
Gary Miller performing 'I Can and I Will' at Whippet Records HQ, Ferryhill, Co. Durham on Sunday 7th April 2019. A brand new song at time of recording, 'I Can and I Will' is written in honour of author Catherine Cookson from North East England. The song is accompanied by a fabulous illustration by Gary's partner Helen Temperley - look closely and you should be able to see it on the right-hand side of the video frame. Together, they form part of one of their latest collaborative projects 'Northern Grit: The Good, The Bad and The Greedy', a travelling exhibition, recording and performance project.
I CAN AND I WILL
There’s wind in the chimney there’s broth in the pan
I remember the days when Kate and me ran
“Let’s race the moon as fast as we can”
I said “I can and I will”
Counting the letters through the laughter and fights
Reading away in the fading light
Hoping I could make it all right
I said “I can and I will”
The word ‘impossible’ is the colour of black
I can and I will and I’ll never look back
Like a flame of gold I will burst down the track
Because I can and I will
Carrying the grey hen, carrying the shame
An illegitimate child bruised by self-blame
But I’ll rise above and take my name
I said ‘I can and I will’
Savings my pennies not taking the tram
It’s a long way to walk but who gives a damn
I’d rather walk than be an also-ran
Because I can and I will
The word ‘impossible’ is the colour of black
I can and I will and I’ll never look back
Like a flame of gold I will burst down the track
Because I can and I will
Four beautiful eggs failing to hatch
From such loss and such pain
I could never detach
But I will banish depression off of my patch
Because I can and will
They fried my brain, they scrambled my mind
Leaving nothing but panic behind
But I will gain strength from what I can find
Because I can and I will
The word ‘impossible’ is the colour of black
I can and I will and I’ll never look back
Like a flame of gold I will burst down the track
Because I can and I will
Reading poetry and fairy tales
A prince will come to take me away
To make me a lady if I show him the way
I said ‘I can and I will’
I’ll put my experiences down on the page
And my characters will all inhabit a stage
Of love and loss and laughter and rage
Because I can and I will
The word ‘impossible’ is the colour of black
I can and I will and I’ll never look back
Like a flame of gold I will burst down the track
Because I can and I will I can and I will
(Gary Miller) 2019 Whippet Records Copyright Control MCPS/PRS