The credits of Runabay’s album “Between the Lines” divide “Dig” into a spoken-word opening and a hymn-like single. But the two should not be separated. The words and voice of the opening belong to Stephen James Smith, a noted Dublin poet. The song that follows is a soundscape behind a vocal gem.
According to Runabay, “Dig captures a moment in time, and recounts a typical Irish schooling experience full of mischief, truancy, wonder and adventure. The main hook of the track was inspired by the manner in which teachers strived to extract information about misdemeanours. It’s a track filled with nostalgia in a wholly Irish societal setting.”
The members of Runabay are John McManus (vocals/guitar), Gary Graham (guitar/vocals), Gerard McHugh (vocals/percussion/keyboard), Michael McKinney (bass/double bass), Declan McCartan (cello) and Rory McAuley (drums/percussion). Originally coming from small rural villages in the Glens of Antrim and Belfast, Runabay are six musicians who, through their passion for harmony and melody, have been writing and recording since late December 2013.
“Dig” (feat. Stephen James Smith) by Runabay
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Lyrics of “Dig” (feat. Stephen James Smith) by Runabay
[Intro: Spoken Word by Stephen James Smith]
We must create to know who we can be
I say this for you, I say this for me
We must create to know who we can be
Early beginnings, heartbeat warmth and you
First breath, eyes open a new point of view
Hands touch, ears hear, clocks ticking
I am who?
We must create to know who we can be
Screaming out from within with a voice here
A note floating on there lulling the fear
Melody all around this atmosphere
We must create to know who we can be
We heard a song sung, it helped ease the pain
We didn't feel so lonesome as we sang the refrain
We forgot that feeling until we heard it again
We must create to know who we can be
Do you remember the time you heard an opening allegro
Or when that beat dropped and how it made your head go?
Some things make no sense unless you're in flow
We must create to know who we can be
You may rise and fall or fall then rise
An arc of a story contains no surprise
But how you tell it therein the art lies
If it's saved you from yourself
And now there's no other way
It doesn't matter how it moved you welcome to the ballet
You've just found the peak of Parnassus, fair play
We must create to know who we can be
I say this for you, I say this for me
We must create to know who we can be
We stood low
By the limestone at the turning of the road
We took shelter, rain was the norm
I placed my arm round to keep your body warm
Threw a hand out to leave in no doubt to commuters and the passers-by
Below the college shirt and shoe polish
Electric lines ran overhead
Arrived at home to an empty room
Where I'd sit down and I’d waste the day away
In all the silence I didn’t understand
When I leave will the sound remain the same
They'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig you ‘til you're worn out, With a face like stone
They'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig you ‘til you're worn out, With a face like stone
And through the afternoon
Twisted metal on a cathode silver screen
Another scratched CD
Breathe it, sleeve it, insert and start again
They'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig you ‘til you're worn out, With a face like stone
They'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig, they'll dig you ‘til you're worn out, With a face like stone
And soon we’re on the rise
Hold fire ‘til you see the whites of their eyes
And soon we’re on the rise
Hold fire ‘til you see the whites of their eyes
And soon they’d all arrive
As the teacher starts asking ‘bout our weekly passions
End of his tether he’d make a threat
And call on his army, then bend and disarm me
And I wonder, was it all worthwhile
Though changes were needed, expressions had fleeted
Back to another fraught long day
The diggin’ll be repeated in your head
