We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Scratch

by Jonathan Morrison

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    11
    releases

    Get all 11 Jonathan Morrison releases available on Bandcamp.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Intimate, At Home 2020, Scratch, Inconnu, Nest, Philosophy, Leftovers, Six Leaves, and 3 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $14 AUD or more

     

1.
What Can Be Read? 03:11
lyrics
buy track
What Can Be Read? What can be read in a single tear, a dot in time, a spot of blood? What can be read…? What can be read…? Keep the head down, the earth is a friend. Probably the only one in the end. Hands to the head when the bombs shake the ground. Sensibly hiding, jump at every sound. A streak down the face from a single tear. Realisation, curled up in fear. Look for a way out of this rot. Time brings on the madness in this bloody spot. What can be read in a single tear, a dot in time, a spot of blood? What can be read…? What can be read…? Have to get away for the throat is tight. Need to make a stand and face the light. Rise with the sun, everyone is there. Penetrating faces that stonily stare. Despite the covered eyes a single tear comes. Doesn’t even dry by the time of the guns. A volley rings out, the bloody spot grows. Time is all done but for the spreading rose. Much can be read in a single tear, a dot in time, a spot of blood. Much can be read… Much can be read… Much can be read in a single tear, a dot in time, a spot of blood. Much can be read… Much can be read… Lay the head down the earth is a friend. Probably the only one in the end.
2.
Change? 03:03
lyrics
buy track
Change? Living alone on the edge of town in a house none calls a home. Kicking a stone on a grassless lawn, time seems to pass so slow. What can you do? What can you say? Can’t change a thing! Looking for a car to pass on by but nothing comes this far out. And if it did, it’d be by mistake, you see this isn’t where it’s at. What can you do? What can you say? Can’t change a thing! There has to be a time - once at least - utilities man drops in. Meter gets checked, there’s a price to pay for being within the grid. What can you do? What can you say? Can’t change a thing! But, is that all there is for us? Surviving on the edge, turning to rust. Waiting for a chance to break free To move away from misery. A thought comes up, niggles and nags. People on the tv., perspective grabs. All the crowded places, polluted and dying. Better off out here, yeah, life’s divine. Living alone on the edge of town in a house none calls a home. Kicking a stone on a grassless lawn, time seems to pass so slow. All can be done! All can be said! Won’t change a thing!
3.
I've Been Here Before 03:14
lyrics
buy track
I've Been Here Before Looking outside, eyes bright and wide taking my mind back to another time I've been here before, I've seen it before… Waiting at a gate, wanting to be late don't want to mess around, stop feeling down I've been here before, I've seen it before I'm closing me eyes, don't see the signs, yeah. I've been here before, I've seen it before I'm closing my eyes, won't see the signs, yeah. Scrambling through the trees, brambles and the weeds break through to a road, everyone comes and goes I've been here before, I've seen it before I'm closing me eyes, can't see the signs, yeah. I've been here before, I've seen it before I'm closing my eyes, can't see the signs, yeah.
4.
Itch Turns To Scratch 04:08
lyrics
buy track
Itch Turns To Scratch Tired of the drag, always feeling put down. Wonder if there’s any want to hang around? Have to find a way, have to let it all go. Scared of what’s coming but… need to know. Yeah, moving on - I’m thinking of… Want to breathe but stinking of stalemate and stale air holds me back without care. Has to change… But, who is there to help? What’s stopping me, myself? Looking for a path but it’s never that clear. Don’t know where it starts or even if it’s here. Need to find a map, yeah, a map of my mind. It’s hard looking inwards when you’re blind inside. Yeah, moving on - I’m thinking of… Want to breathe but stinking of stalemate and stale air holds me back without care. Has to change… But, who is there to help? What’s stopping me, myself? Sweep it away if I’m sleeping all day. Night time comes but I’m far from awake. A thought comes through and itch turns to scratch. A spark turns to flame at the strike of a match. Yeah, moving on, I have a plan. Start to breathe and take a stand. Path is blurred but it’s ahead. Step by step, I’m getting there. See the change… And still I need some help. Forgiving me, myself. Moving on, forget the past. Flowing by, it’s all so fast. On the path choices appear. Forget the pain, forget the fear. And let me change…
5.
Does A Bird Have Wings? 04:05
lyrics
buy track
Does A Bird Have Wings? It's there, it's all there for you I care, but I don't care for you when you say those things. You see, I can see through you It's me, is it not me and you Does a bird have wings? See me fly towards your cry, I sigh Overtime I make the climb, I try Try to find, I'm not so blind, it's I who is wrong. And you, I can see you are free It's true, could you be true to me when you say those things? I feel, can you feel the strain It's real, it's surreal - the pain Does a bird have wings? See me fly towards your cry, I sigh Overtime I make the climb, I try Try to find, I'm not so blind, it's I who is wrong.
6.
Epitaph 04:05
lyrics
buy track
Epitaph I can hear music… sound in my head sound of the earth sound in my head. I can see music… float in the air float on the earth floating my heart. I can feel music… move in the air moving the earth moving my soul. Can you get it, too? Get you in the mood? Make you feel all right. Make you come alive. Even when it's sad and emotions rise. Make you feel all right and you know you're alive… know you're alive… alive. For I know music… fulfils my life soothes any pain and takes me away. Take me away… Take me away… Take me away…
7.
When You Walk 02:54
lyrics
buy track
When You Walk When you walk, you walk to me then you talk, ‘cos talk is free. And you say just let it be… let it be. Every breath, every breath you take Talk of death keeps you awake. And you say just take a break… take a break. Not a word, not a word could sound. Have you heard? The knot’s unbound and you say what comes around… comes around. As for me, I have no fear. You’ll see, I’m staying here. Here I am, I’m in control… in control. Not a hope, not a hope to change. I can cope, I have the range. All on me, it is my life… it’s my life. When you walk, you walk to me then you talk, ‘cos talk is free. And you say just let it be… let it be.
8.
Exposï - Side Two part 1 07:16
info
buy track
9.
Develö - Side Two part 2 10:20
info
buy track
10.
Recapï - Side Two part 3 06:00
info
buy track

about

Scratch originated as an album cover - the picture is a close-up of an old café table I was seated at in Wellington NZ in 2017. The scratch concept intrigued me at the time but I had no idea what was to be created.

In 2018, work life was highly stressful and I had to work really hard not to fall into the dark places I had once been a few years beforehand. A void opened up and instead of writing songs and music I began writing education papers and the like. It was weird but a necessary evil. I didn't think I could but a part of my rehab involved letting myself create songs. I've Been Here Before was the first and although the subject matter relates to depression, it is not a dark song. It allowed me to move on a bit further. Does A Bird Have Wings? is a love song coming out of the same place. I have to work at loving but the effort is always worth it. The next 3 songs, Change?, What Can Be Read? and When You Walk, all come out of my frustrations and overall mind set at work. I scratched the surface of myself, so to speak. These songs are the closest in spirit to the title. Then Epitaph happened. I didn't want a song called scratch but when the line Itch Turns To Scratch fell into place it all made sense. It was the last of the songs to be written and has become a bit of a favourite.

I knew that there wasn't enough material for an album but didn't have a clue as to how to finish it off. I had exhausted myself, lyrically. The idea of Side Two came about gradually. Pinching an old Pink Floyd concept of a long instrumental taking up one side of vinyl, I worked on a few old tunes hanging around and, adding new ideas, came up with the 3 parts - Exposï, Develö and Recapï. The music in these is more under the surface in nature - contemplative in parts and rocky in others.

credits

released December 3, 2019

All Lyrics and Music ©2019 Jonathan Morrison

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jonathan Morrison image

Jonathan Morrison Geelong, Australia

contact / help

Contact Jonathan Morrison

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Jonathan Morrison, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now