ALL
ALONE
All
alone, up here in my room
I'm at home inside my cocoon
All by myself
A snail inside a shell
I could go out and chase my blues
Hit the streets in my brand new shoes
Find a mama to light my fuse
But
I stay at home,
up here in my room
On my own,
me and my perfume
All by myself
Me and no one else
Listen to the voices that are talking in my head
Seeing people's faces that I've never met
I could go out and chase my blues
Hit the streets in my brand new shoes
Find a mama to light my fuse
But I stay at home
inside my cocoon
All alone
I croon my little tune
All by myself
A snail inside a shell
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YOU
AND I
We
caught a train from Sydney to Taree
We hitched a ride up into the hills
The night was black when we came upon the shack
There was no turning back
You and I came from far away
Time flew by, there was so much to say
You were shy when I kissed you on the bed
And we made love like newly-weds
We moved north after a year of courting
To study music seriously
All through summer we were singing and cavorting
We never felt so free
Wide-open spaces and forgotten places
Setting ablaze all the colours of the land
Guitars give wings to the words that we sing
From Freo to Queensland come dance to the band
You and I will go a long way
We will fly each and every day
Clear or cloudy sky we'll fly a long way
Higher than high we will fly
The years go by and the hills get steeper
There's new grapes on the vine
Harvest your heart and the song grows deeper
Like vintage wine
You and I we've come a long way
We can fly each and every day
Clear sky we'll fly a long way
Higher than high
Wide-open spaces and forgotten places
Setting ablaze all the colours of the land
Guitars gave wings to the words that we sing
From Freo to Queensland come dance to the band
You and I we've come a long way
We can fly each and every day
Clear sky we'll fly a long way
Higher than high we will fly
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THE
ROSE OF KORDOFAN
She
was born beneath the desert sky
The fairest girl in all of Kordofan
He was a shy boy who plucked his lyre
A nomad in a camel caravan
A father's promise must be kept forever
A silver necklace, a golden ring
They knew that they were born to be together
And every evening he would sing
My rose of Kordofan
In the darkness of the night
You are my shining light
The devils rode in on white horses
And set the huts on fire
No pity, no remorses
They left a funeral pyre
They took his uncle in the middle of the night
Pulled his nails and broke his bones
They found him in the morning light
Amongst the scorpions and the stones
His mother blessed his heart
Said you must leave now
A young man's life's not worth a thing
She held him to her breast
'Son, don't you grieve now
May your song give you wing'
My rose of Kordofan
In the darkness of the night
You are my shining light
For 7 days and 7 nights
They marched across the frozen peak
When they saw foreign lights
They were too weak to speak
They told them you must hide
Wait for the guide
In a room below the floor
They squeezed them side by side
They shook with fright
With every knock upon the door
They told them you must wait
Behind this gate
Never knowing what's in store
Don't speculate
Upon your fate
Until you reach a safer shore
The sea was rough
There was no roofing on the boat
The waves came crashing in
He knew the end was near
He shook with fear
But the song sang deep in him
My rose of Kordofan
In the darkness of the night
You are my shining light
He held onto a tyre
So many drowned but he was found
Through fences of barbed wire
He now sees desert all around
They cannot send him back
They cannot free him
They don't know what to do with him
Another refugee loses his sanity
Just a song that no one sings
Oh what a price to pay to be free?
You lock a man away and throw the key
The days and the months and the years go by
A rose slowly wilts and dies
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ECLIPSE
OF THE SUN
Why
do I feel afraid
And pray that my destiny would wait?
With my ticket at the gate
I wish that the plane would be delayed
Don't be sad, don't let my tears
Make you angry, make you mad
It was only an eclipse of the sun
And life's just begun
Every mountain is made low
The tallest tree comes falling down
Waves of tears will flow
King and queen must lose their throne
It's time to say goodbye
It's too late to question the reasons why
There's a knot we can't untie
A feeling we just can't rectify
There was a time when our hearts
Beat to the same chime
It was only an eclipse of the sun
And life had just begun
Every mountain is made low
The tallest tree comes falling down
Waves of tears will flow
King and queen must lose their throne
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THE
BETHLEHEM BELLRINGER
An
ancient church in Bethlehem
A target in a battle of men
Stands on the ground where Christ was born
Trapped inside the eye of a storm
Soldiers move from door to door
Mortar fire, it's all-out war
Army tanks patrol the street
They treat civilians with conceit
Oh
Jesus, please, help Palestine
Turn all that blood back into wine
Oh Turning Wheel, Divine Design
Please bring peace to Palestine
Samir
Ibrahim Salman
Fulfills his task the best he can
Each day at dawn he tolls the bells
While all around the army shells
He
walks across the Manger Square
For thirty years he's lived near there
A simple man who spends his time
In quiet prayer at Jesus' shrine
Upon
the roof a sniper aims
His bitter heart with hate inflames
Samir walks slow, his back bent low
And is struck down by the bullet's blow
For
many hours Samir lay there
Bleeding on the Manger Square
No ambulance permitted near
And so the bell ringer died here
An
ancient church in Bethlehem
The bells of peace won't chime again
The people now all live in fear
Grieving wails are all you hear
Oh
Jesus, please, help Palestine
Turn all that blood back into wine
Oh Turning Wheel, Divine Design
Please bring peace to Palestine
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PARTY
AT MY HOUSE
When
I was just a little baby
I already was a-rockin' in my cradle
Mama said: "look at that crazy kid.
Oh no! We haven't seen the end of it.
Can't keep that boy from going off!"
Can't keep that boy from going off!
Come
join the party at my house
Brother
Luc and cousin Kate
Well, they stayed home to procreate
But I lost my cool and burned the treaty
When Jacques Brel left for Tahiti
Soon I strayed from place to place
With a steel string guitar in its case
And my pack on my back
With a map on the track
All night boogie at the chicken shack
Big
Bill Broonzy slammin' on the guitar
Bill Black's combo picking out the bass line
The one and only mister Macaroni
Blows fire from a saxophone
Look at them women jiving on the dance floor
Waiting for you to come messing with the decor
You start shakin' 'till you can't take no more
Are you ready? One two three four
The
pharaoh in Egypt plucked his lyre
While the mummies set the crypt on fire!
From the Delta to Chicago
Muddy Waters worked his mojo
But now the kids don't care for blues
They wanna dance with hip hop shoes
Western Swing and Country, oh no!
All we want is doof and techno!
Nat
King Cole and Rock my soul
Feel like I'm knocking on heaven's door
I just can't control my feet
I'm on heat with the beat
Xango, Exu, Yemanja
Were the mighty Orixa
Who travelled from Nigeria
To Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica
For many years they kept it hidden
In sacred drums that secret rhythm
So if you're tired of doing waltzes
Dance the mambo, rumba, salsa
I
walk the beach in Honolulu
I'm in a bar room in Hong Kong
But not for long you come along
And ask me for a Hottentot song
Mabo, Cravo and Zimbabwe
Dim Dim, you will go a Long Way
If
you're feeling sore and stiff
You don't need to burn a spliff
All you need is an afro riff
Mbaqanga, Pachanga
Pop-Makossa, Kwasa Kwasa
Jit, Juju, Fuji and Marabi
Pachanga,
Mbaqanga,
Makossa, Kwasa Kwasa
Jit, Juju, Fuji and Marabi
Baaba
Maal, Fela Kuti,
Youssou, Franco and Salif,
Tabu Ley, Sam Mangwana,
Papa Wembe, Jimmy Cliff
Baaba
Maal, Toure Kounda,
Pepe Kale and Salif,
Tabu Ley, Chico Cesar,
Tina Turner, Jimmy Cliff
Benga,
Chimurenga,
Kalindula, Marrabenta
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THE
MONEY-GO-ROUND
It's
6 in the morning, I jump out of bed
Make me a strong cuppa coffee, I got a big day ahead
I'm a man on a mission, my time is worthwhile
I'm gonna get rich and I'll do it in style
I want it now! I want it now!
I want it now! I want it now!
I
want a ticket to ride on the money-go-round
The money-go-round, the money-go-round
I don't care if the world's coming down
On the money-go-round, the money-go-round
Oh
why does that woman spend so long in the shower
I should have been at work well over an hour
Out on the freeway, into the subway
Reading what the finance papers say
I
want a ticket to ride on the money-go-round
The money-go-round, the money-go-round
I don't care if the world's coming down
On the money-go-round, the money-go-round
Money
like honey attracts all the girls
Perfume, champagne, parties and pearls
I pick and I choose whom I wine and I dine
I sure have a really good time
Call
me on my mobile if you need some advice
Always remember, all things have a price
There's money in timber and there's money in fish
And there's money in music if I had my wish
I want it now! I want it now!
I want it now! I want it now!
The
world may end but money won't
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A
RESTING PLACE
Have
we not met before?
You ask me for a light
Yours seems a face I know
Behind the glasses and the spite
I
don't believe it's you
You've always been my loss
You look so frail and haggard
Like Jesus on the cross
You
show the markings on your arms
Like badges from the war
And tell me all the reasons
That you're really doing this for
Some
may give you praise
Some will tell you lies
You want to believe
But you're not satisfied
You
wander every shire
Like a pilgrim who has sinned
You travel like a fire
Hounded by the wind
You
knock on people's door
Tears run down your face
You beg them "All I ask
Is a resting place"
You
find shelter from the cold
A guest in someone's prison
Then you pack your bags and go
Before the sun has risen
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BABY
BLUE
On
Thursday morning Blue was born
In a Mullumbimby paradise
But that one day of joy turned to so much pain
When on Saturday they took Blue away
Baby Blue
They
took you to the hospital
Though you never really had a chance
Only the state has power over life itself
So they operate 'till they laid you in your flower bed
They changed lines 'till there were none left to chart
Only your heart
Baby Blue
So much pain you went through
Baby Blue
"She';s
so young, such burden to carry", they said,
"It';s their first born child"
And daddy has been waiting so long
For you to arrive
Baby Blue
Ocean Blue
You
were too young to speak a word
But everywhere your call was heard
You were the love that brought us all together
In the darkness shone your light
Soon Blue Healers multiplied
Someone prayed, someone cried
Someone held you through the night
And all of us were touched inside
Magnet of love, radiant prince
We like to thank you for the gift
Baby Blue
So much love around you
Angel Blue
Out
on the ocean we are scattering your ashes
Too soon it'll happen to us all
We will walk through that lonesome valley
Listening for your call
Baby Blue
Ocean Blue
Blue
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LITTLE
FOX
Puddles
on the frozen river
Hear the cracking of the ice
Is this a time for playing
Testing out the ice?
Nightfall
Throws a veil of mist
And I am calling you
Come home little fox, come home
Come home little fox, come home
Steadily
step, you've come this far
Don't turn back now
The river is wide and so exciting
Traps you easily
It traps you easily
Come home little fox, come home
Come home little fox, come home
Come home little fox, come home
Still
is the night, ill wind blowing
Where can you be?
Morning light, cold and lonely
Where can you be?
Springtime
It won't wait for you
Soon the woods will bloom
And the birds will nest
Come home little fox
Put my heart at rest
Come home little fox, come home
Come home little fox, come home
Come home little fox, come home
Come
home little fox
Come home little fox
Come home little fox, come home
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MABO
When
Captain Cook came to Australia he named it vacant land
Terra Nullius was the word for robbery
And so a country was built on a lie
'till there was one man who took a brave stand
Mabo Mabo
Eddie Koiki Mabo
For
30 years he struggled, his wife Nettie by his side
She was the flame of his Murray island home
They spied, they tried, denied his name
But now they fear him when we all cheer him
MABO MABO
Eddie Koiki Mabo
Eddie
faced the Queensland state, the government of the land
Lawyers, guns nor money, could hold Eddie back
He fought from nowhere to the highest Court
He used the law to open the door
Mabo MABO Mabo MABO
Eddie Koiki Mabo
Eddie
died before he saw his precious dream come true
He took his last breath in his darling Nettie's arms
Five months went by 'till the judges decided
That even a black man has rights to his own land
Mabo MABO Mabo MABO
Eddie Koiki Mabo
They
defaced his grave, they spread lies, they made a 10-point plan
"Nothing for the mob and everything for the man"
But truth's not decided by democracy
If justice is fairness why not share it with us?
Mabo MABO Mabo MABO
He
gave the people the people inspiration MABO
To end racial discrimination MABO
Justice, reconciliation MABO
He is the hero of our generation MABO
Eddie Koiki Mabo
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BIG
FELLOWS
I went walking with my little girl
When we saw a VIP
She was thrilled, her head in a whirl
If this man can, why can’t we?
Me and you stand in the queue
We’ve been taken for a ride
The little fellow does what he (she) can do
Big fellows do what they like (x2)
Oil sheiks, fashion queens romance in magazines
Always glamorous, having a ball
Plastic surgery, auctions at Sotheby,
Have a monopoly, the winner takes all.
The little fellow (x2)
Maria Elena looks like a cherubim
But for a nine year old life is grim
The streets of Sao Paolo, trapped within
The prison, the gang, the gun and the garbage bin.
I don’t claim to be an economist
Market restructuring, tariffs and growth
New world Order, I don’t get the gist
But what’s that hand doing around my throat?
BP, Esso, Nestle, McDonalds,
Transnationals have no face
We take the trees, you take the softdrinks,
Finance it with toxic waste
The little fellow (x2)
Riots in Caracas, Santo Domingo,
Caused by free trade and foreign debt
Free trade is not a fair trade
When poverty is all you get.
Lottery tickets, Jesus or Voodoo,
Pray that someday luck may strike
The little fellow (x2)
The big fellow talks of human rights
While trading arms that kill
The big fellow says he’s democratic
But the little ones foot the bill
Mobutu, Pinochet, every Italian
Politician is on the take
Washington Think-thank, IMF, Worldbank
So much hanky pank, give me a break
The little fellow (x2)
There comes a time, sooner or later
When something will be overlooked
The fish in his bowl trusts the water
In the water big fish is cooked
Mobutu, Pinochet repeat
That day the little fellows bought a cooking pot
Put the big fellow on the boil
Some of them ate too much for their own good
And that is how big fellows are born.
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BACK
IN BYRON BAY
I step out of the train
Into summer rain
My love waits at the gate
I’m back in Byron Bay
Far and wide I travel
The whole world is my home
But everywhere I ramble
I feel so all alone
‘till I come home again
Back into your arms
Back in Byron Bay
When I’m here I’m so happy
By the sea in our cabin
You and me
Sweetheart of my dreams
In New York, Rome or Rio
I smile and say hello
But I can’t stop that feeling
I’m a stranger everywhere I go
‘till I come home again
Back in to your arms
Back in Byron Bay
On the beach the tide rolls in
Moonlight falls upon your skin
Sweetheart of my dreams
Silver waves caress the sand
Dolphins dance while we romance
Our transcendental love
Far and wide I travel
The whole world is my home
But everywhere I ramble
I feel so all alone
‘till I come home again
Back into your arms
Back in Byron Bay
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INTO
THE LIGHT
Abandoned in the darkness
I stumbled through a night of tears and fright
I wept alone in silence
‘till from a cloak of shadows
I stepped into the light
Like a crab I crawled
Through woods of thorns and glass
I could not discern black from white
Until I stood upright
And walked into the light
Walk into the light
Walk into the light
I took advice from no one
And my voice was raised in praise only of myself
My song was taken from me
My tongue was cut and dried
As I stepped into the light
Walk into the light
Walk into the light
Before the gates an angel
Stood with a burning sword
She held the flames before my eyes
And I surrendered sight
To walk into the light
Walk into the light
Walk into the light
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LOOK
OVER YONDER
Newtown in the afternoon
From the window of the Toucan Tango club
Looking into the street below
I see you standing by the traffic lights
Lost in hesitation
Look here comes Charlie, he always has the blues
He’s found an apple with a heart of cherry
On the corner of King street and Brown
Right here in Newtown
Newtown in the afternoon
It’s been such a long while since I’ve seen her smile
She says there’s no place in the world
For such a, such a lonely girl
But hey baby, you can cross now
Can’t you see the lights are green?
Dark clouds went and took their shadows
Traffic’s gone, the road is free
Look over yonder, that saffron sunset
Silhouette against the sky
Swift swans and swooning swallows
Don’t let the chance go by.
“Oh no! I forgot my bag again
It happens all the time”
Sitting in the park she holds a book
You’re not really reading, you just look
And whenever she appears
There’s always a trace of tears
Hey sister, you can cross now
Can’t you hear those violins and chimes?
That endless static of broken promises
Has almost faded, these are the times
Look over yonder, that saffron sunset
Silhouette against the sky
Swift swans and swooning swallows
Don’t let it pass you by
Look over yonder, that saffron sunset
Silhouette against the sky
Swift swans and swooning swallows
Don’t let the chance go by
Jacaranda, angel with purple wings
Put that halo ‘round her
And keep her pace light and steady
Keep your pace with your state of grace
Because the night will lift her veil
Of a thousand stars
And reveal her face
Look over yonder
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PENKELE
Cleves & Ade
Penkele
oh oh oh oh Penkele
I don’t know why oh why, Penkele
I don’t know why
Why my friend had to die
This white man is so cruel
Fifteen years have passed
Since I’ve seen my brother
And now he’s come to die
In a foreign land
Mandela’s in jail
Tears and blood are everywhere
But now the time has come
No one stops the rising sun
The people have come
The fire of liberty’s blazing
In townships and in mines
From the Cape to the Limpopo
From die Rand and from die Veld
In the kraals and in the cities
The fire of liberty’s blazing
The people are fighting
The people are dying
On the streets
Oh oh oh oh aye
And now I know why
Why my friend had to die
Take a stand
To his spirit no rest shall come
Until the day all men will be free
Elu elu oh Penkele
In townships and in mines
The fire of liberty’s blazing
All men will be free
From the Cape to the Limpopo
The people are fighting
The people are dying
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TENDER
LOVING WOMAN
This
feeling is too strong for me, I cannot hide it
Never felt like this before in all my life
I’m through with playing cool, I’m through with lying
I want to hold you in my arms each night,
I want to kiss you, I want to touch you
I’m torn in two, I long for you
Chorus: Let me be your tender loving woman
I’ll be good to you
You’re the kind of man I always wanted
Right by my side, each day and each night
I wake up in the middle of the night, go walking along the beach
Seabreeze, it don’t cool me down
And when I sleep I have a crazy dream
You said our love was true, you said you want me
At every rendez-vous you held me tightly
I’m torn in two, I yearn for you
As you are leaving, take me with you
My heart is aching, my love is true
And if you ask me would I be the one,
I’d be willing, I’d be willing
I want to hold you in my arms each night,
I want to kiss you, I want to touch you
I’m torn in two, I long for you
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THE
CONISTON MASSACRE
Swagman Brooks drifted beyond the Lander river
Trapping dingoes in the Western desert
The soaks were dry, the mulga trees withered
The grass was brown, a hot wind made it shiver
Tribal hunters on the look for game
Too many cattle, too little rain
While hungry babies cry in vain
And then a fight, Fred Brooks was slain
He cheated on Bullfrog, a boomerang brought him down
They buried him quickly, his leg stuck from the ground
Mounted Constable William George Murray
Led the posse to investigate
No prisoners were to be taken
In his zeal to castigate
“cause what’s the use of a wounded blackfeller
So far from civilization?”
They shot them down like rabbits
Without a single provocation
Four weeks riding, guns against spears,
A hundred killings made the Western desert a valley of tears
Tell me what was their crime?
Did they not take care of the land?
Or was it time
To clear the land of the backward races
Put cows and sheep in their sacred places?
How to admit we’ve been blind?
How to belong, to give what is gone, to right the wrong?
The newspapers applauded
“He rides alone and always gets his man.”
The brutal truth was defrauded
The enquiry board another scam
They travelled to the last frontier
But no black man got their ear
Eventually it was certified
That the shooting was justified
The poor survivors could plainly see
That drawing shame from the nation
Was like milking the sap of a ringbarked tree
Tell me what was their crime?
Did they not take care of the land?
Or was it time
To clear the land of the backward races
Put cows and sheep in their sacred places?
How to admit we’ve been blind?
How to belong, to give what is gone, to right the wrong?
To make a stand, offer our hand, rights to the land.
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THE
LION OF KANDAHAR
Shadows
in the night scale the city wall, running past the minefields and the
guards
Swimming across the Helmand River, horses wait on the other side
Ammunition’s been delivered, an armoured convoy has been spied
Hurry along the mountain track, at the break of dawn we will attack
Who are these reckless men, foolhardy to despise the power of the Russian
war machine?
Who are these reckless men, what is it that inspires, to proudly call
themselves Mujahadin?
What can abate a man’s despair, when he sees the flesh of his child
flying through the air?
When homes are burning, bombs rain on the bazaar, put your faith in the
Lion of Kandahar.
CHORUS: He’s the sight, he’s the guide, he’s the light
of the people
The might that fights for the rights of the people
He’s the bite that unites the jaws of the people
The claw that enforces the laws of the people
One hundred thousand troops were brought in from the north, thousands
fled and many more have died
The crops were burned and on the fields poison gas was poured
But the soviet army could not turn the tide
Regiments of tanks now rust, burnt out trucks their drivers slain
Rotting corpses in the dust, boys from Georgia, the Ukraine
Radar stations on the land and warplanes in the skies
In a wilderness of rocks and dust only darkness brings disguise
Heat- seeking missiles find their targets from afar
But none could kill the Lion of Kandahar
CHORUS:
Now all of you who hear this song might easily presume that in the end
justice did prevail
But I regret you’re guessing wrong, your verdict comes too soon,
this story has a scorpions tail.
The patrons who supplied the guns in the US of A
For whom the war was nothing but a superpower play
Gave order to the rebels who brought down the red star
Aim your rocket launches at the town of Kandahar.
The old man sent the message through that he could not agree, surely these
foreigners would see
Inside these walls lived his men’s kin and family, to bomb the town
would be pure butchery.
Three weeks on the Lion was poisoned. Mortars pointed at the town
Trembling at the gruesome noise of fire and brimstone coming down
Deadly sparks in the heavens glow, hospitals now overflow
Some use guns, some use toxic gas that you will never see
On capital hill they kill by proxy all in the name of Democracy
The innocent in the firing line is the tactic of our time.
Somewhere far away in a mansion in Bellair, a president composes his memoirs
Security men surround the block in case some fool would dare to seek vengence,
but no one gets that far
Tall tales of the silver screen and horses he will share, but no mention
of the dead of Kandahar.
In the hermit kingdom the saying goes and sayings never lie,
A man who dies a noble man, that man will never die
I leave it to the juries of the future to decide, of which of them historians
will write
CHORUS:
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TO
COROICO
Two princes travelled on a quest
Into the wide, wide world
Always together, hand in hand
Two princes travelled on a quest
There lives a giant on a mountaintop
A turtle gives advice
There lies a treasure for the taking
All for the one who tries
We started out on the road to anywhere
The time has come. We are almost there
The night was long, the crossing deep and wide
Our eyes upon the shore on the other side
We bought provisions from a farmer
Coroico was the name of the Grail
First there were signs, then there were warnings
We found an old map pointing out a trail
From the Valley of the Moon to Coroico
Through the mighty magic jungle (to Coroico)
The Altiplano in the snow (to Coroico)
The crack of dawn the ship will go
In the sky seagulls waving
Fishes smile, waves are breaking
You put your trust in the captain of the ship
We started out on the road to anywhere
The time has come. We are almost there
The night was long, the crossing deep and wide
Our eyes upon the shore on the other side
In a circus tent in Santiago
They kept a woman in a cage
And as the crowd stood watching
She turned into an ape, jumped from the stage
From the Valley of the Moon to Coroico
Through the mighty magic jungle (to Coroico)
The Altiplano in the snow (to Coroico)
The crack of dawn the ship will go
Two princes travelled on a quest
Into the wide, wide world
Always together, hand in hand
A roof, the sky, a bed, goodbye,
A friend, a cry, always you and I
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ZECO
It’s
2 in the morning in Santa Cruz jail
I was woken by the changing of the guard
My dream started fading
as you held me close to your heart
We were both laughing, we were both running
Through the tall grass side by side
Then I tripped and I stumbled and I fell
to the ground when you cried
Zeco, come into the arms of mama
The sun is shining, let’s go hiding in the cane
Zeco, come into the arms of mama
Zeco come into my arms now
I killed a man for loving Joanne
Now I’m beating my fists against the wall
My heart is so heavy with sorrow
when I hear you call
Zeco (repeat chorus)
The judge said I give you a life behind bars
That is what you deserve for your crime
How I wished that I could hear your voice
one more time
Zeco (repeat chorus)
Jo is five years old, now he goes to school
And Joanne is taking care of the farm
She found a good man
who will never do her no harm
Zeco, take me in your arms, mama
Zeco, I’ve seen the writing on the wall
Zeco, take me in your arms mama
Zeco, take me in your arms
I will always watch over you, Zeco
Every day, every night
Be strong Zeco, don’t be afraid Zeco
In the darkness I’ll be your light
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A
LONG WAY
cleves & marthely
Now I see there was something in the air
I could not get a grip upon myself
I went down to the woman
Who knows what fortune be
She held my hand close to the light
And this is what she read
You will go a long way
You will go a long way
She looked at me, she looked at me
I see a girl who’s found
Her way into your heart
It had to happen from the start
She is lovely, oh so lovely
Go now if you must go
Stay if you must stay
Go now if you must go
You’ll go a long way
A long way
She looked at me, she looked at me
What she told me came as a surprise
The girl is born under a sign,
A perfect match with mine
Yes she likes you, wants to know you
In spite of this it’s you
Who will have to make the first move
Now run to her, go make her happy
You will go a long way
And when I see her dance
I fall into a trance
I listen to her sing
Brushed by angel wings
Her smile lights up the band
Seashells in the sand
Her hair sways to the drum
Dreadlocks round the sun
You will go a long way
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CARMEN
It’s
4 in the morning, a grey day dawning
Long distance call comes without warning
Can this be true?
A voice breaks down, can’t explain
To say the words that cause such pain
We lost you
Carmen
Stars fading, birds waking, without you
Without you
Tears falling down on to the ground
Where are you?
Carmen
Can you see me, come and hear my
Last goodbye
I was sleeping when death came creeping
Far away across the sea
Brazilian sky
Carmen
Stars fading, birds waking, without you
Without you
Tears falling down on to the ground
Where are you?
Tanta saudades, so much blues
Tanta tristeza, sad news
I’ve lost my friend
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DIVE
INTO THE NIGHT
Dive
in to the night, baby
Put that book back on the shelf
Why shut out the light, baby?
Why stay at home all by yourself?
Maybe you just try too hard
Got to give that rope some slack
Dive in to the night, baby
Take those red shoes from the shelf
Let’s turn on the lights, baby
Don’t stay at home all by yourself
Dive into the night x4
We’re all little fish in the sea
Come and swim a while with me
You’re always working late
Trying to get somewhere
You’re always in a hurry
With a trace of worry
Dive in to the night, baby
Put that book back on the shelf
Why shut out the light, baby
Why stay at home all by yourself
Dive in to the night x4
Lets go down to the bright side of town
Take a bottle of wine and
Dive into the night x4
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FALLEN
ANGELS
Silent
night, holy night
They’ve played that song all day
Outside the jewellery store
Where I work as a guard
And watch the square
Silent night, holy night
Fairy lights on the street
The traffic light turns red
And Joshua’s on his feet
To sell his wares
Joshua dives and Joshua darts
The taxis and the shopping carts
Lifts his tray (and) looks up at your window
Cigarettes and chewing gum
Joshua’s always on the run
He’s got the world on his shoulders
Who will see the star
That brightens up the night?
Who will shine a light
On fallen angels of the night
Silent night, holy night
She watches from the curb
Baby at her breast
She’s seen a lot of hurt
But who should care?
Joshua’s only six years old
He is so brave, he is so bold
What would she do without him?
She feels so tired, she’s had enough
Of sorrow and of sleeping rough
The future is so frightening
Who will see the star
That brightens up the night?
Who will shine a light
On fallen angels of the night
Silent night, holy night
I was locking up the shopfront gate
And saw the car when it was too late
Nothing would have stopped it
I heard her scream across the street
The child was lifted off its feet
And then the night dropped it
Who will see the star
That brightens up the night?
Who will shine a light
On fallen angels in the night?
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
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I
CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS
I’m
glad you came
This must be late for you
You know this hour of the night
I often wait for you
I am sorry to make you cry
I know your heart is true
You feel so far away
Don’t look at me like this
You’ve always been my very best friend
But you cannot cry my tears
It’s mine, this curse the devil sent
Cause of all my fears
I feel so far away
I can’t go on like this
The happy child you knew
Is nothing but a ghost
That wanders through the streets at night
A dealer for a host
I feel so all alone
I can’t go on like this
The sun comes up over the hill
Birds fly and a warm wind blows
But in my bones I feel a chill
Aching for another dose
Please don’t let me go
I can’t go on like this
The
pills I steal
From the cupboard of the warden
Help me through the darkness
On the other side of Jordan
I feel so all alone
I can’t go on like this
Once I dreamt I built a house
And in it were just us two
And you always were by my side
To tell me ‘I love you’
Please don’t let me go
I can’t go on like this
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SAILING
ON PERFECT TIME
I am sailing on perfect time x2
I’ve worked so many days
But now I’m on my ways
I must say my au revoirs
I’m off to Zanzibar
Far away from cars
I’ll sleep beneath the stars
I pack up my trombone
And disconnect the phone
There ain’t nobody home
I have no excuse
To listen to all the news
About them global blues
Don’t send me a fax
I’m here to relax
I have no wind for speech
I’m only out of reach
Just me and my peach
Somewhere on a beach
And how I like to surf
To be out on the sea
That’s my favourite turf
And if I get the urge
I just might sing a dirge
To the fishes all around me
And isn’t it sublime
To lie beneath the vine
And feed grapes to my muse
How can I refuse
I’m so totally confused
When she starts to seduce
And says: ‘I’ve put something in your juice'
She said: ‘I’ve put something in your juice’
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THE
BONNET OF THE CAR
They
stagger past the bouncer of the Storeybridge Hotel
Who thinks to himself while wishing them well
Another pay packet down the bottle
Down to the car park he wobbles on his knees
Leans on the woman as he fumbles with the keys
And they kissed and they fell on the bonnet of the car
He took off with a swell, like a shooting star
And they kissed and they fell on the bonnet of the car
Too many lonely nights since Anna took the kids
Tonight is gonna be a night of bliss
With his hand on her breast and the other hand on the wheel
Half undressed, tries his best, giving her a spiel
With his hand on her breast and the other hand on the wheel
Once he flew high, led a responsible life
But the weight was too heavy for his wings
They drove past South Bank and the fashion factories
Her head kept busy someplace between his knees
The night was too old for gallantries
He saw a man in uniform close down a shopfront gate
But didn’t see the boy ‘till it was too late
And he flew and he fell on the bonnet of the car
And he cracked like a shell, like a dying star
And he flew and he fell on the bonnet of the car
His face shone in the light, I see it every night
I didn’t wait, I was afraid, couldn’t think straight
I heard a scream in a bad dream that sealed my fate
I can’t take it any longer
She said “hey man, what’s that knock?”
I said “must have been a dog” as I speeded around the block
I was scared, I was drunk, I was stoned like solid rock
How I wish that I could turn back the clock
How I wish that I could turn back the clock
Once he flew high, led a responsible life
But the weight was too heavy for his wings
Whenever I see him he is nervous and uptight
Trying to escape the memory of that terrible night
His soul‘s gone down the bottle
Somewhere far-off a patrol car whines
The weight of the crime grows with the time
There’s a scratch and a dent on the bonnet of the car
A message that was sent from a falling star
There’s a scratch and a dent on the bonnet of the car
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THE HOUSE IS EMPTY
I used to burn like a log in a fire
A look from you filled me with desire
For you I’d put my hand in a fire
Failed the audition, forgot my lines
Or was it someone who’s been messing with the signs?
The house is empty, the flock has flown
If we can’t fly together, let me fly on my own
Don’t send me your photographs
I don’t need a picture to see you
You wrote the script, I played my part
Until I lost the key to your heart
First you walk on petals, then you step on thorns
First you give me praise, then you speak with scorn
The house is empty, the flock has flown
If we can’t fly together, let me fly on my own
All I wanted was a fantasy bride
What you needed was a ticket to ride
The house is empty, the flock has flown
If we can’t fly together, let me fly on my own
Memories can give you wings to fly
Or can make you lay down and cry
Why chew if there’s no meat left on the bone
The thrill is gone but the blues have grown
I’m at the airport, I leave a message on your phone
The dog is in the kennel, the garden‘s overgrown
The house is empty, the flock has flown
If we can’t fly together, I’ll fly on my own
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GONE ARE THE DAYS
I wore a suit, drove a Mercedes Benz
To the chapel of Saint Caroline
I picked her fruit, ate all her berries
Drank all the wine and then I thrashed the shrine
Gone are the days
What you’re gonna do now?
You should have changed your ways
While it was time
Too late for tears
There’s only sorrow
You should have thought of that
Before the crime
My uncle Freddie was an undertaker
The best business money can buy
He said ‘boy’ and his hand was shaking
‘You will miss the water when the well runs dry’
‘You will miss the water when the well runs dry’
Gone are the days…
Hey mama, hey daddy, come and take me
Take me to higher ground
Hey mum, hey dad I’m coming to meet you
As soon as the sun goes down
Gone are the days…
I’m standing on a bridge waiting for my saviour
Should I jump? Will I fall?
I stand ready to meet my maker
How long before the angels call?
Gone are the days…
Look out Johnny, be careful what you wish for
You can’t see the stars when the sun is high
Look out Johnny, be careful what you fish for
You will miss the water when the well runs dry
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LEAVING BYRON BAY
Too late
I’ll leave you my estate
I give it all away
I’m leaving Byron Bay
Too late
The beans are on your plate
The bills are yours to pay
I’m leaving Byron Bay
You and I let time slip by
‘Till my watch broke down
Left it ‘till the creek ran dry
‘Till the grass turned brown
‘Till the rats left town
Too late
The game reached a stalemate
One goes and one must stay
I’m leaving Byron Bay
Dry your tears
The train is waiting
The sun appears
The lighthouse fading
Plaisir d’amour
Chagrin d’amour
I’m leaving Byron Bay
Too late
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LOST IN LEIPZIG
Snow on the windscreen and ice on the road
I’m walking the streets in my grandfather’s coat
Left my car in a loading zone
I’ve lost my way, far from home
The church of Saint Thomas has grime on its face
While inside the ghost of Sebastian plays
It’s not the sound of his ancient klavier
But the gipsy outside that brings on a tear
Lost in Leipzig
I’m lost in Leipzig
Lost in Leipzig
The old regime has clipped his wings
But in the cold the gipsy sings
Lost in Leipzig
I’m lost in Leipzig
She comes home from work and takes off her coat
There on the table is the note that I wrote
She puts on a kettle, picks up a toy
A goodnight kiss to our little boy
She gathers some clothing and stares in a daze
Washing the dishes while Mendelssohn plays
Hands me a bowl of peaches and cream
‘Till it all fades away like a scene from a dream
Lost in Leipzig
I’m lost in Leipzig
Lost in Leipzig
The old regime has clipped his wings
But in the cold this gipsy sings
Lost in Leipzig
I’m lost in Leipzig
Lock my heart up in a case
Of memories I can’t erase
Go looking for a hiding place
Lost in Leipzig
I’m lost in Leipzig
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WAY DOWN IN THE MINES
I wish I ‘d find a diamond sparkling in the sand
Blue and yellow twinklin’ in the palm of my hand
My feet would run, my heart would laugh,
My eyes would start to cry
And if I found that diamond, your love I could buy.
Two long years have passed since the morning I did go
Seventeen I was, too young to know
With my head up high I went or the mines
Digging stone way down in the mines.
I wish I could run through the flowers ’round your house
I wish I could work again on your father’s farm
Hear you call for suppertime when the day is getting dark
And that I could lay with you when the dogs loose their bark.
Our wooden sheds are cold, the mineshafts dark and damp
The people here don’t like these strangers in their land
We’re just migrant labour, working in the mines
Digging stone way down in the mines.
Dust in my lungs, dirt in my skin
The foreman fines you on a whim
We don’t work hard and he will mark us
Always digging in the darkness
In the mines
Way down in the mines
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DEAR MELANIE
Last night in Mooball I went to a church hall
To hear the town choir sing
Everyone stood tall when they sang ‘Tell me now’
Oh what a thrill that song brings
Oh dear Melanie
I always thought that you would walk with me
Trying to become what we dream we could be
In this world of darkness where truth is a carcass
You shone like a beacon to me
Oh dear Melanie
You always sang with such honesty
In defence of justice and dignity
Daylight was fading, the lanterns parading
It’s still clear in my memory
There was Kirsten McKenzie and Teresa Castley
Rachel and you Melanie
Oh how your voices would soar
As the festival crowd yelled out for more
And everyone there felt a sacred rapport
Could nobody help you
Could nobody tell you or spare you from your misery
Oh dear Melanie
It was too hard to find harmony
And so you had to set your soul free
Here we stand, hand in hand
Sing your song over the land
Fly, dear Melanie
You pierced the sky with your heart Melanie
Stars multiplied when you sang Melanie
dear Melanie
I always thought that you would walk with me
dear Melanie
Trying to become what you dreamt you could be
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WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH
Where do you go when the going gets tough?
Can’t take it no more, you’ve had enough
Once the neon lights shone pretty like haloes round the moon
There’s only ghosts left in this city
The long dark night is coming soon
Lower your wings, let the hunt go south
Sleep in your clothes, living hand to mouth
Leave behind your razor and your gun
Vengeance once begun won’t be undone
Veil your light, keep your heart still
Tomorrow you’ll climb the second hill
A hunter with a poison arrow shot your self-esteem
Stole your heart and then he left you
Hanging on to a crazy dream
The mountains are forbidden
But “radiance cannot be hidden’
For every battle lost, a battle’s won
First you learn to walk and then you run
Light a candle when the stars are out
Ask yourself what it’s all about
For every battle lost, a battle’s won
First you learn to walk and then you run
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HOUSE OF SORROW
The sun don’t rise in my house of sorrow
No one here talks of tomorrow
Only memories of days gone by
All I can do is watch and cry
The future stands forlorn and mute
Who can make it sing?
The virgin bride she looks so cute?
Who stole her wedding ring?
Everything must break, everything wears out
It won’t help to scream and shout,
If my tears were dollar bills
I’d own the castle on the hill
God in heaven wears a frown
The king is captured, the hawk shot down
The fire is locked up in a jar
The Mona Lisa’s smile a crooked scar
So quickly laughter turns to tears
Will my tears run dry?
I saw my dreams turn into fears
And still I don’t know why
Everything must break, everything wears out
It won’t help to scream and shout,
If my tears were dollar bills
I’d own the castle on the hill
The sun don’t rise in my house of sorrow
No one here talks of tomorrow
Only memories of days gone by
All I can do is watch and cry
The future stands forlorn and mute
Who can make it sing?
The virgin bride she looks so cute?
Who stole her wedding ring?
Look how my cherished fields lay bare
From the seeds I planted with such care
If my tears were dollar bills
I’d own the castle on the hill (x2)
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MARTHA PLEASE
I call her name, she don’t hear me
Like a ghost she cannot see me
Too much hurt remains unspoken
Martha’s angel wings are broken
Martha is in a world of her own
Martha please pick up the phone
She crawls away inside a vault
Blames herself for all his faults
Now each day is sink or swim
Martha cannot forget him
She screams out loud: ‘Oh why
Did such a great love die?
We were the perfect dancers.’
Oh Martha, some questions don’t have answers.
Martha is in a world of her own
Martha please pick up the phone
When I see your misery
It hurts like it ‘s been done to me
How long will you fantasize
Until you finally realize
That all this time you built a shrine
To a love that was more vinegar than wine
Martha is in a world of her own
Martha please pick up the phone
She tears the rosebuds from the stem
Still she cannot smell them
In her heart is lodged a thorn
Makes her wish she’d never been born
All night long she moans and weeps
But Martha’s sorrow never sleeps
Martha is in a world of her own
Martha please pick up the phone
Martha please
Martha please
Martha please
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PRINCE OF DARKNESS
Who are you prince of darkness who comes brandishing a knife
With what curse did you mark us to strike terror in our hearts
To make us shake and shiver and to watch our memories burn
Who carried you across the raging river and held your hand at every turn?
Who can save you if you don’t want to save yourself?
Who can love you if you don’t love yourself?
You say I’m stealing berries from the beaks of tiny sparrows
That I’m giving you the used bones after sucking out the marrow
You say some wounds will always bleed, that the hounds of anger must stampede
That the winds of vengeance will succeed but in such fierce winds my love can’t seed
Who can heal you if you don’t want to heal yourself?
Who can love you if you don’t love yourself?
Harsh words can break glass and broken glass cuts deep
These wounds from the past make us both weep
Don’t you know me prince of darkness when your heart bleeds so does mine
Can’t you see me prince of darkness we’re both branches of the same vine
Remember prince of darkness that it won’t be long before the sun hits noon
Remember prince of darkness that our precious life will be gone too soon
Who can save you if you don’t want to save yourself?
Who can love you if you don’t love yourself?
Behold prince of the darkness the horizon looks so sombre
You must set out right now if you want to reach the sun that’s yonder
I made a solemn vow that I won’t be your whipping boy no longer
Each time you feel the need to hurt someone who is stronger
Who can heal you if you don’t want to heal yourself?
Who can love you if you don’t love yourself?
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LESSON TO ME
There is an answer to the question you pose
The thorns did not come with the smell of a rose
And I cried tears before I could see
That was your lesson to me
You told me that I was your only true love
But a promise of words is never enough
A love meant for two cannot be for three
That was your lesson to me
Here I sit all alone by the sea
With the moon shining down on me
I never thought I could feel such pain
To know I won’t see you again
You told me that I was your only true love
But a promise of words is never enough
A love meant for two cannot be for three
That was your lesson to me
Tonight I must stay out of sight
Look up at the stars so bright
I will let tomorrow free my sorrow
In the morning light
There is an answer to the question you pose
The thorns did not come with the smell of a rose
And I cried tears before I could see
That was your lesson to me
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SUZANNE
honey your heart’s been torn
Ever since Jake was born
Oh Suzanne
And so it all began
Then came that other man
Suzanne
Think it over
He’s a Casanova
A crack in your armour
Used by a cheap charmer
Suzanne
Milk bottles in the sink
The children are on the brink
Oh Suzanne
Why set your house on fire
To quench a brief desire
Suzanne
Why would you swap the sky
For a few grains of sand
Everyone wants to fly
No one wants to land
Three weeks have come and gone
each week feels twice as long
Oh Suzanne
Since when did our love expire
Our hearts are not for hire
Suzanne don’t play poker
with a four-leaf clover
A crack in your armour
Used by a cheap charmer
Suzanne
Don’t wait till the time has come
When the damage can’t be undone
Oh Suzanne
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ALL THE TIRED MEN
All the tired men
sitting in the park
in the morning sun
linger by the river
loiter in the mall
another day’s begun
Living in a motel
A toilet down the hall
A single bed and four bare walls
The kids have long left home
But no one ever calls
All the tired men
sitting at the bar of
the Maryland hotel
The barmaid moves away
No one wants to hear
the sorry tales they tell
of dreams they can’t remember
scars they can’t forget
battles almost won
of damage they have suffered
the damage they have done
These crutches from the war
What were we fighting for
Does anyone recall?
These medals on my chest
Do they really mean
anything at all?
Some of them die early
Others die too late
Most of us were left behind
I know Jesus loves me
Bur Lady Fate is blind
All the tired men
sitting in the park
in the morning sun
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GOLDEN CAGE
She was a child nobody wanted
Brought up in a foster home
Ward of the state she got a name
She could not call her own
She had eyes like honey
Businessmen saw bags of money
Baby, I’ll make you a star
In a golden cage sitting on a swing
In a golden cage pretty bird won’t sing
In a golden cage pretty bird won’t sing
She took a train to paradise
With a pocket full of dreams
She learned to strut on scarlet carpets
In diamond-studded jeans
She thought she was Cinderella
Married a fine sporting fella
Held it down with little reds and blues
In a golden cage sitting on a swing
In a golden cage pretty bird won’t sing
In a golden cage pretty bird won’t sing
She was lonely and unhappy
She went a little wild
She had come far for a girl
Who was molested as a child
Riding in her limousine
All that she could do was scream
In a fit of rage and despair
In a golden cage pretty bird won’t fly
In a golden cage pretty bird will die
In a golden cage pretty bird must die
When they found her
There was much talk
Judgement, fantasy
Tell me did she ever
Have a chance to be free
In a golden cage
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AM I THE MAN?
Back in the days when the world was young
And my dreams could only be sung
I was a man with a mountain to climb
In a world with more punishment than crime
You get a good deal, go without a meal
Life‘s a dream, who sleeps thinks it’s real
Life is a gift, life is a curse
Lay in the crib, soon ride in a hearse
Am I the man I wanted to be?
Tell me what am I doing here?
Step out of the frame, it’s all just a game
For all my deeds I take the blame
You know who I am, you know where I stand
Come to me with your helping hand
Show me a place to hammer my nails
I’m tired of the chase, everything fails
Show me sign, throw me a line
Has the party run out of wine?
Am I the man I wanted to be?
Tell me what am I doing here?
Pull down the shades as the afternoon fades
Sell the estate, my bed is made
Open the gate, don’t make us wait
Wise men say it’s never too late
The walls are too high, teach me to fly
I’d like to know the reasons why
Am I the man I wanted to be?
Tell me what am I doing here?
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WHY MUST ONE ALWAYS LEAVE (THE OTHER BEHIND)
Why must one always leave
While the other stays behind?
Why do I always think
That I’m one of a kind?
Zip up my suitcase
The taxi is at the door
I said what I had to say
I couldn’t say more
I leave like a thief
Our love affair was only brief
You always wore that ring
Like a fling of thing
I fell down from the heavens above
Stripped more than the polish of my shoes
But grief always comes from the one you love
Leaves me with these broken-hearted blues
Why must one always leave
While the other stays behind?
Why do I always think
That I’m one of a kind?
Did nobody tell you
That there was a price to pay?
Did you think it would be like this,
Or some other way?
All the lies you told me
Have been driving me insane
Trust comes walking
Leaves by plane
Why must one always leave
The other behind
You got me spinning baby
I’m going out of my mind
You got me spinning baby
I’m going out of my mind
Why must one always leave
The other behind
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LIVING ON BORROWED TIME
Where have you been Bo Weevil
I crawled through the eye of a needle
A minute before high noon
I was crooning my last tune
My life could not get cheaper
I could not have sunk deeper
When the buzzer on my beeper
Announced the grim reaper
Give me the contract and I’ll sign
To live on borrowed time
Hand me the pen, I’ll make it mine
Living on borrowed time
My life has been a difficult affair
It often stripped me to my underwear
No gas in the tank, no cash in the bank
come rain, come shine
Nothing I could claim as mine
living on borrowed time
on borrowed time
How did I survive
A cat has nine lives
But I’ve already lived ten
I know we all must die
It is not a question of why but when
Only those fit and fine
Can live on borrowed time
And so I waved you all goodbye
But I did not deserve another try
To snare a palomino mare
And gallop like a millionaire
from the green grass of nowhere
to the gazebo on the town square
to sing for all who is there
Pour me a glass of wine
I’m living on borrowed time
on borrowed time
Now each day is a precious gift
And you can bet that I am not ready yet
for a lift in a hearse
Though I’m prepared for the worst
But I must hurry first
with an unquenchable thirst
an irresistible urge
for the song of the hummingbirds
the shade of apple trees
nectar of the honey bees
the salt on the ocean breeze
Look! I ‘m on my knees
To sign another lease
To paint my masterpiece
To pluck a grape from the vine
And live on borrowed time
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