All songs written by Bap Kennedy
Hey baby I know
I’m always gonna be
Between the devil
And the deep blue sea
I know that I’m just a man
Just flesh & blood
And nothing, nothing can stand in the way of love
Just like a blue moon
Like a meteorite
Just like the lightning
That never strikes twice
Baby, if I don’t jump aboard
This train is gone
And nothing, nothing can stand in the way of love
Too many heartaches, too many big mistakes
Bad decisions, chancers & fakes
Baby I know I’ve been around
Maybe I stayed too long
And nothing, nothing can stand in the way of love
I know that I’m just a man
Just flesh & blood
And nothing, nothing can stand in the way of love,
In the way of love
And nothing, nothing can stand in the way of love,
In the way of love
And nothing, nothing can stand in the way of love,
In the way of love
Once in a while things just click
Just like a magic trick
And you know
Which way the wind is gonna blow
A pair of threes beats an ace
Sometimes the world is a wonderful place
And it’s so easy to go with the flow
And sometimes, sometimes you feel good as gold
Sometimes you hear a beautiful lick
You got a feeling this could be it
And you know exactly where to go
And sometimes, sometimes you feel good as gold
Hard times will soon be over
They come and go like a Supernova
But that’s how you make the elements, you know
And sometimes, sometimes you feel good as gold
And sometimes, sometimes you feel good as gold
I was young & foolish
And I could not fail
I could see the big picture
And the devil in the detail
And I lived for the moment
In a circus ring
Now we all know better
Hindsight’s a wonderful thing
I should have said I love you
I couldn’t find a way
I should have said I love you
If you were here
That’s what I’d say
And I can’t remember
What we were fighting for
Maybe only the dead
Have seen the end of war
I should have said I love you
I couldn’t find a way
I should have said I love you
If you were here
That’s what I’d say
I should have said I love you
I couldn’t find a way
I should have said I love you
If you were here
That’s what I’d say
I should have said I love you
I couldn’t find a way
I should have said I love you
If you were here
That’s what I’d say
I should have said I love you
I couldn’t find a way
I should have said I love you
If you were here
That’s what I’d say
I woke up on the floor
I was feeling insecure
That little voice said
Now what you done?
Well I didn’t kill anyone
Just one more thing that I want to forget
I’ve got this great big ball of regret
Help me roll it
Baby please
Help me roll it
I’m on my knees
I was a good little boy
I was my mama’s pride & joy
But later on everything went wrong
Then baby you came along
Honey I know that we’ve just met
But I’ve got this great big ball of regret
Help me roll it
Baby please
Help me roll it
I’m on my knees
Help me roll it
You and me
Help me roll it
Into the sea
Suddenly I could see
That everything was down to me
And if I’m ever reincarnated
Baby next time
I’m gonna make it
All my worries, all my debts
I’m gonna leave all them behind
With that ball of regret
Help me roll it
Baby please
Help me roll it
I’m on my knees
Help me roll it
You and me
Help me roll it
Into the sea
Help me roll it
Baby please
Help me roll it
I’m on my knees
Help me roll it
You and me
Help me roll it
Into the sea
I’ve been running wild
Both sides of the border
Henry Antrim’s my name
And it’s time to go
I may grow weary
Of this crazy life
When that day comes I’ll let you know
They wanna put me away
Cos I’m too much trouble
Maybe some day when I’m too old & slow
Baby they’ll be waiting for a cold day in hell
When that day comes I’ll let you know
In the meantime Senorita
I won’t be here very long
When the blazing sun comes up tomorrow
Reach out for me but I’ll be gone
I made my bones
Down by Silver city
That sure seems like a lifetime ago
I’ll live my own way till the devil don’t want me
When that day comes I’ll let you know
When that day comes I’ll let you know
When that day comes I’ll let you know
Move on baby
Try not to look behind you
So sad to see things fall apart
My head is in my hands
Cos I know rightly
It’s just my own impatient, reckless heart
You made me
Think about future
It’s hard to see things in the dark
There’s something in my way, believe me
It’s just my own impatient, reckless heart
Reckless Heart, why do you make me suffer
Why do you always make me go too far?
In my dreams I am free
But here I’m shackled
To my own impatient, reckless heart
Reckless Heart, why do you make me suffer
Why do you always make me go too far?
In my dreams I am free
But here I’m shackled
To my own impatient, reckless heart
To my own impatient, reckless heart
To my own impatient, reckless heart
I know it’s just another heartache
I know it happens every day
That big old world just keeps on turning
And everything just fades away
Now all our hopes & dreams are shattered
And all our nightmares have come true
Nothing really seems to matter
But there’s just one thing I want from you
You got something of mine that I need baby
You can give it to me at the door
You got something of mine that I need baby
Give me back my heart, por favor.
I wish that we could just be happy
And content with what we got
But I do not think that’s gonna happen
I don’t think that’s where we’re at.
You got something of mine that I need baby
You can give it to me at the door
You got something of mine that I need baby
Give me back my heart, por favor
She’s my Honky Tonk Baby
She plays so fine
With that sweet old Fender
Keeping that Honky Tonk time
And she knows how to rock me
And she knows how to swing
When I feel that groove boys
It’s such a beautiful thing
Honky Tonk Honky Tonk Baby
When you make it
Please remember me
No need to get fancy
Stay on that country beat
Pretty soon everybody
Will be up on their feet
Honky Tonk Honky Tonk Baby
When you make it
Please remember me
Whenever she’s lonesome
Whenever she’s blue
She gets a hold of that Mustang
She loves that piece of wood
Honky Tonk, Honky Tonk Baby
When you make it
Please remember me
Honky Tonk, Honky Tonk Baby
When you make it
Please remember me
There’s no music in money
There’s no money in love
There’s no love in this town tonight
But I think I’ll stick around
And I’m crazy like a daisy
Don’t know what I should do
Something is burning me, baby
It’s probably you
I live between the stars
Upon the cosmic sea
And I’m down here all alone
Just the universe and me
And I wonder why the sun shines
Who taught the birds to sing?
You can tell me all the numbers
But nobody knows anything
I live between the stars
Upon the cosmic sea
And I’m down here all alone
Just the universe and me
There’s no music in money
There’s no money in love
There’s no love in this town tonight
But I think I’ll stick around
Something fundamental
Is not getting through
Where do we go from here?
I don’t have a clue
But baby I’m sure
It’s not me, it’s you
We’ll be saying farewell
Sooner or later it’s true
So let’s get on with it
I’ve got things to do
But baby I’m sure
It’s not me, it’s you
We come into this world alone
Screaming & kicking
Then we don’t want to go
But it’s a return ticket
Maybe I’m deluded
A captain with no crew
Maybe I’m just stupid
So what else is new?
But baby I’m sure
It’s not me, it’s you
We come into this world alone
Screaming & kicking
Then we don’t want to go
But it’s a return ticket
Something fundamental
Is still not getting through
I don’t know what I want
Or what I’m gonna do
But baby I’m sure
It’s not me, it’s you
Baby I’m sure
It’s not me, it’s you
Baby I’m sure
It’s not me, it’s you
Bap had just finished recording Reckless Heart in April 2016 before he was suddenly taken ill. He had been due to headline a festival in Mayo, Ireland on 7th May but instead he was admitted to hospital that morning suffering from severe stomach pains. The following day he was diagnosed with cancer and all plans to play gigs or tour in support of the release of Reckless Heart had to be cancelled.
During his illness Bap wrote a personal blog which was shared very widely around the world. As he stated in the blog "All I ever wanted was for people to feel what I feel - the magic of music" and it meant a lot to him that so many friends and supporters were sharing his music so widely.
It was also very important to Bap that his final album should be released, and so a team of friends and supporters got together and worked hard to make this happen as soon as possible. The hope was that Bap could see his latest record released, but unfortunately that wasn't to be.
Following Bap's passing, it was agreed by all involved that that one of the best ways of honouring Bap's legacy was to proceed with the release of RECKLESS HEART.
Reckless Heart received its full release in 2017 (CD & vinyl) by the combined efforts of Lonely Street Discs (Bap's label) Last Chance Records (USA) & At The Helm (UK & rest of world)
Le Cri Du Coyote (France)
"La musique & Irelande ont perdu l'un de leurs meilleurs ambassadors"
(Music & Ireland have lost one of their best ambassadors)
No Depression (USA)
"Ultimately, Restless Heart is a fine record to remember Kennedy by, one that opts for a simple stance and the sheer joy of musical celebration. We should all be so lucky as to leave such a lofty legacy" - (Lee Zimmerman)
Americana UK
"A knockout album 9/10"
Irish News
"A beautiful and rewarding album from start to finish and one that should make fans and friends very proud to have part of Bap Kennedy's immense contribution to music"
Dagbladet (Norway)
"A gorgeous farewell from this great songwriter, full of intimacy and melodic joy."
("et nydelig farvel fra denne flotte låtskriveren, full av intimitet og melodisk glede.")
Americana Roots
"All of Baps albums are more than worthy of your investigation but as a final effort and when the sadness has lost a little of its edge we could be looking back at Reckless Heart as a career high."
No Depression (UK)
"A Masterpiece From The Most Romantic of Irish Wordsmiths." (Alan Harrison)
CDTipp Radio Bremen (Germany)
"Der Songkatalog von Bap Kennedy biete viele noch zu entdeckende Perlen."
Mojo - 4 Stars
"Bap Kennedy proves "The Irish invented country music"
Roots Highway (Italy)
"Non ci sono tracce di stanchezza e dolore nel portamento gentile e romantico di Bap Kennedy"
(There are no traces of fatigue and pain in the gentle and romantic bearing of Bap Kennedy)
Blabber n Smoke
"The crowning glory is the sombre The Universe And Me, another song that with hindsight grows in stature. Here Kennedy approaches Dylan’s metaphysical meanderings"
Elmore Magazine
"Like the best music, this is organic, heart-felt, and carefully done. It’s a fitting close to his 15-plus years of recording."
Fatea Magazine
"Despite, or perhaps because of, his illness, the album has a musically upbeat feel and, while some lyrics are reflective, the overarching tone is positive and about not having regrets."
Flyin Shoes
"Some people have it in them to come up with something of real quality; the gifted Bap Kennedy was certainly among the privileged few."
GiggingNI
"Kennedy brings us through the full gamut of emotions in Reckless Heart.
...the truth is the album stands on its own, way beyond the story and the loss of a local hero."
Whisperin and Hollerin
"The honest musings of a man who was both romantic and realistic."
Folk & Tumble
"A great legacy to his songwriting and story-telling ability"
Travis Hill, Last Chance Records, USA
“Reckless Heart ” is the culmination of a lifetime of refining the craft of songwriting . Bap Kennedy delivers nothing less than a timeless album that captures the songwriter at his peak.