Walls of the World is a tender love ballad from English songwriter Mike Batt’s second solo album, Schizophonia. I have written a mountain about his music from his next album Tarot Suite, which did so many turns on the LP turntable when I was a kid. We cherish it so fondly that you could almost consider it a family heirloom. Schizophonia, like Tarot Suite, was backed by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Today’s featured song, Writing on the Wall, is a prelude of sorts to Mike Batt’s other love ballad, Lady of The Dawn, from the follow-up record. That song is rooted in ancient, mystical and archetypal feminine folklore, while today’s track is a contemporary dedication to the woman he loves, where he’s simply letting his heart do the talking and declaring his love – writing it on the walls of the world so everyone will know.
Also remember Batt wrote one of the great love songs soon after this with Bright Eyes in 1978 for the animated film Watership Down. That one became a massive hit for Art Garfunkel, reaching No. 1 in the UK and six other countries including Australia.
Below are some excerpts from Wikipedia which sparked my attention, but only scratch the surface. Mike Batt has had such a prolific career, including work as a producer and commissions for many grand musical undertakings. His discography makes the mind boggle:
Michael Philip Batt (born 6 February 1949) is an English singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, record producer, director, and conductor. Batt has conducted the London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony and Stuttgart Philharmonic.
He sailed with his family aboard his boat, Braemar, ending up in Australia after two and a half years, travelling via France, the West Indies, South America, Central America, Mexico, Los Angeles, Hawaii and Fiji.
In 1981, on the Los Angeles-Sydney leg of the sea voyage, he was commissioned to write a piece for the 50th anniversary of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation which became the musical fantasy production Zero Zero.
Batt discovered Katie Melua in 2002 while scouting for a new artist with whom to work. Melua’s album Call Off The Search (containing six of Batt’s songs including The Closest Thing to Crazy) was released in November 2003. After six weeks at number one in the UK Albums Chart, it sold six times platinum.
The sun is only shining like it always does
But I never noticed it in the sky before
And you don’t need to worry, ’cause I need your love, my friend
There’s a strong kind of feeling when I know you’re near
Nobody alive can take it away from me;
And I feel like I’ve known you for a thousand years
Bring it out into the light
‘Cause I think I’m gonna write it on the walls of the world
So everyone will know today the love I hold for you
I will write it on the walls of the world
So that the sun won’t fade away the words I say to you
I love you
And I know I’m not a loser when I’m on my own
I could be miles away in another land
And it keeps me together when I’m far from home
I won’t keep it out of sight
And I think I’m gonna write it on the walls of the world
So everyone will know today the love I hold for you
I will write it on the walls of the world
So that the sun won’t fade away the words I say to you
I love you
References:
1. Schizophonia (Mike Batt album) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I love this fellow’s voice. I feel like it has a touch of that charming nasal tonality you’ve mentioned/we’ve discussed before about Neil Young. Listening to this song I’m envisioning it playing on the turntable in your family home and can imagine the lovely feeling of enjoying it together. As soon as it finished I replayed it. It’s a lovely sound to hear after finishing the last part of a heavy job unloading a bunch of junk from a garage to fill a 14-yard dumpster, in 30C heat. (Which explains my absence in the last week.)
Interesting to learn Mike discovered Katie. I only know a bit of what she’s recorded, but I think she’s fab. Certainly belongs right up there in the vocal pop/easy listening/classical crossover space that Sarah Brightman has dominated for decades.
Thanks for the introduction!
‘Walls of the World’ does indeed have a lovely, sweet sound and I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing your perspectives on it.
This wasn’t one we listened to in my youth, yet it still transports me back to that time.
That sounds like a massive job, Steve, especially having to endure that heat. It sounds like you were well deserving of a good break after all that. I bid you a great Sunday as the sun pours down here on presidential election day in Bogota.
Cheers, friend.
Ah, I see, about the song, and of course it makes sense it would take you back to such memories. I love when that happens.
Thanks, Matt, today is a much easier day and I bid you a pleasant Sunday and presidential election day! Cheers, friend.
That’s great that you’ve got some reprieve to enjoy your Sunday. Have a great one!
As always, thanks for your kind words.
My pleasure, and yes it’s glorious here. We seem to have skipped spring entirely; one week it was long underwear and the next, short pants.
I hope you have a great one as well.
It does seem like you guys went from Winter to Summer in nano seconds considering your recent earlier comments about the frigid weather. Wowee.
It was remiss of me not to mention Katie Melua in my response to you. I don’t think I had heard her before listening to that beautiful song ‘The Closest Thing to Crazy’. I could immediately tell Mike Batt had penned it — it has his signature style written all over it.
Quick smart, I added the song to my collection. I hope that when I eventually get around to writing about it, I’ll uncover more treasures from Katie’s catalogue. I can definitely see your astute crossover connection with Sarah Brightman.
Cheers, Matt. To your previous comment, wowee is right! I found it hard working outside with the lack of acclimatization.
No doubt indeed, you will find many gems of Katie’s. This was my introduction to her; it didn’t change my life in a huge way but she’s lovely in it:
I thought you were going to say, “I found it hard working outside with the lack of civilisation.” The lack of acclimatisation has got to be plenty tough as well lol.
I really liked that song you sent. It’s fantastic — right up my alley — and it has a stage musical aesthetic to its sound. I sent it swiftly onto my Mum, who’s all for that kind of music.
Thanks for sending me merrily down the Katie rabbit hole. You really know your stuff, friendo ;-P
Haha, well since I was working alone I was less concerned about civilization, ha!
I’m so pleased you liked the song I sent you. I forget how I came across it, but featured it immediately. “Stage musical aesthetic” – yeah! I like that! Great description. I’m sure my mum would have liked it as well.
I guess between us we know a fair bit, my musical friend!
I’m glad you connected with that description because, to these ears, it really does sound like a song from a stage musical of sorts.
That’s it — the meeting of great minds in musical appreciation. Haha.
Cheers Steve.
It really does. I think I downplayed it a bit, not wanting to oversell, but it is a great song, yeah, perfect for the stage. Cheers, musical mind-meld mate! 🖖🏼