The Lucksmiths - "The Sandringham Line" (live)

The Lucksmiths - "The Sandringham Line"

Live at The Courthouse Theatre
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
May 1, 2003

I discovered The Lucksmiths while studying abroad in London during Autumn 2003. They had just released their album, Naturaliste, which is one of my top five favorite albums of all time.

I saw them play three shows in London. To celebrate three years of Lucksmiths listening (and I listen to them constantly), I have three of my current favorite Lucksmiths songs to share with you, one at a time.

I rode the train a lot to shows by myself. I listened to my CD player and this track - the second track on Naturaliste - really stuck out to me. While "Camera Shy" is a perfect upbeat opener, the Lucksmiths slow it down on this song. It's a very assertive way of arranging the album, and really shows that The Lucksmiths know what they are doing. They don't pile their "hits" on to the beginning of the album. They know what works, and they make the album a great listening experience because of it.

The Lucksmiths write a lot of songs about the weather. This is a great example of one. "It's grey and wet and warm" perfectly sets the scene. Also, "I sat backwards on the train and suddenly the city was further and further in front of me" is a great pun that is fun, smart, and pointed.

Here is a link to the best Lucksmiths fan site on the internet: link
It has an illustrated song reference guide that states The Sandringham Line is a "Melbourne train line running from the city centre to Sandringham, taking 27 minutes."

Here is a link to the Lucksmiths' official website: link

The best place to buy Lucksmiths records in the United States is Matinée Recordings.

I'm sorry this isn't an mp3. It's a RealAudio feed. I used to have it ripped to an mp3 on my old computer, but that computer died two years ago.

Here is the link to hear "The Sandringham Line" live - you have to click on "click here to listen" in the center of the page:
http://uob-community.ballarat.edu.au/live/lucksmiths03/

Please check back on this site in the next week or so for some more Lucksmiths greatness.

She’s given it some thought
And it’s giving her some grief
Could it be she’s bored beyond belief?
By the time she says goodbye
She’s looking somewhere else
Stifling a sigh and gritting teeth

At the open door she pauses
It’s grey and wet and warm
Before the pending storm
Every now and then she misses horses
We’re too young for regrets
This is the closest that she gets

So I sleep in with the cynics
While she pushes from her mind
The twenty-seven minutes of the Sandringham line
The suburbs sliding past
Stretching to the sea
Her fingers brush the glass unconsciously

At the open door she pauses
It’s grey and wet and warm
Before the pending storm
Every now and then she misses horses
We’re too young for regrets
Surely we’re too young for regrets

I sat backwards on the train
And suddenly the city was further and further in front of me