Lyrics
Please choose a song:
Runaway Night
I Saw Her at The Fair
Head Held High
Someone Like You
Clown Shoes
Ember in the Ash
One Step at a Time
25th of the 12th
Paper Plane
Bottle Rocket
Come on Let’s Go
Skimming Stones
Carry Me Home
To the broken tune of an ice cream van
I wrote a song for you on the back of my hand.
If you follow me we can jump the lights
Of this seaside town on a Saturday night.
When you hold me tight
It feels just like
When you close your eyes
On a motorbike
And it carries us off into the night
The Runaway Night
Well the sun went down and the sky turned red
I could feel the pull of that unbreakable thread.
See the white horses falling to their knees
And we’ll sail away out of everyone’s reach.
When you hold me tight
It feels just like
When you close your eyes
On a motor bike
And it carries us off into the night
The runaway night
You can hang around at the water’s edge
But if you want to fly, you’ve got to jump from the ledge.
When you hold me tight
It feels just like
When you close your eyes
On a motorbike
And it carries us off into the night
The runaway night
Saw the flat bed trucks pulling into town
And they parked up on the recreation ground
And some local kids circling around
on their bikes outside the gate.
We paid the bully boys on the bumper cars
And we raised our arms towards the tungsten stars
And we’d tread our feet all over that grass
Until it turned to dirt
Oh the giddy rush of the Jump ‘n’ Ride
It could make you say your prayers
But that’s got nothing on the way it made me feel
When I saw her at the fair
Heard the crack of guns from the gallery
And I smelled the oil and the machinery
And the summer evening air was warm and sweet
And the thrill was in the night
Oh the giddy rush of the Jump ‘n’ Ride
When your heart was in the air
That’s got nothing on the way it made me feel
When I saw her at the fair
You can buy a rush of adrenalin
Ride the Ferris wheel high above the din
You can play for prizes that you’ll never win
And nothing will compare
The giddy rush of the Jump ‘n Ride
It could make you say your prayers
But that’s got nothing on the way it made me feel
When I saw her at the fair
When I saw her at the fair.
When we broke up a year ago, I hit the town
With a smile on my face
Nowadays when I wake with a headache, on my own
I want to smile, but in my mouth’s a bitter taste
And it makes me sick
It makes me want to cry
She’s still walking round with her head held high
Got a picture in my pocket of a baby boy
And his eyes are just like mine.
When I call his ma, she says she doesn’t want to talk
She just asks me if I’m drinking all the time.
And it makes me sick
It makes me want to cry
When I see her walking round with her head held high
I saw them at the bus stop
I pulled up to say ”Hello”
She told me exactly where to go.
Some things fade away until they don’t exist
But the traces linger on
I guess I’m where I wanted but there’s something still amiss
Something I can’t put my finger on
And it makes me sick
It makes me want to cry
When I see her walking round with her head held high.
I’ve searched the skies, the distant stars,
The shifting constellations.
Scoured the docks, the hotel bars,
I’ve hung around bus stations.
I’ve been waiting for so long
I’ve rung the bell, I’ve banged the gong.
Searching for a sign, listening for a sound
Waiting for someone like you to come around.
I went down to the cathedral,
I climbed the marble stairs
I crawled along the empty pews
I breathed the holy air
But I did not find you there
I’ve been searching everywhere
Searching for a sign, listening for a sound
Waiting for someone like you to come around
There was a time
When everyone could see
That it was you
Falling over me
You’ve had your turn
So take a bow
It’s me who’s in the clown shoes now
In the rain
I walked to your house
You said you’d stay home
But I found you out
You’ve had your turn
So take a bow
It’s me who’s in the clown shoes now.
What if I told you there was no competition between
those other clowns you hang around and me?
When I was king
and I wrote all the rules
You did all those things
Because you were my fool
You’ve had your turn
Now take a bow
It’s me who’s in the clown shoes now
It’s me who’s in the clown shoes now
Walk with me down to the ocean
You and I
We’ve got to mend what’s been broken
For all this time.
I’ll lay my jacket down over the sand
Build us a fire to warm up our hands
I gave you a bracelet for you to wear
Around your wrist
You gave me your brown eyes, your black hair
And a wine soaked kiss, in the briny mist
How does a furnace cool down to a frost?
How much can you salvage? How much has been lost?
We’ve got to get back where we started
A beach bedroom
With shingle and shells for a carpet
And a light bulb moon
I’ll lay my jacket down over the sand
Build us a fire to warm up our hands
It might be from driftwood, maybe it’s trash
But there’s still an ember
that glows in the ash.
Put your best foot first
This is the last train
Come on and shake that curse
Rattle off those chains
You’ve got to chase those ghosts away
Leave them all behind
Getting closer every day
One step at a time
You know it in your heart
You been there too long
The dogs are gonna bark
but the caravan moves on
Kick those hounds from round your heels
If they won’t sleep , just keep those wheels turning
The dark before the dawn
That’s when you feel the chill
But there’s a burning sun
Coming over the hill
You’ve got to chase those ghosts away
Leave them all behind
Getting closer every day
One step at a time
One step at a time
One step at a time
You and I
On a train that’s westward bound
Tupperware skies
Over slate and granite towns
And a billion snowflakes fell
In a field of white
I hear the ringing of the bells
And it feels like
The 25th of the 12th
Meet me down
by the early English church
The frozen ground
and the silent Silver Birch
Where a billion snowflakes fell
In a field of white
I hear the ringing of the bells
And it feels like
The 25th of the 12th
Everything is standing still
Everything is standing still
Where a billion snowflakes fell
In a field of white
I hear the ringing of the bells
And it feels like
The 25th of the 12th
You’re going to wake up early one of these days
And wonder what you’re still doing there.
You’re going to grab some things, pack your case
Get your coat and head for the stairs
Feel the warmth of the sun beating on your back
See the glistening rain on the black tarmac
Drift along on the wind like a paper plane
You don’t need to explain
When you see those people that you thought you knew
You can listen to what they’ve got to say.
I’d choose the sound of gravel underneath my feet
Slipping down a back alleyway
Feel the warmth of the sun beating on your back
See the glistening rain on the black tarmac
Drift along on the wind like a paper plane
You don’t need to explain
Oh, over and over again
Putting the past in a broken picture frame
Feel the warmth of the sun beating on your back
See the glistening rain on the black tarmac
Drift along on the wind like a paper plane
You don’t need to explain
Walking over tilted fields
with the dirt beneath our heels
Under some gunpowder clouds
it only takes a spark
to set a bottle rocket off
Light the taper, stand well back
Smell the smoke and hear the crack.
When you’re walking next to me
A glimmer in the dark
Could set a bottle rocket off
Point it up towards the night
In it’s incense I will find you
Load it up with all the hurt
When it dies, it’s ashes on the wind,
Will be scattered in the dirt
All the fireworks undisplayed
In a tin box, sealed away
Once it’s lit you don’t return
But I’d burn myself again
To set a bottle rocket off
Point it up towards the night
In it’s incense I will find you
Load it up with all the hurt
And when it dies, it’s ashes on the wind
Will be scattered in the dirt
The bars have all turned out, they’re ringing up the tills
And by the bus stop where the pavement overspills
Curb-crawling mini cabs hunt for a final fare
If you’ve got the cash, you know they’ll take you anywhere.
I’m just not ready to go home
Don’t ask me why cos I don’t know
And if you feel the same say so.
I know a place
Come on let’s go
Till streetlights dim and laundromats begin to churn
And Knightsbridge it girls take their lapdogs for a turn.
Till bedside radios are tuned for breakfast news
And milk floats rattle down suburban avenues
I’m just not ready to go home
Don’t ask me why cos I don’t know
And if you feel the same say so
I know a place
Come on let’s go
As a boy standing on a beach
I felt the waves lapping at my feet
Saw a ship sailing out to sea
and I dreamed about the day I’d leave
Take me back home to the place
Where dreams were all I’d known
Skipping out across the breaks
When we were skimming stones
Bitter wind blowing in my sails
a million miles from a friendly shore
Rolling thunder and a raging gale
I think I’m heading for the ocean floor.
Take me back home to the place
Where dreams were all I’d known
Skipping out across the breaks
When we were skimming stones
Feel the waves rising up to drag you under
See the clouds rolling with the sound of thunder
Light a beacon and let it burn
I know it’s gonna be a long old haul
Will she prey for a safe return?
Is there anyone who waits at all?
Take me back home to the place
Where dreams were all I’d known
I’ve got no map or a chart to trace
I’m soaking to my bones
Take me back home to the place
Where dreams were all I’d known
Skipping out over the breaks
When we were skimming stones
Skipping out over the breaks
When we were skimming stones
Set them up cos I’m broken hearted
For a girl I once did know
She told me we could not be parted
Set them up because she’s left me all alone
In my youth I did my share of wandering
I’d walk through any open door
But all my life I’d never met such longing
As when I met the one that I’d been looking for
In my suit and shirt I was at the church
And I waited for her pretty face to show
Set them up till I’ve drunk an ocean
Put me on a boat to carry me home
Set them up in a pewter tankard
In a jar or a silver flask
A paper cup or a broke decanter
Set them up till I can’t raise another glass
Give me Jesus’ blood from an old milk jug
And if it tastes like dirty water from the Rhone
Set them up till I’ve drunk an ocean
Put me on a boat to carry me home
If I fall in a bed of feathers
If I lie in a roofless barn
If I wake in the cold wet heather
When I sleep I’ll dream she’s lying in my arms
Till they lay my bones
In a six foot hole
And they carve my name into a stone
Set them up till I’ve drunk an ocean
Put me on a boat to carry me home.
Give me Jesus’ blood from an old milk jug
And if it tastes like dirty water from the Rhone
Set them up till I’ve drunk an ocean
Put me on a boat to carry me home
