Album: Old Souls (2013)

License This Song 

• I know you met the devil once when you were young
  You let him in, just enough to push you out
  You managed 21 years before he talked you round to giving up
  We traded knowledge in our fields of expertise
  Then we parted ways and you gave up on everything
  
  Do you think you'd still want to leave now?
  You always were just a stubborn kid back then
  I saw the words that you wrote down,
  On the back of your book in the room where we spent our days
  
  I remember you told me you threw
  Your father's Jimmy Nail CD
  Out of the window of his car
  It didn't get you very far, in his good books
  Because I know when you got home
  He bent your spine over the back of a kitchen chair
  You lost so many days in there
  
  Do you think you'd still want to leave now?
  You always were just a stubborn kid back then
  I saw the words that you wrote down,
  On the back of your book in the room where we spent our days
  I saw the words that you wrote down,
  On the back of your book in the room where we spent our days
  In the room where we spent our days
  
  I thought I saw your reflection, in the window of a passing car,
  But I guess I was wrong, all I am is wrong these days
  
  Do you think you'd still want to leave now?
  You always were just a stubborn kid back then
  I saw the words that you wrote down,
  On the back of your book in the room where we spent our days
  I saw the words that you wrote down,
  On the back of your book in the room where we spent our days Writer/s: Christopher Pennells, James Veck-Gilodi, Lee Wilson, Matthew Veck-Gilodi, Max Britton, Thomas Ogden
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

• Simon from Isle Of WightWas drinking to Phil tonight in my local where I now live, in Isle of Wight, with a rock covers band playing. They conveniently played Black Sabbath's Paranoid at the end of their set, which was Phil all over. He loved his classic metal.
  
  A little bit about Phil, to put this into perspective (I was at school with him from 8-16 years old, and would see him most times I'd be back home from travelling):
  
  In middle school he didn't stand out so much, but liked being a goalkeeper when playing football. He was the keeper for Dersingham B (I played in the team too) and later for Snettisham. He liked WWF when everyone was into that, and played acoustic guitar in the school guitar club. Of course he knew chords (Jimmus said on his blog that he taught Phil about guitar - it was actually the contrary.. in our music classes in year 8/9 they'd often be going at it on electric guitar, and Phil was definitely much more advanced earlier on, he could solo well before Jimmus who had only picked up guitar whilst at high school..).
  
  At Smithdon High School, Phil, Jimmus and I were the three that grew our hair long over a few years. Phil became very confident, and seemed to be respected by everyone because not only was he so sure of being free in character/spirit, but he was also tough, and he was very likeable. Even the popular girls had a bit of respect for him, though his looks and mannerisms never made him attractive to them.
  I hung out with him a lot in high school years - we were in the same playground group for a couple of years, and then I moved with a friend to another group but we were very much allies of Phil's group, which was a big and respected one (ours that we moved to was not respected much at all, being one of free spirits, outcasts, and geeks).
  
  Phil had zero tolerance for alcohol, pretty much. One can of beer was enough for him. I think the last time I saw him, at Lifestyles festival in Hunstanton in 2010, he got rather drunk on maybe more than a can, and when we were going to Joe Tripp's house after the festival with some other friends he shouted over to a couple of chavs across the road calling them out for a fight, because he claimed they'd stared at him funny. This was Phil all over - his whole show was absolutely ripping the hell out of people and their stereotypes. You won't meet a character like Phil ever in your life.
  
  Phil shaved his head and started wearing Reebok classics I think when he was 16. He never explained his decision - but I guess it was a statement just like why he had long hair in the first place. And I'm sure he had a lot of fun ripping it out of people as a result.
  
  Nat Benn told me that Phil's death was so typical of him. If he'd just called up a friend he would've been fine, but because he didn't it escalated. I think Nat had seen him a couple of weeks before or so, and he was fine then.
  
  I'm pretty sure it was when I last saw Phil, at Joe's house after the festival and we were playing poker and having beers, and Phil stood up in front of everyone and said 'Jilley - you're a f#cking legend. You got out of Norfolk.' I felt nothing but heartfelt respect from him - I'd been off travelling a lot, and was about to start my first year of uni. I got a text from James Chambers one January afternoon when I was doing an essay in the library at uni saying, simply, 'Phil died.' It somehow didn't shock me a great deal - a friend of my brother's, who I had also come close to, had died a year before, and that had torn me to pieces. But Phil's death wasn't like that. I'm now quite disappointed with myself that I didn't go back for Phil's funeral. Somehow I didn't feel drawn to it - and I felt I would do my own kind of sending off thing, but I think on reflection it would've been good to go as a solidarity thing if nothing else.
  
  It's been in the years since Phil's death that we've kept him in memory. Whiskey is often toasted to Phil. But for me, any classic metal normally reminds me a lot of Phil. We always got on really well - and Phil would never harm anyone (though did deal out the most severe dead arms around...!). He would only tease to a point of mild annoyance, and always seemed to have an underlying respect for everyone in some way.
  
  I didn't know anything about Phil's home life other than what he told me to say to his dad when he was picking him up from my house at about aged 12, that I should ask him about his 'pink y-fronts'. I don't think I got a reply, but his dad didn't seem so unpleasant about it or anything.
  
  He got into boxing for a few years before he died, and I think was last working in a clothing shop in Hunstanton. He had lots of friends, and all who knew him seemed to like him in some way.
  
  Long live Phil Vinehill!!!

More Songfacts:

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)Edison Lighthouse

The love is growing in the '70s hit "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" because rosemary is the name of an herb.

I'll Be Missing YouPuff Daddy

Puff Daddy didn't get permission to sample the Police song "Every Breath You Take" on his Notorious B.I.G. tribute "I'll Be Missing You," but he later reached an agreement and even performed the song with Sting.

Y.M.C.A.The Village People

Village People lead singer Victor Willis, who co-wrote "Y.M.C.A.," insists it isn't a gay song - it's about hanging out with your buddies.

Dancing In The DarkBruce Springsteen

Before she was famous on Friends, Courteney Cox danced on stage with Bruce Springsteen in his "Dancing In The Dark" video.

AdornMiguel

Miguel wrote "Adorn" about his girlfriend, model and artist Nazanin Mandi when he was returning home from a long trip and was anxious to see her.

Never Tear Us ApartINXS

"Never Tear Us Apart" was a live favorite for INXS, who would often extend the second pause for a while as the crowd went crazy.

Editor's Picks

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?