Youth Zone Unplugged 2018
This 10 week series showcases the young local songwriting talent in Dunedin. Each act performs their original songs and tell us about their musical journey from their first instruments, to their latest and upcoming gigs.
Podcast
This section is supported by
Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature
Celebrating our local lyricists and their music
Click on each of the tabs to see lyrics from each artist and additional information about them.
Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature Website
City of Literature Facebook Page
Helen and Xuzz
Airing 24th April 2018
Rewind
Holly Davies
Airing 1st May 2018
Yes, No or Maybe
The sun will rise the moon will fade
all your dreams will just float away on the outside
In a cloud of smoke you never know
They might just come crawling back to you
you never know, you never know
Were Standing here face to face joined by our grace
And you’ll always be forever in my heart
When you decide it’s either yes no, or maybe
because it don’t mean nothing, nothing, nothing at all
you gotta make complete sense no you can’t talk no nonsense at all, all, aallll
The stars are twinkling brightly today
The sun is out the moon is gone
It starts to rain a rainbow comes out
And you always know life’s never gonna be the same
Were Standing here face to face joined by our grace
And you’ll always be forever in my heart
When you decide it’s either yes no, or maybe
because it don’t mean nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing at all
You gotta make complete sense no you can’t talk no nonsense at all, all, aallll
You and I Together
You and I makes We
There’s No I in Me
There’s No I in Me
Were Standing here face to face joined by our grace
And you’ll always be forever in my heart
When you decide it’s either yes no, or maybe
because it don’t mean nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing at all
You gotta make complete sense no you can’t talk no
nonsense at all, all, aallll
No you can’t talk nonsense at allllllll
I Don’t Know Anymore
It’s a rainy day I’m feeling cloudy inside
And I don’t know what I want anymore
I want happiness with a pinch of sweet
And some love, Remember me
I would love to tell the tale but bye for now as I got to go
And keep control of my mind
I’ll see you later and we can talk away
See you forever in an outward rage
I don’t know anymore
I don’t know anymore
I don’t know anymore
I sat still in the dark it’s a rainy day
And I’m starting to fade away
Into the distance
Into the Distance
Into the Distance
Into the Distance
I would love to tell the tale but bye for now as I got to go
And keep control of my mind
I’ll see you later and we can talk away
See you forever in an outward rage
I don’t know anymore
I don’t know anymore
I don’t know anymore
Make it clear to me do you even love me anymore
because I already got my own problems don’t need anymore
No don’t need anymore
I would love to tell the tale but bye for now as I got to go
And keep control of my mind
I’ll see you later and we can talk away
See you forever in an outward rage
I don’t know anymore
I don’t know anymore
I don’t
No I don’t know anymore
I would love to tell the tale but bye for now as I got to go
And keep control of my mind
I’ll see you later and we can talk away
See you forever in an outward rage
I don’t know anymore
I don’t know anymore
No I don’t know anymore
I don’t know anymore
No I don’t know anymore
Lose Your Soul Tonight
Time Bomb Ticking
My hearts Pounding
finding it hard to breath
You said your feelings are getting stronger
I said my feelings are getting weak
I can’t hold this grudge anymore
I swing past you as I walk through the door
But baby it’s getting dark out here
And I’m afraid
Open Up, Let go
Let your feelings lose control
Play the rhythm lose your soul tonight
Baby I told you once
Baby I told you twice
That I find it hard to sleep at night
Baby come to me we can
Live it out wild and free
Baby, Baby
You said to me that you loved me
I said to you that I love you too
And baby I’ll be sitting here waiting
For you
Open Up, Let go
Let your feelings lose control
Play the rhythm lose your soul tonight
I’ll always be one step ahead of you
You think you got the upperhand too
I told you my hearts like gold
Once it’s gone it ain’t never coming back to you
You said to me that you loved me
I said to you that I love you too
And baby I’ll be sitting here waiting
For you
Open Up, Let go
Let your feelings lose control
Play the rhythm lose your soul tonight
Sit right here and relax
Close your eyes and rest
It’s hard for me everyday
Everybody asks
Are you ok?
And I say don’t worry bout me
Worry Bout all the sad faces
Worry Bout all the bad days
Worry bout nothing at all
Let me take your heart Away
Open Up, Let go
Let your feelings lose control
Play the rhythm lose your soul tonight
Oscar Tobeck
Airing 8th May 2018
Why
Why did you let me come and break down your walls,
why’d you let me paint you in colours that weren’t yours,
why’d you love me in the night but never in the day,
why’d you say you’d stay when in the end you ran away.
How could you hold me if you didn’t know what a soft touch was,
what made you say you loved me when it could never just be us,
why’d you always come home, feeling cold and old,
how did you love me if you weren’t even that bold.
Cause… now you’re gone
and you’re never coming back,
and though I’m torn
there’s still something that I lack,
I need some help
but graves can’t help you feel,
and now you’re gone,
were you even real.
Why did your eyes glaze over why did you talk to walls,
why did you seem to think, our hearts weren’t meant to fall,
you seem to see through everyone, every pair of eyes but mine,
why did you seem to think that we were out of time
Cause… now you’re gone
and you’re never coming back,
and though I’m torn
there’s still something that I lack,
I need some help
but graves can’t help you feel,
and now you’re gone,
were you even real x 3
Why did you sing to calm down all my stings,
why did you hold my hands why did you help me stand,
why did you love me now that you have no pulse,
why did you save me when you couldn’t save yourself.
Cause… now you’re gone
and you’re never coming back,
and though I’m torn
there’s still something that I lack,
I need some help
but graves can’t help you feel,
and now you’re gone,
were you even real..
Talk to me
You had me taken over,
because I wanted you to,
understand that I could not understand you.
Your lips quirked in a smile,
red lipstick stained your face,
I can’t tell if that means you love me and wanna stay.
Cause you’re yelling at me for taking care of myself.
And you like to scream that I don’t need to yell…
But you don’t seem to see,
That I can’t tell when you’re high,
when you’re jumping off the roof,
I’ll ask you if you’d like to fly.
Why do you tell me not to talk,
And then you walk away,
Tell me why you never want to stay.
You’re spitting and you’re cursing,
you won’t let me calm you down,
and when I do fight back,
I’m acting as a clown
You’re always right,
I’m always wrong,
we think we’re still in love,
(you’re glad I leave when it gets too much)
x2
You keep on telling me,
you think we need to talk,
and it’s kinda confusing cause I’d rather take a walk.
I said no,
you grip your throat,
So I apologise,
it’s about this time you start to gloat,
Let out a sigh
You’re whispering sweet nothings in my ear.
You don’t like to think that it ain’t what I wanna hear.
Cause you don’t seem to see,
That I can’t tell when you’re high,
When you’re jumping off the roof,
I’ll ask you if you’d like to fly.
Why do you tell me not to talk,
and then you walk away,
tell me why you never want to stay.
You’re spitting and you’re cursing,
you won’t let me calm you down,
and when I do fight back,
I’m acting as a clown
You’re always right,
I’m always wrong,
you think we’re still in love,
(you’re glad I leave when it gets too much) x2
(Why do you want to keep me dear,
Why won’t you talk to me,
Why won’t you just let things be clear,
why won’t you let me be.) x4
Cause you don’t seem to see,
that I can’t tell when you’re high,
when you’re jumping off the roof,
I’ll ask you if you’d like to fly.
Why do you tell me not to talk,
And then you walk away,
tell me why you never want to stay.
You’re spitting and you’re cursing, you won’t let me calm you down, and when I do fight back, I’m acting as a clown
You’re always right, I’m always wrong, I don’t think we’re in love, (you’re glad I leave when it gets too much) x2
Cause you don’t seem to see, that I can’t tell when you’re high, when you’re jumping off the roof, I’ll ask you if you’d like to fly.
Why do you tell me not to talk, and then you walk away, tell me why you never want to stay.
You’re spitting and you’re cursing, you won’t let me calm you down, and when I do fight back, I’m acting as a clown
You were never right, I was never wrong, we are not in love, (I’m glad I left when it got too much)
You’re Shaking Again
Honey, you’re shaking again
Do you want the memorises to end?
You’re skins sheet white,
And you, say you’re alright
Honey, you’re shaking again
Gorgeous, you’re crying once more
You’re rolling all around the floor
Your cheeks are dusted grey
You beg me to stay
Gorgeous, you’re crying once more
Oh you’re lying my friend
Don’t overdose again
Your brain will sprout trees
You beg me to leave
Oh you are lying my friend
I don’t know who I am
I feel guilty
When I say I’m a man
People say I’m filthy
And hey there love
It is a shame
That you are in
Consistent pain
I don’t know who I am
But I know, I have no plans
Honey you’re bleeding again
I would help but I can’t put down my pen
You’re eyes shedding tears
You tell me your fears
Honey you’re bleeding again
Gorgeous you’re hiding once more
When I knock you don’t open the door
You haven’t eaten in days
Baby let me stay
Gorgeous you’re hiding once more
I don’t know who I am
I feel guilty
When I say I’m a man
People say I’m filthy
And hey there love
It is a shame
That you are in
Consistent pain
I don’t know who I am
But I know, I have no plans
I don’t know who I am
I feel guilty
When I say I’m a man
People say I’m filthy
And hey there love
It is a shame
That you are in
Consistent pain
I don’t know who I am
But I know, I have no plans
Oh. You’ve stopped breathing my friend
You’re all alone again
Was my love
Really not enough
I.
I’m.
Breathing again
Samuel Leaper
(with Beth Lynch)
Airing 15th May 2018
Sugarcoated Bullets
Airing 22nd May 2018
Justice
-Chorus-
Oh where’s the justice anymore?
Where’s the morals in this world?
You wanna leave this earth and you don’t know why
Shove another needle right into your eye
And you don’t know how to speak to me!
-Verse 1-
The time is here
So think of fear
Cause s**t’s going down
On the mental state
Orange devil on the throne
People starting to feel alone
Cause s**t’s going down
On the mental state!
-Chorus-
Oh where’s the justice anymore?
Where’s the morals in this world?
You wanna leave this earth and you don’t know why
Shove another needle right into your eye
And you don’t know how to speak to me!
-Verse 2-
Feeling it’s getting closer
But can’t confirm that
It’s good for a laugh
And that’s a massive fact
Look at the w**ker
With the nuclear codes
He’s good for a laugh
Thats a massive fact!
-Chorus-
Oh where’s the justice anymore?
Where’s the morals in this world?
You wanna leave this earth and you don’t know why
Shove another needle right into your eye
And you don’t know how to speak to me!
-Bridge-
Wheres the justice? (x12)
-Chorus-
Oh where’s the justice anymore?
Where’s the morals in this world?
You wanna leave this earth and you don’t know why
The TV screen for some reason makes you cry
And you don’t know how to speak to me!
Nothing To Do
-Verse 1-
Screwing around
Have a beer or two
Got nothing to do
What the f**k is new
Feeling depressed
Slightly oppressed
Oh well who needs life
When you got your mates
-Chorus-
Trapped like a dog
Smoke misty as fog
Act like a freak
Cause I got nothing to do
-Verse 2-
Up is down
Down is still down
Act like a clown
Cause I got nothing to lose
Nothing to abuse
Play a prank or two
Avoiding morals
Like I’m a politician
-Chorus-
Trapped like a dog
Smoke misty as fog
Act like a freak
Cause I got nothing to do
-Bridge-
All I wanna do is
All I wanna think is
All I wanna scream is
One simple thing and that is
F**k around (x7) Hit the ground
F**k around (x7) Hit the ground
F**k around (x7) Hit the bloody ground now, ahh!
-Verse 3-
Plain as grass
Might be insane
Oh well I’ve got my brothers
We got nothing to lose
Causing chaos
Might hurt a few
Disconnect from the world
Cause we got nothing to do
Barbed Wire
Barbed wire slicing in my arm
Hot fire burning in my cigar
Oh I didn’t mean to cause no harm
Why I feel like I won’t go far
-Chorus-
Well that’s what you get when your on the run
Hey hey its never fun being on the run x2
-Verse 2-
Barbed wire trapped in my brain
Crushing pills to take away the pain
Oh I just feel like a robot
Tell the demons to stop
-Outro-
Barbed wire! Stabbing in my brain
Barbed wire! Driving me insane
Barbed wire! Trapped in my head
Barbed wire! Leaving me dead!
Trent Hawthorne
Airing 29th May 2018
Overcast:
Mr Delay
Lanterns
The Ramblers
Airing 5th June 2018
Barney Connolly
Airing 12th June 2018
Edge of the Road
Well I,
Saw you standing by the
Edge of the Road.
The air was getting thin and
Truth be Told.
I thought you looked kinda funny,
In that big old coat,
Well I,
Saw you sitting with the
Girls at the Bar.
One of them laid a pretty
Hand on your Arm.
I could tell you didn’t like it,
But you didn’t say,
You’re going nowhere,
You’re going, nowhere.
Well I,
Bet you’re living in a
Leaky Room.
Drinking cheap wine to
Try change your mood.
What you want doesn’t matter,
Cause you’ll never change,
You’re going nowhere,
You’re going nowhere.
Junkyard
I’m in a Junkyard
Don’t wanna shout or scream.
Covered in old things
They’re keeping me unseen.
I’m in a Junkyard
That’s okay by me,
That’s okay by me.
Cause I’ve, taken your place,
You’ve taken my time but its gone to waste.
So please go, please go.
I’m in a Junkyard
Gets worse here everyday.
No one to talk to
And nothing for me to say.
Except I’m in a Junkyard
How lucky to be free,
I wish that I was free.
Cause I’ve, taken your place,
You’ve taken my time buts its gone to waste.
So please go, please go.
I’m in a Junkyard and I promise,
I promise.
I promise
I’ll never go.
Stuck in a Cycle
Train’s leaving at 5, no more messing around.
Do whatever you like, there’s
No one there to stop you now.
Pale face of a child, eyes glued to the ground.
Go admire yourself, that’s
All that you’ll ever do,
Cause you’re stuck in a cycle,
You’re a candle burning down.
You’re stuck in a cycle,
And you’ve got the most hated,
Face in town.
The glass is half full, and you’re staring at me.
Your piercing eyes, they’d cut through anything.
But I will let you fall,
Straight into the hands of someone new,
Cause you’re stuck in a cycle,
You’re a candle burning down.
You’re stuck in a cycle,
And your name, is just an ugly broken sound.
Stop bringing people down,
Sickle Cell Moon
I see, my lover’s arms, in you
I see, more than you want, me too
I hear, the snakes whisper things, untrue
I hear, more than they want me too
I’ve made up my mind
I’ll beg, surrender and plea
That badge of honor
It belongs to me
I’ve made up my mind
Sorry I’m the one that you got.
I drive, a tank full of fumes, but you
You drive, beneath the sickle cell moon
I walk, this rotten wharf, alone
You walk, just tryna find, your way home
I’ve pulled down my pride
I’ll beg, surrender and plea
That badge of honor
It belongs to me
I’ve pulled down my pride
Sorry I’m the one that you got.
Odonata
She flows through conversation
With the grace of a dragonfly
Hips swing in a red velvet dress
But she don’t need to try
A young man in a creme-colour suit
Lounged against the bar-room wall
He admired her charcoal hair
And the way she stood back up
After every single fall
He approached her and saw
A face filled with love he knew would thaw
He approached her and heard
A voice filled with the laugh
Of a Mockingbird
She swooped all around him
With sparkling shimmering wings
Hips swing in a red velvet dress
But she don’t want a fling
His thoughtless mind ran scared paranoid
Then finally free
His thoughtless mind ran scared paranoid
Then at last finally free
He approached her and saw
A face filled with love he knew would thaw
He approached her and heard
A voice filled with the laugh
Of a Mockingbird
A voice filled with the laugh
Of a Mockingbird
A Mockingbird
A Mockingbird
A Mockingbird
A Mockingbird
Louis Freeman
Airing 19th June 2018
Love is Just a Common Interest
Hey are you busy
I think you’re kinda busy
Are you busy enough to
Stop yourself from missing me
I found you
When I’m around you
I have a good time
But hey aren’t I funny
I think you think I’m funny
Am I funny enough to
Make you wanna love me
I’m a baby
I’ll drive you crazy
But it’ll be fine
Watch your step
There are leaves everywhere and the path is wet
I told you I was tricky, and look kind of ridiculous
Relationships are scary, but love is just a common interest
Hey I heard you’re leaving
You told me you were leaving
I heard it directly from you
So I believed it
Just a rumour, no
It’s only temporary
Remember when I told you relationships are scary
But what another message
It’s just another message
Do I care enough
Am I even gonna check it
Well I checked it
I didn’t regret it
But only till I accidentally kissed you and ended up so lonely again
What a mess
There are leaves everywhere and the path is wet
You told me you weren’t ready, I thought you were ridiculous
Relationships are scary, but love is just a common interest
I’ve spent far too long thinking about what would happen if I died
And when I walk down the avenue I can’t help imagining snow on both sides
But in my temperate climate you know I’m denied it again and again
And in my gradually melting environment of high school and government action
What’s gonna happen at the end
What’s gonna happen at the end
End
Put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new teacher on put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new t-shirt on put your brand new t-shirt on
Or at least put something on
Or at least put something on
Hey isn’t this easy
I told you it would be easy
Is it easy enough that you’re not gonna leave me
Well I warned you it
Was only temporary
Remember when I told you relationships are scary
But oh no now you’re crying
I wish that you weren’t crying
I told you that it would be fine
But I was lying
Well I left you again it was only temporary
I left you again it was only temporary
Only temporary
Only temporary
Remember when I told you relationships are scary
Remember when I told you
Remember when I told you
That love is just a common interest
Love is just a common interest
Doing What I Do
Millions of stars
Millions of people
Millions of asks on me
A thousand tiny experiences make up my life so far
Millions of stars
Light up a sky so dark
Shining blue lights
I crept in at midnight
Bedside table conversations keep me alive
Naked she lies
Through the chill of the night time I ride
Saturday’s jive
And then sunday’s new dive
Well the summer was so mediocre
That don’t mean much to you
I think about everything coming my way
And I try and I try and I try
Don’t let me, don’t don’t let me run out of breath
Doing what I do, doing what I do
Don’t let me don’t don’t let me forget
To do what I do, do what I
I don’t wanna wake up late, because I don’t wanna waste a day
Doing what I do
My my, this time let it be alright
Lend me your heart
Right at the start
Kiss in the dark
For weeks
Keep on talking please keep your eyes on my eyes
Don’t kill the butterflies
And then the universe sighs
My my
Well my biggest fear is being mediocre
How about you
I grab at everything coming my way
And I try and I try and I try
Don’t let me, don’t don’t let me run out of breath
Doing what I do, doing what I do
Don’t let me don’t don’t let me forget
To do what I do, do what I
I don’t wanna wake up late, because I don’t wanna waste a day
Doing what I do
My my, this time let it be alright
You’re a mystery I’m still the body that’s
Keeping you warm, keeping you
Clouds are parting every part of your heart in your chest is
Keeping you warm, keeping you
5:01 a bird is singing, I’m winning, I’m running
I find it kind of funny when you talk like that
Help me out, I need a little continuity
Don’t let me, don’t don’t let me run out of breath
Doing what I do, doing what I do
Don’t let me don’t don’t let me forget
To do what I do, do what I
I don’t wanna wake up late, because I don’t wanna waste a day
Doing what I do
My my, this time let it be alright
Well I’ve spent a long time knocking around
Doing what I do, doing what I do
Had to get lost before I finally found you
Doing what I do, doing what I do
It took me too long to see, but for whatever reason you wanted me
Doing what I do has only lead me back to you
Find a Way to Find You
The walls they’re rising up around the people in the street
Painting moving pictures of people back up on their feet
Looking for the other, escaping from the covers
And making sure that we get a front row seat
And I still don’t know what to do with you
Find a way to find you
It’s every other day I’m right behind you
But what does that count for anymore
Anything else you’d have seen all before
If you like it that way, the I do
And so the waves they keep on moving leaving spaces on the ground
Although i keep on losing things I’m still doing the rounds
But I’m just another passenger, you’ll see the concrete wake up afterwards
So don’t hold back until the city’s risen from the ground
And I still don’t know what to do with you
We’re not quite the same, but I like you
And it’s nice today, inside too
Change the things you wanna change, we would’ve happened anyway
We’ve found a rasy so let it shine through
And I still don’t know what to do
I’ll have it figured out by the afternoon
Or the weekend, that always happens too fast
It doesn’t matter if we’re first or last
Cause I’m going round in circles, yes I’m going round in circles
And I still don’t know what to do with you
Find a way to find you
It’s every other day I’m right behind you
But what does that count for anymore
Anything else you’d have seen all before
If you like it that way, the I do
We’re not quite the same, but I like you
And it’s nice today, inside too
Change the things you wanna change, we would’ve happened anyway
We’ve found a rasy so let it shine through
And I still don’t know what to do, I still don’t know what to do
Yes I still don’t know what to do with you
Melicen Barber
Airing 26th June 2018
Spoon Moon
Spoon moon scoops the
freckles from your face
Divides them out
across the wide expanse of sky
you watch
Allow them to partake
Despite your ever growing fear
Of natural light
New moon they
Dress up just for you
Convince the clouds knitting the sky
To skip tonight
You watch behind closed eyes
You stay inside
Not wanting them to know
they make you feel alive
You spend
Too much time outside
Worried that those inside folk
Might care
Where you find yourself
In the darkest parts of the night
Talking to a friend
who doesn’t know you’re thereMonsoon moon
Drowns the streets in lunar soup
Turns your drainpipes into birdbaths
Slowing weeping through your walls
You watch them strangled
Muffling clouds crawling like blight
Pretend that you don’t miss
Their light
Croon moon conducts the moths
To dance in tune
with streams of white
They shoot along dew matted grass
You watch them
Synchronised
Like sunbleached butterflies
wiping tears from your eyes
You spend
Too much time outside
Wondering if those inside folk
Would do so much as bat an eye
If they found out
That you’d been sneaking around
Just to make time for your
Interstellar interactions
Spoon moon
Scoops you up from soupbowl suburbs
Divides you out
So you can live among the stars
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