| Disc 1 | ||||||
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| 1. |
| 4:09 | 
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Have you seen the old man
In the closed down market Kicking up the papers with his worn out shoes In his eyes you see no pride Hands held loosely at his side Yesterday's paper, telling yesterday's news So how can you tell me you're lonely And say for you that the sun don't shine Let me take you by the hand And lead you through the streets of London I'll show you something To make you change your mind Have you seen the old girl Who walks the streets of London Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags She's no time for talking She just keeps right on walking Carrying her home in two carrier bags So how can you tell me you're lonely And say for you that the sun don't shine Let me take you by the hand And lead you through the streets of London I'll show you something To make you change your mind In the old night cafe at a quarter past eleven The same old man sitting there on his own Looking at the world over the rim of his teacup Each tea lasts an hour, and he wanders home alone So how can you tell me that you're lonely And say for you that the sun don't shine Let me take you by the hand And lead you through the streets of London I'll show you something To make you change your mind Have you seen the old man Outside the seaman's mission Memory fading with the minor ribands that he wears In our city winter the rain cries little pity For one more forgotten hero And a world which doesn't care So how can you tell me you're lonely And say for you that the sun don't shine Let me take you by the hand And lead you through the streets of |
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| 2. |
| 2:47 |
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Got my hesitation stockings, hesitation shoes,
Lord almighty got them hesitation blues. And tell me how long, oh, must I have to wait? Can I get you now, oh no, must I hesitate. A nickle is a nickle, and a dime is a dime, I got a house full of kids, one of them must be mine. Oh how long, must I have to wait? Can I get you now, oh no, must I hesitate. And I'm standing on the corner with a dollar in my hand, Looking for a woman who's looking for a man How long, Good God must I wait ? Can I get you now, oh no, must I hesitate. Never been to heaven, but I've been told, Old Saint Peter knows how to jelly-roll, How long, must I have to wait? Can I get you now, oh no, must I hesitate. Hesitation, got my hesitation, Lord almighty got my hesitation. How long, must I have to... Can I... , oh no, must I hesitate. Standing on the corner with a dollar in my hand, Looking for a woman who's looking for a man How long, Good God must I wait? Can I get you now, oh no, must I hesitate. Hesitation Blues. |
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| 3. |
| 3:22 |
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Hey little girl on the bicycle,
Wheels spin like they're riding on air. Hey little girl on the bicycle, Wheels flash like the sun in her hair. And the wheels go round But the bike has stopped moving Trees on the river move by her. Hey little girl on the bicycle, Sun blaze in her hair like a flame, And the river's reflecting her bicycle And the reeds whisper her name, And the wheels go round But the bike has stopped moving, Trees on the river move by her. Hey little girl on the bicycle Dressed in white, the trees were in green. Sparkling cycling bicycle That moves through the trees like a dream And the wheels go round And the trees have stopped moving Suddenly she is gone. La, la, la... |
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| 4. |
| 3:35 |
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The lights have gone dim,
And the people are gone. And clown goes back into his caravan. Hangs up his smile On a hook by the door And lets his ragged coat slip to the floor. With the sound of the children's laughter Still ringing in his ears. Laughing 'cause they're happy, They laugh to hide their fears. Clown loves the children For, like him, they fear. The world does not exist tonight, And only the circus, Only the circus is real. As real as the elephants that trumpet in the ring. Real like the trapeze, see it swing. Real like the man who eats real fire, Real like the lady on the high wire. But the people are gone, His identity gone. Clown peeps through he windows of his caravan. From the trees on the common The town looks so small. Clown puts on his coat and goes out the door. And the distant neon lights They shine above the town. "It's almost like a circus" thinks clown. And half with fear And half with delight, Shivering, shaking, Clown stands laughing, Clown stands laughing, Clown is laughing at the night. |
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| 5. |
| 4:24 |
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Out in the garden, amongst the bushes, Michael is crying.
Caught in a spider's web, its broken wings beating, a butterfly dying. Oh la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la And they in their wisdom say "Michael's got something wrong, wrong, wrong with his mind". Well they must be blind, if they can't see what Michael sees. Michael is silent, talking to no one of things that he sees. But out in the garden, he talks in soft whispers, like the wind in the leaves. Oh la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. And they in their wisdom say "Michael's got something wrong, wrong, wrong with his mind". They've seen the signs, but they can't see what Michael sees. And inside the building someone is calling his name through the halls. But he doesn't answer, though he easily hears each leaf as it falls. Oh la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. And they in their wisdom say "Michael's got something wrong, wrong, wrong with his mind". Well they must be blind, for they can't see what Michael sees. Michael where are you ? Michael where are we, We who see that there's something wrong with your mind? And inside the garden Michael is smiling, at peace in his world. At one with the insects, the flowers, and the trees, and the wind and the birds. Oh la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. Oh Michael sees all Behind the high walls Surrounding his kingdom, Whilst we in our wisdom Still trapped in the spider's web Far from the flow and ebb Of life in the garden But Michael has pardoned Us for he sees That really he's free And there's nothing to mend For his wings are not broken And they in their wisdom say "Michael's got something wrong, wrong, wrong with his mind". They've seen the signs, but Michael feels fine inside the garden. |
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| 6. |
| 1:58 | 
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| 7. |
| 3:08 |
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If I take you dancing
Down the streets to watch you laughing And stop still in the spring night rain Just to watch you smile again Understand I hold you hand A little tight as if by this I'll stop the night from running Into morning light too soon. Ice cream and candy bars, A Paris moon and Paris stars Can you count the times That we heard the chimes of Notre Dame Across the Seine To remind us sadly once again, Time just like the river Was swiftly passing by. Just a few reminders Of the little things that bind us Do they make you sad Or make you glad To think about the times we had In my dreams you're dancing In the embers of an evening, And I'll hold your hand a little tight Just to stop this special night, From running into morning light too soon. |
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| 8. |
| 2:33 |
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When I told you I was leaving,
You didn't believe what I said. You just went right on sleeping, And rolled over in your bed. Now were you surprised to open up your eyes, And find that I had moved on. Oh, Honey your loving man has packed all of his things, And taken that last train and gone. You can't say I didn't warn you, I told you 'bout a hundred times. You had fifty-seven ways of being mean to me, Fifty-seven varieties like Heinz. But now I've had enough of that same old stuff, And so I'm moving on. Oh, Honey your loving man has packed all of his things, And taken that last train and gone. I really hope you're feeling sorry For all the times you made me cry. Oh, you could' ve made life so much easier Babe, But you did not even try. So see you around but not in this old town, Your man is moving on, Oh, Honey your loving man has packed all of things, And taken that last train and gone. He has, Taken that last train and gone. |
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| 9. |
| 3:06 |
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Night stirs her inky finger
In the water of the day, The tired sun drops slowly in the sky. And everywhere the gentle air Hangs heavy with the day song Evening calls the lamplight out to come. Children's wooden hoops Go clattering down the street Soon they're called inside, it's getting late. The grand canal Now splashed with red Reflects on swallows wings. The lamplighter knows the song The evening sings. But the gas-lamps stand like soldiers Hiss warnings to the wind Their evening vespers prophicy a war. The world divides And men take sides The spark bursts into flame Nothing can be quite the same again. Dog barks in the distance Child cries in her sleep Night waits for the dawn with baited breath. The old school, the old rule Rung out on a muffinman's bell The lamplighter has made his nightly call. Dreams of hope and peace Sent clattering down the streets Empty like the promises they made. The wars rage on, and different wrongs Will someone please explain That peace is not the lamplighter 'Cos he's not coming back again. |
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| 10. |
| 4:11 |
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Listening to your idle talk
Smoke rising to the ceiling The words just seem to float on by Maybe you've had the feeling Then looking into my empty glass I noticed the bar clock was ten minutes fast My beer was gone, and my money's spent, And I think it's about time that I went. I went walking along the main road How can they call it High Street? I said "Hello" to a face I know But he had someone to meet. Then I noticed that the sea was coming in I almost felt like taking a swim, But the sea gets wild so I've been told And anyway it was much too cold. I buttoned my coat up to my chin Went walking along the sand I thought I heard the mermaid sing To the sound of a big brass band. A seagull offered me a ride And so as not to hurt his pride I said I wasn't going far And I let him carry my guitar. Then along come a mermaid, said "sing me a song, And I'll stop the band from playing". I was pleased and played with ease To the mermaids gentle swaying. I must've stayed there for an hour or two The seagull said he'd have to go And the mermaid said that she'd rather hear more But she left me standing on the shore. The sun was bathing in the sea Right on the water line. I shouted "Goodbye", but he didn't reply I know he had no time. Even my footprints had disappeared And as for the road I steered Out from the sea there come a sigh I think my mermaid said "Goodbye". And I'm listening to your idle talk Smoke rising to the ceiling And I'm watching the words go floating by Maybe you've had the feeling. Maybe you've had the feeling. |
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| 11. |
| 4:23 |
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Footsteps down the stairs and at the door
Pausing in the hall and at the door 'Cos I know Daddy's here I can tell that he's there. And that means she'll be glad Until we're in bed then she's alone For there are things they have to say And we are sent away. Mama, the room is cold and he is scared I am too, and you're not there. How could we know you'd only took a walk To a neighbour for a quiet talk. Sunshine's dying flicker on grey stone walls Outside in the hall the old dog growls And we're in bed playing guessing games Telling stories, making plans. Radio, celery and Sunday tea It is nicer here, just us three And I know he won't come again There is no need to explain. |
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| 12. |
| 2:16 |
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The air was cool
On lily pools Hazy, lazy And here and there He'd stop to stare Admiring all the flowers (Kew gardens) Wandering round for hours (Kew gardens) The sun was warm across the lawns Scented, blended He saw her linger And With her finger open up a rose (Kew gardens) Standing on tip toes (Kew gardens) Suddenly the rain came flurrying Sending the two of them hurrying Helter skelter for the shelter And feeling bolder in the big pagoda He gently enquired her name And they waited till the sunshine came. (Kew gardens) And for a while The griffin smiled Kindly, blindly Till the evening bell Broke the spell And sadly they said goodbye (Kew gardens) And one of the griffins cried In Kew Gardens |
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| 13. |
| 3:25 |
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She comes riding early in the morning
Round about four to seven. No one's ever out at that hour With eyes that see Her touch the morning flowers secretly And the leaves slow their commotion And the great trees gently sway Like an ocean on a still day And raise in praise their arms to the sun Who announces the day has begun At eight frames a second And Velvety shadows in misty meadows Are changing colours so softly With care the sun Puts colour in his drawing And rises to inspect His masterpiece this morning So perfect And as she rides the gold and silver miles Only the sun is sure What it is that she smiles for She leaves with no sign of what she has done Though her morning rise known by everyone I'll tell you her name and it's dawn. |
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| 14. |
| 2:45 |
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Sundays, as a rule,
Us kids went to Sunday School, And Mrs Adlam said, Angels stood round our bed. To keep us safe from dark, Right through 'til day begun, And we used to lie awake, Just to try to see one, And though we never saw one anywhere, We heard them softly singing in the air. Sundays occasionally We were invited back for tea, And bread with jam and cream, Made Sundays seem a dream. In the dingy mission hall, Mrs Adlam praying, And down the street back home, All our mates were playing, With Mrs Adlam's angels everywhere, And we thought we saw a halo in her hair. Sundays, for sure, Ain't like that anymore, Its getting hard for me, To see her face in front of me. I wonder if her angels Have their arms around her curled, Keeping her safe from life, And guarding her from the world. On a summer Sunday evening do I dare, To hear Mrs Adlam's angels in the air. |
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| 15. |
| 2:44 |
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| 16. |
| 3:33 |
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(Ralph McTell)
I'm running up a spiral staircase, Drilling a hole in the ground. And the staicase is winning, And my head is spinning, And I don't even dare to look round. I'm running up a spiral staircase I can't reach the top. I'm running up a spiral staircase And I'm too scared to stop. And there's nothing anybody can do To stop the staicase, like a giant corkscrew, From spinning around and around and around and around. Now in the begining I only saw you When the staircase hit your vision line. But now that it's moving around so fast I can see you all of the time. I'm running up a spiral staircase I can't reach the top. I'm running up a spiral staircase And I'm too scared to stop. And there's nothing anybody can do To stop the staicase, like a giant corkscrew, From spinning around and around and around and around. Now in the begining it was moving so slowly I never noticed it at first. But now that it's moving round so fast I think my head is gonna burst. I'm running up a spiral staircase I can't reach the top. I'm running up a spiral staircase And I'm too scared to stop. And I believe that I'm gonna shot through To stop the staicase, like a giant corkscrew, From spinning around and around and around and around. Now without a doubt I'm a-wearing out And I'm really begining to tire. I know the staircase is steel but it just about feels As though it's gonna catch on fire. I'm running up a spiral staircase I can't reach the top. I'm running up a spiral staircase And I'm too scared to stop. And I believe that I'm gonna shot through To stop the staicase, like a giant corkscrew, From spinning around and around and around and around. |
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| 17. |
| 3:06 |
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How I'd like to run away
Oh how I'd love to go Then I think maybe I will stay And just wait for the snow. To wipe the year from off the page I'll pretend I did not know But I remember all the words And the memory well it won't go No it won't go How I'd like to up and fly Almost anywhere But I don't have the nerve to try And you think that I'd never cared So I'll wait until the snow has gone Yes I think maybe I'll stay For I really don't know where I'd run And running's not that's not my way No it ain't my way. How I'd like to run away Oh how I'd love to go Then I think maybe I will stay And just wait for the snow. To wipe the year from off the page I'll pretend I did not know But I remember all the words And the memory well it won't go No it won't go. |
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| 18. |
| 1:46 |
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| 19. |
| 4:10 |
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Standing alone in the fairground at night
The world racing past on the streets Only the stars and the headlights of cars Light the fantasy world while it sleeps And I looked around but there wasn't a sound But the cinders under my feet. Candy-floss sticks spelt words on the ground I tried to read them in vain. Before it was clear the wind blew my hair And rephrased the sentence again. I stopped to light my last cigarette The fair was lit up in its glow I threw it away but the light seemed to stay Like 'twere moonlight shining on snow. And I hardly dare breathe I just couldn't believe Then the music started to flow. Slowly everything started to move 'Cept me and I stood quite still. Then came a soft cry near the coconut shy Will you take me to ride on the wind. And around and around The big wheel went spinning Round and round until I noticed although the fairground was moving The rest of the world stopped still. It was then when I realised that I'd have to get off Although I would've much rather stayed. Then with a jolt the wheel came to a halt And the music started to fade. As the lights went dim my head started to spin Told myself that I wasn't to blame. Looked at the ground at the candy-floss sticks Now the message was plain Behind me the wheel and the fairground were still And outside it was moving again. |
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| 20. |
| 3:38 |
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I stopped a man the other night
Said isn't it a beautiful sky And although he agreed It was just to please me I could tell that by the look in his eye And his look got colder Looking over his shoulder At me as he quickened his step So I didn't take his hand as I had planned I threw a stone instead. And went la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. There's a house I know Where roses grow I was there the other day. And I seen this chick Coming down the road She was coming my way So I picked a rose And stuck it under her nose She said, "What about my hay fever". Then this man come out And he started to shout He wasn't very happy either. La, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. A little while ago One Saturday night I was happy and drunk as could be. A policewoman come up And she said that night That the cells would sober me I said I ain't be in bars I got drunk on the stars You can't pin nothing on me Then she smiled and I said "Oh, kiss me instead". She said "I can't I'm on duty". La, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. I was in the park, It was just before dark And there grows a tree of mine. And I see this girl She was walking her dog Around the football pitch line. I said "You see that tree Well it belongs to me I'd like to give it to you". And then she said "Cheers Though it's been mine for years It was a very nice thing to do". I went la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. |
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| 21. |
| 3:48 |
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I woke up this morning,
Louise had gone Left me so blue I was Singing this lonesome song Louise had gone and left me, Left me worried and blue That gal's gone and left me I don't know what I'm a gonna do. Won't you give me some air, She's the best girl I have seen Treated me like a king, But she was a doggone queen Louise has gone and left me, Left me worried in my mind Well I don't mind her going But Louise write me some of your lines. |
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| 22. |
| 2:42 |
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Oh she lives all alone
In a house by a school She wears fur coats and hats And old fashioned jewels. And her one aim in life Is to be on the screen, Top billing for Granny Is her favourite dream. So once a year Granny takes a trip Always first class and she's well equipped. For the movie auditions in Hollywood Town She always turns up But she's always turned down. So Granny, my dear, We all wish you the best And hope that you find Your happiness And one day on the screen Granny's bound to be seen If she turns up again She's bound to find fame. So once a year Granny takes a trip Always first class and she's well equipped. For the movie auditions in Hollywood Town She always turns up But she's always turned down. |
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| 23. |
| 2:31 |
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Got my girl,
Took a chance, We went to a midnight dance But it was too tight, This rag o' mine. Too tight now, it's the most Too tight, nearest past the post Too tight, too tight, too tight This rag o' mine. Too tight, it's the best, Too tight, better then the rest. Too tight, too tight, too tight That rag o'mine. Too tight now it's the most Too tight, for us past the post It was too tight This rag o'mine. Too tight, it went to my head Too tight, I should have stayed in bed Too tight That rag o‘ mine. Too tight, it's the most Too tight, like dripping on a toast Too tight, too tight, too tight That rag o‘ mine. |
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| 24. |
| 3:56 |
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When your mind starts dreaming,
Your heart starts stealing Here comes them Sleepy Time Blues Sure as the train's Rolling down the track Better go to sleep Before the blues gets back Go to sleep boys, Don't blow no fuse I know you want to stay awake But it just ain't no use Better go to sleep And turn your tired mind loose Here comes them Sleepy Time Blues It's time for sleeping For the dawn comes creeping In its early morning shoes Turn it in Try to forget You don't really need Another cigarette. Your throat is tired, your mind's all sore, Your head is aching Don't you know what's more You can't remember What you're staying up for Here comes them Sleepy Time Blues The more you fret The worse it gets It's time to call it a day Then after you've slept And you open your eyes You're sure to be in For a nice surprise Lose them blues, It's out of style Tomorrow you'll find that it Wasn't worthwhile And come the morning You'll have to smile When you think about Your Sleepy Time Blues. |
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