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    The 6th album of joyful folk-rock from Merry Hell Track Listing: 1Go Down Fighting 2Leave It In The Ground 3Three Little Lions 4Handsome Sally 5Sister Atlas 6Sailor 7Beyond The Call 8Violet 9Younger Than You Were 10The Green Hills Of Home 11I Don't Want To Be Cool 12We Are Different, We Are One 13Moonlight Parade 14Emergency Lullaby (Wasting Time) Merry Hell are: Andrew Kettle: Vocals Virginia Kettle: Vocals & Guitar Bob Kettle: Mandolin & Bouzouki John Kettle: Guitars Nick Davies: Bass Lee Goulding: Keyboards & Banjo Neil McCartney: Fiddle & Backing Vocals Andy Jones: Drums All members of Merry Hell contributed to backing vocals on this album. Merry Hell were joined by Simon Care, who played Melodeon on I Don't Want To Be Cool. ‘Beyond The Call’ & ‘We Are Different, We Are One’ feature the massed voices of The Key Workers Chorus and The Social Isolation Choir. Our thanks go to each and every one of you. ‘Sailor’ was written for Bob ‘Buck’ Taylor, a former stoker in The Royal Navy. He was buried at sea in 2018. Sail on forever, Buck. ‘Sister Atlas’ is dedicated to Greta Thunberg. ‘Handsome Sally’ is dedicated to Karen and Richard. Emergency Lullabies was recorded, engineered and produced by John Kettle at The Music Projects, Wigan and remotely at band member’s homes, except for ‘Moonlight Parade’, which was produced by Neil McCartney and John Kettle. Cover Concept and all artwork by Neil McCartney. Neilmccartney10@gmail.com The Merry Hell Crew: Merchandise by Julie McKiernan and Mike (Jonah) Jones, occasionally augmented or substituted by Denise Kettle). Website by Julian Watts at JoolzDesign.com Cat-herding, breakfast arranging and spiritual guidance by Damian Liptrot. We would like to thank our families, friends and all you good people who help keep the Merry Hell charabanc moving on our mighty long way down Folk and Roll. We started recording Emergency Lullabies in the Autumn of 2019 and finished it during the Lockdown of 2020.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Emergency Lullabies via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.     ... more
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about

Virginia’s tour-de-force celebration of the women who refuse to conform to traditional expectations as to how they should behave. A live favourite, allowing her to practice what she preaches!!

lyrics

Violet
There’s a little woodland flower, a beautiful recluse,
Her petals range in hue, from navy blue to puce.
So quiet and retiring, so delicate is she,
She’ll wince if you should glimpse,
Her bilateral symmetry.
There’s a certain type of gentleman, I have met one or three.
Who think women more vociferous, than p’ raps they ought to be.
Keep your opinions to the minimum; it’s charming to be shy.
Well for all us belles, blessed with decibels,
Here comes my reply…

I think you’re looking for a violet, a little, sweet, shrinking V.I.O.L.E.T
Just like Shakespeare reclaimed, some shrews cannot be tamed,
They grow louder the older they get.
If you’re looking for a violet, a little, sweet, shrinking V.I.O.L.E.T
Don’t waste your time with me,
I’m only going to let you down.

I went on a serious date once, a difficult affair,
He was a history lecturer, with academic hair.
I tried to be coquettish; I tried to be demure,
I listened most intently to his:
“Improvements in military engineering from Crimea to the Second World War”
But when came my time to speak, enthusiasm made me shrill,
I went in less than ten seconds, from nought to pneumatic drill.
There were tears in his ears; I saw horror on his face,
And I chuckled to myself as he fled swiftly from the place.

I think you’re looking for a violet, a little sweet shrinking V.I.O.L.E.T
I’m like bugles at dawn, I am fog, I am horn,
Totally lacking in vocal etiquette.
If you’re looking for a violet, a little sweet shrinking V.I.O.L.E.T
Don’t waste your time with me,
I’m only going to let you down.

I do not mutter, I don’t murmur,
Never been a verbal squirmer.
I speak blunt, I speak plain,
At the velocity of a passing train.
Will I ever find a mate, upon whose nerves I do not grate,
The only chance I’ll be endearing,
Is if you are very, very, hard of hearing.
But,
If you’re looking for a violet, a little sweet shrinking V.I.O.L.E.T
Don’t waste your time with me,
I’m only going to let you down,
Don’t waste your time with me,
I’m only going to let you down.

credits

from Emergency Lullabies, released November 8, 2020
Words and Music by Virginia Kettle

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Merry Hell Wigan, UK

Multi-award winning Merry Hell offer joyful, uplifting folk-rock, with a message for troubled times. Native to the North- West of England, the 8-piece musical charabanc was built from the embers of the much loved folk-punk band The Tansads, developing a life and feel all of its own. Through 6 albums and hundreds of gigs, they offer hope & light in our troubled times. ... more

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