Everything Solid Melts into Air

Where were you the day they opened up the Wall? / And all the lies and false-talk seemed to melt into the air? / Did you raise a glass or cry into your beer? / And did a new world glow for you or simply disappear?

When you turn around Do you touch the ground? / Do you make a sound When there’s no-one around?

Come with me to where the tourists seem so real / As day by day they rob us of our heroes / Watch the screen as Charlie takes a gasp and then is gone / But did it show that half your town was wearing yellow shoes?

When you turn around / Do you touch the ground? / Do you make a sound / When there’s no-one around?

We look around in wonder As they push us under Yeah

can you tell me how to get to Revolution Square? / I’ve got to get a shot before it melts into the air / Then we’ll wave their flags and even buy their beer / And raise a glass to ages past Before we disappear

When you turn around Do you touch the ground? / Do you make a sound When there’s no-one around?

Time and Place

Rode the midnight train goin’ anywhere / Just like the girl in the song / Out to find a peculiar spark / Turns a life to a burning flame / Sudden secrets in a stranger’s eyes / And words I can’t explain / Got a feeling that the time we had / Ain’t never gonna be the same

The red of the sky and the smoke in your eye / Another year passes like a firefly / And this is the time and place where we belong

Took a journey through a beat-up land / Where dreams are made and lost / Took a rain-check on a silver sand / And danced to the sound of the street / Consternation in a capital / Indifference in a costal town / Got a feeling that the time we had / Ain’t never gonna be the same

The red of the sky and the smoke in your eye / Another year passes like a firefly / And this is the time and place where we belong / This is the time and place where we belong

We can never go back / The river is never the same / The leaves have covered the tracks / And the power’s down / Oh yeah

The red of the sky and the smoke in your eye / Another year passes and you’re askin’ why / If this is the time and place / Deal me the queen or the ace / This is the time and place where we belong / This is the time and place where we belong

Words and music copyright © 2012 by Julian Wagstaff (aka Jules Reed)

Door Too Wide

And I opened the door too wide / And I let you walk in my world / Didn’t listen to any good advice / Saw what I wanna see / Guess that’s a need in me / I opened the door too wide

I shouldn’t be surprised / I guess you always hope you’re wrong / Then you compromise / Till every ray of hope is gone / You try and justify / The things you do / The things you say / And listen to the lies / You tell yourself each day

And I opened the door too wide / And I let you walk in my world / Didn’t listen to any good advice / Saw what I wanna see / That’s a need in me / I opened the door too wide / And there’s no one that I can blame / And I’ve never been short on foolish pride / Just bring it on again / Bring it on again / I open the door too wide

See what I want to see / Yeah that’s a need in me / Say what I want to say / Maybe I want to… / Maybe I wanna stay / Maybe I wanna stay / Maybe I wanna stay / Yeah, maybe I wanna stay…

And I opened that door too wide / And there’s no one that I can blame / And I’ve never been short on foolish pride / Just bring it on again / Bring it on again / I opened the door too wide / I opened the door too wide / I opened that door too wide

Words and music copyright © 2017 by Walt Cumming

One Way Street

You’re going wrong down a one way street / You’re going wrong and baby it’s clear / You don’t belong down here / You don’t belong down here

Hey Hey Hey Hey / You saw the red light and you drove right through / Hey hey hey hey / There’s heavy traffic coming right at you / Your daddy ain’t wrong / You know your daddy ain’t wrong / Your daddy ain’t wrong / You know your daddy ain’t wrong

You’re going wrong down a one way street / You’re going wrong and baby it’s clear / You don’t belong down here / You don’t belong down here

You’re running too hard just to go with the flow / Taking stuff from people you don’t know / And the higher the highs The lower the lows / Keeping going down this road / It’ll never let you go

You’re on a one way Street / Yeah it’s a one way street / Just a one way Street

You’re going wrong down a one way street / You’re going wrong and baby it’s clear / You don’t belong down here / You don’t belong down here / You’re on a one way street / You don’t belong down here / You’re on a one way street / You’re on a one way street

Words and music copyright © 2016 by Walt Cumming

Heart in a Field (for John Heartfield)

Pulling pictures and signs from the street / To piece together the truth / The heavy cross and the smouldering land / Printed face and the reaching hand

Why are you frightened? / The woods can’t harm you / A step in time / And the trees will calm your mind / The path is clear / All you have to do is read it

They found a heart in a foreign field / They found a scar in the dawn / Between the road and the ripening corn / They found a heart in a field / They found a heart in a field

Then you’re home in a different zone / Same old streets but somehow nothing’s the same / Did you leave your heart in a foreign field? / The questions the sword and shield

Seems they never believed you, though / Your line was always focussed and true / So you left your heart in a foreign field / The vision will never yield

They found a heart in a foreign field / Blood beating fast in the dawn / Between the road and the ripening corn / They found a heart in a field / They found a heart in a field / They found a heart in a field

Words and music copyright © 2012 by Julian Wagstaff (aka Jules Reed)

Burn Brighter

Have you got a light, my friend / The night is coming down / Got a feeling that it’s going to be a long one / Been trying to find some answers / For as long as I can tell / But the questions keep on at me like a rainstorm /

You don’t have to answer / When I talk to you this way / Subject yourself to me another day? / Nothing’s overcome / When I refer my pain to you / All I want is everybody’s truth /

Burn brighter light / Bright, bright light / Gotta turn my face away because it’s blinding me / Burn brighter light / Bright, bright light / Find a braver way to shine before you burn out /

Take my hand and lead me / Up towards your promised land / Cos I can’t find my way there any longer / I thought I knew the land-lie / Thought that I could read the signs / But the skies have turned to dusk and it’s dropped out of sight /

So burn brighter light / Bright, bright light / Gotta turn my face away because you’re blinding me / Burn brighter light / Bright, bright light / Find a braver way to shine before you burn out /

I eat but I’m still hungry / Yeah I drink but I’m still thirsty / And I love but I’m still lonely / Someone help me /

The door is always open / Any time you want to run / You can leave a note to tell us why you’re goin’ /

And live on in these words (burn brighter) / Live on in these words (burn brighter) / Live on in these words / And the wailing of these strings. /

And burn brighter light / Bright, bright light / Gotta turn my face away before it burns me to my soul / Burn brighter light / Bright, bright light / Find a braver way to shine before you burn out /

Words and music copyright © 2012 by Julian Wagstaff (aka Jules Reed)

Destitution Row

Empty voices, faux-soul pleading / Pour forth from the flatscreens / There’s a battle royal and it’s raging / But Simon just don’t care

Payin’ out all your hopes and dreams / For your fifteen minutes of fame / Bring it on, hey baby, let me introduce / Your thirteen seconds of shame

And won’t you take me out tonight / Won’t you take me out tonight / Won’t you show me where the flowers grow / Down on Destitution Row

Carjack sirens scream a riot through lockdown city streets / Old Molotov – he’s riding high tonight / His chaos reigns supreme / Landsmen hide away in fear as the monster bears his fangs / The dragon caged, goodnight, God bless you all / The Sun shall rise again

And won’t you take me out tonight / Won’t you take me out tonight / Won’t you show me where the hopeless cry / Down on Destitution Row

Oh the men of wealth and power / Man, they never seemed to miss a beat / Meanwhile little Jeanie’s down there doin’ time / Just for trying to make ends meet / Where’s our Tyler, where’s our Bruce? / The hero of our age? / Won’t you take… Take a little piece of my slumber, Lord / And turn it into rage

And won’t you take me out tonight / Won’t you take me out tonight / Won’t you show me where the desperate die / Down on Destitution Row

Rise like lions, shake the dust / From Destitution Row / Rise like lions, win we must / Here on Destitution Row.

Words and music copyright © 2014 by Julian Wagstaff (aka Jules Reed)