Everybody, Clap Your Hands!

This will be a short entry, as it is about something I was apart of. So to refrain from sound like I am tooting my own horn, I will keep it short and sweet.

The weekend just passed, I visited some of my dearest dearest friends as they (and the band that they are all in - The Middle East) prepare to start touring around the US and Europe for five months (they leave on Thursday, sadface). Being back at my home away from home made me all nostalgic and whatnot. I’ve missed them FLIPLOADS. Whilst saying our final goodbyes in the Myers-made recording studio (that man can do/make/write/create ANYTHING), I got to hear the last recordings of the four piece outfit I was once apart of before it dissipated into a collage of girlfriends, university degree’s and babies – The Forest.

The Forest was existent before the drummer and I were involved. Once a three piece comprised of three best friends, none exceeding the height of about 160cm. Things happen, it ended and then began again, this time with myself on bass and keys and my darling friend MG on skinzzzz. We were the best of friends. We did almost everything together and our practises were far from gruelling. I really miss those days.

Although life has changed, adapted and aged, these men (once boys) are still my brothers and I love them each to the bones. Anyway, the point of this explanation is my next “album” choice (if you could even call it that).

The Forest EP

This EP was recorded in a church, in a closet and in a shared brothers room. Listening to it makes me miss the close relationship our band had, miss playing music and most of all, it makes me miss the feeling of being apart of something that mattered. I played this to my baby, not because it was a bestseller or rivalled the work of Bach, but because it was apart of my journey that led me to where I am today.

Today I found an old diary full of lyrics and poems I had written around the time of The Forest and one in particular about the disbanding of The Forest. I want to include it on here because, to be frank, it gives me a giggle. Please feel free to laugh and/or groan at the lyrical content, as it was written rhyme, be covered in mozzarella and, of course, include the title of every track The Forest has ever performed (I will write these all bold like):

(Verse 1)

I was talking to you just the other day

Now it seems you’ve packed up and gone away

While staring outside at this lonely tree

I’m wondering if it could possibly be any more ‘me’

Oh Alice, Oh Love, Oh No

(Verse 2)

There once was a forest

Then sparked The Fire

And the smoke carried cinders of strong desire

To the safe of the hills all The Stallions ran

And I say you can’t leave but you think you can and I knew..

So far away from here you flew

(Bridge)

They cut down the trees and turned them into wood

And while would can be useful, I don’t think you should

(Chorus)

Because The Mistress predicted

Johnny gave us warning

When you mess with the world that you know and love

You end up facing global warming

And nobody cares about The Bears and The Ocean will boil over in a couple of years

The Grapes will all wither and die

While Ottie Olsen looks into the sky and cries

‘Halal! Halal! Halal!’

(Verse 3)

This girl Madison thinks you’re pretty neat

She doesn’t know the ground beneath your feet

Is being stolen be Mr Gravedigger

Reminding you that you’re no longer here

So come back, back Fiddly Rack back, Sing Brother, Sing Father Abraham

(Chorus)

Because The Mistress predicted

Johnny gave us warning

When you mess with the world that you know and love

You end up facing global warming

And nobody cares about The Bears and The Ocean will boil over in a couple of years

The Grapes will all wither and die

While Ottie Olsen looks into the sky and cries

‘Halal! Halal! Halal!’

(Bridge out)

And all this time that you’re away

Don’t forget about the shows we used to play

You may gain an accent and a wife

And I’ll still be here singing your Secret Life…

I think that now I have sufficiently embarrassed myself with corn/cheese worthy rhymes, I shall hit the hay. But not before letting you know that I’m not a basket case of nostalgia. These boys are my family, and YOU, my little girl, are going to have a whole gaggle of wonderful surrogate fathers. You are truly blessed.