Warm Hand |
Marvellous year
|
This Is London
The traffic has gone quiet
Just the finger-tip drumming
Of the last train on the hill
Now only I can hear it coming
And the moon is way up high
Like a giant map-maker
She paints the windows of our house
With a yellow highlighter
And a voice says This Is London
And I wait and count the beats
And the night fills up the valley
And the cleaners clean the streets
And the words bounce off the satellites
And they fall back down to earth
Across miles and miles of ocean
To the city of my birth
And the inattentive drivers
And the black ice on the bridges
And the friends who break their promises
And the comfortless strangers
I can see them all a-circling
Out there in the future
But tonight they can't hurt you
Tonight they don't matter
[Chorus]
I know you are asleep now
You've gone heavy on my shoulder
I carry you to your bed
Like a boat across the water
[Chorus]
Toy Factory Fire
Here's Bart Simpson, with his arms all melted and twisted
And here's one of Big Bird, with his feathers all matted and black
And here are the rows of young women
Wrapped up in bolts of white nylon
And the families from the countryside come to take their daughters back
I look up from my desk as the light turns the Hudson to mercury
The rest of the office are getting ready to leave
But it's 10 years since the fire
The Toy Factory fire
It's going to be one of those weeks; I roll up my sleeves
They said it was a death-trap from a text-book
Fire Exits just painted on
Locks and chains to keep out the unions
And piles of white nylon all around
But we've built a dozen more to fill our orders
We've had to keep moving around
Since May 10th 1993
When the Kader Toy Factory burnt down
A fire in Thailand could be a bus crash in Africa
The stories weren't big; they did not make the six o'clock news
But the pictures were something else
They could have driven us down to hell
I knew this was a fight we couldn't afford to lose
[Chorus]
I look at the photographs once more in the Manhattan sunset
The same light falls on the one of my wife and my kids
Then I put them back in the file
Permit myself a smile
Keeping them hidden was the best work I ever did
‘Cause people like us, we do make the world better
And if it's better for us, it's better for everyone
I open the window to the rush hour sirens on West Street
I see the Power and the Glory all over this town
All over this town
Blame
He built for them a tower
So they'd look out on everything
The more he worked on it
The less they saw of him
And no-one was to blame
The walls were made of paper
The floors were made of air
He made them take their shoes off
And he carried them everywhere
And no-one was to blame
But It was more than they could do
More than they could do
To open up the gate
More than they could take
To break his bones,
And set them straight
They could see that he was glad
As the tower climbed more and more
And after he would go inside
They'd lock the door
And no-one was to blame
And the children they would whisper
When they went out to play
And though they needed him like oxygen
They'd lock it anyway
And no-one was to blame
But It was more than they could do
More than they could do
To open up the gate
More than they could take
To break his bones,
And set them straight
Harbour Bridge
Oh Harbour Bridge
Why'd you have to be so grey?
I drove her to the airport
And I ran out of things to say
The colour of the girders
The colour of the day
All the colour washing
All the colour washing
All the colour washing away
Oh Harbour Bridge
Why'd you have to be so long?
I had some things to tell her
But I looked and she was gone
She says we can be free now
We both can move along
All the clouds are drifting
All the clouds are drifting
All the clouds are drifting
To the sun
Oh Harbour Bridge
Why'd you have to be so high?
Lights across the water
A bracelet in the sky
You made it so convenient
To get from A to B
I sit in my car
The car sits on its wheels
The wheels sit high above the waves
On tons of Japanese steel
The steel goes through the water
It's bolted to the ground
And everything is turning
Gracefully we're turning
All the world is turning around
Courier
I catch the ferry with the evening sun
Everywhere you look there's police with guns
On the bulkheads, hand-lettered signs
In every language but mine
But no mistaking their intention
I think of what I'll buy with the money I'll get
But one false move and I'll get caught
My blood is humming like the engines
My jacket's big to hide the shape
A high-street fortune under silver tape
More uniforms on the lower deck
I think by now they can see me sweat
How I wish I'd never planned this
I think of how you looked when you saw me off
Your green dress slowly getting lost
Among the crowd along the landing
And there's far too many people in the world
For everyone to be just background noise
A handful have to matter more than we could ever say
I just learned this today
The boat leaves the city like a painter stepping back
Centre frame the buildings shrinking into black
While all around the sky expands
I see the clouds hanging on the land
And the grey night descending
The stern wave folds its paper dart
I know this story off by heart
But all at once I can see the ending
And there's far too many people in the world
For everyone to be just background noise
A handful have to matter more than we could ever say
I just learned this today
I don't know why I never told you
I'm out of my depth and I need to hold you
Passenger 26
The last passenger on my list, number twenty six
She has to sit up the front with me
I'm joking on the intercom 'cause this part of Highway One
You wouldn't exactly pay to see
Backyards, rusting cars and sheets out on the line till the six lanes come down to two
And all the time she's giving me that look I've seen before
But this time I don't know what to do
Changing down on the road to the bay
Parking on the gravel strip
By the motel and the putting green
Once the travellers' cheques are signed
She and I wait behind; I get us Ice-creams from the machine
John runs this motel and
He has a scar and a crooked hand
He says: business hasn't been too good
Ever since the river mouth shifted to the south
And the trees washed down in the flood
And he says; you remember Mary and Jack?
They had a baby - a few months back. That's their house - on that hill
He's a fine and healthy child
His dad's eyes and his mother's smile, but he's got webbed fingers and a fish's tail
After dark we meet in the bus
Her skin tastes like salt
She rolls her eyes back when she comes
I wake up to the sound of the tide
I don't see her so I walk outside
The Coromandels turn in their sleep
They breathe ; across the deep
As I climb the hill
Just like the way she - breathed on me
Once she was still
The moon spills on the sea like silver paint on a black dress
I check my list again
There were only ever twenty five
And didn't John with the crooked hand say:
Its not human and it's not a bird
But sometimes you'd swear you heard a cry
It means gales are coming
It means gales are coming
Through the gap
I think of my passenger
Wind's getting up
Wind's getting up
I will not let you down (by Sean Donnelly)
You must try to believe
That I will be coming through
I have burnt every bridge that I've crossed
There's no bridge from here to you
So I row to your isle
All that distance reconciled
Should my arms, shoulders fail
Put my trust in wind and sail
I need you to believe
That I will be coming through
I have carried my cross at each step
Apon my neck for you
Cause I will not let you down
I will not let you down
That's for sure
I will not let you down
I will not let you down
Any more
There's a tear in my eye
And an ocean of swallowed pride
There's a heart here that beats like a drum
As I sing the waters by
Ties that comfort
Ties that bind
There's a temple in my mind
With an altar
Set for you
So you know my word is true
And I will not let you down
I will not let you down
That's for sure
I will not let you down
I will not let you down
That's for sure
I will not let you down
I will not let you down
Any more
Miracle Sun
They say when people get to the water
They don't undress, they just keep on walking out from the beach
They say men weep when they see the dolphin
He comes in close and does tricks for the children just out of reach
And we're on our way
Through the big forest
There's a line of cars
Coming down the hill
They say he lets you go right up and touch him
They say he lets you ride on his back all slippery and gold
And the sun comes in through the hot windscreen
And the trees reach out all dusty and green along the road
And we're on our way
Through the big forest
There's a line of cars
Coming down the hill
Are you going where we're going?
Are you going where we're going?
I hope you will
Miracle Sun
Shine on my sister
Shine on our car
Miracle Sun
Shine on the water
Shine in my heart
Queen Of The Night
The scented skin of your arm
Lies heavy on my chest
Outside the morning has begun
The day we've spoken of
That day has finally come
When Christian took the Bounty
I kept my carpenters' tools
And built this house on the island
I wonder if I'll build again
Now they've come to take me home
Queen Of The Night
I'm going away
The strange black ship
Now lies in the bay
I have stayed
Much too long
And I cannot put things right
Queen Of The Night
Queen Of The Night
Put on your cloak of beaten cloth
And put that comb in your hair
The one I carved from mother-of-pearl
To mark the end of our first year…
The landing party's here
[Chorus x2]
The switch
The switch goes on
My son, my son
The switch goes on
And it'll never turn off
The light goes on
My son, my son
The light goes on
And it'll never turn off
Oh won't you stay
You'll be so far away
Before you know
Oh no
Oh won't you stay
You'll be so far away
Before you know
Oh no
The switch goes on
My son, my son
The switch goes on
And it'll never turn off
You'll see someone
My son, my son
You'll see someone
And you'll never look away
Right now you needn't have a plan
Forget it while you can
You'll find one that fits you
Right now everything still turns to gold
But that water's running cold
And you won't know what hit you
Oh won't you stay
You'll be so far away
Before you know
Oh no
Oh won't you stay
You'll be so far away
Before you know
Oh no
'Cause the switch goes on
My son, my son
The switch goes on
And it'll never turn off
The light goes on
My son, my son
The light goes on
And it'll never turn off
Oh won't you stay
You'll be so far away
Before you know
Oh no Oh won't you stay
You'll be so far away
Before you know Oh no
'Cause the switch goes on
My son, my son
The switch goes on
And it'll never turn off
The light goes on
My son, my son
The light goes on
And it'll never turn off
Bad blood
He got on my bus
It was a warm in December
I thought perhaps we'd met before
I couldn't quite remember
He was a snappy dresser
As far as I could tell
Black was his favourite colour
But he wore it very well
All the cars on the overpass were standing still
And the sun rolled on the rooftops and the playing fields
And everyone was on their way and thinking they're already there
And the trees were turning red along the shore
Bad blood between us
A mistake I must have made
Something I'd forgotten
Some kind of trust betrayed
We glided through the suburbs
Where the quiet people live
We stopped at every bus stop
And I wished each one was his
All the cars on the overpass were standing still
And the sun rolled on the rooftops and the playing fields
And everyone was on their way and thinking they're already there
And the trees were turning red along the shore
And he followed me to my front door
When we got there he let us in
He seemed to have a key
We lay in bed like spoons in a drawer
You couldn't tell which one of us was me
And every day I whished he'd go
But I was too polite to say so
And my life slipped its gears for a couple of years
Then one day he went away
Down a grey cul de sac
Walked off without a word
But I doubt that he'll be back
And all the cars on the overpass are standing still
And the sun rolls on the rooftops and the playing fields
And everyone's on their way and thinking they're already there
And the trees are turning red along the shore
And nothing is the same any more
And the trees are turning red along the shore
And nothing is the same any more
Not ready
I dreamed we were riding - I was holding you tight
I dreamed we were riding - I was holding you tight
A hawk flew up above the road as we came into sight
The lake was all in shadow - and the road was long
The lake was all in shadow - and the road was long
The stones were sharp and I could taste the dust on my tongue
I dreamed we were riding - then everything shattered
I dreamed we were riding - then everything shattered
But we are bones and weight and water - the promises we make, they matter
I'm not ready
It's been a long time since I saw you last
The sky is law along the land
I'm traveling light through the longest night
My guitar in my hand
I lie down behind the speaker stacks
Hungry for a little grace
Would you still lay a table for me
Would you set me a place
Away in a distant room I find
Away in the back of my mind
There is a radio on
And you're the song
I have to strain to listen
I can't even hear the words
Now the audience is coming in
All that's left is the chords
Chord 1 thinks the world revolves around him
Chord 6 is beautiful and blue
Chord 5 is cheap, but at least he keeps
Me coming back to you
Coming back to you
Away in a distant room I find
Away in the back of my mind
There is a radio on
And you're the song
Pack my guitar out a bar somewhere
Wondering what I'm going to do
I lean the case on the fire escape and listen for you
Away in a distant room I find
Away in the back of my mind
There is a radio on
And you're the song
Everything's broken; life's so sweet
I rest my head on the back of your neck
So warm, so warm
You touch my hand and get on with your work
Keep, on, keep on
It's cold outside
They're burning tables and chairs
Feels like a storm's coming
But you and me we couldn't care less
'Cause everything's broken in this house
Everything's incomplete
Everything's broken in this house
But life's so sweet
Life's so sweet
When you rest your arm is started to wear a shine
In the cloth, in the cloth
The weight of your step, the scrape of your key
In the lock, in the lock
It's cold outside
They're burning tables and chairs
Feels like a storm's coming
But you and me we couldn't care less
'Cause everything's broken in this house
Everything's incomplete
Everything's broken in this house
But life's so sweet
Life's so sweet
Steam ship's coming
Through the big grey seas
On the landing, people standing
You can see a man leaning on the rail
Could that be him? It looks like him
Like an electric charge along a wire
Like a spark flying up from a fire
The rumours going round
On the 18th day
Our land will be watered
On the 18th Day
Four our sons and ours daughters
They tore down the village
They burnt our crops
But when the prophets return
New seeds will be sown
Those who oppress us
Will be made to look small
We will stand together
Under the white feather
Like an electric charge along a wire
Like a spark flying up from a fire
The rumours going round
On the 18th day
Our land will be watered
On the 18th Day
Four our sons and ours daughters
There you go again around our sun
No-one even knows where you come from
You sail across the sky with you tail of sparkling ice
Many years ago word would get around
Everyone would move to higher ground
The mountain tops would ring with prayers and sacrifice
There you go our lovely friend
Don't wait so long to come again
And if you meet someone along the road
Remember us, and say we said hullo
Now the jury's out on our existence
Seems to be some doubt we'll go the distance
The worst are full of passionate intensity
While the best just try to cope
There you go our lovely friend
Don't wait so long to come again
Cause we did a lot of things, and some of them were good
We did a lot of things, we did the best that we could
We had Democracy, Dentistry, Waist-band elastic, Rhythmic Gymnastics, The Rule Of Law, The Rule Of Thumb, Fire, The Wheel, Rugby Union, The Petrol Engine, The Old-Age Pension, The Fire Of Hades, The Briscoes Lady, Dental Floss, Motorcross, The Koran, The Torah, Interflora
And in that marvellous year some child should have been born
To look up at the sky and write you a song
Radio programmer
Types on the keyboard
With two strong fingers
Tapping out the songs
Beautiful assistant
In the little black dress
Brings him round a coffee
Black and strong
And he loves his wife
And he loves his family
And he works a long day
To play his part
For the sake of the songs
For the sake of the industry
Makes it look so easy
But it's so hard
Take for instance this one
By the Seven Sisters
It's gonna be a tough a call
But there might be a way
Sweat on his brow
His fingers blistered
He kneels down by his desk
And he begins to pray
"Sweet Father in Heaven
I'm not feeling well
Send me down a sign
About this song
Will it make 'em smile?
And tap tap the steering wheel?
I feel so weak
When I should be strong"
But he types in the code
And he feels a weight lifting
And he just knows
That he's done the right thing
He calls his beautiful assistant
In the little black dress
Says "I'm going home home now"
And he begins to sing
And he loves his wife
And he loves his family
And he works a long day
To play his part
For the sake of the songs
For the sake of the industry
Makes it look so easy
But it's so hard
Radio programmer
Radio programmer
Radio programmer
C2006P1 (Make yourself at home)
When you come around our sun
(Well it's less ours than it is yours)
Dinosaurs die, seas run dry
As a matter of course.
This time it wasn't so bad
You got a headline or three
But if you'd have come a little closer
You wouldn't be hearing from me
I must say you're looking fine
Your trial of silver dust
We think the world of you
What do you think of us?
What will you see next time?
And will you come alone?
We hope to be here, but if we're not, well
Just make yourself at home
C 2006 P1 is the name we know you by
But out there who else has stared at you
With strange unblinking eyes?
And who else has named you?
And what did they prophesy?
For what did they blame you?
As you swept across their sky?
C 2006 P1 is the name we know you by
But out there who else has stared at you
With strange unblinking eyes?
And when you come around again
Will you come alone?
We hope to be here, but if we're not,
Just make yourself at home
We hope to be here, but if we're not,
Just make yourself at home
Like a bird
Through prisons bar
I'm escaping
And behind me on the long highway
Lies all that I've forsaken
Cool river, flow
I am bound for where ever you go
I'm gonna bathe in the river
Gonna hold my head up in the river
Not gonna worry any more
Gonna reach that golden shore
I don't feel afraid
For now I see
That if I believe
I will be free
Wide river, flow
I' gonna learn whatever you know
I'm gonna bathe in the river
Gonna hold my head up in the river
Not gonna worry any more
Gonna reach that golden shore
Mighty river, hear that rushin' sound
Cool clear water, lay my burden down
I'm gonna bathe in the river
Gonna hold my head up in the river\
Not gonna worry any more
Gonna reach that golden shore