BAYFOLK: LYRICS AND SONGS. CARDIFF SONGS. BRENDAN BEHAN. FOLKSONG. IRISHFOLK. COUNTRY-FOLK LYRICS

LYRICS AND SONGS

   MIKE JOHNSON-SONGSMITH      

MIKE JOHNSON is a prolific writer  of poems, songs, scripts and letters, who has become “the  man to call” for many of the leading musicians and singers in South Wales, when a strong lyric

with a unique twist, an off-the wall comedy song or an elusive phrase to complete a work-in-progress is required in a hurry.

Mike writes across the genres with an accomplished ease whether the requirement is for Comedy, Parody, Love-Ballad, Biting Broadside, Philosophy, Irony or Pathos.

Being a songwriter at heart and a performer only in respect of his        comedy material - Mikes forte lies in his diversity. A trawl through the lyrics and songs on this site will reveal examples from Folk to Pop to Rock. If there is a speciality, it would be perhaps the Comedy Song or the observational, cutting lyric. A disciple of Dylan, Simon, Cohen et al, Mikes songs ring with imagery, and the experiences of a seasoned observer.

MIKE JOHNSON/RORY FURLONG:   

RORY FURLONG is a nephew of Dominic and Brendan Behan, and is possessed of the same larger than life, rebellious, room-filling

Irish personality: Mike is a child

of the Sixties, and, as such, politically up-front and volatile. It makes sense then that their songwriting partnership reflected

this, and produced a host of hard, biting, Pogue-esque songs, oft with a strong commentary. As a stark contrast, the ballads which evolved from this partnership are gentle and sensitive illustrations of the human condition. Rory, the master storyteller, possessed a wild,  in-yer-face style, which was the perfect vehicle for Mikes

stark, tumbling phrases and emotive observations. Check out

“No One Ever Dances” or the aching “Photographs.” in the appropriate lyrics section.

  MIKE JOHNSON/GERRY NASH      

This project- based partnership is built on Limerick-born Gerry Nashs’all-round musical mastery.

A multi-instrumentalist,producer, arranger and singer, Gerry has collaborated with Mike on two major projects, BAYFOLK and the Rory Furlong inspired BOTH THE DAYS (click on LYRICS or SHOP to view the results.) In both projects Gerry has taken Mikes words, tunes and creative ideas and woven them into a musical tapestry, contributing depth and structure, and a great tune or two of his own from time to time.

There are some beautiful co-written ballads too, which again can be seen and heard whilst                            

Trawling across this site.

Mike and Gerry are currently writing again, and recently Gerry sang one of their songs in the finals of the Clonmel International Song Festival.

Gerrys solo set, and his band gigs as Folk Fever are laced with songs from the Johnson/Nash catalogue. Contact Gerry or see further details via his web-site at

       ww.nashphill4music.co.uk

       NEW COLLABORATIONS:            

As with all good songwriters, Mikes mind is never still.  Ever hungry for new writing stimuli, he’d welcome enquiries from anyone w ho needs words or tunes or maybe wants to share ideas and inspiration.

Have a good look around the site.
 

If what you see interests you, then e-mail Mike your telephone number & he’ll get back to you.
 

It might be you’ve seen material you’d like to use.
 

It might be you want Mike to write new material with you, or for you.
 

A short chat will quickly establish credentials, aspirations, any artistic requirements and parametersfor collaboration.
 

THEN both parties can decide if  they want to move forward & get on with the wonderful craft of songwriting !!