The Better Angels of Our Nature

by This Circus Life

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1.	New York City 03:32	lyrics	buy track
New York City Staring out the window, onto New York City streets Staying in bed all morning, sending out for things to eat I don’t know why you never tried to reach the sky Reach up to the satellites Stayed on West of 57th, so we could be near the park The days went on forever, at night we really hit the spark I don’t know why you never tried to reach the sky Reach up to the satellites We got so high so why did you have to bring it down Bring it crashing to the ground But you can’t take these streets from me What New York City means to me I think I nearly lost my mind When you pulled me down the rabbit hole I think I nearly lost my soul But you can’t take these streets from me What New York City means to me I don’t know why you never tried to reach the sky Reach up to the satellites We got so high so why did you have to bring it down Bring it crashing to the ground But you can’t take these streets from me What New York City means to me
2.	Love Grows 03:25	lyrics	buy track
Love Grows This river flows, but I don’t know where it’s flowing to My love it grows but I’ve got no one to show it to Like the distant sun, I can feel your sunlight calling me It’s warming me But like the distant sun, it’s just too far away My lonely soul, searches across the endless sky And God only knows, how I ache to have you by my side Like the distant sun, I can feel your sunlight warming me It’s calling me But like the distant sun, you’re just too far away My love it grows Can’t you hear it calling you? God only knows all the love in store for you
3.	Leaving Home 03:02	lyrics	buy track
Leaving Home I’m leaving home this morning I’m packing then I’m going I’m leaving everything I have So early in the morning Your troubled face is stirring And I don’t think you understand You’ll be just fine without me dear You see, you won’t be lonely So stop your worry, don’t be sad I slide some photographs into the front of my old notebook Pick my loose change up from the side I leave you money for the rent inside your jacket pocket An extra tenner for the boy But just before I leave the door, I hear you calling for me I won’t be coming back for more I know you can’t understand But I was never your man You thought it was in the can And now I’ve ruined your plans There’s something inside of me There’s someone I’ve got to be I’ve got to leave to be free You’ll be just fine without me dear You see, you won’t be lonely So stop your worry, don’t be sad I know you can’t understand But I was never your man You thought it was in the can And now I’ve ruined your plans There’s something inside of me There’s someone I’ve got to be I’ve got to leave to be free
4.	Stupid Fantasy 03:20	lyrics	buy track
Stupid Fantasy You don’t know anything about me do you? You don’t even know my real name You don’t know how much I’ve been dreaming of you I’ve got to get you off my brain But when I’m walking past your door I see you smile and I want more ‘cos everything you do and say just blows me away I know, you will never be with me I know, you’re just my stupid fantasy When I get close to you I go to jelly I sometimes stutter out my words What other curse but love could do this to me? But what I feel is for the birds But when I’m walking past your door I see you smile and I want more ‘cos everything you do and say just blows me away I know, you will never be with me I know, you’re just my stupid fantasy I know I’ll never, take you to the stars I know I’ll never wrap you in my arms Gaze into your eyes Allow my aching heart to tell the truth Confess that I am so in love with you I know, you will never be with me I know, you’re just my stupid fantasy
5.	It Doesn't Matter 02:48	lyrics	buy track
It doesn’t matter I’ve been a rich man, and I’ve been poor I’ve been hated, and I’ve been adored I’ve been a winner, and I’ve lost it all Rising and falling It doesn’t matter at all I’ve been a fighter, and I’ve kept the peace I’ve been talker, and I have been discreet I’ve learnt so much, and forgotten it all Rising and falling It doesn’t matter at all It’s just so hard, to keep pushing on I’m holding on, ‘till I can see the dawn I’ve been a rich man, and I’ve been poor I’ve been hated, and I’ve been adored I’ve been a winner, and I’ve lost it all Rising and falling It doesn’t matter at all
6.	Brand New Day 03:40	lyrics	buy track
Brand New Day Did you hear the news today? The world’s still turning – the fire’s still burning And what did they expect you to say? Should you run for cover ‘cos you lost your lover So welcome to your brand-new day You can start over, find a four-leaf clover It’s time to stow your troubles away Write a brand-new story, marching on to glory The world keeps on turning The fire keeps on burning So just keep on learning Your new day is dawning
7.	Climbing Trees 02:43	lyrics	buy track
Climbing Trees I don’t know you at all, but I can hear your call It feels like I’m falling I’ve never held your hand, so I can’t understand the feelings I have for you We can go climbing trees And do whatever we please I don’t care as long as we’re together And I hope, it’s not just a dream I’ve never realised, the promise in your eyes So how can I imagine? I’ve never moved with you, oh the way that lovers do So how can I feel such passion? We can go climbing trees And do whatever we please I don’t care as long as we’re together And I hope it’s not just a dream
8.	Jackie 04:57	lyrics	buy track
Jackie I’ve heard it said we hurt the ones we love Well Jackie must have really loved me I gave her everything I ever had What I couldn’t give, she didn’t need I should have noticed Jackie never held my hand as we walked through the park I should have noticed Jackie never got scared in the dark Jackie was born into the circus life amazing and astounding the crowds She told me she was tired of travelling around and she’d always dreamt of settling down I should have noticed Jackie only came alive up on the hire wire I should have noticed Jackie lived for the roar of the crowd Jackie, your demons were bigger than me Jackie, only you can set yourself free After each show she needed to wind down so she ran with a wilder crowd She drank until she didn’t know my name She drank until she couldn’t be found Jackie came into my life like a hurricane and she left the same way I think about her but I hope I never see her again Jackie, your demons were bigger than me Jackie, only you can set yourself free So tell me, what did you want me to be Jackie, the circus life was never for me I fell down your wishing well I saw the border between heaven and hell I should have noticed Jackie that you never held my hand I should have noticed I never really figured in your plans Oh Jackie couldn’t you see your demons overpowering me Oh Jackie couldn’t you see the circus life was not for me Jackie, your demons were bigger than me Jackie, only you can set yourself free
9.	This Circus Life 04:03	lyrics	buy track
This Circus Life Something wicked, this way came This Circus Life, this twisted pain The darkest hearts The cruellest games now I know… life has forever changed, now I know and now I know, now I know that love still remains

about

The debut album from This Circus Life.

The Better Angels of Our Nature:
This title was borrowed from the book of the same name by Steve Pinker.

Pinker argues that despite public and media perceptions, violence in the world in all its forms is in steady decline.
The book documents declining violence across time and geography. This paints a picture of massive declines in violence of all forms, from war, to improved treatment of children. He highlights the role of nation-state monopolies on force, of commerce (making "other people become more valuable alive than dead"), of increased literacy and communication (promoting empathy), as well as a rise in a rational problem-solving orientation as possible causes of this decline in violence. He notes that, paradoxically, our impression of violence has not tracked this decline, perhaps because of increased communication, and that further decline is not inevitable, but is contingent on forces harnessing our better motivations such as empathy and increases in reason.

Something Wicked:
The opening lines from the song This Circus Life were borrowed, and revised slightly, from Ray Bradbury’s 1962 novel ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’.

The book tells the story of two 13-year-old best friends and their nightmarish experience with a traveling circus that comes to their Midwestern town. In dealing with the macabre characters from the circus, the boys learn how to combat fear. The Ringmaster is the mysterious ‘Mr. Dark’, who seemingly wields the power to grant the citizens secret desires. In reality, Dark is a malevolent being who, like the carnival, lives off the life-force of those they enslave. The novel conveys the theme that the power people, objects, and ideas have over you depends on the power you instil in them with your own mind.

Cover images:
These images are used with the kind permission of Laurie Asprey.

Laurie was born in 1934 in Salford. During the 1960’s he moved to London to pursue a career in acting and appeared in numerous films including Department S, The Wednesday Play and the Champions. He then pursued a career as a Photographer and captured images of some of the world’s most iconic musicians including John Lennon, Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones. The images used on the front and back cover are from collections Laurie took in the 1960’s and 1970’s of working class children playing amongst the slums.

credits

released February 1, 2020

Written by Charlie Mear
Produced by Dan Wilde

All sounds created by Charlie Mear and Dan Wilde with Ben Mear: Drums on tracks 3, 4, 7, 8 & 9 and Rebecca Gillett: Cello on tracks 5 & 7.

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about

This Circus Life England, UK

Some call it Folk, some call it Rock - we call it Fock!

The band have been described as carrying on the great tradition of classic pop-rock acts like Del Amitri, Squeeze, REM and Crowded House. Indeed, one reviewer described their song ‘Falling star’ as the best Crowded House song not written by Neil Finn! ... more

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