Paul Kelly

Feelings of grief

Breaking over me

Wave after wave like the rolling sea

These feelings of grief

Time without end

I’m gonna miss you, my friend

How do you suppose this world will ever mend

Or this heart play again

I go about my day

There’s always somebody to pay

And they just won’t go away

Nor will these feelings of grief

Feelings of grief

Blinding me with tears

All that’s dear piece by piece disappears

All that remains are these feelings of grie

My name is John Johanna, I am misunderstood

Lately I have been accused of grievous murder in cold blood

My mission is most righteous, my cause is true and just

The wicked need chastisement, you know it’s either them or us

God told me to

I did what I had to do

God told me to

All around me empty chatter, the old men wring their hands,

Meanwhile in broad daylight Satan gathers his unholy bands

The mighty strength of angels carries me on my seeking flight

My anger is a hammer – you know not its power or the hour it strikes

(I’m telling you)

God told me to

I answer not to them or you

God told me to

Seven golden candles flaming bring forth the Son of Man

In his mouth a two-edged sword, seven stars shining in his right hand

The beast has eyes before him, the beast has eyes behind

Those not with me are against me, they’re surely gonna feel my holy fire

God told me to

To thine own self be true

God told me to

God told me to

When you came into the room

You didn’t walk in through the door

You didn’t steal through the window

Neither did you rise up through the floor

You’re the sweetest thing that ever happened to me

Baby, you’re the sweetest thing that ever happened to me

Ah, your daddy aint so rich

But your mama sure is fine

Don’t you know he’s got a song for you

The words keep a-changing all the time

You’re the sweetest thing that ever happened to me

Honey, you’re the sweetest thing that ever happened to me

I’m a living in a strange new world

Things are never gonna be the same

I’m a slave to a selfish girl

And she don’t even know my name!

She’s the sweetest thing that ever happened to me

Sure is the sweetest…mmmm….the sweetest thing that ever happened to me

I  don’t talk all that much

About my feelings and such

Though I try to keep in touch with this heart of mine

But now I’m gonna speak out loud

Cause it makes me feel so proud

That we’re standing the test of time

You’re 39, you’re beautiful and you’re mine

I wake up every day

On my tongue a song of praise

You still take my breath away in the morning light

Down all the dogging days

You keep on getting better with age

Like a lovingly made bottle of wine

You’re 39, you’re beautiful and you’re mine

Like a sailing ship at sea

Bearing spice and history

You come swaying to me in your prime

You’re 39, you’re beautiful and you’re mine

I’m gonna say it one more time

You’re 39, you’re beautiful and you’re mine

Some people like watching a lamb in a lion’s den

They want me to bow down my head and give in to the end

They keep on singing the same old song

They got the tune right but the words are all wrong

Imagine their surprise when they see how I shed my skin

I run with the pack but my kicks I get on my own

In the cold-blooded old time the seeds to the blooms were sown

I nursed every sting, every prick – and I know every dirty little trick

From the downtown alley all the way to the hilltop home

Nobody’s gonna touch me now

One of these days the lion will lie down with the lamb

They say milk and honey will flow all through the land

The blood-covered butcher will lay down his knife and take to the streets with the drum

and the fife

But between you and me don’t count on it anytime soon

Nobody’s gonna touch me now

Nobody’s gonna touch me no

I’m gonna fuck her right outta my head

I’m gonna jump from bed to bed

Sally, Sonia, Sophie, Sue

I aint met ‘em all yet but I’m planning to

I’m gonna fuck her right outta my head

I’m gonna lay down a new set of memories

With Tanyas and Julies, Lindas and Emilies

And the way we moved in the mirror on the wall

I won’t remember that at all

I’m gonna lay down a new set of memories

Ah, I’m a-gonna be ok

Ah, ah – once these visions go away

I’m gonna drink this whole town dry

No sad tear’s gonna wet my eye

Maggie, Mary, Mona, Bill

Are gonna do me right – did I say Bill?!

I’m gonna drink this whole town dry

Ah, I’m a-gonna be just fine

Ah, ah – once these visions get offa my mind

I’m gonna fuck her right outta my head

I’m gonna jump from bed to bed

I’m gonna lay down a new set of memories

I’m gonna drink this whole town dr

Oh, the night is young

And the road is long

There’s a hanging moon

And you and me we got a thousand songs

Now the city lights are a distant glow

And the only thing, the only thing we gotta do is go

So keep on driving, keep on driving

Well, I loved a girl from spring to fall

But it’s over now and I really don’t mind at all

Such a beautiful catastrophe

But there aint no doubt she sure is glad to see the back of me

So keep on driving, keep on driving

Through the piney woods, across the rolling downs

See the church spires high above the sleeping towns

Getting closer now with every passing sign to the borderline

I’m so happy that you’re by my side

I’m so happy that you’re by my side

So keep on driving, keep on driving

Queenie was born on the banks of the great Ord River, 1930, maybe

Her mother was black, her daddy white

Papa was a fine horsebreaker, mama sang the songs of the old lawmakers

She used to hide young Queenie in the bush

Rub black charcoal all over her hair and her face

Every time the police came around, looking for any blonde-haired

brown skinned children

To round ‘em all up and take ‘em on down town

Shine on, shine on, immortal one

Shine on, shine on, immortal one

Rover was born in the desert, lived out there ‘til his mother died

Then he moved around a lot from place to place

Bedford Downs, Bow River, Lissadell, Wyndham,

Building fences, working as a stockman

Then he had a series of dreams

Started painting what he’d heard and seen

Rainbow serpent, Krill Krill, Cyclone Tracy, the killing fields,

Everything that lives and breathes

Ride on, ride on, immortal ones

Ride on, ride on, immortal ones

When Rover and Queenie were young they met out on Texas Downs station

She worked as a cook there for a long long time

She said “Hey, Cowboy!” later on she said

“Nice boy, good worker, top rider, lucky one, that one”

One day a mean horse ripped the scalp from his head

She stitched him up with a boiled needle and thread

Good as any doctor, they were friends ever after

She said “I want to paint”, he said “I’ll teach ya”

They died within months of each other

Ride on, ride on, immortal ones

Shine on, shine on, immortal ones

Your story will always run

Forever run

Forever youn

Green the foggy fields of France today I journey through

Green the singer, Al, who sings the way I feel for you

Green our love so tender yet, a gift each day made new

Green would be the whole wide world if they our secret knew

Blue the little patch of sky peeping through the grey

Blue the colour of your dress the day I went away

Blue the mighty ocean deep keeping us apart

Blue the the melody I strum on this old guitar

I carry you with me wrapped up in my heart

We are the wonder that keeps the stars apart

The root of the root and the bud of the bud

The deepest of the deepest

The singing in the blood

Gold the feeling that I get as I come in to land

Gold the sinking western sun making fiery bands

Gold the colour of your curls as at the gate you stand

Gold the ring I bring for you to slip on your left hand

I carry you with me wrapped up in my heart

This is the wonder that keeps the stars apart

The root of the root and the bud of the bud

The deepest of the deepest

The singing in the bloo

Please leave your light on for me

Let it shine all through the night

I know by now you’re not expecting me

I’ve been so long out of sight

I’m coming through the darkest hour now, mama

Don’t give up on me just yet

I got no excuses for you

But i sure got some regrets

Yeah, i sure got some regrets

I went out from the halls of grace

My soul turned into stone

Please leave your light on for me

‘cause i’ve been taking the long way home

Please go easy when you see me, won’t you

I just might fall apart

I know i’ve tried your patience

I know i’ve stretched yout heart

The sky fell down hard upon me

I’ve been crawling in the dirt

Nobody’s fault but mine for sure

And not just me who’s hurt

Yeah, not just me who’s hurt

I went out from the halls of grace

Turned my back on my own

Please leave your light on for me

‘cause i’ve been taking the long way hom