Name: Top of the Stairs
Duration: P00H04M41S
Description: My Great, Great Aunt Christiana was married four times in Liverpool to four widowers, such were the perils of the life of a mariner. Her last marriage lasted 22 years.

Top of the Stairs

from Inheritance by John Reed

	/

Buy the Full Digital Album
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Inheritance is supplied in a cardboard sleeve made from recycled card. The CD design features John's Eko guitar from 1977 which he obtained in a swap deal, and got the better of the deal!

Includes unlimited streaming of Inheritance via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 2 days

£5 GBP or more
Subscription

Subscribe now to receive all the new music John Reed creates, including 7 back-catalog releases, delivered instantly to you via the Bandcamp app for iOS and Android. Learn more.

Subscribe Now £15 GBP/year or more

about

My Great, Great Aunt Christiana was married four times in Liverpool to four widowers, such were the perils of the life of a mariner. Her last marriage lasted 22 years.

lyrics

THE ROOM AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS (DADGAD)

Pastries for grafters
Pennies for the home
Off to the preacher
Happiness known
“Won’t you marry us preacher,
Won’t you marry us please?
Won’t you marry us sir
Our time’s short and sweet”

There’s a knock at the door
The man from the dockyard stood
Clutching his cloth cap
No need for words
Another family grieves
A widow weeps
Another suitor stands and stairs
From the room at the top of the stairs

Pastries for lodgers
To make ends meet
Sunrise to sunset
On cobbled terraced streets
Pastries for grafters
Pennies for the home
Off to the preacher
Happiness known
“Won’t you marry us preacher,
Won’t you marry us please?
Won’t you marry us sir
Our time’s short and sweet”

Weary and tired
From the swell and the tide
Weary and tired
From the swell and the tide
The Jerseyman now the widow’s prize
Left the ocean behind
Twenty years or more of bliss
How hard they fought to come to this

“Won’t you marry us preacher,
Won’t you marry us please?
Won’t you marry us sir
Our time’s short and sweet”

credits

from Inheritance, released October 18, 2019
John Reed: vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Ali Karim Esmaail: production

license

about

John Reed Berwick Upon Tweed, UK

John is a Blackpool born singer-songwriter and radio show host whose songs cover themes of social injustice, environment, politics, love, & life

Music is never more important than in difficult times. Therefore, all downloads on this site are provided on a "Pay What You Can Afford" (PWYCA) basis. Merchandise is available at the prices stated.

John is also 1/3 of nightsong.bandcamp.com ... more

Recommendations

contact / help

Contact John Reed

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

John Reed recommends:

An Abandoned Orchid House (Album)
by Jo Beth Young

When I started listening to Jo Beth Young I was expecting another nice voice backed by a decent guitar sound, but there is true invention in this album, and wonderful vocal and musical surprises. John Reed
go to album
If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous
by Sarah McQuaid

A true songwriter's album. Sarah's voice seems to blend seamlessly with her rich guitar sound, and the album is lyrically right at the top of the tree. John Reed
go to album
She & I
by Kirsty Merryn

I am not often struck by piano based songs but Kirsty's work is a big exception. Delilah and Samson is a hugely powerful song, but it is difficult to identify a favourite in this excellent album. John Reed
go to album

If you like John Reed, you may also like:

The Peasants' Revolt
by NIGHTSONG

supported by 10 fans who also own “Top of the Stairs”
go to album
Breathe
by John Reed & Ali Karim

supported by 4 fans who also own “Top of the Stairs”
go to album
Sister
by Maer

Maer, from Switzerland, debut with a haunted (and haunting) folk song that will warm you heart as it sends shivers down your spine. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 23, 2022
go to album