Story Behind The Song
With themes of love, politics, moving house, leonard cohen, and terrorism, 'The Finchley Waltz' was a goodbye to London song written whilst stuck in a traffic jam caused by police chasing terrorists after the 7/7 bombings.
Song Description
With themes of love, politics, moving house, leonard cohen, and terrorism, 'The Finchley Waltz' was a goodbye to London song written whilst stuck in a traffic jam caused by police chasing terrorists after the 7/7 bombings.
| Song Length |
4:26 |
Genre |
Folk - General |
Lyrics
I daydreamed for hours in the traffic jam as the good guys and the bad guys stopped play.
On the radio politicians dutifully opine which liberties they?ll be taking away.
Please sir, have you seen me innocence? It was hanging up there on my door.
I?m sure it was looking quite tattered but I still had things I was keeping for.
Guess I?ve seen one too many movies; I still believe in love at first sight.
My heart just slammed into a beautiful brick wall and she's keeping me up late at night.
Maybe I spent too much too much time dreaming when I could have been joining in.
Pulling the hair of the pig-tailed girl was wrong but it wasn?t a sin.
I got lost on the way out of London listening to Leonard Cohen?s words.
Diverted by police chasing angry young men, who?ll die just so they get heard.
There?s something about this fine city that will always bring a tear to my eye.
I guess I left most of my innocence here and I can?t say I remember why.
I need to go buy me some new clothes; the famous blue raincoats worn through.
A last thought as I finally hit open road and London fades in the rear-view.
This song it?s just for you and I, and any other dreamers around
Who know how it feels to be back on the road without knowing where they are bound.
Although I?ve seen too many movies but I know now that you?re not the one.
'Cos something you said just got stuck in my head for a moment and then it was gone.
The night was a womb to my headlights; the horizon a mirror to my soul.
I sing to the silence and the darkness around till I finally made my way home.