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Dancing with Ghosts

by Alan Reed

/
1.
Is this the sanctuary We talked of in the night? Is this the sanctuary? I must try to do what's right A cold light shines from the watchtower window Chill wind scratches out my face Blown between the bars That hold this place Is this the sanctuary We talked of in the night? Is this the sanctuary? I must try to do what's right Twilight howl, the searchlight owl Wire fingers grip the air Freedom only comes To those who dare Is this the sanctuary We talked of in the night? Is this the sanctuary? Where all our hopes have turned to stone Nothing left to lose but life itself Nowhere left to go but through the wire Cross the compound's barren waste with dread The sun shall rise upon the free and dead - The free and the dead Run, Hide - But you can't flee what lies inside Sleep, Dream - But only to the sound of screams Fear, Doubt - That save for death, there's no way out Seek, Find - The free and promised land that lies nearby And though I wear the yellow badge of hate I walk a free man through the opening gate Still ghostly figures line the wire in a daze No need for flowers here, there are no graves And though I wear the yellow badge of hate I walk a free man past the padlocked gates I pause to look the searchlight in the eye To ask it shed it's light upon the reason why?
2.
A man walks in his neighbours house says what can I do? My fathers' cousins' wife says I must kill you There is a debt of honour and it must be paid by you Though how it came to happen I can't tell you Can we ever find out who's to blame? Can we ever solve our conscience with our shame? Can we ever put things right? The soldier guards the road-block with a rifle in his hand He doesn't smile at children passing by him He couldn't give a damn about this god-forsaken land Where folks would rather hate than understand Can we ever find out who's to blame? Can we ever solve our conscience with our shame? Can we ever put things right? Though the seasons come and go Still the sickness seems to grow in the mind Though the players names may change The simple question still remains Who's to blame? Who's to blame? The journo closed his notebook with a sorry, heavy sigh He can't afford to be seen to be taking sides Tonight he'll drink another beer and argue 'til he's blind And hope that better minds than his decide Can we ever find out who's to blame? Can we ever solve our conscience with our shame? Can we ever put things right? Though the seasons come and go Still the sickness seems to grow in the mind Though the players names may change The simple questions still remains Who's to blame? Who's to blame?
3.
Gets up every morning, at the crack of dawn Fix your working clothes - put your working smile on Just another day of the nine-to-five routine Just a little cog, in a very big machine But she's Kean on the job - Kean on the job She likes the boss, she likes the style The daily grind is all worthwhile But she's Kean on the job - Kean on the job She likes the boss, she likes the style The daily grind is all worthwhile Just another problem in her day-to-day routine but she's always there when there's no-one on the scene With a happy face for people she meets throughout her day Tells them not to fret, because salvation's on the way But she's Kean on the job - Kean on the job She likes the boss, she likes the style The daily grind is all worthwhile But she's Kean on the job - Kean on the job She likes the boss, she likes the style The daily grind is all worthwhile 'Hello! - Hello can you help me?! - We've got this dodgy rail we want you to see' 'Still waiting for you to come - seems never to end' And while you're here, there's a broken heart to mend But she's Kean on the job - Kean on the job She likes the boss, she likes the style The daily grind is all worthwhile But she's Kean on the job - Kean on the job She likes the boss, she likes the style The daily grind is all worthwhile
4.
Catch all the teardrops in the rain It's only water falling softly to the ground And in your eyes I see a solitary man Who waits impatiently in puddles for the coldness of your hand Do you remember the leaves now diseased in November Were green like the garden in May Do you believe that the spring will release What the winter has taken away? It's getting cold, it's getting dark I'm walking homewards with a stranger through the park A bitter wind pulls at your face Distorting memories of tenderness with shadows of regret Do you remember the leaves now diseased in November Were green like the garden in May Do you believe that the problems you leave Stay behind you when you run away? And though your life is changing faster than the seasons That's no reason to hurt those that you've outgrown I realise there's little chance you saying sorry But I'm damned if I will let you grind me down.
5.
Begin Again 05:58
BEGIN AGAIN (© Alan Reed, 2011) My heart belongs to a nation that's lost in self-pity, Looking back through the factory smoke and the rain. I can remember the cobble-stone streets and the dark city walls, So I'm more than content to let history speak for it all.. But I'll never surrender the feeling I get when I'm home.. There's a spirit inside, taking pride claiming me as it's own Legends created from yesterday's black-leaded sorrows, Fermented in casks to be borne on the emigrant tide. Forging the links in a brotherhood chain - stretching all around the world To a homeland that's drowning in tears from expatriate eyes But I'll never surrender the feeling I get when I'm home.. There's a spirit inside, taking pride claiming me as it's own Ohh.. Take me away from the hillside and the glen, Away from the ghosts of the shipyard and foundry men Why can't we surpass this obsession with the past? Is it hope beyond reason it might be the season at last ..to begin again Hiding our dreams in the dark of another man's shadow Pretending to blame him for all of our sadness and pain When will we learn that our fortunes will turn on the choices that we make Let the past be the past, we must start down the road once again. But I'll never surrender the feeling I get when I'm home.. There's a spirit inside, taking pride claiming me as it's own Ohh.. Take me away from the hillside and the glen, Away from the ghosts of the shipyard and foundry men Why can't we surpass this obsession with the past? Is it hope beyond reason it might be the season at last ..to begin again

about

An EP of acoustic versions of songs past and present, including tracks Alan originally recorded with Pallas and Abel Ganz. Also includes two new songs which will feature in full-band form on 'First in a Field of One'.

credits

released November 2, 2011

Alan Reed (Vocals, guitars, bass)
Mark Spencer (keys, sitar)
Jennifer Clark (double bass)
Scott Higham (percussion)

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Alan Reed Stirling, UK

..Is it hope beyond reason, this might be the season at last.. To Begin Again?!!!

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