Publisher's Synopsis
Any Last Words
Paul Murphy's final anthology of song lyrics and prose, completed just before his passing. Containing 10 brand new pieces, all composed in the two weeks before neurological disorder robbed him of the use of his hands, and a specially-chosen selection of works taken from his song and poetry files that have never appeared before in print, dating back to his earliest song ['I Don't Think I'm Going To Smile Ever Again', 1982], and the poignant poem he wrote about his father's passing ['Closure', 1980]. The volume ends with Paul's final work, the acclaimed 'The Poet Has Left The Building'. Along with the entries, are images of some of Paul's handwritten lyric sheets, which show that, amazingly, many of the works came to him 'complete', and needed only the barest of changes - including the film-noir-esque story-prose, 'Beyond The Borderline Of The Past'. Also included is a eloquent, illuminating and, at times humorous, essay, Time In A Mirror, written especially for this anthology, detailing the creation of and circumstances that inspired, the works contained herein. The composition of the new works, including performances of some of them, was captured in Paul's internet diary, the film showing that, despite being in extreme pain and battling increasing loss of body mass and function, Paul's humour and charisma remained undimmed, and his determination to chronicle and support the plight of others was as strong in 2022 as it was when he began with his street-prose performances 40 years previously.
