The Shadow Of Love

[Ray Brookes]

Everybody raised the same in my old street
Kinda like shampoo rinse repeat
To stay alive sometimes you gotta cheat
Think on your feet; dance to the beat
Bitter in soul; sour in head
Don't wanna lead but don't wanna be led
Haves and have-nots with a common thread
Treading water in the shadow of love

Young single mother tattoos and a pram
Lover disappeared; wham-bam m'am.
Money's tight. Caught in a jam
Credit pusher trying on a scam
Friends and family long gone, fled
Looking at the rope hanging in the shed
Loved and hated with a common thread
Flapping broken wings in the shadow of love

Don't wanna live like this but don't wanna be dead
A pack of wolves running round my head
Saints and sinners with a common thread
Spitting against the wind in the shadow of love

[Jean Pierre]

what a great song!
very impressed by the instrumental playing (piano) and the enhancement of the other instruments (bass, guitar, drums)
..and who does the female vocals?

[Kenneth]

A thoughtful and introspective song here. Nicely done, love the harmonizing vocals.

[TPB]

Flapping broken wings in the shadow of love, love the lyrics  great key board work
Went right to the player
Tim

[DarrenG / The Devil's Toupee]

Flipping hell ray, this is brilliant and that piano melody with the drum beat and claps is very catchy.
Amazing piano speed. Your lyrics are thought provoking as ever and tell a good story. Was Mrs. Brookes providing the female vocals? Definitely one for the download.

[Mike_S]

Most enjoyable Ray. Some great piano work in there. I love the mix... really clear, everything clear as a bell. Great bit of storytelling too.

Mike

[StephenM]

I heard this in the car...playing from the "latest" list...so i was trying to guess who it was just from the intro...I was 90% sure this had to be Ray....and i was right...of course then when the vocals started it went to 100%....lol...
this track could be Toto and Christopher Cross mixed together...it is just that excellent.  The piano is off the charts... I would say the drumming is not Jeff Porcaro but then again...who is?
killer track Ray...the only disappointment for me...it's too short...lol...

well, I am going to take this and make a version of it just for me!  love the backing vocals too..

[Redler]

Top class songwriting and performance! Piano / guitar solo sounds amazing!

[Ferryman_1957]

Wow, a very sophisticated but still compelling piece of music. Superb writing and arranging, it's really clever how you meld the different parts together to make it such an interesting listen. I love it all but in particular liked the breakdown at around 2:04 and the guitar parts as you build back to the final verse. The keyboard playing is superb, some wonderful runs in there, you really are a top notch musician Ray. The vocals and lyrics are the icing on the cake, great storytelling and really good imagery that fits the music so well. Fabulous stuff!

[BerryPatch]

Brilliant piano work, love that rainy intro. I love the depth of the lyricism as well and the absolutely gorgeous guitar work in the middle of the track. Bravo again Mr. Brookes