… Read Full Bio ↴Charlie Cunningham is an English singer-songwriter based in Oxford.
Cunningham is a fresh talent, proving to be more than just a man with a guitar and a voice; a regularity that we have become all too familiar with. His new and ambitious EP Outside Things combines beautiful, yet honest song-writing with such percussive guitar playing that he truly stands out from the crowd.
Title track “Outside Things’” premièred on Best Fit; the lyrics are from the perspective of a newly-born baby. It’s a time that occurs in everyone’s life that cannot be remembered or recalled, this therefore, explorative aspect to his song-writing shows the depth Cunningham has to offer, unlike so many artists of his type. The song manages to convey an impression of diving in and out from the confusion of that foreign experience in such a compelling nature, accompanied by intense vocals playing on the track’s intimacy. “Outside Things’” carries with it a strange sense of longing, which is continuous throughout the EP.
“In One Out” is the first track to be heard on the record; it’s melodic, but profoundly sombre and relatively dark sounding. The finger-picked guitar behind the vocals is hypnotic. There’s a slight step away from this intensity of the opening track and that of the title track in “Lights Off” and “Plans” - the second and fourth tracks on the EP. With far less movement there’s time to breathe between songs, it really helps to make each one stand out in their own right. During both of these tracks Cunningham creates moments of silence, with constant breaks where everything comes to a brief halt – if you heard these tracks live you’d want to be situated in an intimate and silent setting.
The Outside Things EP not only demonstrates Cunningham’s impeccable writing ability, but his intricate and skilful playing technique, developed and picked up from his time spent in Seville, along with showing off his individual voice. Through the EP Cunningham’s percussive, yet flexible guitars playing technique is something to be whole heartedly admired.
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Charlie Cunningham Lyrics
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Down a slippery line
Lest ye forget what keeps your heart warm
On the coldest nights
You're never gonna have the answers
To everything all at once
The thing what they're all missing you've got in abundance
So I'd hold your cards tight against the floor
With anyone else
It wouldn't have helped
You did it yourself
To feel the things you never felt
You need to keep that part of you safe
With anyone else
It wouldn't have helped
You did it yourself
To feel the things you never felt
You need to keep that part of you safe
I'd say
But when they come, there'll come what may
And they won't listen to a word that you say
It's a choice, at least you've got yourself a voice
That's more than I can say
How I sound now, I, I won't sound by tonight
So I'd hold your cards tight against the floor
How I sound now, I, I won't sound by tonight
So I'd hold your cards tight against the floor
In this song, Charlie Cunningham encourages us to keep going even when the journey ahead seems tough. He acknowledges that life can be slippery at times and that we may struggle to find answers to all our questions at once. However, he tells us that we possess a crucial quality that people often overlook. Cunningham pushes the idea that the key to success lies in having an abundance of something that nobody else has. He does not tell us what that something is, but suggests that it consists of keeping a part of ourselves safe, and guarding it fiercely. As we brave the stormy waters, he reminds us to hold on to our cards tightly, to not let them slip, no matter how difficult the path itself may seem.
The lyrics of this song can be interpreted in multiple ways - on the surface, it's likely about facing difficulties, maintaining your honesty and integrity in the process, and guarding your heart. At a deeper level, it can be seen as a commentary on life itself, reminding us that we may never have all the answers, but what's important is to stay true to ourselves and keep going. Cunningham's delicate and sparse arrangement on the guitar makes it feel like a contemplative, introspective piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
One step, two step can be a hard walk
Taking life step by step can be difficult
Down a slippery line
Navigating life can be challenging and unpredictable
Lest ye forget what keeps your heart warm
Don't forget what brings you happiness and comfort
On the coldest nights
Especially during tough times
You're never gonna have the answers
There will always be things you don't know or understand
To everything all at once
You can't figure out everything immediately
The thing what they're all missing you've got in abundance
Your unique perspective and qualities are what sets you apart
How I sound now, I, I won't sound by tonight
My opinion may change over time
So I'd hold your cards tight against the floor
Be cautious before making decisions
With anyone else
If someone else had been there
It wouldn't have helped
Their presence wouldn't have made a difference
You did it yourself
You accomplished it on your own
To feel the things you never felt
To experience new emotions
You need to keep that part of you safe
Protect and cherish the parts of yourself that make you unique
But when they come, there'll come what may
Challenges will arise
And they won't listen to a word that you say
You may not be able to change other people's perspectives or behaviors
It's a choice, at least you've got yourself a voice
You have the power to make choices and express yourself
That's more than I can say
Not everyone has the same privilege
Writer(s): Charlie Cunningham
Contributed by Logan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.