lyrics: Noel O'Sullivan Music: Noel O'Sullivan/Yann Masseyeff
recorded at Masseyeff Studio

Your Time

States of Grace

Boulevard of Crime

lyrics: Noel O'Sullivan Music:Yann Masseyeff
recorded at Masseyeff Studio

Sixteen

lyrics: Noel O'Sullivan Music: Noel O'Sullivan/Yann Masseyeff

Waterfall

Wise Man

lyrics: Noel O'Sullivan Music: Noel O'Sullivan/Yann Masseyeff 
recorded at Masseyeff Studio

My Friend

Spancil Hill

Ride On

LYRICS -  LYRICS - LYRICS

MY FRIEND (HOMME ORDINAIRE)

Early morning, and the wake up call disturbs your happy dreaming
A cup of tea and a piece of toast, fill your flask, leave a note on the freezer

You head off to the factory one more time, wind and rain on your bike
And you do it with no heavy heart

You know it's your life and you know what it takes to put dinner on the plate
Maybe catch some overtime, save a tidy dime, take the kids on a summer break

I can see that it's all enough my friend
I can see that it's all enough my friend

          --------------------

For twenty years with your mates you worked the lines in a furnace of steel
The jokes, the jibes, good times, bad times, a cog in the wheel

Then men like Gods realise from some paradise that in other parts of this world
There's a man ready to do your job

And he gets paid shit, and he don't get health, working thirteen hour days
How in hell can you beat that math, fuck the aftermath, it's the markets all the same

I'm afraid that you don't make the cut my friend
I'm afraid that you don't make the cut my friend

          --------------------

A treacherous night, bonfire flaming bright, blood warm in your veins
Death row vigil like no reprieve tonight, artic break of day

CRS build a wall shadows on the dawn, the drivers back in
One by one the machines are gone
 
You breach that wall, hammer standing tall, sparks as metal on metal grates
Break the tools that once paid your wage you can't help your rage, as the tears run down your face

I can see that you're all cried out my friend
I can see that you're all cried out my friend

          --------------------

The money's gone and the family's hanging on, can't eat your dignity
One of the lucky ones, 'cause they've found you a job in a service industry

Times will be hard, 'cause your wage is cut in half, and the hours God sends
One by one all your dreams have gone

Je n'en peux plus, je ne peux plus m'y faire, d'être témoin et de me taire 
Tragédie nauséabonde qui n'est ni plus ni moins la mort d'un homme ordinaire

I hope you see that I'm all fired up my friend
I hope you see that I'm all fired up my friend





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WISE MAN

You should know by now what the winter holds
Yet you wake every morning fearing wind, rain and cold
You're just as scared of what the next day brings
So come meet the wise man who taught me how to sing

CHORUS
And if you're fine ready willing and able
Sit down and break bread at his table
You'll see one or two things you'll be grateful
Help you to the grave from the cradle
As the red tail-light disappears into the night
And as the dawn breaks on our roof red becomes white

          --------------------

As it was for Moses when the light's went out
All the people around me started to scream and shout
But I know a wise man and he said follow me
I guess sometimes a wise man doesn't need to see

CHORUS
So if you're fine ready willing and able
The wine'll taste sweet at his table
You'll hear one or two things you'll be grateful
Help you to the grave from the cradle
As the red tail-light disappears into the night
And as the dawn breaks on our roof red becomes white

          --------------------

It was Jude who brightened his most obscure nights
I don't know where he found the will for life
That's when the wiseman sat me under a tree
He said this oak will be here long after you and me

CHORUS
So if you're fine ready willing and able
The time wont be lost at his table
You'll feel one or two things you'll be grateful
Help you to the grave from the cradle
As the red tail-light disappears into the night
And as the dawn breaks on our roof red becomes white





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WATERFALL
	
CHORUS

They say I'm in freefall, but this is a waterfall
And by this dark and moonless night I swear I've risked what's left of life
Dove in the cold, black, pool, am I just another fool for you
Or do you dream the dreams I'm dreaming, are you drowning too

These rocks claw my gut
The water's red with blood
I'm engulfed, and that's not all 

          --------------------

My friends say something's wrong, I'm not the same
I shun the life I have, and you're to blame
Though I must give them reason, I can't give them rhyme,
I will not leave this waters edge, I couldn't if I tried

CHORUS

Another place and time, another me
Your faithlessness was fine, we weren't a we
Now I can't stand the wrenching of my once forgotten heart
When I see you with another man the knife rips me apart

CHORUS

I've walked in shadowed veil, these long nights passed
No friends to share the pain, I didn't ask
When you found me on the sidewalk with the bottle at my lips
Was that a saving breath of life you gave or the memory of your kiss

CHORUS TO FINISH

I think we're in freefall, and this is our waterfall
And by this dark and moonless night I swear we'll risk what's left of life
Dive in the cold, black pool, a body and soul of fools
And we dream the dreams we're dreaming and we're drowning too

These rocks claw our guts
The water's red with blood
We're engulfed, and that's not all. 





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SIXTEEN

You're sixteen, Jesus ! how the years have flown
Another couple, you'll be leaving home
I recall being that old
And straying from the fold
Back then, I felt like a fish out of water
In this day and age I'd be like a lamb to the slaughter

          --------------------

Sometimes they'll tell you the man you should be
I don't say they're wrong just tread carefully
If they're not friends you see
They may try to mislead
Trust in yourself and just learn to ignore them
A wolf in friends clothes will lead you like a lamb to the slaughter

          --------------------

I've seen you've noticed all the girls out there
I've seen you with one she's got auburn hair
I've seen the way you stare
And she's nice you've got flair
But son, please don't knock up somebody's daughter
When you get home you'll be like a lamb to the slaughter





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THE BOULEVARD OF CRIME


Hid in the shadows of a concrete awning, in a cautious rain
A street corner in a waking city, could be any place
Night shifters walk from sight, dailies stake their claim
In another civilized parade of mistaken aims

It's like that morning time on the boulevard of crime
It's not that far from the street of shame
If you should choose to walk down the boulevard of crime
Mister don't ever pass my way

          --------------------

Out of sight in a nearby park it's such a perfect day
So many people lying on the grass while their children play
Day trippers take a pause, lovers share an old refrain
Other people come and take their places this goes on again and again

They bask in sunshine near the boulevard of crime
Just one block down from the street of shame
But they don't stray too near to the boulevard of crime
There's such a heavy price to pay

          --------------------

In the wings of the urban theatre of a neon light
Man leaves a bar with his head bowed down like it's a bitter night
They cut him up, they crossed the line, took what they didn't deserve
Left him lying in a pool of lies, just another job of work

Darkness has risen on the boulevard of crime
You could have sworn it was the street of shame
And if you lose yourself on the boulevard of crime
Do you think I'll let you walk away





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STATES OF GRACE

That morning,  I remember I saw her 
Step from the bus into water 
She laughed and I knew I'd fallen
I followed, as she went round the corner 
Straight to the cut I implored her 
It was something I couldn't ignore

Because I fell for that state of Grace 
Her smile it all but sealed my fate

          --------------------
  
We partied, for so many years, how we partied 
No more than two nights parted 
As alive as the day we started
We wandered, over deserts and seas, we marvelled 
As each saw their soul unravelled 
On the best of the roads we'd travel

And as we erred discovering whole worlds
Easy dreams had I for what my life reserved

          --------------------

We married, settled down in a house with a garden 
Kids were soon part of the bargain 
And always our love was as ardent
We struggled, with money and work and the burdens 
Yet of her I was always so certain 
She'd get us through to the final curtain
 
So many moons have since reflected sun
And each day passed is one fewer race to run

          --------------------

We sit now, hand in hand out in that garden 
Hide and seek noises around us 
A feeling of grace abounding
I see her, in their eyes, in the shine on their faces 
She's passed to a third generation 
Is the meaning of life creation ?

And as I watch her slowly watch her life rush by
I recall the day she learned the way she'd die.





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YOUR TIME

Way back when I'd while the days away
Making plans on comets, couldn't decide who I should be
Hanging round the bars never tried to make my mark
Just living the life
Going with the flow, take it kind of slow
That was passing the time, for me. 

And at my back I couldn't hear time's chariot
Be they angels or be they demons, at twenty one I didn't care that much
I thought back then I'd so much time

          --------------------

So many friends who would not lovers be
Couldn't imagine what they'd see in me
Down by the river, in the forest walking
Never letting her know
That every single minute that we spent talking
Was wasting the time, for me. 

Oh if we'd only had both world enough and time
All those moments of talk not touch, wouldn't have been a crime
What could have been if we'd had time

          --------------------

I try to hide from you those sleepless nights
When I ask myself if I was right to give you life
When everyday I see at the window, on T.V.
A pitiless place
No tears in my eyes 'cause another future lies
reflected upon your face. 

We all wake up one morning with no tomorrow left
That's no reason to cry my darlings and you won't if you live your every breath
For what the hell you've got your time.




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