|
1. |
|
|
|
|
crystal air in here
twilight shining everything so clear
crystal all around
got my ear close to the ground
if you want to know where to find me
I'm down where the lights shine so brightly
where the giants walk
diamond light shining through
I've got it all but I haven't got a clue
diamonds all around
they were lost but now they're found
if you want to know where to find me
I'm in a cave all bright and shiny
where the giants walk
sapphire eyes on my mind
before I saw them I was blind
sapphire lights in the disco
guide me now I know where to go
if you want to know where to find me
find out and come and untie me
where the giants walk
|
|
2. |
|
|
|
|
I marked the firmament
as I got into the station
played the whole thing in my head
rose as part of the standing ovation
I hooted, hollered and stamped both feet
stayed til the last clap and left my seat
I marked the horizon
as the train pulled in
held on to the true fact
that you had dealt with all my sin
I marked the passengers
walking along the platform's edge
peeled my eyes away from the abyss
and stepped back from the ledge
I marked the ticket office
as the sunset splayed across the sky
thought about a kind and perfect god
who'd sent his only son to die
|
|
3. |
|
|
|
|
I drove up to the car park near the west river
turned over several thoughts in my mind
sat back and waited to see what the day would deliver
hoped that the traffic warden would be kind
I went over several scenarios in the car
got comfortable as I waited for the scene to play out
wondered which lead actress they'd chosen as the star
in my head I chased a few hypotheses about
I walked up to the top of the hill
was amazed how much of the city I could see from there
worked out the distance from my house to the mill
felt static electricity go through my hair
found a rock and I threw it as far as I could
sensed disapproving eyes staring into my back
I turned around 180 degrees towards the wood
but there was noone staring back on the woodland track
stood outside the electrical goods shop
leaned up against the bright clean glass
and when the security guard asked me to stop
I closed my eyes and waited for him to pass
off into the twinkling sunset
but instead he talked into his walkie talkie
its obvious that he doesn't quite get
people like you and me
|
|
4. |
|
|
|
|
hold the kernel tight in your hand
don't open it until you understand
hold onto the hope of better days coming
let it go when you feel your fingers numbing
drum out a beat on the table
let your fingers take you where you're not able
place your hopes and dreams up on a high shelf
close your eyes and then open your mouth
hold this fragment of time in your hand
hold on tightly to the grains of sand
but as they begin to slip through the gap
with your index finger begin to tap
out a rhythm on the armchair's arm
know that here you're safe from harm
hold on to the hope that you've know for years
wipe your nose and unblock your ears
|
|
5. |
|
|
|
|
poison sun shines down
where the shadows fall
solitary trees
stand twenty feet tall
man in a cape
charms a rope up high
and when his young son follows it up
the villagers don't believe their eyes
indian rope trick
indian rope trick
la la la
hey hey hey
southerly wind
brings in strange debris
and the rope still stays
straight and tall as a tree
but when the charmer's young son
vanishes at the top of the rope
the wise old sage
coughs and splutters and begins to choke
indian rope trick
indian rope trick
la la la
hey hey hey
|
|
6. |
|
|
|
|
I stayed in the house today
sky was an ultramarine blue
sun blazed in through the windows
and one sad fact rang true
one sad fact rang true
watched too many cartoons
and I hate the guts of scrappy doo
and I ate way too much sugar
and one sad fact rang true
one sad fact rang true
I opened up all the windows
and turned the oven fan on too
closed my eyelids and let the breeze hit them
and one sad fact rang true
one sad fact rang true
|
|
7. |
|
|
|
|
inched my way down to magdalen bridge
to escape from my buzzing fridge
inched my way down the road
i was carrying such a heavy load
i stand under it
i understand it
i stand under it
i understand it
inched my way up st clements
hummed to myself oranges and lemons
kept clear of st giles
stayed away from their frozen smiles
|
|
8. |
|
|
|
|
I went for a run this evening
the fog was thick and the snow was melting
my feet were wet and almost freezing
although I could feel the temperature rising
its gonna be a full moon tonight
so I'm hoping the clouds obscure it
or else you're gonna get a fright
and so am I, I feel sure of it
but I got lost half way around
and I'd heard the legend of the hound
and in the bushes I heard a cracking sound
so I dove to the floor and stayed close to the ground
it was a false alarm but I still felt the chill
so I rushed up to the top of shotover hill
and I'm still not whether the legend's real
but I'll keep on running still
|
|
9. |
|
|
|
|
guard your heart
there are wolves about
and if you lie down before them
they will devour you
guard your heart
there are lions on the prowl
and if you lie down before them
they will eat you whole
guard your heart
there are wolves in the yugoslavian hills
and if you lie down before them
they will devour you
guard your heart
there are lions escaped from belgrade zoo
and if you lie down before them
they will eat you whole
guard your heart
there are wolves at the door to our small house
and if you lie down before them
they will devour you
guard your heart
there are lions roaming around the fields around our village
and if you lie down before them
they will eat you whole
|
|
10. |
|
|
|
|
when the heavenly doctor sibbes stepped down from the lecturn
dozens of hearts in the congregation started to burn
and honey was spilling from the heavens above
as people came to a clearer understanding of christ's love
hearts have got to melt not break
hearts have got to melt not break
hearts have got to melt not break
because a broken heart's no use to anyone
the honey dropper bypassed discussion of behaviour
he went deeper it was the heart that was key to love of the saviour
and as our love for Christ grows so too our hate for sin will grow
and love for Christ will become more than just something to know
|
|
11. |
|
|
|
|
the sun beat down
on our little town
when the translators came back around
I don't know how we coped
but with hope against hope
we grabbed hold on to the safety rope
when the plane touched down on the green strip
I had your name on my lips
when the plane touched down with our prize
I saw your word for the first time with my own eyes
the rain fell down
on our little town
and blessings were all around
the day they sent
such a glorious present
our very own version of the new testament
the light came down
on our little town
and everyone gathered around
there were tears in the eyes
of the young, old and wise
this was the greatest day of our lives
|
|
12. |
|
|
|
|
walked down the road in the cold june sun
walked at a swift pace but I didn't run
I could hear the air conditioning hum
I walked until the day was done
people said it was such a pity
when I laid down and died in girlfriend city
found a place mid afternoon
that reminded me of last june
found myself in the eye of a monsoon
july couldn't come too soon
|
|
13. |
|
|
|
|
you and I
set out dreams up in the sky
had no alibi
but we watched the clouds go by
we never knew why
we just waited for the fly by
held our hands up high
it felt like we'd never die
we never try
it seems easy to you and I
as the earth remains dry
and I get something in my eye
you and I
set out dreams up in the sky
had no alibi
but we watched the clouds go by
|
|
14. |
|
|
|
|
if I recall correctly
the match began early afternoon
two weeks ago
the first four sets went by in a breeze
the fifth one is like cycling
through the pure driven snow
unforced error counts
and the list of double faults
is climbing high into the sky
and every part of my body
says I should quit
but he just wont die
he just wont die
I came here for a game of tennis
but I feel like I'll be leaving
with blood on my hands
the hour glass is cracking
and I'm leaving footprints
all across the sands
every now and again I feel like I could use a little breather
but there's no time to breathe
when you've got things to do
and somehow I repress
the crushing feeling
and my resilience comes through
my resilience comes through
it was during the 88th game I think
that I wondered
what this was all about
the sunlight faded
back behind the court
and I wondered how I could get out
something inside of me
said I should continue
until the well was dry
but I could barely
lift my racquet to serve
and he just wouldn't die
he just wouldn't die
on the second evening
I look a long hard look at myself
in the mirror
I looked for weaknesses
in my facial expression
but I couldn't trace a quivver
in the hotel room
I felt strong
I felt cool and I felt steady
and when trouble came
hurtling down the road
I felt ready
I felt ready
|
|
15. |
|
|
|
|
your eyes are twin gold mines
and I want to mine them for a while
something in them shines
and I think its the gold stockpile
bullion stacked on bullion
row upon row of gold
worth a billion times a billion
and they make me feel bold
your eyes are twin gold mines
and I guess x marks the spot
and I'm headed down the rabbit hole on tram lines
and the temperature is getting hot
as the cave gets darker
I'll let my torch light shine
and I'll lay down a marker
and the gold will be mine
your eyes are twin gold mines
and I'm a one man gold rush
I got a headrush from the flashing signs
and a headache from the hush
and I looked up into the sky
through a gap in the cave
and I saw the gold piled high
and wondered who I'd come to save
|
|
16. |
|
|
|
|
ever decreasing circles
gases slowly rising
wind blowing through my hair
gently prising
the lid open on the can of peanuts
|
In 2011 I embarked on a project to write a song a day for a year, however going on holiday and moving house put a stop to this plan and the end total was 242. I whittled the 242 down to 16 and before you are the finest cuts. I hope you enjoy these songs about monsters, love, the geography of oxford and christianity.
released February 1, 2012