A track-by-track guide to ‘Birdsong’ by Dr Robert

The Penny Drops – It takes a lifetime to learn some very simple things. One of the joys of getting older is not giving a fuck so much about what some people think; becoming yourself and moving away from ego driven adolescent impulses.

Birdsong - Waking up from the daydream of being constantly online and reconnecting with the natural world. 

Capitalism and most religions preach 'dominion' over nature and it’s leading us up the garden path to extinction.

Walk On, Nothing Is Lost - An attempt to capture the careless joy of songs like ‘Love Is In The Air’ and ‘Happy’. It’s not easy to write positive ‘up ‘ songs but this somehow feels optimistic and slightly melancholy. 

Long Lost Child - I’ve been through therapy in the last few years and the stigma attached to that has long since gone, thank god. To a certain extent, we all carry the imprint of our first caregivers and how they shape our world view. This can lead to destructive habits. We have to become ourselves, even if it’s painful.

Giving Up The Ghost - Originally written for the album I did with Matt Deighton. Again it concerns ‘growing up’, learning to let go of past illusions and moving on to a place where compassion for others trumps solipsism. Nice thought, but not easy to break the habit of a lifetime!

Shadowplay - How easily we cleave to the idea of the ’superhero’; the populist who had easy answers and blames the most vulnerable ‘other‘ for society’s ills. Since we all live in our phones, it’s easy to cast this toxic spell and the feudal overlords of social media act as the great enablers.

Rivers To The Soul - I had previously been immune to the deeper connection we can have with dogs. But COVID changed all that. It’s the unconditional love. It’s the look in the eyes. I’m smitten. And it’s not just dogs. It’s a cliché but the eyes truly are windows to the soul.

All At Sea - Just when you think you’ve got it sussed a mighty storm blows everything off course. Mississippi John Hurt knew we must all walk that ‘lonesome valley’ and that everything remains a ‘mystery’...beyond our ken.

Running From Love - Social media and the internet has pushed us into more entrenched extreme positions, where nuance and understanding have been lost. I believe love powers the universe. I am optimistic about human nature. We must stop letting fear and hate rule our world and stop running from love.

This Fleeting House - I am at the age where I am beginning to lose a lot of friends. It’s later than you think. This is liberating in a way. It’s a fantastic voyage, as Bowie once sang. Savour every moment and know that life has meaning.