Holly’s dad here…
I’d been writing songs for many years and recording them in a bedroom studio at home. Holly always had access to this so it was no surprise that she got involved in music quite early. What was a surprise was the speed at which she surpassed me in her abilities. She was far ahead of me musically because she had proper ‘ears’ and could learn new instruments quickly. She had a music teacher, Mr. Maunder, at Lady Manners school who she adored and who encouraged her a lot. Her trumpet teacher Darren Lloyd was a big influence. Another great influence was her “uncle” John ‘Toast’ Hawkins, lauded songwriter, who recognised her talent and beautiful voice and encouraged her when she started to write and sing her own songs. She was skilled on the trumpet, clarinet, keyboards and guitar and possessed amazing timing. She did all the acoustic guitar parts on most of the Go Birch tracks, added background vocals and also helped in the compositions (and is credited as co-writer).
Where I felt she really shone was in the maturity of her lyrics. Her ability to paint emotions and allow people to share them. Bearing in mind these songs were written between her 14th and 21st birthdays they are amazing and a sign of how her future songs could develop. That’s as much as I can write at the moment, please read about the album below.
The Songs Of Holly Birchall
I have been finishing tracks Holly and I worked on in the studio over the years plus I have taken elements from Holly’s demo recordings and guitar and vocal videos and I have built up and re-imagined the full songs, keeping as close to her vision as I could. Where I felt she really shone was in the maturity of her lyrics. Her ability to paint relatable emotions that allowed people to share in them. Bearing in mind these songs were written between her 14th and 22nd birthdays, they are amazing, and a clear indication of how her future songs could have developed, and the artist she would become.
Available to stream early 2026.
Available to buy on BandCamp now
Sales proceeds will go to charity
Up On The Rocks
A song Holly wrote for her Grandma at around the age of 14. There is beautiful video to go with this one.
Lyrics: Up On The Rocks (A Song For Grandma)
Up on the rocks let the air circulate
This is the place that I miss dear
The fields are reaching over the heather
Glad to be here forever and ever
Up on the rocks, with the wind in my face
And my hair is blowing all over the place
The birds are tweeting loud and clear
Happy to be here for another year
‘cos I know the sky is blue
And I know I’ll be here for you
I gaze up on the earth beneath
And I know there’s nothing left to seek
I wander along, gazing in awe
Wanting to keep this memory in store
Never to forget this wonderful day
Always remember you in this way
The animals are scuttling to find a new home
Weary from travelling to look for their home
But I know the sky is blue
And I know I’ll be here for you
I gaze up on, the earth beneath
And I know there’s nothing left to seek
My other life is calling and I know I must go
But I promise you, I’ll be back, sun, shine or snow
But I know that the sky’s still blue
And I know I’m still here for you
I gaze up on, my life right now
And I know I’ve fulfilled my dream for now
Bittersweet Tears
A beautiful song that Holly and I worked on in the studio together. I loved this song and said I wanted to cover it for one of my albums. She agreed that I could do a cover if she could do a cover of my song Hope Or Hurt
Lyrics: Bittersweet Tears
My eyes are filled with tears of regret
but through no fault of my own
You played my love like a game of poker
You kept a straight face while you lied to me
now I’m crying
feels like I’m dying
I cry bittersweet tears for you
(bitter sweet tears)
I cry bittersweet tears for you
(bitter sweet tears)
Miss you when you tasted sweet
You would have died for me – so I thought
Yet you turned bitter the moment
That you touched her,
Uou kissed her,
Now we’re over
and I’m crying
Feels like I’m dying
I cry bitter sweet tears for you
I cry bitter sweet tears for you
I cry bitter sweet tears for you
How could I be so naive
You swept me off my feet
It was too good to be
I’ll never make the same mistakes
Just stay away from me
I won’t turn the other cheek
Now I dry those bitter sweet tears for you
and I dry those bitter sweet tears for you
I dried those bitter sweet tears for you
I dried those bitter sweet tears for you
I dried those bitter sweet tears for you
for you
World Of Magic
We only managed to do an initial demo of this. The summer of ’24 was earmarked for recording the album in it’s entirety.
Lyrics: World Of Magic
We live in a world that’s full of hate and greed
Politicians fake answers while sit and bleed
And I’m fed up of surrendering free speech
The world is messed up from our parasitic needs
We know thats all we’ve got
Yet thats all we’ve got
I want a world of magic
I want a world of dreams
I want a world thats easy
I want a world thats free
Cant you see we are living day by day alone
No help from the corporates only their hushed tones
And yet we worship them for the money that follows
Our works a religion that keeps us hollow
We know thats all we’ve got
Yet thats all we’ve got
I want a world of magic
I want a world of dreams
I want a world thats easy
I want a world thats free
Look at the crisis all over the world
Rural destruction is a hunt for gold
And its not like all of this is new
No wonder human values have been slewed
We know thats all we’ve got
Yet thats all we’ve got
I want a world of magic
I want a world of dreams
I want a world thats easy
I want a world thats free
Butterfly
Butterfly is an amazing song lyrically. We recorded a few different versions. One with lush strings and a quite heavy electric guitar version amongst them.
Lyrics: Butterfly
Life is like a picture that’s on the wall
It can change it’s stroke, it’s style to suit all
You can draw people into your life
Colour painted or black white
or choose to erase them all.
You can hide your self away
You can choose to show everybody
Either way your’e my brave soul
‘Cos everybody has regrets
Their past concealed by their own threats
Please shine through for me
My little butterfly
My little butterfly
My little butterfly
You can con yourself into being worthless
Your mirror image just one big mess
Constant feelings of being blue
You can’t remember which is really you
Just look and open your eyes and don’t you cry
Dry those tears and fly
Just look and open your eyes and don’t you cry
Dry those tears and fly
My little butterfly
My little butterfly
My little butterfly
You can draw people into your life
Colour painted or black white
or choose to erase them all.
Open your eyes and don’t you cry
Dry those tears and fly
My little butterfly
My little butterfly
My little butterfly
My little butterfly
It’s You
What beautiful and catchy lyrics. A smash of a song. I like to pretend she got some of her pop sensibility from me!
Lyrics: It's You
Remember the days like these
With sun kissed hair and sun kissed lips
All those memories
With love and hugs
on every message
The world was waking up
Every car just started to growl
But we were lying free
No thoughts no stresses just bed head and kisses
It’s you
It’s you
It you
It’s always been you
Your’e the one I want
The one I saw
The one I chased
And the one I caught
You
It’s always been you
Remember the first glance
Flirting eyes and awkward smiles
To our first kiss
Unexpected and yet so perfect
It’s you
It’s you
It you
It’s always been you
Your’e the one I want
The one I saw
The one I chased
And the one I caught
It you
It’s always been you
Dancing in the candle light
On a rainy night
Fuzzy socks and fire lit
The duvets wrapped round tight
It’s you
It’s you
It you
It’s always been you
It you
It’s always been you
Your’e the one I want
The one I saw
The one I chased
And the one I caught
Take Me Back (To The Beach)
She was so good at capturing what she was feeling and drawing everyone else into that world.
Lyrics: Take Me Back (To The Beach)
Take me back to a place of happiness
A place thats full of wonder
Take me back to that place of happiness
That place I’ve been longing for
Take me back to the coastline
a place with crashing waves
The birds will sing in harmony
as we
Visit this special place
And this is a wonderful place
A place that needs to be spent with you
and this is a beautiful place
But even more with you
So please come down to the beach
Where we can sing and play
and we can just be together
Take me back to the soft white sands
Where we can sing and play
Take me to the beach houses
Where we could live for the day
Take me back to the ice cream van
Where I can melt in your arms
We can laugh and eat and just be together
just you and me
This is a wonderful place
a place that needs to be spent with you
and this is a beautiful place
but even more with you
so please come down to the beach
This is a wonderful place
a place that needs to be spent with you
so please come down to the beach
we can just be together, we can just be together, we can just be together
Come Closer To The Light
More beautiful and emotional lyrics
Lyrics: Come Closer To The Light
Come closer to the light
Like a shadow you will grow
Don’t define yourself by your past
‘Cos all of your folds and all of your creases
Are ironed out by me
‘Cos all your habits and your rough edges
Are good enough for
Are good enough for me
So come closer to the light
Like a shadow you will grow
Don’t define yourself by your past
Like a shadow you will grow
So come closer to the light
For me
Come closer to the light for me
Look at yourself in a mirror
Is this what you want to be
Just wake up from a world of fantasy
Is this what you want to be
So come closer to the light
Like a shadow you will grow
Don’t define urself by your past
Like a shadow you will grow
So come closer to the light
For me
Come closer to the light for me
You’re The Cheese
Another catchy pop song I wished I had written myself
Lyrics: You're The Cheese
When I first saw your face in that crowded place
You smiled so bright
It felt enchanting
I knew from that day that I wanted you to stay
So we both made a pact
That’s how I found you
You’re my Robin to my Batman
My butter to my bread
You are the cheese to my phrases
Like I can’t get you out of my head
We’ve had some good years,
Hell they were great
You’re my best mate
And that’s why I love you
Just three words so strong
Our unbreakable bond
And when times were rough,
You stood by me
You’re my Robin to my Batman
My butter to my bread
You are the cheese to my phrases
Like I can’t get you out of my head
Like I can’t get you out of my head
La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
You’re my Robin to my Batman
My butter to my bread
You are the cheese to my phrases
Like I can’t get you out of my head
Like I can’t get you out of my head
Like I can’t get you out of my head
Like I can’t get you out of my head
We’ll Follow Our Dreams
Another catchy, whimsical pop song
Lyrics: We'll Follow Our Dreams
Pack your bags we’re leaving tomorrow
We’ll follow the yellow brick road
Pack your bags we’re leaving tomorrow
There’s another adventure to be told
We’ll follow our dreams
To the end of the rainbow
For a life that is pure and free
Just be true to who you are
Your courage and your kindness
Is mirrored in your heart
So take the knowledge and see
Let’s follow the footprints of ones before us
Unlock mysteries claimed by witches
Lets follow the footprints of the ones before us
Let’s see what our journey will teach us
We’ll follow our dreams
To the end of the rainbow
For a life that is pure and free
Just be true to who you are
Your courage and your kindness
Is mirrored in your heart
So take the knowledge and see
You want a heart I’ll show you love
You want a brain I’ll teach you wisdom
You want courage then fight through emotion
But home is where you’re at peace
Take a minute and look in the mirror
Your story has already been told
Take a minute and look in the mirror
The greatest sentence is your soul
Follow your dreams
To the end of the rainbow
For a life that is pure and free
Just be true to who you are
Your courage and your kindness
Is mirrored in your heart
So take the knowledge and see
So take the knowledge and see
Dark Nights
I remember the first time she played this to me. She was tapping and hitting her guitar to show the rhythm has she played and sang it to me. I was in awe.
Lyrics: Dark Nights
The nights are dark
The world is shining
The stars are out
The moon is blinding me
The world is so vast outside
And the window reflects my emotions
Strangers are passing by the empty street
The darkness can over power
But the light will still shine through
The fires are lit as the snow pours down
And the earth seems something new
I look up at the dark night sky
The stars are chiselled in
The contrast to black and white
The moonlight in my skin
The nights are dark
The world is shining
The stars are out
The moon is blinding me
I hear a scream from this cold place
Which path shall I take?
There’s monsters on the way to face
But destinies to make
There’re angels watching down on us
Or is that just Lucifer
Wheres the right or wrong in life
Or do we give to take?
The nights are dark
The world is shining
The stars are out
The moon is blinding me
Don’t Talk To Me In Tongues
More lyrics close to Holly’s heart but relatable to others
Lyrics: Don't Talk To Me In Tongues
Why can’t you tell me what’s going on in your mind
Are you wearing a mask or do you live to lie
How can you expect me to just follow along
Tell me the truth don’t just talk to me in tongues
Why can’t you see
It’s just you and me
Let yourself be free
Let yourself be free
And break those walls inside
It’s just you and me
It’s just you and me
It’s just you and me
You and me
And I’ve been trying so hard to let you know
That you’re not a wolf in sheep’s clothes
But soon I will give up on the thought of us
Because I can’t be with you without the trust
Why can’t you see
It’s just you and me
Let yourself be free
And break those walls inside
You and me
It’s just you and me
It’s just you and me
It’s just you and me
You’re a big boy now you don’t need to please
Because showing tears mean more than three words to me
It shows trust it’s shows strength I promise you
Just don’t leave me guessing ‘cos then we’re through
Why can’t you see
It’s just you and me
Let yourself be free
And break those walls inside
It’s just you and me
It’s just you and me
It’s just you and me
And break those walls inside
Good Girl, Bad Girl
Again, we did different versions of this song in the studio. I still cry when listening.
Lyrics: Good Girl, Bad Girl
It’s like my life was planned a long time ago
Like sealed fate in a locked up envelope
But then again what do I know
As far as I can tell we’re all alone
Am I a good girl
Bad girl
I cannot decide girl
I guess I’ll never know
Am I a cool girl
School girl
Maybe just a shy girl
I guess I was too slow.
Set me free
Let me plea
So I decide
What is
My destiny
If god exists then I’ve not seen any signs
If hell was kicking I’m not being punished for any crime
Yet still my life is far from free
I can just sense that I’m not me
Am I a good girl
Bad girl
I cannot decide girl
I guess I’ll never know
If I’m a cool girl
School girl
Maybe just a shy girl
I guess I was too slow
Set me free
let me plea
So I decide what is
My destiny
Why can no one hear me when I scream and shout
It’s like I’ve been erased from who I was
It’s not like I was always like this
I think I tried too hard to fit in to know
Am I a good girl
Bad girl
I cannot decide girl
I guess I’ll never know
If I’m a cool girl
School girl
Maybe just a shy girl
I guess I was too slow
Set me free
let me plea
So I decide what is
my destiny
So I decide what is
my destiny
Sunset
A song of such heartbreaking good lyrics
Lyrics: Sunset
Holly with 'Toast' John
