Off The Tracks

Off The Tracks
  • Blog
    • Interviews
    • Miscellany
    • Special Guests
    • Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • The Vinyl Countdown
  • Back Catalogue
  • About
    • About
    • About the banner image
    • On Song
March 5, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 152 On a Need to Know Basis

dmajIt’s a song about that time in the early morning

Winter with the vague sun and coming out of sleep

Eyes shut but you can see the room starting to materialise

The gap between sleeping and waking

What we really are and what we think we are

It’s not quite dawn and a wintery sun

Lies in wait to make the shape of the room

I close my eyes and feel the warm

Of your sleeping arms and the state of calm

 On a need to know basis
In the first flush of a love affair

When you have become attuned yet it’s still so new

She’s sleeping there as you become aware

And you sense who she is before stepping into your own mental shoesd5


I count the rate of the beat of your heart

Lying in wait to be courageous awake

It comes back to me we’re never apart

The we don’t keep no secrets at all

 

On a need to know basis

You’re all I need on a need to know basis baby

 

You don’t want to leave this placed2

Don’t want to shift the fragile balance

To face work and choices and your own full but less than perfect self

The city is out there waking up itself and calling out to both of you

 

I feel the wake of the traffic start

To make its way into the wings of the day

I try to stay with the angels

And find a way to make the aliens wait

 

On a need to know basis

You’re all I need on a need to know basis baby

 

Try not to blink or think

Just sink into the one you’re with

 

On a need to know basis

You’re all I need on a need to know basis baby

 

You’re all I need

You’re all I need
d3

The Ghost of Electricity – War Stories by Jon McLeary is a new initiative at Off The Tracks, a series of stories and reflections from painter, writer and musician Jon McLeary

To read any of the first 151in the series click here

 

Posted in Blog, Miscellany and tagged with Art, Guest Blog, Guest Post, Jon Mcleary, Music, On A Need To Know Basis, Painting, Song, Song Lyric, Songwriter, Songwriting, Spines, The Ghost, The Ghost of Electricity, The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories, The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 152 On a Need to Know Basis, The Spines, War Stories, War Stories # 152, War Stories by Jon McLeary, Wellington, Writing. RSS 2.0 feed.
« Willie Nelson: Summertime – Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin
Alexei Aigui: I Am Not Your Negro [OST] »

2 Responses to The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 152 On a Need to Know Basis

  1. Pingback: Sweetman Podcast: Episode 80 – Hannah Fraser & Jon McLeary (Spines)

  2. Pingback: The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 157 Liner Notes

Popular

  • The Sad Story of Bob Welch: Fleetwood Mac’s Most Undervalued Member
  • Janna Lapidus Leblanc: Four Years In Pictures
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 8 – Mark Knopfler
  • The Beast: Revisiting John Bonham’s Glory
  • Going Back To Lou Reed: Time To Revisit His Strange, Wonderful, Weird Catalogue
  • Revisiting Live at Knebworth (1990)
  • Neil Peart Was The World’s Most Overrated Drummer
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 11 – Lindsey Buckingham
  • What A Good Score! – #17: Dead Man Walking by Various Artists
  • The Best Guitarist in The World: # 1 – Jeff Beck

Archives

Tags

Album Review Auckland Blog Book Book Review Chat Compilation DJ Drums DVD DVD Review EP Film Film Review Gig Gig Review Guest Blog Guitar Interview Jazz Live Live Gig LP Movie Music NZ Podcast Poem Poetry Record Records Simon Sweetman Soundtrack Spotify Stub Stubs Sweetman Podcast The Vinyl Countdown Vinyl Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron Wellington Wgtn Writing You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron [OST]

Categories

  • Back Catalogue
  • Blog
  • Interviews
  • Miscellany
  • Mixtapes
  • Playlists
  • Podcasts
  • Reviews
  • Scene Of The Day
  • Special Guests
  • The Vinyl Countdown

Off The Tracks is the home of Sweetman Podcast, a weekly interview/chat-based pod. It's also home to my reviews across film, TV, music and books and some creative writing as well.

Off The Tracks aims to provide quality reviews and essays, regular blog updates about the shows, albums, books and movies you should be experiencing.

It's a passion project. Your support will help to keep Off The Tracks online.

All content © 2022 by Off The Tracks. WordPress Themes by Graph Paper Press