lyrics

'Shadows' by Declan McLaughlin

I went out looking for you

I tried the nightclubs and the bars

I searched the alleyways where lonely men would hide their cars

The girls down at the motel are too afraid to say

We’ve got mouths to feed and bills to pay

And talk like this just drives the men away

 

I tried the station for all the good that it would do

It seems their laws don’t work for the likes of me and you

I showed your picture and I tried to explain

You know what those cops down town, they’re all the same

You girls have only got yourselves to blame

 

We’re just shadows, we’re just shadows in the dark

We’re just shadows, lonely souls and broken hearts

 

I was putting on my makeup when word came on the news

There’s a body in the reservoir, I knew that it was you

When they took you for the water your feet and hands were tied

I wonder who you called out for just before you died

I just fixed myself just so I could cry

 

You talked about Eddie he was getting out last May

He’d always said he come and get you, take all your pain away

I know you loved him and that you didn’t care

The fact he tried to kill you once was neither here or there

I wonder was it Eddie who left you way out there

 

We’re just shadows, we’re just shadows in the dark

We’re just shadows, lonely souls and broken hearts

 

I still have that picture of us on New Years Eve

You’re in your party dress, I’m stretched across your knee

Lighting in our eyes, this year we’d be free

I’d put down the needle and you’d stop chasing speed

You’ll never know how much that picture means to me

You’ll never know how much that picture means to me

It was down by the river about a mile from the road

It was there in the long grass she took off her coat

And we lay together where the wide water flows

And she asked me to stay

But that was long time and stories grow old

So, I moved from the river as the evening grew cold

Without light to guided me I found my way home

But questions were asked

 

They say that this river is controlled by the tide

And the secrets it holds and the lies that it hides

 

When the cops they came calling they used my full name

They weren’t looking for help just someone to blame

And the more that they beat me the more I agreed

That this world would be better without people like me

 

And the judge told the jury and they took their time

 

Now I’ve counted the Windows the bars and the doors

And every second it takes when they open and close

I dream of her swimming close to the sea

And I hope that the next life is better to me

 

They say that this river is controlled by the tide

And the secrets it holds and the lies that it hides

 

It’s was down by the river about a mile from the road

It was there in the long grass she took off her coat

I got out last Christmas after serving all my time

To a world that won’t forgive me though

I’ve long paid for my crime

Those prison guards were laughing as they opened up that gate

There was no one there to meet me, no reason to go straight 

And It’s hard to swing a hammer when all you’ve known’s a gun

And you like that easy Money cause it buys you so much fun

 

I used to know this girl called trouble we used to shoot a little bit of coke

But you know these mixed-up orphan girls can never take a joke

She was always milk and honey someone to treat her good

I was just a junkie saving up to be a hood

Cause money buys you freedom and good drugs will get you friends

May the road rise up to meet you

May the party never end 

 

I kinda hoped she come and meet me cause i took all the blame

But I hear that she found Jesus, I hope she’s born again

The Devil brings a bottle and the good lord takes the blame

And drags you through these wicked streets back to his light again

Life is over rated and death is just a lie

Jesus says he loves her but so do I 

So do I

 

Down below the mission where the lights never go out

I heard somebody whisper and it sounded like their voice

You said you’d love me till you die

My little bird don’t you cry

We’ll sing a jailbird lullaby 

We’ll sing a jailbird lullaby

We’ll sing a jailbird lullaby

You should see the silver flowers

That grow on Potters field

On the shallow graves

Of the early slaves

And those who ain’t been claimed

 

Those little silver flowers

Swaying in the breeze

Like the lonely souls

Who fills the holes

Have finally been released

 

There’s a prison guard, with a loaded gun

like me his jail time almost done

I know he’d shoot me if I tried to run

He lets me walk down by the flowers

When all the other prisoners are done

And we joke about how they will 

bring me out

When my time finally comes

 

If I could dig my own grave

I know where it will be

down among the silver flowers

That grow in Potters Field

 

I grew up in a city were nothing 

pretty ever grows

In the shadow of the workhouse wearing

other people’s clothes

And down those dirty alleyway 

that lead me here to jail

And out beyond the gallows to the gates

of Potters field

 

No more I’ll see those pretty flowers

It seems my time has come

And they’ll take me down in the morning

And I’ll hang for what I’ve done

No prayers for the departed no blessing 

of the graves

Lay me down among the silver flowers 

the convicts and the slaves

Whiskey does not thrill me anymore

Just half a glass I’m on my ass 

looking for the floor

Hangovers don’t thrill me anymore

And I can’t take them trips of LSD

There’s a chemical reaction

It’s a scary place to be

I’m seeing things that I don’t want’a see

 

I need something better

that’s going to help my brain

Two fat lines will do me fine

of that big city cocaine

 

I’m gonna put that old meth pipe away

Phoned in sick at Christmas

now I think it’s almost May

I’m gonna put that old glass pipe away

 

Cause I ain’t shooting up on horse no more

Ain’t Pimping out my sisters 

just so i can make a score

I ain’t chasing dragons anymore

 

No purple hearts, no council brown

No reds or blues to bring me round

Like an aeroplane in a hurricane

Two fat lines will do me fine 

of that big city cocaine

 

I think I’ve tried almost every drug

some I’ve hated, some I loved

I need one that kills that hurt

keeps me happy, lets me work

Like big city cocaine

 

No microdots, no stink’n weed

I think I’ve had all I need

No more monkey or more speed

thank the lord I’ve been released

Charlie bring that pink champagne

Let’s all get massed up again

On big city cocaine

On big city cocaine

On big city cocaine

Met her in a factory

She was kind of cruel but not to me

I was her high rise prince

she was my factory queen

She took me home when I was done

Showed me how a song is sung

She said take you’re words son and run

Your songs will set you free


The war was almost over

There were better days to come

I often dreamt of leaving

But I was too afraid to run

I was too afraid to run


The work was hard the money good

We worked every shift we could

She counted pennies, I’d spend the lot

Every penny that I ever got

On Fridays streets and factory girls

Arm in arm their hair in curls

Seems my queen had brighter dreams

than lifting double money

More that we could spend

We partied all the way to New Year’s Day

I thought it would end

I thought it would end


Then the factories started closing

And the music it all stopped

I changed a little but maybe not a lot

She went back to school at night

Fell in with a brighter type

Last I heard she’d done alright

But me I’ve no more money

Nothing left to spend

But I don’t need your sympathy

Cause I’d do it all again, I’d do it all again

I’d do it all again

Everybody gonna get that call

Those few short words that change it all

Your hearts goes down, you feel the cold

Of every word that you’ve been told

 

It lays me down but sleep won’t come

Through my troubled mind

my dreams won’t run

Nothing I can do is gonna help you now

These things you do by yourself

 

I close my eyes, I stand my ground

For all I’m worth I’ll do you proud

And to the place we all must come

When the music’s over

and the singing done

 

Nothing that I do is gonna help you now

These things you do by yourself

There ain’t no time, there ain’t no help

There is just the hand you used to hold

We all believed what we were told

 

Here’s the truth for what it’s worth

Those few short words are gonna hurt

But it ain’t crime it’s just a shame

The world keeps turning just the same

 

Nothing that I do is gonna help you now

These things you do by yourself

There ain’t no time, there ain’t no help

There is just the hand you used to hold

We all believed what we were told

I walked down from the mountain

and it took me all day

To be told by her father that

she had run away

He said she left a letter

and signed with her name

It said that she was leaving

to start her life again

I don’t go to the city much but I knew

where she’d be

She’d be dancing in the red lights

in the bars along the quay 

I got myself a ticket,

I took my brothers gun

I knew what I was going to do

if I found her with someone 

 

She was dancing in the corner

in the dim lights I could see

She’d her arm around a sailor

like the way she first held me

I ain’t no drinker but I thought that

I’d have one

To help me with this anger and maybe

steady up this gun

I pulled the trigger all I could do was pray

I didn’t mean to kill the sailor

he just got in the way

She went out the back door

and slipped away

 

I didn’t try to get away I didn’t try hide

I walked back to the bar again

that gun down by my side

I wonder what they’ll say at home

will anybody come

And lift me from this chamber

when this awful deed is final done

If no-one claims the sailor

bury him with me

High up in the mountains above

those big red trees 

So let this be a lesson

to anyone who leaves

There are no happy endings in the bars

along the quay

'My Northern Soul' by Declan McLaughlin

Things round here keep changing so I’m moving to LA

A friend I know from years ago said I could come and stay

He’s living in the mountains you can see the city from his porch

At night time it’s frightening just how pretty it looks

I’m going to California cause I don’t have the feet

for prison boots

If the law comes here talking

I need you to say that me and you were in a hotel room all last Saturday

Someone robbed a jewellery van, killed a cop but got away

A suitcase full of diamonds that’s what the news will say


I’m going to California they’ll never find me in LA

There’s no luck in diamonds they are all paid for with blood

You can see it on the papers of that cop down

in the morgue

I didn’t want to kill him we both knew its was him or me

For a suitcase full of diamonds that killing came so easily

He died for nothing just a bag of rocks he’d never see

Ill never work again all the money that I got

I thought my luck was changing just cause i did not get shot

I started running seems like now I can’t stop

Every time I close my eyes I hear that dying cop

I’d give back all them diamonds for all the trouble that they’ve brought

If you ever get lonely and you’re fed up in this town

If you want to see the bright lights baby

Please come hunt me down

Living in the mountains you can see the city from the porch

At night time it’s frightening just how pretty it looks

If I close my eyes I swear I know

The touch of your skin

Your scent on my clothes

Just what you might say

How far this could go

If we walk away we can never complain

All the the chances we missed

To make everything change

Before we were lovers we were cards in the game

Before we were lovers

 

Very time we stumbled very second that we stalled

Hiding the darkness afraid to answer the call

Before we were lovers we’d seen it all

From the stars to the gutters The rising and falls

Before we were lovers there was nothing but walls

If you will be my blood I will be your thunder

And we can light a fire for anyone who wondered

Before we were lovers

 

If we don’t step around all the shadows all these graves

This maybe the greatest mistake love has ever made

Before we were lovers we were shackled and chained

Before we were lovers were we we this brave

Before we were lovers

The boss man sent a big freight down 

full of Pinkerton men

For a hundred starving miners and the 

winter’s kicking in

Up in Canton County they are 

hanging working men

For the crime to tell the boss man 

that his tyranny must end

They’re bringing out the bodies 

from the pits in Avondale

Gun men running shantytown good 

Union men in jail

My name is Eddie Kelly and I 

joined the fighting 69th

I lost my only brother on 

the banks of Mary’s heights

But here upon this mountain side 

it’s us who make the stand 

If you think you’ll break this union 

we will kill every single man

McGovan owns the railway 

McGowan owns the mines

McGovan owns the gallows 

on which he thinks I’ll hang

McGovan owns the judges he even 

owns the general store

McGovan owns your leather boots 

but are they worth the die’n for?

Come meet the frighten Irish 

the pride of Lincoln’s men

The blood of every county, 

Yankee dirty upon our hands

For there’s no shame in killing 

when killing need be done

Nothings ever given everything 

we have’s been won

Nothings ever given and the pit 

bosses are scum

You wont read about us in your 

fancy history books

Cause we wouldn’t crawl to work each day

in seven dollar suits

Let them hear the songs of freedom 

that brought us to this land

That kept us strong in Gettysburg 

as we fought hand to hand

I have been fighting for this country 

from the cradle to the grave

Proudly stand beneath the flag 

that no man will be a slave

What made me think I had the right to run so long

To my surprise they realised before it all went wrong

I’d run about and scream and shout

I couldn’t keep this big mouth shout

 

Banging out the odd half ounce

From stolen cars that we’d burn out

In and out of trouble – In and out of jail

Always in the middle trying to get bail

There was something burning in my soul

 

The word came out and I went in

to trade my legs against my sins

And at 12 o’clock behind some shops

my running days they finally stopped

Watch what you say when ye see the cops

Things will be better when the money comes though

I’ll be back on my feet in a week or two

A little bit of money, a little bit of time

A little bit of luck and this could all be mine

Just one line at a time

 

I’d never try to justify

All the crazy things Ive done

And if you’re going to rob your own

You’ll have no place to run

But there was something burning in my soul

I couldn’t hide, couldn’t control

Was in my youth was in my rage

Cause the street I live on is no bigger that a cage…

I’m living the dream, I’ve a washing machine

I keep my socks, my soul and my conscience clean

You’ve no need to worry, I’m not your problem

You’ve no need too worry

 

I do my thing and I pay my bills

Sometimes me and my friends take pills

You’ve no need to worry we’re not your problem

You’ve no need to worry

 

Cause we’re at that age, you know that difficult stage

When going out late never turns out great

Me and my friends like to stay up late

No drunken taxi all alone

Can’t even talk cause you’re that stoned

You’ve no need to worry

When you party at home

You’ve no need to worry

 

I’m living the dream, I have all I need

I’ve Dr Martin boots I’m wearing Levis jeans

A few good friends that’s all you need

Dancing in the kitchen with the music up

The curtains closed and the windows shut

The lights are down and the doors are shut

Tryin to phone a sick day but you’re too too

One two three four

 

I’m living the dream and it’s a real cool scene 

Me and my friends just doing our thing

We should know better but we like to party

We should know better but we like to party

No photographs no mobile phones

No broken sticks no broken bones

You’ve no need to worry when you party at home

I heard voices in the alleyways and I believed

the words they’d say

So It’s not that hard to understand the smell of petrol

off these hands

Through choking gas the marching bands

passed hijacked cars and burned-out vans

Like it was written in stone

 

I’d watch the news and all it’s shame who got killed

and who’s to blame

And crowds would gather in the rain their empty prayers

would ease their pain

Like it’s written in stone

Was written in stone

We must pay the highest price, fight like dogs

or live like mice

It was written in stone

 

Now all the anger that I’m from, for every flag

and every beating drum

Doing the things that needed done singing the songs

our fathers sung

Like is was written in stone

 

Was it written in stone that we can’t laugh?

We can’t dance we can’t love or take the chance?

Was written stone?

 

I didn’t take this hard road choosing to sing

about the view

but on the path of most resistance we all learned a song

or two

Now all my heroes, all my gods are now faded names

on gable walls

And Easter Sunday comes and those things are said

and flags are flown

Like it was written in stone

 

Was it written is stone, on tattooed arms and broken bone

if your burning churches burn your own

Was it written in stone?

 

Yes I believe

Yes I believe, the day is coming

We will rise up off our knees

We’ll find that road that leads us all to feeling free

Not long now and you will see there are on borders

just the sea

 

You say you feel something changing that makes it

all feel real

One hundred years you’re waiting but we would

never kneel

This war is over there is nothing left for you to steal

No more saying sorry, saying please

When our freedom been achieved

The day has come and you are now part of the change

 

In the way that we’ve been keeping score

All the good things worth killing for

It’s not the fight it’s what your fighting for

They’d kill a couple and we would kill a little more

Think about what victory’s like before you start the war

That’s always worked every time we used it before

 

The war is over long before the fighting done

A battle only finished its a war that must be won

What’s how wars are won

The war was over long before the shooting stopped

First I seen the screws run and then it was the cops

There is something about Belfast just after it rains

The streets are empty and the air feels clean

But down below this city there are places you can go

We’re flash get traded like sugar and gold

When the bars are empty and your clubs are closed

We close our eyes

I’ve marks upon my body that I can’t hide

I’ve done things ill would do again just to survive

We close our eyes

We close our eyes

 

I’m more than the shadow and the sins of wreaked men

Like the judges and the coppers, 

golden rings on dirty hands

There is something in the water and we’re too afraid to say

We close our eyes we kneel and pray

We close our eyes

 

There is something about Belfast things don’t seem that far

I’m sleeping in the gutter but my dreams are in the stars

There is something about Belfast,

but things are what they are

There is something about Belfast

I’m down here in the gutter just looking for some change

There is something about Belfast in the rain

The devil called his lawyer

And he said Ive had enough

Of Jesus and his crooked friends

Fuck’n up my stuff

I don’t care about the money

But you’ve got to clear my name

Every time they fuck it up

Its me that get the blame

I didn’t starve the Irish,

I didn’t gas the Jews

I didn’t fuck the Indians

I guest that must have been you

 

So tell me how this all ends?

Jesus we used to be friends

You’ll never hear a soldier cry

As he runs into war

I’ve the devil on my side

Its him I’m killing for

Ive never raised an army

I didn’t built the guillotine 

But I was in the front row

Cause I never liked your queen

I didn’t fill the slave ships

Or rape the world for gold

You cam keep your bleeding heart

Ive got rock and roll

 

So tell me how this all ends?

Jesus we used to be friends

I’m going to tell your father

The second he gets home

And I bet he crucifies you

When he hears what you have done

Picking on the fallen

Just try’n to have some fun

Behaving like the saviour

When you’re just the boss’s son

And the lord will be my witness

And he’ll give my soul a break

He knows that I’m no angel

But I ain’t the fuck’n snake

 

So tell me how this all ends?

Jesus we used to be friends…

Rise up see what we’ve achieved

Standing on the shoulders of the ones who dared believed

Rise up see how far we’ve come

Let the laughter of our children

Mean our day has finally come

Cherish all those children, remember those we’ve lost

All our brothers and our sisters who paid the highest cost

So we must build a future in the glory of their name

When the people of the island know

their freedom once again

I know we’re strong but we must be stronger

 

For the road that we are on together we’re stronger

Together we’re stronger

Together we’re stronger

 

Stand up and let them hear our voice

Let those who hold the chains they no longer

have a choice

Cause we have known the darkness of that

cold and lonely road

And all those who stood against us as we

made are way back home

And from it’s highest mountain through

it’s valleys to the sea

Let the future of the island be republican and free

I know we’re strong but we must be stronger

 

For the road that we are on together we’re stronger

Together we’re stronger

Together we’re stronger

 

Rise up, it now we will be heard

And proudly we will stand among the nations of the world

Rise up for a time is coming soon

And we will be together at the rising of the moon

I know we’re strong but we must be stronger

 

For the road that we are on together we’re stronger

Together we’re stronger 

Together we’re stronger

Go Ask the Women and the Young

It rained the morning they brought you home

I still hear your mothers tears falling like stones

The world had broken her oldest son

The flag was folded the war begun

I seen people angry i seen others who just cried

Friends i knew as young as you put they’re hand upon

the flag

To do the things that need be done

We ask the women and the young

 

Cause they will come and hunt you sometime dead out

on the street

And there i am I’m back again with blood upon my teeth

I thought we could shine forever all our river would run free

I’m afraid if i forget you now who’ll remember me

They think its over but they don’t know who has won

Go ask the women and the young

Go ask the women and the young

 

These old graveyards get lonely I’ve been coming

here too long

But I just keep on digging digging digging on

So every year we gather here beneath the Easter sun

Remembering our fallen and the things that still need done

Go ask the women and the young

Go ask the women and the young

Mollie’s sick and tired of feeling alone

Dancing to a radio like nobody’s home

She knows the kids are sleeping

But Mollie don’t care

Turn up the music and let down your hair

It’s hard to put your finger on

Just when she gave up

Waiting on some jealous fella

Who’d come changing her luck

Then fuck it all up

Sick and tried of tears that won’t dry

Watching every dream she had just slowly die

Cause that’s what it takes

It ain’t that easy

Raising kids these days

Everyday’s a struggle

But we struggle on

Even on the good days

Things still go wrong

Turn it on, turn it up

So you can feel

You have everything you need

For then the shit gets real

Mollie’s sick and tried of trying again

Every man she has ever know

They’ve all been the same

They treat her like game

Sick and tried of just wanting more

Picking up the little thingsand closing doors

Cause that’s what it takes

It ain’t that easy raising kids these days

Mollies sick and tired

of how things always work out

She lifts the radio and turns it down

It’s more than just a word

You can see its tracks upon the backs

Of the poor around the world

Some say its in the mountains

High up in the sky

The kids go looking for it where the supermarkets die

It will not be there when you go looking

How much will it be when you need more

How long before the soldiers on your TV

Look just like the soldiers at your door

 

Freedom’s not the brave new world that holds a smoking gun

Standing at the border where it’s bravest work is done

Freedom’s not in lines of three through dirty trenches

to victory

For kings or queens or heads of state

In drunken songs that are sung with hate

 

Maybe it’s the arms of a lover

Maybe the forgiveness of a mother

Maybe it’s just one to another

On the road you’re going to take

When everything’s at steak

 

Freedom’s not the new drug that’s going to get you high

The kind of speed the family need on days it can’t get by

It wont fill the hole you called your soul

Won’t pick you up when it takes control

Maybe it’s a war that’s not worth winning

Maybe I’ve been wrong and it’s a lie

Maybe it’s just somethings that we’re all missing

But don’t say that it’s the only way too die

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