In case you missed it on our YouTube channel, The Abacus Path has just released ANOTHER video single!!
It’s called “11 Miles From London“, and it’s all about the inner landscapes of a lost, homeless man.
The Video
My man Andrea in London, England shot this great video for “11 Miles…”. As before, with our song “Ellen”, he knocked it outta the park. Take a look at his stellar work:
The Story
Our singer, Teaj, says that the song came quickly. He was inspired to write it from meeting the leader of a group of homeless men who lived in a cemetery in the heart of Canterbury, England. Teaj took the time to ask their stories, and the leader’s was unforgettable:
He used to be a successful banker, with a big manor house, tons of money, all he could ever wish for.
Then their house burned down. He lost everythingm including his entire family in the blaze.
So why is he homeless? Shock. Despair. The inability to ever see the world the same ever again.
Our song tells his story, from the insidem right ’til the last closing line, where we see how tragedy can spiral ANY of us down to a “new normal” that we could never have believed before that we could even endure.
In days like these, with the Corona Virus killing, crippling and, at the very least, stealing employment and earnings from millions of us, it’s a gentle reminder that no matter where you end up, there’s still a “better way” for us all.
Especially if someone takes the time to care for who we are “inside”.
The Lyrics
For those of you who are, like Teaj, a bit more “wordy” (LOL), here are the lyrics:
Eleven miles from London
West Kent sun on the ground
My spirit is low, like a mist on the road
Just throwing my life around
I’ve fallen deep into distance
I’ve left my family and name
And wishing on stars hasn’t brought me too far
I’m dreaming of better days…
“So let it all out… let it all out!
Don’t you hide another day.
Let it all out… let it all out
I know that you can find a better way.”
These clothes hang like a confession
Your eyes a priest to my pain
And words I let fall won’t endear me at all
To any I’ll meet today
I wrap this cold world around me
And I tell them where they can go!
But if anyone tried just to hold me inside
I don’t think I could let them go.
(they’d say) “Let it all out… let it all out.
Don’t you hide another day.
Let it all out… let it all out
I know that you can find a better way.”
Now this cemetery stone’s my pillow
But it’s only home for a night
Come the morning I’ll be where the wind blows,
Scattering the ashes of a burned out life
Eleven miles from London
West Kent sun on the ground
My spirit is low, like a mist on the road
Just throwing my life around
There’s no pretense when you’re broken
No point to hide the debris
The fires of despair burn up lives everywhere
And some never heal
Like me
The Acoustic Chords
Like the acoustic guitar riff? you’ll need to know this:
The acoustic guitar is capo-ed at the 2nd fret, playing in the key of D.
Here’s the breakdown for acoustic chords:
D A G D A G
Eleven miles from London West Kent sun on the ground
D A G E A A7
My spirit is low, like a mist on the road Just throwing my life around
D A G D A G
I’ve fallen deep into distance and I’ve left my family and name
D A G E A (7) D (7)
And wishing on stars hasn’t brought me too far; I’m dreaming of better days. So…
Bm E A F#sus F#7 Bm
“Let it all out… let it all out! Don’t you hide another da – a – ay.
Bm E G A
Let it all out… let it all out I know that you can find a better way.”
D A G D A G
These clothes hang like a confession Your eyes a priest to my pain
D A G E A A7
& words I let fall won’t endear me at all To any I’ll meet today
D A G D A G
I wrap this cold world around me And I tell them where they can go!
D A G E A (7) D (7)
But if anyone tried just to hold me inside I don’t think I could let them go. They’d say…
CHORUS
C E C E
Now this cemetery stone’s my pillow But it’s only home for a night
F C
Come the morning I’ll be where the wind blows,
E (7)
Scattering the ashes of a burned out life…
SOLO
D A G D A G
Eleven miles from London West Kent sun on the ground
D A G E A A7
My spirit is low, like a mist on the road Just throwing my life around
D A G D A G
There’s no pretense when you’re broken No point to hide the debris
D A G E A (7)
The fires of despair burn up lives everywhere & some never heal
D
Like me
The REAL Chords
For all other NON-CAPO musicians, (read that NORMAL lol) it’s in the key of E:
E B A E B A
Eleven miles from London West Kent sun on the ground
E B A F# B (7)
My spirit is low, like a mist on the road Just throwing my life around
E B A E B A
I’ve fallen deep into distance and I’ve left my family and name
E B A F# B (7) E (7)
And wishing on stars hasn’t brought me too far; I’m dreaming of better days. So…
C#m F# B G#sus G#7 Bm
“Let it all out… let it all out! Don’t you hide another da – a – ay.
C#m F# A B
Let it all out… let it all out I know that you can find a better way.”
E B A E B A
These clothes hang like a confession Your eyes a priest to my pain
E B A F# B (7)
& words I let fall won’t endear me at all To any I’ll meet today
E B A E B A
I wrap this cold world around me And I tell them where they can go!
E B A F# B (7) E (7)
But if anyone ried just to hold me inside I don’t think I could let them go. They’d say…
CHORUS
D F# D F#
Now this cemetery stone’s my pillow But it’s only home for a night
G D
Come the morning I’ll be where the wind blows,
F# (7)
Scattering the ashes of a burned out life… SOLO
E B A E B A
Eleven miles from London West Kent sun on the ground
E B A F# B A7
My spirit is low, like a mist on the road Just throwing my life around
E B A E B A
There’s no pretense when you’re broken No point to hide the debris
E B A F# B (7)
The fires of despair burn up lives everywhere & some never heal
E
Like me
The Vibe
Some have told us “Hotel California”-ey. Some have said “I hear Boston”. Some even said “E.L.O.!!”
We don’t know. We just write it, record it and put it out there.
The question now is… what do YOU think?! 😉
As always, thanks for your interest and support of the Abacus Path. See ya on the road!!