Mirrors

MIRRORS March-April 2025 A combination anthology, that collects the lyrics of Irish singer/songwriter Paul Murphy composed in March and April 2025. Contains the material previously presented in Volume 25 (War & Harvest) and Volume 27 (NO TEARS SHED), plus additional artworks and photographs of newly-discovered handwritten manuscripts. Amazingly, Paul crafted an incredible 101 songs in just those 61 days, comprising ballads, social commentaries, prose-works, love songs, political excoriations, eulogies and lullabies. All the more astonishing given that their author was physically decimated by the muscle-wasting auto-immune disease F-MND that towards the end, he had to compose the songs live-to-camera, no longer able to use a pen. The master society-observer is as incisive as ever, targeting the rise of political self-centerdom, both in the UK and the US; the continuing failure of the systems that are supposed to help the needy, the vulnerable and the victims of abuse; and politicians, of all persuasions, who look away from problems instead of looking to solve them. Long-known for his narrative tales, during this time Paul composed internet favourites 'Ballad Of A Plains Town', 'When The Nightingale Sings No More', 'Journey' and, concluding the volume, the amazing 'Day One', in which Paul subtly addresses his end-view on the glory of life in its concluding lines: "This bus might not lead to paradise, but at least I'm taking the ride" A stunning collection of narrative storytelling from a unique master of the genre. Accompanying each work is a photograph of the original handwritten lyric, cue-card artworks, and YouTube video drop-cards. - - - - - - - - Asked in his final interview which song of his he would like his infant children to remember him by, Paul chose 'Keep Believing': Keep Believing Don't give up

Don't stop the fight

Darkness always ends with light

Don't despair

Don't be afraid

Every smile fights back the shade Don't feel lost

You never are

No night was ever not dressed with stars

Don't be silent

Say what's wrong

The sooner help can come along Don't feel trapped

Or insecure

Every room has an exit door

So feel proud

Keep believing

And all the shadows will be leaving Keep believing

Don't run don't hide

Keep believing

We're by your side

Keep believing

We're here for you

Keep believing

We'll see this through Keep believing

We're here for you

Keep believing

We will see this through -