1. |
Auld Reekie
03:37
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cutting through the Meadows along Jaw Bone Walk
black is the water in this dim light
sickle is the moon stitched low in the sky
the edifice of church spires conspire
always pointing at the ever after
beg forgiveness for all that on which your will is bent
the cosy lights dwindle in the tenements
and I'm glad were back in touch
heavy was the heart imprisoned in rib cage
smoking boredom out the window
the increments of routine play out below
birds bathe in morning indigo
awake semi-naked its four AM
liquid was the dinner it seems again
you should be ashamed I'm so easily led
and with no recollection of the night before
picking up pieces door to door
seems we didn't come off too badly
Harder was the climb than the time before
heaving are the lungs gasping for more
you can keep your dented crown and your worn weary seat
sprawling before me before I go
down the countless years beyond all we know
tender the affection but fleetingly so
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2. |
Super 8 Spectre
03:36
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nineteen eighty four or so the label reads
a spectre flickers across a bed sheet projection screen
despite the creases can clearly be seen
even as a child the burden you bore
dull the rawness down with measures two times more
it's a remedy that's served you well before
it keeps them silent them wolves at your door
abate the symptoms negate the cure
and that's why we don't come round no more
it's a bear trap you set for your self
and that's why they don't come round no more
it's a bear trap
tomorrow reaches in under heavy curtain
your sallow skin says you've not been out for an age
the home helps here with their asinine suggestions
still it's hard to say if you're awake for certain
and it's quite something reaching out reaching out for bare skin
cold thin lips and a hand that grips leaving marks therein
"do you feel the cold dear? it's like there's no blood in my veins"
"get's into my bones dear and just stays there"
and that's why we don't come round no more
it's a bear trap you set for your self
and that's why they don't come round no more
it's a bear trap
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3. |
Bodies to Bed
03:59
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the wind pushes winter through the letter box
down the hall where you'd been held in a time long forgot
to the one room with a small fire a whispered lick of flame
you huddle on the sofa but the cold is to blame
sweet heart put your body away it's late and it just feels desperate
the condensation in the bathroom in which you'd written their name
half being misted makes the other half look plain
bathing together makes the hot water last
soapy bodies but no affection absolved by the task
sweet heart put your body away it's late and what we had is faded
sweet heart put your body to bed put away those thoughts in your head
now the spirits are medicinal they keep the cold from your core
but winter nights are long see empty bottles on the floor
now in the stupor of the moment adding fuel to the spark of a memory of warm bodies in the bedroom in the dark
sweet heart put your body away it's late and what we had is faded
sweet heart put your body to bed put away those thoughts in your head
now it's a shared cigarette that saves you both from talking
like your love it burned out smokey room silence hanging
from the remnants of the ashtray your eye meets their eye and like the wind through the letter box you let out a sigh
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4. |
Ballad of the Itch
03:26
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nothing tenable that morning escaped my lips
no soft name for that warm heap that still lay asleep
its a soft fold in a lush world that booze affects
but all this meant nothing as the sink held my wait
as the faculties coalesced around escape
to eyes filled with sleep I'm a blurry creep
on to a hum of asphalt I made my way
waylaid in a lay-by beset by pine
that evergreen has always been ever so kind
it's a forgiving light a cool air before day is broke
until the first shards of sunlight strike out and poke
holes in this sanctuary
but the mistake was mine as the rising sun showed
chased me back to the lay-by and onto the road
shows you can never truly escape thee
the freeway
the driveway the hallway the stairs the door
the familiar position in the familiar bed
the warm heap with a soft name that stirred and said
"where on earth have you been?"
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5. |
Some Time in '08
04:35
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must have been late September time
under grill ketamin crystalline
apologies its pretty ghetto I know
it's good to see you though how've you been
supply and demand or so I see
got your self a little folding money
but ill gotten gains they can't be banked no
so it's cistern ceramic security
if there's no songbird at your window Williams
and fortune won't knock at your door
don't take the world to task Williams
for that's not what it's for
here come the up all weekend people
courting fever in St. Andrews park
you are the centre you are the staple
blurry bliss by morning spark
bump a corner then to pass the time
took some comfort there in that line
and you'll find out just who your friends are
and if your loved one's doing fine
if there's no songbird at your window Williams
and fortune won't knock at your door
don't take the world to task Williams
for that's not what it's for
grown weary of your sweetheart
you say 'Special K' keeps her lean
she's been dosing off your fun dust
she's been fixing awful mean
now your love she don't care to call it over
though you've drawn a line clean through
a powder porcelain container
up and broke the thing in two
if there's no songbird at your window Williams
and fortune won't knock at your door
don't take the world to task Williams
for that's not what it's for
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6. |
Don't Come Apart
03:58
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well I'm fond of this wintered city
with cold comes crystalline
but like Bill I can afford coats
scarves and rosy cheeked women
but do you think you could unfold here
do four walls make a home
stay your wandering heart
from the flitting you have known
oh it'd be a shame you've come so far
to finally come apart
I say there's beauty in body
to which you'd say I'm predisposed
but there's an art form to the way you lie
regal in your repose
but what do you think of this one?
all four limbs and all the rest
be still your indifferent beating heart
before it withers in your chest
oh it'd be a shame you've come so far
to finally come apart
ignoble is your countenance
creeps the lines as creeps the pace
are the decades finally showing
in your folds and on your face?
are there years and months enough left
to make what folks would call a life?
or has time crashed passed and left you
bereft and limp with strife
oh it'd be a shame you've come so far
to finally come apart
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7. |
Bear Pit
03:28
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ashen faced in the Bear Pit
in a whirlwind of traffic
where the car horns are your bird song
and the high rise crowds your sky
it's always night time in the underpass
you've a dirty yellow halo
illuminates the cardboard mattress
and the deceit in your sleeping bag
but you can't stay here move along dear move along
the patrons of King Square regally recline
it's funny and it's not lost they drink their fortified wine
the arguments they are domestic with drunk volume
they can't afford to really fall out afford to be on their own
but you can't stay here move along dear move along
no you can't stay here move along dear move along
now cigarettes they stem the hunger but only for so long
in need of something more sustaining your stomach sings its empty song
so you feign some love for Jesus for soup and bread to soak
but he wants you on your knees now surrender to the saddest joke
but you can't stay here move along dear move along
no you can't stay here move along dear move along
it's a one room palace for the main event for that golden brown sunset on which you've saved and now spent as that warm curtain draws in and your ailments fade the world reveals its veiled beauty and you're no longer made of clay
but you can't stay here move along dear move along
no you can't stay here move along dear move along
no you can't stay here move along dear move along
you can't stay here move along dear move along
ashen faced in the Bear Pit in a whirlwind of traffic
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8. |
Fetch the Fire in
03:00
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came around posturing forgiveness
I didn't think there was anything to forgive
some broken bond of love left your poor sweet heart
yelling blue bloody murder
you see when love is tincture a boozy lust
well then you lay it on thick
and yet in a sober stupor
revoking such saccharine devotion
now the one with which you are enamoured
well at least for the time being
I say this makes you makes you fickle
I say this makes you makes you fey
now it's cold in the kitchen can't we fetch the fire in?
fetch the fire in yet
now I've chopped up the wood and stacked it neatly
fetch the fire in yet
now we've hung heavy curtains and excluded the draughts
fetch the fire in yet
oh now it's cold in the kitchen
came around posturing forgiveness
I didn't think there was anything to forgive
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9. |
KDV Hospitality
03:58
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a faded and furtive care as the fable ends
and the twilight bends itself around the room
and yes this includes you - you Kingsdown straggling few
Sophie’s shift is through and she means it too
for when you've seen enough for one night
and the hand you hold, you hold damn tight
some thread bare love affair leaves you at a loss
when the moment comes around
keep your boozy opinions or take them home then
so the neighbours can't hear them go n go
Max tables the chairs half cut but with care
have you listened to Davey Graham he’s got a wealth to share
when you've heard enough for one night
and the hand you hold you hold damn tight
some thread bare love affair leaves you at a loss
when the moment comes around
dwindling so fast covet the embers last glow
bare it away to Jim’s though with precious few
amongst the powdered proclamations no fevered occasion
there’s only love in this room there’s only love in this room
for when you've seen enough for one night
and the hand you hold you hold damn tight
some thread bare love affair leaves you at a loss
when the moment comes around
and all you are is all you’ll be
and the gaze you hold, is all you see
confiding in others just sends you out to sea
when the moment comes around
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10. |
Monochrome
04:11
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that's time at the bar folks finish your drinks and fetch your coats
now she's done she's all awkward goodbyes
it's love's labours lost towed the line but at your cost
gave you the old cold shoulder
now there's a lock in at the Apple Tree and its dodgy looking lean-to
hawking tins of booze
there's not a sign as such it's in the looks you get just as much
you're not welcome here
and as the morning looms in the sky is a low silver spoon
that stirs a mirky mood
as you stumble and lean in your eye is a monochrome screen
was once technicolor
it says massage and nothing more discretion behind close doors
it's mostly what you're paying for
it'll cost you but it's top drawer eat you whole once more
I guess that's what your body's for
and as the morning looms in the sky is a low silver spoon
that stirs a mirky mood
as you stumble and lean in your eye is a monochrome screen
was once technicolor
it's a five thirty cloud burst if you could you would see it off
ten years and you still get lost
so you're minus keys again its broken glass or it's waiting then
shiver on the ground in the cold
and as the morning looms in the sky is a low silver spoon
that stirs a mirky mood
as you stumble and lean in your eye is a monochrome screen
was once technicolor
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11. |
Neater Skulls
02:46
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it seems you've found a steady little pace
there's collusion in your mouth and a wry smile on your face
so you feed her some lines and she held in there lustre
but dissolve them in measures it just becomes vitriol
with your soap box and your bottle your fists too have there say
it's gone too far and your empty holds you whilst she prays
now you're a lamb too they're not asking much
confused with what to do with your poor damned soul
and with salvation comes a different kind of pace
callisthenics will see you lay a healthy body down
fix tour teeth and leave a neater skull in the ground
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