I had a glass of wine and was droning on to Edwyn in a restaurant tonight. We were remembering a rough time when his career was on the skids in the late eighties. I thought it was probably my fault for being a not very good manager. I suddenly thought of the words to Better Than You Know, which summed it all up.
...so bide your time
and maybe you'll find
that you've nothing but your troubles to lose
don't let these words of sound advice be misconstrued
and I'm beginnining to see
that it's all down to me.
I just dropped by to tell you
you're better than you know
and given time and encouragement
your confidence will grow
then turn your back on them
you're better than they know....
Despite sharing the floor of Berens Road with several roadies, musicians and Oatcake Weevils, the late 80s were nothing short of magical. Oh how I remember getting 'home' from a show anticipating a night of restless sleep, punctuated by prolonged bouts of 'cushion drift' and Chuffy Clark's stifled whimpers as his bald pate collided with the washing machine door.
By the way - did you hear about the man who went into a Frech restaurant and ordered a Greek salad and ate it with chopsticks?
That's lovely. Grace I was at the book-reading when you said you lost your Dad at 19 and I thought, "and nearly lost Edwyn Collins too. She's brave..."
Ok - How about some John Donne love poetry....Not too much, small amounts are good...cos of the language
The Good Morrow, (its two lovers waking up together and knowing that they're in love and all is well)
I wonder by my trouth, what thou and I
Did, till we lov'd? were we not wean'd till then?
But suck'd on countrey pleasures, childishly?
Or snorted we in the seven sleepers den?
Twas so...
But this: all pleasures fancies be,
If ever any beauty I did see,
Which I desir'd and got, t'was but a dreame of thee.
(or in other words, Never met a girl like you before)