The troubadour stands in front of the crowd
With eyes soft and dreamy he gazes around
He tries to remember, he tries to forget
As he sings them his tales of pity and regret
He takes his guitar and begins to strum
His words tumble out, he knows not where from
But the chattering crowd they look on with disdain
They don’t want to listen, they’ve never heard his name
Troubadour, troubadour
He has a tale to tell
Troubadour, troubadour
He knows it so well
His songs they pour out like whiskey from a flask
His melodies they flow like ale from a cask
The crowd they ask him for mirth and for cheer
But his thoughts they are dark as the colour of his beer
He’ll play his sweet music to all who have ears
He’ll sing of his visions, he’ll sing of his fears
He’ll play them a ballad, a lilting lament
He’ll play till his voice and his fingers are spent
Troubadour, troubadour
He has a tale to tell
Troubadour, troubadour
He knows it so well
His sad eyes carry the burden of society’s ills
This melancholy minstrel, he’s had more than his fill
He’ll play in the morning, he’ll stay there all night
He’ll play for your pleasure, he’ll play for a pint
He’ll play for the coin you toss into his hat
He’ll play for the pauper and the aristocrat
Troubadour, troubadour
He has a tale to tell
Troubadour, troubadour
He knows it so well
Troubador, troubadour
Give them a song
And then play them one more
Troubador, troubadour
Give them another
Then play your encore
Antenna
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
THE BOATHOUSE
The water laps the shoreline and the ripples spread in circles
The sun is sinking slowly out of sight
The bats skim low for insects and the fish lurk in the shadows
Day is burning slowly into night
Lay your head on these cushions, look up at the sky
Let’s go down to the boathouse, you and I
Can you hear the quiet of this rare and precious evening?
Can you smell the fragrance in the air?
Can you sense that time has been suspended for a moment?
Can you taste the magic in the air?
Shake loose from your moorings, shake loose your hair
Go down to the boathouse, I’ll meet you there
Oh we could be floating away
Oh we could be in another place
Oh we could be so high
Oh we could touch the sky
The evening is so lovely and you, you are so lovely
Is that a spell you’ve put upon me?
Don’t be shy
Let us seize the moment or it will vanish like a rainbow
Come let’s go before it fades and dies
Take this oar in your hand, feel the smooth grain
Let's push off from the boathouse and drift away
Lie back on your pillow, close your eyes
Let’s go down to the boathouse, you and I
The sun is sinking slowly out of sight
The bats skim low for insects and the fish lurk in the shadows
Day is burning slowly into night
Lay your head on these cushions, look up at the sky
Let’s go down to the boathouse, you and I
Can you hear the quiet of this rare and precious evening?
Can you smell the fragrance in the air?
Can you sense that time has been suspended for a moment?
Can you taste the magic in the air?
Shake loose from your moorings, shake loose your hair
Go down to the boathouse, I’ll meet you there
Oh we could be floating away
Oh we could be in another place
Oh we could be so high
Oh we could touch the sky
The evening is so lovely and you, you are so lovely
Is that a spell you’ve put upon me?
Don’t be shy
Let us seize the moment or it will vanish like a rainbow
Come let’s go before it fades and dies
Take this oar in your hand, feel the smooth grain
Let's push off from the boathouse and drift away
Lie back on your pillow, close your eyes
Let’s go down to the boathouse, you and I
Sunday, 23 September 2012
WHAT I LEARNT ON MY HOLIDAYS
i have learnt the importance of travelling light
i have learnt to respect the mountain
to know the limitations of my ageing body
i have learnt that a pair of trekking poles suddenly doesn't seem so much of a luxury
when knees begin to seize up halfway down a mountain
i have learnt the joys of escaping the eye of the clock
that the wilderness has a transcendent power and beauty
which nurtures the human spirit
i have learnt that when battered by high winds
on a hillside in the middle of a rain squall
it is much easier to identify with modern industrial civilization and its products
a waterproof anorak and trousers and comfortable leather walking boots
i have learnt that the mountains are no place to be when the drizzle sets in
i have learnt to appreciate how tough it must be
to eke out a livelihood in remote moutainous terrain
i have learnt that an artist is a mirror for the audience
but that sometimes the mirror needs to be broken
i have learnt that life is about following one's intuition
and then putting one foot in front of the other
i have learnt to respect the mountain
to know the limitations of my ageing body
i have learnt that a pair of trekking poles suddenly doesn't seem so much of a luxury
when knees begin to seize up halfway down a mountain
i have learnt the joys of escaping the eye of the clock
that the wilderness has a transcendent power and beauty
which nurtures the human spirit
i have learnt that when battered by high winds
on a hillside in the middle of a rain squall
it is much easier to identify with modern industrial civilization and its products
a waterproof anorak and trousers and comfortable leather walking boots
i have learnt that the mountains are no place to be when the drizzle sets in
i have learnt to appreciate how tough it must be
to eke out a livelihood in remote moutainous terrain
i have learnt that an artist is a mirror for the audience
but that sometimes the mirror needs to be broken
i have learnt that life is about following one's intuition
and then putting one foot in front of the other
Saturday, 15 September 2012
LUNATIC
He takes one small step, makes one giant leap
Looks back at the swirl of cloud and ocean
He places his flag, he sifts through the dust
Over his shoulder a planet in motion
He’s a lunatic, he’s got a fixation
He’s under a spell, he’s under a charm
He’s a lunatic, he’s looking for omens
Out for a walk under the stars
He gazes in awe at her celestial body
The milky white skin she slowly reveals
She’s a bright crystal ball on black velvet cushions
The guardian of sleep, the keeper of dreams
He’s a lunatic, he’s got a fixation
He’s under a spell, he’s under a charm
He’s a lunatic, he’s looking for omens
Out for a walk under the stars
His talk is of science, of divine inspiration
Mechanical marvels, ingenious schemes
Under cover of night, deep in conversation
His muse lights the way as he wanders the streets
He’s a lunatic, he’s got a fixation
He’s under a spell, he’s under a charm
He’s a lunatic, he’s looking for omens
Out for a walk under the stars
Looks back at the swirl of cloud and ocean
He places his flag, he sifts through the dust
Over his shoulder a planet in motion
He’s a lunatic, he’s got a fixation
He’s under a spell, he’s under a charm
He’s a lunatic, he’s looking for omens
Out for a walk under the stars
He gazes in awe at her celestial body
The milky white skin she slowly reveals
She’s a bright crystal ball on black velvet cushions
The guardian of sleep, the keeper of dreams
He’s a lunatic, he’s got a fixation
He’s under a spell, he’s under a charm
He’s a lunatic, he’s looking for omens
Out for a walk under the stars
His talk is of science, of divine inspiration
Mechanical marvels, ingenious schemes
Under cover of night, deep in conversation
His muse lights the way as he wanders the streets
He’s a lunatic, he’s got a fixation
He’s under a spell, he’s under a charm
He’s a lunatic, he’s looking for omens
Out for a walk under the stars
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Saturday, 1 September 2012
INTERNATIONAL LOVE
She came from China
On a slow boat
He swam from Java
He barely kept afloat
They were born under different stars
Spoke in different tongues
They moved in different orbits
Worshipped different gods
But when they met it was beautiful
Two cultures collided
Two cymbals clashed
International love
Hand in glove
International love
He was warm and open
She was shy and reserved
He was easy-going
She always had to be first
It was a meeting of bodies
A meeting of minds
An entente cordiale
A delicate compromise
And when they met it was beautiful
Two cultures collided
Two cymbals clashed
International love
Hand in glove
International love
They were oil and water
They were fire and ice
They would both fight their corner
They were both always right
But their days were numbered
They knew it couldn’t last
Their edifice was starting to crumble
Their light was fading fast
Cracks began to open
Fault lines appeared
They were pulling in different directions
It had to end in tears
But the memories were beautiful
When two cultures collided
When two cymbals clashed
International love
Hand in glove
International love
He came from Java
On a slow boat
She swam from China
She barely kept afloat
International love
Hand in glove
International love
Thursday, 23 August 2012
BROTHER WOLF
Brother wolf – out there in the forest
Brother wolf – in no man’s land
Brother wolf – melting into shadows
Brother wolf – covering your tracks
Brother wolf – fire in your belly
Brother wolf – licking your wounds
Brother wolf – gazing at the heavens
Brother wolf – howling at the moon
Oh brother wolf you are warm in your cave
Where the snow can’t get in
Oh brother wolf you are safe in your cave
Where your enemies can’t find you
Brother wolf – following your instincts
Brother wolf – surviving on your wits
Brother wolf – stretching every sinew
Brother wolf – swift as the wind
Oh brother wolf wrapped up warm in your furs
Against the harsh winter cold
Oh brother wolf you have known it from birth
The wilderness is your home
Here comes the huntsman with his gun
He’ll try to shoot you if he can
Give him the slip
Lure him to your den
All they will find is his bones picked clean
Brother wolf – steel in your jaws
Brother wolf – iron in your sides
Brother wolf – blood on your claws
Brother wolf – death in your eyes
Oh brother wolf you are warm in your cave
Where the snow can’t get in
Oh brother wolf you are safe in your cave
Where your enemies can’t find you
Oh brother wolf wrapped up warm in your furs
Against the harsh winter cold
Oh brother wolf you have known it from birth
The wilderness is your home
LOST
Lost my bearings
Lost my way
Lost my maps
Got led astray
Lost in the forest
Lost in the wood
Lost in the storm
Lost in the flood
Lost at sea
Lost in the fog
Lost the thread
Lost the plot
Lost my grip
Lost my touch
Lost my faith
Lost my trust
Looking for a sign
Looking for a path
Looking for a star
To light my way back
Looking for a sign
Looking for a path
Looking for a star
To light my way back
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