MUSIC
LATEST RELEASE:
This Beautiful Life
Release Date: 13th March 2026
Players:
Mike Hord: Vocals, Bass, Synths, Percussion
Tobi Lustigman: Acoustic Guitar
Pete Whitfield: Strings, String Arrangements
David O'Dowda: Piano
John Jenkins: Drums
Produced by: Tobi Lustigman/Mike Hord
Play the Track
This Beautiful Life – Sleeve Note
I wrote this song for my sister while she was going through cancer treatment. It was a difficult time, full of uncertainty, fear, and the emotional ups and downs that come with serious illness. But alongside all of that, there was strength, humour, and the kind of bond that holds you steady when things feel overwhelming.
This song is simply about being there for someone you love. Holding on together. Getting through the hard days. Believing that the storm will pass - WHICH THANKFULLY IT DID!
It’s a reminder that even when life is at its toughest, there is still something worth looking forward to.
This beautiful life.
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VOTIVE OFFERINGS - The New Album by Mike Hord
Votive Offerings
What to expect?
"At the crossroads of social commentary and emotional depth, this artist crafts music that resonates far beyond the surface. His debut album, Votive Offerings, is not just a collection of songs—it’s an immersive experience, a bold statement that dares to question and provoke. Through this work, he explores two forces that define the human condition: the relentless pursuit of growth driven by capitalist ideals and the universal, complex nature of love."
Art Ingle
The Players
Mike Hord:
Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitars, Bass Guitar, Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Synths
Tobi Lustigman:
Backing Vocals, Guitars, Bass Guitar
Sabrina Chyld:
Backing Vocals
Pete Whitfield:
Strings, String Arrangements
David O'Dowda:
Piano
John Jenkins:
Drums on This Beautiful Life and Man of Song
The Killers Horns: Brass
Mike Lesirge: Saxophone, Flute
Ryan Jacob: Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Alan Hardiman: Trombone
Special Guest - Dave Bell:
Guitar on The Real Me
Produced by Tobi Lustigman and Mike Hord
Engineered by Tobi Lustigman
String Arrangements by Pete Whitfield
All other arrangements by Mike Hord
All Songs written by Mike Hord
Votive Offerings Lyrics
Side 1
WORKING HARD
Are you working?
Are you working?
Are you working hard?
Or just a passenger?
Don't let me catch you shirking
While you’re working
Are you working hard?
I hope you’re not pretending
The struggles never ending
You've got to do your bit
Or you'll be damned for it
Don't let me catch you shirking
While you’re working
Are you working hard?
Productivity, productivity,
That’s what we wanna see
One and one is three
With productivity
P-R-O-D-U-C-T-I-V-I-T-Y!
Why, why, why, why?!?
If we all do our duty
They'll be lots of booty
Oh yes, you'll get your crumbs
But not as much as some
Don't let me catch you shirking
While you’re working
Are you working hard?
THE GROWTH GOD
So close, yet so far
The perfection we strove for
Evolution handed us a ticket to success
But we made such a mess
The Growth God we're serving
Won't rest 'til everyone's burning
We've taken everything now
Mother Nature is bereft
She's got no presents left
And she knows that we're in trouble
And all rotten to the core
We live the life of Riley
But we want a little more
We'd love to do our bit
But don't you know it's such a bore
And we don’t give a damn!
Roll on the cycle
Revolving is vital
Round and round and round we go
Gathering up speed, oh yes
Turbo-charged greed
We serenade the oceans
While we're putting them to sleep
And from up there on the galley
You can almost hear them weep
But they won't be there tomorrow
And the boat is going cheap!
But we won't make a bid!
Let me hear you now
Amen, amen!
Let me hear you now
Amen, amen!
Get down on your knees
And beg the Growth God please
That he’ll bring you all you need
ALL YOU NEED!!
So we put our faith in progress
And some skinny little geek
If he can't solve it tomorrow
Then he'll sort it out next week
And the Growth God will envelope
All the strong and crush the weak
And we don't give a damn!!
FLY ME TO THE MOON
Fly me to the moon (fly me to the moon)
On my very own supersonic boom
I can take my rightful place
Up there among the stars in outer space
Little people on the ground (going round and round)
Gazing skywards trying to recognise the sound
It's the sound of my success
Drowning out the silence of the rest
Oh, how I wish you could come, everyone!
But in our future, there's no cheap
And no dumb!
You can keep your inner space (your inner space)
I'm gonna lord it over all the human race
Someone had to take the lead
Why not me? My assets have been freed
When they offered me a seat (such a well-earned treat)
I couldn't wait to join with the elite
You can keep your fancy cars
I'll build a palace on the Moon or maybe Mars
Oh, how I wish you could come, everyone!
But in our future, there's no cheap
And no dumb!
Fly me to the Moon!
THIS AFFLUENZA
Daddy says I am the special one
Put on this earth just to have some fun
That's my fate and the deal is done, Whey hey!!
I've been fed by a silver spoon
You say bust and I say boom
You're infected and I'm immune! Whey hey!!
This affluenza, suits my agenda
I'm in a permanent rage
So let me out of this cage
This affluenza, is my defender
It's not my fault
Anything can be bought!
My life's worth much more than yours
You see walls and I see doors
Get out of my way you filthy whores, I'm late!
This affluenza, suits my agenda
I'm in a permanent rage
So let me out of this cage
This affluenza, is my defender
It's not my fault
Anything can be bought!
A SPECIAL LADY
She was but a humble lass
Grabbed the World and held it fast
All the boys could kiss her arse
But she wouldn’t do a turn
Onward soldiers, don't relent
Pay the mortgage not the rent
And you can be a proper gent
No matter what you earn
She's your girl
A Special Lady!
She still holds your hearts and minds
A saintly glow
From your Special Lady
She will return and reign a second time
Made the nation stand up tall
Watch the despots, crack and fall
When she returns to fuck them all
Three lions roar that day!
Built a bridge across the pond
Magicked up a special bond
But where d'you think she got that wand?
That's all I'm gonna say!
She's your girl
A Special Lady!
She still holds your hearts and minds
A saintly glow
From your Special Lady
She will return and reign a second time
JUMP
Jump you fuckers jump!
Hold hands and take that step
Coz after all you've done
You owe us all that debt
You came and you saw and you conquered,
You conquered everything
But just like that old proverb says,
All good things must end!
Jump you fuckers jump!
Round up all your boardroom mates
Now you've had your fun
It’s our turn to celebrate
You showed us your courageousness,
With someone else's dough
So now let's see how brave you are,
Get ready, set, go!
Go, go!
Jump you fuckers jump!
We'll clean up all the mess
It's quicker if you run
If you start, then they'll be one less
Take a running jump!
All good things must end!
Jump you fuckers jump!
Hold hands and take that step
If you don't wanna jump
Close your eyes and we'll do the rest
After all you've done
Now you've had your fun
Jump you fuckers, jump!
All lyrics by Mike Hord
© 2026 Mike Hord Music. All rights reserved
Votive Offerings Lyrics
Side 2
THE REAL ME
I remember why, baby
I just don't remember when
Like the changing seasons
Or the fall of powerful men
It was inevitable
That bits for sure
What I'm really struggling with
Is why I hang around for more?
You can roll your eyes
You can feign surprise
But you'll never see the real me again!
I'll draw a veil over
The corpse of a different man
You'll see an outline maybe
But catch me if you can
Ever since you burnt me
I have split myself in two
There's one for me now
And then there's one for you
You can roll your eyes
You can feign surprise
But you'll never see the real me again
One for me and one for you
Keep you guessing who is who
One for you and one for me
There were two and now there’s three
One for me and one for you
Keep you guessing who is who
One for you and one for me
One that’s hidden
And one that you can see!
But you'll never see the real me again
MAN OF SONG
It was a day she would never forget
Her whole life long
That was the day that she finally met
A man of song
And he played
And she stayed
The whole night long
He was a dutiful man and he sang
From dusk ‘til dawn
May would observe how he managed the throng
And taught her how to perform
And he made those bitter cold nights warm
And his place is up there on the boards
Filling the place with applause
Drawing in the hoards
And giving them temporary faith
To make them believe there's a place
And we all can tag along
With this man of song
And go on and on and on and on and on!
He was a teacher in several ways
And she loves to learn
But the one thing that most often amazed
Was the bread he earned
So, she stayed
And she learnt a whole lot more
And his place is up there on the boards
Filling the place with applause
Drawing in the hordes
And giving them temporary faith
To make them believe there's a place
And we all can tag along
With this man of song
And go on and on and on and on and on!
With this man of song, we’ll go on and on!
With this man of song, we’ll go on and on!
THIS BEAUTIFUL LIFE
Too long, too painful
I promise you that this will end
You will never feel alone again, my friend
You’re monumental
I would never have the strength
Come hold my hand, lets jump that fence
Together and then
We will calm the stormy waters
Blow the clouds from the skies
Yeah, we'll gaze down from the mountain
And feast our eyes
On this beautiful life!
We said last Sunday
How we have a special bond
Well, this half of the bargain will stick like glue
From now on
We can share some laughter
Not worry about what might have been
The futures golden, the futures bright
The lights are green
So, we'll calm the stormy waters
Blow the clouds from the skies
Yeah, we'll gaze down from the mountain
And feast our eyes
On this beautiful life
You and I
Will feast our eyes
On this beautiful life!
BIRTHDAY WISHES
Like last year and the year before
I brought a card right to your door
But I put it in a drawer instead
On your birthdays and Christmas Eve
They come to haunt me those memories
Of you and me tucked up in bed
I should have moved on years ago
So, I tell my friends and I tell my folks
That you never get a second thought
But the truth be told I'm still hooked up
In that dream that you and me cooked up
When love was new and freshly caught
So happy birthday baby
From the bottom of my heart
Happy birthday baby
I hope I played a part
From the bottom of my heart
Believe you me I've done my bit
To try and bring an end to it
It's the toughest thing I've ever done
Ah, you can't remove and you can't replace
If your will is in a different place
I've given up the ghost; all hope is lost!
I've had some glimpses, one or two
But they all deceive coz they're not you
They just never, ever measure up
They can go to hell, I just don't care
It might be a one-way love affair
But I'll cling on to what I've got
So Happy Birthday baby
From the bottom of my heart
Happy birthday baby
I hope I played a part
From the bottom of my heart
A SPECIAL LADY
She was but a humble lass
Grabbed the World and held it fast
All the boys could kiss her arse
But she wouldn’t do a turn
Onwards soldiers, don't relent
Pay the mortgage not the rent
And you can be a proper gent
No matter what you earn
She's your girl
A Special Lady!
She still holds your hearts and minds
A saintly glow
From your Special Lady
She will return and reign a second time
Made the nation stand up tall
Watch the despots, crack and fall
When she returns to fuck them all
Three lions roar that day!
Built a bridge across the pond
Magicked up a special bond
But where d'you think she got that wand?
That's all I'm gonna say!
She's your girl
A Special Lady!
She still holds your hearts and minds
A saintly glow
From your Special Lady
She will return and reign a second time
All lyrics by Mike Hord
© 2026 Mike Hord Music. All rights reserved
Votive O
Votive Offerings - What they say?
"Votive Offerings invites listeners into a world where these themes collide, creating tension, beauty, and reflection. On one hand, the album examines the state of our world today—its challenges, inequalities, and the way economic systems shape human behavior. It asks uncomfortable questions about ambition, consumption, and the cost of progress. On the other hand, it turns inward, delving into love as both a source of profound happiness and inevitable pain. Love, in its purest form, binds us together, yet it can fracture us just as easily. This duality becomes the heartbeat of the album.
Musically, the project is a daring fusion of innovation and emotion. Each track is meticulously crafted, blending atmospheric soundscapes with raw, thought-provoking lyrics. The result is a sonic journey that feels intimate yet expansive, personal yet universal. From haunting melodies that echo vulnerability to bold rhythms that pulse with urgency, Votive Offerings challenges traditional boundaries and redefines what it means to create art with purpose.
What sets this album apart is its ability to engage both the mind and the heart. It’s not background music—it demands attention, reflection, and conversation. Every song is layered with meaning, inviting listeners to confront their own truths while navigating the complexities of modern life. It’s an album for those who seek more than entertainment—those who crave substance, honesty, and connection.
In a time when the world feels fragmented and uncertain, Votive Offerings stands as a testament to the power of music as a mirror and a catalyst. It reminds us that while systems and structures shape our existence, love remains the most enduring force—a source of hope, joy, and, at times, heartbreak. This debut is more than an artistic milestone; it’s a call to pause, to feel, and to question.
With Votive Offerings, this artist delivers not just an album, but an offering—a gift of sound and meaning that resonates long after the final note fades."
Art Ingle