Nicola Hitchcock Lyrics, Photos, Pictures, Paroles, Letras, Text for every songs

B i o g r a p h y
(by Official Press)

Nicola was born in Paddington, London and now lives in the Westcountry. She inherited her ear for music from her father, a natural musician "he could pick out a tune on any instrument". Sitting beside him at the piano she learned how to improvise around a tune from an early age. His first job was working as a floor manager on "Ready Steady Go" so there were test pressings and white labels lying around the house and commercial radio constantly playing whenever he was around. Her parents divorced when she was very young and on the long car journeys between households she would make up stories and rhymes with her dad and sisters, instilling a love of words that continues to this day. On her 9th birthday she got her first guitar, taught herself a few chords and started making up songs. Her formative years in the industry were spent working as a backing vocalist for a variety of bands - doubling up on harmonica, accordion, electric & acoustic guitar, keyboard & percussion, she paid her dues gigging around London's live music circuit and got her first taste of working in studios. This experience led to writing and recording her own songs and becoming a regular solo performer on London's folk/acoustic circuit including the Half Moon in Putney, Acoustic Room at the Mean Fiddler, Waterman's Arts Centre & the legendary Bunjies folk clulb in the West End. She quickly secured a record contract with FBeat/Demon records and a publishing contract with Rough Trade Music and began performing at larger venues including the Guildford and Cambridge Folk Festivals and Phoenix Festival. Although on a very minimal budget and being relatively unknown, Nicola's talent attracted guest musicians Danny Thompson on bass (Kate Bush, David Sylvian) & Neil Conti on drums (David Bowie, Prefab Sprout) to play on her debut album "A Bowl of Chalk".

However, as is often the case, when the A&R man who signed Nicola left the label shortly after the album's release, the label folded along with the promotional plans. Inspired by the music of Portishead and Massive attack at this time, Nicola sought a collaborator in the pages of Melody Maker. Her response to an advert placed by Chrysalis Music led to a meeting with Saul Freeman (ex-Thieves/McAlmont) and the formation of Mandalay. On completion of Mandalay's first demos they were fiercely courted by the majors but opted instead to sign to David Steele's independent Organic Records. The first single release "Flowers Bloom" got single of the week in Melody Maker. Shortly after this release, David Steele was asked to head up Richard Branson's new label V2 Records and took Mandalay with him. Mandalay's debut album "Empathy" was released to critical acclaim. Co-produced with Guy Sigsworth (Bjork, Madonna, Bebel Gilberto) it featured drummer and percussionist Steve Jansen (Japan) and the beautiful ethereal sounds of Jon Hassell on trumpet (Brian Eno, Harold Budd). Mandalay's live lineup included Andy Gangadeen on drums (massive attack, faithless) and they became a regular favourite at The Big Chill festivals. On hearing "Empathy", Madonna sited Mandalay as her favourite band and chose the first single "This Life" to be featured on the film soundrack for her film. "The Next Best Thing". "This Life" was also chosen to feature on the soundtrack to the hit British film "This Year's Love". Many other Mandalay songs were featured on cult TV series' including "La Femme Nikita", "Six Feet Under" and "CSI MIami". The third single "Beautiful" appeared on a number of chillout albums of the time including the world famous compilation series' "cafe del mar (vol 6)" and Hedkandi's "Serve Chilled". As a result Mandalay were invited to headline at the Cafe del mar 2oth anniversary celebrations in Ibiza in 2000. A sunset remix of "Beautiful" was recorded and mixed by Lenny Ibizarre, the leading chillout DJ/musician on the island. The song "Beautiful" went on to win a major advertising campaign (Estee Lauder, featuring Liz Hurley) and was chosen for the title track of German film "Der Eisbar". More recently "Beautiful" was covered by Sarah Brightman and released as the lead single for her hit album "Harem". Mandalay's 2nd album "Instinct" was co-produced with Andy Bradfield (Everything But the Girl, Future Sound of London, Bjork) and Yoad Nevo (Jem).

The first single from this album "Deep Love" was remixed by Nitin Sawhney and Mandalay went on to support Nitin on his UK/London dates. Performances at Ibza's chillout festivals followed including "Las Dallias" and "Dreamdaze" culminating in a headline performance at The Big Chill UK, Sanctuary Stage. A third album "Solace" followed, released exclusively in the US comprising a mix of tracks from Mandalay's two existing albums (both previously unavailable in the US) together with an 11 track remix album with contributions from Wagon Christ, Alex Reece and Charlie May. This marked the beginning of a growing success in America where "Solace" Soundscanned over 44,000 copies. By this time however problems were escalating within the Mandalay camp and disagreements on business rather than musical issues proved unresolvable. The duo split, sadly just as the US were becoming aware of them. During Mandalay's demise, Nicola's songwiring and vocal talents were sought by DJ Tiesto who chose her song "In My Memory" for his forthcoming album. With a deft remix from him, it became the title track and lead single for the album, the success of which led to a live performance by Nicola at the Dutch Music Awards in 2002. Sorting out all the post-Mandalay's business took it's toll and this, coupled with getting over a major house & location move, followed swiftly by a car accident whilst battling with Glandular Fever/Epstein Barr virus (!) all meant that Nicola's energies for making music were seriously depleted. During this time however she continued to be sought by artists/musicians/dj's contacting her via the internet and email with requests for possible collaborations and she found herself in the fortunate position of being able to choose who to work with ... and how ... and when ...... she began working on tracks from avant garde composers Hector Zazou, Ryuichi Sakomoto, Lenny Ibizarre and the underground artist & DJ Chris Brann (Wamdue Project, P'taah etc). The resulting album "Passive Aggressive" stands a collection of her favourite collaborations from this time and is the first release on her own label Tempted.

Remember in the autumn when your mind was in a rage
And you were standing centre stage and second to no one
When promises of gold fell all around in disarray
You had the sense to stay away and listen to no one

Do you remember when I fell
It's the way of the thing
It wasn't as far as it felt so start believing me

(Mary's gonna hold on)
Pick up your coat it's getting late
Why don't you know you've had your day
Pick up your coat it's over
Why don't you know
I don't want you here
Go now, go now, go now

Every time I see you there's a secret that I keep
Burns in my eyes and buried deep
I never can tell you
The best that I can do is swallow down this bitter pill
Won't be a trace after the kill
I never can see you

Do you remember when I fell
It's the way of the thing
It wasn't as far as it felt so start believing me

(Mary's gonna hold on)
Pick up your coat it's getting late
Why don't you know you've had your day
Pick up your coat it's over
Why don't you know
I don't want you here
Go now, go now, go now

Come on sign and date the book
Come on sign, ready or not

Come on sign and date the book
Come on sign, ready or not

Do you remember when I fell
It's the way of the thing
It wasn't as far as it felt so start believing me

(Mary's gonna hold on)
Pick up your coat it's getting late
Why don't you know you've had your day
Pick up your coat it's over
Why don't you know
I don't want you here
Pick up your coat
Pick up your coat
It's over yeah
I don't want you here
Why don't you know
It' stime to go
Get out of here
Pick up your coat

My Mistake

It's in the day
It's summer ‘though the drum beats in vain
And my sunday overflows
In double guilt all day
And into grey
In the rain for my
Oh in the rain for my, my, my, my
Oh in the rain for my, my, my, my mistake

It's all over and done you may say
Everyone has sad times you may say
Cover down and slumber you may say
But something's heavy in my breast
And up in here won't let me rest
Let me rest

It's in my mind
The way you hold my hand out of a crowd
That you might disappear
In double guilt all year
And into grey
In the rain for my
Oh in the rain for my, my, my, my
Oh in the rain for my, my, my, my mistake

It's all over and done you may say
Everyone has sad times you may say
Cover down and slumber you may say
But something's heavy in my breast
And up in here won't let me rest
Let me rest

No, don't say goodbye

It's all over and done you may say
Everyone has sad times you may say
Cover down and slumber you may say
But something's heavy in my breast
And up in here won't let me rest
Let me rest

Don't say goodbye
Say goodbye, yeah yeah
Don't say goodbye
Say goodbye

Surf on shingle

Today it was my birthday
And the postman never came
My radio alarm was set at p.m. yet again
As I walked out the door I left the keys on the inside
It wasn't ‘til I came home in the cold and dark I realised
No money in the meter for the gas to light the fire

I see you
Surf on shingle
Ice down the back of the neck, yeah
Water and earth
Rebirth, rebirth, rebirth

I met a friend last night and left my wallet on the bar
In multi-storey car parks I can never find my car
“Wash in wash out” it said and now I'm permanently red
I fancied toast this morning but I hadn't any bread
And if I had any sense I would've spent today in bed

I see you
Surf on shingle
Ice down the back of the neck, yeah
Water and earth
Rebirth, rebirth, rebirth

No money in the meter for the gas to light the fire

I see you
Surf on shingle
Ice down the back of the neck, yeah
Water and earth
Rebirth, rebirth, rebirth

Saddest day

And daddy's home
I'm in my room
I'm trading thought for reason
You want my heart
You want my love
You don't want talk of treason
You call for more
What for
You don't need the pain

See the falling rain
Echoes in my heart
The sound
Everyone will fall
This is for the saddest day by far that I ever saw

You're in the game
It's everything
You can't afford not to lose
And so you came
And now you've seen
You don't want choice but you choose
And you want more
What for
You don't need the pain

See the falling rain
Echoes in my heart
The sound
Everyone will fall
This is for the saddest day by far that I ever saw

I saw you sitting in your car
Around the corner after dark
I saw your car

Everyone will fall

I'll never find it in my heart
I'll never find it in my head
I never will forgive you wish I could forget you
I don't need the pain

See the falling rain
Echoes in my heart
The sound
Everyone will fall
This is for the saddest day by far that I ever saw

Writings I hide

Baby relies
On the eyes of her heart
And the soul that you say
Isn't mine

Oh, the writings I hide
Oh, you said I would I knew I might
Oh, the writings that I hide

Been through that hardening inside
Through the tears and the lies
We could always pretend

He knows and he calls when the wind blows inside
And I don't know which way I should go

I've been through believing
And now I'm deceiving you
Baby I know that eyes dry

Oh, the writings I hide
Oh, you said I would I knew I might
Oh, the writings that I hide

I've been through believing
And now I'm deceiving you
You said I would anyway
But baby it sickens
My heart beats in my mouth
And I don't know which way to go

Down to the station

Someone took me down to the station
Put a razor in my hand
You took me down to the station
We watched the rocks turn to sand

And I want it for myself
And it's overdue by now
But I never really knew
Just what you had in mind
And I don't know why

I want you so much
I want you so much
I want you

Maybe you didn't know I was sleeping
Took me by surprise
You didn't know I was keeping
A silver bullet by my side

And I want it for myself
And it's overdue by now
But I never really knew
Just what you had in mind
And I don't know why

I'm amazed to see
Hmm, I'm amazed
Amazed, amazed to see
All I could've been
Yeah this is what I could've been

Hmm, down to the station
Our love was in vein
Down to the station

What you see is what you get

I wasn't taught to weather the storm
I wasn't born to keep my hands by my side
And sit thinking about my life

You say you know this love is all wrong
So just when did you become the truth and the light
No I'm not thinking about his wife

You're cold comfort I don't mind saying
You're dead right it's the price I pay yeah
You're no comfort to me this time I know you're dead right

What you see is what you get
The hurting hasn't started yet
You think he'll leave this time for sure
And you can handle more and more
So Sunday's find you on your own
The children need their father home
So what's the big deal anyway

All of these years I've listened to you
All of that time is this the best you can do
You're seeing me in a dark grey light

Don't make me say what I've never said
Don't give me cause to say something I'd regret
You could be helping me feel all right

But you're cold comfort I don't mind saying
You're dead right it's the price I pay yeah
You're no comfort to me this time I know you're dead right

All of these years I've listened to you
Don't wanna get in a fight now, girl
Alright, alright...

What you see is what you get

How do you feel

It's been a restless funny kind of year
I've been resting up on my bed
Trying to get things clear

But a scene like that
With your eyes on fire
Will you let me know

How do you feel
Can this be real
How do you feel
Can this be real

How do you feel
How do you feel
How do you feel

Well the rest are fine
But they don't understand
And the rest don't meet the rise in me oh no
Not the ones I've had

How do you feel
Can this be real
How do you feel
Can this be real

How do you feel
How do you feel
How do you feel

Oh maybe when our hearts are healed
Maybe when the storm is over in my head

How do you feel
Can this be real
How do you feel
Can this be real

How do you feel
How do you feel
Can this be real

How do you feel
How do you feel
Can this be real
How do you feel

How do you feel
How do you feel
How do you feel

How do you feel
Can this be real
How do you feel

How do you feel
How do you feel
How do you feel
Can this be real
How do you feel

Strange times

Her mouth is full of smiling words
Her eyes are careful where they fall
And as I look across at you
You watch the ceiling, then the floor

And if I wasn't taught to mind my manners
I would climb up on the table
I would scream for your independence
From her hand

My god these are strange times
At times I don't know my own mind
Strange times
These are strange times
At times I don't know my own mind
Strange times
Change to times

She doesn't see the child in you
She only feels the shame
She only wants the best for you
As others do

And butter wouldn't melt in her mouth no
Not in her delicate mouth
No, no
Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

My god these are strange times
At times I don't know my own mind
Strange times
These are strange times
At times I don't know my own mind
Strange times
Change to times

He was a strong man
His colours fill the room
He lives and breathes in you

And butter wouldn't melt in her mouth no
Not in her delicate mouth
No, no
Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth

My god these are strange times
At times I don't know my own mind
Strange times
These are strange times
At times I don't know my own mind
Strange times
Change to times

Queen of the blues

I knew there was something weird about you when I met you
I knew of the things that you wanted but I wouldn't let you
Then one day when I was sad you said "what can you lose"
You said you had a remedy guaranteed and ready to soothe

I told you my heart was too tender, you wouldn't listen
I wanted to take it all back but nothing was saved
And then when I was sad I thought what can I lose
I said give me your remedy I'm tired and I need to be soothed

I open my eyes and the skies
Over the western isles
Will be full of stars tonight
But here in my London home it's cloudy
Oh and I don't sleep soundly
It's a misery of mine
And the hunger when I dream
It falls nothing short of desire
Nothing short of it

Yes I know you already said
But in my dream I find out you're in love with me, yeah
And I still need your remedy and I need to be soothed, yeah

And I followed on behind you
The queen of the blues
The queen of the blues

Where are we now

Fool for love you're making me sad
In a normal world with a raven inside
It's all forlorn, the man is untied
And it won't go right the way that you say

The waters flood my islands and at dawn I rise
You know that I want to stay high

So where are we now
How do we fair
What have we done this year
There must be more out there
Which is the right road
Are we a part of it
What was the chance we missed
Where to go now

Fool for love you're driving me mad
You know it's eye for eye
And the wave I descend
Is four foot high
You've got to be blind
You know it's easier the harder you try

The waters flood my islands and at dawn I rise
You know that I want to stay high

So where are we now
How do we fair
What have we done this year
There must be more out there
Which is the right road
Are we a part of it
What was the chance we missed
Where to go now

So where are we now
How do we fair
What have we done this year
There must be more out there
Which is the right road
Are we a part of it
What was the chance we missed
Where to go now

Maire

Maire
You've said it all before
Before my eyes
You still stand unsure
I know you, Maire
You'll set it up for more
If I believe my bones
Oh if I believe my bones

Maire
Take what you need
Before your heart
Turns all to stone
Wintertime

Maire
You stand alone
All you need
But I will be here
All you need
But I still be here

Although I've seen
Many better days in my life
Although I've seen
Other women fall and rise in a day
You brought me rain

Maire
Fallen again
Before my eyes
In love with your game
Think of me
Maire
Nothing's as sure as the ground
Beneath your feet
But the ground
Beneath your feet
Maire

You Will Feel Like This

( Lenny Ibizarre )

Give me your hand give me some more time
I will awaken into your world
All i know
And when i do we will be as one
And when i know we will be as one
All i know

Someone should say you will feel like this
Someone should say it will be like this

We slow danced and you hold me close
Been so long, feels so good
I don't know what i'm feeling now
Guess i'm scared
Gonna take a little time

All or Nothing

( Chris Brann )

I'll be fine
So i said, i might be wrong
The whitest lie and then

Will i fall
Will i shed a tear
Will i shine
Will i still believe in your love

Here's the thing
It's all the same
I can't go on this way
While i still believe in your love

I'll be strong
Stayed single for so long
Know what i found
I belong

All or nothing

Moving into a New Space

( Sounds from the Ground )

The time will come when you will know that
All of this illusion
Will be no illusion for you
And you will see
I never loved you and you think you know me
You never knew me

Moving freely like my conscience
Time is healing
Moving into a new space
In my movie
My projection is healing for me
Moving into a new space

So call me up and tell me what you've been doing
Or don't call me, don't tell me what you've been doing
Whatever game you play you never knew me
And you think you know me

And if i keep myself here whenever calm eludes me
I know these strong emotions will hold no power for me
Let me grow surely, steadily, with you or without you

Heart

( Chris Brann )

You look so small
Can you hear me here's my heart
Can you see me here's my heart
All through the years you have been there
What can I do what can I say
Can you hear me
Here's my heart

I Forgive Me

( Sounds from the Ground )

Listen to me
Far as i can see you're a lot like me
And since i thought you knew
Just to tell a soul
Thought it wouldn't be it shouldn't be a sin
Forgive me

For thinking i ever did you wrong i forgive me
For thinking i ever did you harm i forgive me

Listen to you
Silence is in me and i meant no harm
And since i know you well
Just a little thing like this shouldn't be it shouldn't be a sin
Forgive me

When you find what you need i won't be there
Caught up in the world i'm trying

Cloudy Skies & Rain

( Lenny Ibizarre )

Cloudy skies and rain is forecast
Dreaming of a summer home
Someone's shoulder close to mine
I will do my best
Here I am dreaming of a summer home
Time is a funny thing it changes everything
Love is a funny thing it changes everything
Here I am

Feel

Need a word to be forgiving
Need a hand to take you down to size
You're there with the world on your shoulders
Beded down, you know it's a lie

Feel
How I
How I
Feel
How I
How I feel

Hard to live in your confines
Hard to give when everything's untied
Hard to know the thoughts that you keep
Underneath all that rhetoric

( Lenny Ibizarre )

Across the common
Leaves sway
I walk across the common
Children play
An ordinary day

I feel the ground beneath my feet solid
I feel the air circulate around me
Across the common children play
She's got a check blanket underneath her body
She's got suntan lotion
Feels no pain
An ordinary day
Across the common

I pray

Baby cries
Hasn't got the sweet he wanted
Mother smiles
Just an ordinary day

Surrender

Funny how the news can hollow out and tell a different story
Funny how a day can turn around
In another world i would awake into another morning
In another place i will begin

And all that i hope for is some day i will be free
And all that i hope for is one day i will forgive me
Unless we surrender

Just to follow you to call it love was everything made easy
All the faces you and i assumed
In principle i do believe in mother nature healing what has been
In principle i do believe it, inbetween the waking and the dream

Because

( Michael J. Ade )

Because I'm thinking of the curve of your face
Petal confetti showers the cars
This time of year can make you feel senseless
You're chasing old flames hungering new love
You shouldn't be ashamed
Because I'm imagining everything's free
I'm noticing you noticing me
How sad is that?

Morning

( Hector Zazou )

It's early for the year
Birds are singing
Wake up
This spring morning
You will be walking by the sea

I saw her ring there in that sunlit room
Tried it on my finger, i don't know why
This lovely sky bringing me morning
You will be walking by the sea

And i pray god don't let this be
This lovely morning
You will be walking by the sea

Can you find the heart

I got a sneaking suspicion
Everything comes to she who waits
I got a premonition
Everything comes to she who waits

Can you find the heart to tell me your intention
Can you find the will to tell me
You're forgiven

Everything

(Passive Agressive bonus track)

Wonderful, accident, wonderful...

All will end in peace
All will take its course
Lest you feel foolhardy
Know you'll feel remorse

She believed she was everything
She believed she would overcome

All will end in tears
All is emptiness
Said yourself and maybe
All is for the best

She believed she was everything
She believed she would overcome

She believed, she believed she was everything to you
She was everything to you

Said yourself and maybe
All is for the best

All is, all is for the best
She believed she was everything
She believed she would overcome
She believed, she believed she was everything to you

Wonderful, accident, wonderful...

Don’t say
You don’t say what you mean
When I try to speak you just walk away

Don’t say
You don’t say what you mean
When I try to speak you just walk away

Here are some flowers for you
Can you tell the petals from the thorns

You don’t cry for me
You don’t cry for me
Here are some flowers for you
Can you tell the petals from the thorns

Here are some flowers for you
Can you tell the petals from the thorns

Don’t say
You don’t say a word
Once your friendly smile now just your look of dismay

Don’t say
You don’t say a word
Here are some flowers for you
Can you tell the petals from the thorns

Here are some flowers for you
Can you tell the petals from the thorns

In my memory

That Summer we talked endlessly
Always about everything
Fusion - nothing new for you
I felt heady under Elm
Cool breezes - heavenly

Face me, it's easy in my memory
Hold me, i'll remember you

We argue constantly
Disagree about everything
Distance - nothing new for me
I feel uneasy under this thing
And thoughts weigh heavily

And darkness falls in my eyes
And days are far from rosy now
And if i ask for the sky
Will you still shelter me when the sky falls

And the eyes try to get you they star from the wall
Pictures of innocence, a hundred and one or more
But close to home
Pictures of innocence are rising and rising

Why does my heart seem to fear
Building our palaces here
It’s all inside, inside out

And they slept in the autumn with fingers and thumbs
Pictures of innocence and beating, and beating the drums
For making the rain
Pictures of innocence are falling and falling down

Why does my heart seem to fear
Building our palaces here
It’s all inside out
But the truth is coming out now about the hunger
The hunger

Did you notice your fifteen minutes of fame
Make any difference to your sky
To your sky
You just pray for the rain
Pictures of innocence are fading and fading

Why does my heart seem to fear
Building our palaces here
It’s all inside out
Like we’re too busy to feel the hunger
The hunger

You did a good thing

( Sleepthief Collaboration )

She was your childhood friend
All of her heart you gave her
And thought the times have changed her
She'll always be home

Losing yourself you did a good thing
Truth never hurt you did a good thing
In spite of yourself you did a good thing
Truth will be told you did a good thing

I'm still here

She was your childhood sweetheart
So understand
All of this trouble you feel
Time can't take her from you
The time won't take her from you
She'll always be home

Losing yourself you did a good thing
Truth never hurt you did a good thing
In spite of yourself you did a good thing
Truth will be told you did a good thing

I'm still here

You did a good good thing

And I'll miss you for the longest time
Our lovely view was the best I've known
Tears on my face have fallen so
So long there can be no harder way