Those who remember the Ashtead-Carshalton crossover scene of 2006-2007 (who could forget?) will recall one of the defining songs of that time; “Natasha”. It was a MASSIVE hit in Croydon during that balmy summer of ’06 but has been left on the backburner for quite a while... until now.
I wrote the song over several months following a trip to Russia with my Dad in September 2005. I wanted to convey the experiences of the average Russian after the fall of Communism, wrapped up in a love song. “Natasha” was the result and may well be the world's first song about Love and Communism (I’d have to check). It was played live first with Kids in the Riot and then with The Swines across Ashtead, Croydon... and Southampton. I later recorded a demo version of the song with Jay Chan on bass, Dave Salisbury on backing vocals and Dan Shields on lead guitar and made it available on Myspace.
I always intended to record a proper studio version of “Natasha” and my other songs but never quite got round to it and kind of put my guitar down for a bit to concentrate on other things. During my recent placement at 6 Music, I decided to dig “Natasha” out, speed it up a bit and submit it to the team at BBC Introducing on the off chance they might fancy giving it a spin on national radio. Here is the version that was submitted:
To cut a long story short, they didn’t fancy playing it just yet but Tom Robinson of “2-4-6-8 Motorway” fame and presenter of “BBC Introducing: Fresh On The Net” listened to all my songs personally and sent me a lovely email with some very positive feedback. Here’s what he had to say:
“From Natasha it's clear that you've got musical - and in particular lyrical - ability and you can knock up a decent tune… it sounds to me as if these are still quite early days in your songwriting career and your best work is still ahead of you… you've got bags of potential… I'd be interested to hear how things have developed once you've written and recorded and gigged a whole lot more”.
There you have it – I’ve got bags of potential and my best work is still ahead of me. Oh yes. This has inspired me to dust off my guitar and get writing again. I’ve always said that I would like to record a 4 track EP… just to create something… a document of time, there for posterity. So, that’s it – I’m getting the band back together and we’re going to record an EP. The aim is to get it done by the end of the year and submit some better tracks to Tom Robinson by early 2011. Who knows… maybe, just MAYBE… my music will be heard outside of Croydon one day.
Natasha
Words and Music by Martin Leay
© Martin Leay, 2005
You were born in Leningrad
With an alcoholic Mother and deserter for a Dad
You didn't have much but you cherished what you had
At least you had something to fight for
Your teachers ruled the school with the iron fist
As the consequence of being Communist
Your Dad got shot dead in the Red Square Mist
At least he had something to die for
Natasha, Natasha, you'll never be free
Natasha, Natasha, you'll never be free
All of your life, you longed to be
Free from the shackles of the CCCP
To live and love in democracy
It gave you something to hope for
The poverty, violence, torture and lies
Could never burn out the fire in your eyes
Or the smile that lit up the Soviet skies
That gave you something to live for
Natasha, Natasha, you'll never be free
Natasha, Natasha, you'll never be free
Your heart filled up as the wall came down
And the regime started to fall to the ground
You felt that nothing could stop you now
It was all that you had ever waited for
You thought that it would all be for the best
Life would improve when East met West
But you've lost your job and your life's a mess
It's even worse than it was before
Before…
I will follow you when you go
On the overnight train down to Moscow
Through the wind and the rain, the smog and the snow
For as long as it takes to let you know…
I love you (Natasha)
I love you (Natasha)
I love you
Natasha, Natasha, you'll never be free
Natasha, Natasha, you'll never be free
Run away, run away, run away with me (Natasha, oh Natasha)
Run away, run away, run away with me (Natasha, oh Natasha)
Run away, run away, run away with me (Natasha, oh Natasha)
Run away, run away, run away with me
Me
Be free
Free
With me
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