Credits

David Clifton: Vocals, Acoustic, Electric and Ambient Guitars.
Mark Edwards: Piano and Hammond Organ
Bethany Hankins: Violin
Preston Davis: Double Bass
Jason Roller: Drums
Produced by David Clifton
Additional recording and production, Ben McAmis
Tracking: Wild Chorus Studio, engineered by Scott Miner

Mixed by Ben McAmis, Knoxville, TN USA
Mastered By Richard Dodd, Nashville, TN USA

LRMD17

Photograph:
Grand Central Station, Berenice Abbott (1941)
Getty Images, New York
Hand coloured by Avi A Katz
Artwork preparation: Billy Fann

lyrics

Grand Central Station New York,

Grand Central Station New York,
Train at the end of the line
Waits for a signal to leave for the west coast
The Star Of The North will be leaving on time
From the Grand Central Station New York

Grand Central Station New York,
Girl with the tears in her eyes
Waits for her lover who sent her a letter
Promised a wedding but never came back
To the Grand Central Station New York

Grand Central Station New York,
Soldier came home from the war
Nobody met him or called him a hero
Now clutching a bottle he sleeps on the floor
Of the Grand Central Station New York

Does anybody ever want to know
About the stories, and the places where all the lonely people go?

Grand Central Station New York,
Millions of people pass by
Hurrying home for the first day of Christmas
They walk past the girl who still waits for her lover
Straight past the soldier still clutching his bottle
And all of the stories that nobody knows

Of the Grand Central Station New York
Grand Central Station New York
Grand Central Station,
New York

Words and Music:
Phil Baggaley and David Clifton, Little Room Music/IQ Music Ltd.

On my first visit to New York when on tour playing guitar with Tanita Tikaram,  I went downtown one morning with Frank Tontoh, our drummer, before the afternoon soundcheck. He wanted to buy a baseball jacket (Redskins I seem to remember!) and I was trying to find Manny’s music store.  We split and went exploring. After leaving Manny’s I managed to get lost, and found myself at Grand Central Station, with all the attendant hustle and bustle and scenes that surround a busy railway station  There is so much we miss and unintentionally take for granted in our  home environment, and travelling often helps us see with new eyes.
Some years later, Phil Baggaley and I met one wintry weekend in Derby to write new folk songs. In one of those strange turns of synchronicity he suggested writing a song with this title. I’ve always wanted to record it, and finally got around to doing so.
This is a favourite in my concert set, and particularly poignant during the Christmas season when it can be so easy to overlook those in our neighbourhood who may be in difficult circumstances. or needing words of encouragement, help and care.