Andwella's Dream - Shades of Grey (1969)

At the age of sixteen, Dave Lewis joined his first band, known as Method, in his native home of Northern Ireland. After the band relocated to London the following year, 1968, they renamed themselves to what you see above.

By 1969, the group had released their first album, Love and Poetry, with all of its source material having been written and arranged by Lewis before the age of eighteen. The album featured Lewis on vocals, guitar, and keyboards, Nigel Smith on bass and vocals, and Gordon Barton on drums. Although the album failed to be commercially successful, it has since garnered more popularity and praise.

By 1970, the group had once again renamed themselves (this time, to just Andwella), and Lewis, remaining a member, simultaneously began a solo career. Andwella went on to release two more albums, and Lewis himself continued as a singer-songwriter, opening for such notable acts as Don McLean and Fairport Convention.

To hear another wonderful track from Love and Poetry, be sure to check out our previous post Andwella's Dream - Man Without a Name (1969).



Andwella's Dream - Shades of Grey (1969)

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Lyrics:

I used to play a game that stayed the same
When grey was grey every day
I used to sleep alone in a place called home
I used to own a car

Then I went away one sunny day
Now I see blue instead of grey
And I think of things in a better way
‘cause grey is not grey

And I have many friends
Who are proud to spend their days with me
And we sing life's song under the morning sun
Grey is never grey

And I play the game as best I can
Where every man equals any man
And I think of things in a better way
‘cause grey is not grey

I used to play a game that stayed the same
When grey was grey every day
I used to sleep alone in a place called home
Used to own a car

Then I went away one sunny day
Now I see blue instead of grey
And I live my life in a better way
‘cause grey is not grey

Andwella's Dream - Man Without a Name (1969)

Coming out of Nothern Ireland, this band was originally known as The Method. The core of the band was Dave Lewis, who provided lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, and close to all of the songwriting. When they moved to London in 1968, they changed their name to the one you see above. After the release of their first album, Love and Poetry, they changed their name to Andwella and went on to release two more albums before disbanding in 1972.

Coming off of the album Love and Poetry, this song is one of my favorite from a truly stellar album. If given the opportunity, be sure to listen to the whole album in its entirety. There are numerous wonderful tracks that capture the transition of psychedelic rock into the progressive rock of the seventies. If there was ever an album that should have garnered more attention upon its release, this is it. I give it a very high recommendation.



Andwella's Dream - Man Without a Name (1969)

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Lyrics:

Yesterday I was a young man
With a future hemmed with gold
And today I’m just a soldier
With no home to call my own

Sittin’ by myself
Playin’ my guitar
Tryin’ to pass the time away
If tomorrow’s goin’ to be like this
I might as well die today

I’m just a person
Who has never had a home
Had to fight all my life
Just to keep the things I own

And some people- they look down at me
As a man without a name
And tend to forget
That they came from the same place that I came

All my friends- they have forsaken me
I guess that’s how life goes
When you’re not an empty man
And you can’t buy fancy clothes

And last black man
One more town
That’s closed the gates for me
And destroyed two years of hard work
Set my breast ease free

I’m just a person
Who has never had a home
Had to fight all my life
Just to keep the things I own

And some people- they look down at me
As a man without a name
And tend to forget
That they came from the same place that I came
Woo!

I’m just a person
Who has never had a home
Had to fight all my life
Just to keep the things I own

And some people- they look down at me
As a man without a name
And tend to forget
That they came from the same place that I came
Yeah!

I’m just a person
Who has never had a home
I’ve had to fight all my life
Just to keep the things I own

Sittin’ by myself
Playin’ my guitar
Tryin’ to pass the time away
If tomorrow’s goin’ to be like this
I might as well die today