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Image of notation for Tourniquet by Derrick Devine

Tourniquet by Derrick Devine


Tourniquet is a song for anyone who, like me, goes around some or a lot of the time worried, baffled, upset, frustrated and overwhelmed by life, the world and their place in it.

On one level, it’s a very personal song that confronts the issues surrounding the depression or ‘Black Dog’ that first snuck in the door in my teenage years and has been sniffing around or indeed wrecking my place ever since. (He still owes me rent).

The song begins self-recriminatory and bitter, snarling at my and others failure to find a satisfactory answer to it all. But at the same time, it rages at and against the idea of me or anyone accepting any over-simplistic ‘cure’ for the complexities of what ails us.

And so here, it becomes almost political – questioning, criticising and denouncing aspects of my own and society’s unsatisfactory, one-dimensional treatment of the subject of mental health difficulties/emotional distress and so, his fellow man.

But the song seeks no revenge.

Instead, in its final section, it seeks to champion in a tongue-in-cheek way those brave enough to be their own vulnerable, ‘soft’ selves in this hard, harsh world.

Music, art and literature have always been a balm to the wounded. I wrote this song about a real battle I was having. I hope that it is enjoyed by most and might even be a little help to some.

In the end, maybe the song is a kind of call to arms – tender ones.

*Tourniquet – a device for stopping the flow of blood through a vein or artery, typically by compressing a limb with a cord or tight bandage.

Tourniquet Lyrics

diazepam for who I am
but theyve not got
anything for what im not

and its valium to quell and calm
the shivers and the shakes
but theres no pill for the ill
of a heart
of a heart
that simply breaks

everythings a tourniquet
everythings a tourniquet
I’ll take anything to try and stem
the flowing back of all the things that got away

everythings a tourniquet
everythings a tourniquet
so why do i suspect
the greatest side effect
is all those things
no one wants to hear

that only the insane
only the insane
only the insane
do not fear
or fear to say
do not fear
or fear to say

soft people
do not fear
or fear to say

soft people of this world
do not fear

soft people of this world do not fear
soft people of this word do not fear
or fear to say

soft people of this world
unite and take over

 

Music, art and literature have always been a balm to the wounded

Derrick pic credit LILY LE PELLEC680x590

Derrick Devine
photo credit Lily Le Pellec


Biographies

Derrick is a contributing artist to ADI's Curated Space 2016

Derrick is a singer, songwriter, actor and writer from Dublin. He has released two solo EP’s ‘Charge’ and ‘Take Care’ and another ‘Go Down’ with his former band ellison9. His first full-length album will be released next year. In Theatre, he has worked and toured extensively with Pan Pan Theatre Company. He has written many short plays for children, an adaptation of Chekhov’s ‘The Seagull’ and is currently working on his next play ‘Fairyland’. @derrickdevine

Dylan Tighe

Dylan is a musician, actor and theatre-maker and graduated from both Trinity College Dublin and Goldsmiths College London. Theatre work includes roles for Pan Pan, The Abbey Theatre, Dead Centre, Anu Productions and Via Negativa (Slovenia). As a theatre-maker work includes: Pulse Music/Ceol Cuisle (RTÉ Radio Drama– nominated Prix Nova 2014), RECORD (Cork Midsummer Festival, Dublin Theatre Festival 2012, Radio Version for RTÉ nominated Prix Europa 2013), Medea/Medea, Gate/Headlong New Directions Award 2009 (Gate Theatre London), No Worst There is None, Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Production and nomination for Best Director 2009 (Dublin Theatre Festival). Dylan has recently contributed a chapter entitled 'Start Making Sense' to Performance, Madness and Psychiatry, published by Palgrave, and written an opinion piece 'Dante or the DSM?' for artsandhealth.ie.

His second album 'Wabi-Sabi Soul' is released in April 2016 from www.dylantighe.bandcamp.com

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