On the 9th track of his album “Babylon”, Hak Baker speaks on friendship and love through the rampant issues faced by many males, including depression and loss. Hak often talks about his mates on the album, such as on the second track, “Lad”, however where he usually focuses on the bravado, drinking...
[Verse 1]
Wonder what the blind see behind closed eyes
Can they see the planets and can they see the skies?
Held back my tears, couldn't let him see me cry
My mate George is going through such a hard time
I'm talking about the lads, talking about the boys
Those were the best days, livin' unemployed
Runnin' round the East End screaming "oi, oi, oi"
Hope this bad luck ain't left lad's soul destroyed
[Chorus]
I know my mate George is blinded by grief
I know my mate Charlie can't find no peace
I know my mate George is hidin' his grief
I look up in their eyes, I see no surprise
I know my mate George, he can't find no peace
I know my mate Charlie can't get to sleep
I know my mate George splits, heart is in pieces
I look up in their eyes, I see what's behind
[Verse 2]
Broke both his feet
He didn't land so neat
See him climbin' up the stairs using his knees
Looked in his eyes, he didn't seem complete
Come 'round his gaff to remind him he's a G
Couple'a rums and coke to put us at ease
Lads unite every time at Tom's, we're never street
Went to the pub, hugged my mate Charlie B
Then I hugged his cousin, that's 10 to the dozen
Mental complexities, anxieties
I know my mate George spit, can't find no peace
I know my mate Charlie's hidin' his grief
And I send my love out to my mate Eugene
He just lost his big brother, out to his family
You'll see a sea of lads at his funeral scene
Listening to Fleetwood Mac, listening to "Dreams"
Fun that only happens when it's raining, you see
[Chorus]
I know my mate George is blinded by grief
I know my mate Charlie can't find no peace
I know my mate George spits, hidin' his grief
I look up in their eyes, I see no surprise
I know my mate George, he can't find no peace
I know my mate Charlie can't get to sleep
I know my mate George spits, heart is in pieces
I look up in their eyes, I see what's behind
[Verse 3]
See your sad faces
Lads tryna find love or figured out where they misplaced it
For seven years, the heartache's been painted on my mates' faces
I guess they feel tainted
And they didn't despise the place they're situated
'Cause after our knees up, I guess we feel jaded
Ritchie's not well, I guess we gotta face it
Lads are so full up, and fed up of heartache
[Chorus]
I know my mate George is blinded by grief
I know my mate Charlie can't find no peace
I know my mate George spits, hidin' his grief
(Heart is in pieces, I look in their eyes, I see what's behind)
I know my mate George, he can't find no peace
I know my mate Charlie can't get to sleep
I know my mate George spits, heart is in pieces
I look up in their eyes, I see no surprise
I know my mate George is blinded by grief
I know my mate Charlie can't find no peace
I know my mate George spits, hidin' his grief
I look up in their eyes, I see what's behind
Hak Baker released Grief Eyes on Fri Oct 25 2019.