I was tidying up a few things a few days back when I came across this comment from Echorich, in response to my lavishing praise on Record, the 2018 release from Tracey Thorn:-
“Record is all about strength, doubting it, gaining it, using it, sustaining it. It was certainly one of my favorite albums of 2018. I’m currently obsessed with the track Smoke. I might suggest it for Some Songs Are Great Short Stories…”
Let’s just say, it’s a great suggestion.
From Carlton Road came Mirriam and Joab
Came Mirriam and Joab
Came Mirriam and Joab
From the wide flat fields to the rolling smoke
to the rolling smoke
to the rolling smoke
I made a little home in the family
a family, a family
As the years went by they led to me
led to me
In good time they had a son called James
who had a son called James, were there no other names?
The first world war and the second one came
the second one came
the second one came
My mother now was a teenage girl
she survived the blitz
she survived the blitz
Though she knew a girl, who knew a girl
Who was blown to bits
who was blown to bits (ah, ha)
London you in my blood and
you’ve been there for so long
London you in my blood but
I feel you going wrong
And so my parents fled the smoke
some ancient feel for green awoke
But I look down the railway line
back to the city, that felt like mine
Where no one cared, what clothes you wore
Or who you loved, what books you bought
Where you were born, what God you loved,
or so I thought
or so I thought
London you in my blood and
you’ve been there for so long
London you in my blood but
I feel you going wrong
And though its streets are paved in gold
all bought and sold
all bought and sold
Still the river runs its course
Back to its source
back to its source
Tied and broke and river fleet
and hearts that beat,
and hearts that beat
Blood that flows and hearts that beat
And hearts that beat…
From Carlton Road came Mirriam and Joab
Came Mirriam and Joab
Came Mirriam and Joab
From the wide flat fields to the rolling smoke
to the rolling smoke
to the rolling smoke
mp3 : Tracey Thorn – Smoke
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Her latest book, Another Planet, is a great read which you could say is the continuation of this song.
And so my parents fled the smoke
some ancient feel for green awoke
its a great album – my favourite of 2018
Smoke just hits me so hard. It’s that feeling you get when you know an artist is performing their truth. Record is an album filled with beauty, emotion and truths.