Michael
Thick glasses and old shoes
Look like he’s born to lose
Michael has just turned ten and a half
And you’ll never hear him laugh
Blessed with no football skills
Mummy says he’s always ill
He’s got no friends and he walks his own path
And you’ll never hear him laugh
Shortcut home going by the park
There’s a group of boys in the dark
Run now Michael run away
Legs are failing start to pray
Try to fight but get hit in the eye
On the floor and you start to cry
Kicks fly in and the blood rains down
Boys run off and you crawl to town
Jacket stolen and your bag is gone
A birthday present from your mum
Nose is broken and your eyes are black
Boys from school been on the attack
It’s so hard to remember
Everything it is just a blur
In his mind just one thing’s clearer by half
The sound of the boy’s laugh
Michael’s been a policeman for many a year
He works hard and he has a good career
But there is one thing they say amongst the staff
I’ve never heard him laugh.
One night they haul in a crim
Michael takes a look at him
Memories flooding back the bitter tears that ran
“Give me five minutes with that man”
Noises from behind the door
The man is on the floor
They hear a crack, a scream, but louder by half
The sound of Michael’s laugh.
Music Love
I told my girlfriend I’ve been having an affair
I’m afraid it’s a love that has always been there.
This love communicates with my soul
It expresses who I am, it makes me whole.
And the more that I love it the more it’s returned
And the more that I learn the more there is to be learned.
I can make it go fast, I can make it go slow
And the more that I love it the more it will grow.
Well this love is internationally understood
“parlez vous francais?” I wish I could
Coneeshewa and then I start to drown
Coz the power of language has let me down
But guitar in hand I communicate with ease
I can say that I’m tired I can say that I’m pleased
I can say I’m in love, I can say all these things
I can paint a picture using these six strings.
Me and my love stay up late at night
I fondly caress her she squeezes me tight.
Play a game and mess around
Try something new and see how it sounds.
I play reggae and rock and roll
I’ll play the blues till my fingers start to tire
But my brain is hard wired
Till my funeral pyre I will never retire.
I love the way that music is such a fluid thing
People try to box it but it won’t stay in
Categorize this you taxonomic twits
We’ll morph and evolve with Darwinian forms
As musical purists indulge in their eugenic lies
They’ll find the sounds will move unending before their very eyes.
Sad Story
I’m sorry but it’s bleeding useless
Another man of media trying to dupe us
Cease-fire in a matter of days
But three hours later there are homes ablaze.
John Lennon said, “imagine” but I think he’s wrong
Coz recently my faith in peace has gone
Bombs on the tube and the police shoot to kill
And justice simply lacks the political will
Business rules the tower
It’s a sad, sad story of money and power
Society worships the businessmen
The FTSE the Wall Street and the Hang Tseng
Men jostle for power to keep the status quo
Spinning the same old bullshit as the others we know
Thinkers and visionaries labeled as dreamers
We can end world poverty but no one believes us
Shareholders given a bonus
Coz the company’s sacked two thousand workers
Marketing analysts sell us stuff we don’t need
And some poor Chinese worker gets paid f*ck all for his greed.
Bitten and Chewing
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
But when I’m chewing it over in my head
It can feel like my boots are still full of lead
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
I will leave it tonight
I will leave it tonight
But when the moon is up above my head and shining so bright
It can seem as if my choices are not necessarily alright
I will leave it tonight
You are so beautiful
And it can seem as if you’ve come along
Just to make me write another song
You are so beautiful
And why oh why are you always in my head
And I can see it I can feel I can be there instead
I’m sitting here just playing my guitar
I’m sitting here just playing my guitar
But in my mind I am moving many miles across the sea
Just to be you and me totally to be free
I’m sitting here just playing my guitar
Who do you think you are?
Well I can do without you anyway
Rain rain rain go away and come another day
Who do you think you are?
Well why’d you think that you could go with me
Can’t you see I’m free I’m with she and I’m happy.
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
But when I’m chewing it over in my head
It can feel like my boots are still full of lead
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
Simple Song
This is just a little simple song
That I have written for you.
It started off being complicated
But I realised that simple will do.
Why complicated things with many key changes
And why mess around with fifteen chords
When four will see me through.
I reflected on my emotions
I thought and analysed,
I imagined it would be hard
But once again I was surprised.
I thought that it would be
An epiphany or a symphony
A masterpiece with nothing finer
Like the Sistine Chapel or the wall in China
With all that we’ve been through
How can I sum up how I feel
With some words and a tune
The finest writers in the world have
Devoted their careers to describing love
But then writing a complex song
With fancy words was somehow wrong
Like spraying perfume into cool fresh air
When our love is in the simple little things that we share
But like a beautiful egg-shell
The simple things are fragile as well.
So this is just a little simple song
That I have written for you.
It started off being complicated
But I realized that simple will do.
Why complicated things with many key changes
And why mess around with fancy words
When I’ve a simple love for you.
Sleeping Dogs Lie
Can I think of you in the twilight?
And think of how the sun goes down on fear.
I used to sleep with fire all around me
But now I see your face, your eyes, my dear.
Can I think of you in the morning?
When birds are waking up to see the sky.
Can I think of you in the evening?
Let sleeping; let sleeping dogs lie.
Here we are. It has gone past midnight
And stars are lighting up beyond the moon.
When the morning comes I'll be gone dear
But I'll be coming home to you so soon.
Can I think of you in the morning?
When birds are waking up to see the sky.
Can I think of you in the evening?
Let sleeping; let sleeping dogs lie.
Take the Time
Take the time to breathe before you dive
It's a crime to keep still all your life
How you doing? How's it going?
What's the story? Are you keeping
On the motorway to paradise?
Fare thee well, the wind is blowing
I am sailing, I am hoping that this
Life will treat me nice.
I'm not alone. The wind has blown
And I've been shown
The way to go home.
No longer will I roam.
No longer will I roam.
Take the time to love before you die.
You'll be mine. Forever will I try.
Are you taking all the glory?
Are you making up a story?
Are you teasing, are you testing me?
Fare thee well, the rain is falling
I will see you in the morning.
Here's the truth that I can see:
You're not alone. The wind has blown
And you've been shown
The way to go home.
No longer will you roam.
No longer will you roam.
Take the time to think before you talk.
You'll be fine if you run before you walk.
What's the distance you are throwing?
You are running? You are rowing?
What's the target you have set yourself?
Fare the well. I see you're tired
But you know the gun has fired
And the race will never win itself.
But he's alone. The wind has blown
But hasn't shown
The way to go home.
Forever will he roam.
Forever will he roam.
Sweet Revenge
Oh sweet honey, we're taking the long way round.
Not got much money since you have gone to ground.
Ever since I left my mother I've been treading along the road.
I thought you were company to share my heavy load.
And all that I keep on thinking about is how I don't understand.
Even though I keep on trying I'm straying far from this land.
I'm straying far from your hand
With my footsteps lost in the sand
And although I don't want to go
I'm sinking into the snow
And it's cold down here
I wish that you were near
And it all turned black
When you turned your back
On all I had to give
Not caring if you die or live
And I wish that I could hate you
I wish that I didn't still miss you.
Oh sweet honey, why'd you choose to cause me this pain?
Was it all so bad, my darling? Things didn't have to be the same.
You blamed yourself for all of life's ills.
If only I had been there, darling, when you took your life with some pills.
And all that I keep on thinking about is: did you ever think of me?
Did you think of my prison when you chose to let yourself free?
I'm straying far from your hand
With my footsteps lost in the sand
And although I don't want to go
I'm sinking into the snow
And it's cold down here
I wish that you were near
And it all turned black
When you turned your back
On all I had to give
Not caring if you die or live
And I wish that I could hate you
I wish that I didn't still miss you.
Now I walk the cliff tops stopping other who are where you've been.
Stopped one last Tuesday. She was only seventeen.
She had your eyes, my darling, and she waved when she was driven away.
Watch over her soul, my honey, she has still got a long, long way.
I've stood on that cliff top, honey, thinking how I'd like to see you again.
It can seem so easy, darling, to get rid of the pain
And fly straight into your hands
With our footsteps lost in the sand
And although I didn't want to go
I'm sinking into the snow
And it's cold down here
I can't wait until you're near.
And it all turned black
When I turned your back
On all life has to give
I've stopped caring if I die or live
But I could never hate you.
I no longer have to miss you.
Sweet revenge, now honey, now you know what it's like to be me.
You did this to me, darling, now I hope that you fell guilty.
Now we're even, honey, where do we go from here?
I'm still walking the cliff tops now that sadness has replaced my fear.
Restlessness
What you mean I'm restless
Don't you know I'm only human?
How'd you say it to me?
How'd I guess that's what you're thinking?
Walking to the corner for a bottle of rum
Was told I am in Erin and I couldn't have some
Caught it dreckly from the emerald sky
Couldn't always find it but I didn't know why.
Always: I'm crossing over.
Let go: It is all over.
How'd you know it? How'd you know it's only me?
How'd you do it? How'd you count it: one, two, three?
Taken up to heaven on a silver cloud
If only I had turned the volume extra loud.
Next time I'll see to it I only obey.
I'll pray I say it's only safe to solely betray.
Only: you're staying over.
Lonely: it's all over.
Count the bruises. Count the stitches: one, two, three.
Count the message. Listen, it's not hard to see.
Here he goes again singing silly songs.
Such I pity I would like to sing along.
Only my emotions telling me not to go
But can't you see I'm crying. Settle and grow.
Darling: It's all over.
Stop crying: I'm no wild rover.
Little Bird
Little bird in the sky
Little bird flying high
Looking down to the ground
Looking all around
Life is good, life is fair
From way up there.
Big old moon in the sky
Big old moon flying high
Looking down to the ground
Looking all around
It is calm, there’s harmony,
That’s what you see.
Little star in the sky
Little star way up high
Looking down to the ground
Looking all around
Just a rock of green and blue
Is what’s on view.
If there’s a heaven in the sky
If there’s a heaven way up high
Looking down to the ground
Looking all around
What’s the view like from afar
From where you are?
Why Say It
Why’d you think I don’t fall freely
It could always serve you right
I could vanish truly really staying up all through the night
Why’d you think I’m always reading
Cannot put me down for long
Laughing when I’m bleeding
You can hear me sing this song
One two three is that all there is to it?
Can’t you see that I’ve got to work through it
Five six seven I can kiss the gates of heaven
When it’s all going so well I find I’m on the road to hell
So why’d you say it?
Why’d you say it?
Why you always pulling over
Cannot drive away too fast
Serving like Navratilova
Living life like in the past
Why you think it’s almost over
Take a good long look at me
Living champagne supernova
Never felt so free
Heart Beats Faster
I can see you standing there:
The light is shining off your hair.
You're moving to the sound,
Your body's moving me around.
You know I see that twinkle in your eye:
Catch my breath - no alibi.
Your figure infinitely fine,
Your flower and fragrance are mine.
And my heart beats a little bit faster.
My heart beats a little bit faster, baby.
My heart beats a little bit faster.
Beat, beat beat beat a little bit faster.
The breath is passing from your lips.
I touch it with my fingertips.
I feel your body next to mine.
Our souls begin to intertwine.
Strength, I know, will start to wane
If you just kiss me once again.
No one else is close to me.
Within your eyes I'm swimming free.
And my heart beats a little bit faster.
My heart beats a little bit faster, baby.
My heart beats a little bit faster.
Beat, beat beat beat a little bit faster.
And, oh, I can see you standing there
And all I'm feeling everywhere
Is you: sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet.
My heart is racing.
The lights are low but I can find
The lights are flashing in my mind
And I know you are in control
Of feelings flashing through my soul
I give to you; you give to me,
It's like a full on symphony.
I'm frightened because, Lord above,
The feeling is so strong: it's love.
And my heart beats a little bit faster.
My heart beats a little bit faster, baby.
My heart beats a little bit faster.
Beat, beat beat beat beat beat
Beat beat beat beat a little bit faster.
On the Cliff Edge
On the cliff edge - look out to sea,
Out behind me is all my history.
I step forward tentatively,
You’re beside me - give me bravery.
On a desert - stare out sand,
Out before me is a new and strange land,
I step forward - bravely I stand,
You’re beside me - please give me your hand.
Standing on the cusp of our own history,
Turn over the page and see what we can see,
Scribbling a line of new reality,
Skipping up a rhyme of possibility,
Landing on a coast that is paved with gold,
Treasure trove of tales to be told,
Sold when we’re old to our children’s ears,
Tell of the fears of our younger years.
On an airplane scrunched in my seat,
Thinking of the souls that I’m gonna meet.
Stepping off into the tropical heat,
You’re beside - you hear my heart beat.
Everything is gonna be alright.
On a threshold - open a door,
Let’s leap over and see if we can soar.
I step forward, look in your eyes,
I fear nothing now - I reach for the skies.
This Country
Places
Accra, Tarkwa, Techiman, and Elmina,
Kumasi, Secondi, Cape Coast, Winneba,
Bolga, Bongo, Bawku, Navrongo,
Wale Wale, Tamale, Zebilla, and Kongo
Bole, Bulenga, Bechem, Berekum,
Salaga, Enchi, Ho and Atebubu,
Wenchi, Mole, Volta, Lawra,
Pigu, Tolon, Wa and Savelugu
Food
Chop bar, Kelewele, Grasscutter, Fufu,
Jollof rice, Kenkey, Cocoa, Banku,
Plantain, Palm wine, Groundnut, Cassava,
Guinea fowl, Koko, Yam and Bambara
Politics
The NPP and the NDC and the
NLC and the PNC
JP Danquah and the UGCC,
Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP
Languages / Tribes
Halisa, Fante, Twi and Dangba,
Kasem, Gunja and Mamprusi,
Ewe, Fra Fra and Dagaare,
Brong, Dagombe and Grusi
Animals
Elephant, Hyena, Crocodile and Manatee,
Warthog, Antelope, Monitor and Buffalo,
Anubis, Mongoose, Caracal and Monkey,
Bush Baby, Waterbuck, Oribi and Bongo,
In the Land of the Blind the One Eyed Man is King
Running out of answers though the questions are flooding my brain,
Nothing’s ever easy and there’s never no pain without no gain,
Figure out the double negatives, I’ll be doubling again with a double refrain,
Insane in the membrane and, though I shouldn’t complain, insane in the brain.
Thinking up solutions to problems beyond my reach,
Doing all the learning though I really should be here to teach,
Creature comforts, Super Trooper,
Taking all the knocks like Henry Cooper,
Blooper! Oh, I’m sorry sister,
I’m here to help but I must have missed ya.
Taking on the hard road when the highway’s left at home,
Gambling our years away on a wing and a prayer and a right to roam,
Boom, shake shake shake the room,
Zoom, fake fake fake it soon,
Whoops! Oh, I’m sorry brother,
You’re looking at me but you want another.
Looking like I’m cruising though the pot holes fill my road,
Looking like I’m losing all the knowledge that I knowed,
Snowed under with my load,
Growing, giving it a little bit slowed,
Explode, confidence, don’t erode,
I’m cracking you like I’m cracking morse code,
Giving it a V to the S to the O,
Whoops! Oh, I’m an NGO,
How low can you go? How little do you know?
I am a one-eyed man,
Making up a one-eyed plan,
Sitting out here in the land of the blind,
Wishing I could find a way in my mind,
Not wanting to turn my tail,
But everybody here can understand braille.
Money money money,
It is funny,
In a rich man’s world.
Money money money,
It is funny,
In a poor man’s world.
Trying to straddle a divide I cannot breach,
Trying to battle for a goal I cannot reach,
Living it up in a land of plenty,
Living it down in a land of empty...
Wallets - that’s for storing a dream,
I’ll work for fun, if you know what I mean,
Easy come and easy go,
Two years here and then no show,
I’ll be back to suckle on a teat that flows,
2.4 in a 2 up 2 down,
I’ll be a one-eyed king - check out my crown,
It’s my birthright, Gordon Brown.
Missing Caterham
Sitting on this desiccated sunny loam,
I’m dreaming of a little place that I call home,
Thinking of the streets and walking up and down,
I think that I am missing little Caterham town,
Oh Ho, Colburn Avenue,
Chaldon Road I miss you too,
Commonwealth Road, it is true,
I’m missing little Caterham town.
I’ve always been quite disparaging
Of your suburban curbs and curtain twitching
But now I feel the urge to purge these reserves
Coz I think that I am missing little Caterham town.
These emotions have got me feeling flustered
I don’t miss marmite, cheese or custard,
It’s Caterham and the people there clustered,
Whyteleafe just doesn’t cut the mustard.
A nostalgic haze of younger days,
Navigates the maze of introspective gaze,
Is this a phase? Expectations raised?
Or is it that Caterham never fails to amaze?
When you turn off the M25,
You know that you start to feel alive,
And when the valley comes into view,
You know that in Caterham you won’t feel blue.
It may lack glamour and sophistication,
It may be unknown to most of the nation,
But I am bordering on elation,
At the thought of pulling into little Caterham Station.
Twinkle
Twinkle twinkle little star
Sometimes I wonder what you are
And whether you wonder about me at all.
Are you up there looking down
Contented under heaven’s crown
Or did your little star just burn out and fall.
Little star is millions of light years away,
Flying through the galaxies across the Milky Way,
But even though it may have burned out many years ago,
Its twinkle is still lighting up my sky.
Twinkle twinkle little prayer
Why is life so unfair
And why’d it have to happen - oh why.
He still had so much to give
He still had so much life to live
Now all that’s left is a teardrop in my eye.
But I can still remember the twinkling in his eyes,
Twinkling like that little star up
Up above the world so high
Twinkle twinkle little light
The twinkling in my heart’s still bright.
The supernova’s burning me inside.
Twinkle twinkle time moves on
I’ll learn to sing another song
I’m growing older with each passing day.
But though I’ll sing other songs for love
I’ll still see your star up above
Like a diamond shining in the sky.
Twinkle little star for me,
Twinkling immortality,
Remind me of how young I used to be.
Thick glasses and old shoes
Look like he’s born to lose
Michael has just turned ten and a half
And you’ll never hear him laugh
Blessed with no football skills
Mummy says he’s always ill
He’s got no friends and he walks his own path
And you’ll never hear him laugh
Shortcut home going by the park
There’s a group of boys in the dark
Run now Michael run away
Legs are failing start to pray
Try to fight but get hit in the eye
On the floor and you start to cry
Kicks fly in and the blood rains down
Boys run off and you crawl to town
Jacket stolen and your bag is gone
A birthday present from your mum
Nose is broken and your eyes are black
Boys from school been on the attack
It’s so hard to remember
Everything it is just a blur
In his mind just one thing’s clearer by half
The sound of the boy’s laugh
Michael’s been a policeman for many a year
He works hard and he has a good career
But there is one thing they say amongst the staff
I’ve never heard him laugh.
One night they haul in a crim
Michael takes a look at him
Memories flooding back the bitter tears that ran
“Give me five minutes with that man”
Noises from behind the door
The man is on the floor
They hear a crack, a scream, but louder by half
The sound of Michael’s laugh.
Music Love
I told my girlfriend I’ve been having an affair
I’m afraid it’s a love that has always been there.
This love communicates with my soul
It expresses who I am, it makes me whole.
And the more that I love it the more it’s returned
And the more that I learn the more there is to be learned.
I can make it go fast, I can make it go slow
And the more that I love it the more it will grow.
Well this love is internationally understood
“parlez vous francais?” I wish I could
Coneeshewa and then I start to drown
Coz the power of language has let me down
But guitar in hand I communicate with ease
I can say that I’m tired I can say that I’m pleased
I can say I’m in love, I can say all these things
I can paint a picture using these six strings.
Me and my love stay up late at night
I fondly caress her she squeezes me tight.
Play a game and mess around
Try something new and see how it sounds.
I play reggae and rock and roll
I’ll play the blues till my fingers start to tire
But my brain is hard wired
Till my funeral pyre I will never retire.
I love the way that music is such a fluid thing
People try to box it but it won’t stay in
Categorize this you taxonomic twits
We’ll morph and evolve with Darwinian forms
As musical purists indulge in their eugenic lies
They’ll find the sounds will move unending before their very eyes.
Sad Story
I’m sorry but it’s bleeding useless
Another man of media trying to dupe us
Cease-fire in a matter of days
But three hours later there are homes ablaze.
John Lennon said, “imagine” but I think he’s wrong
Coz recently my faith in peace has gone
Bombs on the tube and the police shoot to kill
And justice simply lacks the political will
Business rules the tower
It’s a sad, sad story of money and power
Society worships the businessmen
The FTSE the Wall Street and the Hang Tseng
Men jostle for power to keep the status quo
Spinning the same old bullshit as the others we know
Thinkers and visionaries labeled as dreamers
We can end world poverty but no one believes us
Shareholders given a bonus
Coz the company’s sacked two thousand workers
Marketing analysts sell us stuff we don’t need
And some poor Chinese worker gets paid f*ck all for his greed.
Bitten and Chewing
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
But when I’m chewing it over in my head
It can feel like my boots are still full of lead
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
I will leave it tonight
I will leave it tonight
But when the moon is up above my head and shining so bright
It can seem as if my choices are not necessarily alright
I will leave it tonight
You are so beautiful
And it can seem as if you’ve come along
Just to make me write another song
You are so beautiful
And why oh why are you always in my head
And I can see it I can feel I can be there instead
I’m sitting here just playing my guitar
I’m sitting here just playing my guitar
But in my mind I am moving many miles across the sea
Just to be you and me totally to be free
I’m sitting here just playing my guitar
Who do you think you are?
Well I can do without you anyway
Rain rain rain go away and come another day
Who do you think you are?
Well why’d you think that you could go with me
Can’t you see I’m free I’m with she and I’m happy.
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
But when I’m chewing it over in my head
It can feel like my boots are still full of lead
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew
Simple Song
This is just a little simple song
That I have written for you.
It started off being complicated
But I realised that simple will do.
Why complicated things with many key changes
And why mess around with fifteen chords
When four will see me through.
I reflected on my emotions
I thought and analysed,
I imagined it would be hard
But once again I was surprised.
I thought that it would be
An epiphany or a symphony
A masterpiece with nothing finer
Like the Sistine Chapel or the wall in China
With all that we’ve been through
How can I sum up how I feel
With some words and a tune
The finest writers in the world have
Devoted their careers to describing love
But then writing a complex song
With fancy words was somehow wrong
Like spraying perfume into cool fresh air
When our love is in the simple little things that we share
But like a beautiful egg-shell
The simple things are fragile as well.
So this is just a little simple song
That I have written for you.
It started off being complicated
But I realized that simple will do.
Why complicated things with many key changes
And why mess around with fancy words
When I’ve a simple love for you.
Sleeping Dogs Lie
Can I think of you in the twilight?
And think of how the sun goes down on fear.
I used to sleep with fire all around me
But now I see your face, your eyes, my dear.
Can I think of you in the morning?
When birds are waking up to see the sky.
Can I think of you in the evening?
Let sleeping; let sleeping dogs lie.
Here we are. It has gone past midnight
And stars are lighting up beyond the moon.
When the morning comes I'll be gone dear
But I'll be coming home to you so soon.
Can I think of you in the morning?
When birds are waking up to see the sky.
Can I think of you in the evening?
Let sleeping; let sleeping dogs lie.
Take the Time
Take the time to breathe before you dive
It's a crime to keep still all your life
How you doing? How's it going?
What's the story? Are you keeping
On the motorway to paradise?
Fare thee well, the wind is blowing
I am sailing, I am hoping that this
Life will treat me nice.
I'm not alone. The wind has blown
And I've been shown
The way to go home.
No longer will I roam.
No longer will I roam.
Take the time to love before you die.
You'll be mine. Forever will I try.
Are you taking all the glory?
Are you making up a story?
Are you teasing, are you testing me?
Fare thee well, the rain is falling
I will see you in the morning.
Here's the truth that I can see:
You're not alone. The wind has blown
And you've been shown
The way to go home.
No longer will you roam.
No longer will you roam.
Take the time to think before you talk.
You'll be fine if you run before you walk.
What's the distance you are throwing?
You are running? You are rowing?
What's the target you have set yourself?
Fare the well. I see you're tired
But you know the gun has fired
And the race will never win itself.
But he's alone. The wind has blown
But hasn't shown
The way to go home.
Forever will he roam.
Forever will he roam.
Sweet Revenge
Oh sweet honey, we're taking the long way round.
Not got much money since you have gone to ground.
Ever since I left my mother I've been treading along the road.
I thought you were company to share my heavy load.
And all that I keep on thinking about is how I don't understand.
Even though I keep on trying I'm straying far from this land.
I'm straying far from your hand
With my footsteps lost in the sand
And although I don't want to go
I'm sinking into the snow
And it's cold down here
I wish that you were near
And it all turned black
When you turned your back
On all I had to give
Not caring if you die or live
And I wish that I could hate you
I wish that I didn't still miss you.
Oh sweet honey, why'd you choose to cause me this pain?
Was it all so bad, my darling? Things didn't have to be the same.
You blamed yourself for all of life's ills.
If only I had been there, darling, when you took your life with some pills.
And all that I keep on thinking about is: did you ever think of me?
Did you think of my prison when you chose to let yourself free?
I'm straying far from your hand
With my footsteps lost in the sand
And although I don't want to go
I'm sinking into the snow
And it's cold down here
I wish that you were near
And it all turned black
When you turned your back
On all I had to give
Not caring if you die or live
And I wish that I could hate you
I wish that I didn't still miss you.
Now I walk the cliff tops stopping other who are where you've been.
Stopped one last Tuesday. She was only seventeen.
She had your eyes, my darling, and she waved when she was driven away.
Watch over her soul, my honey, she has still got a long, long way.
I've stood on that cliff top, honey, thinking how I'd like to see you again.
It can seem so easy, darling, to get rid of the pain
And fly straight into your hands
With our footsteps lost in the sand
And although I didn't want to go
I'm sinking into the snow
And it's cold down here
I can't wait until you're near.
And it all turned black
When I turned your back
On all life has to give
I've stopped caring if I die or live
But I could never hate you.
I no longer have to miss you.
Sweet revenge, now honey, now you know what it's like to be me.
You did this to me, darling, now I hope that you fell guilty.
Now we're even, honey, where do we go from here?
I'm still walking the cliff tops now that sadness has replaced my fear.
Restlessness
What you mean I'm restless
Don't you know I'm only human?
How'd you say it to me?
How'd I guess that's what you're thinking?
Walking to the corner for a bottle of rum
Was told I am in Erin and I couldn't have some
Caught it dreckly from the emerald sky
Couldn't always find it but I didn't know why.
Always: I'm crossing over.
Let go: It is all over.
How'd you know it? How'd you know it's only me?
How'd you do it? How'd you count it: one, two, three?
Taken up to heaven on a silver cloud
If only I had turned the volume extra loud.
Next time I'll see to it I only obey.
I'll pray I say it's only safe to solely betray.
Only: you're staying over.
Lonely: it's all over.
Count the bruises. Count the stitches: one, two, three.
Count the message. Listen, it's not hard to see.
Here he goes again singing silly songs.
Such I pity I would like to sing along.
Only my emotions telling me not to go
But can't you see I'm crying. Settle and grow.
Darling: It's all over.
Stop crying: I'm no wild rover.
Little Bird
Little bird in the sky
Little bird flying high
Looking down to the ground
Looking all around
Life is good, life is fair
From way up there.
Big old moon in the sky
Big old moon flying high
Looking down to the ground
Looking all around
It is calm, there’s harmony,
That’s what you see.
Little star in the sky
Little star way up high
Looking down to the ground
Looking all around
Just a rock of green and blue
Is what’s on view.
If there’s a heaven in the sky
If there’s a heaven way up high
Looking down to the ground
Looking all around
What’s the view like from afar
From where you are?
Why Say It
Why’d you think I don’t fall freely
It could always serve you right
I could vanish truly really staying up all through the night
Why’d you think I’m always reading
Cannot put me down for long
Laughing when I’m bleeding
You can hear me sing this song
One two three is that all there is to it?
Can’t you see that I’ve got to work through it
Five six seven I can kiss the gates of heaven
When it’s all going so well I find I’m on the road to hell
So why’d you say it?
Why’d you say it?
Why you always pulling over
Cannot drive away too fast
Serving like Navratilova
Living life like in the past
Why you think it’s almost over
Take a good long look at me
Living champagne supernova
Never felt so free
Heart Beats Faster
I can see you standing there:
The light is shining off your hair.
You're moving to the sound,
Your body's moving me around.
You know I see that twinkle in your eye:
Catch my breath - no alibi.
Your figure infinitely fine,
Your flower and fragrance are mine.
And my heart beats a little bit faster.
My heart beats a little bit faster, baby.
My heart beats a little bit faster.
Beat, beat beat beat a little bit faster.
The breath is passing from your lips.
I touch it with my fingertips.
I feel your body next to mine.
Our souls begin to intertwine.
Strength, I know, will start to wane
If you just kiss me once again.
No one else is close to me.
Within your eyes I'm swimming free.
And my heart beats a little bit faster.
My heart beats a little bit faster, baby.
My heart beats a little bit faster.
Beat, beat beat beat a little bit faster.
And, oh, I can see you standing there
And all I'm feeling everywhere
Is you: sweet, sweet, sweet, sweet.
My heart is racing.
The lights are low but I can find
The lights are flashing in my mind
And I know you are in control
Of feelings flashing through my soul
I give to you; you give to me,
It's like a full on symphony.
I'm frightened because, Lord above,
The feeling is so strong: it's love.
And my heart beats a little bit faster.
My heart beats a little bit faster, baby.
My heart beats a little bit faster.
Beat, beat beat beat beat beat
Beat beat beat beat a little bit faster.
On the Cliff Edge
On the cliff edge - look out to sea,
Out behind me is all my history.
I step forward tentatively,
You’re beside me - give me bravery.
On a desert - stare out sand,
Out before me is a new and strange land,
I step forward - bravely I stand,
You’re beside me - please give me your hand.
Standing on the cusp of our own history,
Turn over the page and see what we can see,
Scribbling a line of new reality,
Skipping up a rhyme of possibility,
Landing on a coast that is paved with gold,
Treasure trove of tales to be told,
Sold when we’re old to our children’s ears,
Tell of the fears of our younger years.
On an airplane scrunched in my seat,
Thinking of the souls that I’m gonna meet.
Stepping off into the tropical heat,
You’re beside - you hear my heart beat.
Everything is gonna be alright.
On a threshold - open a door,
Let’s leap over and see if we can soar.
I step forward, look in your eyes,
I fear nothing now - I reach for the skies.
This Country
Places
Accra, Tarkwa, Techiman, and Elmina,
Kumasi, Secondi, Cape Coast, Winneba,
Bolga, Bongo, Bawku, Navrongo,
Wale Wale, Tamale, Zebilla, and Kongo
Bole, Bulenga, Bechem, Berekum,
Salaga, Enchi, Ho and Atebubu,
Wenchi, Mole, Volta, Lawra,
Pigu, Tolon, Wa and Savelugu
Food
Chop bar, Kelewele, Grasscutter, Fufu,
Jollof rice, Kenkey, Cocoa, Banku,
Plantain, Palm wine, Groundnut, Cassava,
Guinea fowl, Koko, Yam and Bambara
Politics
The NPP and the NDC and the
NLC and the PNC
JP Danquah and the UGCC,
Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP
Languages / Tribes
Halisa, Fante, Twi and Dangba,
Kasem, Gunja and Mamprusi,
Ewe, Fra Fra and Dagaare,
Brong, Dagombe and Grusi
Animals
Elephant, Hyena, Crocodile and Manatee,
Warthog, Antelope, Monitor and Buffalo,
Anubis, Mongoose, Caracal and Monkey,
Bush Baby, Waterbuck, Oribi and Bongo,
In the Land of the Blind the One Eyed Man is King
Running out of answers though the questions are flooding my brain,
Nothing’s ever easy and there’s never no pain without no gain,
Figure out the double negatives, I’ll be doubling again with a double refrain,
Insane in the membrane and, though I shouldn’t complain, insane in the brain.
Thinking up solutions to problems beyond my reach,
Doing all the learning though I really should be here to teach,
Creature comforts, Super Trooper,
Taking all the knocks like Henry Cooper,
Blooper! Oh, I’m sorry sister,
I’m here to help but I must have missed ya.
Taking on the hard road when the highway’s left at home,
Gambling our years away on a wing and a prayer and a right to roam,
Boom, shake shake shake the room,
Zoom, fake fake fake it soon,
Whoops! Oh, I’m sorry brother,
You’re looking at me but you want another.
Looking like I’m cruising though the pot holes fill my road,
Looking like I’m losing all the knowledge that I knowed,
Snowed under with my load,
Growing, giving it a little bit slowed,
Explode, confidence, don’t erode,
I’m cracking you like I’m cracking morse code,
Giving it a V to the S to the O,
Whoops! Oh, I’m an NGO,
How low can you go? How little do you know?
I am a one-eyed man,
Making up a one-eyed plan,
Sitting out here in the land of the blind,
Wishing I could find a way in my mind,
Not wanting to turn my tail,
But everybody here can understand braille.
Money money money,
It is funny,
In a rich man’s world.
Money money money,
It is funny,
In a poor man’s world.
Trying to straddle a divide I cannot breach,
Trying to battle for a goal I cannot reach,
Living it up in a land of plenty,
Living it down in a land of empty...
Wallets - that’s for storing a dream,
I’ll work for fun, if you know what I mean,
Easy come and easy go,
Two years here and then no show,
I’ll be back to suckle on a teat that flows,
2.4 in a 2 up 2 down,
I’ll be a one-eyed king - check out my crown,
It’s my birthright, Gordon Brown.
Missing Caterham
Sitting on this desiccated sunny loam,
I’m dreaming of a little place that I call home,
Thinking of the streets and walking up and down,
I think that I am missing little Caterham town,
Oh Ho, Colburn Avenue,
Chaldon Road I miss you too,
Commonwealth Road, it is true,
I’m missing little Caterham town.
I’ve always been quite disparaging
Of your suburban curbs and curtain twitching
But now I feel the urge to purge these reserves
Coz I think that I am missing little Caterham town.
These emotions have got me feeling flustered
I don’t miss marmite, cheese or custard,
It’s Caterham and the people there clustered,
Whyteleafe just doesn’t cut the mustard.
A nostalgic haze of younger days,
Navigates the maze of introspective gaze,
Is this a phase? Expectations raised?
Or is it that Caterham never fails to amaze?
When you turn off the M25,
You know that you start to feel alive,
And when the valley comes into view,
You know that in Caterham you won’t feel blue.
It may lack glamour and sophistication,
It may be unknown to most of the nation,
But I am bordering on elation,
At the thought of pulling into little Caterham Station.
Twinkle
Twinkle twinkle little star
Sometimes I wonder what you are
And whether you wonder about me at all.
Are you up there looking down
Contented under heaven’s crown
Or did your little star just burn out and fall.
Little star is millions of light years away,
Flying through the galaxies across the Milky Way,
But even though it may have burned out many years ago,
Its twinkle is still lighting up my sky.
Twinkle twinkle little prayer
Why is life so unfair
And why’d it have to happen - oh why.
He still had so much to give
He still had so much life to live
Now all that’s left is a teardrop in my eye.
But I can still remember the twinkling in his eyes,
Twinkling like that little star up
Up above the world so high
Twinkle twinkle little light
The twinkling in my heart’s still bright.
The supernova’s burning me inside.
Twinkle twinkle time moves on
I’ll learn to sing another song
I’m growing older with each passing day.
But though I’ll sing other songs for love
I’ll still see your star up above
Like a diamond shining in the sky.
Twinkle little star for me,
Twinkling immortality,
Remind me of how young I used to be.
