On the 10th December 1998, a notebook of handwritten Noel Gallagher lyrics and notes was put up for auction at Christies. The notebook was believed to have been last updated sometime around the end of 1993. Here, you can read an in-depth article about the notebook, including pictures, taken from the December 1998 issue of Record Collector magazine, Page 1, Page 2. You can also see an NME report on the notebook here, and the actual page in the Christie's brochure given to interested bidders here. You can also see another couple of pages from Noel's notebook with various track names here and here. And you can see another couple of pages of lyrics (both unfortunately too small to be distinguishable although eil.com suggest the first one could be entitled 'I Would Live In Hell') here and here. You can see a colour picture of the cover of the notebook here.
It's important to point out that not all of the titles mentioned in the notebook are necessarily all complete, finished songs. Some of the titles could be songs later renamed into commonly known songs (eg. 'Love' > 'Married With Children'), titles given to instrumental pieces, some of them could be covers, or some could just be phrases Noel thought would make good titles for songs and were written down for future reference. No-one but Noel would know when all these songs were written, but it's interesting to note that none of his late 80's songs are on there. The tracks from Oasis' '91/'92 demo tape however, are on there.
Also inclded in the notebook were handwritten lyrics to a number of songs which were later released including, 'D'Yer Wanna Be A Spaceman?', 'Half The World Away', 'David Bowie's song 'Heroes', 'Rock 'n' Roll Star', 'Rockin' Chair', 'Shakermaker', and 'Whatever'. You can view those by clicking on the titles.
In an interview with Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 on the 27th April 2005, Noel revealed how he lost what he says were all the handwritten lyrics to 'Definitely Maybe'. Although he doesn't refer to a notebook as such, I'm presuming that this is what he's referring to. He claimed to have been thrown out of a hotel in Manchester and refused re-entry to retrieve his bags, which the lyrics were in. Listen to Noel tell the story here.
On the 11th July 2006, the notebook appeared for sale on the eil.com website for the astronomical price of £5,995. You can read up on a bit more information on the contents of the notebook at their website here.
A Shelter From The Fall
See a (very small) image of Noel's handwritten lyrics for this song here.
Alkerseltzer
Angel Face
Baa Baa Papa
Being A Blue
'Being A Blue' was mentioned in Noel's notebook as being a potential track 7 on Oasis' second album.
In Paul Gallagher and Terry Christian's 1996 book 'Brothers: From Childhood to Oasis - The Real Story', Paul had a bit to say about this song. "Yes, it's tough being a blue, as our Noel said in one of his little ditties. In fact, Oasis were going to do the official Manchester City song for the 1995 season, the title of which was 'It's Tough Being A Blue When You Come From Where I Do'. Due to problems about which label it was to go on, it never saw the light of day. Noel kept the tune and used it for the song 'Acquiesce', one of the great Oasis B-sides appearing on the flip of their first number one single in Britain, 'Some Might Say'."
In Noel's notebook, Noel has written in one place, "Blue 1+2". Whilst I could never be sure, I would guess that this is referring to 'Being A Blue' and 'Blue' as two separate songs. But I could easily be wrong.
Beret
Blue
See a (very small) image of Noel's handwritten lyrics for this song here.
In Paolo Hewitt's 1997 book 'Getting High: The Adventures Of Oasis', there was a mention of a Noel song called 'Blue' and the author claimed that Liam said it was Noel's first ever epic.
On the 22nd April 2005, in an interview for Oasisinet.com, Noel was asked a question about the inspiration for the song Morning Glory. "'Morning Glory' was written around about the time of 'Definitely Maybe', and it started off, its title was a song, it was called 'Blue', and I think the opening line was…first time I've ever said this, it went, "I live my life in blue, there’s nothing anyone else can do"; and it was fucking horrible, and Morning Glory came out of drink and drugs. I wrote it and I re-wrote it in…in a hotel room." Watch Noel here.
In Noel's notebook, there's also a song called 'In Blue', which I would guess refers to the same song.
In Noel's notebook, Noel has written in one place, "Blue 1+2". Whilst I could never be sure, I would guess that this is referring to 'Being A Blue' and 'Blue' as two separate songs. But I could easily be wrong.
Bone's One
Callin All
Chill
See handwriten lyrics taken from Noel's notebook here.
Cigs + Beer
Possibly a shorthand title for 'Cigarettes & Alcohol'.
Clockin The Watch
Cold World
Coming On Strong
Cream
Datura Dream Rebound
Mentioned in Noel's notebook as a possible title for the second album.
This song was mentioned as 'Daytura Dream Deferred' in Paolo Hewitt's 1997 book 'Getting High: The Adventures Of Oasis', in a section where Noel and Johnny Marr were on their way to a guitar shop sometime around the Autumn of 1993. 'On the way, Marr offered Noel a spliff but Noel refused. He explained that his doctor had told him that his low blood pressure made marijuana bad for him. 'I have to stick to chemicals,' Noel explained with a laugh. Marr asked him if he was now experiencing more vivid dreams. 'There's a medical term for it,' Marr explained, 'it's called something like daytura dream deferred. When you come off the spliff, you get your dreams back.' Instantly, Noel's radar switched on. 'That's a top song title,' he exclaimed. 'Mind if I have it?' The next day, Noel wrote a song called 'Daytura Dream Deferred'.
Definatly..Maybe
Don't Spook The Horse
Probably refers to the Neil Young song of the same name.
Every Morning
Everything's Alright
Feed Your Head
Freedom
Helicopter
Helicopter Doctor
Hendrix One
Here Am I
I Am Always Right!!
See a (very small) image of Noel's handwritten lyrics for this song here.
Mentioned in the NME article on the notebook as having with the following lyrics: "Cos I'm the man who's done and seen all that there has ever been/And I'm always right!!"
I Believe
I Feel It
I Know A Girl
I Want To Know
I've Decided..(Faces)
Is That A Fact?
See handwritten lyrics taken from Noel's notebook here.
Joy Division One
Lick My Legs
Listen Up
This has entirely different lyrics and probably a different melody to the version first released as a b-side on the 'Cigarettes & Alcohol' single. See handwritten lyrics taken from Noel's notebook here.
Little Things
Live By The Sea
Lock All The Doors
Lost Again
See a (very small) image of Noel's handwritten lyrics for this song here.
Love
This was an alternative title for the song 'Married With Children' released on the 'Definitely Maybe' album. See handwritten lyrics taken from Noel's notebook here.
Mexico
Never Allowed
New Faces
New Stones
My Friend Says
On A Mission
One + Other
Only My Pride
See handwritten lyrics taken from Noel's notebook here.
Out The World
Paint A Mental Picture
Pilots
Razorbarb
See a (very small) image of Noel's handwritten lyrics for this song here.
R.K. La'
Revolver
Rex/Beatles
Riverbank
Rodney
Sleeping
So She Wakes Up
Somebody Home
Son Of Flower
Song In A Suitcase
See a (very small) image of Noel's handwritten lyrics for this song here.
Stand By Me
This features entirely different lyrics to the song of the same name released on the 'Be Here Now' album. See handwritten lyrics taken from Noel's notebook here.
Stay Young
This song was in Noel's notebook, but it's probably different to the version available on the b-side to 'D'You Know What I Mean?' as Noel claimed in a promo interview for 'The Masterplan' in Autumn 1998 that he wrote the song on the Caribbean island of Mustique in May 1996 whilst writing and recording demos for 'Be Here Now'.
Suitcase Song
Sunday Morn'
Sunflowery One
Swamp
Take Me Away
This song was mentioned in Noel's notebook, but it's possibly different to the version available on the b-side to 'Supersonic', as Noel claimed to have written the song in the studio at the same time as 'Supersonic', in December 1993. See a (very small) picture of the handwritten lyrics to this song here.
Take Your Chances
Talk About Me
The Cat In The Hat
The Mirror And The Razorblade
See some of the handwritten lyrics taken from Noel's notebook here. Quite possibly an early version of 'Morning Glory' as the verses to 'The Mirror And The Razorblade' would seem to fit with the verse melody of 'Morning Glory'.
The Red, White And Blue
In Paolo Hewitt's 1997 book 'Getting High: The Adventures Of Oasis', there was a section about this song and the influences behind it. '[The band's Boardwalk rehearsal] room was small and sometimes there were pools of water on the floor. To liven the place up, Bonehead brought in some paint and they would sporadically paint the back wall in the colours of the Union Jack. Noel had even written a song called 'The Red, White And Blue', and their fascination with the British flag caused a little consternation among some onlookers. For the group, their interest in the flag had been prompted by bands such as The Who, who early in their career had used the flag in an ironic pop-art fashion. Noel says: "But because we were lads who liked drinking beer and going to football, no-one thought we would be into art or anything. It was like this song I had, "The Red, White And Blue'. That song came about cause one day I had gone down to Johnny Roadhouse [music store] to get some equipment. As I came out, there was some march going on. I'm standing there and this guy comes over and starts ranting at me for not taking any interest in his cause. I'm like, 'I'm arsed about your cause. All I want to do, mate, is be in a band. If this is your thing, then fine, I haven't got a problem with it, live and let live. But leave me out of it. He just went on and on, so I wrote this song about how if you look a certain way you instantly get labelled and I called it 'Red, White and Blue', which was also about how things like the Union Jack get hijacked and if you use it people automatically think you're part of something you're not." The song was based around a riff not that dissimilar to Issac Hayes's song 'Shaft', with Noel utilising his wah-wah pedal to maximum effect. But he soon shelved the song. "All the band really liked it but I knew if we played it, it would cause more trouble than it was worth, which is why it got sacked."'
Too Much
Tracksuit Bottoms
Mentioned in the NME article on the notebook as having the following lyrics: "I've been watching you/You over there in your tracksuit bottoms/What's your problem with the world?"
When I'm Around
See handwritten lyrics taken from Noel's notebook here.
Who One!
Wind
You Owe Me
Yours Is Mine
