Track information for the album Back to the Drawing Board. Preview the album in the Spotify player below or listen to the full album on on youtube music, Spotify, or itunes. There is also a YouTube playlist at the bottom of this page (and available here)
Back to the Drawing Board
Back to the Drawing Board is a 13 track album released in 2012. The official launch was in September 2012.
Rain
Vocals: Ciara McHugh
Backing Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Guitar: Cillian McHugh
The sky is grey, it’s raining today
Pearls on the grass
It’s always the same, drops of rain
But the tears keep falling down
Tears in your eyes, misty skies
Vision is blurred
Where is the pain, you can’t explain
Tears in the rain
Why do we cry?
Love or loss?
Drops on the glass trace a path
Of patterns and maps
Trickling down, from your frown
It tickles your cheek
It’s always the same, drops of rain
On the window pane
You wipe your eyes but continue to cry
And the rain falls
Bigness
Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Backing Vocals: Ciara McHugh
Guitars: Cillian McHugh
Organ: Ciara McHugh
Drums: Donal McHugh
Bass: Cillian McHugh
Look up to see, to see how high
can we ever reach the sky
what’ll i be before i die
and should i wonder why
start with one, another makes two
are the numbers really true
it can’t be done, if we only knew
to count them all: impossible to do
time goes on and on, every day we’re here
adds up to pass the year
when it’s done and gone you can’t go back
to change the past it doesn’t work like that
the universe expands that’s what they say
getting bigger every day
the big bang blew it all away
far and wide past the milky way
Verse:
C G(1) C G(1) Am G(2) Am G(2)
E||---0---|---0---|---0---|---0---|---0---|---0---|---0---|---0---|
B||---3---|---1---|---3---|---1---|---1---|---3--1|---1---|---3---|
G||---0---|---0---|---0---|---0---|---2---|---0---|---2---|---0---|
D||---2---|---0---|---2---|---0---|---2---|---0---|---2---|---0---|
A||---3---|---2---|---3---|---2---|---0---|---2---|---0---|---2---|
E||-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
Chorus 1
F C G1 Am F Am G(2) F C Em Dm Am G(2)
E||---1---|0-0--0-|---1---|-0--0--|---1---|-0--0--|---1---|-0--0--|
B||---1---|1-1--1-|---1---|-1--3--|---1---|-1--0--|---3---|-1--3--|
G||---2---|0-0--2-|---2---|-2--0--|---2---|-0--0--|---2---|-2--0--|
D||---3---|2-0--2-|---3---|-2--0--|---3---|-2--2--|---0---|-2--0--|
A||---3---|3-2--0-|---3---|-0--2--|---3---|-3--2--|-------|-0--2--|
E||---1---|-------|---1---|-------|---1---|----0--|-------|-------|
Bridge:
Dm C G(1) Dm Am G(2) Dm C G(1) Dm Am G(2)
E||---1---|-0--0--|---1---|-0--0--|---1---|-0--0--|---1---|-0--0--|
B||---3---|-1--1--|---3---|-1--3--|---3---|-1--1--|---3---|-1--3--|
G||---2---|-0--0--|---2---|-2--0--|---2---|-0--0--|---2---|-2--0--|
D||---0---|-2--0--|---0---|-2--0--|---0---|-2--0--|---0---|-2--0--|
A||-------|-3--2--|-------|-0--2--|-------|-3--2--|-------|-0--2--|
E||-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
Chorus 2
F C Em F Am G(2) F C G1 Am Dm Am G(2)
E||---1---|-0--0--|---1---|-0--0--|---1---|0-0--0-|---1---|-0--0--|
B||---1---|-1--0--|---1---|-1--3--|---1---|1-1--1-|---3---|-1--3--|
G||---2---|-0--0--|---2---|-2--0--|---2---|0-0--2-|---2---|-2--0--|
D||---3---|-2--2--|---3---|-2--0--|---3---|2-0--2-|---0---|-2--0--|
A||---3---|-3--2--|---3---|-0--2--|---3---|3-2--0-|-------|-0--2--|
E||---1---|----0--|---1---|-------|---1---|-------|-------|-------|
Stars
Vocals: Ciara McHugh, Cillian McHugh
Guitars: Cillian McHugh
Electric Piano: Donal McHugh
Drums: Donal McHugh
Bass: Cillian McHugh
I watch the sun go down:
Purple and red through the scattered clouds.
Golden light fills the sky.
Do you remember by the water?
Clouds in the way, sky was grey,
It didn’t matter.
I watch the darkness fall and surround us all.
Warmth and light
Are faded and gone.
Cold bite on a lonely night.
Chill in the air as I sit and stare
Stare at the sky for hours trying to count the stars.
So far away, so long ago
Does it matter?
Standing alone, under the moon’s glow
Empty night and the starlight.
Silver streak shines on your cheek as a star winks out.
Faith
Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Guitars: Cillian McHugh
Electric Piano: Donal McHugh
Drums: Donal McHugh
Bass: Cillian McHugh
What if I told you that everyone was wrong?
wrong in what they believe…
And what if I told you that everyone was right
right in what they believe … but wrong…?…
Would you call me mad if I told you right was wrong and wrong was right?
Good and Evil invented by men trying to explain what we cannot comprehend.
Don’t search for the answer ’cause it’s right there to be found… and not there… and right there.
Would you call me mad if I told you there’s no point? and that’s the point… so what’s the point?
Follow your heart and believe in what you believe… let it’s music reach you, just listen.
And live your life ’cause it’s all that you can know… take good with bad and let the balance flow.
Would you call me mad if I told you that I knew…?…and didn’t know…because I know…?..
24
Vocals: Ciara McHugh, Cillian McHugh
Guitars: Cillian McHugh
Drums: Donal McHugh
Bass: Cillian McHugh
Verse 1
Reverse the answer, It’s 24
But what is the question? No one cares anymore
God is Forgotten, Who needs heaven’s door
We’ve got money
Chorus
And the more we learn, Learn about the earth
The more we seem to forget
Technologies and good careers, we try to beat our peer
And 24 is all the time we get
Verse 2
The edge of the rainbow goes up to 24
On the other side we’re getting fried, more than ever before
Chainsaws and trucks expose the forest floor
And we let it happen
Intro:
F#m Bm9 F#m Bm9 F#m7 D D/A F#m Bm9 Bm96
F#|---0---|---0---|--0----|---0---|---3---|-0--3--|---0---|-0--0--|
C#|---0---|---0---|--0----|---0---|---3---|-0--3--|---0---|-0--0--|
A-|---0---|---5---|--0----|---5---|---0---|-5--5--|---0---|-5--4--|
E-|---2---|---5---|--2----|---5---|---2---|-5--5--|---2---|-5--4--|
B-|---2---|---0---|--2-0h2|---0---|---2---|-3--3--|---2---|-0--0--|
F#|---0---|-------|--0----|-------|---0---|----3--|---0---|-------|
Verse:
F#m Bm9 Bm96 F#m Bm9 Bm96 F#m Bm9 Bm96 F#m Bm9Bm96Bm9
F#|---0---|-0--0--|---0---|-0--0--|---0---|-0--0--|---0---|-0--0--0-
C#|---0---|-0--0--|---0---|-0--0--|---0---|-0--0--|---0---|-0--0--0-
A-|---0---|-5--4--|---0---|-5--4--|---0---|-5--4--|---0---|-5--4--2-
E-|---2---|-5--4--|---2---|-5--4--|---2---|-5--4--|---2---|-5--4--2-
B-|---2---|-0--0--|---2---|-0--0--|---2---|-0--0--|---2---|-0--0--0-
F#|---0---|-------|---0---|-------|---0---|-------|---0---|---------
Chorus: (not sure of the written timing here)
Dmaj7 A Dmaj7 A F#m Dmaj7 A Bm A C#m
F#|---3---|---3---|---3---|-3--0--|---3---|---3---|-0--3--|---2---|
C#|---0---|---0---|---0---|-0--0--|---0---|---0---|-1--3--|---3---|
A-|---0---|---0---|---0---|-0--0--|---0---|---0---|-2--0--|---4---|
E-|---2---|---0---|---2---|-0--2--|---2---|---0---|-2--0--|---4---|
B-|---3---|---2---|---3---|-2--2--|---3---|---2---|-0--2--|---2---|
F#|-------|-------|-------|----0--|-------|-------|----3--|-------|
Chasing Rainbows
Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Guitar: Cillian McHugh
to love is to catch a rainbow
the sun and the rain, the joy and the pain
chase a rainbow
’till you catch the wind
and it carries you off
over the sky
washed up
left on the moon
broken hearts
chase rainbows
swirl for a while with a surface smile
but bubbles burst or float away on a breeze
chase a rainbow
’till you catch the wind
and it carries you off
over the sky
washed up
left on the moon
broken hearts
chase rainbows
Passing Days
Vocals: Ciara McHugh
Backing Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Guitar: Cillian McHugh
The days pass.
But your heart still cries
(But inside, inside it still rains)
Back to the Drawing Board
Vocals: Ciara McHugh
Backing Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Guitars: Cillian McHugh
Piano: Donal McHugh
Drums: Donal McHugh
Bass: Cillian McHugh
Verse: Bridge:
G C G C G C G C Em D~ G Am F
E||--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3-- |-0-----3--0-|--(0)--|
B||--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3-- |-0--3--3--1-|---1---|
G||--0--|--0--|--0--|--0--|--0--|--0--|--0--|--0-- |-0--2--0--2-|---2---|
D||--0--|--2--|--0--|--2--|--0--|--2--|--0--|--2-- |-2--0--0--2-|---3---|
A||--2--|--3--|--2--|--3--|--2--|--3--|--2--|--3-- |-2-(0)-2--0-|---3---|
E||--3--|-----|--3--|-----|--3--|-----|--3--|----- |-0--2--3----|-------|
Chorus:
Cmaj79 D~ Cmaj79 D~ Cmaj79 Bm~ Em D~
E||--0--|-----|--0--|-----|--0--|--0--|--0-----|
B||--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--3--|--0--3--|
G||--4--|--2--|--4--|--2--|--4--|--4--|--0--2--|
D||--2--|--0--|--2--|--0--|--2--|--0--|--2--0--|
A||--3--|-(0)-|--3--|-(0)-|--3--|--2--|--2-(0)-|
E||-----|--2--|-----|--2--|-----|-----|--0--2--|
Verse 1
paint a picture, write a song… to illustrate this life
the page is yours, your work your life… you do your best to get it right
but the colours start to run … words become undone
Chorus 1
cross it out
tear it up
erase it till there leaves no trace
and start again, start again
Verse 2
ealainteoir ar leathnach bán … dathanna an saol
amhran beo le mothúchán … focail don saol
ach theip an ghrá bhris an peann ní leor a bhí ann
Chorus 2
scrois é
chuir sa tine é
bris é go dtí píosaí beag
is tosaigh arís, tosaigh arís
Verse 3
start again on a brand new page … we all learn with age
peann nua, dathanna nua … ach an amhrán chéanna
nuair a theip an ghrá bhris an peann ní leor a bhí ann
Chorus 3
scrois é
chuir sa tine é
bris é go dtí píosaí beag
is tosaigh arís, tosaigh arís
The Price Of Love
Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Acoustic Guitar: Cillian McHugh
Electric Guitar: Maurice McHugh
Piano: Donal McHugh
Drums: Donal McHugh
Bass: Cillian McHugh
Harmonica: Cillian McHugh
Waiting… Holding out
Hoping time won’t run out
Torn between a rock and a hard place
Torn between love and happiness
Neither is enough, neither will suffice
Carry on the same - that’s the best advice
Hide from the shame, hide from your heart
Cause no pain, break no-one’s heart
Broken Words
Vocals: Ciara McHugh, Cillian McHugh
Guitars: Cillian McHugh
Drums: Donal McHugh
Bass: Cillian McHugh
You mean it. You say it’s true.
I believe it. I feel it too.
You said to me, I said to you.
Words pick me up and carry me.
The thrill, the rush, the waves under me.
(Surfing the waves)
But waves break words are lost.
Crashing truths of changing tides,
Washed ashore and left behind.
Words are washed out ripples on the shore.
(Washed out waves)
Broken words can’t carry me anymore.
(Broken, broken words)
You said it then.
Means nothing now.
Meaning lost.
(From your) Broken words.
The Happy Song
Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Guitars: Cillian McHugh
Piano: Donal McHugh
Drums: Donal McHugh
Bass: Cillian McHugh
Harmonica: Cillian McHugh
Verse:
G Bm7 E7 G Bm7 E7 G Bm7 E7 A7 C D7 G B7
E||-(3)-----(0)-|-(3)-----(0)-|-(3)-----(0)-(0)-|--0---2---3---2--|
B||--3---3---3--|--3---3---3--|--3---3---3---2--|--1---1---3---0--|
G||--0---2---1--|--0---2---1--|--0---2---1---0--|--0---2---0---2--|
D||--0---0---0--|--0---0---0--|--0---0---0---2--|--2---0---0---1--|
A||-(2)--2---2--|-(2)--2---2--|-(2)--2---2---0--|--3-------2---2--|
E||--3-------0--|--3-------0--|--3-------0------|----------3------|
Bridge:
G Bm7 E7 A7 Am7 D D9D D7 G Bm Em C9 C9 E~ E B D D7 D6 D
E||-(3)-----(0)-|- 0--0---2-0-----|-(3)------3---3--|-------(0)-|-------------|
B||--3---3---3--|--2--1---3-3-3-1-|--3---3---3---2--|--3--1--0--|-3--1--0-----|
G||--0---2---1--|--0--0---2-2-2-2-|--0---2---0---0--|--0--0--1--|--2--2----2--|
D||--0---0---0--|--2--2---0-0-0-0-|--0---0---2---2--|--2--0--2--|-0--0---0--0-|
A||-(2)--2---2--|--0--0-----------|-(2)--2---2---3--|--3--2--2--|-------------|
E||--3-------0--|-----------------|--3-------0------|--------0--|-------------|
If i’ve got somethin’ to say i say it
If i’ve got something to do i do it
And i feel so good
Doesn’t even matter if the rains fall
And i Don’t care if there’s no sun at all
Coz i feel good
Some things that happen you cannot change
What reason why?
But if i’m ever feelin down
I know
Nothing can be thrown at me i cannot catch
all obstacles can be overcome
and even if i feel alone
i know
i’ve got my friends
there’ll always be someone to call on
someone to cheer me up
when i’m happy i’m with friends
and when i’m with friends i’m happyv and i believe
Too Close
Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Guitars: Cillian McHugh
Piano: Donal McHugh
Drums: Donal McHugh
Bass: Cillian McHugh
Harmonica: Cillian McHugh
Listening to the silence of chords that were never played
Humming through the lines of mistakes we made
Listening while we wait is it too late
The final words he spoke still echoed in your mind
Oh as a song comes to a close for a second time
True for you now, wondering how
Sun
Vocals: Ciara McHugh
Backing Vocals: Cillian McHugh
Guitar: Cillian McHugh
Kids are playin’ on the grass,
The sun is out, the rain has passed.
But the sun can’t warm the void inside
When you’re all alone.
Outside the window, bright and blue,
The empty sky is reflected through.
Through your eyes and into you,
Just the same.
The sun shines.
Burning inside.
A gentle breeze shakes the leaves
As it blows through the trees.
From deep inside you breathe a sigh,
Wondering why.
The sun is bright the sky is clear.
You’re all alone, there’s no one here.
Hurting inside you fight the tears,
And the sun shines.