The Waterboys


[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]


"A Boy In Black Leather"



Jackie was one of the crowd
Who hung out at the Cross Keys Hotel
She was a real bright kid,
Thought I knew her pretty well
Beach parties at night
We ran down town in the day
Till a boy in black leather
Came and took Jackie away

We were all in The Keys one night
Sitting, laughing and joking
Billy'd got himself a new job
Ros had given up smoking
I was crazy for Jackie
I was almost ready to say
When a boy in black leather
Came and took Jackie away

He was standing at the bar
When I went up for a drink
Then he and she just started talking
I didn't know what to think
Billy pulled me into an argument
About the big bad world today
I looked up and a boy in black leather
Was taking Jackie away

After that things began to get dull
I took up with Billy's sister Molly
But that got really kicked on the head
When she upped and went to college
I got to thinking about Jackie
And as Autumn moved into grey
I thought about a boy in black leather
Who came and took Jackie away

Then this month I saw her
The girl I knew had all but gone
Tight jeans, mohair sweater
Her hair was chopped off peroxide blonde
I crossed the road towards her
Thinking of something to say
When a boy in black leather walked over
And together they hurried away

"A Full Moon In March"



I sing a song of Jack and Jill
Jill had murdered Jack
The moon shone brightly
The moon shone brightly.

Ran up the hill and 'round the hill
And 'round the hill and back
A full moon in March
A full moon in March.

Jack had a hollow heart
For Jill had hung his heart on high
The moon shone brightly
The moon shone brightly.

Had hung his heart beyond the hill
A-twinkle in the sky
A full moon in March
A full moon in March
A full moon in March.

"A Girl Called Johnny"



I remember Johnny - hey!
Johnny come lately
I remember her shoes like a ballerina
A girl called Johnny who
Changed her name when she
Discovered her choice was to
Change or to be changed

I remember a girl called Johnny
Black as hell and white as a ghost
Don't talk about life or death
She said "I've had enough of both"
A girl called Johnny who was not scared
They'd have torn her to pieces but
Who would dare?

I remember a girl called Johnny
The train came to town, boy she got on it
Without looking back, there was barely a word
If she said goodbye, well I never heard
But the noise goes on
The noise, the jazz
And the truth is in somebody else's hands
And the house that a girl called johnny built
Is now just so much ashes and sand

"A Home In The Meadow"



Away, away, come away with me
Where the grass grows wild and the winds blow free
Away, away, come away with me
And I'll build you a home in the meadow

Come, come, there's a wondrous land
For the hopeful heart and the willing hand
Come, come, there's a wondrous land
Where I'll build you a home in the meadow

The stars, the stars, oh how bright they'll shine
On a world the lord himself designed
The stars, the stars, oh how bright they'll shine
On the home we will build in the meadow

Come, come, there's a wondrous land
For the hopeful heart and the willing hand
Come, come, there's a wondrous land
Where I'll build you a home in the meadow

"A Life Of Sundays"



Hold me!
Before I go under.
Hear me!
Before I drown.
Sharpen!
Your sense of wonder.
Listen!
To what I've found.

Here we are again,
Two old lovers,
Two old friends,
Just when you need them.

A devil was standing on my shoes
Somehow I know how to defeat him
Since I tumbled into you.

You taught me love and pain,
And the unsung King of Ireland
Says the same thing,
Wherever you find it.

(the whole world wide over)

The same thing from the same old cause.
The same thing - I cannot define it.
It is the same thing and it always was.

It struck me sad and strange,
All that ever stays the same
Is change...

...and I dreamed I wandered
Wayward as a restless wave.
Spanning from here to yonder
Most spectacularly saved.

Dream and life entwined,
The old day cracks and crumbles
And it's

Fine!
To be in your company.
Funny!
To be in your day.
A miracle!
Just to be with you.
Glad!
To be going your way.

Were these unfolding plans
Designed and drawn by mortal hands?
Never in a life of Sundays
Would I have seen me here.

"A Man Is In Love"



A man is in love, how do I know?
He came and walked with me, and he told me so
In a song he sang, and then I knew
A man is in love with you

A man is in love, how did I hear?
I heard him talk too much whenever you're near
He whispered your name when his eyes were closed
A man is in love and he knows

A man is in love, how did I guess?
I figured it out while he was watching you dress
He'd give you his all, if you'd but agree
A man is in love and he's me

"A Pagan Place"



How did he come here?
Who gave him the key?
Slipped it in his hand
So secretly
And who put the colour
Like lines on his face?
Brought him here
To a pagan place

Now who shot his arrow?
How high did it fly?
When he tipped it with poison
Did he even know why?
What unseen hand
Brought him face to face to face to face with
All this and more
In a pagan place?

Come into my parlour
Sail in at my shore
Drink my soul dry
There is always more
There is always more after now
Fly on my carpet
Look into my face
See the heart of man
In a pagan
In a pagan
In a pagan
In a pagan
In a pagan
Pagan...

"A Song For The Life"



I don't drink as much as I used to
'cos lately that just ain't my style.
And the hard times don't hurt like they ought'a
They pass quickly like when I was a child.

And lately I've learnt how to listen
To a sound like the sun going down
In the magic that morning is bringing
There's a song for the life I have found

It keeps my feet on the ground

Now the midsummer days ain't so heady
They just drift like a breeze through my mind.
And nothing appears in a hurry
As if to make up for some old long-lost time

And lately I've learnt how to listen
To a sound like the sun going down
In the magic that morning is bringing
There's a song for the friends I have found

They keep my feet on the ground...
They keep my feet on the ground...
They keep my feet on the ground

"Ain't No Words For The Things I'm Feeling"



Ain't no words for the things I'm feeling
Ain't no tongue can tell
No name for the song my soul's revealing
And all is very well

"All the Things She Gave Me"



All the things
All the things she gave me
All the things
All the things she gave me

I wrapped them up
In a big brown box
Tied it with ribbon
Drove to the docks
Checked my time
By the old town clock
All the things...

I saw the watchman
He was blowing into
Cupped hands
As he walked to the car
He said "Where do you think
You're drivin' to, Son?
All good folks are in bed
And a day's work is done"

I said "I'm just looking for
Someplace to burn
All the things
All the things that she gave me...
All the things that she gave me
Where do I put them?
Where can I hide them
Where I won't have to see them?"

It's dark as hell here
This city's grown cold
The devil's in drag
Playing poker with souls
The lots are all empty
The last man is out
The moon's made of cheese
And God is a boy scout

When I go to sleep
I'll be dreaming about
All the things...

Then I'll dream about churches
With great tall spires
Cathedrals and candles
Chimneys and choirs
I'll dream about
THAT place
Where I set fire
All the things
All the things that she...

"Always Dancing, Never Getting Tired"



I've climbed high with you
I've run dry with you
I've climbed high with you
I've run dry with you
How did I find you?
How did I lose you?
How did I find you?
How did I lose you?

Always dancing, always dancing
Never ever getting tired
Always dancing, always dancing
Never ever getting tired

Millions of people
Every one like you
Millions of people
Every one like you
I feel you move me
In such sweet silence
I feel you move me
In such sweet silence

Always dancing, always dancing
Never ever getting tired
Always dancing, always dancing
Never getting getting tired

I don't know where I
Get all my tears from
I don't know where I
Get all my tears from
I don't know where I
Get all my tears from
I don't know where I
Get all my tears from

Always dancing, always dancing
Never ever getting tired
Always dancing, always dancing
Never ever getting tired

Underneath are the everlasting arms

"An Irish Airman Foresees His Death"



I know that I shall meet my fate somewhere among the clouds above
Those that I fight I do not hate, those that I guard I do not love
My country is Kiltartan Cross, my countrymen Kiltartan's poor
No likely end could bring them loss or leave them happier than before.

Nor law, nor duty bade me fight, nor public men, nor cheering crowds
A lonely impulse of delight drove to this tumult in the clouds
I balanced all, brought all to mind, the years to come seemed waste of breath
A waste of breath the years behind in balance with this life, this death
A waste of breath the years behind in balance with this life, this death.

"Anatomy Of A Love Affair"



You got me cheap, wherein I was wounded
back in the days of woe
You got me cheap, wherein I was wounded
back in the days of woe

I then deceived us, I then deceived us,
I then deceived us both
You used your lure then sex and affection
to train me like a beast

I left the money be, I left the money be,
I left the money behind
I left the money be, I left the money be
I left the money behind

"And A Bang On The Ear"



Lindsay was my first love she was in my class
I would have loved to take her out but I was too shy to ask
The fullness of my feeling was never made clear
But I send her my love with a bang on the ear

Nora was my girl when I first was in a group
I can still see her to this day, stirring chicken soup
Now she's living in Australia working for an auctioneer
But I send her my love with a bang on the ear

Deborah broke my heart and I the willing fool
I fell for her one summer on the road to Liverpool
I thought it was forever but it was over in a year (oh dear)
But I give her my love with a bang on the ear

The home I made with Bella became a house of pain
We weathered it together bound by a ball and chain
Is started up in Fife, and ended up in tears (oh dear)
But I send her my love with a bang on the ear

Krista was a rover from Canada she hailed
We crossed swords in San Francisco we both lived to tell the tale
I don't know now where she is oh but if I had her here
I'd give her my love with a bang on the ear

So my woman of the hearthfire, harbour of my soul
I watch you lightly sleeping and sense the dream that does unfold (like gold)
You to me are treasure, you to me are dear
So I'll give you my love with a bang on the ear

"Another Kind Of Circus"



Billy and Eve
Are getting ready to leave
Their empty room
And their sad bare walls
They'll get burned but they don't care
They know what they'll do when they get there

Rose and Trudi
Are hearing voices
Telling them it's high time
High time they made their move
They'll get burned but they don't care
They know what they'll do when they get there

Me and Ruthy
We're late again
But our hearts are in
The right direction
We've been up together most of the night
Convincing each other what we're doing is right
No sense in living something you don't believe
So we're all ready to leave
All moving on
To another kind of circus

"Be My Enemy"



Well the dawn is howling
And the mainframe shakes
Feel like I've been sleeping in a
Cellar full of snakes
My wings have been clipped
My shoes have been stuck with glue
Well if you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too

Now I've got goons on my landing
Thieves on my trail
Nazis on my telephone
Willing me to fail
They were all sent by someone
(Obviously/Well I know it was) you!
Well if you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too

I've a bucketful of Babylon
I got a handful of lead
I'm gonna put them in a gun man
Point it at your head
Because you stole all my friends
And you gave me the buffalo blues
Well if you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too

Now from the slime on your tongue
To the nails on your toes
From the scales on your skin
To the stains on your clothes
You're gonna have to make me do something
That I do not want to do
But if you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too

My hands are tied
I'm nailed to the floor
Feel like I'm knocking on the
Unknown door
There's a gun at my back
A blade at my throat
I keep finding hate mail
In the pockets of my coat
Well I've been trying to grow
I been cooling my heels
I've have been working the treadmill
I've been working in the fields
And I can't get to sleep
I can't catch my breath
I can't stop talking and I
Look like death
But I will put right this disgrace
I will rearrange you
If you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too
If you'll be my enemy
I'll be your enemy too
Be my enemy!

"Before The World Was Made"



If I make the lashes dark and the eyes more bright
And the lips more scarlet or ask if all be right
From mirror after mirror, no vanity's displayed
I'm looking for the face I had before the world was made
Yes, I'm looking for the face I had before the world was made.

What if I look upon a man as though on my beloved?
And my blood be cold the while and my heart unmoved?
Why should he think me cruel or that he is betrayed?
I'd have him love the thing that was before the world was made
Oh, I'd have him love the thing that was before the world was made.
Yes, I'd have him love the thing that was before the world was made.

"Beverly Penn"



Girl sleeping on a mansion roof
Under a wintery sky
Wrapped she is in furs and sable,
Starlight in her eye
And what is the name of this creature?
Where did she live and when?
Who was she and why was it
That Peter Lake loved Beverly Penn

Four o'clock on a marble morning,
Water pouring on her skin
In fever her life bursts open
And a hurricane blows in
When high from the dreams of this creature
A thief on a horse descends
It was dawn and it was december
And Peter Lake loved Beverly Penn

It was all of a windy day
And the sky was full of crows
When her lovely soul ascended
~ she just closed her heart and rose
And whither the soul of this creature?
Tell me the story again
of scarves and songs and the skin of space
and how Peter Lake loved Beverly Penn

I would dive in a freezing river,
set fire to a hundred men
if I could for just one time
love somebody the way that he loved Beverly Penn

"Bigger Picture"



I'm starting to see a bigger picture
I'm beginning to colour it in
I'm starting to see a bigger picture
I'm beginning to colour it in

My soul the sky, my heart a sun
my mind a world - my only one
My thoughts the people, the world around
My dreams the kings - or the clowns

I'm starting to see a bigger picture
I'm beginning to colour it in
I'm starting to see a bigger picture
I'm beginning to colour it in

The continents and the seven oceans
bound the range of my emotions
My time is long but not forever
My moods are the changing wind and weather

I'm starting to see a bigger picture
I'm beginning to colour it in
I'm starting to see a bigger picture
I'm beginning to colour it in

Colour it in!
Colour it in!

"Billy Sparks"



What shall I give you to make you take down your dress
what shall I give you to make you take down your dress
Will you show me where the party is
And we'll put you to some quiet caravan
And as sure as my name's Billy Sparks I'm your man
Singing doodoo doo doodoo
doodoo doo doodoo
Doodoo doo doodoo
doodoo doo doodoo

Where will I find you when siesta comes
tell me where will I find you when siesta comes
Hasta manana by the sycamore tree
well you just sat someplace else looking for me
And when I find you singing doodoo doo doodoo
dodoo doo doodoo
Doodoo doo doodoo
doodoo doo doodoo
Doodoo doo doodoo

And we're gonna dance Electric Fantastic
we're gonna dance Electric Fantastic
Yeah, go on and tell everybody that you know
brush your hair up in a big red bow
And all we need
is a bottle and a broomstick, yeah!
Singing doodoo doo doodoo
doodoo doo doodoo
Singing doodoo doo doodoo
singing doodoo doo doodoo

Hey!