“The very embodiment of the term Crooner. Knows his way round the ivories better than most, with an unbeatable repertoire of Classics and originals to keep you entertained."
Island Records artist
A concept album; “Writer Man” is a dialogue, of varying perspectives, between the point of view of the journalist (J) and a star (S).
"You sound great."
The Billy Joel Band
Hear Crystals vocals and percussion on:
"Writer man" and "A Watchers Point of View"
1. AN AMERICAN STAR
(sympathy for the journalist)
Words and music Paul Toshner
F Dm
F Dm Bb Gm
Ab Fm Db Dbm
Bb Gm Eb Ebm
C Am F Fm
- “Hello I’ve come to do an interview on you
I hope that’s alright”
I had a job at a local rag
citing everything she’d say
I fell in love before we met
which for a journalist it’s not ok
So when the day came along in a restaurant
And I heaped upon her praise
she coldly asked me what I want
I said "tell me ‘bout the early days"
She said - (sigh);
my mother would never leave without
her favourite fender strat
yes they rushed us both to the hospital
in my fathers old black cat
I was born at the side of the road
my friend and that was that
- "well tell me where did you grow up"
(Sigh) I did “grow up” in a neighbourhood
where emotion is not revealed, maybe years have passed
I think you've guessed, still I have not healed
But I would borrow my mothers strat
and sneak out to a club in “the old black cat”
and sneak out to a club in “the old black cat”
Born - how!? In an Englishman’s car
With a mothers guitar
An American star is born
down, where the tears do not cry
But a voice in her eyes.
And accompanying sighs are born...
Then she said something really quite strange and I saw it in her eyes
“I don’t believe in journalists, they ruin so many lives”
I said “I’m sorry, it’s an age old fight
But I don’t take no liberties because of my rights,
no I don’t take no liberties because of my rights.”
Born – down, in an Englishman’s car
With a mothers guitar
An American star is born
how!? In an Englishman’s car
With a mothers guitar
An American star is born
down, where the tears do not cry
and a voice in her eyes.
And accompanying sighs are born
now in the land of the free
As she wants it to be
But she’d rather believe in me
- “ well thanks very much, bye!
- “It's a free land, it's a price you pay"
The journalist is “just doing his job” which is to serve a two edged sword: making the star “canonised” as a superstar, and seeking to reveal they are “just human”.
2. THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
Paul Toshner
Fm C/E Fm/Eb Db
Ab Db/Bb Ab/C Db
How different R U with U'r purple hair
How different R U I Love 2 Stare at U're
Purple hair a ring through U'r nose black
paint on U'r toes
how different R U deep inside did U
never find something 2 hide would I
Love 2 know a little bit more
a little bit restless I adore not like
The girl next door she's such a bore its
just as well for the stories she’ll tell about
Girl next door so much amore then
dinner 2 night with a banker that’s right
Oh no its the girl next door I cant take any
More meeting girl next door
U'r different on the outside I can C so
something on the inside had 2 B
More than meets the eye a
little bit restless and wanting 2 cry
A little bit helpless and wanting 2 die or
just a little crazy & wanting 2 fly, not like the
The girl next door she's such a bore its
just as well for the stories she’ll tell about a
Girl next door so much amore than
dinner 2 night with a banker that’s right No’...No
its girl next door Oh wo Oh Oh'
I cant take any more meeting girl next door
I cant take any more.
3. DONT SAY ANYTHING
P Toshner
A A/F# A/D A/E
F BB/G F/A BB
ah, you stole yourself from me
ah, what do you need to see
how you stole yourself from me
u don’t say ...anything
u don’t need me
at all
u were so generous on stage,
but in private u couldn’t
give anything away
I was so generous at home,
but in public no-one knew
i was alone
u don’t c me any more
no need to keep the score
call me time and time again
like never before and in 5mins
u’ll forget me,
the truth’ll set you free
the truth’ll set me free
if I was so cynical with words
in private, it’s coz
i coulden get
a word in even over heard
and you say
we’re so close,
when u r verbose!
4. WRITER MAN
Paul Toshner
Gm Cm Ab Bb
Cm G/C Ab Dm Db Gsus - G
Gm Am Bb Am
Gm Am x2
so now you’re a writer, should you to talk about love
so now you’re a writer, or lord above
so now you can think of yourself - collectively
coz you’re thinking of somebody else - allegedly
write for somebody else - respectively
over a notion around your self
writer man, off to write the word
telling everybody today I can write the world away
writer man, off to write his words
to pen and ink he has to prey
on his feat made of cliché
something to prove
typo to pose what’s in your way
o to ppose what’s in your way
so now you’re a writer and everything’s so intense,
so in tense, sewing tents
look at the subject, then spins on the fence
so now you’re a writer and you’re selling everybody you meet
I’m off too right...ooo I taste so sweet
I think it’s you that needs the Dr
not (nebach) the poor Journalist
who dosent know how to write a peach
turn to the left spin to the right
twisted hand relief
it’s the pen in this hand, his pen in his hand
he’s going to shake you understand (shake you underhand)
its his north and south, the master nation plan
writer man, off to write the word
telling everybody today
but be careful Dr, bricks and mortar got lots to say
writer man, gets off to light with words,
gets off too light with words
this party piece is at the stage,
nothing new with a view to a wage
5. AN ARTIST
Paul Toshner
Cm/C-/B-/Bb Gm Fm G x: C
Caug Gaug/B C Fm/Eb C Fm - G - C x 2
Eb Bb
Finally letting go,
finally sitting down,
finally what I know
laughing a clown in town
An artist has to make some room
in everything he seems
taking that the higher lines are free
he doesn’t care about the surreptitious,
he’s into helping you get rid of the delicious,
junkie and monkey on your back
He cares about the sense of it,
He’s into the defence of it,
but not with violence, or silence,
is he free
He doesn’t care
about the critical,
it’s way too political,
just his spiritual, visible, lyrical melody
An artist has to make some room
in everything he scenes
taking that the higher lines are free
and so we sang together,
we sang together, we sang alone
An artist has to make some room
in everything he seems
taking that the higher lines are free
6. NOWHERE ELSE
Paul Toshner
C C/Bb Eb x2
C Am/F x2
G E/Ab Am C/G C Bb - Ab/Bb
D A/D G/D x2
D D/F# G F/G
Gm/C /G x2
Eb F x2
Eb Bb/Eb Ab/Eb x2
Eb Eb/G Ab F#/Ab
what else can I do
you look so blue
a shoulder to cry on
or you can rely on
but I cant decide
what to tell to those eyes
how to get it through to you
I tell you what I’d do
climb every fountain
swim to this guy
look at these soaking eyes
what need no-one tries
what if I wipe those tears
holding back the pain
that I know you’ve been fighting
put it in writing
and don’t even tell me why
It’s the hardest thing to try
There is nowhere else you’d rather be
There is no one else you’d rather see
There is no one else as close to me - laughing at the sea
hardest thing to try
it’s a fountain
who can swim to this guy!
There is nowhere else you’d rather be
There is no one else you’d rather see
laughing in the blue
7. JIKAN
Paul Toshner
Fm Cm Db/Bb Cm
Db Eb
Db Bb/D Eb Bb/D
Am Em Dm Em
Jikan, tired of life without change
Jikan, to re-arrange
to never look back
rise above
don’t cry for pain
only love
only love and Jikan
I’m so tired coz I’m so weak
time to sleep to find my feet
I know you see the world
that’s through my eyes
you know when I’m weak
it comes as no surprise
Jikan
Did we look to close to find
the love we need
in as much our lovers
hearts so hard when we
refuse to give
what we receive
When we’re tired we take the most
think of you think of me so close
remember a new day
brings another sun
remember the old days
warm from the only one
we really don’t need to run
from Jikan
singing pianist poetry to music
8. PAPER GUN
Words and music: Paul Toshner
G F C G
C Dm Dm C
C Dm - G Dm - G C
D Em Em D
D Em - A Em - A D
E Em Em E
E F#m - B F#m - B E
“There’s something needs to be done.
It's like something in you that says I need to do this.
And if I don't do anything else I know that I know that I know that I have to do this!”
Mesoud Benasully
...when someone has wronged you
that is their problem
but that it happened to you is your problem
that it happened to you is yours...
where have men been,
what have they become
Gun, paper gun paper gun
Gun, paper gun paper gone
soon they’ll be seeing the light
in fact I certainly hope
we should be enjoying this
together on the other side
Probably you prefer that I told you that I
want to buy you pizza than I tell you I love you
then again depends on weather you have
an allergy to cheeze but nowadays you
can get tofu, tofu is an alternative to cheese
forget it, forget it, give up, don't do it,
don't do it to yourself, don't do it to your family
it's ok, good to love, good to look at other people,
but you must understand yourself
ok, teach me how to eat sushi
...you don't have chopsticks
what is normal, we all ask that question
the funny thing is being unusual nowadays is so bloody
normal that nobody really notices if you are unusual or not
in fact being normal is much more unusual than being unusual
The synergy is what counts
where in lies the reality
how fickle we are, how tempted to the unknown
the gender makes no difference
Singing a song, loving me, loving you back...
that’s what I'm thinking about
...nobody is going to change that
I'm talking about everybody’s coping about the same thing.
G-d bless you
hello Mr Appelbaum, I wonder whether or not
you'd like to come round and tell a story...
Of course you need to understand
that we are working on a masterpiece...
when action is replaced with emotion
instead of going to do something silly
get it out on paper
then perhaps you'll calm down later
or maybe not it depends how much
or how little self restraint you've got
Hope you are well, that's all I am saying
have a wonderful evening and whatever it is
you're not doing, don't do it for long
because if you don't do it what you're not doing
who knows what you'll end up doing
coz truth be told I am more bold
where you can not outrun
your hate, from love
that you thought so little of
as you laughed...at my paper gun
“I think every person at one point in their lives
they had this strong feeling that they have to do something
about a situation, maybe they were raised in a way that they shouldn't,
I'm saying...something must be done”
Mesoud Benasully
Like a social misfit
you play the scene
“there’s good and bad in everyone”
so you think you’ll come out clean
well I wont give you the pleasure
from me you wont get a rise.
Anyway you’re blissfully un-aware
of why you should be so despised
“never rub another mans rhubarb”
always good advice
like "an eye for an eye
a tooth for a tooth"
there’s a price
so avert your gaze and a little less praise
yes avert your gaze and a little less praise
when temptation fires your ego.
you’ll notice in time
you’re not paying the fine
“Im all right jack” doesn’t cover the legal
but I am your enemy my friend
and until the bitter end
you are the reason
for my mindful treason
It's broken so what’s to mend!?
In hot and bloody cool disdain
you’ve justified most every lie
moriality can feign
the end was over before the war begun
when I left you weaving your only fun
twas pen and paper that used to be
my field of no retreat
but now I'm doing all I can
that we should never meet
Gun, paper gun paper gun
Gun, paper gum paper gone
Gun, paper gun paper gone
soon they’ll be seeing the light
“It's like one of those people that they need to climb Mt Everest
and it requires years of training and then facing the unknown up there
and so many people they have tried and they have failed
and some people even have lost their lives lo alianeo
I don't have more words to conti....”
Mesoud Benasully
9. RETALIATE AND TOLERATE
Stand for you and live
Their is such a thing a contrast
When you want to know the truth
but experience the strait and middle first
And then asses “your” proof
He’s boss
He’s something strong
on so many counts
needed for so long
So perceive in light
Percieve the facts
in light of the lions den
in spite of the lions den
Those thugs and bullies
who foster hate
You know their names
But out of fear
you did not negotiate / retaliate
Aware of public opinion
too respectful of its weight
In a balance that’s rare
he manages to care,
relate and tolerate
Tally and tolerate
Hear the greedy and contrived
As he strips them of their lies
A tweet or two is all it takes
And clarity survives
G-d has seen the world
He’ll do fine
Regardless if your a feminist
His power of love is not celibate
His greatest gift
Learn from him the dance
Art is not a twist
Prayers are what he needs
Thats one way to give
He risks his life in the face of death
Stand for him and live.
10. YOU CAN’T IMAGINE
Paul Toshner
There’s a song called “You can’t imagine”
“You can’t imagine”
it so little time
“You can’t imagine”
really you can’t imagine
capturing the moment’s
but when the moment’s bigger than this
everything that it amounts to
a x
“You can’t imagine”
it’s the best of me
you can’t imagine
that it’s free
you can’t imagine
how little it took
how hard I looked
for what was real
you cant imagine me
in this moment
feeling as I do
how much I’d give to you
you can’t imagine
how lucky I feel
you can’t imagine
that it’s not really real
what I mean to say by that is
what I mean to say, buy that
if you really want to try to see
what you need to be
I’d say do and don’t take it from me
coz at the same time,
it’s as good as it can be
surely it’s not free
There’s a song called
“You can’t imagine”
You can’t imagine
it so little time
even though I made it rhyme
capturing the moment
is fine
11. Writer Man (prologue)
Paul Toshner
He can plagiarise the blood and sell himself no matter what the soul
He’s the cat in the hat rat kind of diplomat
Likes to think that he likes to think, make sure you give him a wink when he gets the drinks
so now he’s a writer and everything’s so intense, so in tense, sewing tents
looks at the subject, spin on the fence
turn to the left, spin to the right
spin to the left, turn to the right
broken hand relief
sticks his pen in the sand
ever shifting to make someone stand
writer man justify your words
writer man just defy your words
to pen and ink he has to prey
on his feat made of cliché’
writer man off to write the good word
spin a politician a play,
but be careful Dr
bricks and mortar got lots to say
so now he’s a writer
in a room with a view to a stage
so sow he’s a writer
id say this room is a cage
he’s got two critics eyes
to tip if I extemporize
he’s other-wise
he’ll calculate evaluate,
but the boom bada bing
if you know what I mean
he’ll just spectate
he’ll look around to qualify his
graduated, elevated
never made it, compensated,
syncopated, un-dilated
stuck on auto
automated answer
coz he’s watching you
who?
from a watchers point of view
who?
who me - not u, he’d agree with everything you do
who me - yes you, but you’ve got to admire him for being so shrewd
Dude!
So now he’s a writer, putting down words
So now he’s a writer, but for somebody else’s heard
Dude!
So now he’s a writer
somebody else is heard,
its his north and south, but another mans plan
I think it’s him that needs a Dr not the poor politician who just doesn’t know how to write a peach
He’s got so much to say
Dude!
About a mask a raid
a masquerade,
the part he plays,
the party plays,
so now he’s a writer, ought to talk about love
so now he’s a writer, or is it lord above
so now that he thinks of himself
- collectively
coz he’s thinking of somebody else
- allegedly
he’d writes for somebody else
- respectively
over a notion around him self
- over an ocean around himself
Dude!
He can plagiarize the blood and sell himself no matter what the soul
He, or she the cat in the hat rat kind of diplomat...Dudett!
12. A WATCHERS POINT OF VIEW
Paul Toshner
From a watchers point of view
If you can see what he wants to do
see what he misconstrued
He likes to think that he likes to think
And he likes a wink when he gets the drinks
But he takes the change it’s a little strange
Then a hunch back train flew over the saine
Inside his head he’s braved a world that didn’t give him much to choose
He’ll get around but he wont go down unless he’s taking you
From a watchers point of view
who me? – who knows, not you!
Whatever Mr you cant loose
who me? – who knows, not you!
What is the question, but it’s not to be
From a watchers point of view
They can be found everywhere if you’ve been looking this year
And the conditions are good for when they want to appear
To have the carrier barrier and a right to choose
The congenital pariah blues
Who me? – who knows, not you!
When he agrees with everything you do
Who he? – who cares, not you!
but we got admire him,
for being so shrewd!
From a watchers point of view
see what he wants to do
go down taking you
From a watchers point of view
Watch her point of view
“Ooo their loafers no laces in his shoes”
Watch him Miss Construe
He’d say anything, and everything, absolutely anything
Something that is mostly just a little bit of nothing
HeW an sToP is sOnY our TreeT oo