Our third album, released 2004. As with the previous albums all of the songs are written by Dave.
Again the album has Mike Wilson playing drums on one track and the strings on "Orange Trees" were played by Sleaford's Dan Mayfield. There's also the added bonus of our sodding dog on track 13! Dave was about fifteen seconds short of completing a live take of "Caroline" when the hound decided to get in on the act. Dogs - don't you just love 'em!!
"A hauntingly beautiful album" Fizgig magazine
"Both Kip and Dave are blessed with fine voices, which are used to good effect on this set of twelve original songs" David Kidman Net Rythmns
Lyrics
1. Soldier's Song
Oh to be a soldier,
In the khaki or the gray,
Just the one ambition,
From the cradle to the grave,
Defender of my country,
Defender of my faith,
Defender of my family,
Until my dying day.
I worked hard in the classroom,
I studied books of war.
I never thought to question,
Just what the killing's for.
Enlisted in the army,
When I was seventeen,
Where I swore to serve my masters,
Pledged allegiance to my queen.
CHORUS Sunrise, see the guns all in a line,
Fear gripped me like a hand around my throat.
When this day is done I'll be just another one,
To mourn, to grieve, to pity, or to gloat
I have to say, they taught me well.
I can hold my head up high
As I approach the gates of hell.
I can kill a man and look him in the eye,
But the one thing they've forgotten,
Was to teach me how to die.
He was just another soldier,
No different to me.
But my politics dictated,
He was my enemy.
I swear I would have killed him,
But for me he was too fast.
He will see the dawn tomorrow,
But this night will be my last,
CHORUS
So here's to queen and country,
Here's to your men of war.
If I had a voice I'd tell you
Just what the killing's for.
I gave to you my lifeblood,
I gave to you my best.
I find no comfort in forgiveness,
This soul will never rest.
CHORUS
2. I Hear Voices Sing
Looking out on a world, through a young man's eyes,
On a world that belonged to another time.
Seeing what I remember, how I used to be.
Looking out on a world that belonged to me.
Many's the hour I sat on this bench,
And the rain on the roof, it was heaven sent,
It was here that we'd shelter; it was here that we'd met.
Now it's here that I'm hurting, and I guard my regrets.
CHORUS Well the wind might blow, the ice and snow
But I can't, I can't feel a thing,
When I walk in here, it all disappears,
I hear voices sing, I hear voices sing,
One day I took a knife, it had a silver blade,
I cut deep in the wood, and I carved your name,
Surrounded by a heart, with an arrow through,
It's still there today, like my love for you,
CHORUS
3. One Step From Heaven
There's a tear on her cheek,
And a tremble in her voice,
Doesn't like what she's doing,
Doesn't think she has much choice,
There's no comfort in a pillow,
On a cold and empty bed,
But with words left unspoken,
All the things you'd wished you'd said,
CHORUS Where does it end, where do you call a halt?
When do you realize, that this is not your fault?
You say love has no limits;
I believe that I've found mine.
While you're one step from heaven
I'm a thousand miles behind.
While you're walking in the sunshine I'm sitting here in the cold.
While I'm scraping a living, you go digging for gold.
Each time I say I'm leaving you go cutting up rough.
Well let me tell you darling, you're not that tough.
Yes it's so, you've been told
You've overstepped the mark this time
And now I'm letting go.
CHORUS
So I'll be on my way, before this whole thing falls apart,
But if I had the chance, I'd take us right back to the start,
To a time I knew you loved me, to a time I knew you cared,
To a time when love and laughter, were a gift that we both shared.
But what's the use, we'd just go round and round,
And common sense and reason, both fall on stony ground.
CHORUS
4. Ain't Life Like That?
Went out last Thursday I saw a few old friends of mine.
Seems like some things, they'll never change.
Played a few tunes and sang some old familiar lines.
Felt good for a while but at the same time strange.
Can't get used to this going home alone.
Nobody shouts when I come in.
Nobody talks to me unless it's on the phone.
Nobody asks me where I've been.
Nobody says "Hey, are you suffering?''
Put on my trainers then I ran up Beacon Hill.
The rain felt good upon my face.
Pushed myself hard for a time, blood pumping through my veins.
It was nice to feel the open space.
But if feeling good takes a whole lot of running
Hey I could use a thousand miles.
It's strength I need to soothe this pain, I know it's coming.
Best take it easy for a while.
I couldn't even raise a smile.
CHORUS But ain't life like that
Gets you feeling good then knocks you down
Ain't life like that now you're not around
Ain't life like that
Gets you feeling good then knocks you down
Ain't life just like that now you're not around
Stood outside a church, it was later that same weekend.
Thought I'd light a candle for a friend.
But I don't need a candle to remember
That flame won't bring him back again.
And I put you through his torment
And I put you through his pain.
Just like him I see no winners, only losers,
But unlike him I am to blame.
I've only myself to blame
CHORUS
Found a place to stay, it was just outside the county.
I'd never moved away before.
A new way of life and a brand new set of circumstances,
Another key to another door.
You can change your looks,
You can change your clothes and those around you.
You can change a million things and more,
But you'll never change your heart and all that's felt inside you.
You'll never change what's gone before
You'll never close that door
CHORUS
5. Orange Trees & Dusty Roads
The rain it stings; it's a bitter cold night,
The old dog's growling, shaping up to fight.
The fur's up on his neck, he's as angry as hell,
For no good reason, as far as I can tell.
Zip up my coat, think I'll make it on time
To the late night offie, get a bottle of cheap red wine.
I shouldn't be drinking, but I'm thinking I might.
What else do you do, on such a bitter cold night,?
CHORUS But eventually the slumber comes
To lighten up my load,
And I dream of California, orange trees and dusty roads.
Echoes of the grapes of wrath,
The spirit of Tom Joad.
I dream of California, orange trees and dusty roads.
Then again I'm walking past the office blocks,
Shiny chrome tinted glass and coded locks.
No place in there for the likes of me.
No social standing, in this society.
For I have no country I can call my own,
Condemned to wander, through these streets I roam.
I have no answers, which way do I turn?
The anger screams and the hunger burns.
CHORUS
Now I'm huddled in a doorway,
My whole life spread on the ground.
I'm shivering to my bones, and my head it starts to pound,
My best friends are my over coat and this old pair of shoes,
In a land of milk and honey,
Ignorance and solitude.
CHORUS
6. Unfinished Business
CHORUS We've got some unfinished business, you and I.
Unfinished business, but we can't see eye to eye.
It's crazy what you're doing,
Wish we'd never said goodbye
I know you'd love me, if only you'd try.
I've cheated, I've lied and made up alibis.
I was crazy for a time, it was messing up my mind
Throw me a rope, before this all goes up in smoke.
You know I'm stupid for you, let me play cupid for you.
CHORUS
Won't you listen to me, now lace up your shoes,
Catch a bus, steal a car, we got nothing to lose.
Just get yourself round here, you're a point I can prove
Don't try to argue, you cannot refuse
CHORUS
Remember those days we went rolling in the sand,
Swimming in the sea, two lovers holding hands.
Don't throw that away, now don't you even try.
Tell me you love me, don't tell me goodbye
CHORUS
7. Rainbows and Clover
Stood beneath the bridge where the trains cross the river,
Heard the railway thundering up over my head.
I picked up a coin and I threw it in the water.
I watched it shining as it sank down to the bed.
I closed my eyes as I had as a young boy
And I made a wish I knew would never come true.
'Cause I don't believe in rainbows and four-leaf clovers,
I don't believe in angels and I don't believe in you.
Walked for an hour or more down paths from my childhood.
I've seen some changes round here in my time.
Fields where I played are now streets lined with houses.
Some call it progress, some call it a crime.
I would dream I'd stay here for ever,
Nothing would change - I never wanted it to.
But now I dream of rainbows and four-leaf clovers,
I dream about angels and I dream about you.
I once had a friend, someone that I could talk to.
We were as close as two good friends could be,
But I couldn't hold on to something so precious.
It was sand through my fingers and dust on the breeze.
Felt like sand through my fingers and dust on the breeze.
So night after night now I stare from these windows
And watch the deep red sun pour like blood on these fields.
Still I can't hide the remorse or self pity,
I use words for weapons and silence for a shield.
Try as you might you can't retrace your footsteps.
You can't turn the tide, no you can't start anew.
So why do I go looking for rainbows and clover?
Why search for angels when I'm looking for you?
8. Caroline
I was there when the lights went out.
Didn't see a thing, couldn't see you moving.
I often wondered I had my doubts.
Now you're gone,
Again I'm losing.
CHORUS Caroline, Caroline
Caroline, Caroline
You never promised me that you'd stay.
You never could; you were always going.
Given the choice I'd have probably begged.
There was no point once the wind was blowing.
CHORUS
So do the things you do.
When tomorrow comes it's all down to you.
I got nothing can keep you here,
Not least the love I'd held so dear.
CHORUS
I was there when the lights went out.
Didn't see a thing, couldn't see you moving.
I often wondered I had my doubts.
Now you're gone,
Again I'm losing.
9 Maybe Tonight
Maybe tonight I'll be lucky
Said an old man to his friend.
Maybe tonight I'll find a bottle of wine
I could go hide myself and then
Maybe I'll be someone special
Someone that everybody knows.
But maybes just maybe, it's of no consequence,
But it's a place where we all go.
Maybe if I'd been a rich man
This life would've treated me more kind.
I could've been someone to look up to,
Could have owned a house and maybe dressed so fine.
I could've been away from all this low life,
Could've seen the world in a better light,
No more a part of all this mayhem.
Hey I could've laid down on a bed tonight.
Looking into the streets through these dirty windows
And I'm wishing I was miles away from here.
Maybe someday I'll find a crock of gold and some peace of mind.
Maybe some day I'm gonna disappear.
Now I'm standing in darkness,
Seems like I'm getting to the end of my time
And I don't give a damn what people think of me.
I don't feel so sure these days
You know I'm walking on a very fine line.
This life ain't all that it's cracked up to be.
Repeat first verse
10. Nothing Hurts Like the Truth
No use pretending, stop playing that game.
No matter how you ask the question, the answer's the same.
I keep saying that I'm sorry,you say that you'll try.
Nothing hurts like the truth, when you're living a lie
No nothing hurts like the truth, when you're living a lie
I've seen you watching, seen the way that you stare,
Seen that look in your eyes. I know that you care.
When I ask what's your problem, tou just whisper then sigh
Nothing hurts like the truth, when you're living a lie.
No, nothing hurts like the truth, when you're living a lie.
I didn't want this situation.
I curse my luck each day.
Yet here we are and what brought us this far
Won't carry us the rest of the way.
We both feel the same sun, both feel the same rain,
Both share the same sorrow and share the same pain.
And much as I love you I'm still trying to hide
Nothing hurts like the truth when you're living a lie.
No nothing hurts like the truth when you're living a lie.
There's nothing hurts like the truth, when you're living a lie.
11. Whoever Said?
I'm sure I should be grateful,
This anger isn't justified.
The bitterness is hurtful,
It eats you up inside.
I can't erase what's gone before,
Can't lift the pictures from the frames.
Every song I hear's a memory,
Calling me again.
I've packed my things a hundred times
But I can't get out the door.
To walk away would mean I've failed,
So I promise just once more
To turn around and to try again,
To give this love just one more chance.
Up strikes the band and the music plays
And we must dance.
CHORUS Whoever said true love is always worth the cost
Hasn't seen what I've been through.
Whoever said it's better to have loved and lost
Hasn't been in love with you.
They've never been in love with you.
Why's it always feel so special
Whenever you're around?
Paint up my face and wear a silly hat,
I'll always be your clown.
To live's to breathe but to love's to fly,
Or so the story goes.
Can love be worth this heavy price?
I don't know.
CHORUS
You set me up just to drag me down,
Such a drain upon my soul.
Can't bring myself to walk away,
As if you didn't know .....
CHORUS
12. Stay Awhile
CHORUS Stay awhile, rest you down easy
Stay awhile, sit down by my side
There'll be time enough when you're gone for weeping
May this night last forever
Please stay awhile
Am I wrong to feel angry, am I wrong to feel sad?
God knows I'm grateful for all that I've had.
For what else could I offer, what more could I say?
What kind of fortune could buy one more day?
CHORUS
You've done all you can now, it's time you were leaving.
You've done all you can now, but I can't close the door.
Is it too much to ask for? Already I'm grieving.
Please won't you listen, I'll ask you once more.
CHORUS
Think on when you're lonely of treasures you're missing.
Think on when you're lonely of those who're not here,
Of your fathers, your mothers, old friends and lost lovers.
Keep their memories within you, hold on to them dear
CHORUS