Sides

You couldn’t run, you couldn’t hide, they had their spies out on your track
You had some fun, you took a ride, you tried to fit into the pack
But all the time they knew you lied, they knew that you’d be bound to crack
Hospital Carolina

You dreamed of stars, of open cars and surfing out on Malibu
You drank in bars and Miromars, you shot the dice and skimmed the pool
You thought of saving your integrity before it came up for renewal
Hospital Carolina – so who needs Rudolf Steiner?

Let me hear you now
“Um and aargh, um and aargh, um”, was all he told me
I’m catching beriberi and I am feeling so low
“This is much too good for the people” he said
I said “don’t people have minds of their own?”
And it’s better that you agree
In this best of best industries
I was in the midst of a dream
I felt like shouting something obscene

A man appeared, he had a beard, he had a dog right at his feet
I said, “My song?”, he said “It’s long, it’s got no balls”,
I said: “that’s neat, but it took me thirty years to write”,
He said, “your image is incomplete”.
Hospital Carolina

The curtains up, the spotlights on, they’ve got you spitting at the crowd,
A needle match, a little scratch, and you’re above the busy cloud,
Going out and getting in a fight it makes the news, so you’ll be proud
Hospital Carolina – so who needs Rudolf Steiner?

Let me hear you now
“Um and aargh, um and aargh, um”, was all he told me
I’m catching beriberi and I am feeling so low
“This is much too good for the people” he said
I said “don’t people have minds of their own?”
And it’s better that you agree
In this best of best industries
I was in the midst of a dream
I felt like shouting something obscene

They’ve washed you up, they’ve squashed you up,
You find your brain is going bad
You played the game, its all the same, the wisest fools are really mad
You take a gun, to save our sons, and, God, his brain is bullet-proof
And so it’s welcome to the ministry of everlasting truth
Hospital Carolina – so who needs Rudolf Steiner?

Let me hear you now
“Um and aargh, um and aargh, um”, was all he told me
I’m catching beriberi and I am feeling so low
“This is much too good for the people” he said
I said “don’t people have minds of their own?”
Shooting to the top, be a great tin god
Then plummet to obscurity well,
And its better that you agree
In this best of best industries
And it’s better not to presume
Or it’s you that we will consume.

Used to lie awake
Frightened of the dark
Used to count the ghosts
Out in the hallway
Childhood fancies flee
And we learn to trust the night
But I’m haunted by a
Different kind of story.
And through me sleep,
You’re shining, filling my eyes

I want your love
I need your love
I’m holding on
Getting tangled up so badly
You’re giving me such a time
Don’t play the game
Don’t make me feel a fool.
I’m not superstitious,
Your love is the richest
I’m not superstitious,
This could be the special one.

April swept the streets
Pools of rain
She was borne away
Upon a silver steamer
Then, one afternoon
Someone ushered Summer in
I was forced to make a choice
Before the dream had settled
And now you stand your beauty
Filling my eyes.

I want your love
I need your love
I’m holding on
Getting tangled up so badly
You’re giving me such a time
Don’t play the game
Don’t make me feel a fool.
I’m not superstitious,
Your love is the richest
I’m suspicious,
This could be the special one.

She makes her face up in the looking glass
The bell is counting down the time
They’re shouting out to see the princess dance
She takes the key and starts her climb

Lucy, now that you’re famous,
Lucy, you’re still my dream,
Lucy, will you remember?
Lucy, oh Lucy will.

I always knew you’d reach the dizzy heights
And leave me stranded far below
And though it’s years since we were put to flight
My heart is aching still to know

Lucy, now that you’re famous,
Lucy, you’re still my dream,
Lucy, will you remember?
Lucy, oh Lucy will.

And so the lights burn out your name tonight
Back in your room the crowds all leave
Have fame and fortune been the dream you hoped
Or is it just a hollow scheme?

Lucy, now that you’re famous,
Lucy, you’re still my dream,
Lucy, will you remember?
Lucy, oh Lucy will

Side door, you’ll be the one
Side door, I’m telling you, won’t be undone
Side door, we’re coming on through
Side door, so steady so gentle and true
Someone with whom to take a broader view

Lockjaw, you won’t be the one,
Lockjaw, you’re out of date, old-fashioned fun,
Something to make you sleepy in the sun.

Nothing could be be so simple
Give a little bit more, you’ll soon see why
She’s hiding beneath her covers,
You’re playing it a bit cool
Your head’s up high, hang it down
And then love will come and see you
Happily on your way
Happily on your way
Happy to find your way.

Side door, you’re letting me in
Side door, I’m shutting you, keep out of the wind
She’s such a treat and oh, so masculine

Ground floor, you’re letting me down,
Ground floor, you show me the best place in town,
Somewhere discreet, to let our toupees down.

Nothing could be be so simple
Give a little bit more, you’ll soon see why
She’s hiding beneath her covers,
You’re playing it a bit cool
Your head’s up high, hang it down
And then love will come and see you
Happily on your way
Happily on your way
We’re happily on…

Nothing could be be so simple
Give a little bit more, you’ll soon see why
She’s hiding beneath her covers,
You’re playing it a bit cool
Your head’s up high, hang it down
And then love will come and see you
Happily on your way
Happily on your way
We’re happily on your way
Happy to find your way.

Side door, you’ll be the one

Where we are, it’s cold and lonely
There we are, oh God if only
Either one of us would go away
 
Where we are, is next to nowhere
Even the highway just hates to go there
Nothing in the world could make it stay
 
Why do we sit here in misery
Is it democracy or just insane?
You and your yen to be high in society
Speaking financially, it looks like rain:
And you say: “boy, you better be nice to me
I’ll get what is coming to you
I’ll take all the property too”.
 
Where we are is holy deadlock
God had a nerve when he named it wedlock
Couldn’t he have found another way?
 
Where we are, it’s cold and lonely
There we are, oh God if only
Either one of us would go away
 
Why do we sit here in misery
Is it democracy or just insane?
You and your yen to be high in society
Speaking financially, it looks like rain:
And you say: “boy, you better be nice to me
I’ll get what is coming to you
I’ll take all the property too”.

There was once a Marionette
Who walked in fields of silk and pearl, so light,
Then the darkness came upon me
I awoke, I could not see her face
Her voice across dark waters spoke
Please turn on the light, it’s growing cold.

She was once my Lady Friend,
I’d loved her countless times before, so light,
Then the darkness crept upon her
I awoke, I could not hear her voice
She left no sign or souvenir
Please turn on the light, it’s cold in here.

Something tells me we’ve burnt out all our boats
Setting sail upon a storm-ridden sea,
And putting faith in the Gods of ancient times
I had believed we could be strong and supreme
She was like a breath of autumn
She fell like the chestnut leaves.

So the moons rise slowly now
In swirling mists I dimly see, darkly,
Trapped in cobwebbed tunnel darkness.
Still as then, I cannot see her face,
Her voice is still accosting me.
Please turn out the lights, the last to leave.

(instrumental)

Say no word
She watched as she waited
By the iron gate
Veiled in black brocade
Tom was all alone
She spoke soft but breathless,
He took the half-a-crown
And thought how strange

Long ago, she knew a man
Who sailed the seas
And gave her a daughter
Through the vanished years
Fate bestowed a lady’s seat
She honoured it with grace
Hid the past and with it me

And now, she is everything to me
Though I was denied her tenderness
Years spent in gloom
I cried in my room
I believed I’d been quite deserted
But now that I find
She gave everything to me
Until it became quite impossible
Scorn upon scandal
Helpless to handle
She’s bitterly breaking now
Why is my dream disturbed?

Cold cut the wind
We pitched as we tossed
From cobblestone to track
Along the old canal
Fierce came the frost
The stone changed to pasture
Could anyone survive?
Has anybody seen?

Long ago a fox found out,
They laid the captain dead at his masthead
Searching everywhere,
Questioning the wind and trees
I beat the empty air,
Knowing it has seen her face
And now, I’d give everything to know
Why my flesh and blood must suffer so
Turning and tossing
From river to crossing
Causing great confusion
If only she knew she was everything to me,
Alone now, somewhere, she’s imploring me
Oh, please forgive me
I’ve been so thoughtless
She’s bitterly breaking now

For, she is everything to me
Though I denied her tenderness
Years spent in gloom
I cried in my room
I believed I’d been quite deserted
But now that I find
She gave everything to me
Until it became quite impossible
Scorn upon scandal
Helpless to handle
I pray we are not too late….

Bleak rose the towers
The rain lashed the horses
We found the gate ajar
Her cloak lay in a heap
The captain’s furled his sails
It comes as no surprise
She’s no longer here.

She drinks the morning air
She takes the utmost care
She’s very good
She sets the flowers aright
She gives the birds their flight
She’s very good – she’s very good to me.
Westminster strolling
Battersea rolling by
And in the night
You will find her at her easel
Drawing ducks and drakes,
Cathedral eyes
She is one of the best
You can be sure of it

Magdalen, of the misty eyes
You didn’t think I’d lose you again
Magdalen, sees the shifting skies
Her majesty makes mighty of men
Magdalen’s gone to Edinburgh spires
And she’s holding your life in her hands

Who holds the world outside?
Who stills the rising tide?
She’s very good
Who weaves the stars display?
Who seals the dwindling day?
She’s very good – she’s very good to me,
Oxford bells ringing,
Phantom choirs singing.

Magdalen of the misty eyes,
The world is waiting at your behest
Magdalen, sees the shifting skies
And old St. Ives stands firm in the West
Magdalen’s gone to Edinburgh spires
And she’s holding your life in her hands.

We watch the autumn glow
We take the evening slow
It’s very good
We hear the vespers rung
And night’s web deftly spun
It’s very good, it’s very good that she
Sleepy car stories;
Lighthouse lives
Gulls crying, “storm!”
And in the night
You will find her in the sistine chapel
Looking down
Cathedral mind
She was here from the start
She has seen all of it…

Magdalen, of the misty eyes
You didn’t think I’d lose you again
Magdalen, sees the shifting skies
Her majesty makes mighty of men
Magdalen’s gone to Edinburgh spires
And she’s holding your life in her hands
Holding our lives in her hands

(instrumental)

(instrumental)