1. |
For The Love Of Vera
03:05
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Chav City
Just one more day in Chav City
Just one more day in this dead end town
Just one more day in this land unpretty
And I will tear this whole town down.
Faces hating snarling sneering
Walking dead men white as clowns
Can go to hell with their scorn & jeering
I'm going to burn this whole town down.
Just one more day in Chav City
With poisoned minds whose souls are ill
I just know I will show no pity
As every building I plan to kill.
Chorus
All these people believe in nothing
All these people cling to fear
Saw a sign on a dirty wall that said:
'Jesus never lived here; Jesus never lived here.'
See the children Orcs in waiting
Their parents’ hatred growing in their eyes
Finding peace in their love of hating
No wonder angels cry.
Going to torch it like Atlanta burning
Going to raze it Carthage style
And when there's no more rubble for churning
Its the only time you will see me smile.
Chorus
Instrumental
Chorus
One more day & I'll burn down Chav City
Every snide boy & every sneer
Going to write on that dirty wall the sign:
'Jesus has to live here, Jesus has to live here, Jesus has to live here.
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2. |
Clapham Girls
02:59
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Clapham Girls
Clapham girls are oh so pretty
And Clapham girls all work in the city
Clapham girls have long, long hair
And live their lives without a care
And even though I have no money
Clapham girls seem to find me funny
And I’m in love with a Clapham girl
Yes, I’m in love with a Clapham girl.
Clapham girls love to ski on snow
And always know the right places to go
Clapham girls like to visit The Tate
And meet their dates on Guardian Soulmates
And I know they’ll never spite me
‘Cause Clapham girls just seem to like me
And I’m in love with a Clapham girl
And I’m in love with a Clapham girl.
Chorus
Though I doubt I can afford you
Did I mention that I adore you?
Though I doubt I can afford you
I did I mention that I adore you?
Clapham girls always go the gym
And always swim to keep really thin
Clapham girls all have cats
And never live in Council flats
And even though I have no place
Clapham girls seem to like my face
And I’m in love with a Clapham girl
Yes, I’m in love with a Clapham girl.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Chorus
Clapham girls drink champagne on planes
And ride bikes instead of subway trains
Clapham girls go to yoga classes
But still make love to the working classes
And even though I have no money
Clapham girls seems to find me funny
And I’m in love with a Clapham girl
I’m in love with a Clapham girl
I’m in love with a Clapham girl.
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3. |
Tomorrow Without Guns
03:25
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Tomorrow Without Guns
I don’t believe in somewhere over rainbows
Shangri-La’s a place I will never see
I just believe that earth could be a heaven
If our children could someday play free.
I don’t believe that Jesus owned a rifle
I believe he said the meek shall own the earth
And those that say that guns were made for owning
Shouldn’t judge the world by a bullet’s worth.
Chorus
I would have hours that move like a glitter of dancers
Far from the guns that flash & boom
I would have hours that move like a glitter of dancers
Not live our lives under a killing moon
I would have hours that move like a glitter of dancers
Far from the guns that flash & boom
I would have hours that move like a glitter of dancer
May that day come one day soon.
It takes more than guns to make a nation
It takes more than prayers to move a heart
If we could just take guns out of the cities
Then maybe then peace could make a start.
I don’t believe in Brigadoon or Eden
I just believe in a future for our young
I don’t believe in yesterday’s of hatred
I just believe in tomorrow without guns
No, I don’t believe in yesterdays of hatred
I just believe in tomorrow without guns.
Chorus
I don’t believe in hating other people
But I don’t believe in the words of the NRA
I just believe in no guns in the valley
After Shane has gone away.
I don’t believe in somewhere over rainbows
Just a kinder world under a gentle sun
I don’t believe in the yesterday’s of hatred
I just believe in tomorrow without guns
No, I don’t believe in yesterday’s of hatred
I just believe in tomorrow without gun
No, I don’t believe in yesterday’s of hatred
I just believe in tomorrow without guns.
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4. |
Chav City
02:34
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Chav City
Just one more day in Chav City
Just one more day in this dead end town
Just one more day in this land unpretty
And I will tear this whole town down.
Faces hating snarling sneering
Walking dead men white as clowns
Can go to hell with their scorn & jeering
I'm going to burn this whole town down.
Just one more day in Chav City
With poisoned minds whose souls are ill
I just know I will show no pity
As every building I plan to kill.
Chorus
All these people believe in nothing
All these people cling to fear
Saw a sign on a dirty wall that said:
'Jesus never lived here; Jesus never lived here.'
See the children Orcs in waiting
Their parents’ hatred growing in their eyes
Finding peace in their love of hating
No wonder angels cry.
Going to torch it like Atlanta burning
Going to raze it Carthage style
And when there's no more rubble for churning
Its the only time you will see me smile.
Chorus
Instrumental
Chorus
One more day & I'll burn down Chav City
Every snide boy & every sneer
Going to write on that dirty wall the sign:
'Jesus has to live here, Jesus has to live here, Jesus has to live here.
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5. |
Bremen
04:10
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Bremen
Sharp was the wind, dark were the skies
It snowed as we flew; I stared at your eyes
A North German shore, a Europe in grey
We knew we were done, before Christmas Day.
We’d known so much love, but love needs to grow
We stepped from the plane, we walked through the snow
We took the tram, through the city where you’d grown
You said you felt dread about your childhood home.
Chorus
Bremen - you heart is always winter
Bremen - your heart is always cold
Bremen - I’ll not be your child of winter
Bremen - your shall never make me old.
You said that you knew, my soul was too wild
My drinking too much, when you wanted a child
I felt that your heart was always in reserve
And love’s not a thing that only sometimes you serve.
We walked to your home, your family was there
The shadows of war were too much to bear
We went for a walk, we stared at the fields
You said you had scars that no years could heal.
Chorus
Shall we cry for a Northern skies? Shall we sigh for a Northern skies?
Shall we cry for a Northern skies? Shall we sigh for a Northern skies?
(Instrumental)
Chorus
We borrowed some bikes, we cycled to town
We stared at the statues: kings without crowns
You held my hand & said you were afraid
As you knew that love has a price to be paid.
We flew back to London, through the wind & the snow
I said I would leave, I’d find somewhere to go
And so it was Bremen where our love had to end
But Duchess you’ll always be my friend
But Duchess you’ll always be my friend
But Duchess you’ll always be my friend.
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6. |
Yesterday's Sun
03:21
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Yesterday’s Sun
We were young, the whole damn world was ours
We will talk for hours, under yesterday’s sun
We were wild, drunk and often stoned
But we almost made it home, under yesterday’s sun
We were free, no man could put us down
We were heroes, zeroes, clowns, under yesterday’s sun.
Chorus
I’d had enough of small town lights; I’d had enough of small town fights
I know that I had to go
I’d had enough of small town girls; I’d had enough of small town worlds
I know that I had to go; I know that I had to go.
We grew up, through love and hate and pain
But friends we have remained, under yesterday’s sun
Now the days, have flown from weeks to years
Wives and children have appeared, we meet at weddings now
But I can recall a million crazy things
The fights, the fools, the flings; under yesterday’s sun.
Chorus
I’d had enough of small town dreams; I’d had enough of small town themes
I know that I had to go
I’d had enough of small town nights; I’d had enough of small town spite
I know that I had to go; I know that I had to go.
(Instrumental)
So I flew, I knew I had to leave
But they were tugging at my sleeve under yesterday’s sun
A small town child, I could never stay
I had to get away, from under yesterday’s sun
But they’re still my brothers far from home
The best I’ve ever known, under yesterday’s sun
Under yesterday’s sun, under yesterday’s sun.
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7. |
(Just A) German Girl
04:33
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(Just A) German Girl
Lonely old London, cold dirty town
I just wish that she was still around (that she was still around)
Dirty old pavements, crowded old streets
My heart’s been lost to this city’s beat (to this city’s beat).
A city of strangers, caught in the rain
I go to work and then to work again (then to work again)
Lost to the night-time, without the girl
She was my heart, my soul & my whole damn world (my whole damn world).
Chorus
She was just a German girl from down Aachen way
But I always knew she would fly away
She was just a German girl from down Aachen way
But I’m still glad she passed my way.
Shabby old sunshine, pale shabby moon
Seems like the mornings always comes too soon (always come too soon)
Millions of people: rat race nine ‘til five
But I know that somehow I will survive (somehow I will survive).
Chorus
I ride empty buses, I ride crowded trains
Dreaming of dreams that were all in vain (that were all in vain)
I walk by the river, retrace me and you
Past all the places that we ever knew (that we ever knew).
(Instrumental)
Chorus
So goodbye, my baby, as you fly the skies
Back to the land of a thousand sighs (of a thousand sighs)
Thanks for the good times & loving me
You know that your love will always stay with me (always stay with me).
Chorus
But I’m so glad she came my way
Lord, I’m so glad she came my way
Lord, I’m so glad, I'm so glad, I'm so glad she came my way.
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8. |
Fallen King
03:43
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Fallen King
Once I built a castle out of air
And made you queen of all that was there
And every dream was just as it should be
I found your love as a river finds the sea
But now that kingdom’s lost and can’t be found
Now I’m just a king without a crown; lord, now I’m just a king without a crown.
Once the sky was the colour of your eyes
And the wind recalled the lightest of your sighs
The sun reflected the colours in your hair
And every day was lived without a care
But now that kingdom’s lost and can’t be found
Now I’m a just a king without a crown; lord, now I’m just a king without a crown.
Chorus
My hope is lost, now that you’re not here
I’m a fallen king in a land of tears
My hope is lost, now that you’re not here
I’m a fallen king in a land of tears.
Once you sat so proudly by my side
You were my faith, my soul & my pride
Happy was the land where we knew love
And a golden sun shone brightly from above
But now that kingdom’s lost and can’t be found
Now I’m just a king without a crown; lord, now I’m just a king without a crown.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Chorus
Dreams are all they ever give for free
And you made me the man that I should be
I gave you the castle that was my heart
And swore to you that we would never part
But now that’s kingdom’s lost and can’t be found
Now I’m just a king without a crown; lord, now I’m just a king without a crown
Now I’m just a king without a crown.
Chorus
In a land of tears, a land of tears, a land of tears.
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9. |
A Spinning Wheel
03:06
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A Spinning Wheel
Twenty comes and twenty goes
Where it goes well no-one knows
All I know is I am no longer young
Twenty comes and twenty goes
Where it goes hell no-one knows
A young man yes once I was one
Yes once I was one…
Time is a spinning wheel spinning round and round
An ever turning spinning wheel it never makes a sound
Come one day and you are one the world is in your hands
Next day you are twenty one; time’s slipped through your hands
Time is a spinning wheel, spinning round and round
Spinning round and round.
Thirty comes and thirty fades
What becomes of all the days?
All I know is I am no longer young
Thirty comes and thirty fades
What became of the plans I made?
A young man yes once I was one
Yes once I was one…
Time is a spinning wheel spinning round and round
An ever turning spinning wheel it never makes a sound
Come one day and you are one the world is in your hands
Next day you are thirty one; time’s slipped through your hands
Time is a spinning wheel, spinning round and round
Spinning round and round.
Forty comes and forty goes
Every year is like a blow
And all I know is I am no longer young
Forty comes and forty goes
Like pretty maidens in a row
A young man yes once I was one
Yes once I was one…
Time is a spinning wheel spinning round and round
An ever turning spinning wheel it never makes a sound
Come one day and you are one the world is in your hands
Next day you are forty one; time’s slipped through your hands
Time is a spinning wheel, spinning round and round
Spinning round and round.
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10. |
The Sparrows
03:37
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The Sparrows
What happened to the sparrows who flew my childhood skies?
Did they grow weary of London & just soar off to die?
Did they seek the lonely mountains where only eagles fly?
What happened to the sparrows who flew my childhood skies?
What happened to the sparrows who played on childhood swings?
Did London’s streets defeat them? Were they sad they could not sing?
Did they fly too close to the sun & cruelly lose their wings?
What happened to the sparrows who played on childhood swings?
What happened to the sparrows who played in childhood snow?
Did they lie & die in graveyards where only flowers grow?
Did they leave London knowing something we shall never know?
What happened to the sparrows who played in childhood snow?
Chorus
And the sparrows that flew from the London I knew
Always stayed true
And the sparrows that flew from the London I knew
Always stayed true.
What happened to the woman whose love shone from her eyes?
Who left me London lonely without a single alibi?
Who in leaving left me grieving with just a hard ‘goodbye’?
What happened to the woman whose love shone from her eyes?
What happened to the woman who haunts these London streets?
Like the ghosts of the sparrows I half expect to meet
Who left me more defeated than Bonaparte’s retreat
What happened to the woman who haunts these London streets?
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Chorus
What became of the woman who said she’d marry me?
Did she fly off like the sparrows in her need to be free?
Does she even remember or think of how I might be?
What became of the woman who said she’d marry me?
She’s the woman like the sparrows who taunts my memory
She’s the woman like the sparrows who taunts my memory
She’s the woman like the sparrows who taunts my memory.
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11. |
Winter Is Coming
02:31
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Winter Is Coming
Summer loved me for a season
Its warm sunshine kissed my eyes
But Summer leaves you for a reason
And it never leaves an alibi.
Autumn colours almost possessed me
I lose myself in brown & gold
October winds sometimes caress me
But Autumn's glory must turn cold.
Chorus
Winter is coming savage as a bitch
Cruel as a soldier, vicious as a witch
Winter is coming, a price must be paid
A bitter moon's rising and I am so afraid.
Love is like a Summer's memory
A recollection of things passed
But like Summer love is temporary
And nothing gold can ever last.
August's woman had to leave me
She left my life when Autumn came
Now winter's here to mock & grieve me
So my heart must live as lame.
Chorus
October left me like another
November faded like the rain
December came like a cruel brother
And filled my days with its distain.
(Instrumental)
Chorus
These winters will not chill me
I shall play cold lovers games
No lover yet has yet killed me
Not while love still knows my name.
Chorus (x2)
And I am so afraid, and I am so afraid.
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12. |
Northern Rain
02:51
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13. |
Twisted City
02:28
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Twisted City
Walked out in a Twisted City
Sun beating down from a crooked sky
Walked through streets mean and gritty
Silent souls drifting too weary to cry.
Spent some time in a Twisted City
Sullen nights and sordid days
Never asked for hope nor pity
Was lost to God; never even prayed.
Chorus
A ring a ring of roses, a pocketful of poses
All the little children lie down and die
A ring a ring of roses, a pocketful of poses
Life can’t kill you it can only try.
Met a man in a Twisted City
Couldn’t tell if he were dead or alive
Asked him why he answered witty:
Boy you do what you do to survive.
Chorus
Tinker tailor soldier sailor
Rich man poor man beggar man thief
I’ve seen things in this Twisted Cit
That soil my soul and beggar belief.
(Instrumental)
Chorus
Looked for love in that Twisted City
A Josephine for this Bonaparte
Found no love in that Twisted City
All I found was a broken heart
All I found was a broken heart
All I found was a broken heart.
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14. |
London Loves Me
03:54
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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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