1. |
Another Night In Rosco's
04:46
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This place is closing
we've started swearing
and the mood has changed to trivia and games
a philosopher like you and a dreamer such as I
should not let these hours conclude everyday
Through Valley Gardens
there's some savannah
ignoring crocuses and daffodils that sway
we'll tune in to change of scene
where the whole world is twenty three
there's no point in grown up principals
if you don't play the game
So it's gonna be another night in Rosco's
I will be the noble savage
you can be Neanderthal
when we exchange our blood for barleycorn
we'll chase those ribbons lace and bows
we'll leave the judge and jury safe at home
So when the comet takes its's timeless line
removing thoughts so anodyne
that love will find its place in you some day
we'll not talk of harvest moon
we'll leave those lies to Mills and Boon
and spend these hours in superficial ways
Leave behind you
those norms and values
when some dreadlock takes the floor and steals your mate
follow trails of cheap perfume
and steal a kiss or two
in the arms of some young stranger who will more than compensate
For it's gonna be another night in Rosco's
I will be the noble savage
you can be Neanderthal
when we exchange our blood for barleycorn
the Alpha Male will lose his crown
and we'll go home together all alone
For men like you and me
there's no alternative you see
but another night in Rosco's
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2. |
Ashe Ole Wha
04:32
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Back slapping cafe chatter
reaffirms good are we
a traveller jostles through Africa
no roots like the Baobab tree
learning more about middle England
in this brave economy
through the tears of a troubled companion
who believes that the colour wheel
can save the peole who sing
Ashe ole wha
ashe ole wha
ashe ole wha
hey hey hey
Vivid wrap arounds and beading
are glazing over me now
while the grey heron glides a warning
there are elephants coming over the brow
But I heard people dying
in the dark on the Moshi road
and I learned some terrible secrets
like the one the shoe shine boy told
Ashe ole wha
ashe ole wha
ashe ole wha
hey hey hey
There's an ancient game of bulldog
which we played on the orphanage lawn
that's where she told me that the gifts from the children
once got stolen in the name of the lord
all this talk of ideal living
where ladies can take their tea
But even the mighty cheetah
he treads softly on his own country
Ashe ole wha
ashe ole wha
ashe ole wha
hey hey hey
So sister don't feel compromised
by the nature of my song
it's OK to give them nothing
but please take nothing from
Ashe ole wha
ashe ole wha
ashe ole wha
hey hey hey
hey hey hey
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3. |
Colours Of Wealth
06:20
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Good husband walks the moorland
under bright grey sequined sky
after rain it makes the heather
sparkle blue seductive eyes
there are cattle on the horizon
protected in a family line
after humble new beginnings he calls them home
with a familiar guide
For riches are a consequence of honest heart and hands
not the sole intention of why he works this land
Turquois house by this big river
where the barges long and wide
makes a garish overstatement
to hierarchy and pride
with tributes to those pirate ships that brought them
they remain
for long ago their plunder was forgotten like their shame
For work and education throughout much of history
was abandoned to the fortress
of the petite bourgeoisie
Midnight diesel takes the harvest down the terracotta road
with legislation burning into each and every load
unlike the days when ploughboys sang
and maidens hearts were glad
for Casey Jones, John Henry and Jim the carter lad
Now deeds and foreign money want their own slice of control
with twelve percent of everything
and a mortgage on your soul
But the spinning wheel keeps turning
when the weaver leaves the scene
the garden keeps on blooming
red white blue and green
golden lilies show their glory
birds sing to God on high
if we make it to the eye of a needle
we can walk the extra mile
We're not living off the spoils of misdemeanor
crossing boundaries between the truth and spin
we are journeymen
we walk by the water
knowing faithfully our ship will come in
hey hey!
hear what I say
we know faithfully our ship will come in
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4. |
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Sinclair is digging his garden
Jones is cutting his lawn
Courtney is lying in the back street '
fitting a new exhaust onto his ford
I saw them all on Sunday
sitting in the second pew
I was sitting in the back row
I had a decent view
To me they all looked so tidy
contented and so at ease
as they wandered from book to alter
working through a series three
Sinclair he enjoyed the music
Jones shook hands with Julie in the peace
Courtney he was reading in the sermon
but he didn't need a book to say the creed
A little girl was playing in the centre
with a tiny wooden jigsaw and some toys
she went down to show one to Courtney
I think he was a little annoyed
When the service was over
they all bowed their heads and said a prayer
then they all shook hands with the vicar
and walked out into the morning air
It was then that I decided to do it
it was kind of like a personal dare
I invited them all to a special meeting
to see if we could change things round here
But Sinclair is digging his garden
Jones is cutting his lawn
Courtney is lying in the back street
and I'm just sitting on the wall
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5. |
Crescent Moon
03:17
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Reflected in a quiet sea
is this a land of old beliefs
where the rhythm of industry
reaching of need
lapping waters all bringing the deepest of green
Are we walking in harmony leaving too soon
somethings calling us back to this strange Crescent Moon
Glancing over his shoulder he bid angels farewell
we shared in the honour of his solo intent
We watched
we listened
the answer was clear
there are no graven images
no souvenir's
Are we walking in harmony leaving too soon
somethings calling us back to this strange Crescent Moon
From the simplest of instruments rang a great truth
in the knowledge of creation we're nothing but fools
compliant or angry we confess truth
in the depth of uncertainty why must we chose
Are we walking in harmony leaving too soon
somethings calling us back to this strange Crescent Moon
reflected in a quiet sea
is this a land of an old belief
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6. |
Crocodile Burning Sea
03:52
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I left her back in England
by the crocodile burning sea
a demon flame in a winking eye
to the rhythm of the falling rain
on the cool green grass in his pitter patter hat
the wild enthuser threw a glance
to a song we could both remember
late comers in a new romance
In a horseshoe drums were calling
seven moons moved over the sails
and later in Porto Santiago
through Romeo's blue waters of Spain
I thought I could hear someone breathing
was it something in the psalms I believe
telling me there were letters to write
that could set the captives free
He made Atticus, Orion and Ploidies'
and the Chambers Of The South
yet he helped this dreaming Yorkshire boy
throw down the fleeces of doubt
If obedience are all that is needed
at the gateway of changing circumstance
there will be songs we can both remember
late comers in a new romance
songs we can both remember
late comers in a new romance
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7. |
Loved Ones At Work
06:54
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A weary hand is typing
searching for a line
making changes to this ancient road
a problem to unwind
there he goes along the afternoon
self delusion , frozen mind
in his ambulance of fantasy
It's amazing how he flies
he says he can't come in to work tonight
and he hopes that you don't mind
this snow cave gets so lonely
he's crying all the time
Leaving loved ones at work
be careful where you look
they must accommodate these absences
blank pages in their book
fatigue discomfort toil and cold is all they have for now
yet the spirit keeps it's counsel
while the hand steers the plough
These dinosaurs are frightening
send up the bosuns chair
into this pre-historic rumble
building castles in the air
they'll make a finish someday
when three Ridings see new birth
beyond the stores of capital
behind this shifting earth
For there are loved ones at work
be careful where you look
they must accommodate these absences
blank pages in their book
fatigue discomfort toil and cold is all they have for now
yet the the spirit keeps it's counsel
while the hand steers the plough
They have sisters, sons and lovers
they have muscle mind and blood
and they give no slack to anyone
who claims they are mis-understood
So don't say the road is narrow
or the ocean is too wide
look out for one and other
disregard the lazy mans pride
For there are loved ones at work
be careful where you look
they must accommodate these absences
blank pages in their book
fatigue discomfort toil and cold is all they have for now
yet the spirit keeps it's counsel
while the hand steers the plough
The spirit keeps it's counsel
while the hand steers the plough
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8. |
Sister Song
04:38
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The night is drawing closer
the light is beginning to fade
there are many here ever grateful
who say tarry awhile and stay
For these sisters brave and lowly
they've been toiling in the eye of a storm
and received her unfeigned praises
heard a voice of experience bold
so who am I to stand at a distance
as they gather by her side
I'm remembering days so much younger
I don't know why I can feel this much surprise
A wedding feast in the distance
gifts on the blessed bestowed
yet here in these halls of mercy
they rejoice as her story unfolds
They're not asking her for riches
all they're seeking is her time
there's no technocratic, beaurocratic, de-markation lines
they don't turn from her depth her discerning
saying "we're doing quite nicely thank-you"
but receive her words re-affirming
what so many others eschewed
So who am I to stand at a distance
as they gather by her side
I'm remembering days so much younger
I don't know why
Did I even acknowledge her leaving
when I was a young kid of nine
with only herself to believe in
now we stand beneath the rift valley sky
where the night is drawing closer
and the light is beginning to fade
I will join with those ever grateful
and say "sister"
"please tarry awhile and stay
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9. |
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There's a rabble in a school room parlour
down where the lines are drawn
the cages of crises are shaking
and liberty is running for the door
In a workhouse of abject boredom
minds are bending with the mystery
those who exercise power and pay by the hour
claim they're setting people free
claim they're setting people free
Shoulder to shoulder with solo
we put stickers on our old guitars
but Humpty Dumpty is laughing
he knows we'll never make him fall
he knows we'll never make him fall
For Humpty knows people don't understand
robbing Peter only sustains Paul
you can go on singing in your marching band
it's a lost and a lonely cause
On a chariot of some confusion
can somebody please explain
why austerity sees no conclusion
yet these wheels rattle on just the same
these wheels rattle on just the same
On a podium of love your neighbour
it's the blind leaving the blind
the masses all follow procedure
while the poor man is limping behind
the poor man is limping behind
They pour balm on the old revolution
glad tidings to you they bring
but there's a fear of persecution
and walking on ice too thin
walking on ice too thin
For we were taught to reach out to a stranger
help those widows and orphans too
not just go "coochie coochie coo" in his manger
have a mince pie and a bottle of booze
That's why all the kings horses
and all the kings men
have taken Humpty Dumpty home
and put him back together again
They've taken Humpty Dumpty home
and put him back together again
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10. |
Edge Of Integrity
05:13
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Somethings improve with ageing
like Gibson's Martins and wine
while somethings from the beginning
start a whole life in decline
there are suburbs searching for a city
there are neighbourhoods fading away
the sharks start feeding on payday
consuming every morsel and plate
They're standing on the edge
standing on the edge
the edge of integrity
standing on the edge of integrity
And it's riches power and privilege
the flat screen preacher screams
but who does he think he's fooling
who does he consider nieve
Through lies and double thinking
prosperity and fortune he claims
you lie awake bemused and defeated
nothing he says brings any change
He's standing on the edge
standing on the edge
the edge of integrity
standing on the edge of integrity
The raven circles in the morning
wakes the sleeping with her cry
in the distance a spiders web is trembling
something in the darkness has died
Above these turbulent waters
it's time for thinking metaphorically
about these sons and daughters
escaping vulnerability
life's canal is long and narrow
if we don't help them make the squeeze
through the lock gates of tomorrow
and hide them from those liars and cheats
Who are standing on the edge
standing on the edge
the edge of integrity
they're standing on the edge of integrity
standing on the edge
standing on the edge
the edge of integrity
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11. |
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In my rehearsal room
leaning on a bevel edge wall
there is a man of his time
with gravitas and focus as his prize
and if I move the microphone a little to the left
the daylight shines onto his face to maximum effect
and from there he plays to thousands who know his songs so well
there's no Lilly of the valley here no primrose of the dell
todays the day that he inhabits
reaches hearts and minds
what is now is moving forward
what was then is left behind
O' mirror mirror in the room
bring us together very soon
let me escape into his world again
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12. |
Warm Pride On Queenswalk
05:44
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Did you lay your hands upon your face when you arrived
just to say "hello" or maybe wave goodbye
for by your own admission your a traveller
and you see your past mistakes a chance to fly
I went down to the old Moonbows just this morning
to see about some music in the spring
the conversation turned to who was missing
"to your own self be true", I did explain
So let the open sky be ours this morning
I can hear you talking Spanish somewhere warm
so while your singing fal-de-rol fal-de-ra
I will drink warm pride on Queenswalk
and sing for my home town girl
The Blackheath sky cascaded its tradition
while autumns vivid sky transfixed the throng
the peregrine flew over her Tate Modern
while beneath the southern cross your sailing on
So let the open sky be ours this morning
I can hear you talking Spanish somewhere warm
so while your singing fal-de-rol fal-de-ra
I will drink warm pride on Queenswalk
and sing for my home town girl
I saw Jeremy and Nigel by the river
they were making plans and walking hand in hand
they laughed at the advise that you had given
they said "you're so spontaneous and wise"
and that the the world has only borrowed you from London
This city you have long time called your home
You'll be bringing tales of hope not easily forgotten
because dreams must be fulfilled before they go
So let the open sky be ours this morning
I can hear you talking Spanish somewhere warm
so while your singing fal-de-rol fal-de-ra
I will drink warm pride on Queenswalk
and sing for my home town girl
let the open sky be ours this morning
I can hear you talking Spanish somewhere warm
so while your singing fal-de-rol fal-de-ra
I will drink warm pride on Queenswalk
and sing for my home town girl
I will drink warm pride on Queenswalk
and sing for my home town girl
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Chris Milner -Journeyman UK
The inspiration for his work is wide ranging and eclectic, Rooted in his own experience of life and his travels, the sheer poetry of his lyrics conveys the universality of love and faith . It is a show with a vibrant narative .
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