Cold Hard Shoulder | Ben R. Atkinson

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Released: August 28, 2020

Cold Hard Shoulder is Ben’s debut album. Made up of country/folk songs that were written over the previous decade, plus some new tracks and cover songs. The album’s first single, I Never Liked Coffee Before You, premiered on digital platforms and on iTunes, Apple Music, and Amazon and the full album was released on Friday 28th August 2020.

On 26th May 2020, the single received its radio debut on BBC Radio Lincolnshire as part of the BBC Uploads project which featured creative work produced during lockdown. All proceeds from the album were donated to local NHS charities in the UK as support for their work during the pandemic.

From the album liner notes

Wow, well what a six months it has been! Recording and producing an album during a global pandemic, yes, I’ll mention that again for prosperity, a global pandemic, has certainly been an interesting experience. In all honesty, if it wasn’t for the fact that we’ve all been locked down in our homes for most of 2020, then this album would probably never have happened.

Most of the songs on this record go back almost a decade, to early 2010s when I first moved to Lincoln and began my studies at the University there. In my spare time, I played guitar and found I was able to write a few songs. More importantly than that, I actually enjoyed it. So, this record is culmination of the last decade of writing, singing and strumming my guitar, mandolin. There are songs on the record about life and the things I’ve experienced over that time. Hopefully some of them resonate with you too. From life in a small town, to reminiscing over lost love, local politics and even the centenary of the First World War which was commemorated right in the middle of this period, from 2014 onwards.

Being at home for such a long period, I’ve had a chance to sit down and actually record some of these songs. I’ve learnt a lot during the process, from working with a range of different instruments, to producing, mastering and promoting the final release. I’ve been blessed to work with a talented group of musicians from around the world. Although we weren’t all in the room together, which I would have loved, we go the job done and I’ll forever be grateful for their talent and support.

On a final note, this last year hasn’t been the best for me personally (even before the global pandemic hit) and you’ll see elements of that coming out in the songs on this record. In the end, music is a cathartic experience and the best medicine I could ever recommend. In many ways, it’s helped me come to terms with what’s been happening in my life, and the world, this past few months.

Here’s hoping we will meet on the road at some point soon, once the world has healed and life resumes some normality.

Ben Atkinson: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Electric Guitar, lap steel, bass, mandolin, keys/hammond organ, dulcimer
Mike Shaw: Drums and Percussion on ‘Save It For A Rainy Day’ Steve Cameron: Electric Guitar

Agustin Coppola: Harmonica D.Denisov: Accordion
Filippo Tramontana: French Horn Jessie Morgan: Fiddle

Gareth Bates, Chrissy Bird, Megan Horwell: Backing vocals

Produced by Ben Atkinson

Recorded and Mixed by Ben Atkinson Recorded at The Burrow Studios, Lincoln, UK

Mixed at The Burrow Studios, Lincoln, UK

All songs written by Ben Atkinson (© 2020 Tall Lime Limited) except Save It For A Rainy Day written by, Andrew Dorff, Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi, All The King’s Men written by Ben Atkinson and Chris Whitwood (© 2020 Tall Lime Limited), The Things We’ve Handed Down written by Marc Cohn and I’ll Fly Away written by Albert E. Brumley Snr.

Photography and artwork by Ben Atkinson

Here (In A Small Town) – 03:46

Words and Music by Ben Atkinson

I was born, in a Leicestershire market town
And every Tuesday, the farmers would come on down To the local market, sell their wares under a summer sky In the heart of England, time goes flying by

Back when we were children, we’d have those old Friday songs And we’d sing them loud, and keep the beat going strong
Then I chose a guitar, as the instrument of my tune
And I wrote some stories, but that all ended way too soon

But here in a small town, where everybody knows your name It’s hard to escape from local fame
All your friends and your family,
remember you like when you were young

And they rally round you, like you’ve never been gone

Well I’ve been to America, down on the California coast Up to Minnesota to the Fargo Moorhead snow
Never thought I’d make it back, to where I was from But that pull of home, it’s acting way too strong

But here in a small town, where everybody knows your name It’s hard to escape from local fame
All your friends and your family,
remember you like when you were young

And they rally round you, like you’ve never been gone

Now I’m heading home, to the place where I was born
To the land of farming, wheat fields and dog-eared corn
All my friends have moved on, maybe I should move on too Chase the far horizon, plant my seeds in some place new

But here in a small town, where everybody knows your name It’s hard to escape from local fame
All your friends and your family,
remember you like when you were young

And they rally round you, like you’ve never been gone

Cold Hard Shoulder – 05:58
Words and Music by Ben Atkinson

Well not too far from here, there’s a long straight country road You can drive along and never see a soul
It’s kinda like our love, stretching far ahead
While no one really knows quite where it goes

Sometimes I sit and ponder if you ever really care Or if you get a kick out of making me feel blue The answers out there somewhere while
the road just stretches on

I can feel the widening gap between me and you

We might have started out together
but we took two different tracks
Then our love just seemed to fall between the cracks
And the relationship got rocky, tell me what’s that all about?
Well she left me on the cold hard shoulder to work it out
Now we don’t know where we’re heading and we can’t figure it out Yeah she gave me the cold hard shoulder without a doubt
She gave me the cold hard shoulder without a doubt

Well when you finally reach that place where you really wanna be Your thoughts and dreams and plans mean so much more Sometimes life is funny, the way it turns you round
And all you can do is ride the wave it has in store

Sometimes I sit and ponder if there’s someone looking down And guiding us through the things we have to do
Well I don’t know if it’s fate, or some omnipresent guide
But he gave us the tides that bind between me and you

We might have started out together,
but we took two different tracks
Then our love just seemed to fall between the cracks
And the relationship got rocky, tell me what’s that all about? Well she left me on the cold hard shoulder to work it out Now I realise where we’re heading But I still can’t figure it out Yeah she gave me the cold hard shoulder without a doubt She gave me the cold hard shoulder without a doubt

Save It For A Rainy Day – 02:58

Words and Music by Andrew Dorff, Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi

It’s no secret that lately there ain’t no escape And that I’ve been waking up alone
Just me and the TV and a sinking feeling That you ain’t ever coming home

But today, the tears ain’t gonna hit the floor ‘Cause the boat’s in the bay
And it’s calling my name
So I’m heading on out the door

‘Cause the sun’s too bright,
The sky’s too blue
Beer’s too cold to be thinking about you Gonna take this heartbreak and tuck it away Save it for a rainy day

When I turned the ignition
I knew I’d be missing
The feel of the wind on my face I was stuck in a habit
Of wondering what happened Too busy taking all the blame

Got a drink, or two,
It’s a fool proof remedy
It’s a beautiful world with a beautiful girl Kind of making eyes at me

‘Cause the sun’s too bright,
The sky’s too blue
Beer’s too cold to be thinking about you Gonna take this heartbreak and tuck it away Save it for a rainy day

Yeah, the music’s too good,
My friends are all out
And they’re all too high to be bringing ‘em down If they ask about you
I’ve got nothing to say
I’ll save it for a rainy day

They’ll be plenty of time for what if’s and why’s And how’d I let you get away
But the lying in bed all stuck in my head
Is just gonna have to wait

‘Cause the sun’s too bright,
The sky’s too blue
Beer’s too cold to be thinking about you Gonna take this heartbreak and tuck it away Save it for a rainy day

Yeah, the music’s too good,
My friends are all out
And they’re all too high to be bringing ‘em down If they ask about you
I’ve got nothing to say
I’ll save it for a rainy day
Gonna take this heartbreak and tuck it away Save it for a rainy day
Save it for a rainy day

Half The Local Council – 04:17

Words and Music by Ben Atkinson

Well Beryl she lives down the street, she don’t know what to do They’ve closed her local daycare and all the funding they withdrew And Gerard he’s a victim of a life of wear and tear
He hasn’t got a job and he can’t find one anywhere

Oh, what are we going to do
Oh, to get the best for me and you

Well half the local council aren’t the ones we had before
They’re asking us to vote then they thrown their polices out the door Someone’s gotta make them see the reason we all love to rue the day When the local council has their way

Well they had a big election just to make the people see
Voting on a county level it was good for you and me
But the result was the wrong party and then everyone was mad
How can you vote for independence when you don’t know what you had?

Oh, what are we going to do
Oh, to get the best for me and you

Now they’re shouting on the sidelines and they’re screaming in defence That we should kick out all the foreigners, it don’t make any sense
But the people they’re all listening, tired of what they had before
They’d like to go on fighting but they just can’t win the war

Oh, what are we going to do
Oh, to get the best for me and you

I Never Liked Coffee Before You – 04:05

Words and Music by Ben Atkinson

I never liked coffee before you
Now it’s part of everything I do
If I saw you now you’d probably laugh Say you don’t believe me, but it’s true I never liked coffee before you

Sometimes it’s hard to make it through The stress and worry without you
And when I’m tired, my mind is dragin’’ And I haven’t got a clue

I’ll drink my coffee without you ‘Cus I never liked coffee before you

Well I never went dancing before you
But you’d take my hand, and that’s what we’d do I’d spin you round on the floor
When we’d stop you’d ask for more
But I never went dancing before you

And now I sit, that’s what I do
I nurse my drink, take in this view

Well after all this interference and the fighting on both sides We ended up alone and cast adrift into the tide
But the people who are leading they’re the same as those before

They try and change direction, but it’s not what we asked for

Oh, what are we going to do
Oh, to get the best for me and you

Well half the local council aren’t the ones we had before They’re asking us to vote then they thrown their polices out the door
Someone’s gotta make them see the reason we all love to rue the day

When the local council has their way When the local council has their way Yes the local council has their way

Of lovers dancing on the parquet Just like us, in our heyday
But I never go dancing without you ‘Cus I never went dancing before you

Well I never went walking before you Now I cross the hills and valleys too I’m on a hike, and you’re beside me Down the tracks, along the byways

I never went walking before you

Now I wear my boots and raincoat too Out in all weathers I ramble through But there’s two pairs by the door
Well you don’t need yours anymore And I still go walking without you

But I never went walking before you

So here I am, a cup or two
I’m drowning in, memories of you
I take a sip to take me back to where You used to say you care
But you’re gone for good, I know it’s true And I never liked coffee before you

Malta to Me – 04:32
Words and Music by Ben Atkinson

There’s an island I know and it’s not far away
Where the Knights of St John forged a home in the bay And they ruled with the others, the British and more
To build up a nation now free evermore

It’s a place filled with history and treasures to find From the blue coves of Gozo to Mdina at night Neath the stars you can walk and discover anew All the history this island reveals just for you

From the bars in Valetta where we’ll dance till it’s light To the town of Sliema all shiny and bright
Where the sun always shines, you feel happy to be

You Can’t See – 03:52
Words and Music by Ben Atkinson

The evenin’s clear, the sky is blue
And I’m just driving, back roads with you The way we talk, it sounds sincere
The way we laugh, from ear to ear

And I don’t know if I’m worried about the way That we seem to be getting closer every day

‘Cus baby you can’t see What you mean to me You’re out of reach How can that be?

In the stars, on a page
We’re just two actors on a stage
And it’s more than I could ever hope we’d be ‘Cus baby you can’t see

You tell me stories, I’m listening
‘Bout all the good times, you’ve shared with him Leave the past behind, that’s what we do
Keep moving forwards, find something new And we never seem to soothe our worried mind So we settle for the best that we can find

‘Cus baby you can’t see What you mean to me

Every day is a festa in Malta to me

Just step back in time, in a moment you’ll stand
In a prehistoric temple where invaders did land B Or if sailing the islands is more of your thing
Cast your sail to the wind and let adventure begin A

T Dive into clear wear and let yourself go A

On a boat ride to Gozo, it’s time to unwind
Take a tour of the island, where great churches you’ll find The crystal lagoon it’s a sight to behold

It There’s no better place than Malta to me A

Watch the cannon at midday, from the battery fired, And then stop for a pizza in the gardens beside, Where the people are warm and generous as can be,

You’re out of reach
How can that be?
In the stars, on a page
We’re just two actors on a stage
And it’s more than I could ever hope we’d be

‘Cus baby you can’t see what I see when I look at you (when I look at you)
Feel what I feel when I look at you (when I look at you)
Know what it is makes me want you so

Wrap my arms around you, never let you go (never let you go)

And I wonder, if we met some years ago
Would things be different? Well I guess I’ll never know

‘Cus baby you can’t see What you mean to me You’re out of reach How can that be?

In the stars, on a page
We’re just two actors on a stage
And it’s more than I could ever hope we’d be ‘Cus baby you can’t see

Baby you can’t see No you can’t see Baby you can’t see No you can’t see

B s T g

A It

A F

I R

A It

O W

C O

O W

C O

O W

C O

All The King’s Men 03:42
Words and Music by Ben Atkinson and Chris Whitwood

Blue bells ring in woodland, a summer day in June
Men are out for harvest time, dark clouds to gather soon
And scythes are more than symbols, with the banging of a drum The recruiting Sergeant Major calls ‘Let The Heroes Come’

One man for another, every brother every son We will stand together, we will never be outrun And we’ll fight them like we mean it
It’s our role to chase the hun

Come on boys let’s go together One for all and all for one

A voyage to a far flung land, a land of shot and shell
Of smoke and fire and a dusty march, to the very walls of hell But there’s no more thin red line, and in karki brothers just the same
The Captain poised upon the parapet, calls ‘play up and play the game’

One man for another, every brother every son We will stand together, we will never be outrun And we’ll fight them like we mean it
It’s our role to chase the Hun

Come on boys let’s go together One for all and all for one

As the guns begin to thunder, a rain of bullets start to fall Flash of faces so familiar, all for one and one for all

In the fog of battle, an alone, unknown soldier Recalls the song his comrades used to sing

One man for another, every brother every son We will stand together, we will never be outrun And we’ll fight them like we mean it
It’s our role to chase the Hun

Come on boys let’s go together One for all and all for one

I Hate Dates – 02:58
Words and Music by Ben Atkinson

Well I hate dates, what can I do?
Just looking at the calendar, reminds me girl of you
From late July, till August comes
Then September’s round the corner, that’s the time you up and gone Well I hate dates, what can I do?

Well I hate dates, that much is true
I’m no good at making small talk and my smile is dorkish too We’ll sit real close, have a drink or two
But I always end the evening wondering when should I kiss you Well I hate dates, that much is true

Well I hate dates, they’re memories too
And they always get me thinking about the places I went with you Clearwater Beach and Disneyland
We went to Malta, Edinburgh, to Rome and Paris flew
Well I hate dates, they’re memories too

Well we could go to a pub, or a restaurant too
A cinema maybe, that’s all up to you
And you’ll know me quite well by the time that you leave ‘Cus it’s clear that I wear my heart on my sleeve

Well I hate dates, what can I do?
I can’t go out to a movie, with somebody new
‘Cus they’re all closed, and we’re home too
And even if we weren’t I’d have to keep two meters from you Well I hate dates, what can I do?

Well I hate dates, hope you do too
But they’re right there on the calendar and there’s nothing we can do So we’ll press on, we’ll persevere
With the profiles on the dating sites
‘Cus that’s the way it has to be done these days

Well I hate dates, hope you do too Yes I hate dates, get me offline soon

Boxcar 47b – 02:32
Words and Music by Ben Atkinson

There’s a freight train out on the railway tracks tonight There’s a freight train out on the railway tracks tonight There’s a freight train out on the railway tracks
A loaded gun, you better watch your back

There’s a freight train out on the railway tracks tonight

And there’s a stowaway in boxcar 47b tonight There’s a stowaway in boxcar 47b tonight There’s a stowaway in boxcar 47b
A convict man, as dangerous as can be There’s a stowaway in boxcar 47b tonight

And the stowaway has a gun in his hand tonight The stowaway has a gun in his hand tonight The stowaway has a gun in his hand
Shot his wife, found her with another man

The stowaway has a gun in his hand tonight

Now no one knows who went and called the Sheriff
But he stopped the train and he searched every room
And one of his men they called out when they found him And as a shot rang out, you could hear this whispered tune

The stowaway man has shot himself tonight The stowaway man has shot himself tonight No need for court, don’t call the judge Boxcar 47b will be enough

The stowaway man has shot himself tonight

There’s a freight train out on the railway tracks tonight Yes there’s a freight train out on the railway tracks tonight

The Thing’s We’ve Handed Down 04:22 Words and Music by Marc Cohn

Don’t know much about you
Don’t know who you are
We’ve been doing fine without you But, we could only go so far

Don’t know why you chose us
Were you watching from above
Is there someone there that knows us Said we’d give you all our love

Will you laugh just like your mother Will you sigh like your old man
Will some things skip a generation Like I’ve heard they often can

Are you a poet or a dancer
A devil or a clown
Or a strange new combination of The things we’ve handed down

I wonder who you’ll look like Will your hair fall down and curl Will you be a mama’s boy
Or daddy’s little girl

Will you be a sad reminder
Of what’s been lost along the way Maybe you can help me find her In the things you do and say

And these things that we have given you They are not so easily found
But you can thank us later
For the things we’ve handed down

You may not always be so grateful For the way that you were made Some feature of your father’s
That you’d gladly sell or trade

And one day you may look at us And say that you were cursed But over time that line has been Extremely well rehearsed

I’ll Fly Away – 04:48
Words and Music by Albert E. Brumley, Snr.

Some bright morning when this life is over I’ll fly away
To that home on God’s celestial shore
I’ll fly away

I’ll fly away, oh glory
I’ll fly away in the morning When I die hallelujah by and by I’ll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone I’ll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly I’ll fly away

I’ll fly away, oh glory
I’ll fly away in the morning When I die hallelujah by and by I’ll fly away

Oh how glad and happy when we meet I’ll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet I’ll fly away

I’ll fly away oh glory
I’ll fly away in the morning When I die hallelujah by and by I’ll fly away

By our fathers, and their fathers
In some old and distant town
From places no one here remembers Come the things we’ve handed down

I’ll fly away oh glory
I’ll fly away in the morning When I die hallelujah by and by I’ll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then I’ll fly away
To a land where joys will never end
I’ll fly away

I’ll fly away oh glory
I’ll fly away in the morning When I die hallelujah by and by I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away