A Brother to Hear Me Out - Keith Burke and The Little Black Book

Date: Nov 2017
Duration: 4:51
View Count: 1613

This idea has been on the burner for me for some time. A few months ago I saw a clip on my friend Max’s profile of her dancing, late at night, like a free spirit, to a Bruce song. It could have been in her kitchen, I think, and It was beautiful. She was artistic, creative and free. That’s when I got exited about making this video again.

Many of my songs contain the word dance, or a reference to dancing. These people are special to me and you can see their contributions here. In the summer of 2017 we made this music video. It’s aim is simply to inspire fun and joy in people who watch it. Maybe it was also a lot of fun to make it. We weren’t in the same place or even in the same country, and we did it just because it would be fun and feel good.

The song is “A brother to hear me out”. The narrative is fictitious and deals with the dilemma I imagine I could feel if someone close to me, like my brother, who’s on the run, turns up at my door, asking for help, when I’m not sure they’re innocent. It’s the first song on my album “These Boys”.

Words by Keith Burke
Music by Anja Kuncic and Keith Burke

Piano, Glockenspiel and Organs – Anja Kuncic
Bass – Dave Mooney
Drums – Jim McGill
Vocals and Guitar – Keith Burke

Recorded in Orphan Studios June 2015.
Produced by Gavin Glass. Mixed by Scott Haliday.
Engineered by Peter Ashmore. Mastered by Fergal Davis.
www.keithburke.com

Lyrics:
A BROTHER TO HEAR ME OUT
Written in September 2009

I can’t sleep
I’ve got to wait ‘til the night fills my eyes
I’m gonna pray that it saves my life
and in the morning…
I may see
Another point but it might be the lens
You turn me on but you act like a friend
Is that allowed?

Oh, give me just five minutes
‘til I get it past my mouth
Oh, give me just five minutes
I need a brother to hear me out
I need a brother to hear me out

I feel your blood is rising
I want your bottom line
I hear the motor’s started
You’ve got it in your eyes
Tell me something that sounds exciting
I’ll take it on the chin
I see your head is turning
Another ticket and we’ll try and win again

I can’t breath
My skin is burning and the sun hurts my eyes
I hear the kids playing games outside
But we’re in here
I can’t swim
I’m made of stone and my hands are tied
I sent a bottle but it sank outside
I’m holding on

I hear the distant laughter
From a far off source
I see the shadows moving
And the voice is yours
But I can’t make magic
And your name’s still here
I’ll keep talking long enough
‘Til you… disappear