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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    This is a limited run, cherry coloured vinyl LP of the new career spanning compilation LP 'Cherry Picker' which features two new tracks from the forthcoming album. Included is an insert containing autobiographical content from Ruth's career and includes original photography of the Claremont Road protests by Gideon Mendel.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Cherry Picker (COMPILATION ALBUM) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Digital Track
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about

The feature single ‘PEOPLE PEOPLE’ is a defiant but deeply humane account of a reunion between two friends who meet again whilst waiting in queue at the local council office. At face value this is no more than a casual conversation but beneath it runs layer upon layer of political context, personal truths and poignant social comments that become ever more raw as the track snowballs into an out and out call to arms. Begging the question that’s on all of our lips -
When is enough enough?
But despite the dystopia, genuine warmth emanates from this track, as the tone of Ruth’s delivery exudes hope at every twist and turn, enabling the social narrative to teeter between futility and ferocity without losing its sense of humour or our sense of Ruth’s own humility. The rewarding chorus, rich with male backing vocals, reaches out to the listener, like a hug for the ears, allowing the desperation of the situation to evaporate and a well earned sense of human kindness to prevail.

lyrics

People People

Bumped into friend of mine in the council line back in spring time
She said “I didn’t think I’d see you here
Didn’t I hear you were hitting the big time?”
And heads turned to faces
As she said “we heard you were going places.
Does Emma know you’re back in town?
She’s not herself when you’re not around”

And I feel the urgency like a push on a beat
To be who she wants me to be
Though I’m dead on my feet
And I see Orion rising
And drawing his bow over Cannery Row
And I feel like crying ‘cause I’m tired
And laughing cause I’m not alone

Tell Emma I’m home dry
That I’ll come by soon enough
And give her my love (my love)
Tell her my minds made up
Yeah tell Emma I’m home dry
That I’ll come by soon enough and
Give her my love

We were still waiting in the council queue
When I asked her “so what’s new with you?”
She said “I’m still doing the radio show but I’m
Down on my luck if you really wanna know

I had a boyfriend half Jamaican
He was deported
All very hush hush
He was born here worked as a labourer
Received a letter - something about Windrush
Now I have a boyfriend in Jamaica
And his baby in my arms
And I feel like crying ‘cause I’m tired
And laughing cause I’m not alone"

And I said “Look at us all standing in queue
Don’t they know who they’re talking to?
We are many and they are few
And I wouldn’t let it get the best of you
Don’t you forget we’ve come this far
Don’t forget who we are!

We are The People people
And we are the people people”

She strokes the forehead of her infant
And lays a finger on the fence
It gives a little and she turns to me and says
“...It’s good to see you my friend
We’re not as young as we were then...
Could we do it all again?”

And I said “Remember when Emma
Climbed the roof top to stop the diggers?
And those policemen chased her all night
around the chimneys in a cherry picker?
And we cheered her on from the rigging
handcuffed and singing…

“Singing voices rising higher
Weave a dove into the wire
In our hearts a blazing fire”
(we are the people people)
“Singing voices rising higher
Weave a dove into the wire
In our hearts a blazing fire”

Tell Emma I’m home dry
That I’ll come by soon enough
And give her my love
Tell her my minds made up
Tell Emma I’m home dry
That I’ll come by soon enough and
Give her my love

And then meet me on Friday
Behind the Costa that used to be the Library
The girl that works there says it’s likely
That if I ask nicely
She can get keys from the Old Town Hall
For the empty municipal swimming pool
Put out a call to Paddy and Maria
Tell them ‘Tea urn. And a speaker’

‘Cause this is what we call divide and rule
Maybe you want less and I want more
Maybe you are against what I am for
But before we take our sides
Let’s ask each other why
We try and squeeze inside
these boxes that don’t fit us right
When we could stand our ground
Let them know we won’t be pushed around
We could take up space and let them
Know who owns this place
Yeah let’em know who’s who
Let’em know who they’re talking to
We are many and they are few
And I wouldn’t let it get the best of you
Don’t you forget we’ve come this far
Don’t forget who we are

We are The People people
And we are the people people.

“Singing voices, rising higher
Weave a dove into the wire”

credits

from Cherry Picker (COMPILATION ALBUM), track released March 31, 2023
Words and Music by Ruth Theodore
Produced by Ruth Theodore, Mathias Kunzli and Todd Sickafoose.
Recorded at Spillway Sounds, New York by Eli Crews.

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Ruth Theodore UK

'Original folk voice' Ruth Theodore is described as 'one of the UK's most exciting artists'.
Her highly anticipated forthcoming records is the fruits of another collaboration withTony and Grammy award winning US bassist/producer Todd Sickafoose and percussionist Mathias Kunzli.

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