Tell Me About It

A Life in Your Years

When the years roll in like relentless waves
And your hopeful dreams have begun to fade
And your mind reflects on the bygone days
And you think of choices that you have made

You can see flowers and not the weeds
You can hear laughter, forget the tears
You can count blessings and not your needs
It’s not the years in life but the life in years

CHORUS
They are your diamonds, they are your gold
They are your treasures as you grow old
They are full of wonder like the stars above
Put on this earth for you to love

It is often said that only time will tell
If life turns out as you had planned
If you have wisdom you’ll know so well
What the heart dictates is hard to understand

As the old lives fail, new lives begin
“The old life fails but the new life comes”

So use your time while it’s not too late
To seize the day and appreciate

The days of laughter and the hours of bliss
You will never know a love like this

A Life in Your Years

Ship in the Harbour

You would think that you’d have learned by now
Is there room for any doubt
It’s no use waiting for your ship to come home
When you never even sent one out

You’re stuck there with your feet on the ground
Never let your feelings soar
A ship in the harbour is safe and sound
But that is not what a ship is for.

People have said it for a long long time
And it’s clear as the light of day
Good things may happen to those who wait.
But your dreams will fade away

There are things in life that don’t come back
And why is it so hard to see
Those dictated by the soul and the heart
The neglected opportunity

The saddest words that you’ll ever hear
In a situation often seen
Are what would have happened if I had taken the chance
And how different things might have been

People have said it for a long long time
And it’s clear as the light of day
Good things may happen to those who wait.
But your dreams will fade away

There’s no heavier burden than a great potential
So work out the price that you’ll pay
And don’t trade away all of your tomorrows
To remain in yesterday

Time waits for no one and life moves on
And that’s the way it’s got to be
The next thing you know is that the chance is gone
And you are left with your reality

People have said it for a long long time
And it’s clear as the light of day
Good things may happen to those who wait.
But your dreams will fade away

Ship in the Harbour

Bleacher and the Blues

Bleachers and the Blues

If I wasn’t scared of water, think I’d run away to sea.
Feels like I’m going under, the way she’s treatin’ me.
I work my fingers to the bone, from sunup to sundown,
But when I’m waiting for her to call, she’s out painting up the town.

Dress her like a mannequin, designer hats and shoes,
But all I get is fitted for some made-to-measure blues.

She said to meet her at the ballgame, enjoy some razzmatazz.
With front-row seats, some champagne treats and heaps of All that Jazz.

I stood out by the turnstile and heard the bases load.
Darkness growing, her no showing, guess I should of know’d.
The winners get the glory, but someone has to lose,
like I did - left with peanuts, the bleachers, and the blues.

It ain’t over till it’s over or so that’s how it seems
But now I reckon I’ve had more strikes than an old prospector’s dreams
I guess I’m learning something not found in any book,
This world is full of takers and poor souls getting took.

Like que sera, the die is cast, but no one gets to choose,
The sweet song of the meadowlark, or bitter basement blues.

Now I’m standing at the crossroads, like so many times before
New dawn around the corner, horizons to explore.

But there’s no use my pretending, I know I’ve lost control
St Louis woman’s got my heart, my every breath, my soul.
A distant train’s sad whistle, sounds out the hateful news:
You’ll never leave this prison and these deep, dark dungeon blues

Mirror of Your Soul

Throughout the years that we’ve been together
I have known your love and unselfish care
And through the rain and the stormy weather
You are the one who was always there

You have been my guide in the darkest moments
An inspiration constantly
A green oasis in the desert
The strongest anchor in the stormy sea

CHORUS
And your mind, makes the best of all you know
Allows your great ideals to flow
And helps the generations grow

And your mouth, it speaks nothing but the truth
Gives direction to the youth
And speaks no ill of anyone

You never think of the things that you need
Sure and strong and never doubt
You make the peace when times are troubled
And think of what/all you can do without

Kind and patient and never angry
Always ready to forgive
You live simply and are full of giving
So that others might simply live

CHORUS
And your mind, makes the best of all you know
Allows your great ideals to flow
And helps the generations grow

And your mouth, it speaks nothing but the truth
Gives direction to the youth
And speaks no ill of anyone

And your ears, they hear the cries of those in need
They listen well and patiently
Help those in prison to be freed

And your eyes, they have a power and control
They cast their light and make me whole
Keep me young as I grow old
They are the mirror of your soul

Mirror of Your Soul

One Way Ticket

I went down to the station to meet up with my baby
I guess I hadn’t read the signs
Now I’m standing all alone on this cold and lonely platform,
Figurin' between the lines.

Train she’s riding’s on the fast track, flying
Destination hers to choose.
While I’m back here in line in the waiting room for losers
With my one-way ticket to the Blues.

One-way ticket, one-way ticket
One-way ticket to the Blues

Nowhere to run, son, the blues are gonna get you
No place to hide no doubt
Those blues just can't be drowned in a barrel load of bourbon,
Ain't no prayer can shut them out.

No bet to lay that beats them, Felix
Or hero gonna squash them flat.
Them blues are meaner than a sawn-off grizzly.
When they come a-calling that's that.

One-way ticket, one-way ticket
One-way ticket to the Blues.

Love can cause us chaos, heartache and frustration
No one really gets to choose
So now I’m heading on my own to a/that well known destination
With my one way ticket to the blues.

One Way Ticket

Hey Simone

Hey, Simone,
I’ve got a sinking feeling
That you are thinking of travelling on

Hey, Simone,
My mind and heart are reeling
My whole life is unravelling if you are gone

When you spoke to me or even gave me a glance
I had no hope that it ever could be
I know I should have told you when I had the chance
Just how much your sweet love means to me

Hey, Simone,
I wish I could turn back time
And let you know what was on my mind for me and you

Hey, Simone, I’m down on desolation row/I’m abandoned and so low
With nowhere else to go now because my love was true

If I had only seen then what I know so well now
I didn’t even give it a try
We could have made it happen some way somehow
But now you’ve gone and never said goodbye

Hey, Simone,
I feel I’m going to pieces
When I realise I may never see you again

Hey Simone,
This yearning never ceases
And all of my frustrations bring back the heartache and pain

Yes I know I should have told you
Just how much your sweet love means to me

Hey Simone

Carousel Girl

Trapped by an ancient fairy spell, the horses on the carousel
With grace and style and elegance, float in eternal motion.
If only I could break the bond, release them with a magic wand
And watch them as they change the dance and fly over the ocean.

I’m watching from the carousel as she moves across the square,
The evening sun is flirting with the shining in her hair
I tie a blue silk ribbon round the horse she always chooses,
And this time hoping not to be the man who always loses.

She steps up on the carousel with customary grace
She pays her dollar at the booth and turns and takes her place
Her slender figure and the horse are seamlessly entwined
And I think about Creation, and how angels were designed.

Summoned by the old waltz tune the ponies start the dance
And cares and fears are blotted out by beauty and romance
I watch their easy motion and the way they seem to flow
Like a gilded marble sculpture dreamt by Michelangelo

The little square’s deserted now, the town is hushed and still
The horses moving slowly now as if devoid of will
In the centre lies a young man, like an actor in a play
Practising his line, maybe tomorrow night she’ll stay.

Carousel Girl

On Broomielaw Quay

November’s wind tonight is raw
And whips the Clyde to foam
I watch here on the Broomielaw
The harvesters go home

Oh! Luck is theirs, and blest are they
Who cross the sea of Moyle
To see again at dawning grey
The waters of the Foyle

To-morrow night on starlit ways
They’ll go to a well-loved door
And sit with kin by hearths ablaze
In Rosses or Gweedore

No welcome warm, no lighted pane
Now waits for me in the West
And sorrow keener than the rain
Lies heavy on my breast

Yet longings often draw me where
The boats for Ireland start
They take an unseen passenger
My homeless Irish heart

Like wild geese in their homing flight
These toilers homeward draw
And leave me lonely in the night
Upon the Broomielaw

On Broomielaw Quay

Tell Me About It

Please tell me something and tell it to me straight
Are there some conversations that you love to hate
When you’re looking for somebody just to lend an ear
Then what’s the last answer that you want to hear

When the figures don’t add up when you are doin’ your sums
And the words don’t work you’re just bumpin’ your gums
Bu then somebody will agree with you
And you don’t really feel that you want them to

They say:
Tell me about it (tell me about it) (Why don’t you) Tell me about (tell me about it)
Tell me about it (tell me about) Why don’t you
Tell me about it I hear what you’re sayin’ to me

The art of conversation may be/have a wonderful tradition
But the again a closed mouth can be a powerful position
Although you might be persuaded to share your point of view
You’d better be very careful who’s agreeing with you

There are so many volumes that never left the shelf,
And conventional wisdom says to keep it to yourself
When faced with a perspective that you don’t want to hear
You can say it loud and you can say it clear – just say

Tell Me About It

I'll Build a Wall

I don’t want to talk to you I disagree with your point of view
I’ll build a wall, I’ll build a wall
I don’t want to cooperate so why should we communicate
I’ll build a wall, I’ll build a wall

I’ll build it high so you can’t climb over it
Build it long so you can’t go round
Build it deep so you can’t go under it
‘Cos we don’t need no common ground

In the Holy Land they had a similar plan why should we be decent to our fellow man?
They built a wall, another wall
Those two parties could not agree so the children there will never see the sea
Just a wall, another wall

Some people build bridges to community
So that they can turn the hatred around
But we can use our power with impunity
And we can always tear them down.

What’s the big problem and what’s all the fuss
Why is this such a big deal?
It’s a situation of them and us
And the wall is nowhere old as the wheel

Berlin, Belfast, Bethlehem, my big wall trumps all of them
I’ve built a wall, another wall
Why is it so hard to tell that there’s a /is there a great big wall between heaven and hell
Another wall, another wall

I'll Build a Wall