HUMMINGBIRD - LYRICS
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The Young Pretender
(Cousins/Wakeman)
Old School Songs/SGO: RW Music Ltd
Bring out your dead
The captain said
With no sense of remorse
The battle is not over
We must make a show of force
The silver band began to play
The moon began to rise
I could not hear their music
But I could read it in their eyes
My friend, the young pretender
Simply did not understand
Bring out your dead
The captain said
Or you will join the band
Bring out your dead
The captain said
We fight again at noon
For those who are courageous
It can never come too soon
The ship of fools came sailing by
On the early morning tide
Her sails were hanging lifeless
But her flag flew high with pride
My friend, the young pretender
Had forgotten to take note
Bring out your dead
The captain said
Or you will miss the boat
Bring out your dead
The captain said
The victory is near
The battle is all over
And the way ahead marked clear
The carnival procession
Took its third trip round the town
The bandsmen raised their trumpets
And the walls came a-tumbling down
My friend, the young pretender
Took a candle to the night
Bring out your dead
The captain said
It's time to see the light
Bring out your dead
The captain said
The band is leaving town
The ship will sail without you
And the only way is down
The windy streets were empty
And the damage cleared away
The townsfolk were preparing
To rebuild the wall next day
My friend, the young pretender
Took the lion to the Iamb
Bring out your dead
The captain said
He did not give a damn
Hummingbird
(Cousins/Wakeman)
Old School Songs/SGO: RW Music Ltd
The spirit of the hummingbird
Hovers in the shade
Blinded by the spider's web
That glitters newly made
The stillness of the hummingbird
Betrays her beating wings
She is silent in the darkest hour
But bell-like when she sings
The sweetness of the hummingbird
Is nectar to my lips
The brush-tipped tongue; her silent smile
Commands her claws and whips
Come with me
Come with me
The race is almost run
Tenacious is the hummingbird
Among the jewelweed
Her deeply-forked and blue-black tail
Is quick to gather speed
My Lucifer of hummingbirds
Steals among the thieves
Bathing in scattered trees
Clutching to wet leaves
The collar of the hummingbird
Is bright as fresh spilled blood
She leads me to the water's edge
Reddened by the flood
Come with me
Come with me
The race is almost run
The set aside of many years
The soft taillight of evening nears
My solitary friend appears
To circle round the sun
So Shall Our Love Die
(Cousins)
Old School Songs
The rose buds are hard and firm;
Erect and proud they stand
On slender stems,
Wrapped in silk
And tied with a velvet ribbon.
"Tie the ribbon in my hair,"
She says,
"Your gentle touch upon my brow
Can make me close my eyes
In sleepy pleasure."
Low the candle burns
And flickers shadows on the wall;
It's crimson lips are closing
Round the flame.
As the flame dies
So shall our live die?
The roses stoop lower
As their petals fall.
So shall our love die?
"What is it,"
She says.
"Nothing,"
Say I,
"Nothing but the west wind,
The wind of change."
Steppes
(Wakeman)
RW Music
Instrumental
October To May
(Cousins)
Old School Songs
Summer's gone come chill October days
We will stroll through russet trees
Through the fallen leaves of oak and sycamore
That carpet earth through harsh December freeze.
Fireworks and children with eyes that sparkle bright
In November's Guy Fawkes flames
Parents thinking of their forgotten years
As they join in with their children's games.
December brings nostalgic Santa Claus
Toys and shining Christmas trees
Families huddled round their open fires
As they wait for winter's grip to ease.
Seaside piers, iron girders gaunt and still
Gone the crowds of yesterday
Icy fingers in the sea at night
Sad and empty tears the first of May.
Ice Maiden
(Wakeman)
RW Music
Instrumental
Higher Germanie
(Trad. Arr Cousins/Wakeman)
Old School Songs/SGO: RW Music Ltd
Polly, dearest Polly
The war is now begun
And I must ride away
At the beating of the drum
Come dress yourself
All in your best
Come go along with me
I will take you
To the cruel wars
In Higher Germanie
Oh Harry, dearest Harry
Mind what I do say
My feet they are so tired
I cannot go away
Besides, my dearest Harry
Though I'm in love with thee
I am not fit for cruel wars
In Higher Germanie
I'll buy for you a horse, my love
And on it you shall ride
And all of my contentment
Shall be rarching by your side
We'll stop at every alehouse
And drink when we are dry
So quickly on the road, my love
We will marry by and by
Oh cursed be those cruel wars
That ever they should rise
And out of Merry England
Take many a lad likewise
They took my dearest Harry
Also his brothers three
And sent them to the cruel wars
In Higher Germanie
Stone Cold Is The Woman's Heart
(Cousins)
Old School Songs
The woman moves in mysterious ways
Her miracles to defend
She is patient as your enemy
Triumphant as your friend
She lures her prey with sleight of hand
And scores with a poisoned dart
Who knows why
Deep down inside
Stone cold is the woman's heart.
The woman has the cutting tongue
But the man still has his pride
The fire may long have burned out
But he smoulders deep inside
The drama calls for a leading man
He hungers for the part
She will set you up
Let you down
Lay your body low
She will lead you to believe
THat you have nowhere else to go
She is sorcery
In every way a perfect work of art
The woman has the frigid touch
Still the memories remain
She has clothed herself in loneliness
And learned to wear the pain
She has run the race
In many's the way
But ends back at the start.
Crie Du Coeur
(Wakeman)
RW Music
Instrumental
All In Vain
(Cousins/Wakeman)
Old School Songs/SGO: RW Music Ltd
The open book
The telephone
The tangled line
The broken bone
The monkey man
The golden locks
Forget me not
The money box
Please don't break my heart again
I looked for all
But all in vain
The willing crew
The even keel
The sharpened knife
The grinding wheel
The jealous wife
The binding trust
Forget me not
The cut and thrust
You tore my heart out in the rain
I looked for all
But all in vain
A damaged heart can feel no pain
I looked for all
But all in vain
The miner's luck
The mother lode
The gambling man
The master code
The knowing more
The caring less
Forget me not
The emptiness
We took the vows but few remain
I looked for all
But all in vain
Please don't break my heart again
I looked for all
But all in vain
You tore my heart out in the rain
I looked for all
But all in vain
Please don't break my heart again
I looked for all
But all in vain
Can You Believe
(Cousins/Leon/Webb)
Empire Music
You and I spoke in confidence
About the turning of the years
We both told stories that could break a heart
We brushed aside our tears
You spoke of one desire
I turned away to go
You spoke to me of solitude
Did you really know
Can you believe the words of love?
You and I spoke of tenderness
In a world filled with rage
We spoke at length of our uncertainty
And tomorrow's headline page
Seven hills to the city
Another space, another time
We were deep in conversation
In a vacant state of mind
Can you believe the words of love?
A second in a lifetime
A time for letting go
A painting in the manner Of Michelangelo
You and I spoke of innocence
There are victims of this crime
We both believed in our sincerity
I am taken back in time
The calling of the ocean
The movement of the sand
I could see my dreams forever
Running slowly through my hand
Can you believe the words of love?
Via Bencini
(Wakeman)
RW Music
Instrumental
Forever Ocean Blue
(Cousins)
Old School Songs
Treasure each passing day
Each hour and every moment
This is where we belong
Where the heart beats strong
Should you ever feel alone - don't despair
I'll always be around to take good care.
On lonely winter days
We'll think of one another
And in the darkest night
Look for my guiding light
And should you ever feel alone - don't despair
We'll soon be on our way
But who knows where.
We'll build ourselves a dreamboat
Me and you
Forever ocean blue
I sometimes close my eyes
When I'm in distant places
I see you wild and free
Down beside the sea
Should you ever feel alone - then don't despair
We've got our everlasting love affair.