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Eyes on the map

by Rik van den Bosch

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1.
People always ask me Where am I from I’m from the land of the bicycles The dykes and the windmills Where clay and the rain Make clogs so practical I’m from the country Where the cheese is made Every town has got its own Some cheese is for exporting But just like France We keep the best at home Keep your nose above the water Keep your head out of the sand The sea is slowly rising So it is not surprising We’ll keep on building up the land We always keep an eye on the weather The land is two meters lower than the sea We're always on the watch out Never to be washed out We won’t be brought to our knees Fields grow the tulips Cows make the milk, On just a little bit of sun Yeah Holland is so small We barely fit ourselves But there’s still enough for everyone Keep your nose above the water Keep your head out of the sand The sea is slowly rising So it is not surprising We’ll keep on building up the land Dutchies like to travel You’ll find us everywhere In all the corners of the world We have a funny accent And we all smoke pot We all stand 8 feet tall Before I went abroad I thought the earth was flat My highest mountain was a dune Flat is the land And hard blows the wind While we are singing this tune Keep your nose above the water Keep your head out of the sand The sea is slowly rising So it is not surprising We’ll keep on building up we’ll keep on building up we’ll keep on building up the land we’ll keep on building up the land
2.
When I was a young man, I wanted to know The home of jazz, blues, country and folk I took a flight to New Orleans With my eyes set on New York The Big Easy provided me, a rhythm and a rhyme and melody A bridge to cross the Mississippi river, the first lines of a song I made my way to Memphis Tennessee On the back of a greyhound, my guitar and me A sign read “blues had a baby, they named it rock ‘n’ roll” I went into a restaurant, I ordered some wings The cook saw my guitar, he asked “boy can you play that thing?” I told him, sure can, and I sang Pass the hat, I’m finger picking, listen to music and eat your chicken, I’m singing a song, it’s finger-licking, Gus’s world famous hot 'n' spicy fried chicken restaurant I was down on my last dime, but I had to find a way I wanted to make it to the Big Apple some day I hitched my way to Nashville, in search of country air After busking a week or two and not much money made playing the blues I packed up, I said “so long” I’m just passing through And I’m getting kind a hungry too Pass the hat, I’m finger picking, listen to music and eat your chicken, I’m singing a song, it’s finger-licking, Gus’s world famous hot 'n' spicy fried chicken restaurant I played in the bars and I played in the church I played out on the streets, I never had to search For somewhere to stay, such good people, who helped me on my way I came here for the music, but I learned something more If it weren’t for those friendly folks, I’d never been a troubadour, So this one’s for you Pass the hat, I’m finger picking, listen to music and eat your chicken, I’m singing a song, it’s finger-licking, Gus’s world famous hot 'n' spicy fried chicken restaurant
3.
Well this train is heading south And all around the kids are running wild Not a trace of a bad taste in their mouths This red wine is a remedy for the drought It’s summertime, everyone’s on holiday In their campervan or in their Chevrolet Heavy traffic because it’s Saturday For everyone awaits a Beaujolais Well this train is picking up speed There are places to go and people to meet At Gare du Nord nous entrons Paris Où quelqu'un te dit que vous êtes très jolie As the custom goes you start a wild romance You’re shown around, you learn the local dance As dawn breaks you get up and take your chance Hop back on that train with your new made friends This could be the best of holidays This could be the best of holidays Evidently you come across the Tour de France Where you meet the devil signing autographs And the devil says come and sit with me He opens a bottle of the right Chablis He’s got camembert, Roquefort and Brie Man, he surely knows how to cut that cheese He says life is short, take this advice from me Spread your wings, go out, be free This will be the best of holidays This will be the best of holidays Along the line you’re running out of cash But you meet a man with a bent moustache He says the time is ripe, the grapes are looking fine These grapes need picking before we make the wine He says the pay is bad, but at least the work is hard And after work you can pick up your guitar Sing us songs and play around the fire Let the spirit get higher and higher This must be the best of holidays This must be the best of holidays The work is done, and you get back on that train Excitement was running through your veins No need for words, there’s nothing to explain You leave your sweetheart somewhere in Champagne You may stay in touch, you may just drift apart There will always be this special place in your heart These memories will never fade away This surely was the best of holidays, The best of holidays, the best of holidays
4.
Food bank 03:09
He’s a working man, from the city street Yes, he worked a thousand jobs, to make ends meet Never thought he’d reach older than fifty But he saw all the great bands play in the seventies He taught himself never to look back Don't retaliate when you’re stabbed in the back Never look up, never look down On anyone wearing a helmet or a crown And the foodbank provides He still has his pride In this vicious circle of his life All his wisdom came Through pain and shame He had a life worth living He was part of the game Overrun by trouble and bad luck He’s still trying to find the meaning While his head still hits the ceiling He’s still going around in circles on the treadmill of time And the foodbank provides he still has his pride In this vicious circle of his life And the foodbank provides he still has his pride In this vicious circle of his life
5.
I am looking at the sun Where life and dreams unfolded from I am rooted in the soil I’m just hoping I will grow As fast and high as I could ever go To the stars that steal the show I don’t want to go anywhere Even though I hear there’s more out there I don't need to know what lies behind The garden fence and what there is to find All I ever need to see The love you have for me Two flowers aiming for the sun There are millions more but you’re a special one You’re the one with whom I wish to be I know your petals grow just for me But it’s from your roots that I can feel The love we share is real And every day gives another clue Feel the earth around and water trickling through Our leaves are gently swaying in the wind I hope you know that you’re my truest friend I’m so lucky I was planted next to you All my dreams came true
6.
The M25 02:40
I’m travelling through the UK I’m having loads of fun I go from town to town To sing you all my songs I just moved from Barcelona And I guess I’m right on time Before Brexit kicks in And the French pull their wine And from the corner of my eye I can see a sign saying Good morning and welcome to the M25 Good morning and welcome to the M25 Someone’s briefing me On migration policy Saying those strangers take advantage I ask him, people like me He says no, you are an expat And that's something else But I sure don't feel different We're all human on all levels And from the corner of my eye I can see a sign saying Roadworks and problems On the M25 Roadworks and problems On the M25 Sharing is caring Don’t fall into the trap Between the poor and the wealthy There’s still a widening gap I have taken up a job Cut me some slack For I freed one in Barcelona I’ve sure given one back And from the corner of my eye I can see a sign, saying We all share this highway Called the M25 We all share this highway Called the M25 I’m writing this song I’m singing behind the wheel Going 3 miles an hour You may know how that feels There's a light in the darkness And my spirit runs high Cause a miracle's unfolding On the M25 And from the corner of my eye I can see a sign saying Strawberries in lay-by On the M25 And from the corner of my eye I can see a sign saying Strawberries in lay-by On the M25 Strawberries in lay-by On the M25
7.
Ginny the kit Is growing so strong Once just a kitten Now so lean and long She’s smart, she’s sassy She can’t do no wrong Bet you’ll love her like I do By the end of this song She’s chasing a spider And a magnetic cow She just fell in the toilet And I don't know how But she's learning so much Each and every day Is a fun day with Ginny Ginny’s ok Ginny the kit She’s got dreams of her own She wants to be a tiger Hunting from home But whatever she’ll do We’ll stay right by her side When she hunts her own tail All through the night She’s exploring the garden She’s got no fear Making friends with a bee Well she plays it by ear She jumps up from a shadow Rushes back to the house Till she noticed what scared her Was the shadow of a mouse Ginny the Kit Is a cuddle machine She purrs and she hugs her way On to your knees She’s snug in your lap And she looks like a queen She could be on the cover Of a cat magazine And Ginny the kit Is so naughty sometimes She scratches the sofa Or spills all the wine But she’s quickly forgiven Your heart skips a beat She’s the most charming lady You’ll ever meet So this is the story Of Ginny kit She’s still very young But already a hit She’s such an attraction And you knew all along That you would love her like I do By the end of this song
8.
9.
Mijn lief 02:23
10.
Your soul is softer than satin Your smile is a play I could watch all day long You think the most beautiful patterns Your eyes shine right through me our love is a song Chorus: Love fills a gap And our hands are clapping The car's fixed and we're on our way My hand on your lap Our eyes on the map We are planning the route of today You never cease to amaze me Flowers change colour At every bend Like a well that’s as deep as the sea And the fields of green Don’t ever seem to end Chorus I spy with my little eye We turn up the radio We’re singing along You place your hand on my thigh You whisper those words I know where we belong Chorus At some point, we get to choose The slow country roads or the motorway And together we have nothing to lose Grey skies, nothing can ruin our day Chorus
11.
12.

about

These are four demo recordings for the upcoming album 'Eyes on the map' A brand new set of twelve songs, describing life on the road. This album will take you from the Mississippi to Barcelona, through the French vineyards and the Dutch dykes, finally depositing you in Nashville via the M25.

credits

released May 10, 2019

All songs written by Rik van den Bosch
Guitar, vocals and harmonica by Rik van den Bosch
2nd vocals on Eyes on the map by Laura Hopkins

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jake Skinner at Brighton Road recording studios
All rights reserved 2018

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Rik van den Bosch Barcelona, Spain

At the age of seven, Rik built his own guitar using a tin can, a chunk of wood and a nylon string. He has been making music ever since.

Rik writes, sings, and plays his own songs. Armed with a guitar, harmonica and a strong pair of lungs, he draws from a wide range of styles: folk, blues, rock 'n' roll, gypsy, and country. His music tells stories of travel, perseverance, and - of course - love
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