Matter of Time

1. This Day Is Mine

Ain't gonna go to work today
I got better things to do with my time. 
Ain't gonna go to work today
Ain't gonna go to work today
I kicked the habit of that daily grind
Ain't gonna go to work today

I woke up this morning
Caught a ray of sunlight on the wall
Maybe a voice was calling
Maybe there was nothing there at all

Ain't gonna go to work today
I might just wander down the road
Ain't gonna go to work today
Hit the shops and buy myself some clothes
Then I'll have a coffee 
And think of all the jobs that I've not done
I'll get it in the neck tomorrow
But today I'm gonna have some fun

CHORUS   Because

                  This day is mine
                  I broke the habit of a lifetime
                  One out of the blue
                  I will remember this
                  Like a long and tender kiss
                  From the greatest love I ever knew.....

Ain't gonna go to work today
This mood's too good to throw it down the drain
Ain't gonna go to work today
Tomorrow things might never be the same
If I could I'd bottle this
And spread it round the room from time to time
Then should I feel amiss
I'd take a glass and life would be just fine

CHORUS

I gotta go to work tomorrow
But it doesn't really feel that bad
I gotta go to work tomorrow
Today's been great no point in feeling sad
If it gets to me 
I'll think of all the things I've done today
And this will set me free
My mind takes wings and slowly drifts away
My mind takes wings and slowly drifts away
My mind takes wings.............

CHORUS

This day is mine........This day is mine
This day is mine........This day is mine
This day is mine........                                     

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2. What Else Can I Do?

I'm sitting in this room and feeling so sad and blue
Wishing that I was there at home with you
So many miles between us
It's just no good
You know that I'd be with you if only I could

TV and a glass of wine
Read a book just to pass the time
Alone
Keeping busy things to do
Try to stop my mind from drifting back to you
I wish that I could fly away from here
Wrap you in my arms and hold you near

CHORUS   What else can I do ?
                   I'm so in love with you
                   What else can I do ?

Letters written posted home, hours spent by the telephone
It's not the same
Seconds seam to last for years, laughter soon gives way to tears
The nights drag on forever, I miss your tender touch
Some day well be together, can't come soon enough

CHORUS

You and I go through this time and time again
Heart aches and loneliness go hand in hand
Like long lost friends

CHORUS

Tonight I'm praying for the day
You'll be coming home to stay...for good
There's nothing that I wouldn't do
You know that I'd be with you if I could

What else can I do ?
What else can I do ?

What else can I do ? ...Letters written posted home
What else can I do ? ...Hours spent by the telephone
What else can I do ?...Seconds seem to last for years
What else can I do ?...Laughter soon gives way to tears

So many miles between us, it's just no good
You know that I'd be with you if only I could

What else can I do ?
I'm so in love with you
What else can I do ....?   

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3. Drifting Away

She sits at the table, drinking her wine
Each glass going straight to her head
She says it's relaxing, it helps her unwind

As he lies alone in their bed
He counts back the days since he rolled in her arms
Remembers the nights he'd succumbed to her charms
They don't spot the warnings nor heed the alarms
Of a love slowly drifting away.

He's away early mornings, says he needs the hours
With the kids and the mortgage to pay
She dresses the children and takes them to school
Then works at the checkout all day
Back home in the evening there's jobs to be done
Both feeling weary, this life's not much fun
Their standard of living has them both on the run
As their love's slowly drifting away

She no longer remembers how she felt so alive
This material gain has them both so deprived
All the magic, the romance sailed away on the tide
And their love slowly drifted away

So now she sits at the table drinking her wine
Each glass going straight to her head
She says it's relaxing, it helps her unwind
While he lies alone in his bed

Both reminiscing of days long gone by
Time and again both questioning why

Through their greed and their anger they both closed their eyes

And their love slowly drifted away
And their love slowly drifted away     

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4. You're Never Far From home

Well I travelled along way, way out, many a mile
Seen a lot of strange faces
I hadn't seen a friend for a while
Trying to make conversation

Passing the time of day
I heard a mention of my home town
So many miles away

We talked like we were old friends so much common ground
Said I remember your sister
Tell me is she still around

Then he called up his father
We chatted on the phone
What ever the distance
You're never far from home

Whatever the distance
You're never far from home

We rolled back the days, the weeks, the years, oh how they passed.
Talked of friends and relations all the sadness and the laughs
Whatever your preference
Be it a rock or a rolling stone

What ever the distance
You're never far from home
Whatever the distance
You're never far from home

Give 'em my regards he said and I'll be back that way soon
I've got things I need to attend to before I can go
My living takes me far away; the kids are down here in school
But when I get the time you'll find me on that road

Oh whatever the distance
You're never far from home
Whatever the distance
You're never far from home

Well I travelled a long way, travelled a long way

Old friend's new faces many miles different places......

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5. Still Worth Fighting For

There you go again
I don't know where you've been and I'm not asking any questions.
Your time's your own, and though I worry here alone
You choose your path, it's your direction.

I'm not asking you to change
It's just the way you're made and I couldn't stop the sun from shining.
I'm giving love upon demand
Could you ever understand, sometimes I feel I'm dying.
Don't shut me out,
Please don't close the door.
Sometimes I feel like screaming I can't take this any more

CHORUS   But as the sun will always shine 

                  And the waves still wash the shore
                  While I know you love me
                  It's still worth fighting for.

You build these walls, I knock them down,
Like rocks our hearts crash on the ground,
Then we sweep up the pieces.
You go for days when you're okay, then all the guilt gets in the way.
You feel you've been defeated.
There are no battle lines,
This doesn't have to be.
You're hurting those that need you most.
Can't you see it's killing me?

CHORUS

It's not our fault, we're not to blame
With such a love there's always pain.
It's something that I've learned to live with
I know sometimes you've had it hard,
There is hurt and there are scars
But where there's hope there is forgiveness.
It's hard to find the words for what I need to say,
But if I had my chance again I'd re-live every single day.

CHORUS

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6. Turn of a Card

If your luck's in tonight sweetheart, I'll be your friend
I'll dress you up well, I'll give you money to spend
I'll furnish your wardrobe with the finest of clothes
Give you dresses of lace, silken ribbons and bows

I don't make my money through working all day
It's not by my labour that I pay my way
I won't break my back through toiling too hard
My fortune depends on the turn of a card

CHORUS   So Lady Luck lie with me and blow me your kisses
                   I'll be your lover if you'll grant me my wishes
                   Lady Luck lie with me I'm trying so hard
                   My fortune depends on the turn of a card.

I rode on my luck through many cities and towns
I took fools for their money, I robbed them hands down
And I don't know my limits, I daren't count the cost
A fortune I've gained, but a fortune I have lost

CHORUS

And I've walked the path of solitude
I've played the highest stakes
Slept along side strangers for what comfort I could take
And it's may times that I have turned to the bottle for a friend
I don't know where it all began
And God knows where it ends

Now my nerves they are shattered, my confidence is wrecked
My pride took a beating
Lord I've no self respect
The hand I've been dealt's left me shattered and scarred
My life has been ruined by the turn of a card

CHORUS                          

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7. For Whom The Bell Tolls

The old man's staring at the walls again
Been like that for days
Ain't no getting through to him
Don't tell me it's his age

He was as sharp as a knife last Sunday
Doing battle with his tongue
A crooked smile and a glint in his eye
He took on everyone

CHORUS  Don't ask for whom the bell tolls my friend
                 When you never dared to listen
                 Don't offer your condolences
                 'Cause you don't know what you're missing

I got a pay-off from the railway
Said I wasn't of sound mind
Got my cards before my time was due
Now wasn't that kind

You see I can't forget the war, you know

Took some shrapnel in my leg
Now I go busking with my accordion
Can't bring myself to beg

CHORUS

They've got a place down at the station
Where I used to draw my pay
If I'm lucky I'll catch the rush hour
If I'm lucky they'll let me play

I might make enough for a glass of wine
Or maybe a bottle of beer
One thing's certain, whatever the time
I'll never make enough to get out of here

CHORUS       

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8. Just Good Friends

Just good friends, well that was how it started
Just good friends. Now it seems we can't be parted
You and I could touch the sky
I'm hoping this will never end
We'll always be

Such good friends, you keep me company
And I depend upon you totally
But meeting you is a dream come true
And I can no longer pretend
That you and I are just good friends

I count my blessings each and every day
This is the best for me
And in your arms I long to stay

There's no doubt that we get on together
Work it out through rain and stormy weather
If I'm with you the skies are always blue
Together we're the perfect blend
And I can no longer pretend that you and I are
Just good friends      

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9. Find Myself a Lover

I'm gonna find myself a lover
Find myself a real good man
I'm gonna saddle up a stallion
Ride all night to that promised land
And when I get there in the morning
I'm gonna ride him back again

I'm gonna find myself a lover
Someone who knows how to treat me right
A man to cover me with kisses
Drive me crazy every night
And when I've finally had enough of him
I'll blow him out like a candle light

CHORUS    You see I'm tired of being lonely
                    Tired of being down
                    Tired of all them little boys just messing me around
                    Tired of loving losers, tired of loving clowns
                    So don't push your luck
                    If you don't measure up
                    I'll be running you right out of town
                    Get out of town

You see a woman she needs
To be spoiled every now and then
To get those little extras
A little money must be spent
So give me what I'm asking
I'll give you love that's heaven sent

CHORUS

I'm gonna find myself a lover
Find myself a real good man
I'm gonna saddle up a stallion
Ride all night to that promised land
And when I get there in the morning
I'm gonna ride him back again 

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10. Dreaming Again

I thought of writing you a letter
I thought of taking the easy way out
I thought it might make things better
But then I started having my doubts
That's not me
That's not my style
I thought we might sit and talk for while
I'd say I'm sorry, you'd say it's okay
But I think much too much
And it looks like I'm dreaming again
Looks like I'm dreaming again

Hey look at me I've got time on my hands
Oh I've got hours and hours to spare
Just think of the things I could do
But what's the point when you haven't got someone to share
All the laughter, the fun and the games
Time wasted, it's a crying shame
Might find someone who's feeling the same
Looks like I'm dreaming again
Looks like I'm dreaming again

But with each passing day
I believe I'm getting better by the minute
Soon I'll be feeling okay
You know I'm certain that I'm winning
I can start again
Turn a new page and we'll still be friends
But then
Oh, but then
Looks like I'm dreaming again
Looks like I'm dreaming again

Don't live your life with your head in the sand
Don't criticize what you can't understand
These mixed emotions are hard to disguise
If you want to see truth, take a look in these eyes

I'm dreaming......  

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11. Matter Of Time

Cross Keys on a Sunday night
I'd had a few drinks, but the mood was alright
Cold outside but the fire burned bright
It was warm inside of me
Sat with friends, it was nice and easy
Conversation bright and breezy
Idle chat to pass the time away
Then Jack started to play

Put out a tune on his Epiphone
Sang songs about love and being alone
One or two verses cut to the bone
I was sure he was singing about me
Got it all mapped out like an open road
Drove a truck through my past and tore out my soul
Floating on a voice that was black as coal
Strange but it felt so good

CHORUS        Sing those songs like you mean them
                        Sing each verse like you believe in every line
                        Don't give into them blues, boy
                        Just keep singing
                        It's only a matter of time

Six strings and a piece of wood
What does it matter if it ain't no good
Just as long as it's understood
It's the best that you can do
Honesty and an open heart
It's not everything, but it's a damn good start
At times I feel I'm falling apart
But I know what I can do

CHORUS

Six strings and a piece of wood
What does it matter if it ain't no good
Just as long as it's understood
It's the best that you can do
Honesty and an open heart
It's not everything, but it's a damn good start
At times I feel I'm falling apart
But I know what I can do

CHORUS                 

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12. Some Stones

The weather's changing, maybe I'm getting old
I wrap my coat around me, but still I feel the cold
These days it's hard for me, I'm not the man I used to be
So watch the picture carefully
You'll see the colours have begun to fade

I don't have a bank account, my wealth is in my mind
I've got my memories, all the places and the times
Anything I should regret, I wrap it up and then forget
Never to remember it
I lock it up and throw away the key

And as December wraps its arms around my soul
I gather all the strength I've got to fight against the cold
And I dream of summer months of oh so long ago

I've got a photo of another man, not me
A young man with his future planned, mapped out for him to see
Instincts that were once so sharp, they leave you stumbling in 
the dark
The way I've lived has left its mark
I've had my share of notoriety

And staring back at me from a darkened window pane
Two eyes that mirror all the sadness and the shame
Fearing that I might betray the hopes and fears of yesterday
I turn and hurry on my way
It's better that some stones remain unturned

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13. Failure To Learn

I know by your reading this letter
It's over for me my dear
But though it's hard to put pen down on paper
There's things that I need to be clear
I don't know why it has come to this
I cannot understand
Instead of fighting my enemies
I'd rather shake their hand

CHORUS

But don't you feel anger, don't you feel hate
Don't cry for me my love, now it's too late
I know that you're bitter, I know you're concerned
We've all had the lessons
But it seems there's a failure to learn

We're told we are here as peace keepers
But I doubt if that's what they've got planned
For if I am here to keep peace, mother dear
Then why is there a gun in my hand?
And why are there soldiers in doorways?
Why are there mines on these roads?
And why are there fatherless children?
Don't ask me, for I'll never know

CHORUS

I did not ask for this
I never wanted this
I never dreamed I would die
Why can't we all exist
Without our lives at risk?
It leaves me wondering why

CHORUS           

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14. Session's End

The landlord called time over an hour ago
The bar staff they've long since gone home
The landlady yawns as she wipes down the tables
She empties the ashtrays and tidies the stools

There's a crowd in the corner, they've played all night long
They've sang every song they recall
But now the evening must end with the parting of friends
As the landlady shouts to them all

CHORUS    Come on now boys
                    Come on now boys
                    It's time that I bolted the door
                    So make this the last one
                   'Cause it's time you were gone
                   There's no songs to song any more

So the last tune dies, smothered by conversations
There's talk of destinations, of places to play
Dates and times written down on scraps of paper
Scribbled on the backs of beer mats
On the palms of people's hands

The place falls silent as the last car pulls away
The landlady laughs
She thinks of how she's said

CHORUS   

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