Writing an ode-anthem-banger for Teignmouth

Morning all 🙂

Since my return from Germany, I’ve been busy writing another song for the next Sieben album. I’ve had it in mind for a while to write some sort of song about my new hometown, Teignmouth. As a cautionary tale for doing that sort of thing there’s a John Keats poem on the side of the New Quay pub on the back beach here. “More of a list of free stuff he got in the area” Kev says. “He’s definitely just dialling that one in” he adds. Paying patrons can (at their own risk) tune into today’s video with Kev’s diatribe about this Keats poem. I’ll leave last critical comment to the back beach seagulls, who have decorated this poem inimitably, as you can see on the picture.

So, Teignmouth ode/anthem/banger… Dangerous to get Keatsy, more so to get schmaltzy. Important to avoid just listing stuff. (Keats take note). So, as always I tried to get the essence, the fundamental of what is Teignmouth for me.

Much as I love the town; the people, the pubs, the shops (I sincerely do) what stuck with me in the settled words was nature and the ‘lie’ of the land, sea and river.

Teignmouth

Down at the dock

The gulls bed down

Dartmoor lures

The sun away

In the driest of Salty hearts

In the deepest heart an estuary

Teignmouth!

River meets sea

Over the seafront

cormorant wait

sentinel to

new sunrise

In the driest of Salty hearts

In the deepest heart an estuary

Teignmouth!

River meets sea

The Herrings gulls usher the sunset over to Dartmoor, nested on the port and dock buildings on the back (river) beach. I like the idea of Dartmoor (the looming moor inland) luring the sun away. The cormorant can be found frequently on Teignmouth front (sea) beach, on the broken end of the pier, their backs to the town, standing watch over the sunrise and sea. In the chorus I ‘gave a nod to’ the sandbank in the river estuary, The Old Salty with the line “In the driest of Salty hearts”.

I’m pleased with these lyrics, and the (now) completed song. I wanted a simple and straight feel, to show my strong attachment without over-schmaltzing. Hard to judge for myself if I’ve managed that. The way the sea comes together with river, the land shapes round both, and the town nestles within, I find super special about my hometown. Magical. I actively missed Teignmouth whilst gigging in Germany. I tried to embed what I love here, in the lyrics and music.

“At least it’s not bloomin’ Keats just listing stuff” Kev says.