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All profits from the sale of this single will go to Forward Leeds Drug & Alcohol Support Service.
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about
In essence, The Battler is about mutual aid and how together we are stronger.
A friend of mine was fighting a heroin addiction for the best part of 20 years. It was by partaking in mutual aid group work that they were able to get on the road to full recovery.
We all know that a problem shared is a problem halved and that talking about our issues - whether they be to do with addiction, mental health, phobias, depression etc etc - can help hugely in the healing process. And I talk from experience as it’s something I’ve gone through myself!
When we actually see and talk to people who have been in our position and recovered from it, it gives us hope. And hope is a vital (and vastly underrated) commodity.
“If she can then he can, if he can then we can, and if we can, we do it together.”
Having battled a serious alcohol addiction for over 20 years, coupled with additional mental health issues, it was after engaging with Forward Leeds - the amazing free and confidential Alcohol and Drug Support Service for people in my hometown - that I was able to take my own route to full sobriety. At the time of writing I have now been sober for over 4 years - something I never thought would have been possible.
The Battler is one of the songs I wrote about my journey, and is part of the Recovery Roadshow I now perform at Rehab centres around the country.
ALL PROFITS FROM THIS SONG WILL BE DONATED TO FORWARD LEEDS. Centres such as these are vastly underfunded but do an amazing job saving lives. They certainly saved mine!
lyrics
It started as fun, just the one, just the one,
Pure pleasure and release for to seek,
‘I’ll hit then let go,
Let it go, let it go’,
For the Battler sure isn’t weak.
Then for 7000 days, through mouth, nose and veins
The dodging, betrayal and deceit,
The highs and the lows,
Oh those lows, oh those lows,
But the Battler will rise to her feet.
The stealing, the reeling, the dirt double-dealing,
From where did this yearning derive?
The fights and the blows,
Oh those blows, yes those blows,
But the Battler knows how to survive.
[Chorus]
If she can then he can,
If he can then we can,
And if we can we’ll do it together,
We take pride in our strength,
And we’ll go to all lengths,
To banish those demons for ever.
Then as time lingered on, addiction grew strong,
Jobs came and went as did friends,
But nobody knows,
They don’t know, they don’t know,
As the Battler fought hard to defend.
When the hits hit their peak, the resistance got weak,
‘I am fine, you just don’t understand’,
From nobody knows,
To everyone knows
Now the Battler had a fight on her hands.
Losing faith in herself, she reached out for help,
And found love in abundance around,
‘Shall I hide it or show?’
‘Yes I’ll show, yes I’ll show’,
Now the Battler was gaining some ground.
Repeat Chorus
She’s loved and admired, though she’d never desired,
The attention, the affection of ex-addicts,
As each day comes and goes,
Now she glows, truly glows,
The Battler is ready to smash it.
She’s beautiful and kind, an intelligent mind,
Can do anything if she sets out her stall,
From those lows, yes those lows,
Those demonic shit lows,
The Battler will conquer them all.
My heart’s full of pride to have helped on this ride,
I’m proud to now call her my friend,
And I want her to know,
Really know, really know,
I’ll battle with her right to the end.
Repeat Chorus x 2
credits
released April 21, 2023
Music & Lyrics: Nick Davis
Guitar, Harmonica & Vocals: Nick Davis
Additional Vocals: Rich Huxley
Produced & Mixed by Rich Huxley
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So dig deep everyone and buy this album, I can't recommend it enough! vicsm
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