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SHANTARAY........for my darling Shu, who sings on this one.
If fortune rides a mare of gold, then saddle up this weary soul
Guide me when my luck turns bad, give me sugar when I'm sad
CH
Oh canter, through the shining sea
Oh whistle, your desires to me
Oh gallop, 'til we lose our way
Only then will we slow down,
Shantaray
If I should falter on the way, then lean towards my ear and say You
will put no-one above, 'cos I'm the one you really love
Those who think the rein too tight don't know the way my heart takes
flight You can try to set me free, but I am yours eternally
CANDID OR POSED.........for an old flame who is still dear to me.
Candid or posed,
By the clock on the wall I know it's time for you to fall Through my
door again The image stays with me, recurring behind my closed eyes,
Candid or posed,
Not a lot we can do but admit it's overdue Our last reckoning, I
know what you're up to, you're trying to cut me to size
Putting pictures together can make a pretty story, Write a new
version of how things could be, When you first met me I was just a
little lady My black and white world is now colour
Candid or posed,
Do we smile on and on 'til the goodwill's all gone By the wayside
And our hearts are as empty and cold as the blue of your eyes
Our friends used to stare at the wall in the kitchen It was like an
exhibition, devoted to me Then the pictures came down and in the
space of a minute Your camera found a new angle
Candid or posed,
In a house made of glass there is no way to pass Invisibly We're
burned into each other's memory By some strange design Candid or
posed
ANOTHER SEASON........peering behind the stoic facade of the
farmer's wife (thanks Jarrod Watt!)
3 inches of rain
A soaking the land needs, no right to complain I danced like an
Injun in the dust Then the sky went black, and the clouds went bust
And the pretty green growing in the night Will feed my family,
another season
3 inches of rain
Brought the river to life, and the waterfall drain Now the kids can
play behind the gout Of the weir as it rushes over and out And the
tepid dew softening the ground Will feed our town, another season
We'll love again 'til winter comes and our old troubles flare Won't
you hold me in the night again, remember why you care Another season
3 inches of rain
Half as long and twice as strong, no right to complain, My needs
come second in this game So I'll put my shoulder to the wheel 'til
night falls again And the brilliant green that comes in the night
Will keep me here another season
BENT TREE..........my dad reckons this is a socialist manifesto of
sorts...I was just wondering!
Last night I dreamed
A bent tree, a bent tree
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Last night I dreamed
A bent tree, a bent tree
What is my mind trying to tell me?
Last week I dreamed
A big house, a big house
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Last week I dreamed
A big house, a big house
What is my mind trying to tell me?
Is it the same when I dream of the rain Choking me 'cos it's so
heavy As when I ride high on a 50 foot wave With water as far as the
eye can see
Maybe tonight
A bullfight, a bullfight
What will it mean?
What will it mean?
Maybe tonight
A bullfight, a bullfight
What will my mind try to tell me?
What is my mind trying to tell me?
12 GHOSTS IN THE RIVER.....a true story.
A drunk tanker pilot took out the midsection Of the bridge leading
over the deep Derwent River
The dark hid the sound of the cars hitting water They followed each
other not seein' the danger
And they never did find neither lost nor survivor The cold water
claimed a great bounty all right They charged the ship's master 12
counts of manslaughter
12 ghosts in the river and a rusted taillight
It's true this all happened a long time ago But the memories are
young as the ghosts are below To drive on that bridge and look into
the river Sends a chill through the body and a prayer through the
bones
They never did find anybody that night
12 ghosts in the river
MARRIED MAN, MARRIED LADY.........inspired by closing night
shenanigans at Tamworth Country Music Festival.
I never will forget the way he first appeared to me I swear the
diamonds in his eyes were all that I could see He led me on with
talk so sweet it nearly drove me crazy But he's a married man and
I'm a married lady
The second time we met it was a sultry August night I felt so
goddamned happy then he hit me with a right He said, "Honey, I can't
let you play the way you wanna play me, "Cos I'm a married man, and
you're a married lady."
The third night was ruined by the realisation That our love must be
forbidden and left to die away The rings on our fingers are like a
wall between us There to remind us of where we should stay
In my mind I knew the time for parting had begun Dancin' close I
took the chance to have a little fun Just one more night, I told
myself, I'll beg forgiveness daily 'Cos he's a married man and I'm a
married lady
We spun a little closer as the band moved down a gear The saddest
voice I've ever heard came softly in my ear "Your husband's here for
you," and then he walked off smiling bravely 'Cos he's a married
man, and I'm a married lady
CRYING AT MIDNIGHT........we've all been here.
Well I'm the latest fool in your loved and lost parade And I don't
need to tell you, you know you should have stayed Why don't you call
me, I thought you were my friend
Crying at midnight, sighing at midnight Trying at midnight, dying at
midnight
When the lights are low, and shadows start to fade I burn with shame
and sorrow at the choices I have made Dreams fall around me, there's
nothing to defend
I hope I will be there when the final hand is played And all the
debts you owe demand to be repaid Waiting to catch you, just around
the bend
WHO IS WHO..........for Chris, the best dad I know.
Eels slide in twos downstream of you In waders and shades of your
father Eyes watch for signs of their sinewy movements You wanna feed
your children something new
You don't subscribe to sensual suicide Determined to keep their
minds alive Instead of the news, they read rock reviews And because
of you, they know who is who
Your youngest boy flies through the heavens Waits for powers he
already has Your older boy dreams of restaurants in Spain And the
ball game that holds his intention
Hungry, cold, thirsty, sad, tired and then All happy and warm, fed
and rested Brave men they'll be with their spirits so free Knowing
what goes down must come up again
IT HURTS ME.......this one for my boys, who play drums on the last
track.
It hurts me to leave you tonight
And it hurts me to turn on my headlights There are tears in my eyes,
I'm committing a sin It hurts me to hurt you again
Little eyes still closed as I tiptoe to the door Brush the hair from
your brow, kiss you softly once more I make this promise to you, not
to drive when I'm tired There's so much I can do, but I promise to
try
Out my window, see a mare and foal play Yeah I'm lonely, and 12
hours away I'll bring home my precious one something cool for you
And something for your daddy too
Mystery's ahead, and my heart's left behind Just why am I searching,
what am I hoping to find
TOP OF PAGE
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by Sarah Carroll (all instruments, Sarah and Marcel Borrack)
Available on Croxton
Records Christmas Sampler
She made a mistake
She called me a scrag
She had no idea that I was on the rag
Her hair felt good in my hand as I blackened her eye
My Mahalo felt light as it flew through the air
For $25 dollars you can have one spare
In case you need it some night in a ukulele bitchfight
We were supposed to be sharing a mic
But sharing a mic is not what I like
'Cause I can't be swinging my hips in time with the band
Unstrapped my pride, my silver ukulele
Can do a bit of damage with this little baby
The better to defend my right in a ukulele bitchfight
Bitchfight, bitchfight
Always gets the crowd on its feet
Bitchfight, bitchfight
Don't forget to swing with the beat..
My uke teacher's a hell of a man
I don't share him if I can help it
But every now and then some Hawaiian pretender
Steps on up and wants to be a contender
So after the lesson when we turn off the light
I take aim in the darkness and start a ukulele bitchfight
Bitchfight, bitchfight
Always gets the crowd on its feet
Bitchfight, bitchfight
Don't forget to swing with the beat...
Closing time, not a minute too early
I won't cry, no. I'll go with a smile
And a light heart, put my burden down
It was bending my back anyway
Travel on, keep the secrets we whispered
I won't tell, no, I'll show nobody
Make a new start, turn left and keep turning
Tomorrow's a brand new day
I could wait another week or two
Til I got that different feeling from you
But it comes down to a deep point of view
I just don't understand
Say goodbye to a dream without limit
I'd keep dreamin' but my heart isn't in it
God forgive me, I can't try any longer
I've said all I'm willin' to say
I gave them tea, and a chocolate teddy bear
An experience so rare, an honour for me
My man and I feel for them so we could cry
But when a black man meets your eye it makes you smile
I hope this day of Spring so pretty
Made them feel good about coming to the city
I hope they tell their families about the friends they made down here
I hope our children will never forget about jamming with Derek and the
soft
eyes of Kevin
Now we've got black family, and our dreams can all be shared
He was an accident waiting to happen, a lovin' disaster
zone
A risk you'd never take no, no, so why did I take him home?
Well he hurt me comprehensively and I did my best to hurt him back
He was an accident waiting to happen, and it happened just like that
Well the thought of love undyin' don't make no sense
to me
I wind up leaving every man I know before day three
I wanna be somebody's baby, wanna be somebody's wife
Well I just don't care to share my whole damn life
You know when you know it's over, and the feeling
that you had is gone?
Well I never ever had that feeling, I was happy on my own
But like a runaway rollerblader, yeah he stopped me in my tracks
He was an accident waiting to happen, and it happened just like that
We are riding along in a car with no brakes
Rushing for the red light well make no mistake
It's dangerous, I know it's dangerous
You tell me I'm no good, then I go out on the town
Pretend I got no troubles, in my heart I'm oh so down
And dangerous, I know it's dangerous
Well you tell me you don't know anywhere that you
belong
When I try to make it better, well I always get it wrong
I want you to be happy, a laughin' singin' man
But I see you getting ready for a brand new plan
It's dangerous, I know it's dangerous
You believe that I'm a woman with a cold and stony
heart
I can see your trust has ended and it tears me all apart
There's too much lonely distance, too many bad goodbyes
I turn my head around so you won't see me cry
It's dangerous, I know it's dangerous
Drunk man, with a smile on his face
Drunk man, such a terrible waste,
Drunk man, with a shake in his hand,
No point in wreckin' his plan
Drunk man, he's the talk of the town,
Drunk man, puts his family down,
Sober, there's a mess in his mind,
There's no telling how he'll unwind
Always, always, always, always
Drunk man, telling me I'm his friend
Drunk man, wants to tell me again,
Hold on to the girl at the bar,
Wonder how he'll get to his car?
I was sad when you left last night cos I like you
too much
The lights went dim and the music lost its bite
My lips were smiling but I cried inside cos I like you too much
I wanted you to stay but you slipped off into the night
I've only met you once or twice, already I like you
too much
Now I think of your face and wonder if you think of mine?
There are so many reasons for me not to like you too much,
And I've gotta be careful that I don't step over the line
A man like you's a rare thing
A devil and an angel combined
I wish I'd never met you
Or I'd met you at another time
Cos there's so many reasons for me not to like you too much
And I've gotta be careful that I don't step over the line
Cos if you get too close to me I'm gonna make you mine
Take me to a place where there's an airplane in the
driveway
A chair for papa bear among the fur rugs and the ivy
Where a man gets everything he wants from Saturday to Friday
Take me where the moon is blue
They say that there's a room upstairs, they won't
let no-one in there
When I get my chance, you see I'll show them that I don't care
Gonna feel his clothing and I'm gonna sit in his chair
Yeah some of me will stay behind
Oh the concrete lions and stained glass peacocks of
Graceland
I long to hold them gently in my sight
And I believe the gates are made of silver
I wish that I was locked in for the night
I know that I am gonna cry the minute that I'm in
there
I've dreamed of it so many times, I feel like I have been there
Gotta find somebody I can talk into the airfare
I've gotta buy some souvenirs
The wind outside howls and whines like an out of tune
steel guitar
I'd give my leg to get out of here but my baby's taken the car
The tears I've cried since he left me would fill that old fruit jar
I'm sad, I'm blue, I'm dyin'
If I get one more sideways look, stop one more conversation
I'm gonna have to live my life in a state of isolation
Cos it's better to admit defeat, than to act on my frustration
I'm sad, I'm blue, I'm dyin'
He never left me bleedin' , he never left a scar,
But it's been years since we were seen kissin' in the car
He's gone to find the heat and light of someone else's star
I'm sad, I'm blue, I'm dyin'
When I met you I was in love with another,
I wanted to kiss you and not be your mother
I dream of love and I dream of sin
I dream of touching your lily white skin
There's a whole book of poems to you in my head
I whisper them out while I'm lyin' in bed
I dream of love and I dream of sin
I dream of touching your lily white skin
Hurry now sweet one, it's time to come find me
Passion joins hearts that are of the same kind
Am I a fool to believe that you love me?
Show me before I go out of my mind
I dream of love...
The last one out's the first one in, I dream of touching
your lily white skin
And I know the end just has to begin, I dream of touching your lily
white skin
I'm not inclined to try
We're talking round the heartache and there's wisdom in our silence
The neighbours know there's something wrong
The bitterness ain't leaving
I'm not inclined to try
I'm not inclined to try
Remember when I wrote to you, the words had a light of their own
I trusted in your love for me, didn't know no better
And I'm not inclined to try
I'm up to the teeth in treachery
And tactics are a thing I just happen to be good at
And you know I could be sweeter, yeah and happy with the picture
But I'm tired and I'm lonely, standing at the bottom
I'm not inclined to try, not inclined to try right now
I'm not inspired to fly
There's a star out tonight, a pretty new light
In the velvety sky above
And the paper white moon is singin' a tune
To send sweet Rosie our love
As time goes faster, the road gets longer
And certain will fall by the way
Rosie is gone, and we must go on
Til we meet in heaven someday
Now she was as sweet as a birdie could be
Her eyes were twinklin' bright
But cursed be the wings that carried her on
She went to her maker that night
All the fight's gone out of me
I'm like a willow bent in the wind
Lonely and still only partway through life
It's hard to be a showman's wife
Rain falls down, takes me down to the ground
Gives me something to talk about
Kids run around, run me into the ground
I'm on my own when the lights go out
See the couple over there, see him stroking her hair
Now he's laughin' at something she said,
I turn to the right, nobody in sight,
Do si do all alone to the bed
Five empty years and rivers of tears are behind me
And if I should go, would he even know where to find me?
A woman in her prime shouldn't be so sad
I'm like treasure no-one bothers to find
Lonely and still only partway through life
It's hard to be a showman's wife
I thought I was over you, but I'm still your slave
I thought that we could go on, in our separate ways
Thought I didn't need your love, but now I find
I was careless you know, but I still love you so
It's a crime
Could there ever be a love to rival mine?
I can't bear to think of you away from me for even a second of time
Have I really lost you forever? Well I just can't believe
There's only a few short hours til you kiss me and then leave
Empty space inside where once there was a beautiful
harmony
Now the beauty has gone and the music is too sad for me
Thought I was over you, but I'm still your slave
i thought that we could go on in our separate ways
Thought I didn't need your love, but my needing goes on
I was careless with you, now you're saying we're through
And you're gone
There's a darkness inside me that lingers
Despite the touch of your hand
The love that pours from your fingers
Is something I'll never understand
I feel so small, so mean and helpless
Whenever I let my dark side shine
I love the taste of unhappiness
The scent of poison blossom time
O gentle souls and faithful lovers
Beware my tongue and sparklin' eyes
There's room for all of us in this old place
Your kisses, my scratches and our lies
The man who loves me is an angel
He's good and kind and sure and right
And I could kill him with one hard word
I'd rather drain him slowly in the night
Pirate girl, tell everyone
Who'd furl your sail and stop your fun
You've gotta move, gold calls to you
And the sirens might get your crew
But they'll lower their eyes when you stare down
With your mother-of-pearl and your diamonds flashing
Knife held tight, powder dry
Sea legs, strong arms and your one good eye
Hair that smells like a red rose in the sun
Eyes that shine like a glass in firelight
Lips as sweet as honey on a slice of toasted white
You're my daytime, you're my sunrise, you're my perfect rosy apple,
You're tomorrow, you're last Tuesday, you're my delight
Silver moon, I wish you could come down
And give us all a silent starry ride
Purple clouds to lie on, I'll hold you good and tight
You're my shadow, you're my starlight, you're my sleepy little flower
You're forever, you're the weekend, you're my delight
Treasures of my heart, you fill my arms with joy
The sweetest of all things on earth, my darling little boys
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