Steve Louw – Between Time

Release date: 6th September 2024 | Label: BFD/The Orchard | Catalogue number: BFD1006 (2CD), BFD1007 (2LP)
Produced by Kevin Shirley.

Steve Louw – Between Time, September 2024
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I genuinely cannot recommend this masterpiece of an album to you highly enough – in every way that counts, it absolutely qualifies as a Magnum Opus, and I absolutely love it.

Chris O’Connor, Rockposer

Tracks

Side A

  1. Alibi (4:07)
  2. We Had It All (3:37)
  3. Beggar Tonight (4:40)
  4. Giants Walk The Land (4:45)
  5. Killers (4:40)

Side B

  1. StreetJanes Dream #3 (5:24)
  2. Do Me Good (4:06)
  3. Flowers From The Graves Of Doves (4:07)
  4. Don’t Leave A Heart Alone (3:22)
  5. Time To Get On (5:38)

Side C

  1. Get Real Gone (3:33)
  2. The Way Your Heart Beats (2:05)
  3. Take Me For A Ride (3:56)
  4. Streets Of Rain (4:07)
  5. Cruel Hand Of Fate (5:19)

Side D

  1. Free To Fly (2:10)
  2. You ‘n Me Tonight (3:08)
  3. Cold Cold Rails (3:45)
  4. Ever Be Undone (4:44)
  5. Highway To The Sun (7:59)

All songs written by Steve Louw except Giants Walk the Land by Steve Louw and Jim Moginie
©2024 ASCAP/Slosongs/Sony Music Publishing

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Musicians

Steve Louw: Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
Doug Lancio: Electric Guitar and Mandolin
Kevin McKendree: Keyboards
Alison Prestwood: bass
Greg Morrow: Drums and Percussion

Additional musicians

Jim Moginie: Electric guitar, keyboards (Track 4)
Joe Bonamassa: Lead Electric Guitar (Track 15)
Randy Flowers: Electric Guitar (Tracks 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 19, 20)
Rob McNelley: Electric Guitar (Tracks 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 16)
Lachy Doley: Hammond Organ (Track 14)

Backing vocals

Kim Fleming: Backing Vocals (Tracks 2, 13, 16)
Devonne Fowlkes: Backing Vocals (Tracks 2, 13, 16)
Jade McCrae: Backing Vocals (Track 17)
Dannielle De Andrea: Backing Vocals (Track 17)

Its nothing but a pleasure to work with an artist like Steve (Louw), with a world class band and Kevin “Caveman” Shirley behind the console, you can’t go wrong. Its a honour to play a part.

Doug Lancio (Bob Dylan, John Hiatt, Steve Earle)

NOTES ON THE SONGS

Giants Walk The Land

Steve Louw – Giants Walk the Land feat Jim Moginie

Two great songwriters and musicians blend inspiration and craft into something mystical.

Kevin Shirley (Producer)

I am in love with the natural world, its beauty, its power, its timelessness. This is a love song to Earth.

This video was shot in a place in Southern Africa called the Tankwa Karoo, an ancient place of timeless beauty

Steve Louw

It’s dynamic, it’s direct and it pulls no punches. Giants Walk The Land is a mighty statement indeed, and it’s a statement of pure intent, as far as the forthcoming Between Time album is concerned.

At The Barrier

Killers

Steve Louw – Killers

“Killers” reflects the madness of waging war on each other. The song was written after hearing an audio clip of intercepted radio chatter in the first few weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the intense guitar-driven track’s energy evokes feelings of helplessness and rage.

I wanted the song to feel spiritual, powerful, and cutting and exist on different time planes. When we recorded Killers, it felt like we were stepping across into an earlier flickering time.

Steve Louw

Doug Lancio’s overdriven Harmony Rocket guitar locks with Steve’s acoustic and Rob McNelley’s soulful slide guitar to create a powerful sonic statement of rage and grief.

The sound of this track is what I love about making records. World class musicians together, creating art. Capturing those moments and being part of that experience never grows old.

Kevin Shirley (producer)

Streets Of Rain

Steve Louw – Streets Of Rain featuring Lachy Doley

The evocative Hammond organ playing of B3 wizard Lachy Doley and the chorused electric guitar and acoustic teases out the melancholy of “Streets of Rain.”

It’s a song about loss, although our pain is personal, you are not alone. When it’s coming down on you, it feels like you’ll never get out of there, but you will.

Steve Louw

Lachy is one of the greatest Hammond players in the world, right up there with Steve Winwood and Booker T,. When I was finishing off Streets of Rain, I knew his playing would be perfect. His beautiful solo captures the essence of the song.

Kevin Shirley (producer)

Cruel Hand of Fate

Steve Louw – Cruel Hand of Fate featuring Joe Bonamassa

Steve Louw and I have been making records for many years now. When I introduced him to Joe Bonamassa in Vienna more than a decade ago, they got along very well. When Steve had the opportunity to invite Joe to play on his records, Joe was enamoured with Steve’s style and was happy to be a part of it. I think Joe has now played on three or four of Steve’s albums, and it’s always a thrill for us all. It’s a meeting of minds.

Kevin Shirley, producer

Between Time came out wonderfully. I truly love the album.

Bob Ludwig, 14 x Grammy Award winning mastering engineer

Before highways and cars people travelled by foot, horse and then train if you could afford it, or you could jump on board.

Trains have a mystery to them, their rhythm coming from way off and then fading into the future. As a kid I used to put coins on the train tracks and feel the warm squashed coin in my hand as the train clacked away.

The song is about a traveling musician who feels that his time is running out. He needs to jump a ride to see his love one last time. The song has the rhythm of the train tracks and a nod to the journey we are all on.

Steve Louw

Joe Bonamassa plays a beautiful country style solo which fits right in with the mystery behind “Cruel Hand of Fate.” Using a Fender Telecaster B Bender guitar, an invention which by moving the guitar’s bridge conjures a pedal steel effect, creates a counterpoint to the song’s brooding slide guitar.

Lyrics

Alibi

Been walking on water
Salt burning my skin
Got my hand in my new friend’s
You don’t wanna know where we’ve been
Walking through the desert
Rain blinding my eyes
Said to my new friend
Better find an alibi

I felt muddy waters soothe my aching head
If I could lie in the arms of my darling
Back in her feather bed

Happiness and sorrow
Tears of joy and pain
I would do it all
Do it all again
All the things that beauty
Can ever contain
Come to an end
In fire and flame

I felt muddy waters soothe my aching head
If I could lie in the arms of my darling
Back in her feather bed

Set loose high and dry
Way above a crossroads
Watching the old boys
Slappin’ down the dominos
I can see the road behind me
And the one up ahead
If you can find me
I can lay down my head

If I could lie in the arms of my darling, once again
Smell the orange blossom, hear the gentle rain
I felt muddy waters soothe my aching head
If I could lie in the arms of my darling
Back in her feather bed.

We Had it All

Where mountains tumble, into the sea
Stars point to, our destiny
Through darkness and rain
There was a light at your door
I’ll say it again, we had it all

We had it all
We had it all
Our back to the wall
We had it all

Your unruly body, that can never be tamed
I’ve been in the wildlands, in desperate terrain
I’ve seen in your eyes, seen mysteries unwind
We need to try, roll back the time

We had it all
We had it all
Stumble and fall
We had it all

Every stolen moment I see you
The door is broken, I can’t get through
I can’t find a way
All I can say.

We had it all
We had it all
Tumble and fall
We had it all.

Beggar Tonight

Like a ship in the night
I drifted past you
With a storm in sight
I ran from you
Like a thief in the night
I left you
I’m your beggar tonight, oh yeah
‘cause I need you

Turn the page, dry the tears
Kill the rage in your ears
One more night in the storm of your life

All you got to do
All you got to do
Let it shine on through
Let me shine with you

Got me, alright
What we gonna do?
Turn round and fight
Everything thrown at you

Turn the page, dry the tears
Kill the rage in your ears
One more night in the storm of your life

All you got to do
All you got to do
Come on, shine on through
Let me shine with you

‘Cause I’m your beggar tonight
Just a beggar tonight
I’m your beggar tonight
I’m your beggar tonight, oh yeah

Been walking through tears
To get to you
I’m counting the years
We’ve seen through

You turn the page, dry the tears
Kill the rage in your ears
One more night in the storm of your life

All you got to do
All you got to do
Come on, shine on through
Let me shine with you

’Cause I’m your beggar tonight, yeah
I’m your beggar tonight, yeah
I’m a beggar tonight, oh yeah
I’m your beggar tonight
I’m your beggar tonight.

Steve Louw | photo: Jacqui van Staden
Steve Louw | photo: Jacqui van Staden

Giants Walk the Land

Through the prairie grass
The thunder of their sound
Buffalo would pass
Hooves shake the ground
Time will return
As mountains stand
Lightning burns
Across the land

Earth will heal
The rain falls
I can feel
Spirits call

Where the songlines go
Where the Earth’s in pain
Where the water flows
The silence stained
With the babies’ blood
Footprints in the sand
Rocks turn to mud
Giants walk the land

Earth will heal
The rain falls
I can feel
Spirits call

In the Badlands
Sand turned to dust
Outsiders stand
Steel turned to rust
The peace comes
Time heals pain
Silence runs
Runs again

Earth will heal
The rain falls
I can feel
Spirits call
Earth will heal
Earth will heal
Earth will heal
Earth will heal.

Steve Louw | photo: Jacqui van Staden

Killers

From the East they came
Hunger and war
Rained down pain
On everyone they saw

In the Northern lands
In the Western hills
First, made a stand
Blood was spilled

From the peaceful land
To a trail of tears
Ripped from their hands
With disease and fear

Through the snow and mud
I hear the sound
Water flows with blood
Across holy ground

Killers, Killers, from the East they came
Killers, Killers, with numbers not names
Killers, Killers, from the East they came
Killing, came killing, across the plains.

StreetJanes Dream#3

In the morning sunrise
Remember where I’ve been
Through the canyons, cross the sand, to the sea
Seen forests, rivers run
Into our dream
Walk through water, we come
Moving to our dream

To our dream, into our dream
I, I can see
Into our dream, into our dream
Moving up to me

Take my hand and we’ll meet
Into our dream
Silver mountain in the sea
Come rescue me
Seen forests, rivers run
Into our dream
Walk through water
We keep moving to our dream

Into our dream, into our dream
I, I can see
Into our dream, into our dream
Moving up to me

In the night so cold, she don’t go
Don’t go
And the love grown old, she don’t go
Don’t go

Oh, Saint Jane
Let the innocent go
Yesterday
Was a day of sorrow
Bells ring, children sing
Sky clear, get out of here
Jubilation in the air
Get out, out of here

But I don’t know
But I must go
You walked away
To the mist of the day

Into the night so cold, don’t go
Don’t go
And the love grown old
Don’t go

Into our dream, into our dream
Rising, up to me
Into our dream, into our dream
I, I can see.

Do Me Good

Flip that motor from running rich
If I could reach that kill switch
Time to get out the woods
I’m done and dusted down good

I never thought you would
Do me, do me good
I never thought you could
Do me, do me good

All the things you said
Tangled up in my head
I should’ve seen, through you
I couldn’t see, ‘cept your eyes of blue

I never thought you would
Do me, do me good
I never thought you could
Do me, do me good

I went all in on you
You broke that bank, broke me in two
Broke my heart, broke my soul
Broke everything in your road

I never thought you would
Do me, do me good
I never thought you could
Do me, do me good

I ploughed and planted out my pain
I reaped it all back again
All you left me was these tears
And a way for me through my fears

I never thought you would
Do me, do me good
I never thought you could
Do me, do me good

Not the way I used to look
You came along, got me cooked
I was a babe in the woods
I couldn’t see you’d do me good

I never thought you would
Do me, do me good
I never thought you could
Do me, do me good
I never thought you would
Do me, do me good
I never thought, oh you could
Do me, do me good.

Flowers from the Graves of Doves

You wrote your name in blood ‘cross my heart
I still feel the pain flood when we’re apart
Outside in the rain, your light glows in the dark
Said you could change, you don’t know if that will last

You said, “these shoes won’t fit you,
You’re gonna have to earn my love”
I’ve haunted bad news to get you
Flowers from the graves of doves
Flowers from the graves of doves

Like a moth to your flame
I’m drawn back to you in the dark
I can walk in the chains
Of your torn and bleeding heart

You said, “these shoes won’t fit you,
You’re gonna have to earn my love”
I’ve haunted bad news to get you
Flowers from the graves of doves
Flowers from the graves of doves

I tried to explain, that I’d be yours
From the start
You been playing your game
Love double-crossed me in the dark

You said, you said, “these shoes won’t fit you,
You’re gonna have to earn my love”
I’ve haunted bad news to get to you
Flowers from the graves of doves
Flowers from the graves of doves.

Don’t Leave a Heart Alone

You’re never far, you’re never near
You never leave me anywhere
Where I find you I’ll make my bed
Take my coat, lay down your head

I’m coming back, coming back again
Coming back to you babe, coming back again
I’m back again
’Comin back to you, comin’ back again

In the night so still
In the firelight you will
In the beauty of the rain
You come back to me again
In the clouds and the sky
In the beauty of your eyes
And in the wind’s sad refrain
You come back to me again

Come on babe save me
Oh won’t you take me
Oh save me
Oh won’t you take me back again

Don’t anybody want to leave their heart alone
Don’t anybody want to leave their heart alone
Don’t anybody want to leave their heart alone
I’m coming back to you babe
I’m coming back
Coming back

Don’t anybody want to leave their heart alone
Coming back to you babe
Coming back, I’m coming back to you
Coming back again
I’m coming back to you
Back again, oh yeah
Take me back, oh yeah
Back with you again
Oh yeah, coming back again.

Time to Get On

I know you are the one
Yes I do, time has begun
In the sky, in the sun
It’s time to get on
Get on
Get on
Time to get on
Get on, get on

See the darkness of the sun
See the wave coming on
Every day, take another one
It’s time to get on
To get on, time to get on
It’s time to get on, to get on
Time to get on

So many days come and gone
So many ways to get done
As we face, to the sun
It’s time to get on, get on, get on
Time to get on, to get on, to get on

Earth water sky
All in my eyes
On a journey, tonight
To the light, to the light
It’s the beginning
It’s the beginning
It’s the beginning
Oh, it’s the beginning

Time to get on
Time to get on
Time to get on
Time to get on
Get on, get on, get on.

Get Real Gone

Like you do me well yeah, you do me in hell
Baby I can tell
Yeah you do me too baby, two times two
You do me do me do
You been treating me just like I was blind

I said, “Gone, get real gone, gone, get going gone,
Get back, get back to where you belong”

I been your fool, I been at school ‘til I’m
Out of my mind
Yeah you’re no good I know I should, get out
Of this bind
Don’t think I don’t know where you have
Been all this time

I said, “Gone, get going gone, get going gone
Get real gone, get out of here,
Get moving on”
I said, “Gone, get real gone, gone get going gone
Get back, get back to where you belong

Gone get going gone, gone get real gone
Get you out of here, get you moving on
Gone get real gone, I said, gone get
Going gone, get you back to where
You belong
Get real gone, get real gone
Get going gone, real gone!

The Way Your Heart Beats

Oh, oh, oh oh
Aah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, oh
Aah, yeah, yeah

Every colour you dream
Every picture you choose
Every day and every memory
Some you win, some you lose

Oh, oh, oh oh
Aah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Aah, yeah, yeah

It’s the way your heart beats
Around the bend you move
It’s the way your heart beats
Pick up your cards and leave the room

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Aah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Aah, yeah, yeah

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Aah, yeah, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Aah yeah, yeah
Aah yeah, yeah.

Take Me For a Ride

You’re so wild, you’re so sweet
I won’t try, to cool your heat
The look in your eyes, could burn down the street
You wouldn’t think twice, you love the heat

Take me for a ride
You know I don’t drive
I need your cool breeze
Honey, throw me the keys
We’re getting out of here alive
Baby, just drive
Getting out of here alive

Red velvet dress, your high-heeled shoes
I look a mess, my heart is true
Nothing to win, I got it all to lose
I’ve never seen someone as beautiful as you

Take me for a ride
You know I don’t drive
I need your cool breeze
Honey, throw me the keys
We’re getting out of here alive
Baby, just drive
Getting out of here alive

Your eyes burn down to your feet
Looks like my place ain’t your driver’s seat
You’ll burn down the skies
Burn down the night
I won’t try, to put up a fight

Take me for a ride
You know I don’t drive
I need your cool breeze
Honey, throw me the keys
We’re getting out of here alive
Baby, just drive
Getting out of here alive
Baby, just drive.

Steve Louw | photo: Jacqui van Staden

Streets of Rain

Sun coming up on the streets filled with rain
Look out the window at tomorrow coming round again
Leave this all behind me maybe be back someday
I hear the wind blowing calling out my name

Here comes the rain falling down again
Running down the windows like it’s done for days
Here comes the rain pouring down again
Running down the windows like it’s done for days
I wish I could heal your pain

I got you babe, yeah you know that you’ve got me
In your bright sunlight, oh yeah, in your dark dream

Here comes the rain falling down again
Running down the windows like it’s done for days
Here comes the rain pouring down again
Running down the windows like it’s done for days
I wish I could heal your pain

In this dark night tomorrow is coming round again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Tomorrow see it coming again, oh yeah
Tomorrow is gonna come around again, oh yeah.

Cruel Hand of Fate

Yeah, the train a leavin’
I’m standing on the tracks
This train is leavin’
I’m standing on these tracks
I believe, I’m gonna find my way back

I can feel, oh, that cruel hand of fate
I can feel it, feel that cruel hand of fate
Telling me, Stevie, don’t be late

I got to ride right down the line to Abilene
I got to ride, ride, ride, right down the line to Abilene
So, I can see my pretty darling, before the good Lord
Sets me free

Ain’t got no ticket, all I got is my walkin’ shoes
Ain’t got no ticket, man, all I got is these walkin’ shoes
Won’t you let me ride this train tonight, oh, with you?

Take my hand, pull me up there, right by your side
Oh, take my hand, pull me up, right by your side, oh yeah
So I can ride this train tonight, right down the line

I got to ride, ride, ride right down the line to Abilene
I got to ride, ride, ride, right down the line to Abilene
So I can see my pretty darling, before the good Lord
He sets me free

[Guitar solo – Joe Bonamassa]

Sing for them, all the poor boys of history
Sing for them, yeah, all the poor boys of history
For all the spirits who ride this train, with me

I got to ride, ride, ride, ride with you, tonight
I got to ride, ride, ride, ride with you, tonight
So, I can see my little darling, one more time before I die
I got to see her, before I run out my time
Got to see her, oh yeah, before I die.

Free to Fly

We are all, passing by
Like the clouds in the sky
We are all, passing through
In your eyes, the sky was so blue

See through the clouds of darkness and rain
Floating up here, I can’t feel the pain
In your eyes, the world was so new
I see the sky shining through

‘Cause I’m free, I’m free to fly
Round the sun, the moon and sky
I’m free, free, to fly
I’m so high, I’m gonna fly, fly
Round the sun, the moon and sky
I’m free, free to fly
I’m so high, I’m free, free to fly.

You ‘n Me Tonight

Don’t shake, don’t shiver, you’ll be alright
Come on in, I’ve got a fire inside
This winter shaping up to be cold
Late November never seen so much snow

When you come to me
I see the light, I see the light
It’s got to be
You and me, tonight

I’m not going out in the cold and rain
I hear the moan of that lonesome A-train
I’ll never face another raging winter storm
Without the taste of your lips so warm

When you come to me
I see the light, I see the light
It’s got to be
You and me, tonight

When I hear that cold wind whine
I’m so glad I got to you in time
Hear the rain hiss on the fire
Feel the flames burning higher and higher

When you come to me
I see the light, I see the light
It’s got to be
You and me, tonight

When you come to me
I see the light, I see the light
It’s got to be
You and me, tonight.

Cold Cold Rails

The sound of your velvet drum
Keeps me moving on, oh yeah
You’ve always been the one
Who can keep me, hanging on, hanging on
Oh, oh aah ahah
Aah, baby yeah yeah

You’ve always been a trip, without a chart
You’ve always seen right through me
Into my heart
Oh oh oh oh
Oh yeah yeah

You got me, hanging on
You got me, I’m hanging on
I’m hanging on to you by my fingertips
I’m hanging on to you ‘til I slip
I’m hanging on by my fingernails
Hanging on to these cold cold rails

You got me, hanging on
You got me, hanging on
Hanging on you by the skin of my teeth
Hanging on to you, for your sweet relief
I’m hanging on to your mystery train
I’m hanging on to you, I’m hanging on again
You got me babe, hanging on
You got me babe, I’m hanging on.

Ever Be Undone

Down down down gone sun
Down down down gone sun
Feel the night gone cold
Feel a shiver in my soul
Feels like nothing ever be the same again

Down down down gone sun
Down down down gone sun
Yeah the mist came in, covered everyone
Feels like the darkness ever be undone
Feels like nothing ever be the same again

Your beauty and your pain
The silence coming down again
The darkness and the rain
Coming down again

Down down down gone sun
Down down down gone sun
What stares into your eyes
A million years passed through our skies
I hear you calling, set me free

Down down down gone sun
Down down down gone sun
The eagle flies through a falcon’s eye
From a far-off desert, a blood red sky
I hear you calling out, set me free

Your beauty and your pain
The silence coming down again
The darkness and the rain
It’s coming down, coming down again.

Highway to the Sun

I’m gonna take you
On this old lonesome road
She gonna shake you
Rattle rock and roll

We’ve been gone so long
On this highway to the sun
Coming up to a crossroads
There’s a track leading home

Taking off to your hard land
I’m taking off with you
You take me by the hand
Show me the view

We’ve been gone so long
Gone so long
Highway to the sun
Been gone so long
The moon and sea
Moving away from me
In your eyes
The moon and sky
Highway to the sun
Been gone so long
We’ve been gone so long

Taking off to your hard land
I’m taking off with you
You take me by the hand
Show me what’s new

I’m gonna take you
On this lonesome road
It’s gonna shake you
Rattle rock and roll
Highway to the sun
Been gone so long
Gone so long
Highway to the sun.

Buy / Play Now

Credits

Produced by Kevin Shirley.

Recorded and mixed at Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, TN
Tracks 4, 14 and 18 mixed at The Cave, Sydney.

Engineered by Austin Atwood
Mixed by Kevin Shirley
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering, Portland, ME.

Press & Playlists

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Discography

The Heart’s The Best Part · The Killing Floor · Waiting For The Dawn · Horizon · Going Down With Mister Green · Best Of The Decade · Beyond The Blue · Trancas Canyon · Heart & Soul [DVD] · Headlight Dreams · Thunder And Rain · Between Time