no fixed abode
original and traditional folk music
Heading West
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
The captain, Edward Smith, he called down below.
He said, “Fire all the boilers, boys, it’s off to New York we go!”
Twenty-three knots was our top speed,
As we raced into the night.
No-one saw the devil, as he cut us deep inside.
And the captain cried, “We’re the biggest and the best.
Fire up the boilers, boys, we’re heading west,
Yes, we’re heading west!”
On April the fifteenth, 1912
She finally fell away to rest, over two miles down.
She was the pride and joy, the flagship of the White Line,
3 million rivets meant to last for all time.
And the captain cried, “We’re the biggest and the best.
Fire up the boilers, boys, we’re heading west.”
And the Carpathia picked up the distress calls from MGY it said
“Please, please come and save us or two thousand plus souls will die!”
And the captain cried, “We’re the biggest and the best.
Fire up the boilers, boys, we’re heading west.”
And the captain cried, “We’re the biggest and the best.
Fire up the boilers, boys, we’re heading west,
We’re heading west,
Now we’re heading west!”
Sweet Ballerina
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
On a hot summers night, in a city somewhere In a gilded theatre they all come to stare The lights go down and the music starts And there she stands breaking their hearts I can remember when we stood side by side You were my equal I didn’t have to hide Then the years rolled by we went our separate ways Now all that I have is those memories of you
Sweet ballerina Sweet ballerina Oh sweet ballerina I wish it was me Sweet ballerina Sweet ballerina Oh sweet ballerina I wish it could be me
My body is twisted knarled in pain And I know Ill never dance again But late at night in my dreams I’m free to dance by the moonlight
Sweet ballerina Sweet ballerina Oh sweet ballerina I wish it was me Sweet ballerina Sweet ballerina Oh sweet ballerina I wish it could be me
So on a hot summer’s night in a city somewhere In a gilded theatre they all come to stare The lights go down and the music starts And in my dreams I am the star
Sweet ballerina Sweet ballerina Oh sweet ballerina I wish it was me Sweet ballerina Sweet ballerina Oh sweet ballerina I wish it could be me Oh sweet ballerina
Mr Sunshine
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
Um yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh I saidHow do you do Mr Sunshine
How nice it is to wake up with you
On this fine summer Sunday morning
What should we do?
We could take a trip to the seaside
We could pack a picnic and go for a ride
It’s up to you
On a sunny Sunday summers afternoon
On a sunny Sunday afternoon
I’ll leave it I’ll leave it I’ll leave it up to you oh oh yeh
Wake up Mr Sunshine Let’s not waste the day
It’s already mid morning What do you say?
We could call all our friends up Arrange to meet somewhere
Have a lazy Sunday lunch In the country side somewhere
There were days when I couldn’t buy A glimpse of the sun up in the sky
But all the clouds they melted away The day Mr Sunshine came my way
Came my way oh oh yeh oh oh yeh
Well have a fine timesitting by the river and drinking wine
There were days when I couldn’t buy
A glimpse of the sun up in the sky
But all the clouds they melted away
The day Mr Sunshine came my way came my way
He came my way he came to stay
On a sunny Sunday summers afternoon
On a sunny Sunday afternoon
I’ll leave it I’ll leave it I’ll leave it up to you oh oh yeh
On a sunny Sunday afternoon
When we were Kings
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
You can’t fight the tide nor the wind that runs wild
And the water will rise no matter what you do
Time runs by it leaves us high and dry
Once we were Kings we could do anything
Now we look on those moments are gone
Those fair weather friends they left in the end
An old photograph where we were told to laugh
But the laugh only lingered and soon fell away
So I’ll stay and sing my songs even if no one comes
It’s all I have It’s all that I can do
It’s all that I can offer you
It’s all I have It’s all that I can do
It’s all that I can offer you
You can’t fight your fears Nor the flow of the years
And the water will rise to carry you away
An old broken chair and a stain upon the stairs
And we made plans to rule the world
So I’m left to sing my songs Even if no one comes
They pulled the old house down
A Pile of bricks on the ground
They call it progress what do I know
So I’m left to sing my songs
Even if no one comes
I was told by an old DJ
Your time has passed now fade away
What does he know?
What does he know?
What do I know?
East Coast town
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
There’s a town on an eastern coast
Faded and worn, like a favourite coat
We drop by once a year
Like a Hollywood actress, past her prime
Trying desperately to hold back time
But all the paint and powder can’t fill the scars
But when the music starts to play
the town comes alive
They dance along the pier at night
And we will be the ones watching it all from the cliff tops
Summon the ghosts of present and past
At the end of the show we’ll list the cast
You’ll find our names somewhere in the small print
Bit part players, always on the fringe
You learn to smile and never whinge
And history is laid down with each passing year
But when the music starts to play
the town comes alive
They dance along the pier at night
And we will be the ones watching it all from the cliff tops
Waves melt into the sand
Each one sings a different tune
Late at night just me and you
With the world spinning all around us
We’ll see what memories can be found
Like shells from the beach below
Each one held for a moment
And shared for a lifetime
Shadows dance along the pier
Each one wearing a memory
But when the music starts to play
the town comes alive
They dance along the pier at night
And we will be the ones watching it all on the cliff top
But when the music starts to play
the town comes alive
They dance along the pier at night
And we watch it all from a bench on the cliff top
Behind closed doors
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
A woman in trouble beginning to show
Family shamed by one of their own
The priest is told he says she’ll have to go
A child is born on a winter’s day
As soon as he’s born they took him away
They tell her she’s the one to blame
And God says she must carry the shame
Carry the shame carry the shame the shame
They tied her up they held her down
Made her wear electrodes as a crown
Put a wooden block between her teeth
And someone pulled the switch
No matter how they tried
They couldn’t stop the screams at night
The animal rage was deep inside
It had learned to hide
Learned to survive
Learned to survive
Learned to survive it was deep inside
Thirty years had passed a man came to see her
Looked in her eyes saw nothing there
He kissed her then turned away
He didn’t see the tier rise in her eyes
He didn’t see her wipe the tier away Half of the Day
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
Katie only works half of the day
Of the rest alcohol washes her away
She danced to close to an open flame
Ronnie was his name
They ran away into the country side
Lived on a small farm in a gypsy caravan
And all the lords came to pay their respects
Hand made clothes and back to nature
Some where money had no name
Slowly slowly the river rose
No matter what they tried
They could never get dry
They were so good together they were bad
Rotting away at each others souls
Finally parting with one last sigh
Katie found herself left on the shelf
And Mother Nature had not been kind
And all the lords came to pay their respects
Hand made clothes and back to nature
Somewhere where money had no name
Slowly slowly the river rose
Slowly slowly Slowly slowly
Slowly The river it rose
She only works half of the day
And of the rest alcohol washes her away
Home for the lost and Bewildered
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
When the world is coming at you
And you don’t know what to do
Just remember that I’m on your side
When it all gets a little hazy
And you think your going crazy
I’ll be there standing by your side
And well take a little journey
Through the cracks of the city
See the pretty young things come out to play
Packaged pricked and preened
Like the ghost in your dreams
And the black dog is waiting for your call
Welcome to the home for the lost and bewildered
Pick yourself a chair and sit right down
Let your weary mind run wild and free
And ill go and make us a nice cup of tea
Picking up the papers it’s another bad news day
And the weather man says it’s goin to rain
Well the winter had been bitter And the streets are full of litter
Old headlines washed down the drain
Welcome to the home for the lost and bewildered
Pick yourself a chair and sit right down
Let your weary mind run wild and free
And ill go and make us a nice cup of tea
When you feel like you are dreaming
And the world around you is screaming
Just remember you’re not on your own
When the voices in your head
Turn to silence when you go to bed
And the black dog finally lies down
Welcome to the home for the lost and bewildered
Pick yourself a chair and sit right down
Let your weary mind run wild and free
And ill go and make us a nice cup of tea
Danced round the table
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
Somewhere in the city she’s slumped at a table
A bottle of whisky half drunk by her side
A candle half burned flickers on the table
A clock chimes three times
But she doesn’t hear
For nine month he tried she barely survived
And each day that passes gnarled away deep inside
She aches for him now like she did when he died
She just wants to hold him
And they’d dance round the table
They’d dance round the table
Dance round the table one last time
They’d Dance round the table
They’d Dance round the table
Dance round the table one last time
A month had passed police they were called
She was slumped at the table
Empty bottle by her side
And in the dust on the floor
There were two sets of footprints
That ran round the table and out through the door
And they’d dance round the table
They’d dance round the table
Dance round the table one last time
They’d Dance round the table
They’d Dance round the table
Dance round the table one last time
Everyone tried to explain what had happened
It didn’t take long for the rumours to begin
Some said it was the whisky
Others said she was mad
But for me I just understood
Why they danced round the table
They’d danced round the table
Danced round the table one last time
They danced round the table
They’d danced round the table
Danced round the table one last time
They danced round the table
They danced round the table
They danced round the table one last time
Danced round the table
They danced round the table
Danced round the table one last time
They danced round the table
Danced round the table
Danced round the table one last time
Memories
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
Autumn in the field’s time for harvest
Making houses with the bails
Scent of baking from the kitchen
It’s me mother making bread
Oh these are the things that I recall
They don’t mean much maybe nothing at all
To me they were the best of times
These are the memories that keep me warm
On a winters day frost on the lawn
These are the memories that I hold true
Call upon them when I’m feeling blue
Walking through the orchard with me father
Picking apples from them trees
Day trips to the sea side with me aunty
Watch the horses running out
These are the things that I recall
They don’t mean much maybe nothing at all
To me they were the best of times
These are the memories that keep me warm
On a winters day frost on the lawn
These are the memories that I hold true
Call upon them when I’m feeling blue
And I know they are only memories
One can’t live in the past
Dear lord get me out of here and on my way
Oh these are the memories that keep me warm
On a winter day frost on the lawn
These are the memories that I hold true
Call upon them when I’m feeling blue
These are the memories that keep me warm
On a winter day frost on the lawn
These are the memories that I hold true
I call upon them when I’m feeling blue
Walking home from school not a care in the world
Talking with me neighbours about the weather
Sure it’s a national pastime
Oh these are the things that I recall
They don’t mean much maybe nothing at all
To me they were the best of days
These are the memories that keep me warm
On a winters day frost on the lawn
These are the memories that I hold true
Call upon them when I’m feeling blue
These are the memories that keep me warm
On a winters day frost on the lawn
These are the memories that I hold true
Call upon them when I’m feeling blue
Felling blue feeling blue feeling blue
What’s the story
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
She wants to go shopping but hasn’t the will
To many late night and sleeping pills
Fear wrapped tightly around the thoughts
The front door is open but she’ll never leave
Inspiration she finds at a store
Where two for one offers line up on the floor
Decisions are hard to make these days
And the ground beneath her keeps slipping away
Oh Mary Ann what’s the world to you
What’s the story what did you do
There was a time when they came to your door
Now they don’t come any more
Oh Mary Ann what’s the world to you
What’s the story what did you do
There was a time when they came to your door
But when they knock no one comes
But the past lingers on
She has a fashion a style of her own
With a peg bag and apron still on loan
From a good friend she can’t recall
Lost form the net she cast long ago
Now love wasn’t easy it came with a price
She stood at the table and she threw the dice
But her luck ran out from the day she was born
No way back and no going home
Oh Mary Ann what’s the world to you
What’s the story what did you do
There was a time when they came to your door
Now they don’t come any more
Oh Mary Ann what’s the world to you
What’s the story what did you do
There was a time when they came to your door
But when they knock no one comes
Lawyers and clowns dressed in their gowns
Waiting to set you free
You didn’t fall down while the world around turned crazy
Oh Mary Ann what’s the world to you
What’s the story what did you do
There was a time when they came to your door
Now they don’t come any more
Oh Mary Ann what’s the world to you
What’s the story what did you do
There was a time when they came to your door
But when they knock no one comes
But the past lingers on
But the past lingers on
The past lingers on
Bucannons War
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
In the year of our lord 1432 ten thousand men gathered
They called them Buchannan’s crew
By the river they had camped over night
They rose by the first shafts of dawns early light
Bucannon rode amongst his men on his white steed
Today will see the death of the landlord’s greed
The roar went up from every man there
Well fight till the last man standing dies
The river turned red from the blood of the dead
The devil could see the rage in Buchannan’s eyes
The river turned red from the blood of the dead
The river turned red god save their souls
The battle raged all day and into the night
Hell fell onto the earth in the form of this fight
The screams of the dying lay waste to the air
If there’s a god of mercy he wasn’t found there
Bucannon layed to waste many men’s souls
Some say it was sixty only the good lord knows
By the end of the battle one man stood alone
Bucannon with a blood soaked sword in his hands
The river turned red from the blood of the dead
The devil could see the rage in Buchannan’s eyes
The river turned red from the blood of the dead
The river turned red god save their souls
The field now is overgrown no one knows no one’s told
About Buchannan’s battle in 1432
Some say it’s a myth others say it’s not real
No history book records Buchannan’s zeal
There are those who say when the storms rage high
The sound of dying men cracks across the sky
Deep underground there lies a blood stained sword
Waiting for the next man who comes to fight the landlord
The river turned red from the blood of the dead
The devil could see the rage in Buchannan’s eyes
The river turned red from the blood of the dead
The river turned red god save their souls
God save their souls
The Taxis Waiting
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
When we first met
I had no regrets You came and swept me
Off my feet
But as the years rolled by
I've began to ask why
The taxis waiting and were debating who’ll pay the fare
You’re still talking as I start walking we make a fine pair
You say you love me how can that be you make me feel mad
When I’m drinking I can’t help thinking your cad you’re a bounder
A picture shows us arm in arm
It was taken so long ago
I thought you were so handsome
Little did I know
The taxis waiting and were debating who’ll pay the fare
You’re still talking as I start walking we make a fine pair
You say you love me how can that be you make me feel mad
When I’m drinking I can’t help thinking your cad you’re a bounder
We used to make love every day
Now all you do is turn away
You used to be my lover
Now all you want is the duvet cover
The taxis waiting and were debating who’ll pay the fare
You’re still talking as I start walking we make a fine pair
You say you love me how can that be you make me feel mad
When I’m drinking I can’t help thinking your cad you’re a bounder
The Midnight Bus
Lyrics: Dean/Walsh 2011
On a council estate in England
Somewhere in the north
A young girl’s getting ready
For a night on the town
She’s putting on her make-up
She knows just what to wear
She applies the finishing touches
To her bottled bleached blond hair
’Cos tonight she’s going to blow them away
No matter what they do or say
Nothing’s going to get in her way
Till the midnight bus comes to take her away
She’ll tease the boys drive them insane
To her it’s all just part of the game
And all the boys just want to play
Till the midnight bus comes to take her away
Midnight bus comes to take her away
’Cos the midnight bus is on its way
Her mother looks so worried
She doesn’t say a word
Father says, “Be careful!”
From his chair by the TV
She walks to the bus stop
No coat to keep her warm
She doesn’t seem to notice
That it’s already three below
’Cos tonight she’s going to blow them away
No matter what they do or say
Nothing’s going to get in her way
Till the midnight bus comes to take her away
She’ll tease the boys drive them insane
To her it’s all just part of the game
And all the boys just want to play
Till the midnight bus comes to take her away
Midnight bus comes to take her away
’Cos the midnight bus is on its way
On the bus she sits with others
All in ignorance and bliss
They come from all directions
And it all boils down to this
They spill into the streets
Going from bar to bar
The party’s just getting started
And she looks just like a movie star
’Cos tonight she’s going to blow them away
No matter what they do or say
And nothing’s going to get in her way
Till the midnight bus comes to take her away
’Cos tonight she’s going to blow them away
No matter what they do or say
And nothing’s going to get in her way
Till the midnight bus comes to take her away
She’ll tease the boys drive them insane
To her it’s all just part of the game
And all the boys just want to play
Till the midnight bus comes to take her away
Midnight bus comes to take her away
’Cos the midnight bus is on its way
