(2) Basil (5:44)

[foma]

Those 2/4 measures are so typical MK, you can hear them coming

I can't find any 2/4 bar in the song

It's in 6/8.

[TheTimeWasWrong]

Haha sorry, i meant 3/8 ...I always liked those half bars in MK's songs (like Golden Heart, STP, SFFTC)

"What he wouldn’t give just to walk out today"

[foma]

Somebody can tell me why 'bury' sounds exactly like 'berry' in English? If this is two different words, why exact same pronunciation?

[dmg]

Somebody can tell me why 'bury' sounds exactly like 'berry' in English? If this is two different words, why exact same pronunciation?

There are a number of exceptions like sight and site.

[superval99]

Somebody can tell me why 'bury' sounds exactly like 'berry' in English? If this is two different words, why exact same pronunciation?

There are a number of exceptions like sight and site.

The town is pronounced Burry!   

[geordie_60]

Thank you, Geordie_60!     I do wish, though that newspapers, magazines, etc would get it right about where MK went to school, especially a Newcastle newspaper!    He lived in Gosforth and went to school there, not Blyth as is so often stated (copied from wrong info on Wikipedia)!   This was from the first blue link!

His mother came from Blyth i think and his parents were married there, but you're right he lived in Gosforth and went to school there. We at the Chronicle have plenty of archive pics of MK in his old classroom at his school in Gosforth.

Do you think we could see some of those pictures, Geordie_60?    I'm sure everyone here would be very interested!   

I dont think i would dare put them up on this site due to copyright reasons!  They dont belong to me sorry!!

Yes, I realised that, but it was worth a try!       Thank you, anyway, for the link!   

Heres a pics i took today of locations in Newcastle which are mentioned in Basil

[superval99]

Hi Geordie_60!  Thank you for the pictures.  Is the one second from bottom Grainger Street?   

[geordie_60]

Yes it is!

[dmg]

Thanks for the pictures Geordie_60!  Great to put a picture to the name.  I had actually been on Google maps looking at Grainger Street and the church I think is mentioned in the song - the "black church."  I plan to take some shots of these places when I'm in Newcastle in May for the gig myself.  Can't wait!

Interesting to see the Chronicle office;  if that was the office when Mark worked there it would've been a new building!

[geordie_60]

Yes Thomson House as it is known was opened in 1965 so i guess MK would have been in there. Its my place of employment incidentally.

[dmg]

Yes Thomson House as it is known was opened in 1965 so i guess MK would have been in there. Its my place of employment incidentally.

Good brutalist design.

[surferboy]

Does anyone know if there are nods to Bunting lyrically in the song?
Are motives or words taken from one of his poems, maybe the summer fair streching over the moor, the starlings or the black buildings or the shadowy Keep?

[dmg]

He was renowned for reading his poetry out aloud.  This is his best known work:

 

[border_reiver]

This is one of very few skippers for me. Can't get myself to like it. Too boring 

I mean, this is from the same brain who made "Oklahoma Ponies" for God's sake!

[dmg]

This is one of very few skippers for me. Can't get myself to like it. Too boring 

I mean, this is from the same brain who made "Oklahoma Ponies" for God's sake!

You've got to be kidding!  This is the best one on the album for quality - no doubt.  The lyrics, imagery, atmosphere, it's all there.  My personal favourite right now is Terminal but I've got to admit that I think this is a higher quality song.  Bear with it border and I'm sure you'll come to love it as I do.