1. |
Michael
03:56
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Michael
Michael: is the world still turning?
Michael is the sun still burning?
Michael: is the sky still truly blue?
And does it remember you?
Michael: is the snow still falling?
Michael: is winter still calling?
Michael is the sky still truly blue?
Does it miss you too?
Chorus
Michael the sky will never be the same
But Michael the saints will know your name
Michael the sky will never be the same
But Michael the saints will know your name.
Michael: is there a new day dawning?
Michael: will there be another morning?
Michael is the sky still truly blue?
Does it mourn you too?
Michael: are the rivers still flowing?
Michael: are the stars still glowing?
Michael: is the sky still truly blue?
And does it cry for you?
Chorus
Michael: is the wind still sighing?
Michael: is the rain still crying?
Michael: is the sky still truly blue?
Does it love you too?
(Instrumental)
Chorus
Michael: is the world still turning?
Michael: life’s for the learning
Michael: is the sky still truly blue?
By the way: I love you
By the way: I love you
By the way: I love you.
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2. |
Feel Like Robert Mitchum
03:40
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I Feel Like Robert Mitchum
In this cold & cruel city under a stranger called the sun
I feel like Robert Mitchum without a coat or hat or gun
My life’s a black & white movie in the shadows of a dirty sky
I feel like Robert Mitchum so build my gallows high.
This dark old river mocks me ‘cause it knows you’re not there
I feel like Robert Mitchum when he said ‘baby, I don’t care.’
These shabby streets will taunt me as this heart turns to stone
I feel like Robert Mitchum when he made his stand alone.
Chorus
I don’t care if you remember what once you were to me
You were cold as November but now my heart is free
I don’t care if you remember what once you were to me
You were cruel as December but now my heart is free.
All I need is a cigarette, all I need is a whisky glass
I feel like Robert Mitchum when all his dreams had passed
Give me a fallen woman whose scorn I can understand
I feel like Robert Mitchum with love & hate on his hands.
(Instrumental)
Chorus
On a road of no return under a grey sky overcast
I feel like Robert Mitchum in Out Of The Past
As a drink sodden soldier or a lonely weary sleuth
I feel like Robert Mitchum in search of a truth.
Now I’m riding on a dark train to a station called Despair
I feel like Robert Mitchum lost without a prayer
My life will always be broken & my heart always will tear
But I feel like Robert Mitchum when he said: ‘baby, I don’t care’
But I feel like Robert Mitchum when he said: ‘baby, I don’t care.’
Yes, I feel like Robert Mitchum when he said: ‘baby, I don’t care.’
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3. |
Her Eyes
02:40
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Her Eyes
Her eyes will greet me on a Monday if I see her
Her eyes will defeat me as she sweetly passes by.
Her eyes will inform me on a Tuesday if I see her
Her eyes will warn me that she loves me no more.
Chorus
I sit outside of cafes in the greyness of this city
As she drives by with her daughter & gives me an unwilling wave
I sit outside of cafes drowning in self-pity
Forget her, yes, I ought to yet to her my heart’s a slave.
Her eyes will taunt me on a Wednesday if I see her
Her eyes will haunt me like my love she threw away.
Her eyes will kill me on a Thursday if I see her
Her eyes will fill me with her indifferent scorn.
Chorus
Her eyes will mock me on a Friday if I see her
Her eyes will shock me with their icy distain.
Her eyes will chill me on a Saturday if I see her
Her eyes will fill me with a lonely despair.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Her eyes will appear on a Sunday if I see her
Her eyes will jeer at my love that still remains.
Her eyes will stare on a Monday if I see her
Her eyes not care about this broken hearted man
Her eyes not care about this broken hearted man
Her eyes not care about this broken hearted man.
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4. |
Eulogy For Vernon
02:53
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Eulogy For Vernon
Go tell all the Spartans, go tell all the Greeks
The drunks & the dreamers who roam Brighton streets
Cancer is a cruel mistress: vicious its song
Muffle the church-bells - my best friend is gone.
Go tell sea less sailors, go tell stoney shores
All the Brighton junkies, the beach bums & bores
Cancer is a cruel mistress: vicious its song
Muffle the trumpets - my best friend is gone.
Chorus
Vernon when young: we could tear down the sun
Vernon you & I: we could conquer the sky
Vrnon when young: we could tear down the sun
Vernon you & I: we could conquer the sky.
Go tell Kemp Town lonely, old folks on the pier
All the sea-front zeroes, drinking away their years
Cancer is a cruel mistress: vicious its song
Muffle the drumbeats - my best friend is gone.
Go tell the pavement prophets, go tell the phony priests
The punks & drunks & losers you always would meet
Cancer is a cruel mistress: vicious its song
Muffle the bagpipes - my best friend is gone.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Chorus
Go tell the shabby night-clubs, go tell the sleazy squares
All cheating lovers, lost in affairs
Cancer is a cruel mistress: vicious its song
Muffle the cannon - my best friend is gone.
Go tell streets of Brighton, the roads we once knew
Ghosts & ghouls of West Street, the mods who stayed true
Cancer is a cruel mistress: vicious its song
Muffle the trumpets - my best friend is gone
Muffle the trumpets - my best friend is gone
Muffle the trumpets - my best friend is gone.
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5. |
Mulholland Drive
03:16
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Mulholland Drive
Her skin is taut, her eyes are dead she’s hearing voices inside her head
Her lover has left, she’s barely alive so tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive
Tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive.
Her Hollywood dreams were washed away and now those dreams in nightmares play
She’s done things just to survive so tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive
Tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive.
Chorus
Love is a bloody Valentine it will drag you down in time
Life is a bloody Valentine it will tear you down in time
It will tear you down in time.
Into the blue, into the black: her woman’s never coming back
She’s on run with nowhere to hide, so tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive
Tonight she will ride on Mullholland Drive.
She once believed in Tinseltown but reality came to tear her dream down
There’s hate in her heart & murder in her eyes so tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive
Tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive.
Chorus
She’s tired & worn, her gaze is bleak she’s wired with scorn, too tired to speak
Now her soul is dark, her pride deprived so tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive
Tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive.
(Instrumental)
Chorus
And so it was & so it goes why love dies just no-one knows
Her heart was slain but not by knives so tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive
Tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive
Tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive
Tonight she will ride on Mulholland Drive.
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6. |
Cancer Song
02:56
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Cancer Song
Rise, rise with love in your eyes let every morning greet you
Rise, rise with hope in your eyes let no sadness defeat you.
Rise, rise & with the sun rise let the morning embrace you
Rise, rise for time always flies let no darkness disgrace you.
Rise, rise for love never dies may your day surprise you
Rise, rise with no alibis & may your day astound you.
Chorus
Every morning I will find my glory: I will write my survivor’s story
Every morning I will find my glory: I will write my survivor’s story
Beating cancer & feeling fine; living clean & drinking wine
Beating cancer & feeling fine; living clean & drinking wine.
Rise, rise & claim your prize let every moment find you
Rise, rise with no disguise let no illness bind you.
Rise, rise now the sun is high let your positivity rule you
Rise, rise & with no surprise let no negativity school you.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Rise, rise & with joyful cries walk into a world that claims you
Rise, rise & always be wise let no illness ever shame you.
Rise, rise with love in your eyes let every morning greet you
Rise, rise with hope in your eyes & let no cancers defeat you
And let no cancers defeat you & let no cancers defeat you.
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7. |
Another England
02:59
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Another England
Last night I dreamt of another England
Shelley called to me from his mighty grave
He showed me a vision of another England
Where no more we are to history slaves.
Last night I dreamt of another England
Cromwell called to me from his bloody stave
He showed me a dream of another England
A land fit for heroes & the lives they gave.
Chorus
Come the day & come the hour when the ravens leave the tower
And there will be an end to kings
Come the day & come the hour when the ravens leave the tower
And there will be an end to kings.
Last night I dreamt of another England
John Ball spoke to me from his holy grave:
‘You can make an Eden out of an England
Where the only king is god and the lord he saves.
Last night I dreamt of another England
Tom Paine called from his forgotten grave
He showed me the hope of a righteous England
Where a crown no more can rule these waves.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Chorus
Last night I dreamt of another England
Shelley called to me from his mighty grave
He showed me a glimpse of a better England
A land free of knights, lords & craven knaves.
Last night I dreamt of another England
Last night I dreamt of another England
Last night I dreamt of another England.
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8. |
Box Of Wine
02:56
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Box Of Wine
I’ve been talking to a box of wine
The box of wine says I’m doing fine
My heart will heal in a matter of time
I’ve been talking to a box of wine.
I’ve been talking to a bottle of red
He says he knows my love’s not dead
If only I could try & use my head
I’ve been talking to a bottle of red.
I’ve been talking to Jacob’s Creek
The only thing that gives me relief
From the nights I find so bleak
I’ve been talking to Jacob’s Creek.
Chorus
I’m a prince of the pavements, the lord of Wetherspoons
My kingdom the pavements, red wine my doom
I’m a prince of the pavements, the lord of Wetherspoons
My kingdom the pavements, red wine my doom.
I’ve been talking to a box of wine
The box of wine says that love’s no crime
It’ll come in passing time
I’ve been talking to a box of wine.
I’ve been hearing things in my head
Voices saying my love’s not dead
So I’ll keep on drinking red
I’ve been hearing things in my head.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
I’ve been talking to a box of wine
Saying love will heal with the help of time
The woman I find will stay mine
I believe in my box of wine
I believe in my box of wine
I believe in my box of wine.
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9. |
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Ballad Of A Union Soldier
Son I know you’re sleeping & it’s only break of day
And though I hate to wake you there’s something I must say
For once the sun has risen I must rise & ride away
To fight for Mr. Lincoln against Southern men in grey.
Son I know you’re frightened but it’s the time of the gun
This is a day for battle & a long war to be won
I must ride with all my pride to a place they call Bull Run
And though it breaks my heart to go: there's killing to be done.
Chorus
I fight for Mr. Lincoln & to heed my country’s call
For the rebel boys are coming with shot & cannonball
And a house that is divided will surely always fall
They seek to break the Union & they are traitors all.
Son I know you’re crying but it’s no glory that I crave
But my duty is calling & there’s a Union to save
And though I know I may ride to my bloody grave
I fight so no living thing will again be made a slave.
(Instrumental)
Chorus
They may have Stonewell Jackson, they may have Bobby Lee
But they cannot kill a nation nor chain a people free
Though we may never meet again remember what you mean to me
Son my love for you is deeper than any sea.
Chorus (X2)
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10. |
November's Child
02:41
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November’s Child
The Autumn leaves are no longer gold
The wind will sigh her name
The only feeling is of getting old
And knowing love’s a bitter game.
The London streets are shabby/cold
As the leaves begin to fall
The clouds tell stories yet to be told
The ghost of your ex-lover calls.
Chorus
November’s child in constant rain will love ever be the same again?
November’s child in the sullen sun are all of your Summers done?
November’s child in constant rain will love ever be the same again?
November’s child in the sullen sun are all of your Summers gone?
Fireworks will torch the skies
As the dark night takes its toll
When she left she never even cried
As her goodbyes seared your soul.
Seas will crash & rivers flow
As women come & women go
They take their leave as they please
But why they leave you’ll never know.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
You loved too long, you loved too well
But love often came to blind you
Some days were heaven, some were hell
As women came to free or bind you.
You’re sadly haunted by your past
A past that’s come to define you
Will your woman somehow be your last?
And love always defile you?
Chorus.
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11. |
A Lion's Den
02:44
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The Lion’s Den
They say that love is like a lion
It can maim your life & kill
And I’ve known love like that lion
It’s torn my heart ‘til my blood was spilled.
Yes, love can be like a lion
It can tear down the bravest of men
But I’m not afraid of love or that lion
So I’ll walk into the lion’s den.
Chorus
For don’t you know that’s life not living?
Without a woman to give to & to care?
And I’d rather die than go on living
Knowing that love will never again be there.
I’ve been taunted by that lion
As love has come & love has gone
Savage was that heartless lion
As I sang love’s same sad song.
One day I’ll defeat that lion
Or so I pray with a last amen
And find love that’s not a lion
So I’ll walk into the lion’s den.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
They say that love is like a lion
It can wound & blight your days
And I’ve faced love like that lion
A bloody heart is what you pay.
Love can be vicious as a lion
It can destroy the bravest men
But I shall not fear love or that lion
As I walk into the lion’s den
As I walk into the lion’s den.
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12. |
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Last Of The Northern Kings
Wearing Doc Martens he floats down the High Street
His home is a Crombie & it’s never frayed
Weller’s his god & mod his religion
He has no regrets for the life he has made.
Soul music his faith, soundtrack & salvation
A badge is a target, the rain is his friend
He smiles as he talks & rides down the High Street
He says what he means & he never pretends.
Chorus
He’s no need for chains or bling he’s the last of the Northern Kings
He’s no need for rings or things he’s the last of the Northern Kings
The last of the Northern Kings.
The Tyne is his river, his city his heartbeat
Northumbrian noble, winter his song
Forever Labour, his housing is Council
The pavement his kingdom, his faith never wrong.
He’s working class but never Plebeian
He’s politically angry but never with hate
Marvin Gaye is his own personal Jesus
He’s an Aragorn for a Welfare State.
Chorus
(Instrumental)
Chorus
He lives for the 60’s and all that it stands for
His soul is northern, he knows how to glide
His heroes are Bevan & Atlee & Orwell
He’s a Union man he knows his side.
Chorus
Yes, he’s the last of the Northern Kings.
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13. |
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14. |
Drunkard Nation
03:00
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Drunkard Nation
I have drunk with the boys of this drunkard nation
I have embraced their faith without a single hesitation
I have drunk their bitter wine with no thought of damnation
And rode rivers of booze with only one reservation:
Why do I have to get so numb? Why do I have to get so numb?
I have drunk with the people in their sacred public houses
And got drunk as a skunk with women in bulging blouses
I’ve staggered through places like a wild sailor carouses
And howled at the moon & sometimes wet my trousers
Why do I have to get so numb? Why do I have to get so numb?
Chorus
Numb to living, numb to life
Numb to children, numb to a wife
Numb to people, numb to start
Feeling needing with all my heart.
I have drown in the flesh of many gorgeous women
And came up for breath as if I had been swimming
I’ve known so much joy I felt like I was winning
Yet I always felt so guilty as if I had been sinning
Why do I have to get so numb? Why do I have to get so numb?
Chorus
(Instrumental)
I have known the sweet oblivion of this drunkard nation
And pissed against the walls of a hundred subway stations
I have drunk the grapes of rage without thought of preservation
And laughed in the faces of those who sought my salvation
Why do I have to get so numb? Why do I have to get so numb?
Why do I have to get so numb? Why do I have to get so numb?
So numb? So numb?
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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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