Renaissance is now available at iTunes.
If you have the iTunes program on your computer click HERE to go to the iTunes Store.
(If you have trouble getting connected, simply open your iTunes program, go to the store, and search on "Bradstreet".)

OR if you prefer, purchase Renaissance MP3's from MapleMusic .

No Turning Back
Language Lies
The Handout
Renaissance
Two Minds
High Ground
I Just Walk Away
Another Human Failing
We Walk These Streets
The Next Boat Train
Holding My Breath
Oaklands (Instrumental)

Produced by David Bradstreet
David Bradstreet - Voice, BGs, D35 Martin Guitar, Godin VG8 Guitars, Piano, Midi
Carl Keesee - Electric Bass
Oliver Schroer - Fiddle
Al Cross - Drums
Jane Siberry - Background vocals on "I Just Walk Away"
Billie Hughes - Background vocals on "The Handout"
Rebecca Campbell - Background vocals on "No Turning Back", "Two Minds" and "High Ground"
Ronda Rindone - Clarinet on "Holding My Breath"
Denis Keldie - Accordion on "Renaissance"
Jesse Bradstreet - Additional Rhythm Guitar on "Renaissance"
Alice Bradstreet - Background vocals on "Renaissance"
The Boyz of Wamego Choir - "We Walk These Streets"
Mixed at Oaklands by: John Switzer & David Bradstreet
Mastered at The Lacquer Channel by: George Graves
Cover Photo: Brenda Bradstreet
Design and Layout: LUMA

This album is dedicated to the memory of Billie Hughes
April 4, 1948 - July 3, 1998

LYRICS

NO TURNING BACK


This was written with a few key figures in mind but I decided not to lock it down. Images of characters tormented by injustices, taking the anger too far with no way out. This is a song of surrender to our more irrational tendencies - and a celebration of the folks with enough guts to yell No Turning Back!

How you walk so perfect?
And how you move like that?
After all this damage
You grab your coat and hat

You treat me like a tailor
You're measuring me up
It's not how I imagined
I'd fit in this setup
But now there's no turning back
no turning back
Don't turn your back to the wall
Stand back and jump
Over the hump
Out of a slump that's all
that's all, that's all - that's all

I hear you went to market
And I hear you got your stuff
And left the place in shambles
When they called your bluff

Now here's talk amongst the jury
Well they just can't get it right
How to stop your fury
When you just can't take the night
And when you get to heaven
And when you ring the bell
You get all that you're given
And then you run like hell.

RENAISSANCE

I wrote this song in 1972 before Brenda and I met, hoping that it would someday come true - It did. She graciously makes "Renaissance" a daily reality for me.
I also have to admit to shameless self promotion here. After such a long gap between recordings (1980 to 1998) I was concerned that folks would not remember my career. I also always felt that I wanted to re-record this - my way.
Thanks to Valdy for his popular version. This song got me started. We had a chance to play this song together at Eaglewood Songwriting Festival in the summer of 2000 in a workshop that Artistic Director Doug McArthur had appropriately entitled, "Renaissance".

I like the way that your hair falls away
when the night brings a candle to you
And I like to stare as you come down the stair
as the light from the landing shines through

And how many fallen leaves does it take to believe
Autumn has finally come
The sun has gone colder
and we've both grown older
It's hard to believe we're still having fun.

So let's dance that old dance once more
We can still move as smooth on the old ballroom floor
I'll wear my Sunday best,
you wear your favourite dress?
Lock up the door
and let's dance that old dance once more.

You helped me 'round, put my feet on the ground
when I acted as proud as a fool
Our children have grown with kids of their own
to raise without aid from our old Golden Rule
But somehow it seems that some of our dreams
were discarded somewhere on the road
When all that was true could be found in the blue
of your eyes that still sparkle and glow.

But the frost king has come
and with a flick of his thumb
turned our windows to Renaissance art
And now by the fire no need to inquire
'bout the ways of the soul and the heart
'Cause the years have gone by
like a soft whispered sigh
not noticing youth as it flew
It's easy to tell that you wear your age well
not trying to prove you're still you.

TWO MINDS

I originally wrote this for a film by Michael Gibson. It was a heart warming story of a boy and his mentally challenged uncle. They developed a special language that no-one else could understand.
I included it here with the bridge that Billie Hughes and I wrote together. Co-writing also demands a special communication; the ability to complete each other's thoughts...

If I could say how I feel
you could hear what I say
It could be so real
If they would just go away
If I could see what you see
and you could say what you hear
Would they just let us be
and get away from here?

Two minds thinking the same thought
Wishing it all would go our way
'Cause sometimes it's seems so clear
when the real world disappears
But I can hardly choose between
the endless sky and this down to earth dream

If we could start out clean
we could make new rules
If we could just be seen
as men not fools
If we can hear the voices
we could feel what they say
If we could make the choices
we might just break away
Two minds thinking the same thought
Wishing it all would go our way
'Cause sometimes it's seems so clear
when the real world disappears
But I can hardly choose between
the endless sky and this down to earth dream.

HIGH GROUND

I saw the most heart wrenching report on CBC of two lovers in Sarajevo, caught on opposite sides of the struggle. In their passion, they decided to escape by running over the no-mans-land and were shot dead. They stayed entangled in each other's arms for three days until the threat of snipers let up enough for the families to claim their bodies. I was so taken with this story that I wrote this song, but I was never sure I had the details correct. Later that year, CBC did an in depth report on Boshko & Admira, filling in the details for me. Thankfully, I had the story correct.

Take a chance, just one dance
the song was meant to last
Run or fight, the darkened night
the river running fast

The time is right for our true flight
no one can show us how
One short run, despite the guns
Whose God will help us now?

What does it take to make it right?
One deciding fight
to let us gain the high ground
Just get us through this night
to see the morning light
Up there on the high ground

I see free land beyond the light
that separates our dreams
The family fight, the final blight
the tearing at the seams

It's not that we were sinners there
just lovers running through
No justice in this bloody scare
for two hearts bound and true

A frozen tear, why can't we hear?
how can we feel so old?
Forget the fear, and hold me near
Why does it feel so cold?

Forbidden love, the stars above
shine down on one and all
With hope and pride and trust and love
they heard the final call

(for Boshko & Admira - Sarajevo)

I JUST WALK AWAY

My son Jesse as a young boy was infatuated with a young girl to whom he couldn't bring himself to declare his affection. He claimed that if he told her, the fantasy would be gone. Both of my kids constantly provide inspiration. It reminded me of Keats' wonderful poem, Ode to a Grecian Urn in which the lovers never quite kiss - for all eternity.

I see your face, I know your eyes
I talk to you, I improvise
I get lost in longing
Wanting belonging to you
for one long night
But when you look my way
I just walk away

If you could see the way I feel
If I could show but not reveal
my need to be beside you
I'd show you my heart, but then you'd run
so far from me
So when you look my way
I just walk away

Whenever I call you, you're not there
Wherever I need you, you're not there
So I keep it to myself
and never let it out
That I would give it all
But then my heart goes numb
Walking next to you
Knowing that the truth
could never make you stay
So I'll just walk away

Dreaming here I see your eyes
Searching ways to compromise
this act of being human
Why can't I choose and cut right to
this heart of mine
But when you look my way
I just walk away

ANOTHER HUMAN FAILING

An irreverent look at the things that we can't give up. This was inspired by an old high school friend of mine who struggled for years with his addiction, and won. He reminded me through his writings that there are a lot of folks addicted to everything from gambling to TV to booze etc. This is not a funny subject but sometimes in the depths, it's nice to smile too.

Light a smoke, tell a joke
Leave your hat at the door
By the time you're leaving
you might be believing
that we just can't take no more.

Out to dine, pour that wine
then casually ignore last call
They say it stops the shaking
You face the morning aching
but it's really not a problem at all.

'Cause it's so hard to quit
when we get used to it
We keep on falling
when the buzz comes calling
Another human failing
Another human failing
We keep on trying
but we keep on buying
We just can't let it go
Another human failing
A human failing

Roll the dice, smile nice
and leave your soul at the door
You can bet your money
on a low-cut honey
Then she'll take you one time more

Watch the tube, sucker rube
and leave your mind at the door
They'll sell you vegematics
and confuse your mathematics
'till it don't add up anymore.

WE WALK THESE STREETS

My version of a marching song as seen through the eyes of a character living daily life in a war zone. I was troubled by the indifference and detachment of news reporters. "You don't wake up 'round here."
On this recording, I am joined by a great bunch of lifelong friends who make the best of times even better.
(Voices: "The Boys of Wamego": Dave Harris, Doug Fraser, Jim Sanderson, Peter Fraser, John McCowan, Dave McCowan)

We walk these streets in the morning
We walk these streets all night
We walk these streets right through the day
and we pray we won't lose sight

Kick a rock down through the alleyway
Keep an eye out through the wreck
Baby shoe lost in the tumblebrick
Just our daily city trek

You might say it's the hardest way
but you couldn't handle here
We get through the hardest day
but you don't wake up round here

And we ourselves keep searching for
a clue to wrong and right
And working for the chance to see
a quiet normal night

In all this mess we do our best
to sing the song we care
It's been so long since normal time
rang church bells in the air
And you might say the only way
is ringing the alarm
It's only fear that we know here
that keeps our home from harm

And you may think we're horrified
living here with daily grief
But you can't see through our hardened eye
and you can't give no relief

And we keep hopes high when the sun comes up
and we pray we won't lose sight.

THE NEXT BOAT TRAIN

I cherish a memory of me leaving England as a child that I had to translate into a song. It is the image of a boy looking through a rain stained train window through tear streaked eyes, looking and waving goodbye to a dear granddad as he stood on the platform with tears in his eyes too. Fortunately he and my grandmother soon joined us in the New World and we were all together again. Jack Hinkly was an exceptional man who showed me the magic and the joy of life.

Life unclear over home back there
soft goodbyes gone to God-knows-where
Even for the malcontent
Can't stay put with the money spent
- with the money spent

I see your face there through the glass
but rain keeps falling down clouding my heart
You in the mist and me on the train
I can still hear your voice,
I can still hear my name
but the memory fades
- ah the memory fades

Standing in your hat and your Harris Tweed
Your watch-chain pocket and your coat to your knee
Don't think I'll ever see your craft again
Thoughts of a boy in a world back then
- in a world back then

Two days from port my sea legs fail
Count the white caps, grip the rail
Seasoned sailors green with the swell
But me and my dollar friend running like hell
'Till someone shouts, "I see New Land!"
Grab our bags, hand in hand
We'd never seen a land so free
Transplanted dreamers from across the sea.

It's not what I thought when I came out here
Feeling lonely, tasting fear
But what can change can be the same
'Cause Grandad's coming on the next boat train
- on the next boat train

(In memory of my grandad, Jack Hinkly)

HOLDING MY BREATH

(From the feature film, "Fish Tale Soup", Actuality Films. Director: Annette Mangaard)
This started as part of the underscore for the film, but with the encouragement of Annette Mangaard the director, it was transformed into a song. Because it started life as a finished instrumental, and the curse/blessing of multitrack recording, this is the only song on this record that I had to learn to play!

Back home, here again
Same old, same old routine end
All we get
is hope and regret

Can't seem to get ahead
All caught up in a tangled web
Is it you?
Is it me?
Is it us?
Is it them?
Around we go
then back again

Holding my breath
Holding my breath
I can almost just see it
going my way
All dressed up and
nowhere to play

What can you say
when it won't go away
It's time to explore it
deplore it, ignore it
Holding my breath
Holding my breath
Holding my breath
- with you.

OAKLANDS (Instrumental)

This track was adopted as the "Hiker Mike" theme that introduced the CFRB Toronto radio show of one of the best narrators and biggest supporters of hiking in Ontario, Mike Kirby. I've spent many hours on the trail with Mike and it was at his insistence that I got off my "bum and took a hike with Hiker Mike!" - and got healthy again.
He was also one of the folks that strongly encouraged me to do this CD. We have covered most of the trails in and around Toronto and as far north as Temagami and south to the Everglades and I"ve enjoyed every mile. It's an exciting and inexpensive way to get to know the land, a fellow hiker - and oneself. It's also a great way to recover from a broken hip.
Cool runnin' Mike...