"It's Gonna Rain"



It's gonna rain
It's gonna rain
A time is coming when you're
Gonna have to taste your pain

It's gonna break
It's gonna break
From the cities of the poor
All the way to your front gate

You're golden
You're so high
You're beautiful
- but you're a lie

It's gonna crash
It's gonna crash
Like a feather in a landslide
Like a piece of trash

It's gonna fall
It's gonna fall
It's gonna tumble, crumble
Wasn't built to last at all

You're golden
You're so fine
You're beautiful
- but you're out of time

It's gonna burn
It's gonna burn
How will you eat your words
When it comes to be your turn?

It's gonna rain....
It's gonna rain....

"Jack Of Diamonds"



I'm still looking
For the Jack Of Diamonds
But it's so hard
Living through every card in the pack
There are too many Spades to dig with
There are too many clubs to get hit with
And I've got fifty four hearts
To get all broken up with

"Killing My Heart"



Now he's brought down the rain and the indian summer is through
You'll be dancing down the country in the morningtime if I know you
You ain't calling me to join you and I'm spoken for anyway
But you'll be killing my heart
When you go away

Shall we gather by the river for to hear the lovely thunder crash?
Shall we sail now in your speeding bonnie boat here and gone like a splash?
You will see me, small, receding, mouth hung open, words I cannot say
You'll be killing my heart
When you go away

Mike Rogers left his whisky and the night is very very young
I've much to say and more to tell - the words will soon be spilling from my tongue
I'll rave and I will ramble, I'll do everything but make you stay
You'll be killing my heart
When you go away

"Kiss The Wind"



Once upon a time, a time, a time, a time, a time, a time
I lived here
Once upon a time, a time, a time, a time, a time, a time
I lived here

I lay my head on a pillow of sky
And I kiss the wind
And heard it sigh

Once upon a time
I lived here
In the fever of a dream, a dream, a dream, a dream, a dream, a dream
I loved here
In the fever of a dream, a dream, a dream, a dream, a dream, a dream
I loved here

Fell, heart and body
Soul and mind
I left all over worlds
Behind
In the fever of a dream
I loved here

The hour has come, its come, its come, its come, its come, its come, its come, its come
To leave here
The hour has come, its come, its come, its come, its come, its come, its come, its come
To leave here

I'll take whatever
Is mine to take
Free my heart before
It breaks
The hour has come
To leave here

"Let It Happen"



Such a sad procession, winding down the lane
And what a strange impression is branded on my brain
A band was playing -- endless, mindless
It was like a hooligan's lament
It was dumb, but it was timeless
I still don't know what it meant

And whatever needs to happen
Let it happen, let it be
Through all I am protected
Grace is effected
Over me

Behold the lights of London!
The skipper said that his hands shook
His aura eaten by his jealously and all the drugs he took
He said "This is the real world buddy!
Toughen up your ass, or it'll break."
I said "I'm not your buddy, buddy,
and your real world is a fake."

(Here comes the peace campaigner
She says the end justifies her means
Her words so full of reason fell like napalm on my dreams
I said "Peace is not a word, never!"
She calls me traitor, I just grin
I said "You've gotta live it every moment,
or else you're just sucking wind")

And whatever needs to happen
Let it happen, let it be
Through all I am protected
Grace is effected
Over me

(The DJ casts his malediction
As the wedding guests appear
It was as cruel as any fiction
I still carry the souvenir)
(The DJ took his vengeance
As the wedding guests arrived
There was malice in his handshake
Quicksand in his eyes)
As he slunk across the courtyard
From far off I heard a horn
Somewhere in the bleak mid-distance
Something beautiful is born

And whatever needs to happen
Let it happen, let it be
Through all I am protected
Grace is effected
Over me

I stumbled down a street of shadows
A black alleluia split the night
(Prostitutes / Anarchists) and priests were playing stripjack
Underneath the cruel lamplight
I came upon a weeping soldier
He said "I'm all washed up now, huh"
But when I glanced across his shoulder
He held a royal flush

And whatever needs to happen
Let it happen, let it be
Through all I am protected
Grace is effected
Over me

I'm still here, I'm still wheeling
I'm who I thought I was, or just about
I'll be walking down this boulevard
Until my legs give out
Thoughts like storms and seas are raging
I know it is a matter of degree
But it's not the world outside that's changing
It's ME!

And whatever needs to happen
Let it happen, let it be
Through all I am protected
Grace is effected
Over me
Over me
Over me
Over me
Over me
Over me
Over me
Grace is effected
Over me

"Let Me Feel Holy Again"



There's a man that I know
In trouble, afraid and in need of a friend
Please, Lord, let me feel holy again

Am I hurting myself
Or am I low as I can bend?
Please, Lord, let me feel holy again

I've spread my wings and I know many things
But knowing isn't real
I know you're walking with me
I know you're talking with me
But how long, Lord, before I can feel?

If I've got a long way to go
I'll use every minute that you send
Please, Lord, let me feel holy again

"Let The Earth Bear Witness"



They shall be remembered for ever
They shall be alive for ever
They shall be speaking for ever
The people shall hear them for ever.

Let the sea bear witness
Let the wind bear witness
Let the earth bear witness
Let the stars bear witness.

They shall be remembered for ever
They shall be alive for ever
They shall be speaking for ever
The people shall hear them for ever.

Let the sea bear witness
Let the wind bear witness
Let the earth bear witness
Let the stars bear witness.

They shall be remembered for ever
They shall be alive for ever
They shall be speaking for ever
The people shall hear them for ever.

They shall be remembered for ever (let the sea bear witness)
They shall be alive for ever
They shall be speaking for ever (let the wind bear witness)
The people shall hear them for ever.

They shall be remembered for ever (let the earth bear witness)
They shall be alive for ever
They shall be speaking for ever (let the stars bear witness)
The people shall hear them for ever.

"Lonesome And A Long Way From Home"



Every face I see is a stranger
Every step I take I see danger
I must have walked one thousand miles on my own as I roam,
Lost and lonesome and a long long way from home

The man I used be has disappeared
I haven't heard him laugh for a hundred years
My courage has abandoned me, my spirit too has flown, and I'm alone,
Lost and lonesome and a long long way from home

There is light at the end of the road I am told,
Peace in the valley and a city of gold
I must be facing backwards because all I can see
Is a storm-black rain cloud falling on me

All my dreams have been broken
Oaths and prayerwords have been spoken
There's nothing in this godalmighty world will soften up my heart of stone
I'm lost and lonesome and a long long way from home

"Lonesome Old Wind"



Though I try
Hard as I can to fly free
That lonesome old wind keeps blowing me

I would stay
Where your loving warms me night and day
Close to thee
But that lonesome old wind keeps blowing me

You say this time
I must be out of my mind
Oh and I'm sure it's true
But that old wind is bending me
That old wind is sending me
And letting go is all I know how to do

Sometimes
There's a small boy in this head of mine
Whispers "let it be"
But that lonesome old wind keeps blowing me

"Long Way To The Light"



I'm sitting in my bedroom
Overlooking Findhorn Bay
Cluny Hill ion the distance
Summer on the way
Blue skies and sailing boats
Like a picture in a book
I can't believe I got here
Or how long it took

Living one step at a time
Putting one foot in front of the other
It sure feels right
Healing on my mind
Been a long way
Been a long way to the light

I'd made it to Manhattan
Built myself a nest
I meant to get right back to doing
Exactly what I do best:
Pluggin in an electric guitar,
Leading a band
Well, if you want to give God a laugh
- tell him your plans!

Summer in the city
Wilting in the heat
Buzzing up and down to Bearsville
And back to Hudson Street
I learned meditation
And how to visualise -
Just breathing, being still
Never felt more alive!

Living one step at a time...

I spent the fall in transit
Circling the moon
Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Like a fiddle without a tune
I found what I was searching for
In Mrs Caddy's book
I had to go there straightaway
Have myself a look

I flew back to Scotland
Anticipation in my bones
The old country welcoming me
Like a prodigal coming home
I knelt and kissed the tarmac
In the wild atlantic rain
Felt the fiery gaelic blood
Rising in my veins

Living one step at a time...

I spent the night in Glasgow
Flew to Inverness
I found the Place and at the first
I was not impressed
Nobody said hello
The faces left me cold
Back then how was I to know
All that would unfold?

I entered the Sanctuary
- heard the voice of a girl
Sending out a circle of light
Clear across the world
I shuddered in the Power
Like a seedling in a storm
I've been travelling to this place
Since the moment I was born

Flew back to New York City
Singing the big city blues
The sand of Findhorn Bay
Still clingin to my shoes
I tried to re-start my life
But the life I knew was gone
I had to let go everything
But that's another song!

Living one step at a time...

So I'm sitting in my bedroom
Overlooking Findhorn Bay
Cluny Hill in the distance
Summer on the way
I'm watching sailing boats
Bobbing to and fro
- time to hit the road
The only way I know...

Living one step at a time...

"Love And Death"



Behold the flashing waters
A cloven dancing jet,
That from the milk-white marble
For ever foam and fret;
Far off in drowsy valleys
Where the meadow saffrons blow,
The feet of summer dabble
In their coiling calm and slow.
The banks are worn forever
By a people sadly gay:
A Titan with loud laughter,
Made them of fire clay.
Go ask the springing flowers,
And the flowing air above,
What are the twin-born waters,
And they'll answer Death and Love.

With wreaths of withered flowers
Two lonely spirits wait
With wreaths of withered flowers
'Fore paradise's gate.
They may not pass the portal
Poor earth-enkindled pair,
Though sad is many a spirit
To pass and leave them there
Still staring at their flowers,
That dull and faded are.
If one should rise beside thee,
The other is not far.
Go ask the youngest angel,
She will say with bated breath,
By the door of Mary's garden
Are the spirits Love and Death.

"Love Anyway"
(performed by Mike Scott)



So you crahed the plane
And there's hell to pay
I'm making it plain
I love you anyway

You made a fool
Out of me today
I'm breaking the rule
I love you anyway

You threw the blame
What a role to play!
My story's the same
I love you anyway

You dealt the blow
And you burst the ball
I'm letting you know
I love you most of all

Magic we chase - only to find
It comes from a place higher than mind
Higher than dust, but only just
It hangs on the cusp

I can hear you scream
Like a branded slave
It's only a dream
I love you anyway

You've got a war to wage
Chief to obey
Foe to engage
I love you anyway

You hunker down
Feeling small
Judging the clown
I love you most of all

I picture you with the eye of my mind
A portrait in blue, unravaged by time
Beauty undimmed and through your pale skin
The beauty within

So you beat the child
Sent him away
Beauty defiled
I love you anyway

You tricked the King
Cut him where he lay
Unthinkable thing
I love you anyway

You held the jewel
And you let it fall
Prince of a fool!
I love you most of all

Over the wind, under the hill
Wing upon wing, love over will
When the big me meets the big you
The things we will do!

I'll make the time
If you name the day
Trouble or shine
I love you anyway

I think of you
As child of clay
Whatever you do
I love yo anyway

"Love That Kills"


Will you take me slowly
will you lead me all the way
Will you sing me your songs
Until I am ready for
The LOVE that kills
Yeah!

I have known you in the
Sheets and folds of many lifetimes
You were there when I was made
And I will speak to you in the language of dream until
Love comes my way
Love that kills
Yeah!

Hey I will ride on a dolphin, rain in my face,
Wind in all of my sails
There's a shadow hard on my heels now,
But I'm still trying to, I'm still trying to...
Get to the place, where rolling rivers overspill
I have come a long way and I need my cup refilled

So when you come for me slowly
When you come knocking on my door
When the soul sings
And the man is still
I will be ready
I will be ready
Yes I will be ready for the love that kills
Yeah!

The love that kills
The love that kills, Kills, kills
The love that kills

"Love Will Shoot You Down"



Ain't you hard to beat
After all this time,
Still standing on your feet – somehow -
Way beyond your prime?
Well, love will shoot you down, will shoot you down
Love will shoot you down, will shoot you down

You believe you were The One
But it was only grace
And when your hour is done
And somebody takes your place
Love will shoot you down, will shoot you down
Love will shoot you down, will shoot you down

Time, old Time, King Time is moving back and forth
Like a backlit dancer on a pale white horse

On a mad racecourse
In a hungry land
You will be forced
To play your secret hand
And love will shoot you down, will shoot you down
Love will shoot you down, will shoot you down

Fate is driving like a vigilante through the crowd,
Hot coals on his feet, bullets on his brow

Power will spit you out
Grief will leave you stunned
A camera will pick you out
A thief will cock the gun
And love will shoot you down, will shoot you down
Love will shoot you down, will shoot you down

Time, old Time, King Time is moving back and forth
Like a backlit dancer on a pale white horse

"Lucky Day / Bad Advice"



You can't spend all your life
Sittin' on a cloud playing a twelve-string
You can't spend all your life
Sittin' on a cloud playing a twelve-string

But you'll make this day again, this lucky, lucky day again
But it's not just a day again until you touched it

Get yourself a pedal-steel player
There's money in the cabaret business
Get yourself a pedal-steel player
There's money in the cabaret business
You can't spend all your life
Sittin' on a cloud playing a twelve-string
You can't spend all your life
Sittin' on a cloud playing a twelve-string

But you'll make this day again, this lucky, lucky day again
But it's not just a day again until you touched it

Don't put that song in your album
You don't need no sax in the band
Don't put that song in your album
You don't need no sax in the band
Get yourself a pedal-steel player
There's money in the cabaret business
You can't spend all your life
Sittin' on a cloud playing a twelve-string

But you'll make this day again, this lucky, lucky day again
But it's not just a day again until you touched it

Wake up you gotta make a change
You gotta dress like one of the Levellers
Don't put that song in your album
You don't need no sax in the band
Get yourself a pedal-steel player
There's money in the cabaret business
You can't spend all your life
Sittin' on a cloud playing a twelve-string

"Mad As The Mist And Snow"



Bolt and bar the shutter for the foul winds blow
Our minds are at their best this night and I seem to know
That everything outside us is mad as the mist and snow
That everything outside us is mad as the mist and snow.

Horace there by Homer stands, Plato stands below
And here is Tully's open page, how many years ago
Were you and I, lads, mad as the mist and snow?
Were you and I, lads, mad as the mist and snow?

You ask what makes me sigh, what makes me shudder so
I shudder and I sigh to think that even Cicero
And many minded Homer were mad as the mist and snow
That Cicero and Homer were mad as the mist and snow
That Cicero and Homer were mad as the mist and snow

"Malediction"



I am walking in the last rays of the setting sun.
Whistling a hangman's tune with head held high swinging my gun.
I say this little boy is angry, I say this little boy is mad!
This little boy comes to destroy, stone-eyed, cold-faced in swathes of vengeance clad.

And the black cock crows. And a dead wind blows.

In my wake are seven women who tried to steal my soul.
In my belly six wild wolves curse and howl from their foul hole.
I say no earthly will may stop me, I say no earthly will may try.
No earthly will may halt the spill of blood from wounds and tears from craving eyes.

And the black cock crows. And a dead wind blows.

Below me burn the city lights in fires of pearls and jewels.
I'm climbling down the city walls, unseen, unfussed - the sentries must be fools.
I say all pleasantries are over, I say all pleasantries are past.
My enemies, you pimps and thieves, prepare to meet your nemesis at last.

And the black cock crows. And the dead wind blows.

"Martin Decent"



Martin Decent came to play, came to play, came to play
On a bright and winter's day
Turned his coat in the morning

Martin Decent spoke out loud, spoke out loud,
Told his tale to the listening cloud
Then he turned his coat in the morning

Ate his greens and his rhubard raw
Chewed his food with a vigorous jaw
Wrote down he all he heard and saw

Martin Decent sang along, sang along, sang along
Leant his voice to the children's song
Then he turned his coat in the morning

Told a few little lily-white lies
Hid the truth behind his eyes
Nobody knew he was in disguise

Martin Decent danced a lot, danced a lot, danced a lot
Struck the pose for a photograph
Then he turned his coat in the morning

Martin Decent went back home, went back home, went back home
Slept like a log in a bed of his own
Then he turned his coat in the morning

Yes he did!
Hey! Fuck him! Roll him in manure!

"Medicine Bow"



There's a black wind blowing
A typhoon on the rise
Pummeling rain
Murderous skies!
I'm gonna take my books
I'm gonna wear my coat
I'm gonna find my scarf
And wrap it around my throat
And you can
Come with me
Through the driving snow
We're gonna ride on up to
Medicine Bow

Well I spent too long
Just stuck on the shore
There's a man in my head
But he isn't me anymore
I'm gonna find me a ship
Stowaway on a boat
I'm gonna burn all the words
And letters and cards that I ever wrote
And you can
Sail with me
Where the current flows
We're gonna move on up to
Medicine Bow

I'm gonna change my colours
Cancel my things
Stop my squawking
Grow some wings!

Well I will not sleep
And I will not rest
I will put my soul
And my will to the test
I'm gonna tug at my tether
I'm gonna tear at my lead
I'm gonna test my knowledge
In the field of deeds
And you can
Run with me
FAST AS WE CAN GO
Over the hill to
Medicine Bow

"Medicine Jack"



Let me tell you the tale of Medicine Jack
He went out in the woods and he never came back
Equipped with a stick and a big old sack
He went too close to the railroad track

You know what they say about Medicine Jack
He lived his life in a rolldown shack,
The wind a-screeching through the cracks
And the sound of the trains from the railroad track

Well here's the truth about Medicine Jack
He painted his face and his whole shack black
He went up in the woods and he never came back
He must have got too close to the railroad track

Did you see him on that fateful night?
Did you see his grizzly face in the torchlight?
Did you see him crawling down among the trees
And getting scabs on his hands and knees?
Did you see the demise of Medicine Jack
His pitiful face still painted black
Just a spit and a stride from the rolldown shack
Down on by the railroad track?
Don't turn your back on Medicine Jack!

I was thinking about the ghost of Medicine Jack
On starless nights when the sky is black
I can hear him singing those deadman's blues
And whistling down by the railroad track