I Am For You (2017 – Singer Songwriter)

I Am For You

“Every song on here is melodic pop bliss”
Get Ready To Rock

“A 21st century hymn for sexuality, gender & racial equality.”
Peter Tatchell

“A response to the divisive and for some, frightening times we are living in.”
Fused Magazine

“Tim Arnold’s visual for his new track What Love Would Want focusses on romance in all its forms.”
Gay Times Magazine

Of all the albums I’ve made, I Am for You is the one that I really didn’t understand until the moment it was finished.  The songs were written over a long period of time, from 2012 to 2017.  I began writing the songs while I was still performing The Soho Hobo album live.  That’s fairly standard for me – to start another project before I’ve finished the last one.  However, because I devoted such a long period of time to certain campaigns and causes, the album remained in a process of development, rather than production.

In many ways, all the songs on the album are an exploration of every relationship I’ve ever had.  And that’s about 20 years and half a dozen incredible experiences of companionship, love, loss and discovery.  It took a couple of years of being on my own for the first time in two decades to be able to step outside of all those relationships, look love in the face and then write What Love Would Want.  That the song ends this album is of course deliberate. It’s the story I brought back at the end of all the journeys in the other songs on the album. Now you’re by yourself, now you’re free, now you’ve been through journeys of love – what do you think about that four letter word that seems to mean so much to us all?

It’s the best collection of songs I have ever made.  And in terms of song-writing, it is my favourite of all my albums, and the most complete.

 

Tracks and Lyrics

1. Mother's Intuition

Polly: Have you ever written about this princess?
Tim: No
Polly: You’ve never written a poem to your imaginary love or anything?
Tim: No
Polly: You haven’t written romantic poems as yet?
Tim: No
Polly: But you sometimes feel romantic?
Tim: I don’t think so. Not yet
Polly: Not yet…
Tim: I think I’ll start writing romantic poems when I’ve had the experience of romanticism
Polly: Oh my god, they’ll probably be books full of it I should think!

2. Love Will Not Hurt

How do you know what’s right, when everything you try is wrong?
How do you find the light when the shadows are so strong?
How do you tell a jewel from a stone that looks the same?
You take ‘em to an expert who’ll give them both a special name

So why can’t love be that easy?  Ain’t no one gonna show you
There’s only one way to go.  If love is real then you’ll know…because

Love, Love, Love will not hurt

How do you get a smile from a face that won’t be changed?
How can you turn back time when the deeds have been exchanged?
How do you tell a bargain from a swindle when you buy?
You learn and learn it like a poet ‘till you don’t forget your lines…

But how come love ain’t that easy? It’s just like a heat wave in December
And when it knocks you for six all that you have to do is remember…that

Love, Love, Love will not hurt

But you keep on coming back,
no matter how hard it gets, and it will get harder (it gets harder and harder)
So you take a different track, (you take a different track)
and you try to hedge your bets, (you try to hedge your bets)
but it just gets harder (it gets harder and harder)
So why do we let it in?  (love!)
Why do we go without?  (love!)
Why do we suffer?
Why do we take it?
Why do we live in doubt?

When we know (if you feel it in your soul, sing it high and sing it low)
When we know (if your heart is strong enough, there ain’t no hurt in love!)

Love (love!),
Love (love!)
Love will not hurt (there ain’t no hurt in love!)
Love (love!),
Love (love!)
Love will not hurt (there ain’t no hurt in love!)

Love, Love, Love will not hurt
Love, Love, Love will not hurt

3. Anybody's Guess

There may be plans that take me
From you, but that won’t shake me

My life with you awakes me

Out of a world that breaks me

There may be words inside you
I never did reply to
But I’ll always be beside you.
And yes I’ve always tried to

I guess it’s anybody’s guess
If we’re looking at the end
Should we turn and start again?

Or could we learn to live with less?

I guess it’s anybody’s, anybody’s guess

This world could never ground me
Without your smile around me
Your power to astound me
Makes me happy that you found me

I guess it’s anybody’s guess
If we’re looking at the end
Should we turn and start again?

Or could we learn to live with less?

I guess it’s anybody’s, anybody’s guess

I guess it’s anybody’s, anybody’s, anybody’s guess

I guess it’s anybody’s, anybody’s, anybody’s guess

I guess it’s anybody’s guess
If we’re looking at the end
Should we turn and start again?

Or could we learn to live with less?

I guess it’s anybody’s, anybody’s guess

I guess it’s anybody’s, anybody’s guess

I guess it’s anybody’s, anybody’s guess

4. I Am For You

If time doesn’t heal

Don’t think, only feel
If you can’t believe it still
Trust that I will

You’re finally seeking
You’ll have to reach inside yourself

You could have anything
You could have everything you’re holding out for
‘Cause whatever you get
Is whatever you find courage to really ask for

And so

I am for you

It’s time to stop running away ‘cause it’s true

I am for you

I’m giving it all just to make it

Through every sorrow

And I can’t forget tomorrow
The second chance that we might find

I know that I hound you. I’m thankful that I found you
Just in time

You could have anything
You could have everything you’ve been crying out for
‘Cause whatever you get
Is whatever you find the courage to really fight for

And so

I am for you

It’s time to stop running away ‘cause it’s true

I am for you

I’m giving it all just to make it

We’re moments away from the starting gate.  Alone no more

Don’t stop now, the hour is getting late.  But not too late.

I am for you

Darling don’t you think that we’re worth fighting for?

I want you, I need you, ‘cause I –

I’ve never known love like it
No I don’t wanna waste it, broke my soul to explore you

Look at everything I made for you

No one else will love you better, we could find a love together forever and ever, so I’ll say it again…

If time doesn’t heal it, don’t think, only feel it

By now you should believe it.  I am for you.

5. Crying Colours

I painted a picture of your heart
And hung it in the lobby
It’s on show for everybody
I made the frame with acorns dipped in gold
They were held together
By an eagle feather

The picture stayed just the same
But in your eyes I see you changed

That’s why I’m crying colours
Turning tears to light
I’m crying colours
To make the picture right
I’m crying colours tonight

I live every moment that we’ve had
When I see that picture
It’s funny how life hits you
I would pick up the brush
And paint again
A new one to replace it
But darling could we face it?

Or I could place it on public display
But would you attend the opening day?

I’m crying colours
Turning tears to light (I can’t turn away)
I’m crying colours
To make the picture right (I can’t turn away)
I’m crying colours tonight

Do you really want me to hide that picture away?
It wasn’t painted to save it for a rainy day!

I keep on I’m crying colours
Turning tears to light (I can’t turn away)
I’m crying colours
To make the picture right (I can’t turn away)

I’m crying colours, crying colours

I’m crying colours tonight  (I can’t turn away)

I’m crying colours tonight

6. 365 Days of Love

365 days of love, no more, no less below, no less, no more above
365 days of love, the way you smile inside is all I’m thinking of
And I know I’m not in control anymore,
‘cause I left my shield and compass at the door

But I fall in love again with you, every single day
I fall in love again with you, in every single way

365 days of love, the feeling is too much, the feeling is not enough
365 days of love, I like the bitter, I like the sweet, smooth and rough
And I know there’s methods and madness in your ways
So don’t go, I’d like another 365 days to

Fall in love again with you, every single day
I fall in love again with you, in every single way

And I know what you need from me
So don’t think I’ll ever leave
Just take one day at a time, and stay for the ride
I’ll be on your side, just believe…

365 days of love, no more, no less below, no less, no more above
365 days of love, the way you make me smile is all I’m thinking of

I Fall in love again with you, every single day
I fall in love again with you, in every single way

Every single day

In every single way

I just want another day…

7. Won't Fail You

I know I was the perfect gent, but it don’t say everything I meant
So tell me can I call you baby dear?

I know I’m being so unwise, but there’s something kickin’ in your eyes
And I don’t care to live without what I have dreamt

But what if I can’t get you to hear me if the castle walls are built too high?
What if I can’t get you to see… I’ll knock ‘em down into the ground
To get you closer to me

‘cause I was fighting for you since I saw you
Tooth and nail, I won’t fail you
I guess I’m in collision with you, your vision
So try to see, I won’t fail you…

I can’t pretend any more that my feet are on the floor
When you smile at all the stupid things I say
You took me out, you raised the bar
At The Secret Cinema
Fat Sam was rapping, and I was lost inside your gaze

But what if I can’t get us to know who we are and not just what we see?
What if it’s just only one moment? How did you happen to me?

I was fighting for you since I saw you
Tooth and nail, I won’t fail you
Yes I’m in collision with you, your vision
Just try to see, I won’t fail you…

I won’t fail you,
And I’ll show you what love is meant to be
I won’t fail you
In the cry of a soul you were sent to me
I won’t fail you
For a dream that you dream is reality
If you don’t dream on your own

8. I Know By Heart

Seven for a secret
Never to be told
You’ll get to keep it
Six for gold
Five for silver
Four for a boy
Three for a girl
And Two for joy

And sometimes I wonder
If we’re going to stop or start
Until I tell myself its only you I know by heart
I know by heart, I know by heart, it’s you I know by heart

We were feeling lucky
When they said there’d be a storm
But the sun beat down upon us
We were misinformed
I remember that day, when you held me till I knew
All my days of searching came to an end with you

And sometimes I wonder
If we’re going to stop or start
Until I tell myself its only you I know by heart
I know by heart, I know by heart, it’s you I know by heart

9. Paris

The best thing when I finally got to Paris
Wasn’t Mary and the angels at Notre Dame
The best thing when I finally got to Paris
Were not the walks along the Rue Saint Severin
The best thing when I finally got to Paris
Was not the Seine, or the chocolate on the bed
The best thing when I finally got to Paris
Was holding the hand of one I wish to wed

The best thing when I finally got to Paris
Wasn’t Avant Garde, or freshly bakes baguettes
The Best thing when I finally got to Paris
Was not Montmartre or even Crepe suzette
The Best thing when I finally got to Paris
Was not the Louvre where I made a secret prayer
The best thing when I finally got to Paris
Was holding the hand of one who took me there

And all our dreams are floating down the Seine
Will we find them once again?
’cause all those dreams, those dreams that made us cry
Can come back anytime and stay to dry your eye

The best thing when you finally got to Paris
Wasn’t champagne or Christian Dior
The best thing when you finally got to Paris
Wasn’t cinema or saying j’tadore
The best thing when you finally got to Paris
Wasn’t coffee and cognac in the street
The best thing when you finally got to Paris
Was the one who made your heart begin to beat

The Best thing when you finally got to Paris
Was not Moulin Rouge or even Sacre Couer
The Best thing when you finally got to Paris
Was not the sound of Chat Noir begin to purr
The best thing when you finally got to Paris
Was not the pyramid you picked up in your hands
The best thing when you finally got to Paris
Was being there with one who understands

And all our dreams are floating on the Seine
Will we find them once again?
’cause all those dreams that made us cry
Can come back anytime and stay to dry your eye

The best thing if you finally get to Paris
Is not, what you take from view to view
The best thing if you finally get to Paris
Is what you take to Paris with you

10. Change

The hardest goodbye I’ll ever say is the one that will kill if you walk away
Sometimes it feels you’ve rehearsed it, but that show won’t open
If you think that we’re worth it

Ain’t you tired of pushing me away now?
When I’m longing to hear “Darling, stay now”
A fork in the road, where are we headed?
I bought us the book with the map, but we never read it

Change, wouldn’t it be easy if we could change just a little bit
Change, wouldn’t it be easy if we could change just a little bit

The hardest hello that I’ve ever known
Is the one that you spoke when you met me
‘cause I didn’t know we’d have so much more to say
And how could I know, know that you’d get me?

I’m finding it hard to find some peace inside
Even though you’re the one who put it there at the start
You hung up again, oh why do you have to hide?
Give me permission, permission to handle your heart

Change, wouldn’t it be easy if we could change just a little bit
Change, wouldn’t it be easy if we could change just a little bit

Fall into my arms
Fall into my arms
Fall into my arms and…

Change, wouldn’t it be easy if we could change just a little bit
Change, wouldn’t it be easy if we could change just a little bit

11. Love Locked

Love ain’t something you say, it’s something you do
So don’t say another word, if it ain’t true…
I would fall down for you
But I’m breaking up inside
As you turn away when I touch you
Should I even try?

‘cause if I didn’t find a little love in your shadow
Am I gonna find a little love now I’m in the light?
And when the sun shines on me
Will I see you?
You know I really want you to be at my side.

But I’m feeling you slipping away from me baby
I give you an answer: it’s a definite maybe

We’re love locked, yeah we’re love locked
If you can’t live with it, you can’t live without it
You know, yeah you know that there’s no doubt about it

You’re love locked, yeah you’re love locked

And who will answer the dreams of all those scattered keys?
Don’t break this promise now, it’s all that I need
And I would fall down for you
Would you do the same for me?

‘cause if I didn’t find a little love in your shadow
Am I gonna find a little love now I’m in the light?
And when the sun shines on me
Will I see you?
You know I really want you to be at my side.

But I’m feeling you slipping away from me baby
I give you an answer: it’s a definite maybe

We’re love locked, yeah we’re love locked

‘cause if I didn’t find a little love in your shadow
Am I gonna find a little love now I’m in the light?
And when the sun shines on me
Will I see you?
You know I really want you to be at my side.

12. What Love Would Want

From my door,
the barriers you see I never saw
In my mind
You talk about a problem I can’t find

He for She?
She for He?

Ask what love would want
What love would want
Of you or me

He for He?
She for She?

Ask what love would want
What love would want
For you or me

Time to tell,
Tell you how it is before you yell
Fear you feel will fill you up with nothing but more fear

He for She?
She for He?

Ask what love would want
What love would want
Of you or me

He for He?
She for She?

Ask what love would want
What love would want
For you or me

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