1. |
Wild Bird, Fly Free
04:05
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Chorus: Wild bird, fly free. Wild bird, fly free
And when you’ve finally spread your wings, and done all your crazy things
Then turn around, and fly back home to me
Dreams are easily broken by promises false spoken
That you never intended, you never intended to fulfill
I showed you how to spread your wings, to reach out for better things
So all your dreams, your dreams could now be real
Chorus- Wild bird fly free, wild bird fly free
And when you’ve finally spread your wings, and done all your crazy things
Then turn around, and fly back home to me
So take good care now as you fly, and don’t attempt to fly too high
But control the new sensations that you feel
But if these new sensations, far exceed your expectations
Just don’t confuse them for the real thing
I came to you and let you see the very inside of my soul
But you were only playing an imitation role
Of caring and sharing, and building things together
But you were faking, always taking, and I should have known better
And I, and I, and I, should have known better
Wild bird fly free, wild bird fly free.
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2. |
Fifty Sweetheart Scrolls
03:16
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Fifty Sweetheart Scrolls she wrote to me today
Filled with words of love for me, she wished to say
To celebrate our love, on this Valentine’s Day
She wrote fifty sweetheart scrolls to me today
And I can’t find the words to say to her to tell her how it makes me feel
To have a love like hers so real. It simply took my breath away
To read those sweetheart scrolls today
Fifty Sweetheart Scrolls she wrote to me today
Filled with words of love for me, she wished to say
To celebrate our love, on this Valentine’s Day
She wrote fifty sweetheart scrolls to me today
And why do I deserve to have such love So warm it fills my very soul
Such tender words on every scroll And there was nothing I could say
As I read her sweetheart scrolls today
Fifty Sweetheart Scrolls she wrote to me today
Filled with words of love for me, she wished to say
To celebrate our love, on this Valentine’s Day
She wrote fifty sweetheart scrolls to me today
She wrote fifty sweetheart scrolls to me today
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3. |
Close All The Doors
03:18
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Chorus: Close all the doors, open your heart
Don’t let the words that people say drive us apart
Close all the doors, open your arms
And take me back just like we were right at the start
You made me happy when you came into my life
And I changed the way I used to be
I thought we’d be together for the rest of our life
I guess it just wasn’t meant to be
Close all the doors, open your heart
Don’t let the words that people say drive us apart
Close all the doors, open your arms
And take me back just like we were right at the start
Why can’t we try to make it work just like before
Before you walked right out my door
Now that you’re happy with another in your life
It breaks my heart not to see you anymore
Close all the doors, open your heart
Don’t let the words that people say drive us apart
Close all the doors, open your arms
And take me back just like we were right at the start
Please take me back just like we were right at the start
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4. |
Chase The Dragon
04:47
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She was just another lady of the evening. She made her money when the sun went down
On a high-class square on the south side of the city. The man in the car said I’ll take you so far
I’ll bring you higher than you’ve ever been before. When she stepped off the pavement that night
She couldn’t see his face by the dim street light. But she stepped on that lonely road to nowhere
Chorus: They went home to chase the dragon and they left the seedy real world behind them
She’d never have started if only she’d known. Now she’d give her very soul for a drop of Methadone
But the dragon drags her down and brings her high again
She had hopes and dreams when she came to this city. But how she has aged, and her face shows the pain
And the stuff plays tricks inside her smoke-filled brain . And late at night it’s back down to the strip
To find the man in the car and to score another trip. Now she’s got her works and she’s got the gear
She’ll shoot another time, forget about the fear. She’s a long way down that lonely road to nowhere
Chorus: She goes home to chase the dragon and to leave the seedy real world behind her
She’d never have started if only she’d known. Now she’d give her very soul for a drop of Methadone
But the dragon drags her down and brings her high again
But in the cold grey light of each new dawning day. With great intent she’d make fresh plans,
And one more time she’d try to break away. Her only world is fantasy,
So far removed from reality. And it’s back to the square, put the money in his hand
The deal goes down, the stuff’s in her hand. She’s back on that old lonely road to nowhere
Chorus: She goes home to chase the dragon And to leave the seedy real world behind her
She’d never have started if only she’d known Now she’d give her very soul for a drop of Methadone
But the dragon drags her down and brings her high again
Yes the dragon brings her down, and brings her high again.
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5. |
Now You're Gone
04:33
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You say that you don’t love me, that you’ve found somebody new
Why must you leave me, why must you go now
I will never forget you, the way you held me tightly
I will always remember your sweet lips pressing lightly
Chorus: Loving dreams of sweet loving times
Can’t fade the memory of you from my mind
‘Cause loving dreams and sweet memories
Are all that I have left now you’re gone
Close to my lips so eager, for that sweet kiss saying “I love you”
Your voice so warm and tender, that someday will say “I do”
Now my dreams have been broken, and my heart is broken
My life’s not worth living, for my whole life was you
Chorus: Loving dreams of sweet loving times
Can’t fade the memory of you from my mind
‘Cause loving dreams and sweet memories
Are all that I have left now you’re gone
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6. |
The Nights Are Lonelier
03:15
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Chorus: Now the nights are lonelier without you
And the days they seem so far apart
It’s been a long time darlin’ since I’ve seen you, it’s been a long time gone from my heart
If I knew then what I know now dear, I’d never let you treat me anyway
You told me that you would never leave me. You cheated, and now you’re on your way
Chorus: And the nights are lonelier without you
And the days they seem so far apart
It’s been a long time darlin’ since I’ve seen you, it’s been a long time gone from my heart
If ever we meet again my darlin’, although our love can never be the same
There’s still an empty spot within my heart dear, please don’t leave me again
Chorus: Because the nights are lonelier without you
And the days they seem so far apart
It’s been a long time darlin’ since I’ve seen you
It’s been a long time gone from my heart
Been a long time gone from my heart.
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7. |
Cryin' In Your sleep
03:33
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I can tell by the shadows round your eyes
There’s something hidden deep behind your smile
And I know that everything is not alright
‘Cause I heard you cryin’ in your sleep last night
Chorus: Cryin’, just like a baby. Tryin’ so hard to be a lady
And I know that everything is not alright
‘Cause you were cryin’ in your sleep last night
Well you tried to build this house into a home
But you never had a real home of your own
You pretend this is the kind of life you’re used to
You forget those bad old days when life abused you
Chorus: Cryin’, just like a baby. Tryin’ so hard to be a lady
And I know that everything is not alright
‘Cause you were cryin’ in your sleep last night
Now the love light has gone from your eyes
You’re tired of listening to the same old lies
And it’s hard for you to start believin’
When all you’ve ever known is just deceivin’
Chorus: Cryin’, just like a baby. Tryin’ so hard to be a lady
And I know that everything is not alright
‘Cause you were cryin’ in your sleep last night
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8. |
Swine From The Rhine
03:26
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Well there were five German submarines and a battleship in the harbour
The sailors they were in town that night, tryin’ to have every woman in sight
And the girl went into ecstasy when he said, “we could make out in the van easy?”
But she had to sing on stage that night, but she’d see him later if that’s alright
Chorus: That swine from the Rhine was used to spending money for the pleasures of a sexy woman of the night
But that swine from the Rhine, it didn’t cost him a dime, for the pleasure of the girl in the band that night
When the gig was done, and her clothes were changed
She was back on the stage with her dress all arranged, to entice that German sailor back up to talk to her again
Well the poor guy didn’t know what to do, so you showed him more leg, you gave him quite a view
That’s all that he needed to change his mind, he could see that you were the easy layin’ kind
Chorus: That swine from the Rhine was used to spending money for the pleasures of a sexy woman of the night
But that swine from the Rhine, it didn’t cost him a dime, for the pleasure of the girl in the band that night
Now she could hear the guys blowin’ the horn in the van, when she was tryin’ to bargain with her sailor man
Half an hour with the Hun, a job well done, and it’s back on the long road home
Did you think his love would be very warm? With a sailor it’s any port in a storm
He couldn’t find another woman that night in port, so he used you as a last resort
Chorus: That swine from the Rhine was used to spending money for the pleasures of a sexy woman of the night
But that swine from the Rhine, it didn’t cost him a dime, for the pleasure of the girl in the band that night
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9. |
Shady Lady
04:37
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At seventeen she was a beauty queen, she thought she’d never get older
But in New York city you need more than a pretty face, nobody told her
To make it in style you need more than a smile, you need artistic direction
To model the clothes in the fashion shows, when you’re trying to sell the collection
Shady Lady, your life is crazy, it’s full of ifs and buts and whens and maybes
You know you can make it, you’ve got to choose. You know you can win , if you can stay off the booze
And maybe you’ll find a brighter day tomorrow
Your youth starts to fade, you try to hide in the shade. Dim lights don’t show up those lines in your face
But a fashion parade can’t be held in the shade, you’ve got no hiding place
You were living in style and you were flashing your smile, but some people you sorely neglected
Now your beauty has gone, you don’t know where you went wrong, can’t understand why you’re being rejected.
Shady Lady, your life is crazy, it’s full of ifs and buts and whens and maybes
You know you can make it, but you’ve got to choose. You know you can win , if you can stay off the booze
And maybe you’ll find a brighter day tomorrow
At seventeen she was a beauty queen, but now she’s grown a lot older
And New York City isn’t such a pretty place, she’s all alone there
She was livin’ on time and ignoring the sign, that was showing a different direction
No more modelling clothes in the fashion shows, through the years she has lost her complexion
Shady Lady, your life is crazy, it’s full of ifs and buts and whens and maybes
You know you can make it, but you’ve got to choose. You know you can win , if you can stay off the booze
And maybe you’ll find a brighter day tomorrow
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10. |
My Dad
04:54
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Sitting in an easy chair, banging out the rhythm of a song,
Is the man I lived with thirty years, a gentle heart and spirit ever strong.
Now he hollers with a clenched fist, and his frightened eyes reflect a soul so sad,
I'm so angry at the heartless thief who stole the mind and soul of my dear Dad.
Chorus: You know this is a far cry from the man he used to be
When I was just a baby he would bounce me on his knee
We’d take long walks on Sundays, share an ice cream at the store
Helping me build memories that he just can't remember...anymore
He read me Curly Wee and Gussie Goose, and heated up my pillow before bed,
Said a prayer and tucked me in, then checked for monsters underneath my bed
He helped me work out algebra and showed me how the planets all revolve.
Now it seems a shame that both of us are stuck here with a problem we can't solve.
He pretended he was mad at me when I once got a bad report at school.
But I could see right through him, ‘cause I knew first-hand that kindness was his rule.
But now I watch, bewildered, as I see him throw his things across the floor.
In the tangle of his memory, he’s forgotten who he used to be before
He served proudly in the army, always loved and well respected by his friends.
And though we fought some battles, he was always first to try to make amends.
'Let me call you sweetheart' was the song he sang to close my baby’s eyes
And in my heart I sang that song, as evening fell with shadows long,
When it came time for us to say goodbye.
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11. |
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Chorus: Sunshine don’t last forever, you’ve got to take the good times with the bad
Sometimes my thoughts about you, remind me of the sweetest times we ever had
Sunshine don’t shine on me no more, since you went walking out my door
And sometimes my thoughts about you, tell me that I’ll be lovin’ you forevermore
Chorus: Sunshine don’t last forever, you’ve got to take the good times with the bad
Sometimes my thoughts about you, remind me of the sweetest times we ever had
Last time that we were both together, you felt you loved me, just like I loved you
But now that you’re gone forever, I know the feeling that you had just wasn’t true
Chorus: Sunshine don’t last forever, you’ve got to take the good times with the bad
Sometimes my thoughts about you, remind me of the sweetest times we ever had
I’m just thinking of those sweetest times we used to have
Sweet memories of the sweetest times we ever had
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12. |
Ellis Island
04:18
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It’s hard to smile, on Ellis Island. One short step to liberty
So near, so far away. What will the lady’s answer be
Chorus: Fare thee well, Ellis Island, and you know it is your shame
For to come into your country, you made me change my name
The ship sailed in the harbour after forty days and nights, of sailing on the dark and stormy sea
We were sick and tired and hungry, but our hopes were raised by the lady Liberty
And now it’s time to stand in line and answer all the questions, that didn’t seem to matter anyway
But the questions must be answered if in the land of Liberty you wish to stay.
Chorus: Fare thee well, Ellis Island, and you know it is your shame
For to come into your country, you made me change my name
We were standing in our glad rags, identified by name tags,
With a number and the place from whence we came
They didn’t speak our language, and they couldn’t understand our foreign names
For some of us the light was green, but some were kept in quarantine
And some were put on board the ship again
With shattered dreams and dignity they sailed back to their homeland once again
Chorus: Fare thee well, Ellis Island, and you know it is your shame
For to come into your country, you made me change my name
It’s hard to smile, on Ellis Island. One short step to Liberty
So near, so far away. What will the Lady’s answer be?
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Gerry Madigan Calgary, Alberta
Dublin born singer/songwriter now living in Calgary Alberta Canada - a strong musical pedigree spanning 15 years on the road with The Cotton Mill Boys in Ireland.
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