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American in London

from Joy in the New by Andersen Silva

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about

I intentionally used the cadence of Sting's "Englishman in New York" when I wrote these lyrics in St. James's Park in London in early 2000, and the lines are sort of a wink and a nod to him, though the two songs don't sound alike at all. This song was improvised on November 9, 2002 while I sat with my guitar and let my 'new' Alesis drum machine inspire me. The track was my first to feature the Alesis, as well as the EBow Plus, a nifty little gadget that takes the place of a guitar pick, in the solo, giving the guitar a sort of violin/synth sound.

lyrics

(Mind the gap...)

I stopped in St. James's Park, a cloudy day, but warm,
People fair and fowl passed me by.
The bloomin' flowers, the green green grass were beauteous,
But nothing to the loveliness of your eyes.

March in London Town, historical and proud,
Remembering deaths, yet full of life.
I could stay here but could I truly fit in?
My weary heart and head are filled with strife.

CHORUS:
I'm American,
Like it or not- American,
An American in London...
I'm American,
Like it or not- American,
An American in London.

Squeeze the people from the tube at Leicester Square,
Virgin's there, HMV too.
Ride the Northern to Elephant and Castle if you dare,
Or else just get off at Waterloo...

CHORUS

(Look right, look left!
Keep left, keep right!)

Joggers all around, Boots all over town,
Churches are everywhere to see,
Just so many ways to spend so many days,
But I wish that you could spend them here with me.

An elbow here, a careless mindless shove there,
"Sorry, mate," and it's OK,
A vision of your green eyes and suddenly I smile,
Love is love...

CHORUS

credits

from Joy in the New, released August 3, 2004
written and recorded by Andersen Silva

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Andersen Silva Lyndhurst

Let Talking Heads, David Bowie, Trent Reznor, the Cars, Roger Waters, and half a Ramone take turns writing and playing songs together, with Frank Zappa, Lou Reed, and Ringo Starr splitting vocal duties, and you might get something like Andersen Silva's music. Or you might not. ... more

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