Get all 10 Grand Union Orchestra releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Made By Human Hands, Love That Day (Single), Can't Chain Up Me Mind (Single), 12 For 12, If Paradise, Now Comes The Dragon's Hour, Around The World In 80 Minutes, The Rhythm Of Tides, and 2 more.
1. |
Mirage
05:06
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After the mountains
After the long descent through the tortuous passes
Now you the traveller
Now you the traveller on the Great Silk Road
Come to the desert
Here you will travel by night
Passing by moonlight and the light that the stars spill
The empty quarter where temptations dwell
Sometimes the night wind
Carries the sound of music from out of the desert
You will hear singing
You will hear singing on the Great Silk Road
High and alluring
Useless to stop your ears
Its thrilling sound is sweeter than wine from palm trees
But there is nothing save the restless sands
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2. |
Picking Betel Palm
03:56
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3. |
Bhangra Brass
03:33
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4. |
If Music Could
05:32
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If music could bind up the wounded earth, we would do that
If music could bind up the wounded earth, we would do that
If music could down strike the torturer’s arm, we would do that
If music could down strike the torturer’s arm, we would do that
If music could, we would.
If music could bring justice to the oppressed, we would do that
If music could bring justice to the oppressed, we would do that
If music could raise lovers from the grave, we would do that
If music could raise lovers from the dead, we would do that
If music could, we would
If music could re-spell the broken names, we would do that
If music could re-spell the broken names, we would do that
If music could, we would
If music could, we would
We would do that
We would do that
If music could, we would
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5. |
Can't Chain Up Me Mind
03:47
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Massa put de heavy ole chain round me ankle dem
Massa put de jackass rope around me han
Massa tell me what fe do
Massa tell me what fe say
Massa tell me how fe look like sey me blind
But no care how him try
Till the day dat him die
Massa can’t find a way to chain me mind
So massa do yuh best
Mek de Devil do de rest
No yuh can’t chain up me mind
My mind is for me
And dis mind it is free
No yuh can’t chain up me mind
Massa tell me when fe get up and fe go to bed
Massa tell me what to wear and what to eat
Massa tell me whey fe live
Massa tell me whey fe walk
Massa tell me how much pickney me fe hab
Though him kill me woman dead
Though him sell me pickney, Ned
Massa can’t find a way to chain me mind
No no no no, no no no no
So massa do yuh best
Mek de Devil do de rest
No yuh can’t chain up me mind
My mind is for me
And dis mind it is free
No yuh can’t chain up me mind
Massa bruck me han an foot dem when me run away
Massa hang me brother up just the other day
Mass him know dat de law
Is the law for backra
Massa know him can do what him like wid me
Though me grin when him laugh
Bow and scrape when him pass
Massa can’t find a way to chain me mind
So massa do yuh best
Mek de Devil do de rest
No yuh can’t chain up me mind
My mind is for me
And dis mind it is free
No yuh can’t chain up me mind
Can’t chain, no no yuh can’t chain
Can’t chain, chain up me mind
No yuh can’t chain, no no yuh can’t chain
Can’t chain, chain up me mind
No yuh can’t chain, no no yuh can’t chain
Can’t chain, chain up me mind
No yuh can’t chain, no no yuh can’t chain
Can’t chain, chain up me mind
No yuh can’t chain, no no yuh can’t chain
Can’t chain, chain up me mind
No yuh can’t chain, no no yuh can’t chain
Can’t chain, chain up me mind
No yuh can’t chain, no no yuh can’t chain
Can’t chain, chain up me mind
No yuh can’t chain, no no yuh can’t chain
Can’t chain, chain up me mind
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6. |
Collateral Damage
06:31
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7. |
Silence Is Consent
03:50
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Easy to turn our backs now
Knowing that all we need is to be forceful and attack now
Have we nothing more to offer than our silent tears?
For silence is consent
Wipe the sleep
Wipe the sleep from your eyes
Wipe the sleep
Wipe the sleep from your eyes
Lend a hand, life is passing you by
Take a stand, life is passing you by
Hear the cry but don’t weep
Wipe the sleep, wipe the sleep
Wipe the sleep from your eyes
Somewhere a man is dying
Somehow you can understand what this event is underlying
And that this has more to do with you than first appears
But silence is consent
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8. |
Ça Ira
05:01
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9. |
Eleggua Kó, Eleggua Rá
03:55
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10. |
Tomar Basane
03:04
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Tomar basane golaper gandho jeno
Kalo keshe kusumer surobhi keno
Chandan charchito dehballori
Mohua phuler matal haoay
Ami tare kore nite
Chai aponari, chai aponari, chai aponari
Hinar sourave dole amar hridoy
Bhalobasa kane kane duti katha koy
Amar swapno jeno chanpa phuler
Anamika surobhi hoye
Alakhe aloke jay go boye
There is the smell of roses in your attire
And the perfume of flower buds in your black hair
I want you as my own
My heart is intoxicated with the perfume of hina
Love whispers in my ears
My dream becomes the nameless perfume of chanpa
And floats in eternity and in the air
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11. |
Yemen
03:17
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12. |
The Golden Highway
06:52
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Now the dust of centuries blows away
The road lies open
From Istanbul to Xin Tai Pei the road is mine
Mine the business, mine the deals
Mine the buildings, mine the wheels
Driving onwards down the open road
The open road is in my sights
The land is ready
But due respect to local rights
The land is theirs
Theirs the labour, theirs the loans
Theirs the life in shanty towns
Along the never-ending open road
And when the highway’s open, what the hell
American Express into the Sheraton Hotel
Move on before the natives can rebel
It’s a golden highway
To pass through Customs choose your passport well
Then flout the customs
Waive the rules and dig that oil well
Draw up the oil, draw up the deal with Shell
It’s a golden highway
If he were the new messiah
He would save himself alone
He who prophesies a profit
Takes it all and leaves us none
If he were the new mahomet
He would see to number one
He who hires and fires bosses
Takes it all and leaves us none
If he were the new deliverer
He would bless us with a gun
He who builds and burns and bargains
Takes it all and leaves us none
But when the highway’s open, what the hell
Cos you can kiss your income shortfall rapidly farewell
The pound is strong, the dollar long
So who’s got land to sell?
It’s a golden highway
The eastward road was never less revered
Instead, we have a climate that is geared
To him whose credit can defray
Expenses on the road to Mandalay
And when the highway’s open, ring the bell
McDonald’s at the roadside, baby, wouldn‘t that be swell
And swell the lands with brand new brands
Of you know what the hell
And you know how the hell you do
For you know how it’s easy to
Turn your acute deaf ear
To wars that plague Kashmir
While he whose laptop is at hand
Can email straight from Samarqand
They’ll pour along the highway, I can tell
The shoes of Nike, the Honda bike
The Yves St Laurent smell
Here Pizzaland, there Disneyland
And Nestle’s milk shall dwell
With Chevrolet and Perrier
Let’s pile ‘em on pell mell
And you know how the hell you play
With lives of those whom you betray
With promises so sweet
With your finger on delete
Computer-trading ship to shore
You’re wider spread than Singapore
They'll pour along the highway, I can tell
And you know how the hell you play
The shoes of Nike, the Honda bike
The Yves Saint Laurent smell
With lives of those whom you betray
With promises so sweet
Here Pizzaland, there Disneyland
And Sky TV shall dwell
Won't life be such a treat
With Tesco stores and Starbucks bars
Whatever we can sell
Armani labels, Gucci too
You'll wear them all in Kathmandu
It’s a golden highway
And you know how the hell you play
It’s a golden highway
With lives of those whom you betray
It’s a golden highway
With promises so sweet
They’ll pour along the highway, I can tell
With your finger on delete
That means a crisis in the Philippines
It’s a golden highway
It’s a golden highway
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Grand Union Orchestra London, UK
Grand Union Orchestra is a multicultural world jazz ensemble based in London. It has been performing, touring and recording large-scale shows for over 30 years and is well known for its educational work. Grand Union specialises in large-scale musical performances that reflect the backgrounds of its performers and often invites participation from amateur musicians and community groups. ... more
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