TRACKS FROM 2020 VISION, THE NEW EP FROM WALTHAMSTOW'S
Coulda Make Another Planet
With a pop/afrobeat groove, Coulda Make Another Planet
takes a look at the effect of our actions towards each other
and towards the planet as a whole, while still offering hope.
Lyrics
Chorus: We coulda make another planet
No one can deny it
With the time and energy we use to hate
We lost sight of our remit
To love the world and all in it
We would rather fight to be the one who’s great
We coulda make another planet
No one can deny it
With the time and energy we use to hate
We lost sight of our remit
To love the world and all in it
And now we plunge Mother Earth to her darkest fate
But there’s no love without understanding
No love without giving a chance
No love without doing the right thing
No forgiveness without repentance
No love if we turn a blind eye
No love if we choose to ignore
No love when some still beg for freedom
Because their lives are just like a war
(Chorus)
‘Cause there’s no love if we kill a thousand
And replace with only two or one
So much of life to us may not be useful
But just like us they belong to creation
No love if we allow our excess
To be our daily norm
Too much of anything is just as bad as not enough
Let’s do right by us and we will help to fix our home
(Chorus)
There’s no love without understanding
No love without giving a chance
No love without doing the right thing
Lockdown
A strong reggae groove lays the foundation for Lockdown, which looks at the events surrounding lockdown in the UK, and the government's response or handling of the virus.
Lyrics
Chorus:
They turn my home into ghost down
When they put us under lockdown
To stop a virus on a death mission
They had no choice, they had no plan
They turn my home into ghost down
When they put us under lockdown
Now we know a world of restrictions
Are these the signs of life to come
Mixed messages and deflection
Are what they giving to the nation
When it should be the facts, the real facts
Not their facts that forming opinion
But they never give us the benefit of the doubt
When is big things we talking ‘bout
Just a wishy, washy, nancy story, how we gonna win
When we want them speak the truth
That the hope we need will bring
(Chorus)
Now they have a new appreciation
For the workers whose profession
Is to guard the health of the population
Thank you for your dedication
Those who pay through their nose for their education
And don’t get proper incentive or remuneration
Now they’re at the frontline of this silent invasion
While those on top bring confusion with their instruction
Why you think you could run a country by slogan
That don’t bring clarity when we need action
Like testing and vaccine and proper protection
For those in health care do their job with distinction
Not in fear of daily putting their lives
Beyond the risk of destruction
For a grateful nation
Sadly led by poor communication
(Chorus)
You may not have heard of Johh Blood but he has been around for a while. Working mainly in the reggae tradition if labels matter, John is a singer, songwriter, social commentator and poet with something to say and an outstanding gift for saying it elegantly and melodically. His new digital album is free to listen to on Bandcamp, or to purchase for £4, which includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3 or FLAC, high quality cover art, accurate artist and track names, and lyrics when available.
John Blood has a large archive of his work on Soundcloud. To hear them you'll need to open a free account if you don't already have one. The same applies to his music on Spotify.
When things get a bit more normal look out for John Blood's live appearances with his group The Highlys. Here are two live performances of tracks from his debut album recorded live at Cafe 1001 for the Musicborn Crew on 9th May 2012.