"Orphan Songs" 2008

WHAT YOU WANT IS LOST

Daddy is on his way
says he’ll be coming home soon
finding it hard to live alone on the moon
he’ll come back some day
and he’ll stay

but it’s not what he really wants
no it’s not what he really wants
no it’s not what he really wants
because what he wants is lost

sister joined the cavalry
to try something new
she’s sending postcards saying I should come too
she’s gone away to play

but it’s not what she really wants
no it’s not what she really wants
no it’s not what she really wants
because what she wants is lost

is this not what you really want?

DREAM ON

Bob used to be a dreamer
he could really dream away
and his mind was like a theatre
where his friends would come to play

and there were dragons there, of course
and a million dollar horse
and a girl with pretty hair
and an endless flower bed
where they’d lay in each other’s arms
and read Arabian nights

dream on
there’s a question in the sceener
saying what is on your mind
and have you ever been a dreamer
and if so what are you now?
but he kept saying
I don’t know
it was many years ago
since I opened up the door
to the place I loved the most
where I’d lay in her arms
and read Arabian nights

dream on

come on and breathe
you know you need
something, someone
to help you out

and though you plead
reality has got you stuck
between its teeth

come on and breathe
you know you need
something, someone
to help you get out of here

come on and breathe
come on
but the door has been shut
it’s shut

and so you dream of a dream gone
in the Arabian night

dream on

AMERICA

I feel like going back
back where all my memories belong
there you see the stars
they come out at night
and do no harm

America is lost
but the kid in me is still so young

and they pray you
don’t go to far away from home
don’t open up the door to anyone, no
please don’t let our love come undone
although America is lost

where’s my daddy now
I saw him take off
the ferry and the dog
are some of the good things I recall

he said America is lost
but the kid in you is still so young

and they pray you
don’t go too far away from home
don’t open up the door to anyone, no
please don’t let our love come undone
know this you’ll never walk alone
although America is lost
America is lost

EPITAPHS

let me tell you about a man
he had the whole world in his hand
but it was running through his fingers like sand
he wasn’t here for very long
but he left me with this song
as his sayonara wind kept blowing words to my brain

hallelujah, hallelujah
rest now you brilliant little man
hallelujah, hallelujah
rest now, rest you son of Sam
 
it was hard to understand
but we would never hear the man
strike a chord again
 
let me tell you about a band
looking for a place to land
but for every touch and go
they had to rearrange the plans
 
there was fighting there on board
there where happy days of course
but when the plane ran out of gas
there were no rescue teams at hand
 
hallelujah, hallelujah
rest now you silly little band
hallelujah, hallelujah
rest now, rest forever Amen
 
and so the man became the band
and the band became the man
 
so strike a chord because
this might as well be the end ...

ACCIDENTALLY

accidentally she called me over
accidentally I’m moving closer
I’m going nowhere
I’m coming up for air

and accidentally a change in the script
a stir in my brain, a pleasant pain
and I know it’s stupid, ’cause we’re just friends
but the look she gave me lasted about a week

and she doesn’t care I’m going nowhere
and with a smile on her face
she fixed me a job
working as a middleweight champ
to be in her eye, oh to be in her eye
but we’re just friends

accidentally I’m chasing the lights
I can tell by the way she is looking at me
she’s got something on her mind
and she’s moving closer, she’s in the way
and the scent she left here lasted about a week

and she doesn’t care I’m going nowhere
and on the tip of my tongue was a four-letter word
daring me to spit it in her face
are we falling from grace?
are we falling from grace?
oh, we’re just friends

and that’s the way it should be
yeah that’s the way it should be
that’s the way it’s got to be

but I can’t stop
I’m way out of line, but I can’t stop
I’m way out of line, but I can’t stop
so way out of line, but I can’t stop
no I can’t stop

BLACK & WHITE

it’s no surprise you like it black you like it white
at the end of the day you wish you could say
you had it your way

you want me to rise
but my feet is telling me no dice

oh, you’re on your way
you’re here to save the day
and make it go away
how?

there’s a beam in my eye, but that’s all right
’cause you are colour-blind
and you’re picking a fight
’cause you think you are right
it’s black and it’s heavenly white

so there is a god on your side
and he will love you no matter what, and turn the tide

ho! you’re on your way
you’re here to save the day
and make it go away
how?

for Heaven’s sake
don’t blow us all away
there’ll be no one left to save

oh, you’re on your way
you’re here to save the day
and make it go away
how?

for Heaven’s sake
don’t blow us all away
there’ll be no one left to say
ha ha!

ROSEMARY

I sit waiting for the mail that you said you sent me
­how long?
Daddy’s got a car, driving very fast
someone’s in the way
hey!

some people spend all their lives on the run
while you and I spend our money in the sun

Rosemary, I can change
just give me a break
I’ll try to behave
Rosemary, where is the place?
a sign on the door said welcome to you all

fire in the hole, someone said ”that’s amazing!”
hi ho!
what’s with the funny hats and the celebrating?
how dumb!

’cause we don’t deserve to be lucky or strong
there’ll come a time when we’ll set off the bombs

Rosemary, we can change
just give us a break
we’ll try to behave
Rosemary, where is the place?
the sign on the door said welcome to you all

it said welcome, welcome to you all
welcome, welcome
come in my friends, we’d be lucky to have you

THE YOUNG AND THE BRAVE

oh, give me a home
where an apple tree grows
and a gentle breeze blows
through our telephone poles

we are people who seek
something sweeter than sweet
and we’re standing in line
for a mouthful of wine

and we wanna stay young
and we wanna have some fun
and we wanna be adored
when we’re gone

those who work work till dawn
while some don’t work at all
still we’re all slightly bored
and we want more, yeah we want more

when we’ve run out of words
we bring children into the world
to replace the boys and girls
that we think we once were

there’s a war going on
but there’s also a song
for the young and the brave
for the young and the brave
for the young and the brave
of our age

and things left behind
they will stay on your mind
they will help, they will hurt
and they will rattle your chime

and I would want to be brave
and still try to behave
sort of something in between
Joan of Arc and a slave

these are dangerous times
but it’s worth some sacrifice
so we’re digging a grave
for the young and the brave

we all want to make friends
and we want to make sense
and for reasons of health
stay in love with ourselves

so get down on your knees
and say thank you and please
to the young and the brave
of our age

I saw the money men rise
and they said
this is a prize for your outstanding lies
now go and buy yourself something nice

so I went to the store
where they all fell to the floor
when I said: ”Everything and more!”
and they said: “Certainly Señor!”

can I stay in your arms
and be happy and calm
can I go back to sleep
darling please, pretty please!

now we’re withered and old
yeah but once we were told
you’re the young and the brave
you’re so young and so brave
yeah you’re the young and the brave
of our age

INTO THE MONSTER’S ARMS

Travelling in time is no big deal
I do it all the time with cheap travelling gear

trying to find something nice for my bride
and some peace of mind for myself
before I go into the monster’s arms

hold me close I am nearly gone
I’m someone’s son
hear me shout for another round
that’s all I want
’cause what I need is another ride
just another

blood is running through my veins
but at what cost
there are still a few more things
that I haven’t lost

I was once like you
I was running too
through this life
trying to find some peace of mind for myself
before I was thrown into the monster’s arms

hold me close I am nearly gone
I’m someone’s son
hear me shout for another round
that’s all I want
and what I need is another ride

and the sun caught me high
yeah the sun caught me high
the sun caught me high
yeah the sun caught me dreaming about his arms

hold me close I’m nearly gone
I’m someone’s son
hear me shout for another round
that is all I want
and I need just another ride
just another

BEFORE THE END

money comes and money goes
like the leaves and like the snow
someday I’ll be on the phone
telling you I’m coming home
oh home

strike that soft and tender note
like you did eight years ago
let me sit and dream away
hear you make excuses
as you’re playing a song for me

maybe we could move somewhere
somewhere is where people care
for the trees and for their friends
you will too before the end

just let the money come and go
don’t get too used to a constant flow
dress up in your Sunday best
pack up move into the West

there’s a boy in every man
trying hard to be his dad
there’s a boy in every man
trying hard to beat his dad

UNDER A TREE

I sat down a while
under a tree
I sat there a while
under my tree

and I thought of truth
and then I thought of you

how you used to say

I am the one
for you I am
really the one
I am the one
for you I am
really the one
for years to come

CATCH OF THE DAY

done for the day
so chase me away
a silvery rat among company cats
the corporate facts, the script for the act
says follow the signs
and run for your lives

the catch of the day
was a smoke and a smile upon a face
I wish I could say
something pretty has finally come my way

up in the star-ridden sky hangs an uneasy face
watching me go down another dead end in the maze

I am all alone, but I’m afloat
I make jokes like a bereaved comedian
and you used to say
you are the one I should have loved

now I’d love anyone
I’d love anyone

ORPHAN SONGS

here’s to my orphan songs
stillborn singalongs
waiting to be found
and to be loved

unwanted melodies
maladjusted harmonies
please accept my love
and custody

lovely noise from my girls and boys
weaves a brand new dress for my loneliness
I think you are little stars
twinkling at the very beat of my heart

so come on let’s hear you all
you could fill the Albert Hall
sing out what you are
my little orphan stars

please don’t cry, please don’t ask me why
there’s no time for play
there’s no fun here today
I wish I had time to care
for every little song that’s going nowhere
I wish I had time to spare
there’s so many orphan songs out there ...

Why?