“This book will answer every question you have ever wanted to ask. It will ultimatly provide you with full truths and half truths- it is up to you to decide fact from fiction�
Illustrated Soundtrack
Adam Byrne
Velvet Underground Sunday Morning
Sunday Morning Sunday mornings have become a rainy place to be I fell in love with the sun She now shines brightly within my head. Sleeping blissfully on the pillow next to me I fell in love with the sun Her sweet, subtle breathe warming my bed. Take a closer look it’s not that hard to see I fell in love with the sun I’m ready to go again, my pencil full of lead.
The Smashing Pumpkins Song for a Son
Song for a Son To a Son As these things usually start Cards, letters, greetings For a Son Suggests you’re willing to provide Shelter, warmth, love I’m on my way oh how I’m on my way The present that refuses to be wrapped I’m every image that you once were A permanent reminder that will never stray From every Son This is their solemn vow Hello, Thank you, Goodbye
The Kills Black Balloon
Black Balloon When I was 5 I was given a black balloon We had matching smiles and matching faces The bitter winter weakened its fragile frame upon my grasp From a beautiful form came a horrid diseased creature That black balloon changed while this one will forever remain Farewell my black balloon‌
The White Stripes Icky Thump
Icky Thump Icky Thump is the place where you came when I showed you how to live your life, Icky Thump is the place you took me when I said that I needed your love. Icky Thump is what comforted us on the porch when Elvis died, Icky Thump is what you and I felt the day we sat and cried. Icky Thump is the only thing we didn’t get from the corner shop, Icky Thump is what you’ll find if you ever plan to stop. Icky Thump is what I am, all I’m worth Icky Thump is all of you, the virgin birth.
The Smashing Pumpkins Landslide
Landslide Echoes of the fallen snow line the streets The ghosts of the departed snowmen still ring The washed up sledges lay deserted in the fields This Town is filled with winter Everything glossy white ready for the New Year Footprints of last year are the only souvenir The new antiques of the future, past and present Soon to be buried by fresh feelings This Town is filled with winter The new snowmen have already arrived Their footprints have already covered mine The people in this Town are all melting The snowmen in the fields are all breathing
Twinkle Golden Lights
Golden Lights The shimmer from the pool was golden upon her skin A perfect picture willing to be captured by cardinal sin Her breasts swelled more naturally than life Her lips were warm and moist Determined to have me To lay their mark upon my neck, the lover’s knife
Billy Bragg A New England
A New England As so many before me have written They must have known of you too This feeling I feel I share with them Your impression of me she thought of then This is just a repeat, the greatest story ever told.
Johnny Thunders You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory
You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory I began to appreciate much more when you were gone When you were here the love and things didn’t last so long If you’re feeling especially smug take this as I miss you On reflection there is no love lost I’ll rewrite the memories of us, of you I can replace what you took with the dreams I make They’re becoming more vivid now, more real than you ever were On reflection there was no love made
Barry Maguire Eve of Destruction
Eve of Destruction I’ve seen the whole world collapse although I’ve never left this Town I know it’s all falling apart, it’s all ruins beyond that gate The news tells of it still existing, but it’s there no more Desolate wasteland is the future that greets us The war is cunning like that, it takes our people away Soon there’ll be no more gate, the war will be at our door Entering our living rooms and joining in with Morning Prayer They said peace would be the outcome, freedom will to be their income Children will no longer have parents, just the loving arms of war
Donovan Universal Soldier
Universal Soldier I saw the soldier last night, he’s getting old now His last words were so many years ago on the battlefield Sitting there recounting those days, beads of sweat fill his brow He remembers his comrades, their bond, his safety shield He’s still mute, only in his sleep does he live The scars of battle fill his mind Friends lost he’ll never find
Idlewild El Capitan
El Capitan Every now and then I wonder what could have been The love in our eyes, the sun would still beam Crooked and withered this summer has made me No more jumping out of bed to find murky swamps in our tea These past two years of regret, was time well spent?
Snow Patrol Set the Fire to the Third Bar
Set the Fire to the Third Bar We’re well prepared if anything should happen I have my piano and you have your matches This bar isn’t going to see the light of day I wrote love songs laced with gunpowder Sulphur-tipped matches struck even louder The music of the night crashes around her The bar and its contents are smouldering Her opinion and view of things are altering I’m sitting here thinking what forever will bring This bar has burnt to the ground The music I now play makes no sound Loves destination finally found
The Kills Last Day of Magic
Last Day of Magic When the Paris lights fade that’s when the magic will end I wrote my ambitions on your bathroom mirror That way you’ll be able to reflect a whole lot clearer Perhaps this one night was all we had And it’s this hotel room that makes us look back You must agree that our final few hours were tragic This is it, no last words, just one last day of magic
The Dead Weather I Cut Like a Buffalo
I Cut Like a Buffalo You no longer have to beware of the dog It’s been confirmed that I cut like a buffalo Welcome to the New Wild West It was on the morning news that you were the last one to arrive There’s nothing more to fear now that you’re here alive You’re safe now in the New Wild West You’re staying at the inn next to the stable They’ve made your bed and laid your table You’ll never leave the New Wild West
Lightspeed Champion Galaxy of the Lost
Galaxy of the Lost How am I going to explain this one? Your neighbour’s car keys made this planet There are plenty of chairs, enough room to sit Would you believe it if I told you? Your sister’s cat was the first one here Then came the Christmas trees and neglected beer Look around you, what do you see? A landscape of the broken, borrowed and lost This is what we made at no extra cost
The Beatles You Never Give Me Your Money
You Never Give Me Your Money The streets could be lined with silver for all I care What is in your hand is gold, kindly share? Feel free to walk past me, I’m in no hurry to go home If I had your life there’d be no greed No more poverty, thank you Children in Need Where does that money go, who does it feed? Money makes the world go round. How about you sleep on this five star ground? You never give me your money Never fear, your life is always sunny
The Smiths Asleep
Asleep I have never slept with clothes on and I don’t intend to start now This bed is useless and there’s no room for female company The lighting has only one setting and the acoustics need some work No plugs to charge my phone or possessions to call my own I should have had a say in this Coffin design has always been hit and miss
All poetry, photographs, collages and illustrations by Adam Byrne