This is from a series of recordings that I made with my collaborators during the strictest period of lockdown. It was my way of documenting and processing everything that was happening. They are all recorded in the performers homes all across the world - I would send the skeleton of a song out, people would send their parts back and I would stitch it all together in my bedroom before sending it to be mixed by Arie van der Poel in New Zealand. On this track a huge thanks must go to Alistair Welsh who did this beautiful horn arrangement.
So grateful for everyone's contributions, especially to Chiara Baima Poma who painted the cover art, see more of her work at
www.instagram.com/chiara_baima_poma/
lyrics
EVERYTHING IS CANCELLED
Everything’s been cancelled, everything’s been banned
The show must not go on, I hope you understand
Now everybody’s paranoid - even more so than before
Everybody’s drunk, everybody’s bored
Everybody’s scared and if they’re not they’re in denial
Everything’s been cancelled overnight
Because we created a monster… well of course we did.
Two opposable thumbs and a raging id
Failed by the leaders who put the doctors' heads
In the guillotine and then said ‘save our necks’
‘Lucky the suckers took that oath’ the Minister was heard to have said
And then said ‘But baby am I crazy or did I just sign all those cheques?
Oh well I’m feeling a little woozy I think I might retire for the day
Everything’s been cancelled anyway’
Do you remember the wine of the summer?
We used to have so much fun
I was looking forward to doing it all again, but no…
Goodbye, goodbye
Go inside, goodbye, goodbye
Go inside, goodbye
Everything’s been cancelled overnight
Promise me one thing - if we get out of this alive
Promise me we’re gonna spend so much more time outside
Right now when I go out everybody’s running. Running for their lives
I listened to a mother explain the situation to her child
I told my streetwalking friend Gordy go live with your sister for a while
There won’t be any action out tonight
Because everything’s been cancelled and closed til further notice
They’ll let you know when it’s over, just don’t listen to the P.O.T.U.S.
The angels haven’t left us, they’re all fight on the front line
I send em all my love, and to you all all the time
Now will you promise me one more thing before we lock ourselves inside
That when this tragedy is over we’ll finally get the balance right
Promise me we’ll only do the things that really matter all the time
I have become so disillusioned with this screen and all these wires
And with this house of cards I’ve been living in
To which I dedicated my life
Well now that everything is cancelled
It doesn’t seem like that was wise
I hope and pray we’ll meet again in some other summertime, for now -
Everything is cancelled, goodbye
Do you remember the wine of the summer?
We used to have so much fun
I was looking forward to doing it all again, but no…
Goodbye, goodbye
Go inside, goodbye, goodbye
Go inside, goodbye
Do you remember the wine of the summer?
We used to have so much fun
I am looking forward to doing it all again
credits
released September 4, 2020
Everything Is Cancelled by MF Tomlinson
Mixed by Arie van der Poel
Mastered by Syd Kemp
Cover art by Chiara Baima Poma
Horn arrangement by Alistair Welsh
Double Bass by Ben Manning
Trombone by Alistair Welsh
Tuba by Anna Carter
Trumpet by Jack Courtney
Clarinet by Luke English
Drums by Luke Saunders
Recorded at home
Special thanks to Loz Keystone for use of his RE501 Tape Echo
An eclectic singer/songwriter “who seems to use music as a means to excavate within the soul” - Clash. Primarily a
storyteller, MF Tomlinson negotiates styles as varied as acid folk, soul, alt country & chamber pop to create a singular presence. He achieves this genre fluidity with the help of a close-knit group of collaborators he calls “the MFs, because they’re all very talented motherfuckers.”...more
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