Walls of the World (1977) – Mike Batt

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.

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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