(2) Basil (5:44)

[Stanko]

Tracker is now definitely my favourite MK solo album and I listen to it most days, sometimes several times - in fact I find it's becoming addictive!    It is so soothing, especially at the end of the day and Basil is one of my favourite songs from the album with its beautiful guitar licks.   

My thoughts exactly, Superval! I will never tire of Tracker.

Of course, Tracker is my favourite album as well - as every is done by Mark
Also, Basil is one of my favourite and as I can notice there is a certain similarity with an another great song I Dug Up a Diamond from All The Roadrunning, just listen to these songs!

[Lis]

Tracker is now definitely my favourite MK solo album and I listen to it most days, sometimes several times - in fact I find it's becoming addictive!    It is so soothing, especially at the end of the day and Basil is one of my favourite songs from the album with its beautiful guitar licks.   

My thoughts exactly, Superval! I will never tire of Tracker.

Of course, Tracker is my favourite album as well - as every is done by Mark
Also, Basil is one of my favourite and as I can notice there is a certain similarity with an another great song I Dug Up a Diamond from All The Roadrunning, just listen to these songs!

"Addictive" in an interesting choice of words Superval  .  And I completely agree!! 

[dmg]

Basil is a great character study and brilliantly written song of the post-DS era.  I just cannot believe the very same person wrote Wherever I Go on the same album.  Whether you like the songs or not the difference in quality is staggering.

[Love Expresso]

I like the sentence of Mark in the Deluxe Studio Interview where he said that back then he saw Basil from the view of  the copy boy but nowadays of course thinks about time the same as Basil and can feel much more like him, now that he is older. That makes the date of release (2015 and not let's say 1978 or 1985) much more believable and gives this song so much depth and applicability.

All these songs that come from his early past and youth (Southbound Again, 5.15 am, Secondary Waltz, We Can Get Wild, Border Reiver,  One More Matinee,  not complete and  in no particular order) have a certain greatness and quality and are among his best songs which might result from the long time he might have pondered about them before finally releasing them.

LE

[quizzaciously]

I like the sentence of Mark in the Deluxe Studio Interview where he said that back then he saw Basil from the view of  the copy boy but nowadays of course thinks about time the same as Basil and can feel much more like him, now that he is older. That makes the date of release (2015 and not let's say 1978 or 1985) much more believable and gives this song so much depth and applicability.

All these songs that come from his early past and youth (Southbound Again, 5.15 am, Secondary Waltz, We Can Get Wild, Border Reiver,  One More Matinee,  not complete and  in no particular order) have a certain greatness and quality and are among his best songs which might result from the long time he might have pondered about them before finally releasing them.

LE

Then I read this I only can feel sorry about people who thinks that 'Sultans of Swing' is the best song from MK. They overlook so much joy!

[Love Expresso]

"...pays six and six down" means what exactly? The "down" gives me troubles.

LE

[Stanko]

"...pays six and six down" means what exactly? The "down" gives me troubles.

LE

It means 6 shillings and 6 pennies.
http://projectbritain.com/moneyold.htm

[Love Expresso]

Well, thank you! So "down" is used for "pennie"?

LE

[quizzaciously]

Well, thank you! So "down" is used for "pennie"?

LE

By the way, maybe I'm wrong, but isn't this "down" here is the same as in "pay me my money down"? A figure of speech or something.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/pay+down

[dustyvalentino]

Down short for down payment I would say.

Sent from my Tab2A7-20F using Tapatalk

[Stanko]

Yes,  thank you Dusty. Also I think it could mean the both though -  referring to down paying in additional 6 "units" either the way you would just write it i.e. 6/6 (like 6 over 6) 6s and 6p...

[Love Expresso]

Thanks!

LE

[Stanko]

Well, I will start it again because I'm really not sure now. I have found that 2 silver half crowns worth 2X 2/6 which is  4 schillings an 12 pennies. I guess that would be 5 schillings?
So, It must be that 5 cigarettes have costed "1 and six down" (1 schilling and 6 pennies).
This would be matching with the verses eventually:
"My Saturday job pays six and six down
A copy boy at the Chronicle
Five cigarettes and two silver half crowns"

My apologies if I'm over grinding :-)

[Love Expresso]

Thanks stanko. I gave up with the Brits and their strange old money System long ago... 

That "down" is just not clear. I try to say it with examples: Could the line in question be changed with "six and six right down in my hand" or with
They paid me down exactly six and six?
 

LE

[dmg]

Thanks stanko. I gave up with the Brits and their strange old money System long ago... 

That "down" is just not clear. I try to say it with examples: Could the line in question be changed with "six and six right down in my hand" or with
They paid me down exactly six and six?
 

LE

Of course it does mean that it rhymes and scans with the rest of the verse, but I'm sure that's purely coincidental!

My Saturday job pays six and six down
A copy boy at the Chronicle
Five cigarettes and two silver half crowns
Meeting Vince at Mark Toney’s in town
Boy, do we get around