NOVEMBER 2nd

Near me my faithful lies in bed of bracken and skinAnd I move untwinedFrom her arms Her legsHer warm fire within.

That night he dreams of his fatherWalking in a dry place of smooth stonesHe moves to him through the night Down dry rivers and ravines

His face full of joy

And on the path that I walk I see many things.

And when he has reached the point where there are but stars He turns to me as though I were a boyAnd covers my eyes with his palmAnd a wolf singsAnd I am afraid of nothing.

Cry baby don't you waitFor the sun to dry your faceThe grass is growing the birds fly highYour mother’s callingThe sunlight dies

So cry baby don't you waitFor the sun to dry your face.

When the clouds come round this wayI'll make you animals from clayGot no money got no landJust my shadow on the sand

So cry baby don't you waitFor the sun to dry your face

It's a far reaching, far reaching sky.

1 – A D RY P L AC E O F S M O O T H S T O N E S

2 – D R I F T E R S

Meet me in the midnight rainYour face is stillYour touch is just the sameYour touch is just the same

Meet me in the midnight rain.

Trains pass through the night of my heartStand still on the waterAnd the traffic moves slowAs the city finds its paceFinds is place and finds it face and finds its soulEverybody's gone homeEverybody's gone home

Meet me in the midnight rain.

And the love and the blood in my heartTwisting roundMy face across the window paneIn the darkness and the city's shameCrying out – without painWithout painMeet me in the midnight rain.

There's a strange wind blowing from the east tonightAnd your face in the window pane reflectedTalks to me

The wind in the pine you say sounds like the seaAnd I come next to you and talkThe lights the bells that ring across the darkened woodsYour face looks up and frowns – I stand

There's a strange wind blowing from the east tonightBlowing away my thoughts tonight

And now you're walking to me this way through the yard under the treesThe hay floats around us and it calls… calls like bottles blown

There's a strange wind blowing from the east tonightListen to it my girl – tell me what you hide

A sudden gust blows up doors flying open slamming shut We reach out in the dark your hand – your heart

There's a strange wind blowing.

3 – M I D N I G H T R A I N

4 – E A S T W I N D

Rise rise butterfliesCome into my handsAnd the dogs at my heelsI run with you – run run

Dragonflies, cocoons

And the sand at my feetDrifting on ahead Lithe like ribbonsLike rope Up hill down slopesThrough forests Run run with the deerDogs at my heels

Butterflies lizard bones Make wishes as I go To make things rightAcross the plains I wish for dancersWho come at the fall of nightLights twinkling on the rim of the world

Lizard bones butterfliesCrystals form before my eyesLike tears

The wilderness throws up its shells and teethPipe bowls of the oldSmoothed beneath my feetRun run with the deerDogs at my heels.

I for one don't want to get oldSaid a voice above meShe sat down by my sideI for one don't want to get oldLiving on this island

That's what her face was telling meThat's what her face was telling meI for one don't want to get oldThe ferry called The seagull is leavingAnd through the branches of the treesThe summer blows – the summer blows.

I for one don't want to get old.

She stood there in her faded jeansLooking our across the cliffsWind in her hair hands on her hips.

5 – T H E F O E H N A N D T H E F O U N TA I N

7 – R U N W I T H T H E D E E R

6 – M O U E T T E S

When I went down to the headSister Mother niece and daughterWhen I went down to the fountainWashing sheets washing sheets.

Milk was flowing in the drainThe sky was pink the sky was greyWhen I went down to the fountainRain rain Sugar mountain.

Listen to the laughter as it ringsDancing out of winter into springLaughing with the wild and merry windRain rain Sugar mountain.

Up into the hills I roamWhere the streams are clear uncloudedThrough the forests and the grovesLoose my hand you're on your ownI can't bring myself to go homeI'm up here now in the mountains.

Laughter in the trees.

I stand alone in the barley fieldsThe sun beats down upon meI tip my hat and I click my heelsDon't go running from me.

Days will pass with my face to the windYou'll come by me and I'll see you againDrifting up and down the rows of hedges flowBack into tomorrow where you'll find me.

I stand alone in the barley fieldsThe sun beats down upon meI tip my hat and I click my heelsDon't go running from me.

I hear the midnight voice call deepDies crying out reaching down through the streetsA tramp with the head of a princeThe town breathing – stillSubterranean noises charlatans preachingSlamming doors tyres screeching Come with me my boy – come with me my boyDown the tunnels out of your mind Come now come now see what you findRight on down to the end of the lineCome with me my boy.

Rising up windows glintingEllipsing voices philosophers drinking Drunkards thinking

Scaffolding masonry fallingThe light changing the dawn forming

And when the morning comes I see a man thereStanding up above meHolding a knife now – holding a knife nowThe sound of motorcycles burning through the townLong time ago.

Sirens in the street

And through the wet pavement he walks to me like a shamanArms outstretched he moves fast

And all I hear is Jesus talking back to me Through the door Jerusalem opens upThe smell of yeast the smell of applesI can't see myself – I can't see myself

Dry heat the sound of many voices No sound of engines – no sound of sirensNo sound of the city.

9 – B E O WA

I took the first not the second leftDidn't take a rightI came to be somewhereI didn't recognize I came to be somewhereI didn't recognize

A voice behind me spoke my nameI wasn't surprisedWhen I turned and saw someoneI didn't recognizeHer face was old and youngWith something in her eyesWas she like a setting sunOr the devils child And she said to meI've seen all of your livesHow things could have beenIf you'd turned left and not rightSo take a seat – and look in my eyesIf you want to seeSomeone you don't recognize.

A string of beads hung round her neckOn a silver lineShe said what are you waiting forI haven't got all night.

8 – T H E W R O N G WAY H O M E

1 0 – E N D O F T H E L I N E

Music and instruments – Bernard TrontinWords and voice – Simon Huw JonesRecorded by Benoït Saillet at Covery studio, Meinier, SwitzerlandCello on tracks 7 & 9 – Sara Oswald

Mixed by Benoït Saillet & November at Artsonikmedia studio, RossemaisonMastered by Carryl MontiniBernard Trontin plays on Zildjian cymbals

Paintings by Ulrik Møller (front: Boat with Outboard Motor, 2015; back: Landscape with Smoke, 2013)Artwork by Alexander Schmidt (Plaintype)

Special thanks to:Dominique Berlie, Christian Cavicchiolo, Yann Courtiau, Laurence Favre, Alexandre François, Lotte Møller, Jeremy Narby & Corinne Petignat, Gerard Sutter, Marcel & Erik Verhaar

With the help of Departement des affaires culturelles de la ville de Genève and PTR.

2019 Novemberwww.trontin-jones.ch www.gentlemenrecordings.com [ GR39 ]