Arrivals

They huddle in the lee
Of the wall by the station hall
Wondering if all those clattering miles
Really had to lead to this

A cold town,
The rain pouring down
A bad smell
Hanging in the air

Now they’re looking up to see
If there’s a break in the cloud above
They’re wondering if all this battering rain
Is just about all there is

To this cold town
Sky fallen down
And the bad smell
Just hanging in the air

Oh where will they sleep tonight?
Down by the docks there’s a place they say
A bed where the cold won’t bite
To give them a break till the break of day

Many others elbow by
In the rush to get back to their homes
And they’re wondering if all the tracks of their lives
Really had to lead to this

To this cold town
Rain pouring down
And the bad smell
Clinging to their hair

Oh what will they watch tonight?
On the TV show there’s a holiday
An island where the cold can’t bite
To give them a break from their every day

And their eyes see nothing but steps to the hall
The ticket machines and the newspaper stand
But the haunted souls by the station wall
Look out for the man with their world in his hand
Down by the docks there’s a place he’ll say
Your welcome to stay there every day

For a small fee
It’s a place to be
While he gets you a job
That’s gonna pay for your ticket

To this cold town
Rain pouring down
And the bad smell
Hanging in the air
He’ll be their welcome to this
Cold town
Rain pouring down
Bad smell
Hanging in the air

Bad smell
Hanging in the air
Bad smell
Hnaging in the air
Bad smell
Everywhere

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Tin Can

The rattle of the tin can
In the hand of the tin man
Rang out to the guilty coins
In the pockets on the street
The prayer on the board said
The problem with daily bread
It’ll never take the cold
From the cobbles on the street

It’ll never take the pain
From the truth
It’ll never take the blood
From the boots
It’ll never take the cold
From the sleet.
It’ll never take the hate
Off the street

So the rattle of the tin can
In the mind of the tin man
Screamed out to the shuttered eyes
From the doorways on the street
And the message in his head said
The problem with daily bread
It’ll never pay your way
With the bastards that you meet
 
It’ll never pay your way
With the filth
It’ll never pay your dues
To the broker
It’ll never pay the ache
Deep inside
It’ll never pay the priest
For his lies

So the rattle of the tin can
In the hands of the tin man
Smashed down upon the head
Of the Samaritan in the street
And the lesson in his head said
His news of daily bread
Meant nothing to the lies
In the struggle on the street
 
The rattle of the tin can
Makes a noise
The rattle of the tin can
Screams a word
The rattle of the tin can
Will be
The rattle of the tin can
Must be
Rattle of the tin can
Must be heard.

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Black River, Red Teeth, White Face                   

Black River rolls through the streets
Down to that place, down to that place
Carries away all the eyes he meets
Down to that place, down to that place
Black River’s like a disease
Eats up your soul
Brings you to your knees
Black River lies like a priest
Making you whole
“Welcome - to the feast”

Red Teeth strolls through the town
Breathes in your face, breathes in your face
Taking away the strays he found
Down to that place, down to that place
Red Teeth opens his mouth
Smiles like a pope
Promising truth
Red Teeth is ready to bite
Tightens the rope
Brings on the night

How many fall, how many fall
To the teeth or the tide
Hearing the call, hearing the call
Eyes open wide

White Face rides a pale horse
Taking your pulse, taking your pulse
Cutting a line thru the lies that keep you
Down in that place, down in that place
White Face opens a vein
Offers release
Delivers up pain
White Face laughs like a thief
Gives you his peace
Murders belief

How many fall, how many fall
To the blade or the powder
Hearing the call, hearing the call
And every day louder
How many fall, how many fall
To the steel and the cut
Hearing the call, hearing the call
Deep in the gut
Deep in the gut
 

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A Handful of Sand

They’ve been an item
For as long as I’ve known them
Had a thing through all of the years
They’ve been together
On so many nights now
But living apart through too many tears.

They’ve been partners
Ever since they left college
Had three boys and two pretty girls
They bought some houses
Right across this old city
She gave him moments, he gave her pearls

He had a wife and she had a husband
They carried their love in the palms of their hands
They shared it out wherever it was needed
It ran away like a handful of sand

Two families
And double the heartache
On Christmas Days and cold winter nights
Two reasons to say that
This time it’s all over
Two weary hearts too decent to fight

He had a wife and she had a husband
They both had children
Playing on the same street
They gave up believing
There was nothing to wish for
Their promises made long before they could meet

He had a wife and she had a husband
They carried the future in the palm of their hands
They struggled to hold to a hope worth the dreaming
Harder to keep than a handful of sand

He had a wife and she had a husband
They carried their life in the palms of their hands
They parcelled it out wherever it was needed
Love ran away like a handful of sand
Love ran away like a handful of sand
 

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Lodger

Will you let me be your lodger
I could call you on the phone
I could be your next appointment
You could open up your home
I would keep myself to myself
Never make an undue noise
Never bring home any callers
I'd stay in with all my toys
And you'll never catch me creeping
Up the back stairs late at night
Never wake you when you're sleeping
Never push up close and tight
Unless of course you want me
As I know of course you do
With that "Come-on, Do me" smile
And the perfume that you use
With your short skirt
And your make up
And that hot aerobic class
With your panties
In the basket
And the way you swing your ass
           Say you want me
           Say you want me
           And I'll never let you down
           Say you need me
           To subdue you
           Not to never tie you down

You know I know you want me
Why not ask me to your room
I'd go out and buy some ice cream
We could share a silver spoon
           Say you want me
           Say you want me
           And I'll never let you down
           Say you need me
           To subdue you
           Not to never tie you down
There'll be nothing to upset you
There'll be nothing to deny
There's no reason to be fearful
There's no pain to make you cry
Unless of course you let me
Use the toys upon my shelf
Unless of course you want to
Use those toys upon yourself
           Say you want it, say you want it
           Say you want me, say you want me...
 

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