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Victoria

by The Royal Vincident

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in an attractive digipak - with striking artwork by Pedro Demetriou on the cover, spine and back, as well as on the CD itself.

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1.
(This is a Victoria Line train to Brixton) Glowering skies and slithering rain, Head on the bus window pane, Through the gate and down the stair, Commuters off like lambs to work in the wolf's lair. Passing adverts and thinking circles in gloom, No sun in my heart, no room... Then there was you, Pulling me through, Then there was you... Thinking time: love and grief. Sitting now - some relief. Green and blue, thrush and leaf, Darting strawberry thief.
2.
Left, right, left, eyes forward - charge! I was walking by the tracks when I could hear them thunder - Many years ago. It was on the fabled Blackhorse Road that we rode our steeds, Into the Attican sun.
3.
Down by the lock-side, Silent as a dove. Down by the lock-side, There I found my love. Stumbling up the stairs looking for somethings to eat, A drunken whirl... can't find my feet. Relieved to miss the train to Ponders End, Kebab, fried chicken - Godsend. (They always give me an extra wing at KCF because i'm polite. I guess that's unusual this time of night.) Where to go? Take things too far. Can't say no, 'No wonder you're the size you are' 'What drink d'you want to have that with boss?' Pepsi Max 'cause I like the taste 'cause. Hide 'round the corner and stuff my face - Gotta protect the shame-face. (Everyday's like new years day around here... but unfortunately, by the evening I seem to forget everything.) Where to go? Take things too far. Can't say no 'No wonder you're the size you are' 'Step closer, step closer - £3.95' Everybody knows you're throwing your life away. 'Hey stupid, hey stupid - £3.95' Everybody knows, you're making the same mistake twice.
4.
Over hill and dale, we come to worship you - Seven trees in bloom. Town and country hearth, we lift our hands to you: First he's dead, now he is alive! All my life I give, to be on pilgrimage, Peering through the gloom. Help me on my way, to be there on that day, Where there's joy and I am alive!
5.
Oh balloon, take me away. Oh balloon take me away, Pick me up, fast-forward today, To the night and my room and the haggard, drawn moon. Flies in the ointment, shots in the dark, No-one's still at 1 Finsbury Park. Wind through the curtains, the walls scream 'decay!' The night always bleeds the life from her day. Things always happen, cries in the dark, Her life always shatters at 1 Finsbury Park. The phone climbs the wall, TV buzzes blue, The dead-line's up - she knows she is through. Duelling pistols, may your smoke envelop me. Duelling pistols... I remember now: I cradle my Jacobean lover in my arms, In my room, in the haggard, drawn moon. Flies in the ointment, shots in the dark, No-one's still at 1 Finsbury Park. Wind through the curtains, the walls scream 'decay!' The night always bleeds the life from her day. Things always happen, cries in the dark, Her life always shatters at 1 Finsbury Park. The phone climbs the wall, TV buzzes blue, The dead-line's up - she knows she is through. FINSBURY PARK yeah! DRUNK Night-bus, oh night-bus oh please take me home? I'm having trouble to sleep - And my nobbly knees are weak. Wake me, oh wake me at old Enfield Town. Wouldn't ask but my iphone is down. Michelle, oh Michelle, please pick me up. Baseball cap wearing youths... Making fun of my shoes! Clara, oh Clara, she'll just be fine. Just pick me up in time. Vincent, oh Vincent, you really are a fool. You really make me mad, and you really make me sad, you're 35, 35, 35 now, you're acting like some kid in town. Finsbury Park, Finsbury Park, 3.10 AM All the things I've seen, All the things I've never been. Finsbury Park, Finsbury Park, creme de la creme, I think I've lost myself to the night.
6.
I saw a man with one leg, his clothes worn and thin, I looked away, did not know what to say - the wind blew on our heads. I followed him to a square off of Upper Street and asked him, 'How could this be?' 'A man existing outside in the dark... where are you from?' He said, 'Afghanistan'. Everybody's gotta love each other, we're all like sisters and brothers, Even the strange ones, even the old ones, Everybody's gotta love each other, encourage the gifts of one another, Even the lonely, even the sad - oh yeah! I'm in a hall... high ceilinged hall - air thick with noise... but light. Photographs and a model of Shakespeare's house cover the iron-clad walls. 'Workmen have imaginations and fancies like other men, and here they show... How they indulge the bent of their own inclinations'. That's what the newspaper said. Everybody's gotta love each other, we're all like sisters and brothers, Even the strange ones, even the old ones, Everybody's gotta love each other, encourage the gifts of one another, Even the lonely, even the sad - oh yeah! Stop now, step back! This song is for people whose gifts have not been realised. Those people who never had the chance to be themselves. But there's a golden future. Everybody's gotta love each other, just like sisters and brothers, Even the strange ones, even the old ones, Everybody's gotta love each other, encourage the gifts of one another, Even the lonely, even the sad - oh yeah!
7.
I am the King and I like to spend, I tend to drive Parliament around the bend. I like my cards and I like my food, You can be my friend too if I'm in the mood - And you... but not you though. Let's build a tower at the end of the street, With a statue of 'yours truly' On the top... Oh no, oh no, You lead an extravagant life, but you don't like your wife, Oh no, oh no, You do everything you please, but you've got gout in the knees. I'm going to give you a 'bunch of fives' if your not careful... Again! My name is George and I love to eat, You can tell Parliament I don't like defeat. Up in Scotland I wear my kilt, All the pretty, noble ladies wilt. (It's not me you know, it's because i'm the King!) Let's show my power at the end of the street, With a statue of 'yours truly' All the little babies starved and weak, 'Mummy, Daddy, where's our plates of beef?' Let's clear the slums of vermin! From the top... Oh no, oh no, You lead an extravagant life, but you don't like your wife, Oh no, oh no, You do everything you please, but you've got... (St Pancras) Coming up the stairs, I emerge into the open, And I see the blue skies and the brilliant sunshine, And ahead of me, in all it's golden majesty... St. Pancras! On a broken seesaw, Gazing higher never looking at the ground. All the iron steeples, Gothic towers, pillars, echoing sound. (Paris, Brussels, Lille, Aachen)
8.
Euston 03:55
Cheer up little boy! This town will change and alter you little boy. It carries on regardless little boy. But it knows your here... Welcome to the gate There's not much room for kindness - but room for hate. Hurry up get through - I'm taking you over Let me go, let me go The cobbled streets will haunt you forever Memories itch like fleas These are the years the moths have eaten. And when we got off the train at Euston, There was a real sense of happiness and anticipation - What were we going to do? But sadly, sometimes things went wrong. Speak up little boy, Your Mummy's calling you little boy. Time to chew things over little boy. Don't leave me alone Let me go, let me go The cobbled streets will haunt you forever Memories itch like fleas These are the years the moths have eaten. Cracks down the cupboard door Sisters huddled on the kitchen floor Let's hope this storm subsides Oh who cares, I think I'll go to...
9.
Sleep
10.
Mind the gap It's a trap Mind the gap Watch your back Mind the gap It's a trap Mind the gap Don't turn your back And my eyes are dry, my hands are cracked And my throat is sore, the doors are blocked I'm sure And my nails are bitten, my toes are crushed What kind of circus is this? It's such a bore... Mind the gap It's a trap Mind the gap Watch your back Mind the gap It's a trap Mind the gap Don't turn your back I've been paid my wages and it's all gone It's these golden cages my moods are stapled on, All the lights entice me, I'll just put it on my card, All the adverts tell me that life is not too hard. ('excuse me have you got the time?') ('Do you know where Bond Street is?') 'Never knowlingly undersold', 'Life made fabulous' - vibrant never cold. Have you got a cake, I want to buy a cape? 'Just do it' now for goodness sake! Amazon oh Amazon you've killed the shops, At least there's HMV... oh call the cops! Clinton Cards I love your wares, But Poundland's got all your cuddly bears. And my eyes are dry, my hands are cracked And my throat is sore, the doors are blocked I'm sure And my nails are bitten, my toes are crushed What kind of circus is this? It's such a... Everybody comes to town - to Oxford Circus, A giant hive of restless bees, dying to make another purchase. Everybody comes to town - to Oxford Circus, Rising from the underground, paying the price - submergence
11.
Green Park 01:03
I'll take a London bus from Bank to Asia Minor Green Park I'll have my at tea the Ritz, I'm a real winer-diner Green Park Pop into Buckingham Palace to have biscuits with the Queen and Prince Philip Green Park Straight out on the lash with Kate, Wills and Prince Harry Oh yeah! You gotcha - I've gotta tick off all the things on my list (8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1) It's gotta be in the book (It's like an itch that won't go away) You're always welcome to take a look Let's burn a Titian - post the ashes to my Aunty Green Park Bungee jump from the Shard whilst singing a sea shanty Green Park Got talking to a pelican in St. James' Park - his name is 'Bill' Green Park Steal plastic bowler hats and throw them in the river Oh yeah! You gotcha - I've gotta tick off all the things on my list (8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1) It's gotta be in the book (You can't leave it alone) You're always welcome to take a look
12.
Victoria 03:38
'Princess take the children up to bed, I'll be up to tuck them in', he said. She was taught to take life seriously, Albert made her laugh and she felt free. Hold me, hold me, take my hand don't let it go. Hold me, hold me, through this twisted world we roam, Through this twisted world... 'Albert comes across most splendidly, The most delightful appearance you can see!' Love blossomed and hearts became entwined, A new life together they did find. Hold me, hold me, take my hand don't let it go. Hold me, hold me, through this twisted world we roam, Through this twisted world... I will lead you through the wilderness, And will love you as you go. Put your trust in me my love, Look at the flowers clothed in gold! 'All these names of gentle tenderness, I have never heard before' 'This is bliss beyond belief', Please don't ever let me... Hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me... Hold me, hold me, don't leave me in this world of sin. Hold me, hold me, just look at the state we're in, Just look at the state I'm in, Just look at the state...
13.
Pimlico 03:56
14.
Vauxhall 04:04
Ringing bell - a carousel Jill's knocked out and Jack just shouts Hey now, fun now Under a cloak a jackdaw croaks Hey now, fun now We grow weak carrying burdens All the rubble we take away Just leave it all today In and out of the seasons All the trouble and pain of May Let's see Vauxhall today Singing frogs and 'Diamond Dogs' Jack is pleased and Jill's relieved Hey now, play now We grow weak carrying burdens All the rubble we take away Just leave it all today In and out of the seasons All the trouble and pain of May Let's see Vauxhall today Ringing bell - a carousel Hounds rush out - the bear thrashes about Under a cloak, a jackdaw spoke: "I'm still walking... I'm still talking..." Carousel Oh, what it's like to be free! We grow weak carrying burdens All the rubble we take away Just leave it all today In and out of the seasons All the trouble and pain of May Let's see Vauxhall today
15.
Stockwell 05:18
Wailing through the night, Mrs. Golding never snuffs the light Don't you know it's just the tapping of the trees? Like fingers. White as a ghost she comes tumbling down the stairs, Anne, dear Anne, finds her shivering there. She takes her by the hand, makes her tea - lights on. The shelves of blue and white fine 'Spode' came crashing to the ground, The knifes, forks and spoons start flying around, Open mouthed they stare at the floor - frozen. All the villagers gossip while Mrs. Golding despairs, Fr. Percy Jackman seems to care - He takes his cross and his water, through the house - praying. 'This ae night, this ae night' Nothing's right this ae night Can you hear me? Fear me... Everyone come to the fairground, 'Cause she babbles and gaggles and flies off the roof of her shed. Everyone come to the fairground, We will string up and bash her until she is bloody and dead! 'Up the airy mountain, down the rushy glen, We daren't go a-hunting for fear of little men, Wee folk, good folk trooping all altogether Green jacket, red cap and owl's white feather Is any man so daring as dig them up in spite, He shall find the sharpest thorns in his bed at night.'
16.
Brixton 05:59
O Windrush, storm coming. A better life was promised - Coldharbour Lane is dark and wet. Great Britain is working, No short cuts, no shirking - (They said): 'No blacks, no Irish and no dogs'. He told me to cling to the vine, Don't look back, there's still time, He told me to grasp the line, That takes you over & over & over & over and shine. Distrust in wrong people, No jobs and grey steeples, A house alight - a boy lies down. He told me to cling to the vine, Don't look back, there's still time. He told me to love all the time, And spill it over & over & over & over and shine. A change in me, a change in you, We're like a family and we'll get through, A transformed world which we made new (it don't hurt so bad) A change in you... We're like a family and we'll get through All the colours red, green and blue A change in me..... (Thinking time: love & grief Sitting now some relief Green & blue - thrush & leaf Darting strawberry thief)

about

This album describes a journey through London - a trip along the length of the Victoria Line on the Tube. It is a love letter to London of sorts. The songs are about people and history associated with the localities around the stations - as well as The Royal Vincident's own experiences with the city.
He has written, sung and played almost everything on the album (see album credits below for additional personnel).
Musically the album is quite diverse, with many genres coming into play to reflect the different stations, although there are strong thematic links throughout the album. Some of the songs have their roots in his time with the alternative rock band My Octopus George and quite a few of them are inspired by classical music.
The album has a lo-fi ethos - The Royal Vincident wanting to prove to himself that he could record an album at home and in his own time.

The striking artwork is by Pedro Demetriou - pedrodemetriou.co.uk

credits

released April 10, 2015

All songs written by Vincent Sheehan, except Brixton which is written by Vincent Sheehan/Jethro Harper

All instruments and vocals performed by Vincent Sheehan, except:
Seven Sisters - backing vocals by Michelle Sheehan
Victoria - vocals by Michelle Sheehan
Brixton - guitar, keyboard and bass by Jethro Harper; backing vocals by Michelle Sheehan

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The Royal Vincident London, UK

A singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, formerly of London based alt rock band My Octopus George. Victoria is his first solo album. His musical style is quirky, but melodic. Influences include: Cardiacs, David Bowie, The Beatles, Nirvana, Elliott Smith and a lot of classical composers. ... more

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