In your place this Summer there was silence
An empty market stall where our eyes played
Circling daily past the regular dull shops and bars
I wonder how business is in whichever continent you’re in

You see, I cradled these words in my sleep every night
They seemed too naked for the light of day
But now I stand by the old spot you bartered with the world
Ready to throw my words like dice

Your silence has now drifted into Autumn
And the winds carry dead leaves yet not one sign
So I hope the open road is working out for you
I stopped for the traffic, now I’m froze with only memories of you

You see, I’m stranded on the path looking over my shoulder
I see a mirage fading from view
Beneath the rhythm of the sun, after crossing the abyss,
We sit with peace between our eyes
And as I stand in your old spot and barter with the world
My fate smothers me like an eclipse

The temptation to settle for less
Fuels the chagrin in my soul
For in this life we have barely spoke
Before the clouds move in for good
Hope I’ll find something of worth
For in this life we may never get close

Barter With The World

Borrowed hearts on broken streets
Stand on platforms whispering sweet nothings
Turning for applause by the disused mill
They fan the flames while the children sleep

They warm their hands when the town’s on fire

Borrowed hearts
With more faces than a dice
Out roll their alibis
Iago moves tonight

With moves cast iron learnt by the mirror
They talk of peace, declare war on terror
Plastic souls and hollow minds
Something to say to pass the time

They warm their hands when the world’s on fire

Borrowed hearts
They put their arms around your shoulder
I’m crumbling in the corner
They send their best
But these borrowed hearts leave them in debt
Of love and all feeling

Borrowed hearts
With more faces than a dice
They build a palace of lies
They send their best
But these borrowed hearts leave them in debt
Of love and all meaning

As we wait in line in heaven’s queue

Borrowed Hearts

There’s three more steps to the top of the stairs
And after that I’m not sure where
There may be a skyline beyond where I’ve paid
Though I can’t see nothing but an ocean of shade

My, it’s grubby here
The tears and the smoke
Fill my drifting mind
There’s one escape so

Could someone switch a light on?
So I can finally get away
And saunter down the tarmac street
Through the confused, lonely, bitter, joyful haze

Disaffected youths dance around in despair
Bouncing off the walls like they just don’t care
Dreaming of a time when the light doesn’t fade
So they don’t stumble over what is in their way

The flicker of a light
A warm sensation 
Yellow, flowered fields
The release of tension

Could someone switch a light on?
So I can finally get away
And saunter down the tarmac streets
Through the confused, lonely, bitter, joyful haze

Could someone switch a light on?
So I can finally get away
And stagger down the tarmac street 
Through the confused, lonely, bitter, ruinous haze

Could someone switch a light on?
Could someone switch a light on me?

Could Someone Switch A Light On?

It’s her perfume that stings his eyes
He went in blind, now he can’t see nothing
Even on a serene Spring day

The chains crank when he walks
He makes a pittance sweeping factory floors
And all we do is sigh

The train roars in but the doors stay shut
He can’t climb a tree without branches

Where will he go?

The stale air makes him gip,
“I cannot breathe and the bridge is beckoning”
Even on this mild Summer’s day

The train roars in but the doors stay shut
He can’t climb a tree without branches
With a compass to hand he’s kicking stones
Last night he stopped feigning a smile

Where will we go?

Perhaps he shouldn’t have opened his eyes
And kept them closed while he drowned
Now his head’s above the parapet
He’s looking on, he’s moving on

Endgame

West Yorkshire's The Clouded Lights combine spidery guitar work with funky rhythms and thought-provoking lyrics to create a melodic, poignant sound. Former winners of Steve Lamaqc’s Demo of the Week competition on BBC Radio 6, the Lights are Chris Parkin (vocals), Jake Cunliffe (bass), Ryan Swift (guitar) and Tom Heaton (drums).

The Clouded Lights

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