I learned to play guitar and sing in the early 1980’s and had managed to turn professional by 1984. I soon discovered the incredible music of Chris de Burgh and his inspirational song writing style became one of the greatest reasons why I had to try and write songs myself. During the years of 1989 to 1992 I wrote around thirty songs – one of which was ‘On the Ridge of A Hill’.

I had always wanted to write something similar to 'Borderline' and one day while working in Spain, my Wife, Claire said to me: “Why not write a song called 'On the Ridge of A Hill’; it's a really good title for a song!"

I immediately thought about the last few moments of those poor souls who were waiting to go 'over the top' during World War One. I cannot begin to imagine how awful it must have been to have been waiting for the order to leave the trenches into 'no man's land' knowing that you may never see your home or family again. I tried to capture that moment into the words of the song. This makes the song melancholy, but there again so is the song that inspired it, 'Borderline', and just like ‘Borderline’ the Dm key seemed to fit the song perfectly.

The song was recorded in 1994 in our front room during one live take on a Sony Minidisc. The other voice on the track is that of my wife, Claire. The opening line: 'In the land of the blind, has the one-eyed ruler got to be right?' makes reference to some of the ill-advised, pompous leaders and Generals around during World War 1.

My Wife Claire and myself, carried on as professional singers/musicians until 2003. We now live in Winsford UK with our beautiful daughter Niamh and Spot the Dalmatian.

For me, Chris de Burgh still remains a huge inspiration to this day.

And so, in the land of the blind, has the one-eyed ruler got to be right?

I shivered as I looked on the town
A reflection of my home far away
And the soldier there by my side
Standing with his foot in his grave
And I couldn’t help sighing as I thought
Of the folks I’d hoped to see again
And the soldier put his hand by his side
On that cold December day
And the rain, came down

Pounding like the sound of my heart
The roses had gone and the time stood still
On The Ridge of a Hill

I saw there still were men hadn’t seen
They were facing what remained of their lives
And to steady ourselves from the fear
I’m writing to my home one more time
Eyes heavy from the crying and the pain
As no-man’s-land is the cry
And the soldier held his gun in dismay
On that cold December night

And the rain, came down

Pounding like the sound of my heart
The roses had gone and the time stood still
On The Ridge of a Hill

And so, in the land of the blind
Has the one-eyed-ruler got to be right?
And so, in the land of the blind
Has the one-eyed-ruler got to be , got to be, got to be, so damned right?

Instrumental

And the rain, came down