Homage to my late uncle Colin

There’s a yellow hazy glow as the sun sinks low beside me here
And I’m hoping that you know - we miss you badly
Did you really have to go? We never got to say good bye
No lingering farewell, just a bolt from a clear blue sky

Agreeably eccentric
In the nicest way
Childhood curiosity
Never left you for a day

It wasn’t till you left that we realised what you did for us
A glue that bound us all, we never knew was you
And you gave it all with grace, never asking for applause
I hope you found reward, and that now it finds you too


Colin (original)

Revised version of song written for my fathers poem When, written in India during WW2 after Kipling's If


When you can segregate your powers of reason
From what you feel and treat the two apart,
Rejecting acts of faith as acts of treason
By which the brain surrenders to the heart;

When you can tune yourself to not believing
And, though you don’t believe, pretend you do,
And learn to live your life throughout conceiving
A host of plans and know they won’t come true;

When you can face the undoubted facts presented
That wars, injustice, lies are here to stay,
And still devote yourself, no less contented
To doing what you can from day to day;

Nothing will then have power to disillusion,
Though dreams alone will serve to bring relief;
You will have learned the secret of the children;
That playing bears does not require belief.

When, Aug  21

Written by my friend Laurence Hodge, but never recorded before

Your knight in shining armour has got lost upon his way
But still you hope that he'll arrive
And in your girlish heart teenage emotions still hold sway
You hope he'll come, you hope he'll stay and never go away.

Don't scan the far horizons for his charger to appear
He might be standing next to you
The suit he wears is made of wool, It isn't made of mail. These days
The modern knight equips himself at the January sales

Your knight in shining armour has gone upon his way
He won't be coming back no more
It wasn't that he couldn't wait, or couldn't find the door
It's simply you didn't recognize what you've been waiting for.

(Words and music by Laurence Hodge - an old friend)

knight in shining armour (original cover)

I don’t need another lover
You’re the only one
Cuddle up beneath the covers
Radiate your sun

Day and night we’ll make a life
bricks and bats may come
Whatever way the dice may fall
We won’t come undone

The secret of this team
Can easily be found
Aim right at the stars
While anchored to the ground

Start again, each day is different
Fresh as on day one
Individuals bound together
In a team that won 

The secret of this team
Can easily be found
Aim right at the stars
While anchored to the ground

I don’t need another lover
You’re the only one
Cuddle up beneath the covers
Radiate your sun



Radiate your sun (Original)

If life is a drink
Savour each swallow
New wonders await us
Life is our end

If your glass is half full
Bring on more bottles!
Jump in and draw deeply
Life is our end

Unknowable invisible intangible time
Who knows if the next drink or the next blink will be mine?

Unknowable invisible intangible time
Who knows if the next drink or the next blink will be mine?

And when our time comes
That last glass is empty
All stress will just melt away
Life is our end

Life is our end (original)

Words amended for my two grandsons

I know (I know) 
You belong
To Mum
Who will come
But for now
You belong to me

Although (although)
We’re apart
You’re a part
Of my heart 
And for now
You belong to me

Curled here in my arms
How sweet and quietly calm
I’ll play the role of Mum
For a moment

Jasper baby  -
I know (I know)
That Mum
Is the One
Who will come
But for now
You belong to me

Curled here (curled here) in my arms
How very very cute and quietly calm
I’ll play the role of Mum
For just this moment

My Alby  -
I know (I know)
That Mum
Is the One
Who will come
But for now
You belong to me

Just to me


For now you belong to me (Cover with amended words)

Poem by Patrick Kavanagh set to an old tune.

On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew 
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue; 
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way, 
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day.

On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge 
Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion's pledge, 
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay - 
O I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away.

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that's known 
To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone 
And word and tint. I did not stint for I gave her poems to say. 
With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over fields of May

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now 
Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow 
That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of clay - 
When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day.

On Raglan Road (Cover)

Choice

Individual freedom means you have to choose your way
No one’s there to tell you what to do
Choice can be a burden if you don’t know what to play
Consequences flow from what you choose

Find a voice
Make a choice
Once you know the way to go you’re more than half way there
The rest is mainly blood and sweat and tears

Inspiration springs from nowhere, grab it if you can
Recognize it when it lands on you
Camouflage can make it hard to separate from spam
Learn to sort the false notes from the true

Jump right in
Sink or swim
Problems breed solutions, luck cuts either way
Perseverance often wins the day

There’s no one else to blame if everything goes wrong
The fault may lie in choices that you made
Don’t complain, just try again and sing a better song
Perseverance often wins the day


Choice (Original)

A song can lead an army and help you win a war
A song can mourn the fallen though they may hear no more
A battle hymn to march to and fill your foes with fear
A requiem for resting the ones who see no tears

Songs possess immortal life
Exercise your lungs
Cut down barriers like a knife
In universal tongues

A song to woo a target and capture someone’s heart
That song can be remembered when you are far apart
A memory of that moment can stay with you for life
And help you through your torment in later times of strife

Songs possess immortal life
Exercise your lungs
Cut down barriers like a knife
In universal tongues

A song to soothe the spirit or pacify the soul 
To mend a broken heart or fill an empty hole
To stimulate reflection or wallow in “Yer Blues”  
To prompt a changed direction or start a life anew…


Exercise your lungs (Original)

Poem by Christina Rosetti. Tune by Holst
Merry Christmas all.

In the bleak midwinter (Cover)

Battle hymn of the Republic of Ukraine

Retroussable - a new word coined for Inca, whose nose peut devenir retroussé (like Posh Spice, or watch Boyhood)

I fall for you Inca
Hook line and sinker
Come on out in the sun
The time draws so near 
To crown a new Peer
Salaam Aleikum Namaste welcome

You may be witty
You may even be pretty 
Or win all the races you run
No reason to worry
No need to hurry
Salaam Aleikum Namaste welcome

Hello Inca, hello Inca, 
We wish you a long happy life
Hello Inca Hello Inca Rose
Hello Inca Hello Inca
Free from discord and strife
Hello Inca Hello Inca Rose

Your scan clearly shows
A retroussable nose
Let it breathe in the sun
I pray on these knees
May your birth be a breeze
Salaam Aleikum Namaste welcome


Retroussable nose (Original)

(Derived from a classical guitar study, probably by Sor)

Choose with care

A bad boy can seem so exciting
Use that brain some more
The thread of his screw may start biting
And bore you through your core 

And I know, yes I know, doubt me if you dare
And I know, Lord I know, just choose someone who cares

Bad girls can even be meaner
Suck out all your fire
Shake you right down to the cleaners
Then dance around the pyre

And I know, yes I know, doubt me if you dare
And I know, Lord I know, just choose someone who cares

A good choice won’t ruin your sleep now 
Paint your whole world blue
A good choice won’t worry the sheep now
Trustworthy, trusting and true

And I know, yes I know, doubt me if you dare
But I know, Lord I know, just choose someone who cares


Choose with care (Original)

Aleppo
 
Do you feel short changed when you see richer folk
Do firebrands exhort you not even to vote
Others may be dying to reach here by boat
Be glad you’re not in Aleppo 

Our leaders do little but passing the buck 
The service we get from the council just sucks
But poor people think that we have all the luck
Be glad we’re not in Aleppo

Do you think it’s unfair you’ve nothing to wear?
There’s not much to wear in the Ghetto
Is your pout trout lipped, are your jeans well ripped, 
Be glad you’re not in Aleppo 

We download our lives to our screens from thin air
An internet slowdown will cause us despair
Our neurons short circuit, let’s pull out our hair
So glad we’re not in Aleppo

So find a good partner or husband or wife 
And tattoo your mind with the best parts of life
Carve out the rest with a virtual knife 
And be glad you’re not in Aleppo


Aleppo (original)

Puff the magic dragon (Cover, for Alby)

Alby’s birthday (2nd) marching song

Little Peggy Puggy has a very curly tail
She screams when people leave, she goes clean off the rails
She wags her tail when happy; she wants the world to know
When she hears the doorbell she barks and barks to show 

Dear old ancient Dotty is hanging in right there
No teeth are in her noddle no noises can she hear
She still licks Peggy’s earwax and chumbles down her food
And lollops through the kitchen, trailing walnut poos 

Louis is our moggy with a very handsome coat
He chases mice and birdies with the footing of a goat 
Although he seems quite fearsome he’s mostly just a wuss
A cuddle-icious wriggling writhing purring puddy puss

Today is Alby’s Birthday so treats and toasts galore
We’re looking for excuses to hoover up some more
Let’s eat a treat for Jasper and Inca Rose as well
And party with the children, and ring the Birthday bell

Tomorrow when it’s over let’s sing this song again
Some animals may join us in the crooning now and then
No Birthday bells will ring out until the next event
For M&M’s and Smarties and parties with our friends

No Birthday bells will ring out until the next event
For M&M’s and Smarties and parties with our friends


Albys birthday march (original)

How to judge a president

A President should bear no grudge
Who is he or she to judge?
Champion every worthwhile cause
Veto bad or unjust laws

No mortal power here on earth 
Should force a woman to give birth
Don’t quote some power up above
To tell us who or how to love

We’ll judge us here and now
Let conscience show us how
Politician stay away
From our judgement day

Stop the guns and don’t be bought
Prove injustice can be fought
Keep the calm when there’s alarm
Above all …..“Do no harm”

Don’t do too much, but do enough 
Mostly “Don’t do stupid stuff”
Help us tend the weak and poor
Offer them an open door

We’ll judge you by your deeds
And how you meet our needs
These deeds will be displayed
On your judgement day

Spurn the lobbyists who pander 
Cheat and rig and gerrymander
Presidential Everyman
Not some narrow partisan

Don’t try to keep us all in thrall
Narcissistic leaders pall
Leading needn’t mean control
Service is a noble goal

We’ll judge you by your deeds
And how you meet our needs
Those deeds will be displayed
On your judgement day

We’ll judge you by your deeds
And how you meet our needs
Mistakes will be replayed
On your judgement day



Judgement Day (Original)

Fall in Mont Tremblant

Gin clear air, distilled through rain
Lakes still brimming with champagne
White tailed deer now congregate
Bears prepare to hibernate

Copper leaves turn green, red, gold
Winter snows will soon unfold
Algonquin spirits everywhere
“Gitche Manitou” reigns here

Soon the snows will smother sound
Fish will flounder underground
Loons and golfers, geese migrate
Till the freezing cold abates

Be they young or be they old
Canadians enjoy the cold
Snow shoes, skiing, skating, sun
Wicked winter wonder fun

Spring and summer, distant dreams
Ice will melt in silver streams
Melting Iron Men chase fame
Seasons here come none too tame

For everything there is a season
Time for wonder, time for reason
Celebrate Mont Tremblant’s worth
This Perfect Paradise on earth



Fall in Mont-Tremblant (original)

This is a revision of my track Exercise Your Lungs brilliantly re-engineered by Ulf Kjell Gur

A song can lead an army and help you win a war
A song can mourn the fallen though they may hear no more
A battle hymn to march to and fill your foes with fear
A requiem for resting the ones who see no tears

Songs possess immortal life
Exercise your lungs
Cut down barriers like a knife
In universal tongues

A song to woo a target and capture someone’s heart
That song can be remembered when you are far apart
A memory of that moment can stay with you for life
And help you through your torment in later times of strife

Songs possess immortal life
Exercise your lungs
Cut down barriers like a knife
In universal tongues

A song to soothe the spirit or pacify the soul 
To mend a broken heart or fill an empty hole
To stimulate reflection or wallow in “Yer Blues”  
To prompt a changed direction or start a life anew…


Exercise Your Lungs v1 (Original)

My recording of Raglan Road with Laura's beautiful voice, re-engineered by Ulf Kjell Gur. Poem by Patrick Kavanagh. Old tune


On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew 
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue; 
I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way, 
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day. 

On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge 
Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion's pledge, 
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay - 
O I loved too much and by such and such is happiness thrown away. 

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that's known 
To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone 
And word and tint. I did not stint for I gave her poems to say. 
With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over fields of May 

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see her walking now 
Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow 
That I had wooed not as I should a creature made of clay - 
When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day.

On Raglan Road v1 (Cover)

They fought the war for us
They fought the war to help us to be free
They laid down their lives for us
They laid down their lives so we could live in peace
Returning home young lives unwind
In broken bodies, with bleeding minds
And those they leave behind to weep and grieve
Must we forget the debts due these bereaved?

No greater love exists
No one could replace the lives that they have missed
Such sacrifice can partly be redeemed 
By mending broken vets and paying them esteem
Remember all we owe these souls
Remembering is no great toll
And those they leave behind to weep and grieve
We must accept all debts due these bereaved

They fight the war for us
They help us stay free to live our lives in peace


They Fight The War For Us (Original)



Words: Edith Piaf melody: Louis Gugliemi

Des yeux qui font baisser les miens,
Un rire qui se perd sur sa bouche,
Voilà le portrait sans retouche
De l'homme auquel j'appartiens
Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas,
Je vois la vie en rose.1
Il me dit des mots d'amour,
Des mots de tous les jours,
Et ça me fait quelque chose.
Il est entré dans mon cœur
Une part de bonheur
Dont je connais la cause.
C'est lui pour moi, moi pour lui dans la vie,
Il me l'a dit, l'a juré pour la vie.
Et dès que je l'aperçois
Alors je sens en moi
Mon cœur qui bat
Des nuits d'amour à ne plus en finir
Un grand bonheur qui prend sa place
Des ennuis, des chagrins, s'effacent
Heureux, heureux à en mourir.
Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas,
Je vois la vie en rose.
Il me dit des mots d'amour,
Des mots de tous les jours,
Et ça me fait quelque chose.
Il est entré dans mon cœur
Une part de bonheur
Dont je connais la cause.
C'est toi pour moi, moi pour toi dans la vie,
Il me l'a dit, l'a juré pour la vie.
Et dès que je t'aperçois
Alors je sens dans moi
Mon cœur qui bat


La Vie En Rose (Cover)

Another brilliant piece of re-engineering by Ulf Kjell Gur

A President should bear no grudge
Who is he or she to judge?
Champion every worthwhile cause
Veto bad or unjust laws

No mortal power here on earth 
Should force a woman to give birth
Don’t quote some power up above
To tell us who or how to love

We’ll judge us here and now
Let conscience show us how
Politician stay away
From our judgement day

Stop the guns and don’t be bought
Prove injustice can be fought
Keep the calm when there’s alarm
Above all …..“Do no harm”

Don’t do too much, but do enough 
Mostly “Don’t do stupid stuff”
Help us tend the weak and poor
Offer them an open door

We’ll judge you by your deeds
And how you meet our needs
These deeds will be displayed
On your judgement day

Spurn the lobbyists who pander 
Cheat and rig and gerrymander
Presidential Everyman
Not some narrow partisan

Don’t try to keep us all in thrall
Narcissistic leaders pall
Leading needn’t mean control
Service is a noble goal

We’ll judge you by your deeds
And how you meet our needs
Those deeds will be displayed
On your judgement day

We’ll judge you by your deeds
And how you meet our needs
Mistakes will be replayed
On your judgement day



Judgement Day V1 Original)

My grandson Jasper is a tiger pug - and this song is for his 3rd birthday

Hurrah hurrah 
for Jasper Merton Jha
He’s three today
A thumping jumping star
driving Piggles in his car 
All the pugs go ruff brr schnaa                                                                                                     

Hurrah hurrah
for Jasper Merton Jha
Today’s his birthday,
Jump on Ma and Pa
driving niggles in his car 
Tigers everywhere go Raah


Jasper's tiger pug (Original)

Ode to Donald J Trump

with apologies to the late Andy Stewart and Neil Grant

Artwork by Court Jones.      www.courtjones.com

ALL MOUTH AND NO TROOSERS

My mum’s from near the Isle of Skye
I'm orange and I'm none too shy
and the lassies shout when I go by
Donald, where's your troosers
I can spout “och aye the noo”
I’m just a hairy highland Kuh
Making an almighty moo
All mouth and no troosers
Let the wind blow high let the wind blow low
Blow my trumpet grow my nose
Tiny finger tips to toes
All mouth and no troosers

I am a verbal billionaire
My name’s na’ worth more than thin air
Even with ma doll - like hair
All mouth and no troosers
A short fingered vulgarian
My wall may keep out Mexican
Or Muslim foxes from my pen
All mouth and no troosers
Let the wind blow high let the wind blow low
Blow my trumpet grow my nose
Tiny finger tips to toes
All mouth and no troosers

The lassies want me every one
Because they think I’m rich and fun
Hey Megyn Kelly I’m well hung
All mouth and no troosers
Chinks think I’m a waving ranker
Laughed at by most Wall Street bankers
(Maybe even by Ivanka)
All mouth and no troosers
Let the wind blow high let the wind blow low
Blow my trumpet grow my nose
Tiny finger tips to toes
All mouth and no troosers

Publicity is what I crave
What I spend I more than save
I take out more than what I gave
 All mouth and no troosers
I believe that might is right
I’ll Tweet you all that “Black is White”
I hope you all are sitting tight
Because you all are losers
Let the wind blow high let the wind blow low
Blow my trumpet grow my nose
Tiny finger tips to toes
All mouth and no troosers

All Mouth And No Troosers (original lyrics, cover song)

She really is insistent
She’s here to make a difference
Not for money, not for fame
Nessy is her name
 
Instils her life with meaning
No fluff no idle preening 
Every minute of her day
Brimful all the way

Family
Comes first in line
Prioritize
And task combine
Other people need her all the time

Potentially
She’ll have her say
Eventually
if not today
She’ll conquer any demons in her way

She’s smart, she’s kind and real
She hasn’t been annealed
Everybody knows she’s great
So much on her plate

Tough but leaves no scars
In rickshaws or bazaars
Generous with her time and care
Scrupulously fair

Emoticon
Of hearts is she
Paragon
Of bonhomie
An odd kick in her gallop keeps her free

Confidant
And confident
No sycophant
But competent
Has her wobbles, mainly seems content

INSTRUMENTAL

She really is insistent 
She’s here to make a difference
Not for money, not for fame
Nessy is her name

Nessy (Original)

Inca Rose is two

One more bell has tolled
Inca Rose is two
Now twice as old and twice as bold
Blossomed since her stage debut 

Real live Tweety pie
Charms her way through life
Perhaps she’ll see celebrity
Some man could be her loving wife 

For now, the plans she makes
Revolve round simpler dreams
When she’s awake bring on the cakes
Hip hip hurrays and happy screams

We’ve sung this song before 
The words are mostly new
Her Pugginess became “Princess
Inca Rose”, (who’s turning two).

Let’s sing this birthday song
And shout hip hip hooray
Alby lead the sing along
To mark this twenty sixth of May

Inca Rose is 2 (Original)

Heartless artless deals 

(artwork by Court jones. www.courtjones.com)

Trump, that uncrowned king
Of tasteless bigly bling
Covets powers a real king might wield.
Weak and insecure
He shovels his ordure
In Hades, not for him Elysian fields.

Infantile mistakes
What massive space he takes
He blows so hard he sucks all air from life.
He celebrates his greed
By scalping those in need
Magnifying suffering and strife.

He tweets a stream of sharts
As he rips the world apart
Compassion finds no lair beneath that hair.
No woman’s right to choose, 
With gays the next to lose
The winners, oligarchic billionaires.

Let everyone invoke
Their Gods to spike his spokes, 
To cripple him before our fate is sealed.
His stinking plans are spun
Let none of them get done,
No legacy survive - all trace repealed.
Good riddance to his heartless artless deals!

Heartless artless "deals" v2 (Original)

(Derived from a classical guitar study, probably by Sor)
 sung by Stella

Choose with care

A bad boy can seem so exciting
Use that brain some more
The thread of his screw may start biting
And bore you through your core

And I know, yes I know, doubt me if you dare
And I know, Lord I know, just choose someone who cares

Bad girls can even be meaner
Suck out all your fire
Shake you right down to the cleaners
Then dance around the pyre

And I know, yes I know, doubt me if you dare
And I know, Lord I know, just choose someone who cares

A good choice won’t ruin your sleep now 
Paint your whole world blue
A good choice won’t worry the sheep now
Trustworthy, trusting and true

And I know, yes I know, doubt me if you dare
But I know, Lord I know, just choose someone who cares

choose with care  - stella  original

Words and Music by Lennon & McCartney
Sung by Laura Merton - played by Andrew Merton

"Blackbird"

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for the moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life,
You were only waiting for the moment to be free

Black bird fly, black bird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

Black bird fly, black bird fly
Into the light of the dark black night





Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird - The Beatles (cover)

RUMI BLUE

Hey there Rumi 
Grandy’s crooning
Blossoms blooming
P’tit bijou
Shining pearl 
Foetal curl
gurgle girl
Rumi blue
Give it up for Rumi Blue, teaming with the other two
Choir of the family crew, Harmony for Rumi Blue
Give it up for Rumi Blue, teaming with the other two
Choir of the family crew, Harmony for Rumi Blue

Rumi spooning
Lolo swooning
Hearts attuning
Resonant
Waves of love
Flown above
By carrier dove
So eloquent

Give it up for Rumi Blue, teaming with the other two
Choir of the family crew, Harmony for Rumi Blue
Give it up for Rumi Blue, Teaming with the other two
Choir of the family crew, Harmony for Rumi Blue

Rumi Blue lullaby (Original)

LIGHTEN UP



Cats and dogs see no utility

in gods or monarchy.

We evolved, spontaneously refined

“untelligent” design?



Does it help to see such truths explained?

That nothing’s preordained.

Gods and kings were man-made for control

Daily swallowed whole?



Does this knowledge help us to be free

To right the wrongs we see?

At minimum let each of us resolve

To help us all evolve.

Lighten up (L) (Original)

All across the world
A wind of change is blowing
Flags are being unfurled
Background hum is growing
Freedom gives way to intervention 
Consensus is fading away
All across the world
Storm clouds gather, darker day by day

All across the world
Venal types get richer
Jealousy abounds 
Big explosive mixture
For some the world is very easy
For many there’s all too little hope
All across the world
The chance of better things appears remote

All across the world 
Voices sound more strident
Tolerance is shunned
Glory sought through violence
God Squad and Godless swim together
Flailing on towards the waterfall
All across the world
A new wind waits to hear the trumpet call
A new wind waits to hear the trumpet call


All across the world (original)

Time and distance are the same
Journeys made along a plane
One hundred hours in sunny Spain

The beauty of the trees in fall
The creaking of an ancient hall
The menace of the Berlin Wall

The land of Never Never
Through time we sow and grow
Some answers have no questions
Some unknowns we know

Will curried thoughts and pickled minds
The spice of life in troubled times
Help explain our pantomime?

Thoughtful acts, unselfish deeds
Help us pluck our mental weeds
And clarify our real needs

The land of Never Never
Through time we sow and grow
Some answers have no questions
Some unknowns we know


Neverland (original)

Reimagine

Twenty twenty time has frozen still
Society is stalled, by order of the crown.
Flu filled bats ignore all lock-down laws
Their rampant socialising knows no bounds.

We respond by pulling up the drawbridge,
Weak and poor are left to bear the cost.
Hunker down and hope to find solutions
Time for preparation now long lost.

The President is vainly shunning face masks 
While selfless heroes battle shocking scenes.
He tweets us throw all caution to the wind
And resurrect from this dystopian dream.

With luck this silent war will soon be over
Immunity will stop a second toll.
A baby boom can bring a younger world
A world of fresh ideas and fairer goals.

Let’s build from this experience something lasting,
A right to health to trump all talk of guns.
We know that we depend on one another
Imagine that the world can breathe as one.
The world can breathe as one

Andrew Merton's Album

Reimagine (Original)

Words written in India during WW2 by my late father Ralph Merton (1914 - 2008). Modelled on Kipling's "If".



When you can segregate your powers of reason
From what you feel and treat the two apart,
Rejecting acts of faith as acts of treason
By which the brain surrenders to the heart;

When you can tune yourself to not believing
And, though you don’t believe, pretend you do,
And learn to live your life throughout conceiving
A host of plans and know they won’t come true;

When you can face the undoubted facts presented
That wars, injustice, lies are here to stay,
And still devote yourself, no less contented
To doing what you can from day to day;

Nothing will then have power to disillusion,
Though dreams alone will serve to bring relief;
You will have learned the secret of the children;
That playing bears does not require belief.



When (original)

The finest life would be redundant
Without the love of those near and dear
Such a love should be abundant
A constant force through fire or fear
Your love, just give it with no strings
Jump right in
Sustain it till it wins


Of course there’s risk in such commitment
Nothing risked means nothing to gain
Without love there’s no fulfilment
A sterile time spent avoiding all pain
Your love, just give it with no strings
Jump right in
Sustain it till it wins


One law is truly fundamental
The love you give makes the love you receive
All other rules are incidental
You can't prove it - you just have to believe
Your love, just give it with no strings
Jump right in
And seal it with a ring


No strings (original)

Except where shown, written and played by me using Garageband + iPhone - often sung by Laura. Sounds better on good headphones.
To see lyrics click on each song
 I don't pay for re-posts or listens

Mertona

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks