This is the opening track on my new album “People Watching”. When I wrote it I’d been listening to lots of early Bert Jansch and think I detect a bit of hommage to him in the structure of it.

I’ve always played it with an acoustic guitar plus maybe a bass and fiddle. But this version is somewhat different with Indian harmonium, mandola and drums. I had great fun with Boo Hewerdine and Chris Pepper in rearranging the song in a radically different way.

As for the lyrics I imagine they are fairly self evident. A bit of a “hobo” song – “I gotta be moving on” but tinged with regret, even a helping of false bravado! Enjoy it!

… the song

I’m turning my blind eye on you, I’m turning my blind eye on you
I must be moving on that’s what I do
I’m turning my blind eye on you

You used to be my lover but no more, you used to be my lover but no more
You think that I’m still watching, I’m walking out the door
Used to be my lover but no more

You used to fill my thoughts but you’re gone, you used to fill my thoughts but you’re gone
My mind is for my own use from now on
You used to fill my thoughts but you’re gone

That’s why I’m turning my blind eye on you, I’m turning my blind eye on you
I must be moving on that’s what I do
I’m turning my blind eye on you

I don’t regret a moment that we had, I don’t regret a moment that we had
I just had to find my own love, I didn’t mean to make you sad
Don’t regret a moment that we had

But now I’m turning my blind eye on you, I’m turning my blind eye on you
I must be moving on that’s what I do
Turning my blind eye on you
Turning my blind eye on you
Turning my blind eye on you

… the writing

I think it might have been in 2011 when I wrote this but not quite sure. What I do know is that it was a sunny Sunday afternoon sat on the patio with a bottle of cold white wine, one of my most effective writing companions!

Here’s a live performance of the song from 2013:

Read more on Bandcamp.