shaun belcher songwriting

 

songwriting pre trailer star
home made cassettes 1991-1998

FARM-HAND'S RADIO Horseshoe Tapes 006 ( unreleased )


1. BLUE NEON CROSS
2. MIDNIGHT 0-9
3. ST.FRIDESWIDES EVE
4. STONE COLD TOWN
5. THIS EMPTY BED
6. LAWNS AND FENCES
7. OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER
8. INDIFFERENT SKY
9. FARM CALLED NOWHERE
10. FARM-HAND'S RADIO
11. TWO BLACK HORSES
12. ONE HORSE TOWN
13. TOWN THAT SHOOK YOU DOWN
14. FEATHERS AND BONES
15. WHEN THEY RETURN
16. WAITING ON CHARLIE
17. ENGLISH COUNTRY HEART
18. SKIDDING ON A BEND
19. SAFER BLIND
20. CARAVAN PARK
21. BONNET IN THE SUN
22. NOVEMBER MORNING SUN
23. WHY SHOULD I CARE ANYWAY
24. CIRCLE OF A CROW
25. TARMAC GOLD
26. MY WIDE OPEN EYES


BLUE NEON CROSS

LONDON NEARLY KILLED ME, KILLED SOME OF MY FRIENDS
THEY'RE STILL WALKING BUT THEIR EYES ARE DEAD
SITTING ON SOFAS IN THEIR DIRTY FLATS
STUMBLING ALONG THE STREETS AT DAWN HALF DEAD

AND THAT'S A FACT


I'M STARING BACK AT THE PAST
AND ALL THE TIME I LOST
WALKING HOME BENEATH A BLUE NEON CROSS


WELL I DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME WE LEFT THE PARTY
BUT THERE WAS STEAM RISING OFF THE TREES
AND THE ARCHWAY ROAD WAS FULL OF DRUNKS THAT DAY
AND THE SUN CAME UP ALL COVERED IN BLOOD

OR AT LEAST IT SEEMED THAT WAY
WELL I SLID OUT OF YOUR ARMS AND RIGHT OUT OF SIGHT
LIKE I WAS A STORM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
AND THAT MORNING WHEN ALL THE ROOVES WERE WET

ALL I COULD SEE WAS THAT BLUE NEON CROSS
AND IT WAS DEAD, SHINING DEAD

MIDNIGHT 0-9

THERE'S A TRAIN A ROLLING THROUGH THE FIELDS TONIGHT
BUT IF YOU SEE IT COMING YOU'D BETTER SHIELD YOUR EYES
'COS IF ANYBODY LOOKS AT IT THEY SURE WILL TURN TO FLAMES
JUST AS SOON AS THEY LOOK AT THAT DOWNBOUND TRAIN


AND THE DEVIL'S OUT TONIGHT
ON BOARD
THE MIDNIGHT 0-9


MARY-ANNE WENT OUT FOR JUST A LITTLE WALK
SAME TIME AS THAT OLD TRAIN CAME ROARING THROUGH
NOW NOBODY ROUND HERE'S SEEN HER TO THIS DAY
NOT SINCE THE DEVIL'S TRAIN CARRIED HER AWAY


SO LAST NIGHT I WENT OUT WITH A BLINDFOLD
DOWN TO THE BRIDGE WHERE SHE WAS LAST SEEN
I FELT THE STEAM BURNING ON MY CHEEKS
I HEARD THE DEVIL LAUGH AS THE TRAIN SCREAMED


LOT OF LOST SOULS BEEN CARRIED AWAY
ON BOARD THE MIDNIGHT 0-9, 0-9, 0-9…..

 

ST.FRIDESWIDE'S EVE


THREW AWAY MY WATCH, THREW AWAY MY KEY
WATCHED THE LAST TRAIN HEADED OUT TO SEA
THERE WAS A BLIZZARD COMING IN FROM THE WEST
TV MAN SAID DON'T GO OUT IF YOU AIN'T ALREADY LEFT


ON ST.FRIDESWIDE'S EVE
EVERYTHING STARTED TO FREEZE
ON ST.FRIDESWIDE'S EVE
THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BETWEEN YOU AND ME


ALL THE ROADS WERE BLOCKED WITH SNOW
ALL THE RIVERS FROZEN, THE AIRPORTS CLOSED
I COULDN'T LEAVE YOU THEN EVEN IF I TRIED
I HAD TO STAY JUST ONE MORE NIGHT


NOW THEY'RE BEDDING THE ANIMALS DOWN IN THE STRAW
AND THERE'S SNOW PILING UP AGAINST EVERY WALL
I FEEL LIKE A CAR TRYING TO BURN A HOLE IN THE SNOW
BUT EVERY ROOM IN OUR HOUSE IS ALREADY FROZE


ON ST.FRIDESWIDE'S EVE EVERYTHING STARTED TO FREEZE
AND THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BETWEEN YOU AND ME.

 

STONE COLD TOWN

MAIN STREET'S ICING OVER, THE SNOWPLOUGH'S HEADED OUT
GOODS TRAINS ARE STUCK TOGETHER, LOOKS LIKE WE'LL NEVER GET OUT

OF THIS STONE COLD TOWN


COME COLD RAIN AND WASH THESE BLUES AWAY, MAKE IT BETTER SOMEHOW
'COS I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN HERE FOREVER AND I'LL NEVER EVER GET OUT

OF THIS STONE COLD TOWN


YOU SAID I'D FIND A JOB, YOUR COUSIN WOULD FIX ME UP REAL QUICK
BUT I BEEN HERE SIX WEEKS AND ALL I'VE GOT IS A PAIR OF SORE FEET

IN THIS STONE COLD TOWN


MAYBE THINGS 'LL BE BETTER IN DENVER, MAYBE THEY'LL BE BETTER IN THE FALL
ALL I KNOW IS THAT I GOTTA KEEP MOVING, CAN'T WAIT FOR A THAW

IN THIS STONE COLD TOWN


MAYBE I CAN GET TO THE AIRPORT, MAYBE I CAN LEAVE BEFORE DAWN
I'M GOING BACK WHERE I CAME FROM BEFORE ALL THIS SNOW BEGAN TO FALL

ON THIS STONE COLD TOWN


LAWNS AND FENCES

COMING DOWN LIKE A LEAF
TWISTING THROUGH THE COLD, COLD LIGHT
COMING DOWN THROUGH THE BLUE SKY
LIKE I WAS A PLANE SPIRALLING OUT OF SIGHT


I HAD SO MANY HOPES
I HAD SO FAR TO GO
BUT OUTSIDE THE SAME LAWNS AND FENCES
NEVER SEEM TO LET ME GO


COUNT THE YEARS ON MY TWO HANDS
THEN COUNT SOME MORE AND YOU'LL GET CLOSE
TO THE YEARS I'VE PLAYED AROUND
WITH THE IDEA OF LEAVING THIS TOWN


BUT THE DAMAGE IS DONE
YOU CAN'T KNOCK IT ALL DOWN IN ONE WEEK
NOBODY CARES ANYWAY, WHAT'S ONE LITTLE LIFE SO TO SPEAK
THERE MUST BE THOUSANDS LIKE ME DOWN THESE LITTLE STREETS

JUST WAITING FOR THE DAY THEY CAN REALLY LET GO…
OF ALL THESE LAWNS AND FENCES
THAT NEVER WANT TO LET YOU GO…

 

THIS EMPTY BED


SCARED BY THE FUTURE, SCARED BY THE PAST
I CAN'T WORK OUT EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS I HAD
THE DAYS GET LONGER, THE SKY A DEEPER RED
I THINK I'LL SPEND ANOTHER DAY JUST LYING IN MY BED


THIS EMPTY BED
ONLY THING SHE LEFT ME
THIS EMPTY BED


THERE WAS A SPARKLE IN YOUR EYES
OR WAS IT JUST A REFLECTION OF THE SKY
DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY IT WAS YOU LEFT
ALL I KNOW WAS WHAT YOU LEFT BEHIND


NOW THERE'S NOTHING TO WAKE UP FOR
THE PAPERS ARE PILING UP BEHIND THE DOOR
MAYBE IF I LAY HERE ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS
I'D WORK OUT THE REASON YOU LEFT FOR

THIS EMTY BED, THIS EMPTY BED
ONLY THING I'M LEFT


OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER

I CAME AT DAWN IN A BLACK COAT COVERED IN DEW
I WALKED UP TO YOU
I'VE BEEN A HUNDRED YEARS ASLEEP
DEEP DOWN IN THE MUD
WAITING FOR THE SUN TO RISE
AND THE WATER TO WASH AWAY THE BLOOD

I COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER
OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER


I COME WALKING THROUGH WALLS
I COME WITH A BIBLE AND A CROSS
I COME TO WASH YOUR OLD STREETS CEAN
BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN ANOTHER LOVE

I COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER


I'M THE MAN YOU THOUGHT YOU'D FORGOTTEN
I'M THE MAN YOU COVERED IN EARTH
I SLEPT THROUGH TWO WORLD WARS
NOW I'VE COME BACK LIKE A CURSE

I COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER
NOW THE RIVER IS SWIRLING WITH BLOOD

I AM THE GHOST OF LUD

 

INDIFFERENT SKY


THEY REPOSSESSED THE HOUSE LAST FALL
LEFT IT EMPTY NOW THE WEEDS GROW TALL
AND THE SHOP HE RAN IS ALL COVERED IN BOARDS
NOW IT'S A ONE HOUR DRIVE TO FIND ANOTHER STORE


SOMEWHERE EAST OF HERE YOU CAN HEAR HIM CRY, CRY, CRY
UNDER AN INDIFFERENT SKY


HE USED TO OWN A LITTLE PATCH OF LAND
BUT IT'S BEEN SOLD BACK TO THE BANK
AND HIS WIFE AND KIDS MOVED OUT LAST YEAR
THEN ONE DAY HE JUST DISAPPEARED


YESTERDAY THE PAPER CARRIED THE NEWS
THEY FOUND HIM DEAD IN A COLD AND EMPTY ROOM
HE'D COVERED THE WALLS IN MAGAZINE PICTURES
OF SUNRISES AND PICTURES OF JESUS

 


FARM CALLED NOWHERE

NOW THE WIND IS BLOWING AND THE DUST IS SPINNING AROUND
AND EVERYTHING'S LAID BARE ON THIS FARM CALLED NOWHERE
AIN'T BEEN NOTHIN' BUT RATS GNAWIN' AT THE ROOTS
NOTHIN' BUT CROWS CARRYING OFF LAMBS FROM THE EWES
CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY WATER OUT OF THIS WELL
AND EVEN THAT TRACTOR'S ENGINE IS SHOT TO HELL
TOOK ME SIX WEEKS TO DRAG OUT THE STUMPS
OF THOSE OLD WILLOW TREES FROM SUCKING MUD
NOW THE WHOLE FIELD HAS TURNED TO DUST

ONLY THING GROWING HERE NOW IS WEEDS AND RUST


SO KATHLEEN DON'T YOU COME AROUND AND SEE ME THIS WAY
NOTHIN' BEEN GOING RIGHT SINCE YOU WENT EAST ON THAT TRAIN
LOOKS LIKE THE DEVIL IS GONNA TAKE ME AWAY
I'M HEADED SIX FEET DOWN IN THIS SOIL OF FLINT AND CLAY
LATEST FOOL BURIED ON A FARM CALLED NOWHERE

 

FARM-HAND'S RADIO

I TOOKTHE SOUTHBOUND TRAIN
BACK THROUGH THE WIND AND THE RAIN
BACK TO THE FIELDS I KNEW
WHEN I WAS A BOY OF TEN


I'M LOOKING AT THE GLOW
ON THE DIAL OF THE RADIO
FARM-HAND'S RADIO


SATURDAY NIGHT WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN
WE'D SIT BY THE FIRE AND LISTEN TO THE SOUND
OF THE WIND BLOWING THROUGH THE BARNS
AND RADIO VOICES FROM THE CITY OF STARS


SOON AS I WAS TWENTY I WAS HEADED FOR THAT CITY
DOWN OLD GRAVEL TRACKS BETWEEN FIELDS OF CORN
NOW I'M HEADED BACK DOWN THOSE SAME OLD TRACKS
WITH MY DASHBOARD GLOWING AND THAT RADIO ON

AND I'M LISTENING TO THE FARM-HAND'S RADIO


TWO BLACK HORSES

WHEN THE SUN IS FADING ON THE MISTY HILLS
AND FIRES ARE BURNING IN THE HARVEST FIELDS
THAT'S WHEN MY MIND STARTS DRIFTING BACK
TO THOSE OLD FARM HOUSES AND OLD TIN SHACKS


AND TWO BLACK HORSES GOING BY
TO THE BONEYARD


WHEN THE WATER ON THE TROUGHS FROZE
AND THE TREES CLATTERED IN A WIND SO COLD
I REMEMBER THOSE TWO HORSES PULLING A LOAD
BETWEEN DRIFTS OF SNOW DOWN AN ICY ROAD


I CAN SEE THAT OLD DRIVER HEAD BENT DOWN
AS THOSE HORSES SLID THROUGH THE TREES
THEN ONE DAY A FLOOD TOOK THEM ALL AWAY
WHERE THE OLD BRIDGE HAD COLLAPSED IN THE RAIN


AND TWO BLACK HORSES
GOING BY TO THE BONEYARD

 

ONE HORSE TOWN

I COME FROM THE WRONG KIND OF TOWN
THE KIND YOU'RE ALWAYS PUTTING DOWN
WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS THAT'S WHERE I WAS BORN
NOW I'M GOING BACK TO WHERE THE STREETS ARE WORN

BUT DON'T YOU WRITE ME OFF NOW MISTER
'COS I'M FROM A ONE-HORSE TOWN


MY DADDY SPENT ALL DAY MENDING YOUR ROADS
MY MAMA SPENT ALL DAY CLEANING YOUR COATS
MY LITTLE SISTER SHE CLEARS AWAY YOUR KIDS PLATES
ME I DON'T DO NOTHIN BUT GET UP LATE


WELL I BEEN CALLED ROUGH FOR THE WAY I TALK
WELL TO ME THE RICH WAY OF TALKING ALWAYS SOUNDS FALSE
TAKE YOUR FANCY CARS AND YOUR COUNTRY ESTATES
'COS I KNOW ONE PLACE WHERE I AIN'T OUT OF PLACE

 

TOWN THAT SHOOK YOU DOWN

HOLDING ON BY YOUR FINGERTIPS, SCRATCHIN' AT A LIFE
BEEN BLANK EVER SINCE YOU WERE BORN NOW YOU'RE LYING BY THE SIDE
OF THE ROAD, BLOOD POURING OUT OF YOUR NOSE

AND YOU CAN'T TAKE IT, TAKE THIS TOWN AND SHAKE IT


THE ACADEMICS ARE BY THEIR FIRES, WATCHING THE SNOW
AS THE CRAZY MAN CRACKS THE ICE AND SLIDES FATHOMS BELOW
AND OUTSIDE THE ENGINES OF THE CARS ARE TURNING COLD

AND YOU CAN'T TAKE IT, TAKE THIS TOWN AND SHAKE IT

NOW EVERYTHING IS BETTER, EVERYTHING IS IMPROVED
BUT THE GUTTERS ARE STILL FULL OF THOSE THAT LOSE
THE DEAD STARE OF THE MAN WHO HAS LOST HIS SHOES
LOOKING AT THE SKY THROUGH AN EMPTY BOTTLE OF BOOZE
BEFORE IT TOOK HIM, AND IT SHOOK HIM

AND IT BURIED HIM DOWN IN THE COLD, COLD GROUND
THAT TOWN THAT SHOOK HIM DOWN

 

FEATHERS AND BONES

WHEN I WAS A KID I DREAMT THAT I COULD FLY
UP ABOVE THE STREETS AND HOUSES IN THE COLD DARK SKY
BUT NOW I'M NEARLY FORTY AND I'M COMING DOWN
AND ALL I CAN SEE AROUND ME ARE THE WRECKS OF OUR PLANS


FEATHERS AND BONES


POLLY GOT MARRIED IN NINETEEN FIFTY-FIVE
SWORE SHE HAD THE BEST LIFE ANYONE COULD FIND
THEN ONE DAY SHE TRIED TO BREAK FREE
THEY FOUND HER IN A DAZE DOWN BY THE CEMETERY


WHEN ALL YOUR HOPES COME TUMBLING DOWN
LIKE FEATHERS AND BONES


ED WAS USED TO LIVING BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH
NOTHING HE DID WAS EVER QUITE LEGAL
ONE DAY HE CRASHED A CAR THAT HE'D STOLEN
THEY FOUND HIM SINGING AS HE WATCHED IT BURNING


SUE WAS MARRIED THEN SHE GOT DIVORCED
SHE GOT A JOB THEN SHE WENT A BIT OFF COURS
THEY FOUND HER IN A BAR DRUNK OUT OF HER HEAD
SHE LOOKED AT THE SKY AND ALL SHE SAID

 

WHEN THEY RETURN

WATCHING THE CROWS DIVE UPON THE CORN
AS THE FROST MELTS OFF THE STRAW
I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE SINCE THE FIRES DIED
WAITING FOR THE CINDERS TO GROW COLD


THEY SAY IF YOU STARE AT THE HILLS LONG ENOUGH
YOU'LL SEE THEM SWOOP DOWN FROM ABOVE
WHEN THEY RETURN, WHEN THEY RETURN


HALF THE MEN IN MY VILLAGE WALKED AWAY
AS THE TRUMPETS BLARED AND THE DRUMS PLAYED
NOW THEY'RE PILING FLOWERS ON AN UNMARKED GRAVE
ON THE CORNER WHERE THEY GAVE THEIR LAST WAVE


NOW I'VE BEEN SAT HERE A HUNDRED YEARS
WATCHING THE CORNFIELDS FILL WITH RATS AND WEEDS
AND THE ROAD WHERE THEIR BOOTS KICKED UP THE CHALK
IS COVERED WITH TARMAC AND CONTINENTAL TRUCKS


WAITING ON CHARLIE

NEWS CAME THROUGH YESTERDAY THAT THEY'RE HANGING AGAIN
JEMMY DAWSON'S* GONE NOW WE'LL HAVE TO HIDE ALL SUMMER LONG
CHARLIE NEVER GOT PAST DERBY NOW LONDON'S NEVER GONNA FAL
WE WONDER HOW LONG BEFORE THE KING'S MEN KNOCK ON OUR DOOR


AIN'T NO REVOLUTION GONNA TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
WE'LL BE WAITING ON CHARLIE 'TIL THE SUN GOES DOWN


NOW IF MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER COULD ONLY SEE ME NOW
WOULD HE TELL ME TO MAKE A STAND OR HEAD FOR THE HIGHLANDS
ANOTHER DEAD REBEL AIN'T MUCH USE TO A FAMILY OF TEN
BETTER START LAYING THE TABLE FOR THE KING'S SUPPER AGAIN


WELL IF THAT OLD RIVER WAS WHISKEY MAYBE WE COULD DROWN THE KING
INSTEAD OF HAVING TO SING HIS PRAISES EVERY TIME HE RIDES IN
THERE'D BE MORE GRAIN IN OUR BARNS, MORE WINE IN OUR BARRELS
IF ONLY CHARLIE HAD MANAGED TO CHANGE OUR WORLD


BUT THE ROAD FROM THE NORTH IS COLD AND BARE
AND LITTERED WITH THE BONES OF OUR BROTHERS UP THERE.


* English supporters of Charles Stuart ,including Jemmy Dawson, were hanged at Manchester
inspiring a folk song in his name

ENGLISH COUNTRY HEART

LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF ENGLAND
BUT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND A THING
SOMETIMES I THINK I'M AMERICAN
THEN I LOOK OUT AT THESE FIELDS IN THE WIND

AND I KNOW YOU COULD TAKE THESE BROKEN PARTS
AND BUILD AN ENGLISH COUNTRY HEART

WHEN THE BARN ROOF COLLAPSED NO-ONE DID A THING
WHEN THESE FIELDS WERE BARE THEY JUST LEFT IT ROTTING
NOW THERE'S NO MORE PEOPLE LIVING OFF THE LAND ROUND HERE
ALL WE GOT IS SOME CITY BUSINESSMAN BUSY DEVELOPING


LOOK OVER THERE AND YOU'LL SEE THE RUSTING RAILS
OF A LINE THAT USED TO CARRY COAL FROM WALES
LOOK OVER HERE AND YOU'LL SEE THE CRUMBLING WALLS
WHERE A HUNDRED MEN USED TO BUILD CARS FOR MR.FORD


PICK UP THE PIECES AND BUILD
AN ENGLISH COUNTRY HEART

SKIDDING ON A BEND


THIRTY YEARS OF TRYING TO SAY NOTHING AT ALL
TRYING TO WIND THE WINDOW DOWN ON ANOTHER WORLD
EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT I HAD NO HOLD ON ANYTHING
AND MY HANDS ON THE WHEEL WERE SLIPPING


SKIDDING ON A BEND, SKIDDING ON A BEND


WHERE THE SKY MEETS THE OLD BARN'S RUSTY TIN ROOF
THAT'S WHERE I'LL BE WAITING FOR YO
I CAN FEEL THE WIND PUSHING ALL THESE CLOUDS AWAY
STRIPPING THE LEAVES OFF THE FARMER'S TREES TODAY


WELL IF YOU SEE ME COMING AND YOU JUST WANT TO RUN
REMEMBER HOW WE USED TO PLAY HERE ALL DAY IN THE SUMMER SUN
BUT NOW ALL THE FENCES HAVE BEEN PULLED DOWN AND THE WATER'S IMPURE
AND NO-ONE WE USED TO KNOW LIVES AROUND HERE ANYMORE


BUT BLOOD'S THICKER THAN WATER AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S BEEN MIXING OIL AND WATER AGAIN
NOW THE ROADS ARE FILLING UP WITH LAST WINTER'S LEAVES
AND THERE'S BLACK OIL LEAKING UNDER OUR WHEELS


SAFER BLIND


SOME PEOPLE NEVER GET PAST THE EASY PART
THEY SPEND THEIR LIVES HOLDIING ONTO THEIR HEARTS
NEVER WANTING TO GRAB AT A PASSING CHANCE
FEEL SAFER HIDING AWAY IN THE DARK


WHEN THE COMET CAME THEY WERE SHIELDING THEIR EYES
SAFER BLIND


THERE'S A MAP KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY
THAT SHOWS THE WAY TO PLACES THEY NEVER DREAMED
BUT IT'S TURNING YELLOW, CRUMBLING AT THE EDGE
WHAT IT TELLS NOBODY CAN EVEN GUESS


OH LORD I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN STARING AT THE SUN
UNTIL ALL I SEE IS BLACKNESS ALL AROUND
PULL APART MY HANDS AND LET ME SEE
TEACH ME TO FEEL, LET THE BLINDNESS GO FROM ME

 


CARAVAN PARK

NOBODY ROUND HERE HAS THE FAINTEST CLUE
WHAT IT IS MAKES THEM DO WHAT THEY DO
WAKING UP AT SIX, ON THE MOTORWAY BY TEN
HEADING OUT THROUGH STORMS AGAIN


THAT'S THE CRAZY PART
OF LIVING YOUR LIFE IN THE DARK
CARAVAN PARK


SHE SWEEPS THE FLOOR UNTIL TEN TO THREE
THEN RUNS TO THE BUS TO MEET THE KIDS
HER HUSBAND'S STILL OUT AT TEN TO EIGHT
TRYING TO GET BACK BEFORE THE LIGHT FADES


LAST WEEK THE SIREN WAILED AS THE AMBULANCE CALLED
THE CARAVAN SHOOK AS HE SLUMPED TO THE FLOOR
TOO MANY NIGHTS OF DRINKING, DAYS ON THE ROAD
SHE DIDN'T EVEN CRY JUST SORTA MOANED


YOU LIVE YOUR WHOLE LIFE IN THE DARK
CARAVAN PARK

BEHIND BILLBOARDS AND BARBED WIRE
IN A CARAVAN PARK

 

 

BONNET IN THE SUN

IT'S AS BRIGHT AS A FIREWORK FLARE
BURNING MY EYES THE LONGER I STARE
CAN'T SEEM TO SEE ANYTHING ELSE NOW
EVERYTHING DISAPPEARING IN ITS GLOW


SITTIN' IN A DUSTY ROAD
STARING AT THE METAL AND CHROME
OF A BONNET IN THE SUN

LET THE WORLD TURN BLACK AND FADE AWAY
BECAUSE NOTHING MATTERS ANYWAY
SOME THINGS CHANGE, SOME THINGS STAY THE SAME
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THOSE DAYS…


NO-ONE ROUND HERE AMMOUNTED TO ANYTHING
MOST NEVER GOT PAST THE FACTORY SHIFT
SEE THEM ON A FRIDAY NIGHT DRIFTIN' INTO A DRUNKEN SLEEP
DREAMING OF BIG CITY LIGHTS AND A TINSELTOWN KISS

NOW LET THE WORLD TURN BLACK AND FADE AWAY
WHY SHOULD I CARE ANYWAY?

FROST AND MIST IS CREEPING BACK ACROSS MY ESTATE
ALL NIGHT SMOKE'S BEEN POURING FROM THE FACTORY
EVERY RULE THEY EVER MADE GETS BROKEN AND FADES
EVERY PLAN THAT'S MADE FALLS APART SOME DAY


STARING AT THE ICE ON THE DRAINS
WATCHING MY BREATH DRIFT AWAY
WHY, WHY, WHY SHOULD I CARE ANYWAY?


FORTY YEARS OF STITCHING BACK WHAT THE WAR TORE AWAY
NOW THE NEW COMPASSION IS COVERING UP THE STAINS
BUT IN THE COLD NIGHT HEAR THE HELICOPTER BLADES
AS THEY SHINE A LIGHT INTO THIS FORGOTTEN PLACE


AND THE GRAPES ARE ROTTING ON THE VINE

AND THE GRAPES ARE ROTTING ON THE VINE

AND THE ESTATES ARE COVERED IN ICE


NOVEMBER MORNING SUN

LA LA LA, LA LA LA.

THE TREES SHINE IN THE MORNING SUN
THERE'S A BLUE SKY AND THE CLEAR RIVERS RUN
NO MORE FROST ON THESE STICKS AND STONES
THE WIND DON'T CUT THROUGH TO THE BONE


LA LA LA LA LA LA
NOVEMBER MORNING SUN


FLOWERS ARE BRIGHT IN THE GRAVEYARDS
BELLS ARE RINGING THROUGH THE FARMS
THE WHOLE GREEN COUNTRY'S TURNING RED
THE BIRDS ARE ALL HEADED OUT WEST


I FILLED UP MY SUITCASE WITH CLOTHES
HEADED OUT DOWN A GRAVEL ROAD
THE DOG FOLLOWED ME TO THE GATE
AS I WALKED OFF INTO A BRAND NEW DAY


DON'T MISS ME NOW OR EVEN TRY TO SAY
WHAT IT WAS THAT MADE ME LEAVE TODAY
WEREN'T NO MONEY PROBLEM OR LOVER'S TIFF
WAS JUST THE SIGHT OF A MORNING LIKE THIS

CIRCLE OF A CROW

WATER SPLASHING OUT OF THE BARREL
LEAVES BLOWING DOWN A MUDDY PATH
THE SKY IS BLUE FADING TO PURPLE
THE CHURCH TOWER IS FADING FAST


SILENCE COMING DOWN
IN THE CIRCLE OF A CROW


ALL I'VE EVER KNOWN IS RIGHT HERE
IN THE CIRCLE OF A CROWS BEATING WINGS
NOW THESE DAYS ARE DRAWING IN
AND THERE'S FOST UPON THE EAVES


I COULD HAVE DUG FOR A HUNDRED YEARS
AND NEVER HAVE FOUND ANY GOLD HERE
ALL THAT IS PRECIOUS IS SO EASY TO FIND
LAID OUT IN A STRAIGHT, STRAIGHT LINE


I'VE MADE MYSELF OLDER THAN I SHOULD BE
BY ALWAYS DIGGING UNDER THE WRONG TREES
NOW SOMEONE'S SHOWED ME THE RIGHT WAY
YOU JUST FOLLOW THE CROW TO THIS PLACE

 

TARMAC GOLD

HUMMING LIKE THE WIND IN THE TREES
BUZZING LIKE A FIELD FULL OF BEES
WATCHING THE SUN SHINE ON THIS WINDSCREEN
AS THE YEARS FLY BY UNDER MY WHEELS


I PUT MY FOOT DOWN AS FAR AS IT WILL GO
TARMAC GOLD


GOT AMERICAN DREAMS ABOUT ENGLISH FIELDS
FLASHING IN FRONT OF MY WATERING EYES
THIS ROAD AIN'T LEADING ANYWHERE THAT I CAN SEE
IT JUST KINDA SHIMMERS IN THE HEAT


BONES OF TWENTY GENERATIONS BEHIND THESE WALLS
AS THE WIND PULLS THE LEAVES FROM THE SYCAMORES
AND THE ROOF ON MY OLD HOUSE IS CAVING IN
BUT I STILL FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WIND

 


MY WIDE OPEN EYES


I'M A COUNTRY BOY WITH A COUNTRY FACE
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN THIS LITTLE PLACE
BUT SOMETIMES YOU UNCOVER THE CHILD INSIDE
YOU WASH THE DIRT FROM MY WIDE OPEN EYES

DON'T KNOW WHY IT TOOK SO LONG TO FIND
SOMEONE LIKE YOU WHO COULD OPEN MY EYES

NOW I REALLY AM FEELING ALIVE

YOU WASH THE DIRT FROM MY WIDE OPEN EYES

 

© ShaunBelcher / Horseshoe Songs 1997.