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Autumn Song

by Roy Smiles

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1.
Wooden Ship 03:19
Wooden Ship Tear down the stars; make the night nothing Unleash the rain; let all things drown Rip down the moon and do it laughing Leave it to die, without a sound. Switch off the sun; just bring me darkness Let there be chaos, let there be fear Let women cry, let children whimper Let there be rivers of desperate tears. My woman has gone My woman has gone My woman has gone. Chorus There’s a wooden ship that carries my heart Let that ship burn now we’re apart There’s a wooden ship that’s my love’s pyre Let my heart burn in its scorching fire. Napalm the world; all seven wonders Bomb all the mountains, mighty and tall Murder the clouds; kill every rainbow Let Eden fester; let angels fall. My woman has gone My woman has gone My woman has gone. (Instrumental) Go tell the Gods; I curse their living Go tell the Fates; I curse their name Don’t talk of love, for now there’s nothing Only despair, hatred and pain. Chorus My woman has gone My woman has gone My woman has gone.
2.
Tel Aviv 02:57
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv: as gracious as the morning Tel Aviv: you know I hate to go Tel Aviv: my heart is black with mourning I must return to the land I know. Tel Aviv: you know London is calling I must heed the call & cry of home And though I know Jerusalem’s not falling Now I need to leave I feel so alone. Tel Aviv: I loved one of your daughters We sang away the nights and Gothic days A wild as child as ever was a daughter I miss her now as I fly far away. Chorus Love is a cruel mistress & the sands of time must run But London’s not for leaving & I could never leave my son Love is a cruel mistress & I suppose our time was done For London’s not for leaving & I could never leave my son. Tel Aviv: in war & peace & sunshine Will you tell her that I miss her so? Tel Aviv: she will always stay mine As she knows it breaks my heart to go. Tel Aviv: jewel beside an ocean Tell my woman to sing her saddest songs My love for her was complete in its devotion But she knew I never could belong. Chorus (Instrumental) Chorus Tel Aviv: this aeroplane is soaring As it flies through the bluest skies Tel Aviv: the London rain is pouring Tell my woman I shall love her ‘til I die Tell my woman I shall love her ‘til I die Tell my woman I shall love her ‘til I die.
3.
Tender Stranger I searched all through these London streets Indifferent to all the danger Looking for a soul to meet In search of a tender stranger. I wandered through old London town Like a lovelorn, weary ranger London Bridge wore a sad old frown As I longed for a tender stranger. London lost me in its crowds Lonesome as any granger Silent in a city much too loud In my quest for a tender stranger. Chorus Will she love me? Will she care? Will she call me her lover? Will she stay or drift away? In search of someone other? I dreamed away my London days A child without a manger Regretting a girl who went away As I dreamed of a tender stranger. I drifted through my London life To my own heart a stranger I dreamt of love & perhaps a wife In pursuit of a tender stranger. Chorus (Instrumental) London my lover didn't love ,me London my lover didn't love me London my lover didn't love me London my lover didn't love me. And so it was & so I strayed My love almost endangered I went to church & there I prayed A prayer for a tender stranger A prayer for a tender stranger A prayer for a tender stranger.
4.
Devizes Fair 02:13
Devizes Fair I knew her once in a faraway England Her smile was like sunshine, it banished the rain I saw her standing by the green of the fairground She turned and smiled and called out my name. I was a stranger lost in a strange town Hated at school and unhappy at home Sixteen and scared and somewhat forsaken Always in trouble - always alone. Her face was as tender as an angel in waiting She’d make the Madonna turn and stare But with a jangle of bracelets and murmur of laughter I was loved by the girl from Devizes Fair. Chorus I was dark while she was light She was day while I was night I took flight and flew away Earthbound she had to stay. I sit upstairs on rainy day buses I close my eyes and suddenly she’s there Auburn haired and smelling of autumn Gentle and gracious; tender and fair. We parted the summer that I went to college I was too haunted to ever go again there But with a jangle of bracelets and murmur of laughter I remember the girl from Devizes Fair. (Instrumental) Chorus Time marches on and another day closes I self destruct with my usual flair But with a jangle of bracelets and murmur of laughter I remember the girl from Devizes Fair I remember the girl from Devizes Fair I remember the girl from Devizes Fair.
5.
Autumn Wind 03:30
Autumn Wind Autumn wind blowing in the sunshine Autumn wind proud & wild & free Autumn wind gentle as a fine wine Won't you bring my woman back to me? Long ago, when life was for the learning I went away, away across the sea Suddenly before the year was turning My love was lost, was lost to me. I have searched unto the end of rainbows But no man can tell me where she'd be Autumn wind tell me where my love goes Won't you bring my woman back to me? Chorus Autumn wind won't you tell me what you know? Why do oceans roar & mighty rivers flow? Autumn wind won't you tell me what you know? Where does love & loving go? Lord, where does love & loving go? Autumn wind I have searched the oceans And deserts where hopes have gone to die Lost to god devout in my devotion Through cities as haunted as the sky. I have walked down streets of desperation Past highways dark & cold and mean A hundred ports, a thousand railway stations But every day was another broken dream. Chorus Instrumental Chorus Autumn wind the nights are for self-hating Autumn wind the days are bitter grey Autumn wind my heart & soul are breaking Won't you tell her I'm sorry I went away? Autumn wind blowing in the sunshine Autumn wind won't you hear my plea? Autumn wind bring back what was once mine Won't you bring my woman home to me? Won't you bring my woman home to me? Won't you bring my woman home to be.
6.
Song For Orla You must skip these dirty streets, you must run down lanes You must laugh & tumble, through sad old London rain You must bring your sunshine to a city cold & grey Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day. You must race through puddles, you must play in parks You must finish puzzles and stay up after dark You must chase the pigeons until they’ve all flown away Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day. Fly child be free. Fly child be free. Fly child be free. Fly child be free. You must sing to Disney songs as you brush your teeth You must bounce on trampolines & chase the cats beneath You must laugh at cartoon shows & leave coats as they lay Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day. You must be a princess & you must take your bows You must ring your best friend & you must ring her now You must play a thousand games ‘til the sun has flown away Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day. Fly child be free. Fly child be free. Fly child be free. Fly child be free. Although me & your mother sadly had to part You know you’ll always be part of my heart Although me & your mother sadly had to part You know you’ll always be part of my heart. (Instrumental) You must catch a butterfly & you must find a star You must draw some castles, you must count some cars You must do a million things ‘til sleep gets in the way Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day. London will be your kingdom and you will be its queen Every playground honour you, your life a happy dream And may your joy & laughter blow the dark clouds away Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there’s no end to your day Orla there’s no end to your day, Orla there‘s no end to your day Fly child be free. Fly child be free. Fly child be free.
7.
Spanish City 04:29
Spanish City The world was another place, the sky had a different face My grandmother and me, we rode to the sea We took the train to Spanish City in the rain Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain. The North was another town, the sun was like half a crown A city in grey, was left for the day We took the train to Spanish City in the rain Spanish City in the rain, to Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain. Chorus A thousand miles from Barcelona, a thousand miles from Madrid A thousand miles from Pamplona, a thousand miles from Cadiz A thousand miles from Barcelona, a thousand miles from Madrid A thousand miles from Bilbao, a thousand miles from Cadiz. The days were in black & white, life was a hard day’s night A cold Geordie shore, an ocean that roared We took the train, to Spanish City in the rain Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain. The summers were longer then, the accents were stronger then There was Jean, there was Paul; my father would call As we took the train, to Spanish City in the rain Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain. Chorus (Instrumental) There were aunties & uncles then, cousins, a hundred friends There was Wendy & John, we laughed like a song As we rode the train, to Spanish City in the rain Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain. Those days were another time, my life took a different line But I still recall, the memories stand tall Of when we took the train, to Spanish City in the rain Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain, Spanish City in the rain. Chorus. A thousand miles from Cadiz, a thousand miles from Cadiz.
8.
Golden 03:27
9.
Emma (With Such Small Hands) Emma when I heard you & Stevie were for leaving I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry But London life had left you cut & bleeding And where do you go when your pretty dreams have died? Losing friends from London can be woeful But I know in my heart you had to get away You needed a land & place that was more soulful And Stevie always dreamed of Cardiff Bay. Chorus And I know that your lion’s heart will meet all life’s demands But Emma not even the rain has such small hands And I know that your lion’s heart will meet all life’s demands But Emma not even the rain has such small hands. When Stevie thought he had really lost you When your poor & tired heart lost its beat It was your Irish pride that came to save you For an Irish heart can never spell retreat. When you had your child it was a blessing The miracle of a life that came to you And though London without you both is depressing I know you & Stevie will stay true. Chorus (Instrumental) Chorus I know you both love the life you’re living And your daughter is the pleasure of your days May you always keep loving, laughing & giving And think of me far away from Cardiff Bay. Chorus
10.
11.
With Words Unspoken We met by the river: the sad lady Thames You were too pretty I thought we'd be friends But as the skies opened and it thundered above With words unspoken: we knew love With words unspoken: we knew love. I came from lonely, you came from divorced Both broken hearted with children of course We couldn’t stop laughing; soaked from above With words unspoken: we knew love With words unspoken: we knew love. Chorus Sing a song of sixpence, a pocketful of rye Four & twenty blackbirds baked in a pie When the pie was opened the birds began to sing Wasn’t this a dainty dish to set before a king? We walked by the river: we heard distant bells We talked of our children and then of ourselves From different countries but we fit like a glove With words unspoken: we knew it was love With words unspoken: we knew love. Chorus We kissed in the rainfall, a man stopped & stared But lost in the moment we just didn’t care My heart was bursting - when push came to shove With words unspoken: we knew love With words unspoken: we knew love. (Instrumental) Chorus We met by the river: the sad lady Thames Love was that story & that’s how it ends We’ll be forever with help from above With words unspoken: we knew love With words unspoken: we knew love With words unspoken: we knew love.
12.
What Fools These Mortals Be Their days as Cruel as snow, their lives an empty show They think that they are free, what fools these mortals be. Believing they can live, without the need to give So blind they cannot see, what fools these mortals be. They hide inside their shells, as if in prison cells In penitentiaries; what fools these mortals be. Chorus Dream on, when everything is wrong; make love your constant song Dream on, when everything is wrong; make love your constant song. They live above the fray; more lonely every day Their pride their enemy, what fools these mortals be. Chorus Pretending not to care, that no-one's ever there Lost in purgatory, what fools these mortals be. Chorus (Instrumental) Chorus They say that love is pain; it saves us all the same A thousand clowns agree, what fools these mortals be What fools these mortals be, what fools these mortals - be.
13.
At War With The World I know he’s right, I know he’s weary Know he must fight for his honour clearly I know he’s angry, almost to tears He lashes out - half in fear For what can you do, when the world has turned on you? And every right you’ve ever known is wrong? What can you say when the world has turned away? For he’s at war with the world: for he’s at war with the world. I know he’s tired, beaten down When it comes to fury he wears the crown I know he’s bitter, lost to rage When it comes to pain to writes the page For what can you do, when the world turns on you? And every right you’ve ever known is wrong? What can you say when the world turns away? For he’s at war with the world, for he’s at war with the world. Chorus There is no peace when your world’s at war When you don’t know what you’re fighting for There is no peace when your world’s at war. While I walk he never walks alone While I live he’ll always have a home While he stands I stand beside His fight is mine, his pride my pride For what can you do, when all the world has turned on you? And every right you’ve ever known is wrong? What can you say when all the world has turned away? For he’s at war with the world, for he’s at war with the world. Chorus I love the man - like no other He’s my heart, there’ll never be another Blood is blood when said and done What else is there? He’s my only son For what can you do, when the world turns on you? And every right you’ve ever known is wrong? What can you say when all world has turns away? For he’s at war with the world, for he’s at war with the world.
14.
A Miner Died Today There’s no cortege, no sobbing hordes No princes pass clutching at swords No heads will bow in the House of Lords A miner died today. There’s no salutes from muffled guns No guardsmen march, no sound of drums No choirs sing of kingdom come A miner died today. Chorus And my mind is filled with anger And my heart is filled with rage That working men die underground in this day & age And my mind is filled with anger And my heart is filled with rage That working men die underground in this day & age. No flags will fly at half mast No cavalry will slowly pass No bronze statues will be cast A miner died today. A brother, father, friend & a son Who’ll never again see the sun Another disaster but nothing is done A miner died today. Chorus And I wonder if any give a damn As I think of the klds of Aberfan Murder’s illegal but the coal-board can A miner died today. (Instrumental) Chorus So Swansea bells begin your toll Tell the world of the price of coal And the bloody cost to a dead man’s soul A miner died today. And let the tolling of the mournful bells Ring for the men who work in hell May they stay safe and live to tell: A miner died today.

about

All songs written by Roy Smiles.
Guitars by David Mayberry.
Keyboards by Simon Walker.
Produced by Simon Walker, at Loophole Studios, Brighton.

credits

released June 2, 2015

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Roy Smiles London, UK

Roy Smiles has recorded ten albums:
'Drunks & Dreamers' (2011), 'Time's Moving On' (2012),'Seize The Day' (2013), 'Autumn Song' (2014), 'Bremen' (2014), 'The Trains & The Rain' (2015), 'Northern Angels'.(2018), 'Lost Souls' (2020), 'November's Child' (2023) & 'Tales Of The Ocean' (2023).
All available on Bandcamp.
Contact: roy.smiles@aol.co.uk.
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