

WEEK 46 - SONG 46 - Bard's Sic Now - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp 

WEEK 45 - SONG 45 - GOING TO CHURCH

WEEK 45 - SONG 45 - GOING TO CHURCH

WEEK 44 - SONG 44 - Basically Your Bass Is Basted

WEEK 44 - SONG 44 - Basically Your Bass Is Basted - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 43 - SONG 43 - Citrus Exhibitionist

WEEK 43 - SONG 43 - Citrus Exhibitionist - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 42 - SONG 42 - Aching Shark (Life, The Universe & Everything)

WEEK 42 - SONG 42 - Aching Shark (Life, The Universe & Everything) - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 41 - SONG 41 - STILL SWEATIN'

WEEK 41 - SONG 41 - STILL SWEATIN' - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 40 - SONG 40 - Sunday Bus Sleep

WEEK 40 - SONG 40 - Sunday Bus Sleep - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 39 - SONG 39 - ANYWAY

WEEK 39 - SONG 39 - ANYWAY - FREE DOWNLOAD @ BANDCAMP

LYRICS:

When you're young all you need

Is someone to come along 

And light a path through the trees

I recall the blackest nights

But sunny seashore days

Sand in shoes, torch in hand

CHORUS: Anyway

Home again, sun or rain

Left to fend for ourselves

In a way

Home alone, made me twice as strong 

For the world.

But when the world 

Far from here

Teaches you new codes

Teaches you to behave

All I feel is a lack of being prepared

And all the time it would save 

CHORUS: Anyway

Home again, sun or rain

Left to fend for ourselves

In a way

Home alone, made me twice as strong 

For the world.

Is it hard not to blame?

It's not a bad thing anyway

Trying instead to see the light

To get it right, brighter days

CHORUS: Anyway

Home again, sun or rain

Left to fend for ourselves

In a way

Home alone, made me twice as strong 

For the world.

WEEK 38 - SONG 38 - Employee of the Month

WEEK 38 - SONG 38 - Employee of the Month - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

LYRICS:

When you walk into the office

Realise you haven't pulled up

Your zip has exposed your modesty  

Must be quick to deflect the attention of your coworkers

You look around and beads of sweat are creeping out of your forehead  

Don't look down. Don't! 

Sneaked a peek now they see… 

Tried and failed to make it a dance

Employee of the month: No chance! 

Forever a fucking loser 

And now indecent exposure 

   

Bargaining 

Smile and shrug and shudder in shame

Fight or flight

Window or stairs?

Fire extinguisher, through the 5th floor window. 

So sad. 

Life is long beyond your own death 

Dry your eyes and take a deep breath

WEEK 37 - SONG 37 - Pocket Composting

WEEK 37 - SONG 37 - Pocket Composting - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

Pocket Composting 

I like to smell new shoes all day

I like cafe au lait and hairspray

My spandex handbag has a leopard print

And I freshen up with bags of mince

A Hamsa shawl and a rugby tackle

Temper temper metro-sexual 

Continental breakfast and cancer stick

A real man knows how to suck … 

I close my eyes and pretend it's my wife

This tragic drama, this double life 

Oh my love you wouldn't understand

The virtues of man

I close my eyes and pretend it's my wife

This tragic drama, this double life 

I am a very petty man

I am a very petty man… 

WEEK 36 - SONG 36 - Three Five Six Seven (feat. Niall Kelly)

WEEK 36 - SONG 36 - Three Five Six Seven (feat. Niall Kelly) - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 35 - SONG 35 - The Doors of the Cliffs

WEEK 35 - SONG 35 - The Doors of the Cliffs - FREE DOWNLOAD @ BANDCAMP

LYRICS:

Come wild heresay

I'm a loner

Fold it up, fold away

When I'm older

If you could free their petty eyes

I don't know if I would 

I don't know if I could say "hey!"

Into the blue mould of the cold rain

I don't know what I mean

I don't know what I said before

And all that salt in the semen

It came from soy sauce

Please get me a glass of water

Amoured tanks roll into bedlam

I guess it saves them

I have a gun 

Pitfalls absorb the Earth for a while

For a while

Abyss turns inside out for a while

WEEK 34 - SONG 34 - DONKEY DERBY

WEEK 34 - SONG 34 - DONKEY DERBY - FREE DOWNLOAD @ BANDCAMP

WEEK 33 - SONG 33 - APOPTOSIS

WEEK 33 - SONG 33 - APOPTOSIS - FREE DOWNLOAD @ BANDCAMP

WEEK 32 - SONG 32 - Lysandra Bellargus

WEEK 32 - SONG 32 - Lysandra Bellargus - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

LYRICS

Fate it snores another glass house

Radical shapes into the galactic debris

Hounds wailing at me

Scream forty livid candles enamoured 

Iridescently

The crawling of the willow

The first turnover wonder of the afterglow

The spawning of azaleas 

Faithful yawns and potions without

Radical smells as far as I can see

Universally whispering to trees

Another load of bobbing heads and bodies

Like volatile steam

The crawling of the willow

The first turnover wonder of the afterglow

The spawning of azaleas 

    

And reflections in woven eyes

Crystal foxes clawing at the dawn

Sleep in a quasar orchard

Rest your fuzzy head on featherweight  infinity

Worship of Adonis Blue

Many trails of pollen dizzying the tubes

WEEK 31 - SONG 31 - Pruritus

WEEK 31 - SONG 31 - Pruritus - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 30 - SONG 30 - Dextrose

WEEK 30 - SONG 30 - Dextrose - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 29 - SONG 29 - PARADISIACAL (feat. Conor Agnew & Amy O'Connell)

WEEK 29 - SONG 29 - PARADISIACAL (feat. Conor Agnew & Amy O'Connell) - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp 

Guitar, Bass, Drum programming - Conor Agnew

Vocals, Lyrics - Amy O'Connell

Additional drum programming, Synths, Arrangement, Production - Martin Byrne

                --- PARADISIACAL--- 

Crazy days are on me now

Can't shake this sense of doubt

This world is not mine

No, I feel so out of my own time

Which is the face I show,

To you,

You don't want to know...

Crazy days are on me now

Can't shake this sense of doubt

Crazy days are on me now

Can't shake this sense of doubt

Though I am alone I'm strong now

Nothing can destroy my right

Twist and turn through the storm

but never stop this endless fight




WEEK 28 - SONG 28 - MANNEQUINS (feat. Edwyn Butler, Andy Harrison & Hannah McPhillimy)

WEEK 28 - SONG 28 - MANNEQUINS (feat. Ed Butt, Andy Harrison & Hannah McPhillimy) - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

Lyrics, vocals & original chords by Edwyn Butler 

Produced / Remixed / Rearranged by Martin Byrne

Guitars by Andy Harrison

Violin by Hannah McPhillimy

Mannequins 

He often made mannequins Happy

In those charming Ways

Children smoke consider life a joke

The audience guessed the next rhyme he said

Beside the mind shaft

The Gun shooters

Are all so negative

He kicked up his heels

For the fire had died

Lived for the freedom

He may of just lied

Then there is a man whose touch was so gentle, it was a hard hand to hold careful to mould your temptations and fights that cross beyond time.

He went in to lions dens

Puts his hands on girls hair felt flames in his finger tips

He kicked up his heels and the fire had died lived for his freedom he may have just lied

Kicked up his heels

WEEK 27 - SONG 27 - Trans Spurt

WEEK 27 - SONG 27 - Trans Spurt - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

S.A.W.F.A.Y Videos For Your Viewing Pleasure

Making of ... WEEK 8 "Coffee & Ginger Nuts"

Making of ... Week 10 "Stardust Velocity"

Making of ... Week 20 "Pagophagia"

More videos at: http://www.youtube.com/user/doctorlilt

WEEK 26 - SONG 26 - Exformation

WEEK 26 - SONG 26 - Exformation - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

Track contains audio from 'aShow with Ze Frank', "Exformation" Episode. http://ashow.zefrank.com/episodes/26

WEEK 25 - SONG 25 - PROCESSIS

WEEK 25 - SONG 25 - PROCESSIS - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

CRAZY TIMES!

Hi there folks, I've just gone and done something which could be considered more than a little bit crazy:
I've just repriced every album in my Song A Day For A Year project down to a measly £1 per download.
Let's get that into perspective shall we?
That's £1 (100 pennies) about the price of a packet of biscuits, for a download of around 30 original songs, written, recorded, mixed and mastered by myself. Not only that, you can choose to download the songs in any digital format you desire (such as fully lossless wav or FLAC)
Each month last year I put my songs into monthly collections, so there are now 12 'albums' that contain the entire 365 songs I wrote and recorded in 2011.
And there's more! Many of the album downloads contain bonus hidden extras (like music videos, lyrics, artwork, remixes, re-edits of other songs etc.)
You can download my entire anthology of work from 2011 (365 songs + extras) for the insanely low price of £12!!
Yep. I have actually lost my sanity tokens!!
What the heck are you waiting for? Get on over there now and take advantage of this limited offer before I see the error of my ways!!
Also, for those looking a little dabble into the world of the Song A Day For A Year project, I've repriced the TOP TEN album to £1 also. That means you get to download and own a copy of the 10 most popular tracks from 2011, including my first collaboration with Duke Special and the tracks I made with Tony Wright and Robyn G. Shiels.
I think I've said enough here. I think you people know you're getting a crazy amount of amazing music for ridiculously low amounts of cashflow. No time like the present! Get on over to the SADFAY Bandcamp page and get yourself some quality audio for stupid cheap!
Just a final note... If any of you wonderfully generous and charitable people see these shenanigans as a sign I've definitely tipped over into looney bin land, you can consider donating more than £1 for any album you decide to download.
There was a time I was selling these albums for £7 a pop, which considering that each album has 30 songs (give or take), is still silly good value.
This is truly a limited offer, so take advantage of it while you can! Spread the word! Marty's gone nuts! Get his music cheapity cheap cheap now!
Cheers! ^_^

Selling a guitar...

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/westfield-semi-acoustic-guitar/104914285

Hey friends and fans, I'm selling this wee guitar.

I've written many songs on it. All of the acoustic songs from 2011's Song A Day... project were written and recorded with it. Previous to that, it was my trusty sidekick while I was in a wee band called The Ju-Ju Hounds. We did a bit of gigging around Belfast, nothing too intense, so it's in good nick (just a couple of minor scratches). 

Have a look at the Gumtree ad and feel free to pass on the word to others, if you can think of anyone who might be interested. 

Cheers! 

WEEK 24 - SONG 24 - THEMINS

WEEK 24 - SONG 24 - THEMINS - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 23 - SONG 23 - A&E PART 1

WEEK 23 - SONG 23 - A&E PART 1 - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 23 - SONG 23 - A&E PART 1 - Listen @ Soundcloud

WEEK 22 - SONG 22 - Debridement

WEEK 22 - SONG 22 - Debridement - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 22 - SONG 22 - Debridement @ Soundcloud

WEEK 21 - SONG 21 - BURNT

WEEK 21 - SONG 21 - BURNT - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 21 - SONG 21 - BURNT @ Soundcloud

LYRICS:

BURNT

Dizzy with heat

Can't get the shade

It's wonderful 

But it cooks my brains

Escape to the shade

Left thinking to ourselves

There is meaning in everything   

And what does it all mean?

Time apart, we pour our assumptions

Into the spaces between us

Do we take these chances

Or risk getting burned? 

With your love, will I get burned?  

WEEK 20 - SONG 20 - Pagophagia (featuring Caroline Pugh)

WEEK 20 - SONG 20 - Pagophagia (featuring Caroline Pugh) - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 20 - SONG 20 - Pagophagia (featuring Caroline Pugh) @ Soundcloud

WEEK 19 - SONG 19 - Bleeding In Bath

Week 19 - Song 19 - Bleeding In Bath - FREE DOWNLOAD @ Bandcamp

WEEK 19 - SONG 19 - Bleeding In Bath @ Soundcloud

WEEK 18 - SONG 18 - Triassic Dominant Terrestrial Vertebrates (featuring Dan Leith)

WEEK 18 - SONG 18 - Triassic Dominant Terrestrial Vertebrates (featuring Dan Leith)

Piano, glockenspiel, guitar, vocals, lyrics - Dan Leith

Beats, synths, guitars, arrangement, production - Martin Byrne

LYRICS: 

So I'm a barfly. A known lone drinker. I thought the world was mine. Yeah, hook line and sinker, baby. But that's the shame of the game that we're playing. Been talking shit for years with no clue what I'm saying. And it's getting cold walking home all alone. If I could find the words then maybe I'd pick up the phone. But I spend my day watching tenebre on blu-ray. I smoke a jay and drink till this all goes away. But it's hard to keep a wolf at bay. When it's getting hungry and you've never trained it to sit or stay. So I drive for miles to spend the weekend away to escape the line if I'd taken the time to make you mine we'd be okay. We'd be okay. We'd be okay. We'd be okay if I'd taken the time to make you mine. We'd be okay. We'd be okay. But we're not. So I'm a nightmare. A stone cold killer. I strike with rhetoric. Pathetic, sick, I stumble home again. And I know enough, push comes to shove, I can pretend. Bite the bullet, strap my heart down and call you my friend. And I know you posted me how this story ends. With dinosaurs, growing old, walking hand in hand. And as charming as all of that may seem. This carnivore just can't handle his dreams. Wake up in the night, always drenched in sweat, hoping to forget, the bad times we had. But they're locked up inside my head, and we're both locked out, and we can't get in. And I don't know if we'll ever find the key. But if I'd taken the time to make you mine we'd be okay. We'd be okay... 

WEEK 17 - SONG 17 - The Magical People of Bufotenin

WEEK 17 - SONG 17 - The Magical People of Bufotenin

LYRICS: 

Verse 1

Something bad in his body, he went to that place again

Throwing up in the toilet bowl, lumps of meat and spaghetti

Chorus

As he stares, colours and shapes begin to blur

In and out of reality, cold sweats and grinding teeth

Black dots appear before his eyes

Tiny voices grow in volume

"Who are all these little guys?"

Bridge

"We are magical people and we have traveled far

An army on a quest to find the Magical Shiny Shard

Up through your plug hole and toilet bowl we have come

Can you help us find this ancient ruin, oh Great one?"

Verse 2

"Well of course I'd love to help you out" - he says,

"Tell me more about your unique and heroic quest 

I'll keep your path clear of toenails and fluff, any obstacles I  find

You are a curious people, most unlike my kind"

Bridge 2

"Folklore suggests the Magical Shard has many forms

Some are sharp and some are forked, some are deadly to behold" 

Middle 8 / SLOW DOWN

"Wait! I think I might know what you're looking for

Is this it, in my kitchen drawer?"

"Why yes! Hooray!! The first stage of our quest is complete!!"

Bridge 3

"Now you must come with us, to the Freezing Valley of Ice

And lie in the cold sea, where we will release the crimson tide"

Hmmm…. 

Outro / Chorus thing… 

The celebrations of the shiny shard of magical wonder

Singing and cheering as they make their way to the land far yonder

They reach the Valley of Ice, they very nicely, advise him to get in

"It's very cold", "But you must enter!" He's told. He doesn't want to be bold, so he takes the plunge, now they're climbing over him! 

They take the shard and they carry it above their heads 

They make their way down his arms, release the crimson red, 

They're cheering and smiling with their funny little voices

As the light starts fading from his eyes

Tunnel vision, as he slowly fades away

WEEK 16 - SONG 16 - Other People (featuring lyrics written by other people)

WEEK 16 - SONG 16 - Other People (featuring lyrics written by other people)

All Music / Production / Mixing by:

Martin Byrne

Words by: 

Paul Fox Jr. 

Chris McBride

Alan Jackson-Bell

Tani Neumann

Kris Marsden

James Byrne

Conor Agnew

Ian Pearce

LYRICS

How much are they paying you to be their fucking tongue? <MARTIN BYRNE>

I'll pay you handsomely, if you tongue me some. <PAUL FOX JR>

Just hope it pays for your lobotomy. <CHRIS MCBRIDE>

You may as well be wired up in an iron lung! <ALAN JACKSON-BELL>

I'll have my say on the Daily Mail website, you better listen because I'm always right! Now you ask me to write some more?! I'll tongue your fucking ice cream when I show u the carte dor <PAUL FOX JR>

[And] As long as you can live with it,

[I] ain't gonna give a shit. <TANI NEUMANN>

Mindless drivel. Regurgitation. Like a puppet wrapped with no direction, aimlessly ordered around. Bounced up and down, by the hand of the man. That awful sound. From where does it come? How much do they pay you to be their fucking tongue?<KRIS MARSDEN>

Willy Loman never made a lot of money. Half Blake, red dragon. Saturn eats his children. God loves his children. Abraham kills his children. <JAMES BYRNE>

See them as your stars, but blinded by the sun, a barren azure sky can't sooth the burns they left, smothered for your own few words by their monoxide breath. Cradle your empire's ashes in the urn, the infant you can't let go, letting Nero start the vigil and sound the swansong, as he watches from on high. And a burning of London brings a tear to the eye, it's fuel to the fire when you add poison and lies, it's arson, Nick! Arsenic! Arson, Nick! Arsenic! Arson, Nick! Arsenic! <CONOR AGNEW>

How much are they paying you to be their "man from Mars", 

A talking puppet can't tell his head from his own arse. <TANI NEUMANN>

‎If it's a toss-up between the world and cake, then you'll know which option I will take, especially if it's Battenberg <CHRIS MC BRIDE>

‎'It's Not Enough' <IAN PEARCE>

Woke up on a new dawn day

Reflecting back on the words that we say, do we really mean them do we really care, now the feeling I am feeling is empty and bare.

I walk around this empty room, should I feel down , consumed by the gloom or should I stand and wade through it all, time to turn face the world and no longer feel small.

So, goodbye sadness, stinging tears and all the bad time through the years. Time to live my life , no sorrow, no -one promised me tomorrow.<ALAN JACKSON-BELL>

WEEK 15 - SONG 15 - Road Kill Twitching

WEEK 15 - SONG 15 - Road Kill

All SAWFAY songs also available on Soundcloud

WEEK 14 - SONG 14 - Third Hotel (featuring Chris Allen)

WEEK 14 - SONG 14 - Third Hotel (featuring Chris Allen)

Martin Byrne - samples, arrangement, mixing

Chris Allen - bass, spoken word, arrangement

WEEK 13 - SONG 13 - Chainsaw Disco

WEEK 13 - SONG 13 - Chainsaw Disco

Show yourself 

It's all that you have left

As they miss the date again.  

Young hands on sharp machines

Your endless talk is cheap

Oil the wheels of the system 

Don't you shoot yourself in the foot again, let me show you what it's like 

WEEK 12 - SONG 12 - Stay Down Dog

WEEK 12 - SONG 12 - Stay Down Dog
Stay Down Dog

I got the whole damn pride

Licking my wounds tonight

And the meat of my drive 

Goes out of date

Pack up my sanity

Put it on a plane, or boat

I will, I will escape me

But I won't, I won't

What gives you authority?

Sounds like you're just complaining to me

You look pretty when you're angry

Like a stripper dancing for money

I want to lick the boots of confrontation

Down at heel, stay down dog

I want to be angry

But it seems irrational to me

Now I've bitten my tongue 

No more words will come

Pick one moment in time

And become the lion inside

Turning point, where I become alive

But I won't, I won't. 

It's too easy to slide.

Touch the leather mask

Smash your face in. 

Smash your pretty little face in  

Lipstick smile

Eyeliner

Bloody corpse, vandalised

Bludgeoned to death 

That's what you get

For thinking like me

For thinking like me

Not enough like me

Another feeble drone

Another puny ant

Another consumer

With a chip on his shoulder

I'll be a good boy

This time I promise

WEEK 11 - SONG 11 - The Monstrous Robot Rebellion

WEEK 11 - SONG 11 - The Monstrous Robot Rebellion

WEEK 10 - SONG 10 - Stardust Velocity (ft. Declan Legge, Michael Barkley, Michael Sampson & Caroline Pugh)

WEEK 10 - SONG 10 - Stardust Velocity (ft. Declan Legge, Michael Barkley, Michael Sampson & Caroline Pugh)

Written & Produced by Martin Byrne / Declan Legge

Guitars - Declan Legge

Drums - Michael Sampson

Trumpet - Michael Barkley

Additional lead vocals / Backing vocals - Caroline Pugh

Vocals / Keyboard / Acoustic guitar / Electric Bass / Synth / Programming / Arrangement - Martin Byrne

Recorded at Big Space Studio, Newry / MBHQ, Belfast

Engineered by Declan Legge / Martin Byrne

Mixed by Martin Byrne

Stardust Velocity

This side is behind the moon

Swallow the clouds and stardust 

Into the fog, into the glacier

Santiago

The jewel of conspiracy

The diamond cuts through the snow

The legend grows mountain high

Fifty years

In the waiting lounge again

Stargirl's are smiling 

Dry martinis and rubbing elbows

With the suits

You can carry my luggage

With your sweet smile and perfect skin

Flash your lashes, a little love in

We're at ease

  

To the sun

We are fleas

In a tomb

Engine grease

To the sun

Shield your eyes

Crash and burn 

Skydive 

Transmission from a solar flare

Firefly 

Contact denied 

A special day 

The ashes and the tyres

Free fall of broken limbs

The documents in the secret agent's folder

Ripped up and buried deep

It's not your day

The smashing of the windows

Free fall and frozen screams

Wendy I can fly

You wanna taste the sun

You own the sun

WEEK 9 - SONG 9 - Meals For One

WEEK 9 - SONG 9 - Meals For One

Sending "hello"s
My keyboard froze
Words like little digital leaves fluttering across the cyberspace sands into the internet ether,

Without reply
I sigh
Go make some tea
Soon I'll return

Kettle won't boil
Home heating oil
Must remember to take out the bins

Living alone really suits me
Oh please won't you stop by
Hoping the neighbours don't shoot me
I laugh and then I cry

Meals for one
No one cares
Dry my clothes on the stairs
Escape this world
It's all online
Nothing gets done, don't have time

You sent me a smile
Greets me like wings of humming birds brushing gently across my beaming face on a spring day

Living alone really suits me
Isolation is fine
Maybe I need to go outside

WEEK 8 - SONG 8 - Coffee & Ginger Nuts

WEEK 8 - SONG 8 - Coffee & Ginger Nuts

Coffee & Ginger Nuts


Walk with me, grey muddled day
As cafe crowds fade through the frosted windows


From the duffle coat out shoots a hand
A raised eyebrow at the command
Saved by the puddle that sets us apart again


Bus driver ­glaring at all in disdain


Inbred years of paranoia
Envy the loudest Casanova
It's not safe here
For the likes of you and me


Worn and weathered men spill into the streets
Through their judging eyes the weight of history
Soon pulls the smile from my face


Pick me up where I left off
You're laughing at the very thought... 
“There's a right way to be
There's a right way to be in this town”


Cross the busy road, find a quiet place


Shed these years of paranoia
Edge of seats, we sit and wait together
Coiled like cobras
So what if I kiss you right now?


So you think you can fix my life? 
You want to forget about yours? 
Always meddling in other people's lives
Why don't you just f-f-focus on your own?


The police, the shoppers and the gangsters
The kids, the hipsters and the pranksters
All stop and watch, united in their shock and disgust


I feel a lynching coming on
Round up the kids
We're gonna eat tonight


Run on home
Keep your head down
Lock your door
And have some coffee and ginger nuts

WEEK 8 - "IN THE STUDIO" VIDEO

WEEK 8 - Thoughts on "Getting Updates"

Hey folks,

I notice people have been asking me how to get updates when the Song A Week For A Year tracks go up online. When I upload the songs I post links to the bandcamp page on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ as well as this blog. I also post the songs up on the soundcloud page. 

The thing is, obviously if you're not online when these links are being posted there's a good chance you're going to miss them. Sure you might remember to go check out any of those pages, any other time, but will you? 

These days, it's very easy to forget about websites that you know and love, unless you're being constantly bombarded with reminders. In a sea of social network links to articles, videos, memes and funny images we find ourselves simply clicking whatever comes our way and forget about everything else. 

Personally, I don't like that: I don't like that websites have to constantly post "content" in order to remind me that they exist. It becomes content for content's sake and often it's nakedly so which immediately puts me off returning to the site. 

There are about 4 or 5 websites that I like to get reminded about constantly. The rest of the web? Well, I'll take it as I find it.

Yes, I have bookmarks and I have a bookmarks bar on my browser. But for me, the very small number of sites that post content that I'm always looking to read - the sites that specialise in a subject I'm always interested in: I want to subscribe to them via email!

Sites like this, this and this, I'm subscribed to by email and I am very pleased that I get a daily feed of what's happening on those sites.

How do you all feel about this? Am I being too old fashioned? 

Many of the other sites I like to visit don't offer email subscription anymore. Sites like this and this. They do offer an "RSS feed", which is nearly just as good as getting an email as an RSS reader (like Google's) can sit right beside your email inbox.

The thing is, I've just never gotten into the habit of checking an RSS reader. Lazy maybe? To me, their streamlined version of the website content isn't really appealing, whenever the original website is only a click away. Also, in my RSS reader, there are hundreds of feeds: It's content overload. 

For me, the solution is simple (and effective): Email subscription!

Provided the website doesn't email more than once a day (or every time someone at the website scratches their nose) and provided I know the content is always going to be interesting to me: email subscription, straight to my inbox, is the my information vehicle of choice!

So, in answer to all the people asking me, how to get updates of my latest Song A Week For A Year songs, I can't recommend highly enough: 

Subscribe to S.A.W.F.A.Y updates by email.

It takes two shakes of a lamb's tail. Simply click here enter your email address, (the security text) and "Confirm subscription request".

Once you do that, you'll get this: 

"Please check your inbox for a verification message from “FeedBurner Email Subscriptions”, the service that delivers email subscriptions for Song A Week For A Year. You will need to click a link listed in this message to activate your subscription. If you dont see a confirmation e-mail in a reasonable amount of time please check your bulk/spam folder." 

And then you're all set. 

Of course, as I care about my music and want as many people as possible to listen to it, love it, share it and spread the word, it's in my interest to give you guys as many ways as possible to hear it, I will continue to post to Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Blogger and Tumblr. This gives you all a number of choices as to how you want to keep up with the project: Some people use iPhones, so apparently they have issues with bandcamp. No probs! Soundcloud it up! Some people hate Facebook: No sweat! Follow my twitter feed / Google+ me / Subscribe to my blog updates! :) 

And of course, I hate spam and I hate overwhelming people with content that they never really signed up for in the first place, so you might notice, that with Song A Week For A Year, I usually do no more than 2 posts a week. 

Well anyway, I think I've covered everything. Thanks for reading. I'm always interested to hear how people experience the web and what is their preferred method of getting through all this media and information so please let me know! And you can always get a hold of me (through the above channels) with any bugs or problems. 

Cheers

Marty

WEEK 7 - SONG 7 - Bruxism

WEEK 7 - SONG 7 - Bruxism

WEEK 7

Some random internet links, currently giving me a mind boner... 

Those good ol' honest boys down at Sony Records

Marjoe (1972) Marjoe is a 1972 American documentary film produced and directed by Howard Smith and Sarah Kernochan about the life of evangelist Marjoe Gortner.

Free Cabin Porn!

You Need A License To Drive A Car! 

John Dies At The End (MOVIE)

WEEK 6 - SONG 6 - Muscae Volitantes

WEEK 6 - SONG 6 - Muscae Volitantes*

*drums by Niall Kelly

WEEK 5 - SONG 5 - Astrophobia

WEEK 5 - SONG 5 - Astrophobia

I'm not insane, I'm just using my brain too much

Words that fail me

Eaten by tiny bugs

In the dust 

Bring me my pills

Daylight is teasing me

While I sleep

Set it years away

Let me dream it to life

I can't scratch the itch

The future's bitch

We're living in a cycle too soon

We're livid at the thought of the the moon

We're living and we're ready to fall

I don't think this is living at all

When did you learn

To shut out all the thoughts

From the dark

Bring me my pills 

The winter is peeling back

We can't have that, no, no

I'm not insane, I'm just using my brain too much

WEEK 4 - SONG 4 - Resaca

WEEK 4 - SONG 4 - Resaca