Silent Assassin was first pushed as a poem in my Poetry Book ‘Poems and Sentiments’
Later in 2024 I entered the poem into a competition in the USA and was successful. I was awarded an Honourable mention in the Best of Prose category in the Northwind Treasury Writing Award. This single event led me, to write many more poems and books and eventually start writing song lyrics and podcasts etc. The song version was released as ‘A silent assassin is amongst us’
The life expectancy in the UK for men, has increased from the age 66 in 1950 to 79, an increase of 12%. This is down to medical advancements, a decline in smoking, improved living conditions and better nutrition.
I graduated in 1978, alongside 8 other close friends from a population of 4,000 male students at Newcastle University and 275,000 male University students in the UK. At that time only 8% of all 21year old men graduated, versus 40% today.
The top killers of men over 65 in the UK are related to the heart, cancer, respiratory diseases and dementia.
My friends and I have met up twice a year for 47 years. Two of them are now dead. This song is for Brian and Martin, who died from cancer and dementia in 2024.
The song starts by stating that a ‘silent assassin is amongst us, we cry tears, but we’re helpless’. The lyric video features a man in his 60’s sitting and contemplating on the beach. The voice is of an old man singing the blues to a guitar and a slow drum beat. The song is desperate looking for answers.
The first big question he asks is ‘we all got old, how did that happen ? It seems just yesterday we all graduated ! One two of our friends died it made the rest of us sit up and realise ‘ we are all under threat’.
When Martin walked over the rainbow bridge’, the chapel was full , ‘we all paid homage’. We still care for their wives, and they join us on university reunions when they can.
Although we ‘still drink and fool’, its not quite the same. We all know that a ‘silent killer man is out to get us’. In the end there will be ‘one lonely man, with no friends ‘
