Crucial Track – 21 August 2026

What song makes you want to write poetry? Has to be Guy Garvey, a wonderful weaving wordsmith. And while there are many songs to choose, and while I already feel the tears creeping to my eyes, it has to be Scattered Black & Whites. Why? This is why: Been climbing trees I’ve skinned my knees My hands are black, the sun is going down She scruffs my hair in the kitchen steam She’s listening to the dream I weaved today Crosswords through the bathroom door While someone sings the theme-tune to the news And my sister buzzes through the room leaving perfume in the air And that’s what triggered this I come back here from time to time I shelter here some days A high-back chair, he sits and stares A thousand yards and whistles marching-band Kneeling by and speaking up He reaches out and I take a massive hand Disjointed tales that flit between Short trousers and a full dress uniform And he talks of people ten years gone like I’ve known them all my life I scattered black and whites I come back…