Overstory

 

The Overstory is that cultural story most of us now seem to inhabit, unseen, unheard, but constantly informing every aspect of how we live.  We may rail at the things ‘out there’ that cause so much destruction, but this story lives within each of us and it needs to be re-written.

What would a life affirming story look like? I can only grapple with this and imagine, dimly,  as best I can because like you, I am caught in the story.

But perhaps if we listen, quietly, closely, by a stream or within a forest, to those remaining wild things we share our world with, and to the whisperings of our own soul, then nature might, just maybe, bring us back home.

So let the Overstory go.  And believe.

NEW ALBUM OUT NOW

Overstory

John Paul Mason

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A collection of songs three years in the making, born of rivers, forests, birdsong and a love of nature. Rooted in folk and with a deep reverence for the natural world, this music explores what it means to live well on this beautiful, wounded earth.

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ALBUM TRACK LIST

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AVAILABLE IN VINYL , CD & DOWNLOAD FORMATS

Forest

 

This song was inspired by the painting "Flying a Kite in a Walnut Forest" by Scottish artist David Schofield and also the novel ‘Overstory’ by Richard Powers. Learning how trees communicate, share resources, nurture their offspring and warn other trees of danger through the ‘wood wide web’, this song pays homage to the lessons that the Forest might hold for us modern day humans in a rapidly changing world. When I wrote this song I basically just stared at the painting and wrote what came. After the initial basic recording I listened to it the next day and thought ‘blimey, who wrote that?’ It wasn’t just me.

‘Forest’ is the first track on the new album ‘Overstory’ (released November 2025.)

 

John Paul Mason  guitar and vocals
Chris Pepper bass, drums, keyboards, programming
Susy Wall backing vocals
Pete Harvey cello and viola 
Shirley Barr additional backing vocals

Lyrics

Forest

Take a walk in the wild wood
Wild walnut brown
Strong ,tall, broad, solid,
wise elder, grandfather, ancestor

Healing, safety, protection, shelter
Reaching for sky
Roots searching, spreading, seeking
tapping water from earth

Seeing centuries pass
Watchful eye, guardian, guardian of the ages
So long a witness, centuries ago
Time traveller, truth seeker

You gave us a warning
You gave us a warning
Let the overstory stop
Before you drop

Breathe, breather of life
Leaves crying annually, shedding, build the forest floor
Roots, branches, trunk, depth, embracing
Solid, able to withstand time

Lover of children
Out of sight, splendour
Celebrating, playing,
It’s a beautiful day to be alive

We say listen to our truth. You need us - we need you
Stop before you kill us all and take yourselves too
We say don’t look far for answers get what you need from where you
Look out for one another you must share what you have
Keep clear communication connect with others to survive
Look after the small things if you want to stay alive
Let the winds of change pass through you, gain and loss are part of life
Remember to die gracefully and give yourself to earth

Enjoy the seasons
Enjoy the seasons
Enjoy the seasons
Enjoy the seasons

You must yield to the storm
You must yield to the storm
You must yield to the storm
You must yield to the storm

The world of forest is linked to the world of humans in ways that go beyond your understanding

Listen! closely

"Let the winds of change pass through you"...

Forest

John Paul Mason

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Based on a painting called 'Flying a Kite in a Walnut Forest by David Schoefield and the novel 'Overstory; by Richard Powers.

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Nightingale

 

Written in the dark with a head torch on during storm Arwen 2021.

"Never stop to worry on your way
Another song another new day"...

Lyrics

Nightingale

Softly in the morning does he sing
Take your leave and take it on the wing
I wonder if you see me through the glass
With every lively flight I watch you pass

Nightingale, Nightingale
Nightingale, Nightingale

Never stop to worry on your way
Another song another new day
Stars they take their leave with the moon
Greet the sun and tell us all your tune
Nightingale, Nightingale
Nightingale, Nightingale

Ohhh, will you stay
Teach us how to live another way
Sing your song and keep the world alive
With every tune it reaches deep inside

Some of what you say will come to pass
Spoken by your voice we hear at last
Sing out through the brightness of your song
Please always keep alive this little home

Nightingale, Nightingale
Nightingale, Nightingale
Nightingale, Nightingale
Nightingale, Nightingale

Nightingale

John Paul Mason

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Written in the dark - just like a nightingale.

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Sometimes

 

Sometimes you get stuck in a life you know you've outgrown but you don't know how to make the change. Still, they will still pull you, those wild white horses of your soul.
 

"Those white white horses
are calling you"...

Lyrics

Sometimes

Sometimes you never get a good day
Always a problem, big bad news day
You choose, you lose
Never get time for a drink on Saturday

Sometimes it always seems to rain hard
Picking up the pieces while you’re going under
You try, you fail
Sitting on your own with a face like thunder

Sometimes it’s work on a Sunday
Busy being busy, but it just don’t pay
Sometimes you want it stop right there
Throw it out the door and give it all away

Sometimes you need to just wake up
Jump start, kick start, do a little make up
Sometimes you force a smile
Step into the world and do a little fake up

Sometimes it never goes the right way
Just goes the wrong way, always seems to get away
You know you never make it work
Always get the feeling that you’re out of luck

You’ve got to be changing your way
The white white horses are calling you
You’ve got to be making your way
The white white horses are calling you

Sometimes you think about a better life
Give away the kids maybe get yourself a new wife
You know you want to make it work
Just want to live with a little less strife

Sometimes you know you’re wrong
You never take a hit, lay the blame on anyone
You know, you gotta get real
Time for a change if you’re gonna be someone

Sometimes it never goes the right way
Just goes the wrong way, always seems to get away
You know you never make it work
Always get the feeling that you’re out of luck

You’ve got to be changing your way
The white white horses are calling you
You’ve got to be making your way
The white white horses are calling you
(Oh they’re calling you)

You’ve got to be making your way
The white white horses are calling you

Sometimes

John Paul Mason

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Sometimes you get stuck in a life you know you've outgrown but you don't know how to make the change. Still, they will still pull you, those wild white horses of your soul.

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Sweet spirit

"Sing Sweet Spirit
Fly Sweet Spirit"...

Lyrics

Sweet Spirit

Sing sweet spirit, fly sweet spirit
You make me laugh, you make we weep
My heart to fly, my soul to keep
My heart to fly, my soul to keep

Sing sweet spirit, fly sweet spirit

You make me cry, you make me scream
I dare to hope, I dare to dream
You make me cry, you make me scream
I dare to hope, I dare to dream

And time flows by through my hands, through my hands
And the years flow by through my hands, through my hands

You make me love, you make me try
My heart to keep, my soul to fly
You make me love, you make me try
My heart to keep, my soul to fly

Sing sweet spirit, fly sweet spirit.
Sing sweet spirit, fly sweet spirit.

Sweet Spirit

John Paul Mason

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Sweet Spirit honours the beauty in the passing of time, the sweetness to be found in both the joy and heartache of life.

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Carry me

Carry Me

John Paul Mason

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Written during lockdown of 2021 when the weather was good, time was plenty and the river was calling.

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Lyrics

Carry Me

Take me down, to the river
Every day, Every day
Let me feel, you on my body
Every way, every way, in the water

When we touch, you take my breath
Stay with me, stay with me
Let me feel, your silk embrace
Around me, around me, in the water

We must wait until the rain
We must ask for life again
We must tell your story true
She will ease your weary blues
In the water

Flowing deep, in search of home
Comfort me, comfort me
Carve your way, through earth and stone
Within me, within me, in the water

Something deep is flowing through your life
She will call your name and bring you back to life

From the source, to the end
Carry me, carry me
Through every life, come back again
Live in me, live in me, in the water

She will ease your weary blues, in the water

"She will ease your weary blues
...In the water"

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