JOE BONAMASSA: Breakthrough (2025)

 

1.Breakthrough
2.Trigger finger
3.I'll take the blame
4.Drive by the exit sign
5.Broken record
6.Shake this ground
7.Still walking with me
8.Life after dark
9.You don't own me
10.Pain's on me

BREAKTHROUGH

Oh, I'm headed for a breakthrough, I see it all

Gonna take me a hammer, knock down the walls

Every stone I chip away, I think of you

I'm headed for a breakthrough

Oh, come on and get here, woman

I don't know where you've been the past few days

My mindful eyes are weak and weary

I shed no tears when I see things clearly

Oh, what good is it anyway?

It's after dark, there's steam from the drains

Solitude is a lonely journey

Got work to do, but I ain't worried

Oh, I'm headed for a breakthrough, I see it all

Gonna take me a hammer, knock down the walls

With every stone I chip away, I think of you

I'm headed for a breakthrough

I'm headed for a breakthrough

I'm headed for a breakthrough

It's gonna get me over you

When your trust is gone

Like being lost, left for dead

The blues can pull you down and leave you empty

Sleeping alone in an empty bed

Oh, I'm headed for a breakthrough, I see it all

Gonna take me a hammer, knock down the walls

With every stone I chip away, I think of you

I'm headed for a breakthrough

I'm headed for a breakthrough

I'm headed for a breakthrough

It's gonna get me over you

You hurt me so bad, it's criminal

Left me on the streets to die

Your version of love is so wonderful

You didn't have to say goodbye

Oh, I'm headed for a breakthrough, I see it all

Gonna take me a hammer, knock down the walls

With every stone I chip away, I think of you

I'm headed for a breakthrough

I'm headed for a breakthrough, I see it all

Gonna take me a hammer, knock down the walls

With every stone I chip away, I think of you

I'm headed for a breakthrough

(Headed for a breakthrough)

I'm headed for a breakthrough

Gonna get me over you

I'm headed for a breakthrough

(Headed for a breakthrough)

I'm headed for a breakthrough, I see it all

(Headed for a breakthrough)

I'm headed for a breakthrough

Yeah (Headed for a breakthrough)

I'm headed for a breakthrough, I see it all

TRIGGER FINGER

I got a heart that's busting, don't wanna think about it

I got a letter from you, don't wanna read about it

I got a lot of lonely, ain't gonna moan about it

I got a trigger finger, don't wanna think about it

(Don't wanna think about it)

(Don't wanna think about it)

I got a lot of money, don't wanna spend it all

I got a lot of words, I might just write a song

I got a certain nature, don't wanna think about it

I got a trigger finger, don't even ask about it

(Change) Never bothered me

When one door slams, somebody leaves

(Change) Never bothered me

When one door slams, baby, I'm free

(Don't wanna think about it)

(Don't wanna think about it)

I got a nasty habit that just won't go away

I got a lot of trouble I deal with every day

I got a box of change, saved up for a rainy day

I got a trigger fingеr, don't even talk about it

(Change) Nеver bothered me

When one door slams, somebody leaves

(Change) Never bothered me

When one door slams, baby, I'm free

(Don't wanna think about it)

(Don't wanna think about it)

I got a busted taillight I know you all can see

Behind my back you're talking, that shit don't bother me

I got another side, you all should know about it

I got a trigger finger, don't even show you 'bout it

(Change) Never bothered me

When one door slams, somebody leaves

(Change) Never bothered me

When one door slams, baby, I'm free

(Don't wanna think about it)

(Don't wanna think about it)

(Don't wanna think about it)

(Don't wanna think about it)

I'LL TAKE THE BLAME

Yeah, that's right

She's the one

I turned to her when you turned away

Yeah, she's the one I call

When there's nothing left to say

She's the one I took for granted

And now, I'll take the blame

Someone told you I was with her

Before we were really through

You were running with my best friend

What am I supposed to do?

Yeah, that's right

She's the one

I turned to hеr when you turned away

No more taking hеr for granted

And now, I'll take the blame

(I'll take the blame)

Oh, people love to tell their stories

That's never gonna change

Yeah, she's the one I call

When there's nothing left to say

Yeah, that's right

She's the one

I turned to her when you turned away

No more taking her for granted

And now, I'll take the blame

(I'll take the blame)

No more taking her for granted

And I'll take the blame

(I'll take the blame)

No more taking her for granted

And I'll take the blame

(I'll take the blame)

DRIVE BY THE EXIT SIGN

Daydreamin', we were out till the mornin' light

Not a care in the world, I couldn't even pick a fight

But I'm out here on the interstate in Tennessee

Wonderin' what the hell ever happened to you and me

I'm gonna have to find me another way home

'Cause I'm out in the open, now my cover's blown

Got a heavy load, I'm comin' up to the crossroads

It's blocked, it's all I've got

You don't see me in my prime

Everywhere, all the time

You just stroll right by the exit sign

There's no reason, there's no rhyme

That's what makes it such a crime

When you just drive by (Just drive by)

Drive by the exit sign

(Drive by the exit sign)

(Drive by the exit sign)

I see you in my mind all the time

Maybe somewhere down the line, we'll be fine

Got a heavy load, I'm comin' up to the crossroads

Of life, ain't got no wife

You don't see me in my prime

Everywhere, all the time

You just stroll right by the exit sign

There's no reason, there's no rhyme

That's what makes it such a crime

When you just drive by (Just drive by)

Drive by the exit sign

(Drive by the exit sign)

(Drive by the exit sign)

Got a heavy load comin' up to the crossroads

(Which way to turn?) Which way to turn?

(Will I ever learn?) Will I ever learn?

You don't see me in my prime

Everywhere, all the time

You just stroll right by the exit sign

There's no reason, there's no rhyme

That's what makes it such a crime

When you just drive by (Just drive by)

Drive by the exit sign

(Drive by the exit sign)

Drive by the exit sign, baby (Drive by the exit sign)

Drive by, baby (Drive by the exit sign)

Drive by the exit sign (Drive by the exit sign)

BROKEN RECORD

I've walked the line

Promises kept and my troubles behind

I've spent the time

Upon reflections of my days gone by

Now, I've been lost on this road for too long, for too long

I've been lost in the wilderness for too long, too long

Singing the same old song

Breaking down inside

Broken glass of my shattered life

Breathing the autumn air

Whole world stops if you stand and stare

Now, I've been lost on this road for too long, for too long

Now, I've been lost in the wilderness

I've been searching for another path for too long

I've been lost in the wildеrness for too long, too long

Singing the same old song

Wе're leavin' all the past

And make amends till the very end

Hiding behind the veil

If you don't try, then you'll never fail

I've been gone on this road for too long, for too long

I've been lost in the wilderness

I've been searching for another path for too long

I've been lost in the wilderness for too long, too long

Singing the same old song

SHAKE THIS GROUND

Baby, let's shake this ground

Turn things around

Lose these clowns

Before the sun goes down, yeah

Got a feeling that I ain't letting go for nothing

Like a thief been stealing my sleep at night

Maybe it's time that you and I start running

Take this thing right up to the fault line

Baby, let's shake this ground

Turn things around

Lose these clowns

Before the sun goes down, yeah

Ain't saying that I have all the answers

'Cause I got more questions than I need

All I know when I see you, you're my dancer

And you keep on knocking me off my feet

Baby, let's shake this ground

Turn things around

Lose thеse clowns

Before thе sun goes down, yeah

Standing on the shoulders of giants

You can see beyond the blue

And like the poet whispered

The only way out is through

Night's alive and the juke joint's jumpin'

Drum pounding out proud like a heartbeat

Hear the thunder in the distant sky a-rumbling

That's where passion and desire meet

Baby, let's shake this ground

Turn things around

Lose these clowns

Before the sun goes down

Baby, let's shake this ground

Turn things around

Lose these clowns

Before the sun goes down, yeah

Before the sun goes down

Before the sun goes down

Baby, let's shake this ground

Before the sun goes down, yeah

STILL WALKING WITH ME

Still walkin' with me, talkin' to me

Makin' me see what you mean to me

Still walkin' with me, right by my side

Doublin' down and let it ride

(Oh, yeah) Yeah, still walkin' with me

You could've left a long time ago

Left me standing on the side of the road

I wouldn't blame ya

Yeah, I wouldn't blame ya, honey

You know I treated you two times bad

I'm the worst and best you ever had

You're welcome

Yeah, you're welcome, honey

Still walkin' with me, talkin' to me

Makin' me see what you mean to me

Still walkin' with me, right by my side

Doublin' down and let it ride

(Oh, yeah) Yeah, still walkin' with me

The Good Lord is still workin' on me

And with you, it's right where I need to be

Right where I need to be

Sometimes I'm shakin' like a leaf on a tree

You never once ever gave up on me

I wanna thank ya

Yeah, I wanna thank ya, honey

Still walkin' with me, talkin' to me

Makin' me see what you mean to me

Still walkin' with me, right by my side

Doublin' down and let it ride

Still walkin' with me, talkin' to me

Makin' me see what you mean to me

Still walkin' with me, right by my side

Doublin' down and let it ride (Doublin' down)

Yeah, still walkin' with me (Still walkin' with me)

Yeah, still walkin' with me (Still walkin' with me)

One more time (Still walkin' with me)

(Still walkin' with me, walkin' with me)

(Still walkin' with me)

LIFE AFTER DARK

To get to the truth

Had to get through to you

Dragging my blues behind from a faraway city

I came here tonight

For something to take me higher

Death before love always sets things right

No, I can't pray you away

There's no simple goodbyes

A new beginning awaits

When I turn out the lights

Slowly but surely

I'm mending this broken heart

That's my life, that's my life

Life after dark

Resurrection

Be the one who rises up

Your power over me, all turns to dust

Desperation

It's a dark and dirty world

Deep down inside, I miss my only girl

I know I can't pray you away

There's no simple goodbyes

A new beginning awaits

When I turn out the lights

Slowly but surely

I'm mending this broken heart

That's my life, that's my life

Life after dark

No, I can't pray you away

There's no simple goodbyes

A new beginning awaits

When I turn out the lights

Slowly but surely

I'm mending this broken heart

That's my life, that's my life

Life after dark

To get through to the truth

I had to get through to you

Dragging my blues behind from a faraway city

YOU DON'T OWN ME

We hit the road and I hit the bank

It's a big machine, got a hungry tank

The highway hums and the rubber rolls

Beat the street, gotta pay the tolls

Dreamed Jimmy Page was in my band

’Cos his soul is in my hand

I smoke what I like

I drink what I choose

Don't tell me how to play the blues

'Cos you don’t own me

The beast won't rest and must be fed

The band's on fire, needle hits the red

The lights go down and you pack the load

Lock the door, baby, hit the road

Dreamed Jimmy Page was in my band

'Cos his soul is in my hand

I smoke what I like

I drink what I choose

Don't tell me how to play the blues

'Cos you don't own me

'Cos you don’t own me

The cards are stacked so I can’t fold

It's all on black and my drink is cold

Dreamed Jimmy Page was in my band

’Cos his soul is in my hand

I smoke what I like

I drink what I choose

Don't tell me how to play the blues

'Cos you don't own me

’Cos you don't own me

PAIN'S ON ME

Another storm

Another storm is about to rage

Broken home

Another heart that's about to break

I had it all, I had it all

I gave it all away for free

I haven't had the blues this bad

And all the pain's on me

Right on (Right on)

I had it in the palm of my hand

Went wrong (Went wrong)

I messed it all up again

I had it all, I had it all

I couldn't just let it be

I haven't had the blues this bad

And all the pain's on me

I turn the good to bad

You know it's driving me mad

Girl, I know the good in you

I turned it all into the blues

You were strong (So strong)

I was the one who was weak

Now you're gone (You're gone)

I'm the one who made you leave

I had it all, I had it all

I'm my worst enemy

I haven't had the blues this bad

And all the pain's on me

I haven't had the blues this bad

And all the pain's on me

I haven't had the blues this bad

And all the pain's on me

NEIL YOUNG: Talkin to the Trees (2025)

 

1. Family Life
2. Dark Mirage
3. First Fire of Winter
4. Silver Eagle
5. Lets Roll Again
6. Big Change
7. Talkin to the Trees
8. Movin Ahead
9. Bottle of Love
10. Thankful

FAMILY LIFE

When today is come and gone

I might be singing my new song

Might be short and it might be long

But I'll be singing my new song

Might be one I wrote for Ben

Who always smiles when I sing to him

Might be one I wrote for my grandchildren

Who I can't see

But I'll sing it from the heart

And that'll be the easy part

Singing for Ronan and Aliyah

So they know just how I feel

MIght be one for my man Zeke

Who's growing tall and strong and free

Building dreams with his new girl

Living life that's meant to be

And I call it family life

When I sing it for my wife

Who I love and I adore

And she'll smile for me once more

Yeah I'll sing it from the heart

And that'll be the easy part

Singing for my best wife ever

The best cook in the world

Yeah I'll sing it from the heart

That'll be the easy part

Then I'll remember Amber Jean

And I'll sing it from the heart

DARK MIRAGE

Well I lost my little girl

To the darkness inside

Her mama's gone now

And there's nowhere to hide

But she told me she can go

She can really go low

Yeah, she told me that

She can really go low

I still got my boy

With the joy in his eyes

Rollin' down the beach

With the sun climbin' the sky

Got my big boy too

He's so happy inside

Found the right lover

And they're buildin' the sky

Yeah, they're buildin' the sky

They're buildin' the sky

Dark, dark, dark

Dark mirage

Dark, dark, dark

Dark mirage

Dark daughter called me "stealin' daddy"

She won't say what I stole

Dark daughter won't tell me

Won't say what I stole

I lost my grandchildren though

In the dark mirage

Now I can't see them

They're in the dark mirage

Dark, dark, dark

Dark mirage

Dark, dark, dark

Dark mirage

Yeah, her mama had a wish

Her mama had a wish

And I want to make that wish come true

Yeah, I want to make that wish come true

Yeah, I want to make that wish come true

Yeah, I want to make that wish come true

Dark, dark

Dark mirage

Dark, dark, dark

Dark mirage

Well I lost my little girl

To the darkness inside

Her mama's gone now

And there's nowhere to hide

Nowhere to hide

She can go so low

Dark, dark, dark

Dark mirage

Dark, dark, dark

Dark mirage

Dark, dark, dark

Dark mirage

 

FIRST FIRE OF WINTER

First fire of winter

Spreadin' warmth throughout the house

Bein' soaked up by those old timbers

Makin' me feel like now's the time

Time to gather wood and feeling

It's time to walk among the love

Time's ripe now for changin'

Time to walk among the love

Don't worry now, girl

'Cause I know how you care

The fears of what might happen

Will always be there

There's always been a lion

Lurkin' there in the trees

But he knows where you're goin'

And he sees what he sees

Breathe deep now, baby

'Cause your dreams are your friend

I will always be here with you

And the nightmares will end

First fire of winter

First fire of winter

First fire of winter

Breathe deep now, baby

SILVER EAGLE

Silver eagle, keep rollin' on

Cross this country, still young and strong

Big green valleys and shining seas

Silver eagle, you're part of me

Traveled miles now on these old roads

Some are new, as time explodes

Full of stories, both yours and mine

Silver eagle, we're rollin' through time

Many drivers behind your wheel

Many songs now, for us to feel

As we roll on through this country

Silver eagle, you're part of me

On those old trailways

We used to see

And down those new roads

For you and me

I'll keep on singin' as we roll on

Silver eagle, you're my new song

We hit big traffic, we saw big things

As we remember, and the roadway sings

You carried my friends, you carried me

Silver eagle, I'm feelin' free

I'm feelin' free

I'm feelin' free

Silver eagle, you're part of me

LETS ROLL AGAIN

Come on, Ford, come on, GM

Come on, Chrysler, let's roll again

Build somethin' useful people need

Build us a safe way for us to be

Build us somethin' won't kill our kids

Runs real clean, yeah, it runs real clean

On down the highway, from place to place

Come on, America, let's get in the race

Yeah, China's way ahead, they're buildin' clean cars

Some days are like that, it doesn't matter

Some days are like that, so taste your freedom

Come on, Ford, come on, GM

Build us some small vans for city streets

That spend a clean day delivering

Don't want no loud sounds comin' from the back

Spewin' macho poison, it's not a race track

This ain't no new news, it ain't no big deal

It's time to build now, what's good for real

Come on, America, let's cover our back

Protect our children, protect our children

Over in China, they're way ahead

That's hard to swallow, they're way ahead

If you're a fascist, then get a Tesla

If it's electric, it doesn't matter

If you're a Democrat, then taste your freedom

Get whatever you want and taste your freedom

Yeah, China's way ahead, they're buildin' clean

Some days are like that, it doesn't matter

Come on, Ford, come on GM

Come on, America, let's roll again

Build somethin' useful that people need

Build us a safe way for us to be

BIG CHANGE

Big change is coming

Coming right home to you

Big change is coming

You know what you gotta do

Big change is coming

Could be bad, and it could be good

Big change is coming

It's coming right home where you stood

Big change is coming

Big change is coming

Big drums are drumming

Heading up the wrong parade

Big change is coming

Coming right through your gate

Big guitars strumming

The singer says, "Don't be late"

Big change is coming

Could be bad, and it could be great

Big change is coming

Big change is coming

Coming to right where you stood

Might be a politician

Tryna say something new

Might be your decision

Now you've got to see it through

Looks like a collision

Ain't the worst that you could do

Might be bad, might be good

Big change is coming to you

Big change is coming

Big change is coming

Big change is coming

Take the bits and pixels

Put your old phone down

Gotta do what you gotta do

Head to the hills or go to town

Big change is coming

Big change is coming

TALKIN TO THE TREES

Today again, like I've never seen you

Waitin' 'round for the world to change

Buyin' food at the Farmer's Market

Standin' in line, people everywhere

Rooster crowin' like I never heard it

Sunshine climbin', the mountain rise

Dogs asleep like they might be dreamin'

Standin' there, lookin' for the breeze

Thinkin' 'bout Bob, all the songs he was singin'

All that time, wantin' just to say hello

Prime of life thinkin' 'bout that old song

Passed me by, could be yesterday

Goin' back to sleep

Might be time to get up

Might be time

Might be time to sleep

Talkin' to the trees, waitin' for the answer

Waitin' around for the world to change

Might be time, time to get up

Today again

Today again

Today again

MOVIN AHEAD

Think about this, forget about that

Keep movin' ahead, that's where it's at

Think about this, forget about that

Yeah, movin' ahead is where it's at

Think about this and forget about that

Yeah, movin' ahead is where it's at

Don't wanna look back if it brings you down

Makes you feel bad or kicks you around

It's hard to forget it, but you gotta let go

Keep movin' ahead, wherever you go, movin' ahead

That's the way home, that's the way home

On in the future where the love is found

Where the love is found, where the love is found

Yeah, movin' ahead where the love is all 'round

That's the word, the word is good

Good for the soul to sing like it should

Movin' ahead, movin' ahead

Want to turn around inside your head

Think about this and forget about that

Yeah, movin' ahead is where it's at

Think about this, forget about that

Movin' ahead is where it's at, movin' ahead

BOTTLE OF LOVE

Flyin' across the fields with lifetime

Shinin' in her eyes

Lookin' at the freedom out there

Inside the open sky

All your tears are being saved

In a bottle of love

Go and touch the animals

Gallopin' through the gates of heaven

Like a little girl

No one could see the future

As it would unfurl

All your tears are being saved

In a bottle of love

Go and touch the animals

Open fields of heaven waiting

For that little girl, still in our eyes

Years of love we were creating

Taking the time to fly

All your tears are being saved

In a bottle of love

THANKFUL

I've been pilin' on the years

Full of laughter, sometimes tears

I feel thankful for them now

Want to keep them here with me somehow

Thankful

Thankful

When I look at what we've done

When I think of all the fun

I'm thankful for the way I feel

When I look at what is real

Thankful

Thankful

Thankful for the beauty of peaceful Earth

The days of life, the days of birth

If we can stay here for some more

If we can open heaven's door

Thankful

Thankful

Thankful for the life we have

The way we love, the way we love

Thankful

Thankful

JETHRO TULL: Curious Ruminant (2025)

 

1. Puppet and the Puppet Master
2. Curious Ruminant
3. Dunsinane Hill
4. The Tipu House
5. Savannah of Paddington Green
6. Stygian Hand
7. Over Jerusalem
8. Drink from the Same Well
9. Interim Sleep

PUPPET AND THE PUPPET MASTER

Holding court on a black box stage, dangling from the strings

I twirl and face the music and the prompter in the wings

I am both willing puppet, puppet master also

With lofty expectations set to pull me to and fro

I live only to serve, bring smiles to friendly faces

Dancing on a sixpence, singing from a tree

With birds of a feather chirping high and low together

Make everybody happy, starting with me

Please feel no sorrow or remorse, I dance willing only to

A tune crafted by me, both captain and crew

In a black box cage, rattling at soft bars

Bendy steel to part, I slip through to the stars

Through the duskfall peeping, me, unlikely lad

To paint a smile behind the mask, the pay is not too bad

I, the willing puppet, puppet master also

Lofty expectations set to pull me to and fro

To and fro, fro and two, to and fro

CURIOUS RUMINANT

I count my life in seconds passed

In meeting minutes, hours surpass

Days of quiet watching felt upper class

Flow through the years, wondering aloud

Needle matches spark my fires

Dissenting voices from steeple spires

Ring out across the woody hills

As brief as mad March daffodils

Asking "Why am I here?"

Answering "Why am I anywhere?"

Orbiting construct of Jung and Freud

Psycho dreaming asteroid

Faced with big questions, toss and turn

Unfit to frolic, unconcerned

Asking "Why am I here?"

Answering "Why am I anywhere?"

Orbiting construct of Jung and Freud

Psycho dreaming asteroid

Ruminant pleasures, write them down

Harsh adjective, improper noun

We consider each every day

I'll change my viewpoint, shift and sway

No pedant pickle, soup, or stew

Sit on the fence, enjoy the view

Needle matches spark my fires

Dissenting voices from steeple spires

Ring out across the woody hills

As brief as mad March daffodils

Dead gone, detached from your reality

Pray, thinker, be kindly anyway

In wee hours you peer midst the gathering gloom

My ghostly whisper, "Cogito, ergo sum"

DUNSINANE HILL

We two hard men of arms as brothers roam the Commons

Encounter pushy spin doctors, one, two, and three

Whispering dark prophesies, with their cackling and their moaning

I am seduced by wicked promises of the Walpole house to me

Here rule I from high on Dunsinane Hill

But first, I have to banish, blame the deed on servile others

They must be cast out into exile and gone without delay

God save me, king of cabinet, now I look over my shoulder

To see my brother warrior, damned spot to wash away

Such treachery unbecoming tears my heart strings still strumming

But my options grow diminished, no choice but to betray

See the wooded lower chamber, a cloak of green disguise

I nurse bleak imaginings amidst that Quercus wall

Mere matter of delusion, no Speaker's firm intrusion

Let guilty solace soon surpass the tears that fall

I shall reign resolved, proud, never vanquished until

Great Birnam Wood comes to high Dunsinane Hill

To high Dunsinane Hill

THE TIPU HOUSE

In the Tipu house live all kinds of people

Old ladies up the back stairs

Young wives drained away

The useless husband's drink

Through the long, cold evening

Maybe I could be one with some practice and a prayer

Oh, God's children play in the toxic city garden

Stealing from their brethren a saucy view of war

Of domestic incidents, a guilty copulation

The day of books and roses shown firmly to the door

In the Tipu house, you feel for your neighbor

Trade rice and greasy vegetables

Shoulders on which to cry

You don't feel so good about them

Quite all of the time

And someone has to fix the plumbing

Or at least give it a try

Oh, God's children play in the toxic city garden

Stealing from their brethren a saucy view of war

Of domestic incidents, a guilty copulation

The day of books and roses shown firmly to the door

In the Tipu house, there's a quiet and distant babble

Marital possibilities for all a kind in the air

Secrets for better dowries, for joining better families

Whispered promises in the hubbub of the market square

Oh, God's children play in the toxic city garden

Stealing from their brethren a saucy view of war

Of domestic incidents, a guilty copulation

The day of books and roses shown firmly to the door

In the Tipu house, there are forever changes

Young gladiators nourished by the football terrace beat

Aspired to fly in the moneylenders' temples of Madrid

Dream hungry dreams in smooth Brioni, turning up the heat

SAVANNAH OF PADDINGTON GREEN

Glimpse me, squeeze me, see if I'm real

Tangible fauna, slippery eel

Chart me and dart me, faint dot on the screen

On the urban savannah of Paddington Green

I am the wild beast, tiny part of the herd

Flock, shoal and theatre of the absurd

Compare us to lemmings, death wish contemplation

Or in mindlessly happy sweet murmuration

Wheeling and whirling, in social display

Free flight celebration of synchronous play

Irresponsible echoes best heard and not seen

Over urban savannah of Paddington Green

I have a faint folk memory of trees, lush meadows

Right here on this spot where dust gathers and blows

Threatening species, we turned in on ourselves

Like others before us, now left on the shelves

Wheeling and whirling, in social display

Free flight celebration of synchronous play

Irresponsible echoes best heard and not seen

Over urban savannah of Paddington Green

But hey, we had glorious times of sweet ignorance

Reveling in shady, shared points of indifference

Adjacent cracked flyover, silent, serene

By the urban savannah of Paddington Green

By the urban savannah of Paddington Green

Of Paddington Green, of Paddington Green

Of Paddington Green

STYGIAN HAND

Cobbled road, cobbled way, dark as pitch, grey mist swirling

Something lightly treading, this way comes

Could be the bobby on his beat, torch probe a-curling

Along the dead-end alley between the slums

Crash! The Stygian hand, against my brow

Unholy tempter, with confrontation face

I proffer cross of comfort, defiant exorcism

No starting gun to join this hoary devil's race

Symbol of faith, symbol of sacrifice

Icon of glory, graven in gold

Alpha, Omega, and all things between

Strength to the bearer, good grace to behold

Glimpse of peace and grasp of last hope divine

In the gathering dusk, when nightlights dim

Give firm resolve in times of desperation

As spectral visitants in life's dark corridor swim

Symbol of faith, symbol of sacrifice

Icon of glory, graven in gold

Alpha, Omega, and all things between

Strength to the bearer, good grace to behold

Cobbled roadway, dark as pitch, grey mist swirling

Something lightly treading, this way comes

Could be the bobby on his beat, torch probe a-curling

Along the dead-end alley between the slums

Crash! The Stygian hand, against my brow

Unholy tempter, with confrontation face

I proffer cross of comfort, defiant exorcism

No starting gun to join this hoary devil's race

OVER JERUSALEM

Am I the hawk? Am I the dove?

The vulture swooping down from above?

Am I the drone, circling high

Whirring tuneless, pie-eyed in the sky?

Angry gods of retribution

Driving hate without solution

City, home to all who came and ever will

Long lost tribes, invaders of old

Staking their claim to spiritual gold

Layers of antiquity buried below

Each with a sad tale to better not know

There is no time for meditation

Pause for thought or hesitation

Set in stone, firm pledges to fulfil

Angry gods of retribution

Driving hate without solution

City, home to all who came and ever will

Rocks upon rocks

Ashes on ashes

Bagels and lox

Warak dawali

Divisible loaves

Two fish from the Galilee

As friends sit and dine

Take water and wine

I walk the cobbled alleys nervously

Soldier girls, soldier boys stare at me

Down the line, out of time, switch alliance in my mind

I walk the cobbled alleys nervously

Soldier girls and soldier boys stare at me

Down the line, out of time, switch alliance in my mind

Am I the hawk? Am I the dove?

The vulture swooping down from above?

Am I the drone, circling high

Whirring tuneless, pie-eyed in the sky?

There is no time for meditation

Pause for thought or hesitation

Set in stone, firm pledges to fulfil

Angry gods of retribution

Driving hate without solution

City, home to all who came and ever will

But I never will

I'm not over Jerusalem

Jerusalem

DRINK FROM THE SAME WELL

I drink from the same well as you

I drink from the same well as you

Throng of disparate priestly spirits

Wind-blown, drift on the blood-red sands

They cast a spell of early warning

No welcome shake of their blood-red hands

They drink from the same well as you

They drink from the same well as you

A nod, a wink from the neon bar

In a sad backstreet of sweet ladyboys

Defy the leer of phobic drunken

Macho men chanting football noise

They drink from the same well as you

Yes, and they drink from the same well as you

Draw the bucket, roll the dice

Call the coin, call it twice

Tell me which way you choose

Do I care? Yours to lose

I drink from the same well as you

Yes, and I drink from the same well as you

Culture bending, message sending

Shouts of river to the sea

Displaying wilful ignorance

As to shifting tides of history

They drink from the same well as you

Yes, and they drink from the same well as you

We lovers lost in doomed matrimony

Cast adrift on an angry sea

Of angry words, vicious, vindictive

Low-hanging fruit on Eve's poisoned tree

I drink from the same well as you

You drink from the same well as me

Yes, I drink from the same well as you

Yes, and you drink from the same well as me

Chew it over, chew the cud

Join hand in hand before the flood

Tell me which way you choose

Do I care? Yours to lose

INTERIM SLEEP

When interim sleep takes me

I want you close beside

No tears, no sad goodbye

I am calm and still as a fallen autumn leaf

When that interim sleep takes me

I will pass first into a room next door

Not far away, nor lost to finer senses

Not gone forever, nor to be forgotten

And when your turn comes at last

To close those waking eyes

Pass willing to the room next door

Seeking no blameless redemption

Walk to that open window, open to the stars

Look out down the winding river valley

Where lights sparkle, marking stations

Stations where trains start and stop

On the separate journeys of our many lives

High above the nearest empty station

Flies a solitary bird, faint in the higher distance

Circling, soaring in the infinite blue

Reach up to that bird to find me waiting

On firm, welcoming, feathered wings

Together we will circle in that infinite blue

Glide down past stately barges to the next twinkling station

Buy tickets, stow useless excess baggage

To board the onward train, another journey