DEEP PURPLE: Splat! (2026)

 

1. Arrogant Boy
2. Diablo
3. The Rider
4. The Lunatic
5. The Only Horse in Town
6. Sacred Land
7. The Beating of Wings
8. Guilt Trippin’
9. Scriblin’ Gib’rish
10. Jessica’s Bra
11. Third Call
12. My New Movie
13. Splat!

ARROGANT BOY

Billy couldn't read or write

He never read a book in his life

He looked like shit

Face didn't fit

And only ever went out at night

Billy got invited to parties

He'd always dress to annoy

Billy fancied his chances

And they called him an arrogant boy

Billy had a special trick

He knew what made the punters tick

Freakin' the elite

To a fit of pique

Good old Billy lived by his wits

Billy didn't have a choice

Got buried underneath the noise

He took a deep brеath

Found his voice

And they called him an arrogant boy

Oh, Billy

Oh, Billy

Oh, what havе you done?

Oh, Billy, what have you done?

Well, Billy gonna take on the world

Now he's getting hard to destroy

He gave us strength

And now we're walking

In the path of an arrogant boy

Billy lived his life in the dirt

Didn't really give a squirt

He'd be standing there

Head in the air

Well, Billy, salt of the earth

Billy used to dream all day

How to get there in his own sweet way

He took his time

And then enjoyed

The reputation of an arrogant boy

Oh, an arrogant boy

DIABLO

My lover crossed the river

And that's the route she chose

Heard you can get anything you want

When you go where anything goes

She made her way to Diablo

The most dangerous place on Earth

But my girl didn't care too much about that

She was there to prove her worth

She jumped into the fighting pit

Her knuckles pickled in brine

Beat up Guts Mackenzie

Celebrated with a bucket of wine

She fell into the glitter pool

Got whisky in her ear

In the nick of time was rescued

By a passing gondolier

For once in your life

Why don't you Throw away all of those plans

Hands over your eyes

Leap out of the fire Into the pan

My lover came back home

With two sore tits and a gappy-tooth smile

Displayed her belt in the hardware store

Told the story of her trial

If you ever go to Diablo

In the lower depths of Hell

And live your life in one short week

And return with a tale to tell

Whoo, yeah-yeah

Aw-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, ah-yeah-yeah, ah-yeah-yeah, ah-ah-bow-bow

THE RIDER

I live a life

Of outrageous extravagance

From way up here

Show my talent and elegance

I have some weird peccadillos

Stick 'em on the rider

When I arrive

I want some heel-clickers

After my donut

A couple of lip-lickers

Moisturize them both

Then slap 'em on the rider

Woe is me

I'll let you know when I'm ready to sing

I can't exist

Can't do my thing

Without a brace of

Super hot psycho-ologists

Cover my back

With a sincere apologist

And where's the Dom

I know I wrote it in the rider

Take me up in a

Private elevator

And don't forget to bookeda

Bliss appropriator

What happened to the last guy

Check it in the rider

Woe is me

You'll never know when I'm ready to sing

I can't exist

Can't do my thing

Keep 'em waiting

While I prefer to stay

Catch a live performance

Just for me, Cirque du Soleil

Woe is me

I'll let you know when I'm ready to sing

I can't exist

Can't do my thing

Don't call me precious

Priceless is just fine

I'm worth even more

In this here swollen head of mine

Before I dance

Get my Poddy-macologist

I got bumps now

Where's my phrenologist

I'm off to the funny farm

It's all there in the rider

THE LUNATIC

There was a time I liked him

Now I don't know what to say

When I see him coming

I just look the other way

Ah, he's dangerous

There's a sparkle in his eyes

When they should be dull and gray

Oh

He's got an air of confidence

Goes out on his own

Has a very few friends

And doesn't use a phone

Ah, mysterious

Thank God the law is watching

Now they'll drag him from his home

Oh, oh

Once he was a lovely lad

Compliant and tame

Something must have happened

To turn him insane

He lost his way

And now he's full-grown

He's a lunatic

With a mind of his own

Once he was a lovely lad

Compliant and tame

Something must have happened

To turn him insane

He lost his way

And now he's full-grown

He's a lunatic

With a mind of his own

It's not as if he barks

Under a waxing gibbous moon

It's another kind of madness

Same old words, a different tune

Ah, it's scary

Not long before the ministry

Is bursting his balloon

Oh, oh

THE ONLY HORSE IN TOWN

I have the presidential suite

In Joe's Motel over there

Joe's long gone incident'ly

Along with everyone else

Even the gypsies have left

With everything they could carry of course

They took all they need

Except for a clapped-out, knock-kneed

Bony old horse

Now, I've got the place to myself

I stand and look around

At this home that fell from the sky for me

And the only horse in town

So I look at the horse

And he looks at me

I can tell we have an understanding

Almost immediately

We have been through the mill

Last few years have been grinding uphill

Now we found some hay in the barn

And pure clean water down in the well

Now the cold wind's blowing somewhere else

We be safe and sound

In the last place on the earth for me

And the only horse in town

We got nothing to hang on the wall

And that's better than nothing at all

I'm in the bar contemplating

And he's outside at the rail

simply waiting

And swishing his tail

We don't need anymore

Tell the truth that was always the case

But now we live in a world of our own

We can do what we want

At our own sweet pace

And now there's no more misery

We're close to the ground

With a life of luxury for me

And the only horse in town

Yes, I have a home to call my own

I stand and look around

It's the last place on earth for me

And the only horse in town

SACRED LAND

I pished into the mist

And saw two gnarled and craggy men

They were battle scarred and weary

They'll never fight again

Once raw and bitter enemies

These fearsome Highland Lords

They've done with all the feuding

And put away their swords

A holy stone

On sacred land

A legend in the glen of Creag an Tuirc

They placed their weapons

On the ground

And set them softly in the moss

One upon the other

Chipped and laid across

The futile bloody memories

Of all o' that and more

Those brave and ancient clansmen

Had done with making war

A holy stone

On sacred land

Buried in the glen of Creag an Tuirc

In the day

It was man to man

Eye to eye

And hand to hand

Die with honor

Or live with heart

Every man

Stood up to play his part

A skirling whiff of danger

Brought a glint into their eyes

Marauders and intruders

The old men slowly rise

With claymores at the ready

They'll no' be having that

Once again they will be fighting

But now it's back-to-back

A holy stone

On sacred land

Forever in the glen of Creag an Tuirc

THE BEATING OF WINGS

I sit alone

In the night

And I know

It's gonna be all right

When the morning hurts shadows away

From the sky

When the rays keeps my demons at bay

I sit and wait

In the dark

And I say to me

Here comes the best part

It's a new day

It's a new day

Then I follow the light

And the heavenly voice

Of my angel sings

Now I'm feeling the dawn of her pulse

And I rise to the beating of wings

I'm looking up

At the nightscape

As the stars

Begin to fade

It takes only one

Only one

To put all the rest

In the shade

Only one

Only one

I'll be wondering where

You'll be sleeping tonight

Way out there in Saturnian rings

I'll be losing my way once again

'Til I rise to the beating of wings

In the candle's flickering light

I can see so clearly

All the dreams that might come true

And if not true then nearly

Then I follow the light

And the heavenly voice

As my angel sings

Now I'm feeling the dawn of her pulse

And I rise to the beating of wings

I'll be wondering where

You'll be sleeping tonight

Way out there in saturnian rings

I'll be losing my way once again

'Til I rise to the beating of wings

GUILT TRIPPIN'

I had a quarter million of the most fabulous years

Took most of my life for me to find the right gear

And now we're celeratin' to a sudden halt

We got terminal velocity and it's all my fault

Oh, dearie me

It's a crying shame

I'm guilt trippin'

In the outside lane

I did what I could, I tried to slam on the brakes

I can't find the strength, didn't have what it takes

I hear thunder, an avalanche wall

Apologize, it's all my fault

Oh, what a shame

If only I'd known

I'm guilt trippin'

On the last train home

They say two's company and eight billion's a crowd

I'll get it right next time, but it's too late now

All those locusts, famine and war

You never slept at night, it's all my fault

SCRIBLIN' GIB'RISH

I haven't got a clue

What you've been talkin' about

Your lips move

But I hear gobbledegook

Don't have a notion, what you saying

You one o' them

Sesquipedalians

I'm scriblin' gib'rish

Back at you

Nothing but gib'rish

If only you knew

Another crappy matrix

I can't understand

I'll prove I'm human

Show you I'm a man

Can't see those traffic lights

Greasy bikes or steps

Any more of that and I will

Wring your bloody neck

I'm scriblin' gib'rish

Just for you

Nothing but gib'rish

Snookerakacho

I'm a sophisticated man

With the emphasis on fist

Here's your final warning

To cease and desist

Go wash your mouth

You are speaking in tongues

Now you're talking turkey

I ain't getting any younger

I'm scriblin' gib'rish

Just for you

Nothing but gib'rish

If only you knew

Hoosanackamackerel

Schwanamagoo

Bend over backwards

Until it turns blue

JESSICA'S BRA

Welcome to the hallowed inner circles o' Jessica's Bra

Since you're askin' that's a typo on a sign above the bar

Big Mary is a-wrestlin' with her conscience and a toe

She's a champion at both, a flick of her hips and over you go

There's a fella in the corner sippin' water through a straw

We'll keep an eye on him, just to be sure

It's somewhere to escape from the unpleasantries of life

A chance to get away from all the trouble and the strife

Nelson's falling over whilst he's lying down

We all respect his talent so we'll leave him there absolutely for now

And the fella in the corner sippin' water through a straw

He's completely motionless, what the hell's he waiting for

Mr Bland's an issue solver from the ministry of gray

Commissioned by a caring team to turn up every day

We're helping with the gravity, make sure it never fails

With bawdy camaraderie and flagons of tumbling ale

A tweedy bird from Berkshire is looking for some rough

She sidles up to Bailey who is more than rough enough

And now the vicar's daughter's doing handstands up the wall

The boys reach out to grab her before she takes a fall

And if you want to know what happened to the the funny little fella

He's being educated at a session in the cellar

And if you're still a'wondrin' where on earth you are

Tell your friends you're having the time of your life... In Jessica's Bra

In Jessica's Bra

THIRD CALL

You got me on the third call

I wasn't going to answer at all

But I guessed it was you

So it didn't ring true

Hmmmmm

You know, I was curious

And kinda nervous, too

It was quiet at first

Then you said a few words

Something I heard

In the breath of your voice

And then I had no choice

Girl, right away I knew

As I soaked up the essence of you

Should have been impossible

But there it was a full

And total surrender

I lost my mind again

How easily you muddy my brain

You know what they say

It's never the same

The last time was nothing but

Pleasure and pain

Remind myself of one little thing

I'm gonna melt

You're so damned hot

Baby, you don't know what you got

So... you got me on the third call

We know it's purely physical

There's no time for subtle

It's all sweat and muscle

We'll be together

Forever and oh well

Then we go our own ways

Not so much as a parting wave

Our love is on hold

Until the next call

Forget the first two

Because just like you

I don't have much to talk about

All we do is scream and shout

All we do is scream and shout

MY NEW MOVIE

What you doing Wednesday

If you've got nothing on

Drop by and we'll start working on a plot

Just take a look around

Use your 'magination

It's easy to improve

On what we got

I got a half-written script, catering and lights

A shed-load of cameras and a crew

I got costumes, make-up and a double-wide trailer

Now all I really need is you

All right, you know I'm on fire

You wanna be in

My new movie

[It]'ll be great piece of work

My new movie

We'll make the sequel first

It can only get worse

You are notorious

For beating down doors

Charging upstream against the trend

But that's what I want

It's gonna be rough in the making

But man, we gonna get there in the end

I'm gonna screw all the rules

Break with convention

Shake it, watch it bear fruit

With a jaw-dropping, mind-blowing

Mother of a movie

Man, we getting ready to shoot

C'mon, baby

You wanna be in

My incredible new movie

I need quiet on the set

My new movie

You wanna place your bets

You ain't seen nothin' yet

Well, my new movie

We gonna stop the world

My incredible new movie

We gonna give it a whirl

My new movie

Gonna be a blast

My new movie

The image will last

The image will last

The image will last

Forever

SPLAT!

I read up the wrong end

Set my rocket in reverse

It blasted a hole

Through the center of the universe

I had a good spin around

In a sycamore plane

Nothing much to see out here 'cept

A whole lotta more o' the same

Oops

Well, that's enough o' that

We'll be standing here all day

Let the cat out the bag

All kindsa hell to pay

Movin' along

Running easy and free

Back in the groove

Don'tcha worry 'bout me

I'm gonna bark up another tree

Oops

I look into the future as we

Splat against the screen

It's better than I hoped

And up to now was unforeseen

A metamorphosis

I'm hoping for much more of this

And maybe somethin' funky

In between

I look into the future

As we splat against the wall

Leave this all behind and soon

We won't be here at all

We goin' metaphysical

Whimsical and spiritual

Won't need that sycamore no more

YES: Aurora (2026)

 

1. Aurora
2. Turnaround Situation
3. Love Lies Dreaming
5. Ariadne
6. All Hands on Deck
7. Outside the Box
8. Emotional Intelligence
9. Jambustin'
10. Watching the River Roll

AURORA

In a whisper psalms of light ever carry clear

Elevate to virtue wise calming vital signs

Oh Harbinger bring balance to the tides coursing through my life

Brahma exhalation wields creation aeons old

All return with inhalation to ecstatic fold

Oh Harbinger that all may come to know

Everything we see from inside

Every way to be free inside ourselves

Everything I seek is inside

Everything I long for inside myself

Despite myself

Aurora

Astral light aureole

Aurora

Celestial

Aurora

Aurora

Your flames are ablaze

Burning through the haze in my mind’s eye sky

How our fragile edges fray

How our colors dull and blur

Like paper dolls in a cut out world

Eight billion lives round we go

Bound by a karmic ebb and flow

We reap and sow by the stones we throw

From where we’ve come

To where we’ll go

Through the gate of the great divide

Escape to the other side

We sail highs

Brave lows

The human drama comes and goes

Lifetimes ebb and lifetimes flow

May all come to know

What history to tell

Stories of the glories

In shame we fell

As heroes we arose

Along the border of the great divide

Through the portal to the other side

Everything to be free inside

Everything I long for inside myself

Inside myself

Aurora

Astral light aureole

Aurora

Celestial

Aurora

Incorporeal

Aurora

Your flames are ablaze

Burning through the maze in my mind

Aurora (Aurora)

Your flames are ablaze

Aurora, flames are ablaze

TURNAROUND SITUATION

Turnaround situation lately

Turnaround, turnaround

Turnaround situation, 180

Turnaround, turnaround

Dark night at the wheel angel flight or devil fear

On this twisty track want to explore need to turn back

Every cell of being scheming later learn

One more crash and burn

No more trusting treasure maps

Wanderlusting dead end paths

Let all disappear in rearview mirrors

Trip and glide the high skyway home

Redemption road

No more bridges need burn

Cross them all to return

With heart and high skyway home

Redemption road

In headlights home

Redemption road

It’s been a turnaround situation lately

Turnaround, turnaround

Turnaround situation, 180

Turnaround, turnaround

Turn and run to save your life

Impulse pushes me on

Unknown bound or higher ground

Dark night at the wheel wrong or right wield or yield

Every cell of my being is a soldier in an army for change

Now turn and run to save your life

No more trusting treasure maps

Wanderlusting dead end paths

Let all disappear in rearview mirrors

Trip and glide the high skyway home

Redemption road

No more bridges need burn

Cross them all to return

With heart and high skyway home

Redemption road

In headlights home

Redemption road

Redemption road

Turnaround situation lately

Turnaround, turnaround

Turnaround situation, 180

Turnaround, turnaround

Turnaround situation lately

Turnaround, turnaround

Turnaround situation, 180

Turnaround, turnaround

Turnaround

Out across the plaines

Atop the mountain range

A primal voice that speaks so clear to every heart sincere

Guiding every conscience home, the cosmic mighty Aum

To a full loop back to life

Back to light!

LOVE LIES DREAMING

She’s a jewel of heaven beaming

Like a room without a ceiling

To somewhere I could follow

Love lies dreaming

To where I’ll follow

Tuned to her moon

This midnight rose in bloom

At first it feels like falling

When really you’re only flying through a dream

Dreamcatcher pass the magic through the love dreamer’s weaving

Dreamcatcher pass the magic through the love dreamer’s weaving

Through the love dreamer’s weaving

Where love lies dreaming

Where love lies… dreaming

Through forest, through fields

(Give chase, give chase)

Toward mountains, up hills

(Keep pace, keep pace)

At the summit there’s a wishing well

(In tune with her moon)

Where she’ll cast her spell

(In tune with the moon)

Keeper of the deeper meaning

Intuition guided feeling

To somewhere I could follow

Love lies dreaming

To where I’ll follow

Tuned to her moon

This midnight rose in bloom

At first it feels like falling…

Dreamcatcher pass the magic through the love dreamer’s weaving

Dreamcatcher pass the magic through the love dreamer’s weaving

Through the love dreamer’s weaving

Where love lies dreaming

Her love lies dreaming

I’m soaring through a dream where love lies dreaming

I’m falling, |’m falling…

I’m falling through a dream where love lies dreaming

I’m falling, |’m falling…

ARIADNE

Hoist the black sails

Onward to Crete

All for to challenge a mad king’s tyranny

Yearly 14 of your offspring sacrificed to the beast

Enter its labyrinth

Confront and defeat

Destined for this moment in time

Light my path, oh gods

Wield strength through my sword

Though fierce wolves chase and pitfalls surround me

Thy blessing, my promise to pierce the black heart

Pierce the black heart

A hero’s story from another age

Will we ever know

Will we ever know

A lover’s story from another age, another age

Ariadne, Ariadne

At first glance her love yearns

Ariadne

Will you ever return from out of the maze

She’s afraid you won’t live to see another day with Ariadne

By her grace in your hand, ball of thread

Tie one end to the door as you go

Unravel the line

Fake walls surround you

Trapped in your own space

Pure imagination

Can’t tell the real from the unreal

Looking for the moments that come into view

Keep reaching for her stars

They’re all waiting just for you

A hero’s story from another age

A lover’s story from another page

Destined for this moment in time

Light my path, oh gods

Wield strength through my sword

Though fierce wolves chase and pitfalls surround me

Thy blessing, my promise to pierce the black heart

Pierce the black heart

By her grace, one promise

Pierce the black heart

ALL HANDS ON DECK

Let every sailor on board know

There’s a fire down below

The raging sea is so cruel

Spinning us in a whirlpool

All hands on deck

All hands on deck

All hands on deck

All hands on deck

All hands on deck, board the lifeboats

All hands on deck, to save your neck

All hands on deck, or you’ll perish

All hands on deck, it’s a shipwreck!

OUTSIDE THE BOX

(Instrumental)

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

You know you gotta talk less

Try to hear more

Set the stage in clearer ways we can engage

I know in truth I win

I win if I give in

Compromise

Empathize to the story in your eyes

Emotional intelligence

It leads us to our own personal excellence

Not defined by circumstance

No longer blind with arrogance

Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence

I don’t need to be right

No more will I fight

If it means that much to you, we’ll see it through

There are no haunting ghosts in the feedback you give

With energy empower me, by your honesty

Emotional intelligence

The conscience in your head, proof and the evidence

Don’t let panic take the wheel

Designate just how you feel

Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence

Oh, will | ever learn

The source of all true confidence

The course toward a noble stance

Emotional intelligence

Not defined by ignorance

It may be our only chance

Our one last chance

Our one last chance

Our one last chance

Our one last chance…

JAMBUSTIN'

Don’t poison the well

Don’t trust a snake

Don’t poke the bear

Don’t touch the flame

Don’t bite the hand from where you feed

Don’t mistake your wants for needs

Don’t be the face of human greed

Don’t give in to trolls

Don’t sell your soul

Don’t covet fame

Don’t shout your name

Don’t fear the dark

Don’t swim with sharks

Don’t forget to make your own mark

And do not shelve your future self

Some view the world from upside down, blind to the signs

Feeding the fat vultures of big business, the cultures of excess,

Heeding to the needs of greed

Why you always jambustin’ me, creeping into my lane

Never take fault when it’s easier to blame

You’re jambustin’ me

You keep blocking my lane, rushin’ and a-fussin’

Never feel regret when you blame for it

No, you never feel regret when you blame for it

Quit jambustin’ me!

Quit jambustin’ me!

Don’t hoard the boat

Don’t jump a claim

Don’t fix the vote

Don’t cheat the game

Don’t kill the whale, she’s not for sale!

Don’t take the road of no return

Don’t rig the dice

Don’t skate thin ice

You view the world from upside down

You’re inside out

Writing the rules to suit your own needs

You roar quite a sound

Devastation bound

Why you always jambustin’ me, pushing into my lane

Never take fault when it’s easier to blame

You’re jambustin’ me

You keep blocking my lane, rushin’ ‘round and fussin’

You don’t have to feel regret when you blame for it

You don’t ever feel regret when you blame for it

Quit jambustin’ me!

Quit jambustin’ me!

Jambustin’ me!

Jambustin’ me!

Quit jambustin’ me!

WATCHING THE RIVER ROLL

Taking in the moments, one by one

Reflecting all the memories

As they become the painting of our life and times

In a constant state of change

Rolling on the currents, nothing looks the same

The leaves upon the calming streams

Showing us the way

Etched into the heart and soul

In a constant state of change

Walking along the waters edge

Reflections in the waves again

Watching the river roll

Always leading to the sea

The current moving so gently

Watching the river roll

Watching the river roll

Be ready for the journey

And notice along the ride

All the faces and the places

They go sailing on by

The painting of our life and times

Illuminating new sunrise

Showing us the way

Walking along the waters edge

Reflections in the waves again

Watching the river roll

Always leading to the sea

The current moving so gently

Watching the river roll

Walking along the waters edge

Reflections in the waves again

Watching the river roll

Always leading to the sea

The current moving so gently

Watching the river roll

Walking along the waters edge

Reflections in the waves again

Watching the river roll

Always leading to the sea

The current moving so gently

Watching the river roll

YES: From a Page (2019)

 

1. To The Moment
2. Words On A Page
3. From The Turn Of A Card
4. The Gift Of Love

TO THE MOMENT

I don't know what you're thinking when you close your eyes at night

I don't know what you're feeling when I turn off the light

I don't want you to fear the dark

And I don't want to feel your beating heart

Getting faster

From the moment of awakening (To your dreams)

From the moment that the sun shines in your room

From the moment that the dream sets in (To the moment)

To the moment that you start to pierce the gloom

I won't always be there when you want me close to you

I won't always be right when I lead the way

I don't want you to feel alone

I want you to feel your heart and soul

Getting stronger

From the moment of awakening (To your dreams)

From the moment that the sun shines in your room

From the moment that the dream sets in (To the moment)

To the moment that you start to pierce the gloom

From the moment of awakening (To your dreams)

From the moment that the sun shines in your room

From the moment that the dream sets in (To the moment)

To the moment that you start to pierce the gloom

As you dream the shapes begin to form inside your mind

As your fears begin to take control of your soul

Don't believe that they are in control

And I'll be there to make sure you don't fall

Any further

From the moment of awakening (To your dreams)

From the moment that the sun shines in your room

From the moment that the dream sets in (To the moment)

To the moment that you start to pierce the gloom

From the moment of awakening (To your dreams)

From the moment that the sun shines in your room

From the moment that the dream sets in (To the moment)

To the moment that you start to pierce the gloom

To your dreams

To the moment (To the moment)

Ahh, ahh-ahh-ahh

To your dreams

To the moment

WORDS ON A PAGE

Lost in the words on a page

Life forms between the lines

Do you see thoughts that appear

As my eyes follow the letters you write

Magical worlds, distant planets

Dawn over mountains at night

Forest of life, endlessly changing

Evolving through love and their right

All from the words on a page

All from the verse of an age

All from the lessons you teach

All from the hearts that you reach

All from the lives that you wrote on a page

Gifts from the quill to behold

The scribe passes his knowledge to you

Journey the changes with time

Travel within the written word

Far away friends, distant lovers

Turning to all look my way

A future within folds of the pages

A love that can shine as in play

All from the words on a page

All from the verse of an age

All from the lessons you teach

All from the hearts that you reach

All from the lives that you wrote on a page

(Da, da-da-da)

All from the words on a page

(The words on a page)

All from the verse of an age

(The verse of an age)

All from the lives that you wrote on a page

(On a page, on a page)

(Da, da-da-da)

All from the lessons you teach

(The lessons you teach)

All from the hearts that you reach, hearts that you reach

(The hearts that you reach)

All from the lives that you wrote on a page

(On a page)

FROM THE TURN OF A CARD

Tell me what you would say, when things aren't going our way

Tell me what can you see, when you're not here next to me

If you look, can you find, the questions that I left behind

If you ask, they will tell, that things will soon turn out well

Why can't I see, what you see

You tell me to open my mind, for signs to which I seem blind

Turning the pictures my way, to show me the message that they say

If you look, you can read, the answers to all that you need

If you listen, they will tell, that things could soon start to gel

Why can't I see, what you see

Why can't I see, what you see

From the turn of a card

From the turn of a card

I'm starting to now understand, how cards you dealt from a hand

Can help to show you the way, stranger than words can say

If you look, you can learn, from pictures and colours that turn

Around in your mind, and worries are soon left behind

Now I can see, what you see

Now I can see, what you see

From the turn of a card

From the turn of a card

From the turn of a card

From the turn of a card

THE GIFT OF LOVE

The price that we all wish to win

The gift of life distinguished by a sound

The essence of the knowledge we should know by now

For to make us free again

The gift of love

Is all we need

Only the wise man knows the road

Only the heart is bound to find a way

As I begin to dream I start to drift away

And I feel so free again

And I feel so free again

The gift of love

Is all we need

The gift of love

Is all we need

What way within will light the answer?

The one we all hold so dear to our heart

When will we find the whole solution?

When our souls refuse to part

From the moment of awakening

To the moment that we wake from our dream

And realize it's not real

From the moment of awakening

To the moment that we wake from our dream

And realize it's not real

Ah, ah, ah ah, ah…

From the moment of awakening

To the moment that we wake from our dream

And realize it's not real

The gift of love

Is all we need

The gift of love

Is all we need

The gift of love

Is all we need

The gift of love

Is all we need

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