Andy Thornton

victims and criminals

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Victims and Criminals

4' 45"

"We learn to love by being loved" I heard and believed - we're all caught up in a recurring cycle of not being loved enough and some have greater effects from that lack than others. A song about and for those who are marginalised or blamed for their own lack of care resulting in whatever criminality they exhibit. A call for compassion and change of the system to recognise ourselves in others as God did through Jesus.

21

5' 12"

One of my favourite songs I've written. More or less a song about ageing but in a less than happy situation. I tried to keep the tension in the song's arrangement then release it with Mike Houghton's sax break at the end. When he played it a tear came to my eye as it was just as I had imagined - he's an awewome musician & I'm a lucky man to have met him.

Rage in the Darkness

5' 55"

Probably speaks for itself as it's a diatribe really. Inspired by a visit to Ireland to sing there for the first time, and by my own struggle to get beyond the system of religion to find freedom. Would say now that the 'love conquers freedom' is still inspiring but don't wish it to sound like romantic love or some late 20th C yucky dewy eyed thing. Love is tough and has to be bigger than evil, which is transparently rotten but tough. I heard a story of a guy who got to heaven after living a nice comfy affluent life. When he met Jesus he saw the marks of the wounds of the cross on Jesus' body. He said thanks to him for the way Jesus had suffered for him, and Jesus asked "where are your wounds?" - I didn't get any, said the guy, we had a much easier life than you had. "But wasn't there anything worth fighting for?" asked Jesus.

Where Do We Go To Find Innocence?

4' 44"

A song about coming through marital delusions and trying to find innocence of relationship once naivety had gone. Was that honest enough?

Lighting Up Candles

4' 39"

A song of devotion to someone I now never really think about much. Ah the fickle heart. How it mends. This song was first played on a weekend I was at for people living with HIV. It became a bit of a theme tune & I've played it AIDS day services and memorial services for those who have died of AIDS. I owe alot those people who let me share their lives and the song has helped people reposition their love for those who have departed. That's an honour to me to have been able to have my sentiments of loss and repositioning find resonance in so much more intense situations.

Stone Cold Winter

4' 51"

Used to work with kids in Glasgow & came across a woman called Betty White who worked in a very depressed area of the town. Every year she'd take a group away to Iona where they'd get their annual dose of seeing the raw countryside and seascape. This song has something of that captured in it, but I stand in awe of her and her commitment which has offered so much. I stand in more awe of those who are brought up in such grotty cityscapes and still build community when they can't escape.

Lazy Love

4' 17"

Well this is a simple one.

Worth the Wondering

3' 50"

Probably a simple one too. On the sleeve it says 'for the women men leave behind". I read this feminist joke book advice which was something like "Never try nurture your man in the way his mother did, cos sure enough one day he'll grow up and leave the nest like he did with her"

Not sure what I think about this now, probably disagree with that sentiment except to say, never nurture your partner as a child, nurture them as an adult, to be independent of you... push them away if you have to, then they'll also be able to stand separate and still see their need of your nurture and love. Adults need nurture, but never do it if it's not coming your way too. I believe many women might have had poor models of that and need to break free of the bad examples and demand before the men take them for granted!

Here endeth today's love lesson...

Time of Justice

4' 31"

This came out of an incident in a youth club in Glasgow. One little guy had been so resentful to me & my fellow workers who were there doing some sex & drugs education (as you do...) for coming into his patch and probably making him feel inadequate in some way. One day his anger seemed to turn momentarily and he looked like he was going to cry. I thought I hoped he did because you could see he'd had so little tenderness in his life so he had no where to take his pain. Anyway.. he didn't cry - he just started to get mad again.

For he, and such as he, I believe heaven holds a great surprise. The tenderness of God wiping away the stress and pain of years of being locked up in anger or depression or disillusionment.

For those who have turned religion into some kind of moral or behavioural code that keeps such people feeling bad about themselves, then I think heaven will hold a shock. If that has been held against such kids as "Stevie" then we shouldn't be surprised if there is a moment of reproach and refinement before we can enter such a just community as the Kingdom of Heaven.

I'm proud to have written this lyric and it hurt greatly to uncover. Hurt can be wonderful once out the other side. Have faith to encounter the hurts! If I may be so directive