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I’m Not Adventurous (EP, 2009)
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One of two extended EPs recorded between the winter of 2008 and the summer of 2009, this brief and bracing burst of wistful domestica sees Luke reveling in the joys of an honest relationship; celebrating his own apparent boringness; lamenting a rift with a close friend; and pining after an enigmatic love interest; amongst other weighty issues.
Review from Artsdesk.com, Dec 2009
Bearded Canterbury pianist Luke Smith is the world's most insecure troubadour. Happily he's of the self-effacing Brit variety rather than from the Californian music-as-therapy school, thus his songs of love, bemusement and mild disappointment are both poignant and amusing. Half Ray Davis, half wistful music hall turn, Smith is at his best on "I'm Not Adventurous", a sister song to his classic ode to staying in, "I Don't Want To Go To Parties Anymore", and there's another gem in the hopeless, lovelorn "This Is All I've Got To Work With". With three albums under his belt, it's time the world discovered this very English secret.
I Can Be Myself With You
VERSE 1
I can be myself with you
I can be myself and that is such a relief
You love the real me in all I do
So I can be myself with you
I can be myself with you
I can be myself with no one giving me grief
Oh and there’s so many places where I feel insecure
There’s so many places where I feel insecure
There’s so many places where I feel insecure
But I can be myself with you
VERSE 2
I don’t have to put on an act
I don’t have to act as if I’m one of the lads
You love the real me and that’s a fact
So I don’t have to put on an act
You accept my quirks and faults
You’ve accepted me through both the good and the bad
Oh and there’s so many places where I can’t be relaxed
There’s so many places where I can’t be relaxed
There’s so many places where I can’t be relaxed
But I can be myself with you
BRIDGE
And when I see them all just straining to keep in with the crowd
I think ‘Hey, that used to be me…
…But now I’ve found someone who makes me feel proud
To just act naturally’
VERSE 3
Oh and I can be myself with you.
You’re there by my side no matter what they all say
And when I’m misunderstood, somehow you still see the good
So even though there’s all these places where I know I can’t be free
I can be myself with you and that’s enough for me.
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How could this friendship ever turn sour
I just don’t know
What happened to us?
We used to walk, we used to talk for hours
What happened to us?
V.2
We were so close, it was hard not to boast
I just don’t know
What happened to us?
We had a friendship that was better than most
And now I’ve had it with this uncertainty
Tell me the problem; set me free
V.3
Is it my own fault or is it your fault?
I just don’t know
What happened to us?
Can’t we be adult? Can’t we adult?
What happened to us?
BRIDGE/CHORUS
Well I’m going out on a limb
Cos I know how much your throwing away
The things you think are precious tomorrow
Might’ve changed from what you’re thinking today
Might’ve changed from what you’re thinking today
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THERE’S NO JUSTICE
V.1
There’s no justice
Don’t go looking for it – it’s not there
There’s no justice
And the world’s not fair
There’s no justice
Yeah there should be there’s just not
We can hold out for it but it does no good
So we might as well be happy with our lot
V.2
Life turns out right
If we’re lucky once or twice a year
Fair play’s long gone
If indeed it was ever here
There’s no justice, though we demand it anyhow
Oh we can stamp and shout and we can go mad trying
But there’s no justice now
BRIDGE
I have this strange dream, where I’m so young
And the world looks like my friend to stay
So then I wake up, all high on life
But just one thing’s as plain as day
V.3
There’s no justice
It’s a nice thought but not to be
There’s no justice
Believe you me
Don’t go searching, just relax and accept the facts
Oh nothing’s gonna change it and it can’t be helped
So life’s just what you make it after that
Oh life’s just what you make it after that
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I’m Not Adventurous
Verse 1
I’m not adventurous,
You can plainly see.
I’m not adventurous
Like you want me to be.
I’m not adventurous,
I’m happy this way.
I’m not adventurous,
I’m here to stay.
Verse 2
I think you know by now
It’s a Pointless exercise
To try to encourage me
To socialise.
That talk doesn’t have effect
On a soul like me
I’m not adventurous
Don’t even want to be
Bridge
Don’t want to hit the town
Don’t want to go out
Stay inside, sit around,
Lounge about…
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THIS IS ALL I’VE GOT TO WORK WITH
V.1
This is all I’ve got to work with
Seeing just how long she decides to stay
And whether she turns as she walks away
This is all I’ve got to work with
It’s not that much I know,
But that’s my lot so there you go
V.2
Subtle leanings; hidden meanings
When she comes in the pub is she looking for me?
And when I leave how bothered is she?
Microscopic clues, destined to confuse
Deciphering complex codes; making little tiny inroads;
Working on through the night, never losing sight
Of the prize, though my eyes are tired and oh, the search is long.
Not what she said – more when and how,
This is all I’ve got to work with now
But I’ve got love to spur me on.
V.3
This is all I’ve got to go on
Hanging round with her friends constantly
Trying to figure out whether she’s mentioned me
Second-hand reports and so on…
But I don’t despair and I won’t give in.
BRIDGE
When I catch her eye, does it last?
When she hugs goodbye, is it fast,
Or does she hold it?
When she seemed last night not to care
Could it be there really was love there
And she simply controlled it?
Oh I s’pose it could be nothing
But I’m sure I saw a spark
No massive clue, no big break through;
Just a flicker in the dark, Oh –
V.4
This is all I’ve got to work with
A lingering look; a wistful gaze;
A word overheard; a cryptic phrase…
Never more than that
She’s never even been up to my flat
I keep it all tidy and clean
Just in case of this golden dream
Oh I may show signs of the strain
But I’d never complain
’Cos you know however slow I go
My resolve hasn’t once decreased
And I don’t regret and I don’t resent
One shining pining hour I’ve spent
My love’s still intact. It never ceased.
It’s not a lot… But this is all I’ve got to work with…
It’s something to build on at least
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