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1. |
Stick To The Road
06:18
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STICK TO THE ROAD
THE MOMENT I WAKE UP THE SHADOWS THEY TAKE UP
THE MORNING LIGHT FIGHTS BUT IT WON’T BEAT THE DARK
AND THE WINTER WIND BLOWS AND THE WINDOWS WON’T CLOSE
AND THIS IS ONLY NOVEMBER THIS IS JUST THE START OF IT ALL
SO YOU WROTE ABOUT ME COMING AND I SPOKE ABOUT RUNNING
AWAY TO YOUR BOAT WHERE IT WAITS IN THE DRY DOCK
AND IT’S SAD TO SEE THE HULL BENEATH
WHERE THERE COULD BE WAVES AND FISHES AND MYSTERY
BLUEY-GREEN WATER HISSING WITH BUBBLES
THE WEIGHT OF THE FATHOMS PRESSING DOWN FROM ABOVE US
AND COLDER THAN DEATH AND WIDER THAN SKY
NO PLACE FOR US BROTHER WE BETTER STAY DRY
STICK TO THE ROAD BEWARE OF THE MOON
THEY’LL FIND YOU IN PIECES IF YOU DON’T GET HOME SOON
BUT I COULD LIVE IN THE HARBOUR WATCHING THE CARGO
DREAMING UP STORIES OF SAILORS AND STOWAWAYS
STINKING OF GIN AND HAPPY AND THIN
AND NEVER AGAIN SPEAK ABOUT GOING AWAY
JUST SET UP MY CHAIR MY STASH ON THE TABLE
MY WRITE IT ALL DOWN BOOK MY LIES AND MY FABLES
THE LIST OF LOVERS I NEVER MET IN THE DAYLIGHT
UNDER DARK COVERS IT WAS LUST AT FIRST SIGHT
STICK TO THE ROAD BEWARE OF THE MOON
THEY’LL FIND YOU IN PIECES IF YOU DON’T GET HOME SOON
THERE IS A PATH FROM THE CLIFF EDGE GOES TO THE SEA
IT RUNS STRAIGHT DOWN - IT’S QUICK BUT IT’S STEEP
AND YOU CALL IT A SHORT CUT BUT I CALL IT A LEAP
IT WILL CUT IT SHORT SURE BUT IT’S NOT FOR ME
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2. |
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LEARNING HOW TO BREATHE UNDERWATER
WE ARE LYING ON STONES OUR BELLIES TO THE SUN
LEARNING HOW TO BREATHE UNDERWATER
DO YOU THINK I AM AN AUTHORITY ON THIS KIND OF THING
OR DO YOU NOT BUT DO YOU THINK THAT I OUGHTA
THERE IS SO LITTLE LEFT OF THE MAN THAT YOU MET
HE’S LIKE THE FLICK OF THE MATCH AFTER LIGHTING
NOT GIVEN A GLANCE, OR HALF A CHANCE
TO BE STRUCK AGAIN AND MAKE FIRE HERE
BUT WHAT THERE IS IN A SHOUT CAN PUSH THE AIR OUT
AND I STRUGGLE FOR BREATH AS IF DYING
IT IS A STUPID MAN WHO WON’T KEEP CALM WHEN HE CAN
AND WHO LOSES HIS NERVE WITHOUT TRYING
COUNT TWENTY IN AND THIRTY OUT
COUNT THE BREATHS AS THEY KISS ON YOUR MOUTH
SUNLIGHT THROUGH TREES TRAIN WINDOW AT SPEED
I ALWAYS DREAM ABOUT LEAVING THE SOUTH
AND IN THE DARKEST OF DAYS WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR FACE
AND IT IS WILD AND WET AND STREAMING
TEARS FROM YOUR EYES HEAVY AND WIDE
AND RESTING AND PACKING AND LEAVING
IT IS NO WAY TO LIVE IT SHOULD NOT FIT
IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BECOME A HABIT
PLEASE LET’S THROW IT ALL OUT WITH A HAPPY SHOUT
DISREGARD AND MOVE ON AND LET’S HAVE IT
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THERE’S NO SHAME IN A SONG
I DREAMED WE WERE OUT IN THE MEADOW WE WERE DOWN BY THE BROOK
WE WERE DEEP IN THE BUSH WE WERE LOST
AND HOW THESE MORNINGS START SUDDENLY OUT OF THE DARK
AND FROM THERE WE JUST RUN TO KEEP UP
AND THEY’VE GIVEN US TWO WEEKS TO GET BACK AT THEM
WELL WE’VE THE MONEY IT’S NOT REALLY ABOUT THAT
THERE’S SO MUCH AT STAKE THESE DESPERATE DAYS
AND WE’VE STOLEN MORE THAN WE COULD PAY BACK
AND THIS IS NOT A NEW YEAR
AND THAT WAS NOT A MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND THIS IS NOT A CLEAN SLATE, THERE’S NO PAGE TO TURN OVER
IT IS A DAY AWAY AND DONE AND GONE DONE AND GONE AND THERE’S NO SHAME IN A SONG
THEY SAID THE POINT ABOUT MOVING IS GETTING SOMEWHERE
BUT THE DESTINATION HAS NOT MADE ITSELF KNOWN
AND MAYBE WE’VE NOWHERE TO SETTLE DOWN
BUT I NEED A CHAIR YOU NEED A BED WE GOT A HOME
AND YOU WILL ASK WHERE I COME FROM AND I WILL SAY I DON’T KNOW
AND YOU WILL ASK WELL WHERE WAS I BORN
AND I AM THINKING ABOUT ENGLAND AND IRELAND AND WALES
AND SWEETPEA AND KAYPHER AND THEM ALL
AND THIS IS NOT A NEW YEAR
AND THAT WAS NOT A MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND THIS IS NOT A CLEAN SLATE, THERE’S NO PAGE TO TURN OVER
IT IS A DAY AWAY AND DONE AND GONE DONE AND GONE AND THERE’S NO SHAME IN A SONG
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4. |
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FIVE MILES DOWN THE LANE
I BELIEVE THERE IS A WITCH IN THE HOUSE
SHE’S MARRIED TO YOUR BROTHER AND SHE WILL TURN HIM OUT
SHE DON’T APPEAR WITH NO BLACK CAT SHE DON’T COOK UP A SPELL
BUT SHE CUSSES AND CURSES US ALL DOWN TO HELL WE’RE ALL GOING TO HELL
NOW I KNOW I’M SCARED BUT THEY ARE STILL AFTER ME
JONATHAN AND SIMON AND THE WHOLE COMPANY
THEY SEND LETTERS, THEY SEND THICK ENVELOPES
STUFFED TO THE GILLS WITH THREATS ON MY THROAT
AND THEY DEMANDED THAT I COME DOWN AND FIGHT
WELL ID RATHER GIVE MY RIGHT ARM TO RUN AND HIDE
ITS BETTER THE DEVIL I DON’T KNOW ANOTHER LAND
BUT THIS HERE IS THE ONE THAT BREAKS A MUCH BETTER MAN AT LEAST A BETTER MAN THAN ME
AND WITH THE BLACK HILLS ABOVE
AND THE NEW TOWN BELOW FIVE MILES DOWN THE LANE
WE SPILLED OUR OWN BLOOD
AND WE SWALLOWED OUR TONGUES AND WE SPOKE NOT OF WOMEN NO WE ONLY FEARED WITCHES
I FELL ON MY FLAT FEET, THE CLOUDS CAME UNDONE
WE LOST A HIGH MILE OF GOOD GROUND TO THE FLOOD
WE LOST THE RED BARN, THE BLACK BARN THE TREE
BUT YOUR FATHER LOST A DAUGHTER WHEN YOU MARRIED ME
I SLEPT IN THE COTTAGE I SLUNG THE PAINTINGS ON THE FIRE
WE STILL GOT THE SKY I CRIED WE STILL GOT THE SKY
YEAH I GOT MORE THAN A LITTLE OUT OF SHAPE
AND YOU CAN’T MAKE A MAN FROM SAND AND CLAY ANYMORE
AND WITH THE BLACK HILLS ABOVE
AND THE NEW TOWN BELOW FIVE MILES DOWN THE LANE
WE SPILLED OUR OWN BLOOD
AND WE SWALLOWED OUR TONGUES AND WE SPOKE NOT OF WOMEN NO WE ONLY FEARED WITCHES
THAT WINTER WENT SLOW WE HAD NOWHERE TO GO
THE ROOF FELL IN WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE SNOW
THE END CAME FAST WE NEVER STOOD A CHANCE
YOU LOOK FOR A WAY OUT AND THEN THERE YOU ARE
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IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME
SO THEY PAID ME OFF WITH A CROOKED PIECE OF GOLD
AND NOW I GOT ME THIS HERE LUMP IN MY THROAT
YES I AM DOWN WHERE THE LUCKY MEN GO
I GOT A SKINFUL I GOT YOU LET’S HIT THE ROAD
WELL I FOUND A SQUARE OF DIRT CLEAR OF LEAVES AND WEEDS
I GOT A BONE IN MY LEG WILL YOU DANCE WITH ME
YOU GOT SMOKES I GOT THE BOTTLE LET’S MAKE A TEAM
THEY GOT THE GUNS BUT WE GOT THE NUMBERS ME AND THEE
AND WHEN WE LEFT ST FRANCIS WE DIDN’T HAVE TO WALK
NO WE WERE CARRIED BY THREE BROTHERS WHO STOOD TALL
AND THEY WERE SOLEMN THEY WERE SILENT BUT THEY KNEW IT ALL
AND WE WERE JUST TWO WOUNDED BIRDS SAD AND SMALL
AND WHEN THE CUCKOO GOT HIS CLAWS INTO OUR HOUSE
ALL THE BAILIFFS IN THE WORLD COULDN'T GET HIM OUT
HE’S NOT TO BLAME IT’S JUST HIS WAY
AND IT’S NOT UNFAIR MEAN OR STRANGE
BUT THERE WAS NOWHERE LEFT FOR US TO GO BUT DOWN
AND IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME
I KEEP MY GOOD EYE ON THE DOOR
WE WERE THE BOYS WHO HAD EVERYTHING
I WAS SO QUICK TO LOSE IT ALL
BUT IS THAT OCEAN LOOK HOW THEY SKY IS CLEAR AHEAD
I CAN SEE IT AS WE’RE COMING ROUND THE BEND
YEAH WE'LL BE SAFE SOON MY FAIR FEATHERED FRIEND
TAKE A BREAK HERE TO DRAW OUT THE END
WE COULD ALL USE A QUIET PLACE IN WHICH TO SLEEP
AND I’M A SIMPLE MAN NO NEED TO BE SMART WITH ME
THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN ALL OF THIS WILL CEASE TO BE
EMPTY BEDS EMPTY CHAIRS ME AND THEE
I THINK WE ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE BOAT IN TIME
SO SET YOUR TROUBLES DOWN AND LAY EM NEXT TO MINE
BREATHE THAT SEA AIR DEEP WE’RE DOING FINE
WE COULD ALMOST BELIEVE EVERY LIE
WHEN I WAS YOUNG I WANTED TO RUN INTO THE TREES
I SAT AND WATCHED PAINT DRY I WASTED WEEKS
NOW YOU GOT THE SMOKES I GOT THE BOTTLE WE MAKE A TEAM
THEY GOT THE GUNS BUT WE GOT THE NUMBERS ME AND THEE
(Thanks to WP Kinsella for the inspiration)
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6. |
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THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY
I RODE OUT FOR SUPPLIES THE FIRST AFTERNOON
THAT WAS FIVE WEEKS AGO I’VE STILL PLENTY OF FOOD
I WOKE IN THE NIGHT HAVING SLEPT THROUGH THE DAY
THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY
YOUR FRIENDS CAME BY TO ASK WHERE YOU WENT
I WAS UNDER THE TABLE UNTIL THEY LEFT
MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE LESS TO SAY / A LOT OF THE TIME I HAVE LITTLE TO SAY
THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY
YOUR CLOTHES ON THE FLOOR WHERE YOU LAST LET THEM FALL
I LAY DOWN THERE WHERE IT’S COMFORTABLE
I HAVE A REGULAR HEARTBEAT BUT LATELY IT’S STRANGE
THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY
THERE ARE NOISES IN THE COTTAGE A LIGHT IN THE LOFT
I TURNED IT ON YESTERDAY WHEN I WOKE UP IT’S OFF
I START TO THINK I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PLACE
THAT’S HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU GO AWAY
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ALL THE CORPORALS SING A LONG SONG
EVERY MINUTE LIKE EVERY HOUR
LOSE A LITTLE MORE EVERY DAY
I CUT THE CORNERS OFF WALKING HOME THESE WEEKS
GET A LITTLE BACK GET A LITTLE BACK SOMEHOW
I HEAR THE GOOD BOYS ARE BACK ON THE TOWN
I KNOW THAT SHORE LEAVE IS HARD TO EARN
THEY TRY TO FIT IT ALL INTO TWO DAYS
AND THEN SLEEP IT OFF SOMEHOW SLEEP IT OFF SOMEHOW
I THINK THE MEN ARE ALL OUT TO GET ME
I KNOW THEY WONT LEAVE A STONE UNTURNED
I ALWAYS GOT ONE EYE ON THE GLASSHOUSE
KEEP AWAY SOMEHOW KEEP AWAY SOMEHOW
AND WHEN THE DAY IS DONE
ALL THE CORPORALS SING A LONG SONG
AND WHEN THEIR SONG IS SUNG
WELL THE TRAIN IS LATE AND IT WILL NOT WAIT FOR NO MAN’S SON
I COUNT THE FRIENDS THAT ARE LEAVING EARLY
I KNOW WE ALL GOT A BONE TO PICK
I NEVER FELT SO LET DOWN AND STOOD UP
WALK IT OFF SOMEHOW WALK IT OFF SOMEHOW
I KNOW THE WOMEN WONT WORK FOR NOTHING
I HEARD THEY ALL GOT IT IN FOR ME
I GUESS I’VE NEVER BEEN WHAT YOU’D CALL HONEST
FOB IT OFF SOMEHOW FOB IT OFF SOMEHOW
AND WHEN THE DAY IS DONE
ALL THE CORPORALS SING A LONG SONG
AND WHEN THEIR SONG IS SUNG
WELL THE TRAIN IS LATE AND IT WILL NOT WAIT FOR NO MAN’S SON
I WAKE AT FOUR I HAD A SHIFT AT THREE
NO ONE EVEN TRIED TO GET ME UP
THEY SPEAK ABOUT ME LIKE I’M ALREADY AWOL
SHADOW OF A MAN JUST A SHADOW OF A MAN I AM
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WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE SEA I CAN SAY IN A SONG
WELL YOU CAN FIGHT ALL YOU LIKE YOU WON’T KEEP HER AFLOAT
SHE WILL BUCKLE, SHE WILL TURN, SHE WILL SINK LIKE A STONE
AND WE BOTH WATCH HER GO, NO RECOVERY HERE
THE THING ABOUT THE NIGHT IS WE ALL DISAPPEAR
CAUSE YOU CAN LOOK FOR AN ANSWER YOU CAN MEASURE THE RULES
THE HOW AND THE WHY WELL WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE DO
I TOOKA LONG HARD LOOK AT THE OCEAN TODAY
AND WITHOUT ANY EMOTION I AM CARRIED AWAY
TO WHERE THE LAKE MEETS THE SEA AND THE WATER TURNS THICK
TO WHERE WE STOPPED FOR SUPPLIES BUT THERE WAS NOTHING TO DRINK
AND YOU HAD QUESTIONS I DIDN’T ANSWER ABOUT THE PLANS WE COULD MAKE
AND WHEN THE RESCUE WOULD HAPPEN THAT WOULD COME AND SAVE THE DAY
BUT HAVE WE EVER BEEN THIS HUNGRY HAVE WE EVER BEEN SO LOW
SO THIRSTY WE’LL POUR SALT WATER DOWN THROATS
WELL I SWALLOW WORDS, BREATHE THE NIGHT, SOMEONE RINGS THE BELL
THEY CALL THE FLOCK IN FROM THE FIELDS AND SEND THEM ALL DOWN TO HELL
AND LATER I PICK UP MY FEET AND I DRAG MYSELF AWAY
I’M NOT A NATURAL BORN SWIMMER BUT I FLOAT JUST THE SAME
AND WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE SEA I CAN SAY IN A SONG
WHAT I TELL OF THE OCEAN IS ONLY SO LONG
LIKE IF YOU SCOOP A CUP OUT THEN THE WHOLE LEVEL GOES DOWN
I SAW HALF A MAN WASHED UP LIKE A STUFFED LEATHER BAG
I SAW A PIECE OF OUR BOAT THAT I COULD REACH ON THE BED
BUT IT’S TWENTY FATHOMS DOWN AND NO WAY UP FROM THERE
NOW THE MORNING COMES GLOWING ALL WET AND ALIVE
AND THE SAILS ARE SHOWING SO DISTANT AND FINE
AND THE DIAMOND OF THEIR CANVAS CUTS HOLES IN THE BLUE
AND TINY TRIANGLES OF LIGHT PUSH THEMSELVES BRIGHTLY THROUGH
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The Great Park Germany
Stephen Burch. Problem folk, songs with words.
"Ein Singer-Songwriter ist immer auch Poet. Und Burch ist ein ganz besonderer." (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
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