1. |
Lost Souls
02:22
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Lost Souls
In splendid isolation & these days of desperation
In a country that's just trying to stay whole
In a much divided nation, in a state of devastation
I walk lonely through this land of lost souls
I walk lonely through this land of lost souls.
In these hours of agitation & these times of desolation
Where survival is each & every person's goal
In a Lockdown's duration among the screams of frustration
I walk lonely through this land of lost souls
I walk lonely through this land of lost souls.
Chorus
Where stand the streets of London so stand I
I shall love you 'til the heavens leave the sky
Where stand the streets of London so stand I
I shall love you 'til this grey old city dies.
In the shadows of false oration & terrors of inflation
Where the dread of death & dying takes it toll
And fear is the narration & leaders in abdication
I walk lonely through this land of lost souls.
With growing frustration at over-crowded destinations
And people's anger almost out of control
With our lives on probation in the numbness of sedation
I walk lonely through this land of lost souls.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
We who seek our salvation by using drink as medication
Believing all our dreams have been sold
Angry condemnations enter our conversations
I walk lonely through this land of lost souls
I walk lonely through this land of lost souls
I walk lonely through this land of lost souls.
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2. |
A Living Wage
03:21
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3. |
The Dome Of St. Paul's
03:26
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The Dome Of St Paul’s
There is no sunshine in my smile; there’s been no joy to life for a while
There is no glory to my days not since my woman went away:
But the dome of St Paul’s stands mighty, proud & tall
And I know it will always be there to guide me
For the dome of St. Paul’s stands mighty, proud & tall
As I know light & love will someday find me; will someday find me.
There are no rainbows in my rain; sometimes I wonder if I’m sane
The packs of people are shadows grey but better days will come my way:
For the dome of St Paul’s stands mighty, proud & tall
And I know it will always be there to guide me
For the dome of St. Paul’s stands mighty, proud & tall
As I know light & love will someday find me; will someday find me.
Chorus
And the Thames will keep flowing with all the buildings knowing:
Love’s a mighty river you must ride
And the Thames will keep flowing with all the buildings knowing:
Love will return when you find your pride, will return when you find your pride.
I walk lost inside the crowd; this city closes like a shroud
My woman haunts my every dream; she moves beside me sight unseen
But the dome of St Paul’s stands mighty, proud & tall
And I know it will always be there to guide me
For the dome of St. Paul’s stands mighty, proud & tall
As I know light & love will someday find me; will someday find me.
(instrumental)
Chorus
The London trains & traffic slow; April winds will come with snow
But summer’s waiting in the wings & when it comes my heart will sing:
For the dome of St Paul’s stands mighty, proud & tall
And I know it will be always there to guide me
For the dome of St. Paul’s stands mighty, proud & tall
As I know light & love will someday find me; will someday find me.
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4. |
All That I Know
02:48
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All That I Know
Did you hear the news? A war starts today
Our soldiers must fly to a land far away
Our cause is just the newspapers say
Yet all that I know is young men will die
Yes, all that I know is young men will die.
Did you see the news? A city in flames
Battles were fought like video games
They counted the dead without knowing their names
Yet all that I know is young men will die
Yes, all that I know is young men will die.
Chorus
And the bells of victory ring
And the choirs of glory sing
But what words are left to be said?
To the mothers who bury their dead?
And the bells of victory ring
And the choirs of glory sing
But what words are left to be said?
To the widows who bury their dead?
Instrumental
Did you read the news? It happened again
The cluster bombs fell like poisonous rain
And all of it done in democracy’s name
Yet all that I know is children will die
Yes, all that I know is children will die.
Chorus
Did you hear the news? The coffins came home
Draped in a flag that nobody owns
The bugles will sound in gardens of stone
Yet all that I know is young men have died
Yes, all that I know is young men have died
Yes, all that I know, yes all that I know
Yes, all that I know, yes all that I know.
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5. |
The Lorelei
02:16
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6. |
Benefit's Street
03:15
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Benefits Street
Living on the dole can kill your soul but they still call you a cheat
And the PM will never be your friend when you live on Benefits Street
When you live on Benefits Street, when you live on Benefits Street.
Oxbridge bores make war on the poor; in parliament where they meet
The rich get richer as the poor stay poor as they walk down Benefits Street
As they walk down Benefits Street, as they walk down Benefits Street.
Chorus
They’re the kings of the castle, you’re on the dole: you’re dirty rascal
They’re the kings of the castle, you’re on the dole: you’re a dirty rascal.
There’s no surprises: unemployment rises, you can’t get on your feet
Bailiffs call, Wonga owns your balls, in the days on Benefits Street
In the days on Benefits Street, in the days on Benefits Street.
Chorus
The Gas & Electric fleece you blind ‘til you can’t afford their heat
As winter kills & all is still as they shiver on Benefits Street
As they shiver on Benefits Street, as they shiver on Benefits Street.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
For god’s sakes tear them down; for god’s sakes tear them down
For god’s sakes tear them down; for god’s sakes tear them down.
Chorus
Recession, depression & double dip: all their words sound sweet
But their wages rise as they tell their lies in a land called Downing Street
In a land called Downing Street, in a land called Downing Street.
Chorus
Parliamentary fools, from public schools, brag, swindle & cheat
While they outlaw, help for the poor, and the lost on Benefits Street
And the lost on Benefits Street, and the lost on Benefits Street.
Chorus
You’re a dirty rascal, you’re a dirty rascal, you’re a dirty rascal.
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7. |
One Year
03:48
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8. |
Father's Song
03:06
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Father's Song
I’ve been beaten, broke & broken; sometimes wondered how I ever stayed alive
Been loud, drunk & outspoken but somehow I’ve always survived
All my dreams never happened but my heart never turned to stone
But since my son went to college this seems like any place but home
Yes, since my son went to college this seems like any place but home.
I don’t believe there’s a God in heaven; I don’t believe there’s a place called hell
I just believe in living & treating each & any person well
I’ve been ten kinds of lonely yet with the kid I never felt alone
But since my son went to college this seems like any place but home
Yes, since my son went to college this seems like any place but home.
Chorus
It’s an empty nest when a child has flown & you find yourself all alone
It’s an empty nest when your child has flown
It’s an empty nest when a child flown & you find yourself all alone
It’s an empty nest when your child has flown.
He grew up in love & laughter; he never knew a bitter day
So it was hard as hell to say goodbye on the day he drove away
I loved being a father, lord, I never walked alone
But since my son went to college this seems like any place but home
Yes, since my son went to college this seems like any place but home.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
It’s a Sunday morning feeling waking in a house without the boy
Though I know he's loving learning and his life is a constant joy
And I'll see him in the holidays and often speak to him on the phone
But since my son went to college this seems like any place but home
Yes, since my son went to college this seems like any place but home
Yes, since my son went to college this seems like any place but home.
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9. |
Bedford Falls
03:30
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Bedford Falls
I’d lasso the moon for you, Mary, I would ride the sun
Some nights I’d bring home heaven, Mary, if such a thing can be done
I’d buy you the New York skyline Mary, Macy’s and City Hall
But please don’t ever ask me, Mary, to stay in Bedford Falls.
I’d steal every planet for you, Mary, from Jupiter to Mars
The Milky Way just for the day & each & every star
Carve your face on Rushmore, Mary, large & proud & tall
But please don’t ever ask me, Mary, to stay in Bedford Falls.
Chorus
For the world is our oyster, Mary, it’s a million miles wide
Together we can go there, Mary, on a magic carpet ride
For the world is just a river, Mary, we can ride its tides
Together we share it, Mary, with love by our side.
I would build you cities, Mary, skyscrapers that touch the sky
Buildings so fine & mighty, Mary, Lloyd Wright would stop and sigh
Of glass & steel & majesty ever gods would stand in thrall
But please don’t ever ask me, Mary, to stay in Bedford Falls.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Chorus
My father is a great man, Mary, he worships this old town
From Main Street down to Potter’s Field, he’d never tear it down
But give me the wide world, Mary, this town is just too small
So please don’t ever ask me, Mary, to stay in Bedford Falls.
Some men dream of leaving, Mary, some men dream of home
Some are rocks that grow in moss, some are rolling stones
For me the world is waiting, Mary, a siren song that calls
So please don’t ever ask me, Mary, to stay in Bedford Falls
To stay in Bedford Falls, to stay in Bedford Falls.
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10. |
She Came From The City
02:28
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She Came From The City
Lonely are the brave, braver are the lonely
To my heart I'm a slave all other things are phony
But still love has treated me ill.
Smiling when I'm sad, sad when I'm not smiling
The blues have got me bad, there's no silver lining
And still love has treated me ill.
Chorus
She came from the city as wild as the sky
She showed a frozen heart it was living a lie
She came from the city untamed as the sea
I talked of forever but she had to be free.
Once I had a dream dreams were all God gave me
Now they play another theme now no dream can save me
And still love has treated me ill.
Chorus
Show me to the bars drink until tomorrow
Don't talk of love or stars just tell me of your sorrows
Until: love's stop treating me ill.
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11. |
Mighty As My Love
02:47
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12. |
A Sailor's Story
04:27
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13. |
City Of Love
02:54
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City Of Love
I journeyed through deserts a man with no name
A thousand cold places but every land was the same
Through valleys of darkness & the mountains above
'Til I came to a city & that city was love.
I rode desperate oceans, I sailed vicious seas
A soul more than lonely, a slave never free
Cool waters below me, black storm clouds above
'Til I came to a city & that city was love.
Chorus
A city of sunshine, of wondrous skies
A city I found in the love in your eyes
A city of sunshine, of wondrous skies
A city I found in the love in your eyes.
I wandered through bad lands down highways of dread
Through desolate places with hearts left for dead
I knew no redemption nor god up above
'Til I came to a city & that city was love.
Past towns of no pity & streets close to hell
Where good men were broken & all angels fell
Past lands of battle lost to the dove
'Til I came to a city & that city was love.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Chorus
Through jungles of people harsh, bitter or lame
And ghettos of sorrow where hate was the game
Where anger & darkness fit like a glove
'Til I came to a city & that city was love
'Til I came to a city & that city was love
'Til I came to a city & that city was love.
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14. |
Snow Falling In Aachen
03:18
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Snow Falling In Aachen
Christmas has come, a dark dank December, my heart is tattered, as Christ is reborn
Christmas has come, my soul is battered, as each day without you I die with the dawn
Christmas has come, cruel clouds have spoken, gutters are running, a kingdom of rain
Heaven is falling, the rain-fall outspoken, telling my heart we’ll not meet again.
Chorus
And is the snow still falling in Aachen? Or is the sky as blue as your eyes?
Did you ever truly love me? Or were your words just alibis?
And is the snow still falling in Aachen? Does Orla still laugh & play?
Is your Christmas happy in Aachen while I’m so lonely on this Christmas Day?
While I’m so lonely on this Christmas Day?
Christmas has come, winter's a dancer, London's no answer, its pouring god’s tears
Christmas has come, there's Dancer & Prancer, as I once again recall all our years
Christmas has come, the thunder comes crying, the cold of this city fills me with dread
I lie in my bed, as I hear the sky dying, as movies of you play again in my head.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Christmas has come, they’re praying to statues, singing to Jesus, I’m colder than stone
I’m thinking of Aachen, of you & your lover, I’m sad & I’m drunk & I’m too much alone
Christmas has come, London's in grieving, this is no way for a good heart to live
It seems my life stopped the day of your leaving when I had so much love to share &
to give.
Chorus
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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.
... more
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