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Life On The Trapeze

by Neil Porter

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  • Streaming + Download

    Immediate download of 16-track album in your choice of 320k mp3, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.

    Includes:
    - a full colour PDF Booklet containing all lyrics and complete song notes;
    - an .mp4 of the "Safe Hands" video;
    - the "make your own CD kit" - high quality jpegs of the double sided insert and CD face for you to make your own copy of the CD at home.

    Or you can get a CD (round shiny thingie ....... you know!) delivered to your door (see details above).
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    CD in thin-line case with colour cover notes and a direct-printed CD face.
    Includes all the downloadable extras listed below.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Life On The Trapeze via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 USD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 6 Neil Porter releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of THE DISAPPEARING MAN, Looking Like The Real Thing, Into The Blue, Life On The Trapeze, Signs Of Life, and jiguma dreaming. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $21 USD or more (50% OFF)

     

  • T-shirts

1.
Baume les Dames ©2012 Neil Porter Home was round the second bend I was high up on a hill There I was on the other side Felt at home on the other side Looking down on Baume les Dames I was thinking of Odille Felt at home on the other side Leave me there on the other side Run deep, Run run river run You don’t sleep Run river run Treading soft on holy ground I had time to kill You and me on the other side Take me back to the other side Run deep, Run river run You don’t sleep Run river run Wrapped around the ancient town Running by the mill Leave me there on the other side You and me on the other side You met us as the best of friends And I'm thinking of you still Take me back to the other side There I was on the other side Run deep, Run river run I can’t sleep Run river run Run river run
2.
Big Car – No Shoes ©2012 Neil Porter Big hat – no cattle Big sky – but no rain Nice horse – no saddle Got a ticket – no plane Nice wedding – wrong person Cool Gibson – no blues Best schools – no learning Big car – no shoes Bad war – losing battle Big smile – you’re in pain Big bucks – big hassle Nice tune – but no fame Nice wedding – wrong person Cool Gibson – no blues Best schools – no learning Big car – no shoes Big car – no shoes Big car – no shoes Good minders – bad manners Fast rail – slow train Low bar – flame fanners Big head – no brain Nice wedding – wrong person Cool Gibson – no blues Best schools – no learning Big car – no shoes Big car – no shoes Big car – no shoes
3.
Cat-Faced Girl ©2010 Neil Porter She was a crazy little cat-faced girl He was a man that you could trust She’d been looking everywhere And she met him on a midnight bus He was looking for angels He was looking for someone to love She was looking for trouble City streets were full of trouble Lungs were full of dust He’d been looking everywhere And she met him on a midnight bus He was looking for angels He was looking for someone to love She was looking for trouble She came from somewhere down the road She didn’t even pack She’d been looking everywhere And she wasn’t going back He was looking for angels He was looking for someone to love She was looking for trouble Short and sweet was what it was Not much to discuss She’d been looking everywhere And she got back on the midnight bus He was looking for angels He was looking for someone to love She was looking for trouble
4.
Great Ocean Road 2011 Neil Porter Drive my Eldorado Put my foot down to the floor I’ve ever felt this kind of cool before Drop the drop top top down Got my honey keeping score Never felt this kind of cool before Me and my girl gonna twist and turn Heading west from Lorne Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay and the 12 Apostles Me and my girl gonna drive Great Ocean Road Going incognito Gonna keep my Black Ice on Hear my summer soundtrack summer songs Gonna crank the HMV Got “The Boys Of Summer” on Hear my summer soundtrack summer songs Me and my girl gonna twist and turn Heading west from Lorne Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay and the 12 Apostles Me and my girl gonna drive Great Ocean Road Aint gonna sit in silence Ain’t gonna toe the line no more We got sun and surf on a southern shore We got Artisan Ochre We got cut down beltline We got sun and surf on a southern shore Me and my girl gonna twist and turn Heading west from Lorne Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay and the 12 Apostles Me and my girl gonna drive Great Ocean Road
5.
Life On The Trapeze ©2011 Neil Porter I don’t do no competition And I don’t do “how you bin?” But I’m watching as you tally up my score Well I feel like some outrider Like some satellite provider It’s gonna take a resurrection To get me off the floor Off the floor Off the floor Off the floor Off the floor I got strange face in the mirror I got honey in my comb I don’t think I’ll get to heaven I don’t want to die alone Well you know that sleep’s for dreamers And you know how dreams are real You say I have to sing with feeling But I don’t know what to feel What to feel What to feel What to feel What to feel Chaos never bothered me And I never bothered him When I get him in my headlights I lock him in You can take away my meaning You can nail me to the floor I’m wary of enthusiasm But I cross the street for love Street for love Street for love Street for love Street for love As I get myself together As I warm up to the cure I feel like some imposter That’s for sure I have no recollection Of my life on the trapeze You’re gonna need a rhythm section If you want to shake my tree Shake my tree Shake my tree Shake my tree Shake my tree
6.
Man Overboard (for all the Wrong Reasons) ©2010 Neil Porter I’ve got a bottle of wine and a rocking chair I’ve got nowhere I’m going and no way to get there Lazy rockin’ chair Pass that bottle of wine I’m not spending my life on a carousel Going round and round that don’t make you feel well Life’s a carousel Pass that bottle of wine Life’s a carousel Pass that bottle of wine I’m no man of action Ain’t no man of the people Not some Action Jackson Not some axis of evil Maybe a man of the times Man for all seasons A man overboard For all the wrong reasons I’m a man overboard For all the wrong reasons I’ve spent too much time round a wishing well I got no more coins and nothing to sell No more wishing well Pass that bottle of wine I’ve got two strong arms and a head full of hair Still got most of my wits and I don’t really care Two strong arms Pass that bottle of wine Yeah two fairly strong arms baby Pass that bottle of wine I’m no man of action Ain’t no man of the people Not some Action Jackson Not some axis of evil Maybe a man of the times Man for all seasons A man overboard For all the wrong reasons I’m a man overboard For all the wrong reasons I’m no man of action Ain’t no man of the people Not some Action Jackson Not some axis of evil Maybe a man of the times Man for all seasons A man overboard For all the wrong reasons I’m a man overboard For all the wrong reasons
7.
Out Here And Stranded ©2012 Neil Porter It came out of nothing Wasn’t something you said No kind of a warning There’s no voice in my head I’m out here and stranded It’s a quandary I’m in Feeling disbanded Tied up and branded I’ve got no illusions Got no axe to grind I’m full of confusion Of the worrying kind Fishing for compliments Never know where to look Got a line in the water But no bait on the hook I’m out here and stranded It’s a quandary I’m in Feeling disbanded Tied up and branded I’ve got no illusions Got no axe to grind I’m full of confusion Of the worrying kind Need to change the equation Need to pick at the lock Too much time on my hands While I run down the clock I’m out here and stranded It’s a quandary I’m in Feeling disbanded Tied up and branded I’ve got no illusions Got no axe to grind I’m full of confusion Of the worrying kind
8.
Red Café 04:33
In The Red Café ©2011 Neil Porter Sitting in the Red Café Had a big bad night and I’m miles away I shouldn’t need that much to say In the Red Café You come in with the morning sun The sunny mood’s just been undone You come in with your blinkers on In the Red Café You make me feel real nervous Scaring me to kingdom come You got me damn near falling Right off the edge of my seat Watching my back, watching my front Looking out for everything at once Sometimes you get right in my face This ain’t the place To talk about your gods or your guns I’ve read you in the Weekly News I’ve read your crazy point of view No evidence to make it true In the Red Café You ask me if the seat is free You sit yourself right next to me You say “my god can set you free” In the Red Café You make me feel real nervous Scaring me to kingdom come You got me damn near falling Right off the edge of my seat Watching my back, watching my front Looking out for everything at once Sometimes you get right in my face This ain’t the place To talk about your gods or your guns The science is absolutely clear Why is the truth so hard to hear? There’s proof and knowledge everywhere In the Red Café You base your whole philosophy On some doubtful ancient history Your myths don’t make much sense to me In the Red Café
9.
Renegade Skin ©2010 Neil Porter You started from the bottom Your winter clothes were paper-thin Your mama couldn’t keep you You grew a renegade skin Singing on the corner Drifting with the wind You found a new daddy You grew a renegade skin You fit so tight In your renegade skin You feel so right In your renegade skin New daddy got things started You went from win to win One thing never left though You grew a renegade skin You were the toast of Paris The good reviews were in You lost him in the Azores You grew a renegade skin You fit so tight In your renegade skin You feel so right In your renegade skin One last night at the Olympia Desperately thin No-one left to save you You grew a renegade skin At your grave in Pere Lachaise Two waifs cried tears like rain Way too young to have known you In your renegade skin You fit so tight In your renegade skin You feel so right In your renegade skin
10.
Safe Hands 05:10
Safe Hands ©2011 Neil Porter What’s up? Cat got your tongue? Sooner or later we all make mistakes Stand up See what you’ve done You get it wrong Just don’t do it again Just reassure me I just want to know Please reassure me I’m in a pair of safe hands Watch out Look at my face Nothing you’ve done’s gonna make me lose faith Look out Stay with the pack Unless you stumble you’ll never look back Just reassure me I just want to know Please reassure me I’m in a pair of safe hands Warm heart so you can feel where I’m coming from Warm heart, warm heart A cool head so you know when I get it wrong Cool head, warm heart Clear eyes so you can see what you need to see Clear eyes, warm heart Safe hands, safe hands I need to know You’ve got a pair of safe hands Don’t need that kind of behaviour Just need some kind of a plan Don’t want some kind of a saviour Just want a pair of safe hands Just reassure me I just want to know Please reassure me I’m in a pair of safe hands Warm heart so you can feel where I’m coming from Warm heart, warm heart A cool head so you know when I get it wrong Cool head, warm heart Clear eyes so you can see what you need to see Clear eyes, warm heart Safe hands, safe hands I need to know You’ve got a pair of safe hands Warm heart, warm heart Cool head, warm heart Clear eyes, warm heart Safe hands, safe hands I need to know You’ve got a pair of safe hands
11.
Talk To Myself ©2012 Neil Porter Talk to myself just a little too much these days I’m just trying to find what’s going on I still get puzzled by this crazy haze It’s been in my head for way too long I’m gonna rock with it Gotta roll with it I’m gonna get back in control Then I’m gonna go with it I’m gonna ease my mind Goin back in time I’m gonna get back in control Then I’m gonna grow with it Wind myself up just a little too tight these days Just trying to stop things going wrong Wish I could get back to my easy ways Go back, get back, go back home I’m gonna rock with it Gotta roll with it I’m gonna get back in control Then I’m gonna go with it I’m gonna ease my mind Goin back in time I’m gonna get back in control Then I’m gonna grow with it Flying just a little too close to the sun some days Maybe I’ll fall but that doesn’t seem quite right There’s no escaping from this crazy maze Fall down, drop down, shut down I’m gonna rock with it Gotta roll with it I’m gonna get back in control Then I’m gonna go with it I’m gonna ease my mind Goin back in time I’m gonna get back in control Then I’m gonna grow with it
12.
Til The Tide Comes In ©2011 Neil Porter Get a sniff of summer on a northern wind You get a taste of heaven and your day begins You take it all in your stride You think you’re taking it in Why do you feel like a man on an island as the tide comes in? You feel a need for slumber on a feather bed Somebody calls your number, why can’t they call your name instead? Just take a look outside You’re not taking it in Why do you feel like a man on an island as the tide comes in? You’re stuck on an island as the tide comes in You’re getting wet feet as the tide comes in You’re gonna be swimming when the tide comes in The big fish circle as the tide comes in You got soft white sand underneath your feet Lots of palm tree shade in the summer heat You’ve got nowhere to hide And your head's in a spin Why do you feel like a man on an island as the tide comes in? Got a perfect life on a crescent beach So many perfect days – they’re just out of reach But there’s a rising tide It keeps rolling in Why do you feel like a man on an island as the tide comes in?
13.
Time On My Hands ©2012 Neil Porter I got time on my hands My place in the sun So much to do but it never gets done I made some mistakes And they play on my heart So much to do but I don’t seem to start I just have to have some clear direction When there’s no reason I’m all at sea Sometimes I get it right Give in without a fight Maybe I’ll give it all away Doing my best with your obsessions Sometimes they’re pushing me away Sometimes I get it right Give in without a fight Maybe I’ll give it all away I lived a life of inhibition Taking no chances – that’s not me Sometimes I get it right Give in without a fight Maybe I’ll give it all away So you can see the contradiction Nose on your face as plain as day Sometimes I get it right Give in without a fight Maybe I’ll give it all away Maybe I’ll give it all away
14.
Under The Southern Cross ©2011 Neil Porter Dark night Under the Southern Cross Hold tight Hold tight Star bright Look at the things we lost Do right Do right Dark night Under the Southern Cross Hold tight Hold tight Hold tight Big rain Out of the southern sky Big fright Big fright Hard pain After the longest dry Not right Not right Dark night Under the Southern Cross Hold tight Hold tight Hold tight Hold tight, hold tight Hold tight, hold tight Don’t know How much it’s going to cost Hold tight Hold tight Can’t say How many lives are lost Hold tight Hold tight Dark night Under the Southern Cross Hold tight Hold tight Hold tight
15.
The Wrong Way Home ©2010 Neil Porter Kissed your wife and kids this morning Headed down the track You love them but you leave them You just don’t come back You take a different turn this time Don’t know why Just take the wrong way home Office running smoothly Nothing out of whack Nothing out of order You just don’t come back You take a different turn this time Don’t know why Just take the wrong way home Just walk out, nobody’s looking Out the door into the street Get on any bus And take a seat Might end up in a lane somewhere Working on some scheme Might take that desert island Some medicated dream Take the long way home No-one’s going to miss you You’re no leader of the pack Disappear without a suitcase You just don’t come back You take a different turn this time Don’t know why Just take the wrong way home Three score and ten go missing every day Taking the wrong track You love them but you leave them You just don’t come back You take a different turn this time Don’t know why Just take the wrong way home Just walk out, nobody’s looking Out the door into the street Get on any bus And take a seat Might end up in a lane somewhere Working on some scheme Might make that desert island Some medicated dream Take the wrong way home
16.
You Got Me Spinning ©2010 Neil Porter You got me spinning I need eyes in the back of my head You got me spinning I need eyes in the back of my head Twisting and turning To see what you do I’m choked up and burning You got me spinning It gets really disturbing Lie asleep at the end of the day It gets really disturbing Lie asleep at the end of the day Twisting and turning To see what you do I’m choked up and burning You got me spinning You’re rockin’ and rollin’ Movin’and groovin’ You got me spinning Dizzy and woozin’ Twisting and turning To see what you do I’m choked up and burning You got me spinning

about

This is a collection of songs recorded between June 2010 and December 2012. It covers a range of genres, including what could generally be described as: acoustic rock, jazz/blues, rock, latin, country rock, and "old style" RnB.

Like my previous albums "jiguma dreaming" and "Signs of Life", this is mainly a solo effort, but includes talented musical friends from the US and Norway. I have also been lucky to get Pete and Ken from PBGB and Jem from Melbourne band "Innerspace", all on "Big Car - No Shoes" - and my wife Jan on backing vocals.

It's more "up" than my previous 2 albums, due mainly to the fact that I've been playing a lot with PBGB - and "up" is what PBGB does best :)

The songs are purposely in alphabetical order - just worked out that way.

credits

released December 12, 2012

Anne Cozean (USA) - Backing vocals on "Safe Hands"
Chris Flynn (USA) - Bass on "Safe Hands"
Fran Dagostino (USA) - Lead guitar on "Wrong Way Home"
Jan Porter (Australia) - Backing vocals on "Under The Southern Cross"
Jem Savage (Australia) - Soprano sax and Fender Rhodes on "Big Car - No Shoes"
John Libby (USA) - Keyboards on "Cat Faced Girl", "You Got Me Spinning", "Under The Southern Cross" and "Safe Hands"
Ken Vatcher (Australia) - Percussion on "Big Car - No Shoes"
Marty Ross Vining (USA) - Backing vocals on "Safe Hands"
Mike Watkins (USA) - Drums on "Cat Faced Girl" and "Safe Hands"
Neil Porter (Australia) - Vocals, guitars, basses, drums, percussion, keyboards, production
Peter Reid (Australia) - Drums on "Big Car - No Shoes"
Thor Oliversen (Norway) - Lead guitar on "Safe Hands"

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Neil Porter Pambula Beach, Australia

Singer songwriter from Pambula Beach in Australia.

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