WILL PEMBROKEMusic / Selected work

Will Pembroke

Before I Go

Written in 2016, Before I Go is Will Pembroke’s debut album, exploring romantic relationships, love, pain, how the two can fuse together, and the journey of untangling them.

Both a reflection and a farewell, the album celebrates the beauty of love while exploring some of its darker complexities. Writing it became a therapeutic process of revisiting the relationships that shaped his years in Oxford, finding beauty in darker places, and making peace with the past before taking the next step forward — a new chapter in America.

Will Pembroke by the sea

Before I Go / Lyrics

Night and Morning
Every morning I was sick Little did I know I was sick in the head Nerves and stress were killing me I was losing weight, I was getting thin Symbols and shapes, splendour and style Your gaze penetrates and electrifies This is my chance to start again To view my life through a different lens I write my lyrics every night and morning To try and let my inner mind tell a story But all I care to sing about is you I write my lyrics every night and morning To try and let my inner mind tell a story But all I care to dream about is you You ripped me apart and glued me together again You were trying so hard to make me a better man But I still see the marks You ripped me apart and glued me together again You were trying so hard to make me a better man But I still feel the scars This road of superficiality Will never address true reality I need to be home with space and time To rest my body and undress my mind I write my lyrics every night and morning To try and let my inner mind to tell a story But all I care to sing about is you I write my lyrics every night and morning To try and let my inner mind to tell a story But all I care to dream about is you You ripped me apart and glued me together again You were trying so hard to make me a better man But I still see the marks You ripped me apart and glued me together again You were trying so hard to make me a better man But I still feel the scars
Let This Go
I can see the end Is this how the story starts again? Watch the waters rise I can see the changes in your eyes I won’t let this go We all die alone Faith and fear decide I’m drowning sorrows with lies Dissolved into mud I wish I could only feel your touch I won’t let this go We all die alone Faith and fear decide I’m drowning sorrows with lies I won’t let this go We all die alone Faith and fear decide I have seen the changes in your eyes
Girl
Ooooh, my heart beats again Ooooh, but it makes no sense She’s just a girl But the way she looks at me makes time stand still Just a girl But she's tearing down the castle worked so hard to build Just a girl Makes me feel like everything I once knew was wrong Just a girl Reminds me of the boy in which this man came from Maybe you're exactly what I've been searching for Or maybe you're exactly what I've been hiding from Your state of mind So unexpected yet it’s so in line with mine You testify That the truth is not always right Maybe you're exactly what I've been searching for Or maybe you're exactly what I've been hiding from Ooooh, my heart beats again Ooooh, but it makes no sense I have traveled far and wide, searching for this state of mind Ooooh, she’s just a She’s just a girl But the way she looks at me makes time stand still Just a girl But she's tearing down the castle worked so hard to build Ooooh, my heart beats again Ooooh, but it makes no sense I have traveled far and wide, searching for this state of mind Ooooh, she’s just a She’s just a girl But she's tearing down the castle worked so hard to build
Razorblades
These are the days I feel the razorblades cutting across my throat Woaah woaah These are the days when the rainy days seem like all that’s true Lips turn but my eyes stare through There’s a problem when you just can’t smile even with a drug Tried so hard but it’s not enough I wish the pain could take it all away but I only think of you Eyes closed, but the tears shine through But will I stand the test of time? But will I make it through this night? The uncontrollable reaching out, seeking to take control It sends my brain to overload A waste of space, just like your dad, no wonder mama left I’ll never forget those words you said But will I stand the test of time? But will I make it through this night? Father Father in the sky Tell me why I should be alive I'm so confused and in so much pain A vicious cycle that I can’t escape Razorblades across my chest Now you’ve seen the colour of my flesh What else must I do? For me to leave here and come join you
Trophies
I want you to know The world is trapped within a fallen tear I want you to know I’m never coming home I want you to know Your life is controlled by your inner fears You hide your motives, shine your trophies Make pretence your best friend I want you to know You gave the will to the world Then threw the world to the wind That’s why sweet darling you’ll never win Your beauty and chaste Only deep as your skin I’m afraid sweet darling you’re rot from within That’s why I’m never coming home I want you to know The crowd will soon start to disappear You hide your motives, shine your trophies Twist at every turn I want you to know You gave the will to the world Then threw the world to the wind That’s why sweet darling you’ll never win Your beauty and chaste Only deep as your skin I’m afraid sweet darling you’re rot from within That’s why sweet darling you’ll never win I’m afraid sweet darling your rot from within That’s why I’m never coming home I’m never coming home I’m never coming home
Bloom
He knew it all, but he had a problem The world still remained He built his statues, so unaware That they'd all melt away L & M saved my life - gave me love and freed my mind I’ll never be the same I'm blooming out, blooming in. There’s radiation from my skin! Can you feel it too? And I owe you both so much (L & M saved my life - gave me love and freed my mind) Cuz I relearnt how to love (L & M saved my life - gave me love and freed my mind) Both of you are part of me, replacing doubts with ecstasy I’ll never be the same Now I want to spread this love. I want to be the Son of God. I'll show you the way And I owe you both so much (L & M saved my life - gave me love and freed my mind) Cuz I relearnt how to love (L & M saved my life - gave me love and freed my mind)
The Artist
Paint your colours! Make your shapes! Paint your colours! Make your shapes! Paint your colours! Make your shapes! Paint your colours! Make your shapes! Self-expression is an art I feel it too Predict the future from the past Is to see the truth Who needs secrets? There's only dark Not me or you Even so, you've left your marks Just out of view That look in your eyes, you’re a wild beast My face feels a bed of nails before I sleep This life of mine, I can’t escape I am Stendalh and I am David! Paint your colours! Make your shapes! My body’s your canvas, my bodies your slate. Paint your colours! Make your shapes! My body’s your canvas, my bodies your slate. Paint your colours! Make your shapes! My body’s your canvas, my bodies your slate. Paint your colours! Make your shapes! The first response was to flinch Fear was innate I soon learnt to resist For it's The Artist’s way Now I've learnt how to write Let's appreciate! Where my words cast shadows You’ve such an ugly face! That look in your eyes, you’re a wild beast My face feels a bed of nails before I sleep This life of mine, I can’t escape I am Stendalh and I am David! Paint your colours! Make your shapes! My body’s your canvas, my bodies your slate. Paint your colours! Make your shapes! My body’s your canvas, my bodies your slate. Paint your colours! Make your shapes! My body’s your canvas, my bodies your slate. Paint your colours! Make your shapes! My body’s yours.
Tough Love
When someone you love hurts you so much What do you think of yourself? When devotion and pain redefines what you are It screws up your head You told me that, you told me You'd turned another leaf I told you that, I told you I would never leave When someone you love hurts you so much You feel ashamed When devotion and pain redefines what you are It screws up your brain You told me that, you told me You'd turned another leaf I told you that, I told you I would never leave I’m a bitter twisted forgotten fool And I hate what I’ve become because of you When your foundations are pulling you down Where can you hide? What if God had a plan for us? Why’d he make you choose me? A life lesson or an experimental phase? Was it meant to be? I told myself I’d never Make a song in your memory But the wounds run too deep now Baring faults in my mind I’m a bitter twisted forgotten fool And I hate what I’ve become because of you When your foundations are pulling you down Where can you hide? I told myself I’d never love again The truth, it hurts, I can’t pretend I’m a bitter twisted forgotten fool And I hate what I’ve become because of you When someone you love hurts you so much What do you think of yourself? When devotion and pain becomes intertwined It's called tough love I’m a bitter twisted forgotten fool And I hate what I’ve become because of you When your foundations are pulling you down Where can you hide?
Her Words
You know I thought we’d make it I thought we’d make it through Those times of separation And I’d waste my time with you Since the first day that you met me Our hearts were so in tune Our lives so out of synch now Why must goodbyes come so soon Hearts were on the line, bleeding on both sides Counting down the time till I was home with you Camembert and wine when we reunite Stars were in the sky but I only had eyes for you You tell me you love me You lean in and kiss me You say that it will be alright You call me your lovely You tell me you'll miss me And everything will be fine And I know it’s true And I know that I love you And we’ll be together again These were the words that you left me The words you said I could use I pray to god you can hear me For they mean nothing without you It’s been a while since you left me Not long until I leave you We were always better together Why must goodbyes come so soon Hearts were on the line, bleeding on both sides Counting down the time till I was home with you Camembert and wine when we reunite Stars were in the sky but I only had eyes for you You tell me you love me You lean in and kiss me You say that it will be alright You call me your lovely You tell me you'll miss me And everything will be fine And I know it’s true And I know that I love you And we’ll be together again Maybe some things were meant to set And like the sun I’m heading west I wonder if we could ever be friends Or if some things are better left unsaid You tell me you love me You lean in and kiss me You say that it will be alright You call me your lovely You tell me you'll miss me And everything will be fine And I know it’s true And I know that I love you And we’ll be together again
The Last Sunset
The last sunset is a time When we reflect upon our youthful views Of what is true I never thought I would see So much pain and anguish in your eyes In your eyes This world is soon to pass But I’ll make it my last and only wish To make you mine Shallow words but deep regrets I’ll make amends I promise you my love Just don’t run This world is soon to pass But I’ll make it my last and only wish To make you mine To make you mine To make you mine To make you mine In a time where the days are dark We must find good in the light we hold We hold inside This world is soon to pass But I’ll make it my last and only wish To make you mine To make you mine To make you mine To make you mine On this sunset, I’ll make you mine Standing here on the beach As the world implodes beneath my feet A better place awaits us all So be with me before we fall
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