It seems like a lifetime since I saw you Lover lover I've been away too long When I see lovers holdings hands and sighing I hang my head for shame of doing wrong
Bus wheels spinning, song birds singing break my heart Take me back to old remembered days Remind me of the times we spent together Times before we went our separate ways I wish I was a fool for you I wish I was a fool for you I wish I was a fool for you again
I'm sorry for the things I've said, the things I've done I'm sorry for the restless thief I've been Please don't make me pay for my deceiving heart Just turn up your lamp and let me in I wish I was a fool for you I wish I was a fool for you ? I wish I was a fool for you again
He was a stranger to himself, A spy in his own camp, And his money was his health, All thrown to the dust by his very own hand.
Yet his beauty lingered still, Beyond the draining of the sand, But greener was the other side of the hill, Richer was the other man's land.
But we loved him, loved him just like brothers would. We loved him, loved him like no others could, And she loved him, loved him like a lover should.
Take good care of an aching heart, You never can replace it. You know you are the master of your art, You'll realise that when you think it fit.
Those orbs of blue are jading away, No laughter from these dances. Yet you're bound to remember this one day, Hazards are risks, and risks are chances.
You can run for cover, run for cover like a frightened hare, Till it's all over, all over and there's no-one there, 'Cause you daren't discover, daren't discover that we really care.
You make me nervous when I see you. I can't imagine what it's like to be you. It's a mystery to me every day, And I've got to get away.
I put a bet on with a bookie For the race they put on over in Kentucky. It's lovely at this time of year, so they say, And I've got to get away.
Chorus I'm a dreamer, and you know I'm a schemer with an eye for a show. It's my imagination when I get low, And the truth is I don't think I'll ever go. When the music's playing, that's when it changes, And no longer do we seen like total strangers. It's all those words which always get in the way Of what you want to say.
When I wake up in the morning I think it only fair to give you warning I probably won't go away, I'll more than likely stay.
Such sweet love is so hard to find Look around, these are troublesome times The sun beats down on our hunger and thirst It would soon all be over if we let it be worse
Chorus Take me away, take me away Take me away, take me away If not for you how would I keep going No one to be near, no good fortune to know Take my hand, make me feel stronger You're a man - progress is slow
(Chorus)
There will be rain clouds, for harvest to grow We'll find the rain clouds, and the rivers will flow Leave what is past, search for the future Leave this black dream for it's high time to go
My friend i know you've suffered, Although you are still young. Why was it you who'd not take help From anyone? Oh it's true, it's very true, he said, Some hard times i have known, But i have always overcome them On my own. Oh the pearls that you hold in your hand They are beautiful to see, But you show them not to anyone, Not even me. For you are like the others, he said. I never can be sure That you wish just to see the pearls And nothing more. Why can you not see reason? Our lives they are not long. Why can you take no time To tell us all we're wrong? My tune it does not change, he said, And neither does your song, And words i use them rarely When i'm all alone.
Do I ever wonder? You don't know. You'll never follow, and I'll never show. D'you see the water and watch it flow And float an empty shell, And you think that I'm hiding from the island. You've a fault in your senses. Can you feel it now?
Time? What is that? I've no time to care. I've lived for a long while nearly everywhere. You will be taken, everyone, you ladies and you gentlemen. Fall and listen with your ears upon the paving stone. Is that what you hear? The coming of the sea?
Sea flows under your doors in London town. And all your defences are all broken down. You laugh at me on funny days, but mine's the slight of hand. Don't you know I am a joker, a deceiver? And I'm waiting for the land.
The lady she had a silver tongue. For to sing she said, And maybe that's all. Wait for the dawn and we will have that song. When it ends it will seem That we hear silence fall.
The lady she had a golden heart, For to love, she said And she did not lie. Wait for the dawn and we'll watch for the sun. As we turn it will seem To arise in the sky.
We heard that song while watching the skies, Oh the sound it rang So clear through the cold. Then silence fell and the sun did arise On a beautiful morning of silver and gold.
If your eyes are blue you know the rest Champagne if it's very cool It's never very formal how you dress For oysters by the swimming pool Then slip away into the mountainside Like the man in the Lazy E' It's great to have a place where you can hide Why you must amazes me
Chorus Golden, Where are you? Sold on gold dust I shuttled all around America From New York to Los Angeles Nervous breakdown later, there we were From Liberty to redwood trees A friend of mine, she hitched from east to west In time to hear my final song It seems to me she tried her very best She is a good companion
(Chorus)
He stores away the moments of her smiles As if they were rare butterflies Stalks his prey for miles and miles and miles Then barters for the merchandise When Life it drags the likes of me around Just when we need some time alone You have a simple mansion underground Without address or telephone
(Chorus)
The live version on The Attic Tracks Vol. 3 and on Gold Dust - Live At The Royalty is a bit different. The last two lines of verse one are: It's nice to have a place where you can hide For why you must amazes me
And the last verse is: He stores away the moments of her smiles As if they were rare butterflies Stalks his prey for miles and miles and miles And barters for the merchandise As time it drags the likes of me around Just when we need some time alone You have a private mansion underground Without address or telephone
Good morning, good afternoon, And what have you got to say? Well i'm waiting, but i can't stay long, It's such a lovely day. There's a time to be talking And a time when it's no use. Right now i think the things you say Are liable to confuse.
I've just gone solo. Do you play solo? Ain't life a solo?
What a wonderful way to live, She's travelling all over the world. Why, the fame and all the golden Opportunities unfurled. No time for the gent with the mulliner bentley And heaven knows what else.
Why, he wouldn't even stand a chance With all his oil-wells.
She just went solo. Do you play solo? Ain't life a solo?
I've always lived in a mansion On the other side of the moon. I've always kept a unicorn And i never sing out of tune. I could tell you that the grass is really greener On the other side of the hill, But i can't communicate with you And i guess i never will.
We've all gone solo. We all play solo. Ain't life a solo?
''My shadow follows me Wherever I should chance to go'', John The Gun did say. ''If you should chance to meet me As I wander to and fro, Sad would be your day.
My life is mine and the light did shine Till the guns they did go through me, So now I shall never fall. Ideals of peace are gold which fools have found Upon the plains of war. I shall destroy them all.''
Chorus Put away your guns of steel, Death comes too soon for all. Your Master He may need you soon, And you must heed His call. ''I am the master of the games That you will hardly ever play, So I will teach your sons. And if they should die Before the evening of their span of days, Why, then they will die young.''
(Chorus)
''Condemn me not, For always will I play the game of war, In moonshine or in sun. And if any cross the path I choose to tread, Their chances they are poor. My name is John The Gun.''
The summer was the reason Why it took so long to see That even if I do possess Some seeds of honesty, There is no garden, So how come I have no land? I shall be waiting here awhile To see what comes to hand.
Misers mise and compromise; I know what I have seen. The wanderers are in the east; That's where I should have been. But I did not go there; I couldn't find the way. I do believe I made a try, But I really couldn't say.
Oh, that wretched Wilbur, He keeps ploughing up the land. He fights the battle thoughtfully With roses in his hands. But where is the fight now? So play us your merry song. The autumn, it has blown away, And the winter, it is long.
If today was not an endless highway, If tonight was not a crooked trail, If tomorrow wasn't such a long time, Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all. Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting, And if I could hear his heart softly pounding, Only if he was lying by me. Then I'd lie in my bed once again.
I can't see my reflection in the waters, I can't speak the sounds that show no pain, I can't hear the echo of my footsteps, Or can't remember the sound of my own name. Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting, And if I could hear his heart softly pounding, Only if he was lying by me. Then I'd lie in my bed once again.
There's beauty in the silver, singing river, There's beauty in the sunrise in the sky, But none of these and nothing else can touch the beauty That I remember in my true love's eyes. Yes, and only if my own true love was waiting, And if I could hear his heart softly pounding, Only if he was lying by me. Then I'd lie in my bed once again.
Here comes the morning how it pleases It always brings me something new Its golden light will wash away the dust of yesterday If I try it may let me forget you
And when these winter days are over I mean to set myself upon my feet I see me as something that I have never been And I'll pick up the pieces that will make the girl complete
I'll be smiling all the time at everybody My friends will tell me I'm just not the same I won't linger over any tragedies that were And I won't be singing any more sad refrains
Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving But how can they know it's time for them to go? Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming I have no thought of time
For who knows where the time goes? Who knows where the time goes?
Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving Ah, but then you know it's time for them to go But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving I do not count the time
For who knows where the time goes? Who knows where the time goes?
And I am not alone while my love is near me I know it will be so until it's time to go So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again I have no fear of time
For who knows how my love grows? And who knows where the time goes?
The wine it was drunk, the ship it was sunk, The shot it was dead, all the sorrows were drowned. The birds they were clouds, the brides and the shrouds And as we drew south the mist it came down.
The wooded ravine to the wandering stream, The serpent he moved, but no-one would say. The depths of the waters, the bridge which distraught us And brought to me thoughts of the ill-fated day.
The temples were filled with the strangest of creatures One played it by ear on the banks of the sea. That one was found but the others they went under. Oh the tears which are shed, they won't come from me.
The methods of madness, the pathos and the sadness, God help you all, the insane and wise. The black and the white, the darkness of the night, I see only smoke from the chimneys arise.
The pilot he flew all across the sky and woke me. He flew solo on the mercury sea. The dream it came back, all about the tall brown people, The sacred young herd on the phosphorus sand.
One evening fair I took the air Down by Blackwaterside 'Twas gazing all around me When the Irish lad I spied
All through the first part of that night We did lie in sport and play, When this young man arose and he gathered his clothes, Saying, ``Fare thee well today''.
That's not the promise that you gave to me When the first you lay on my breast, You could make me believe with your lying tongue That the sun rose in the west.
Go home, go home, to your father's garden Go home and weep your fill, And think upon your own misfortune Which you bought with your wanton will.
There's not one girl in this whole town As easily led as I, And when the sky does fall and the seas will run dry, Why, it's then you'll marry I.
Then came the question and it was about time. The answer came back and it was long. The house it was built by some man in a rhyme, But whatever came of his talented son? Who wrote me a dialogue set to a tune? Always you told me of being alone, Except for the stories about God and you, And do you still live there in Buffalo?
They put up the walls with no more to say, Nobody stopped to ask why it was done. The stream was too far and the rain was too high, So into the city the river did run. Because of the architect the buildings fell down, Smothered or drowned all the seeds which were sown. I wish I were somewhere, but not in this town. Maybe the ocean next time around.
I seem to remember the face and the name, But if it's not you I won't care. I know of changes, but nothing would change you To Theo the sailor who sings in his lair. And then I'll turn and he won't be there, Dusky black windows to light the dark stair, Candles all gnarled in the musty air All without flames for many's the year.
