1. |
Tide Waiter
04:48
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I am a tide waiter, they call me Honest John
Each sling across the quay, I tally every one
And I look out from my window, waiting for the tide to change
V1.
Black coal is the legal trade, stowed in the hold below
Every cargo I need know of, where from and where do go
All men eye me shrewdly, though honest I am known
Not all take kindly to me, though beside me they have grown
Ch.2.
I am a tide waiter, my name it is John
From a tall white cottage, some say like a swan.
Looking from this window, waiting for the tide to change
V.2
Years ebbed and flowed, through spring tides and the neaps
My Esther gave me two fine sons, the Lord allowed us keep
Christmas first born, precious Mary, two only when she died
Raised us to the highest then the lowest of all tides
V.3
Same winter, another girl, our neighbours they were blessed
A miner’s child Emmy, we never would have guessed
She would grow to fame and beauty, Nelson’s lady they did say
We thought only of our Mary, in cold grave, long days she lay
Ch 3.
I am a tide waiter, two handsome sons
A wife who loves me dearly, that’s enough for anyone
But Mary, oh Mary, so early did your tide change?
V.4
Come new century my Esther passed, sister Arabella too
From two funerals I returned, to the only place I knew.
Sixty-five years a customs man, not one hour did ever lose
How many tides, how many lives, till I must pay my dues.
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2. |
Swinging on the Tide
03:44
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I weigh my anchor as the day is dawning
Take a broad reach across blue sea
I’m sailing down your morning
That boat on the horizon is me.
Chorus:
On a windswept day, I’ll sail away
Out on the ocean wide.
But when sun slips from sight, by my anchor light,
I’ll be swinging in the tide
By noon the waves are aglimmer
Racing past my waterline
Far off mountain tops shimmer
In a moment that’s just mine.
Chorus.
The seagulls are shrieking,
Winding round and round a blue sky.
I hope they find what they’re seeking,
Only I can hear them cry.
Chorus.
An offshore breeze starts blowing
I sheet the wind round to my starboard side
The harbour mouth is growing
And by evening I’ll be swinging in the tide.
Chorus.
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3. |
Olivine
04:51
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The headstone rests in long soft grass,
Its words tender and kind.
She reaches for me as I pass,
Her spirit rhymes with mine.
And as I pass by her grave
She speaks her name, Olivine.
Dappled light, branches high,
Gentle rain so fine,
Rustling leaves, a pigeon's cry,
Woodland and her entwined.
And we who pass by her grave
Must speak her name Olivine.
Woodsmoke curls, wild lilies bow,
Their scent a heady wine.
The scent is hers, the flowers her gown,
Beautiful Olivine.
For those who pass by her grave
Speak her name Olivine.
She slips away beneath the trees,
The stone a lonely sign
That she will come and walk with us,
When we speak her name, Olivine.
And those who pass by her grave
Speak her name, Olivine.
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4. |
Imperfect Fit
03:25
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Last night I met a man, he seemed just like me,
But for something strange, I couldn’t quite see.
When he spoke I understood, I think,
But he wrote the words in a different ink.
He said “I know you’re thinking I’m a little bit weird,
It’s always the same, it’s just what I feared.
I just have these thoughts how things could be better,
But no one ever answers my letters.
Chorus
Maybe I’m a bit crazy or maybe I’m bright
But if I was a light bulb I just wouldn’t light.
I try, I do, it just isn’t fair,
In a world that’s round I guess I’m square.”
….break……
I said “Don’t worry friend, I know folks like you.
If it wasn’t for them we’d have nothing new.
There’s old Tom Paine and Michelangelo,
And Christopher Columbus, he knew where to go.
There was Emily Pankhurst and Johann Sebastian,
Toulouse Latrec and Albert Einstein.
There was Marilyn Monroe and Cassius Clay,
If it wasn’t for them to show us the way…”
Chorus
But he said “I can’t walk your walk, I can’t talk your talk.
In a world of soup I’m the one with the fork.
I try I do, it just ain’t fair,
In a world that’s round I guess I’m square.”
….break……
I said “Well why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?”
And he told me of car keys you could always find,
Of a way to halt climate change over night,
And mosquito muzzles, so they wouldn’t bite.
Of a calendar with longer weekends
And bookshelves that didn’t need bookends.
He sang a song so sweet it made me weep
It hypnotised me, I fell asleep.
Chorus
I woke up this morning, looked all around
He was gone of course, couldn’t be found.
I can only assume that if he wasn’t there
He’s gone to world not round but square.
Chorus
When we sit he stands, when we stand he sits,
In an imperfect world he’s a perfect fit.
He tried, he did, why didn’t we care,
In a world that’s round, he left something square.
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5. |
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There’s nothing left of the Gaumont,
Just concrete where it once had been.
But is it there in the ground,
The Wurlitzer’s sound,
Dreams from the silver screen?
“What shall we see tonight love?”
Me Mum says to me Dad,
“I don’t know you choose, sweetheart,
Your last choice wasn’t bad.”
“How’s about Al Jolsen’s latest?”
Dad said “Alright , m’flower’
I’d better put me tie back on,
‘Cos it starts in half an hour.”
We walk down passed the Town Hall steps,
That wind, it goes right through you.
“Off the Irish Sea”says Dad.
We hurry as the queue grew.
Out the door and down the steps,
I hope we get in soon.
‘Cos I love it as the lights go down.
Pathe News before the cartoon.
I sit between me Mum and Dad,
Their coats feel damp and warm.
Me Dad, he smells of engine oil,
“Eau d’Toilet” on me Mum.
People whisper, fag ends glows,
Smoke swirls red and green,
Dancing above the velvet rows,
Before the silver screen.
We laugh ‘til we very near cried,
“You can’t beat Laurel and Hardy.”
Smiles me Dad, as the organ plays
And I drip ice cream on me cardy.
Then comes the main feature,
Al Jolsen always makes Mum cry,
‘Cos when we stand up for the King
She says “Your Dad blew smoke in me eye!”
We leave the foyer lights behind us,
Through the magic of that night.
A lick and a promise, off to bed,
To dream in black and white,
Of shimmering folk, so beautiful,
They’ll seem so far away
In tomorrow’s morning, yet to rise
On our ordinary day.
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6. |
Lockdown Blues 2020
04:03
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THEM LOCKDOWN BLUES (C G7 C, slow) WO!
C F C
We’re in it together, apparently
C G7 C
Wo wo, Lockdown Blues
C F C
it’s lasting forever and mentally
C G7 C
Them Lockdown Blues
C F C
I am turning madder than cheese
C G7 C
Wo wo, Lockdown Blues
C F C
But tell me when it’s gonna end, please
C G7 C
Them Lockdown Blues
Chorus.
C D7 F C G7 C
Wo oh oh X2 Wo oh oh,X2 Wo oh oh X2 Lockdown Blues
Up to D
This Lockdown making me shutdown Wo….
But there’s one thought that brings sundown Them…
I’m staring atcha , Don’t even blink Wo….
Just tell me when it’s my next drink! Them….
Chorus
Up to E
We hugged once, now keep our distance Wo….
Don’t dare risk our very existence Them……
Goin’ now into my bunker Wo…..
Don’t breath on me and I won’t touchya Them….
Chorus
Down to D
And when at last we are unlocked Wo…
Emotions gonna run amok Them…
We’ll fly into each other’s arms Wo….
Or we’ll not seek each other’s charms Them….
Chorus
Down to C
This fear we’ve bred seems so hypnotic Wo…
But the world seems less exotic Them…..
We’ll wonder now what next to dread Wo…
Or maybe we’ll just stay in bed Them…
Chorus
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7. |
Just A Tock
03:23
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V.1
On village church, a stone clocktower
Your eye may search, to read the hour.
But all you’ll find about that clock ....
There’s no tick... just a tock
V.2
With just one hand, sometimes a bell
It shows the hour, no more will tell
if minutes needed, you must guess
Like half past three say, more or less
Chorus
Tocks well they just measure hours,
Sober lengths of time
Ticks too fast the time devours
“Tween each stately chime.
Just a Tock,,,,,Tock...Tock
Just a Tock,,,,,Tock...Tock
V.3
Parishioners, that little band,
Live by that solitary hand
If fast, for lunch there is no wait
If it is slow then dinner”s late
Instrumental Chorus
V.4
A certain time, to exact minute
A time including minutes in it
Is tricky here to ascertain
And sometimes even words profane......
V.5
Can slip from mouths of village folk
On missing buses, late for work
But one time that church clock ensures
Each Sunday morn we’re through its doors
Chorus
Tocks well they just measure hours,
Sober lengths of time
Ticks too fast the time devours
“Tween each stately chime.
Just a Tock,,,,,Tock...Tock
Just a Tock,,,,,Tock...Tock
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8. |
Where Am I Bound
03:41
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CHORUS 1.
Where am I going?
Where am I bound?
Do I know what I’ve been looking for
Or just been going round and round
VERSE 1.
Started out with best intent
Least that’s what I recall
Guess I took some wrong directions,
Followed stupid misconceptions
It didn’t end up good
Nothing like it should
CHORUS 2.
What am I doing?
Where is my plan?
The road was straight, it seemed like fate
When I first began !
VERSE 2.
Can’t you see, I been working hard
Trying to find my way
But life’s in colour, not black and white
Most times dark, but I need light
I can’t afford to lose
This time gotta pay my dues
CHORUS 3.
I can’t stop laughing
When I should cry
I’ve not one clue on what to do
But at least I should try
VERSE 3.
I guess no one can tell me
I must figure it out
The road to take, I need to see
But maybe it’s not meant for me
I just can’t leave it there
Oh, I wish I didn’t care
CHORUS 4.
Where am I going?
Where am I bound?
Never found what I been looking for
Still going round and round
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Eden Thomas
Eden Thomas is a folk singer/song writer and has, in his time, owned several boats on the sea, lakes, rivers and canals. He served in the merchant navy, been a university lecturer, and founded, operated then sold a hi tec IT company, before becoming a Quaker chaplain. Now, happily, he is completely retired and walks the dog.. ... more
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