Gilmore & Roberts - On The Line (LIVE)
Here's a brand new performance video of 'On The Line' (directed by Andy Little and filmed by Chris Little) from our new album 'A Problem Of Our Kind', released October 12th (pre-order or pre-save here: smarturl.it/GilmoreRoberts1210).
Jamie says: "I was listening to Radio 2 in the car one day and there was a phone-in on Jeremy Vine's show, discussing train delays following a suicide on the track that morning. Many people who were affected called in to give their take on the situation - most were shaken but sympathetic, some were irritated by the delays but realised they were suffering only a minor upset compared to family & friends of the person who'd lost their life (most likely as a result of mental illness). A few were outraged and incredibly vocal about their opinion that it was an incredibly selfish act to have committed. Hearing all these different feelings was simultaneously heartening and chilling...how most people had empathy, while the most opinionated few were only concerned for themselves. It applies to many other situations and inspired me to write this song, which includes the lyric that we used as the album title - A Problem Of Our Kind."
LYRICS
On The Line
It’s a fine line, it’s a steady track for the daily work commute
The platform bright in the morning light, awash with pinstripe suits
Familiar faces in a small talk place and the dance is running fine
But this morning there’s a body on the line
It’s a fine line but a great divide when the normal routine fails
The phoney faces slip away and the truth beneath prevails
So it’s gone with the awkward pleasantries when the trains don’t run on time
And this morning there’s a body on the line
In disbelief, the shaking leaf looks stupefied and sick
She sits and clings, like her life depends, to a cardboard caffeine kick
For that momentary glimpse will weigh forever on her mind
The image of a body on the line
And as the flock decants into a few split camps, it’s a strange unfolding scene
How the views divide the polar sides and those somewhere between
We hear ‘it’s a troubled mind’, ‘no, it’s a selfish act’, ‘no, it’s the work of a great design’
And a national news station’s on the line
Well, time is money, and everyone’s running late for their own affairs
The masses vexed in unison, yet still, from the lion’s share,
There shines a compassionate light, ‘cos their personal plight is nothing set side by side
To the loss of human life on the line
But reserving care for currency, leaving patience to the saints
You’d think the deed was done just to spite this one, from his ranting and complaints
How is it that the empty vessel makes a noise in excess of the others all combined
When there’s money on the line
A majority showing humanity over greed could be inferred
But the few who shout the loudest are the ones most often heard
And it goes much further than this station, it’s a problem of our kind
But a change must come somewhere down the line
Cos there’s so much more than just a body on the line
View previous comments
A few years ago I was standing on a London platform when the announcemeant came that there was a delay because of a ‘a body on the line’. What struck me is how no body looked up from the paper they were reading or their phones. I thought I must have misheard.
2 days ago · 11 Reply
Great work guys. I still remember sitting and listening to this at Cleckheaton earlier this Summer. See you soon m
7 hours agoThis is a beautifully performed track from an outstanding album. Buy it. Xx
2 days ago · 3And not forgetting the poor train drivers who actually witness the suicide in front of them.
18 hours agoWonderful song and rendition Jamie
1 day ago · 1Great song. Well done to you both.
1 day ago · 1I absolutely adore this song!!! It's so beautiful and meaningful!!
2 days ago · 2This should be an award-winning song! My joint favourite with “things you left behind” 🎼
1 day ago · 1Well, you know what I think. Incidentally, I thought the occasional note on the album's lyric sheet was extremely helpful for giving your amazing poetry context.
2 days ago · 1Amazingly beautiful song, instantly one of my favorites, I am so looking forward to the new album guys, Cheers from across the pond,
2 days ago · 1I started penning a song, but never finished it - as always you guys have sung it so much better than I could have.
2 days ago · 1Lovely song guys
1 day ago · 1Very moving. Excellent. 😊
2 days ago · 1such a sad song
2 days ago · 1Love this song. X
1 day agoAbsolutely fabulous x
20 hours agoAmazing xx
2 days ago · 1Wonderful
2 days ago · 1Beautiful xx
2 days ago · 1Comment on Facebook