We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Watchful Days

by Ali George

supported by
Samuel Holloway
Samuel Holloway thumbnail
Samuel Holloway I can't praise the singing, guitar playing, arrangements and production on the LP highly enough. It's absolutely pristine and gorgeous to listen to. Masterful folk music that reveals more with each listen. Ali George is at the top of his game. Favorite track: Let Me Down Gently.
willycwillydo
willycwillydo thumbnail
dave459
dave459 thumbnail
/
1.
Hard to Find 03:41
lyrics
buy track
In these crazy days there's not enough time And it's so hard to know Hard to know what to do I get frustrated You get frustrated too So, I drink the weekend away And you sleep the weekend away in a flash It's so hard to find our way in this darkness We're both trying to weave our own dreams in this darkness I'm so hard to live with here just now And I'm so hard to love I'm so hard to love, babe And I'm so temperamental I change like clouds It must get hard to care It must be hard to bear such a fool It's so hard to find our way in this darkness We're both trying to weave our own dreams in this darkness Oh, my love, we're growing old But don't feel sorry for us 'Cause everybody in the world is in the same boat Painters, puppeteers, mountaineers all crying for Dancers, glass blowers, pumpkin growers all vying for Basket weavers, alpine skiers, they're all dying for The time to do that thing we love That thing we care about It's so hard to find our way in this darkness We're both trying to weave our own dreams in this darkness It's so hard to find our way in this darkness We're both trying to weave our own dreams in this darkness
2.
Land or Gold 03:43
lyrics
buy track
We’re up late talkin’ tonight About all my wasted affections You’re the one who keeps me upright You’re the one who won’t betray me for land or gold Land or gold You won’t betray me for land or gold Some lovers I’ve known have been so selfish They drain your heart And after that they go But you’re the one who soothes my soul You’re the one who won’t betray me for land or gold Land or Gold You won’t betray me for land or gold Oh, oh, oh, oh I know you won’t Oh, oh, oh, oh I just know you won’t Oh, oh, oh, oh I just know you won’t cut me loose I just know you won’t cut me loose I hope I’m the same The same as you I don’t wanna grow into the sort of lover I have always known You’re the one The one who’s different You’re the one who won’t betray me for land or gold
3.
Little Prophecy 03:16
lyrics
buy track
Someone said that you were going to be Someone said that you were going to be my downfall And it came to pass that they were right And it came to pass that they were right, oh, oh Now, it seems to me that they had made Now, it seems to me that they had made a little prophecy People said that she was beautiful People said that she was beautiful and kind-hearted People said she had an honest face And they said she had a kind of grace, oh, oh But someone said “She’s a little too good to be true You wanna watch out, or she’ll make trouble for you” Now, it seems to me that they had made Now, it seems to me that they had made a little prophecy Now, it seems to me that they had made Now, it seems to me that they had made a little prophecy When you left me there without a word When you left me there without a word, I was crestfallen I was thinking that you might return But they said you would not be coming back Now, it seems to me that they had made Now, it seems to me that they had made a little prophecy Now, it seems to me that they had made Now, it seems to me that they had made a little prophecy Now, it seems they had made a little prophecy Yeah!
4.
Dreams Within Dreams 03:10
lyrics
buy track
Everywhere we go Everything we do Your mind is somewhere else And I can’t get through to you If I asked you now “What is in your mind?” Would you tell me true? Or would you leave me behind? I lost you somewhere down the line I lost you in the fog Was it when my beauty faded? God, don’t let it be that I think it goes much deeper Somewhere way back You started daydreaming: A dream within a dream Everywhere we go Everything we do Your mind is somewhere else And I can’t get through to you It’s like you’re drifting far away In a deep coma While I’m slaving in the kitchen (A woman’s work is never done) I’m trying to get through to you I ask you what is wrong But all I get are muttered words You trivialize it all Everywhere we go Everything we do Your mind is somewhere else And I can’t get through to you It’s like you cannot feel My presence anymore I’m calling out to you Through a cold rolled steel door
5.
Can We Keep On Healing? 03:28
lyrics
buy track
Well, we roll on down the road darlin’ now Trying to keep a-moving on We were riding nice and smooth darlin’, then We just ran out of steam We been rolling now for four good years Can we keep on healing? We been tested and tried We been dead and alive Can we keep on healing? Can we keep on healing? Can we keep on healing? Will we find our way? Find our way in this black smoke Will we make it through? Can we hold on? Will we choke? We've been locked up in this tower for a while Trying to keep our sanity And you wrote me a letter in your sadness With all the words you couldn’t speak We been rolling now for four good years Can we keep on healing? We been tested and tried We been dead and alive Can we keep on healing? Can we keep on healing? Can we keep on healing? Can we keep on healing? Will we find our way? Find our way in this black smoke Will we make it through? Can we hold on? Will we choke? Well, I found all those charred pages then In the fireplace And I saw all those hurt feelings there And I couldn’t move for shame We been rolling now for four good years Can we keep on healing? We been tested and tried We been dead and alive Can we keep on healing? Can we keep on healing? Can we keep on healing?
6.
Loverboy 04:14
lyrics
buy track
He’s your lover boy All dressed in black It gets awkward here When you come with him in tow Askin’ how I am With those great sad brown eyes You’re so desperate for my forgiveness But that’s not the way to go about it It’s just not the way to go He’s your lover boy And he looks a little like you He takes his guitar almost everywhere he goes Singing sad, sad songs To all my so-called friends He said he wants to be good friends with me But that’s not the way to go about it It’s just not the way to go He’s your lover now And you’re all wrapped up in him You can’t see my soul anymore when you look at me You can’t see anything outside your bubble You think he’s the king and you’re the queen And you want my loyalty You can’t do this to me And expect to get away with it It’s just not the way to go Whoa But that’s not the way to go about it It’s just not the way to go But that’s not the way to go about it It’s just not the way to go
7.
Monkey Boys 03:42
lyrics
buy track
On the way to school today I broke down on the corner The tears all down my shirt and tie I am due to fight today with the weakest kid in school It’s all been organised, and I’m scared I’ll lose He’s got nothing against me And I don’t have a single thing against him It’s out of our hands These monkey boys are out of their minds We just don’t belong here It all seems so strange and so cruel We don’t have a choice These monkey boys rule the school On the way to school today I learned something about life You’ve got to keep your head down low You’re never gonna fit in here These people are insane And school is just a flawed idea They’ve got nothing against me In fact, I’m a good distraction It’s out of control These monkey boys are out of their minds I’m partly to blame here I shouldn’t have tried to fit in It’s strange and it’s cruel These monkey boys rule the school It’s so strange and so cruel These monkey boys rule the school So strange and so cruel These monkey boys rule the school So strange and so cruel These monkey boys rule the school
8.
Ferns 03:59
lyrics
buy track
Little one of the earth Your life has been so goddamned hard You’ve been scared But I know you are steel I know you’ll get what you need I was happy to see you shine As your laughter was ringing wild Through the oak trees And the tall, tall pines You found something bright In the darkness of your long vigil You found a safe place In the softness of the lush green ferns I see a calm horizon for you I see it clear and true A place that the darkness can’t ever touch That you have to reach out to Oooh Aaah Aaah I was happy to see you shine As your laughter was ringing wild Through the oak trees And the tall, tall pines
9.
Let Me Down Gently 05:05
lyrics
buy track
Oh babe, let me down gently If you ever wanna set me free Oh babe, let me down gently If you ever wanna set me free Yes, I’ve been bad I’ve been with others In dark places That you won’t ever see And I’ve been washed In your pure blood And I’ve been scared That the guilt will kill me Oh babe, let me down gently If you ever wanna set me free Oh babe, let me down gently If you ever wanna set me free It never takes long For the thrill to turn To deep regret And black melancholy You said, “Was it worth it?” I said, “Not for one second” “If we could reverse it We could be so happy” Oh babe, let me down gently If you ever wanna set me free Oh babe, let me down gently If you ever wanna set me free Oh babe, let me down gently If you ever wanna set me free Oh babe, let me down gently If you ever wanna set me free Aah, aah, ahh

about

"Watchful Days" marks the third and latest instalment of Ali George's album trilogy, produced in collaboration with Josh Clark. Through a powerful blend of soulful vocals, poignant lyrics, and evocative melodies, the album delves into themes of love, betrayal, and isolation. Drawing from personal experiences and observations of those around him, George delivers an introspective and emotional performance.

The majority of the album was written during a difficult period for Ali George and his partner, Olia Tsopela. In 2020, they made the sudden decision to relocate from Bath, UK, to Athens, Greece after Tsopela’s mother Soula was diagnosed with cancer.

Amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, George and Tsopela supported themselves by teaching online as they waited for Soula's chemotherapy to take effect. The title of the album refers to this strange and disquieting period in their lives.

In his spare time, George poured his heart and soul into the album's creation, spending countless hours crafting intricate fingerstyle patterns using unconventional guitar tunings. Through this dedicated process, the foundations for the album were made.

After spending months in Greece writing and refining the songs that would make up “Watchful Days”, George returned home to Bath in July 2021 for a brief visit to see family and to perform a series of small concerts. During this time, he started recording the album with his longtime producer and collaborator, Josh Clark, at Get Real Audio Studios.

Together, they worked to create a unique ambient soundscape for George's guitar, implementing ping-pong delays, long reverbs, expression pedals, and dual amps to achieve a rich stereo effect. They also captured George's percussive playing style, inspired by the likes of John Martyn and Nick Jones, using carefully placed microphones.

Upon returning to Athens, George enlisted the help of several other friends and collaborators who recorded their parts remotely due to the pandemic-related travel restrictions. George focused on recording overdubs for the album, drawing inspiration from Elliott Smith and Bon Iver. He experimented with layering multiple backing vocals, incorporating harmonies and double-tracking to create a rich, textured sound.

With the recording work complete, George and Clark worked together to mix and master the final tracks. Taking cues from legendary concept albums like Pink Floyd's "The Wall," they decided to blend several of the songs together to create a seamless, cohesive listening experience that takes the listener on a dark and enthralling journey. The result is a beautifully crafted album that showcases George's talent as both a songwriter and a musician.

Soon after the album was completed Soula’s cancer was deemed to be terminal. George and Tsopela married in Athens in May 2022, and Soula attended the wedding. She passed away in September. The album is dedicated to her memory.

credits

released August 11, 2023

© Ali George 2023.
Produced and Mastered by Josh Clark.
Recorded at Get Real Audio Studios in Bath, UK.

Ali George - Vocals, electro-acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, Nashville-strung guitar, backing vocals.
Beth Porter - Cello
Tom Allen - Double bass.
Dexter Selboy - Backing vocals, trumpet.
Irakles Kopitas - Bass guitar.
Jools Scott - Organ.
Josh Clark - Drums, percussion, synth, tenor guitar.
.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Ali George image

Ali George Bath, UK

Ali George is a British singer-songwriter with a distinct fingerstyle guitar technique, mellow vocals, and an earthy songwriting style. Inspired most deeply by Bon Iver, Nick Drake, and John Martyn, he has been active in the southwest English folk scene for 20 years. His new album “Watchful Days” will be released in July 2023. ... more

contact / help

Contact Ali George

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Report this album or account

Ali George recommends:

If you like Ali George, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring Riley Pinkerton (aka The Rat Queen) from the theatrical NYC rockers, Castle Rat.
listen now