It's Not Wrong, It's Just Different, (Album, 2000)
It's Not Wrong It's Just Different |
Humanity was on the dazzling dawn of a momentous new millennium; the world rejoiced; and Luke decided to assist the global celebrations by making a small album of self-obsessed pop songs about his life in Canterbury.
Recorded in Luke's bedroom in 1999, and originally put out by Beautiful Jo Records the following January, this lo-fi labour of love, Luke's first officially released CD, thundered onto the music scene of 2000 to the sound of much considerable fanfare, in Luke's own head.
But wait, it's impact didn't end there. The heartfelt charms of It's Not Wrong It's Just Different were publicly noted at the time by literally seven other people! Their wise words echo through the ages. Behold.
Press reviews, 2000:-
Engagingly quirky, lo-fi songs accompanied by minimalist drums. It's all too Canterbury for words, my darlings, but is a curious little treasure that beats most sententious singer-songwriter albums into that ol' cocked hat.
Folk Roots
Eccentrically brilliant
Oxford Times
I am reminded of Jilted John or John Otway but with more talent
Folk on Tap
You can detect a music hall feel which lends the songs a unique charm. The melodies are strong and catchy, and the lyrics are observant, painfully honest and, as a result, quite funny. 'He fits into a resolute and well worn English tradition of musicians who refuse to screw up their faces and try to sound American,' said Tim Healey, Luke's record label boss. You can hear elements of John Otway, Ian Dury and Suggs from Madness in Luke's music.
Neil Lampert, Kentish Gazette
Lo-fi sound mixes well with his Kentish accent. Too oddball to be really popular, everyone should hear him. The lyrics have an enormous sense of fun...titles include 'She's a Do-er' and 'I Like Being Cosy'! The music may be quite simple, with Luke playing keyboard/ electric guitar/ bass/ wurlitzer, always accompanied by Dave the drummer, but it's catchy and fun. Go listen, now.
Steve Pearce, KRED Magazine
Likeable, and unnervingly catchy. Luke has an idiosyncratic gawkiness that's rather appealing in a Robyn Hitchcock/Jonathan Richman sort of way. His own Big Issues are but small-time preoccupations, strained through a twisted version of jaunty English musichall, but no less deeply felt for all that... There's a naively perceptive quality about Luke's writing. I'm Intense, replete with not-so-mighty (Woolworths!) Wurlitzer, could almost have come from the pen of Neil Innes.
David Kidman, Traditional Music Maker
Luke Smith, a piano-playing songwriter who, at a push to describe him, mixes Nick Drake and Ian Dury, while his dad, the sole other member of the band, plays the drums! I saw them at a festival in Oxford recently and they were amazing.
JONT @ The 12 Bar Club, London
It's Not Wrong It's Just Different
It's not
wrong, it's just different, that's all.
It's not bad, it just breaks
every rule.
Can't they see? Why must they be so cruel?
Oh, it's not
wrong, it's just different, that's all.
It can't
hurt if you're not scared of it.
Go with the flow and embrace it a
bit.
You never know just what spot it might hit.
Oh, it's not wrong,
it's just different, that's it.
All
through my life; all through the years,
I say, "Hey! Look at
this!"..
Everyone sneers.
"Oh, but
it's not wrong, it's just different", I say,
Through the tears and
frustrated dismay.
Then I watch as they all turn away,
But it's not
wrong, and they'll see it one day,
At least that's what I hope for and
that's what I prey.
Everybody
says, "we just want to see originality -
Something unique
now!"
That's what they've got to say,
But oh, how they're scared
away
When I say, "I'm taking the leap now!"
It's not
wrong, it's just different - it's true.
That's my excuse. That's what
I'm sticking to.
And I can have faith that it's strong through and
through,
'Cos it's me being me and I just do what I do.
It's not
wrong; it's different.
If only they knew.
Please be
my girlfriend, and we can walk around together.
Please be my
girlfriend, and we can walk around together,
And show off, and show
each other show each other off.
I'd love to show you off.
Please say
'yes', and we can walk around,
And turn people's heads
around.
Please say 'yes' to me,
And we can walk around, and turn
their heads around,
'Cos we'd be really with it.
I know I
get really nervous with a girlfriend,
And I feel so intimidated, and
claustrophobic,
But I'd look good, and people would say,
"Is that
your bit of stuff?"
And I could say,
"Yes, hear
comes my girlfriend!
Look at her walk. Isn't she gorgeous?!
I am her
boyfriend - one so lucky to have a girl at all,
let alone
her."
I like
being cosy. Maybe it's an English streak.
Running in the sun can be
quite fun but it's hardly the peak.
I like being cosy, when it comes
right down to it.
I hope she understands this, 'cos I won't change a
bit.
I like
being cosy, even when the bright sun shines.
The blinds are down;
electric lights are on half the time.
I like being cosy - in-doors
rather than outside.
I hope she understands this,
'Cos it's
something I won't hide.
I wanna be
free to be me, in a world of my own making.
Free to be me, without
putting on an act and faking.
Just me, if needs be, so there's no-one
interfering,
But preferably with somebody who finds these quirks
endearing.
I like
being cosy, cups of tea and staying in.
Clubs and parties don't do much
for me. Is that a sin?
It's hard to explain - p'rhaps you just get it
or you don't.
I really hope she gets it, 'cos if not, she prob'ly
won't.
I like
being cosy. It's a thrill beyond compare,
Though it's a passion that's
not fashionable to share.
I don't care - like it, whether it's manly or
not,
And I hope she understands this,
Or at least gives it a
shot,
'Cos frankly, if she's with me, that's pretty much her
lot.
I'm pleased and proud to love it, and it's love that I
express,
So here's to being cosy, and hooray for cosiness!
Playing by
the rules. It's the only way I know now.
Following the guidelines;
going with the flow now.
Keeping on the level. It's the way I always go
now.
Where's my share? What's in it for me?
Always
being good. I'm so helpless; I'm so trapped now.
Doing what I should,
but soon I'm gonna snap now.
How I wish I could just throw it away and
turn my back now.
Where's my share? What's in it for me? What's in it
for me?
Where's my share? What's in it for me?
Just take
the strain and don't complain - that's how it goes.
It's second nature
after a while.
But I can't take much more.
I wanna live so much it
hurts.
There's so much I could be living for.
Playing by the rules -
well, I wouldn't recommend it.
What a way of living! How can I defend
it?
All I know is I've tried time and time again to end it,
But it
gets harder every day. Yeah, it gets harder every day.
Oh it gets
harder every day. Yeah, it gets harder ever day.
Maybe I'm stuck right
here, and there's no way out.
I can't see any way out at all.
Who
knows what could've been?
Who knows what should've been?
I only wish
I'd never started playing by the rules.
That's the
way, that's the way
To win her love.
I'm biding my time. I'm biding
my time.
That's the way, that's the way
To make her precious love
mine.
That's the way, that's the way
To win her love.
I'm biding
my time. I'm biding my time.
That's the way, that's the way to her
heart.
I'm biding my time.
I won't
win her over with presents. It's got to seem more like fate.
I won't
win her over with the desperate approach.
The key to her love is in the
wait.
Not today,
not the next,
But eventually.
She'll come to me. She'll come to
me.
Not today, not the next
But eventually, she'll be mine.
Not
today, not the next,
But in the end,
She'll be more than a friend.
She'll be more than a friend.
Not today, not the next
But in the
end,
So I'm biding my time.
She won't
respond to pressure, or being put on the spot.
I'm gonna have to
practice self-control.
It's really gonna take a lot!
That's the
way, that's the way
To win her love.
I'm biding my time. I'm biding
my time.
That's the way, that's the way
To make her precious love
mine.
That's the way, that's the way
To win her love.
I'm biding
my time. I'm biding my time.
That's the way, that the way
To her
heart -
I'm biding my time.
I just
can't take things lightly,
Be it wrongly; be it rightly.
I just
can't shrug things off 'til they make sense.
I know I'm not like the
others.
I think a lot, and I've got hang-ups.
I'm
intense.
It causes
such confusion
Thinking things through to conclusion.
I know, but I
just can't sit on the fence.
It may not be attractive,
But my
mind's over-active,
And my heart's over passionate, hence -
I get
so worked up deep down
With feelings I can't keep down.
I'm
intense.
I've
always sensed I'm like it.
They've always said I've got this trait -
I think about the world much more than one man should.
And now,
there's just no doubt -
I know I am; I'm sure I am -
I'm too
intense for my own good.
I'm too intense for my own good.
So I
offend them all quite clearly,
And the sad truth is, I've really
Just got one small thing to say in my defence.
I cannot over-stress
it.
I bet that you can guess it.
I'm intense.
She's a
do-er. I can see now.
Not just a thinker. Not like me now.
She's a
do-er. She shows it every day.
Born to live now - not just to hide
away.
I've
thought for long enough.
She'll make me do my stuff.
She'll be just
right for me.
She's so alive and free.
She's a do-er; not just a
thinker.
What a great way to be.
She's a
do-er. Doesn't fake it.
If there's a chance there, she will take
it.
She's a do-er. She's for real.
Gets it done like it's no big
deal.
When words
don't mean a thing,
She brings the action in.
I love the game she
plays.
She's gonna change my ways.
She's a do-er; not just a
thinker,
And that's the way she stays.
She goes
after what she wants.
She doesn't just sit and think now.
She
embraces life with open arms.
I've wasted so much time,
But I'm on
the brink now.
I'm gonna change! - I'm gonna live!
I've fallen for
her charms!
She's a
do-er . Can't conceal it.
I can sense it. I can feel it.
She's a
do-er. It just can't help but show.
She's a do-er. That's why I love
her so.
She's a do-er; not just a thinker,
And I'm not letting her
go.
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Same
Old
Same old,
same old. Same old town.
Same old job, same old stress, same old
strife.
No change. No fun.
Stuck in the same old life.
Same old,
same old. Same old pub.
Same old social life, same old girls.
No
change. No fun.
Stuck in the same old world.
I wake up
every day and it's the same.
Life for me has lost its spark.
Gone
are the days when I dreamt of being somebody;
Of really making my
mark.
I wake up every day in the same old house;
Drive to work in
the same old car.
This feeling started so very small
But then it
started growing,
And showed no signs of going,
And now it's gone too
far.
Same old,
same old. That's my life.
This feeling is so hard to ignore.
I need
change. I need fun.
That's what I was put here for.
I wake up
every day and it's the same.
Life for me has lost it's spark.
Gone
are the days when I dreamt of being somebody;
Of really making my
mark
I wake up every day in the same old house;
Drive to work in the
same old car.
This feeling started so very small,
But then it
started growing,
And showed no signs of going,
And now it's gone too
far.
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Say To
Much
If there's
a gap in any chat,
I'll say too much, I know it!
I have a thought;
it just comes out.
Oh, why can't I for-go it?
Oh, when
will I learn the silent touch?
When will I learn not to say too
much?
The
tension's there. It's in the air,
Oh, how can they just leave it?
No
one speaks; the tension mounts.
So I try to relieve it.
Oh, when
will I learn the silent touch?
When will I learn not to say too
much?
And when
it's done, it doesn't help
If I apologise.
That only serves to
magnify
The mistake in their eyes.
Oh, when
will I learn the silent touch?
When will I learn not to say too
much?
They never
expect to have to fill.
Why should I? Why should I?
My mouth just
shoots into over-kill
Before I know it. I always blow it.
Don't
know why. Don't know why!
Simple
Pleasures are such a thrill.
I love 'em. I always will.
For me,
they'll do just fine.
Simple Pleasures are the best.
Nothing more;
nothing less.
Simple pleasures stand the test of time,
And I'm all
for simple pleasures.
C to F to
G to C,
E to A to B to E,
On any instrument - take your
pick.
Just a smile; just a look;
Something you can't read in a
book;
No catch; no clever trick;
Just a kick - that's a simple
pleasure.
Simple
pleasures are for me.
They cost a lot less money.
In fact, they're
mostly free.
Simple pleasures are what it's about,
And I never wanna
do without
Simple pleasures constantly.
You might
forget for a while,
Or think they've gone out of style,
But they're
what you come running back to.
They don't really date through the
trends and fads.
They've still got what they always had,
And they
still feel fresh and new.
They'll comfort you -
Simple
Pleasures.
Modern
technology's thrilling,
But something about it feels
chilling.
There's something contrived about it all.
But a cosy pub
on a rainy day,
Or the thrill of going out or being glad to stay -
Well, that's not false at all.
That's just real.
That's the feel
of simple pleasures.
Simple
pleasures are always there,
Just like a breath of fresh air,
When
the modern world leaves you cold.
Whatever happens while I'm
alive,
Some things should always survive.
They can't be bought and
they can't be sold.
They'll always hold. They'll never grow
old.
Simple pleasures. Simple pleasures.