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Dick Greener
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Dick Greener

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30 YEARS IN ROCK - LYRICS

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Something For Nothing

(Cousins/Cronk)

Old School Songs

The question was survival
The answer was myself
I was on the inside looking out
You took me to the limit
But you only took yourself
You were on the outside looking in.

Something for nothing
Something for nothing
Was all you ever wanted from me
Something for nothing
Something for nothing
Was all you ever wanted to be.

You bit the hand that fed you
Ripped the fingers to the bone
You were scoring blood, when times were lean
While I looked on disgusted
Ashamed to be your friend
Thinking to myself what might have been.

Now the lone wolf beats a new trail
With scent of easy game
Howling at the full moon on his back
While his lover eats her heart out
To the bitter taste of failure
Hungry for the leader of the pack.


Where Is This Dream Of Your Youth

(Cousins)

Old School Songs

Wake up one day, you're left alone
From now on you're on your own
The sands of time are running low
You'll have nothing left to show
The months slip by and change to years
Soon the twilight gloom appears
And then one day before you know
You'll have nothing left to show.

Where is this dream of your youth.

The pictures on the walls are shaking
They can hear the storm a-breaking
Storms may come and storms go
You'll have nothing left to show
They can hear the earth a-quaking
Buildings come and buildings go
You'll have nothing left to show.

Tomorrow brings another dawn
It might be better from now on
Before too long that day will go
You'll have nothing left to show
You'll have nothing left to show
You'll have nothing left to show
You'll have nothing left to show.

Where is this dream of your youth ?


The Shepherd's Song

(Cousins)

Old School Songs

The heavy air was scented by
The disappointed flowers
The weatherman had promised them
Warm soft summer showers
They bowed their weary heads
Resigned to wait a few more hours
And we walked together in the half light
Down secret paths
Climbed wooden fences
Till a dancing meadow
Enveloped us within its grassy web.

There was no need for discussion
It was surely no disgrace
Her soft skin had the texture
Of the finest silken lace
Waiting moist and trembling
It was just the time and place
And our woven bodies sang together
In harmony
With understanding
Till we fell back smiling
Rejoicing in the music we had made.

The blood red summer sunset
Was a slowly spreading stain
That rose behind the bandstand
As the shepherd played again
We heard his silver trumpet
It had blown away the rain
And we lay together in the long grass
Holding hands
And making sweet talk
Till the smell of woodsmoke
Reminded us that it was to go.


Grace Darling

(Cousins)

Old School Songs

You have been my lighthouse
In every storm
You have given shelter
You have kept me safe and warm
And in my darkest nights
You have shone your brightest lights
You are my saving grace
Darling I love you.

You have been the pilot
Who guides me home
You have been the my rock
As on the seven seas I roam
And when I was becalmed
You were the strength in my arms
You are my saving grace
Darling I love you.

And when I found my back
Was torn and broken on the reef
You sailed your tiny boat
Across the dark seas of my disbelief.

You have been the anchor
And I the chain
Straining as we hold ourselves
Together in the rain
I have found you ever there
My constant keeper's daughter fair
You are my saving grace
Darling I love you.


Beat The Retreat

(Cousins)

Old School Songs

The rat race was over
Before it was won
And I started walking
When I could have run
Like a child who missed out
On a sunday school treat
Now you know how I feel when
I beat the retreat.

I slept like a soldier
My gun at my side
My uniform folded
I wore it with pride
I could not rest contented
Till I joined the elite
Now you know how I feel when
I beat the retreat.

This winter wind brings
Such a chill to my bones
Erect in my memory
A small cairn of stones
So that those from afar
Can see where our paths meet
Now you know how I feel when
I beat the retreat.

The last post is sounding
Now it's time to be gone
There's no further reason
For singing this song
The battle is over
I accept the defeat
Now you know how I feel when
I beat the retreat.


Simple Visions

(Cousins/Cronk)

Old School Songs

Simple visions come to me
I was blind but now I see
Simple visions of my soul
Cut in pieces now I'm whole.

Simple visions from the heart
Once I faltered at the start
Simple visions of my past
Seldom first but never last.

Time will mend this broken heart
For fate decreed that we must part
One for all and all in vain
It would be marvellous to see you again.

Simple visions in the night
Walk on air in coloured light
Simple visions lost in time
Come and see the rainbow line

Let us conjure magic from the moon
Raise the phantom tide and swell the stream
Sweep away the bridge on which we stand
Bind the lovers' knot and find the dream.

Let us make a pact beneath the stars
Intertwine our limbs like windswept trees
Tearing in the passion of the storm
Spent in harmony like autumn leaves.

Let us make deep cuts and mix our blood
Sacrifice the mockingbird above
Soaring on the wings of paradise
Simple visions of a perfect love.


Tina Dei Fada

(Hudson)

Fazz Music

[instrumental]


Tell Me What You See In Me

(Cousins)

Old School Songs

My ship sails in
On a cloud of broken promises
It's just not true
Not a single word she says
Time will tell
Whether I can change my ways
It might take years
It might even take always.

Tell me what you see in me
And I'll tell you what I see in you.

Your picture melts
Before my tired eyes
And all it leaves
Is just a trace of paradise
You'll change again
That's what I've been told
But don't take long
Or I might get too old.

Take it easy
But take it slow
For who knows which way next
That wind will blow
Time goes by
Just as quickly as I want it to
And I'll make out
Like I never knew.


Alexander The Great

(Cousins)/(Lambert)

Old School Songs

They called him Alexander
With the best band in the land
He'd topped the bill in Paris
But in Venice it was banned
A pile of dusty gold discs
Were among his claims to fame
There was no-one over sixty
Who didn't know his name.

Alexander you were great
The man the critics loved to hate
You could have been as big as the Beatles or the Stones
Alexander you became
The lonely housewife's favourite name
You could have been the greatest of them all.

The gig was held in honour
Of his golden jubilee
He did not need the money
So he said he'd play for free
He got the band together
Who'd been with him through the years
They rehearsed the Alexander songs
And shed nostalgic tears.

The crowd rose to their feet
When Alexander hit the stage
His face had been rebuilt
So that you could not tell his age
He played all of the old songs
And the crowd sang every word
He danced like Margot Fonteyn
And whistled like a bird.

He came on for the encore
But collapsed against the stand
The crowd was hushed, the doctor came
There was panic in the band
He diagnosed a broken heart
The critics had been fed
Their reviews became
Obituary notices instead


Ringing Down The Years

(Cousins)

Old School Songs

We met when you were still a girl
In nineteen sixty eight
You wore a white dress and a hat
I touched the hand of fate
Your sweet voice took my breath away
Your smile lit up your face
You still had both feet on the ground
I was out in space

That certain sadness in your eyes
The secret of your smile
I've carried all these memories
Down many's the weary mile
And every time I hear your name
My eyes moist up with tears
As every word you ever sang
Comes ringing down the years.

We sat and talked the whole night long
Of all our rights and wrongs
Of mutual acquaintances
We sang each other's song
You were with me when the morning broke
The birds refused to sing
They knew when they were beaten
They hid beneath their wings.

I was in a Cleveland hotel room
When they telephoned the news
I drowned my sorrow all night long
The Southern Comfort blues
The show went on to great applause
Choking back the tears
As every word you ever sang
Came ringing down the years.

I reached out for the hourglass
To turn it face about
But who knows where the time goes
When your time is running out
I know someday we'll meet again
And I know just what I'll find
You'll have taught the angels how to sing
Georgia - Georgia on my mind.


Alice's Song

(Craig/Willoughby)

SGO Music

If I could live in Alice's world
I wonder if I'd learn
What makes her strong
What makes her safe
What makes her suddenly afraid
I'd understand this little girl
But I'll never live in Alice's world

If I could see through Alice's eyes
I wonder what I'd see
Is her sky blue, is her grass green
Does she see things I've never seen
What's in her mind she keeps inside
I'll never see through Alice's eyes

If could love through Alice's heart
I wonder who I'd trust
So silently she smiles at me
But answers she will not reveal
She never tells why it's so hard
To win a place in Alice's heart


Strange Day Over The Hill

(Cousins)

Old School Songs

The sky was like a crystal, it was sapphire blue
I was like a kid again, so were you
It's a strange day, a strange day over the hill.

The sun came round to polish up the copper beech
The leaves were black as leather where the sun don't reach
It's a strange day, a strange day over the hill.

I was close enough to heaven as a man could be
Knowing I had solved your little mystery
It's a strange day, a strange day over the hill.

We could hear the distant compromise of wedding bells
As we leaned on one another bidding fond farewells
It's a strange day, a strange day over the hill.

As we drove into the valley, the mist rolled down
We were in the grip of winter in our own home town
It's a strange day, a strange day over the hill.

The lights were shining brightly in the house across the street
I was looking for adventure, I was turning on the heat
I shivered in the shadows, it was cold as hell
The church bell sounded seven going, well, well, well
It's a strange day, a strange day over the hill.


A Glimpse Of Heaven

(Cousins)

Old School Songs

The hillside was a patchwork quilt
Neatly stitched with tidy hedge
And crumbling grey stone wall
The trees were bare, but Spring was near
To conjure up its endless strings
Of green magic handkerchieves

Could you only see what I've seen
You would surely know what I mean
I think I must have caught a glimpse of heaven.

A string of diamonds formed a stream
That tumbled down the daunting cliff
To sparkle bright on the beach.

New born lambs that sweetly played
Speckled eggs all newly laid
But for you I would have stayed
I think I must have caught a glimpse of heaven.


Hero And Heroine

(Cousins)

Old School Songs

Hero's face was gaunt and tanned
His sail was set in search of land
His life-raft, solely by him manned
Was guided by the tide
Heroine wore fleecy white
She beckoned like some saviour bright
Shipwrecked sailors in the night
Were bid welcome to her side.

Where one man's search must surely cease
The irresistible white fleece
Led Hero in search of the peace
That she alone could offer
Thus he knelt before her feet
Wary lest their eyes should meet
He knew his life was incomplete
For he had yet to suffer.

Enticing Heroine, so calm
Took Hero firmly by the arm
Told him that she meant no harm
That she alone could save him
Hero could no longer speak
While realising he was weak
His life increasingly grew bleak
For all the love she gave to him.

While storm clouds gathered high above
The heroine he grew to love
Turned slowly to a snow white dove
And spread her wings to fly
Crushed and broken in the end
Hero watched his soul ascend
Knowing that he was condemned
To sail all alone to die.


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Lyrics © Copyright stated copyright owner.
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Please do not reproduce these lyrics elsewhere without express permission.