PJ Harvey

Hey!
I’m one BIG QUEEN!
No one can stop me.
Red light, red green,
sat back, I’m watching.
I’m number one
second to no one.
No sweat, I’m clean,
nothing can touch me.

Tell you my name
F.U.C.K!
50 ft Queenie!
Force 10 hurricane.
Biggest woman,
I could have 10 sons!
10 gods, 10 queens,
10 ft and rising!

Hey! I’m the king o’ the world!
You hear my song?
Come on, measure me –
I’m twenty inches long!

Glory, glory,
lay it all on me,
50 ft Queenie,
50 and rising.
U bend ova
Casanova.
No sweat, I’m clean
nothin’ can touch me!

The kids are rolling dice for change
sitting on the backyard steps calling Money! Money!
An old guy walking to the store chewing on a cocktail stick
stops to tell us what is what –

He says, Everything is staged – that’s how it is –
people are jus’ paid an’ bought, and I’m tired of it.
What are you gonna’ do to change it?
Everything is staged – that’s what’s going on.

The kids roll their dice again.
The sun is beating down. I ask the old guy’s name.
He smiles. The pit bull runs our way –
the kids call out for him, Money! Money!

He says, ‘Everything is staged – that’s how it is –
people are jus’ paid an’ bought, and I’m tired of it.
What are you gonna’ do to change it?
It’s all about money – that’s what’s going on.

How to stop the murdering? By now we should have learned –
if we don’t then we’re sham, bad overwhelms the good.

What I’ve seen – yes, it’s changed how I see humankind –
I used to think progress was being made, that we could get something right.

When we first got to the camp our supplies were not enough.
I saw a displaced family eating a cold horse’s hoof.

We set up tents, brought in water, air drops were dispersed.
I saw people kill each other just to get there first.

What we did? Why we did it? I make no excuse –
we got things wrong, but we also did some good.

I believe we have a future to do something good.

Enough is enough.
A line in the sand.
Seven or eight thousand
killed by hand.
They stepped off the edge
they did not step back.
If we haven’t learnt by now
then we’re a sham.

He got lucky one time
hitting with the girl in room 509.
She turned her back on him, facing the frame
and said, Listen Joe, don’t you come here again.

White sun scattered all over the sea –
he could think of nothing but her name, ‘Elise’.
God is the sweat running down his back.
The water soaked her blonde hair black.

It’s a perfect day Elise.

He got burned by the sun –
his face so pale and his hands so worn –
let himself in room 509,
said a prayer, pulled the trigger and cried

It’s a perfect day Elise.

One day I know we’ll find a place of hope
just hold on to me, just hold on to me

Walk tight, one line, you’re wanted this time
there’s no-one to blame, just hold on to me

Come on my love
and I’m right on time, and the birds keep singing
and you’re right on line, and the bells keep ringing
Come on my love
and the battle is won, and the planes keep winging
and I’m right on time, and the girl keeps singing

I walk, I wade through full lands, and lonely
I stumble, I stumble

With you I wait to be born again
With love comes the day, just hold on to me

Come on my love
and I’m right on time, and the birds keep singing
and you’re right on line, and the bells keep ringing
Come on my love
and the battle is won, and the planes keep winging
and I’m right on time, and the girl keeps singing

Now is the time to follow through, to read the signs
Now the message is sent, let’s bring it to an end

One day I know there’ll be a place called home.

I once knew a woman/man
A courageous friend I thought
Turned out so wrong was I
when we were up against the wall

Now it’s my turn to laugh!
You can stick it up your fucking ass!

Death was everywhere,
in the air
and in the sounds
coming off the mounds
of Bolton’s Ridge.
Death’s anchorage.
When you rolled a smoke
or told a joke,
it was in the laughter
and drinking water,
it approached the beach
as strings of cutters,
dropped into the sea and lay around us.

Death was in the ancient fortress,
shelled by a million bullets
from gunners, waiting in the copses
with hearts that threatened to pop their boxes,
as we advanced into the sun
death was all and everyone.

Death hung in the smoke and clung
to 400 acres of useless beachfront.
A bank of red earth, dripping down
death, now, and now, and now.
Death was everywhere,
in the air
and in the sounds
coming off the mounds
of Bolton’s Ridge.
Death’s anchorage.
Death was in the staring sun,
fixing its eyes on everyone.
It rattled the bones of the Light Horsemen
still lying out there in the open

as we, advancing in the sun
sing, Death to all and everyone.

My first name, Angelene.
The prettiest mess you’ve ever seen.
Love for money is my sin –
any man calls, I’ll let him in.

Rose is my colour and white.
A pretty mouth and green my eyes.
I see men come and go
but there’ll be one who will collect my soul and come to me.

Two-thousand miles away he walks upon the coast.
Two-thousand miles away – it lays open like a road.

Dear God, life ain’t kind –
people getting born and dying,
but I’ve heard there’s joy untold
laying open on that road in front of me.

My first name, Angeline.

Sometimes I can see for miles
Through water and fire
From England to America
I feel life meet my eyes

And it’s the best thing
A beautiful feeling

A smile from San Diego
He is still a boy
Two ends to every rainbow
And a train from Mexico

But he’s the best thing
A beautiful feeling

And when I watch you move
And I can’t think straight
And I am silenced
And I can’t think straight

It’s the best thing such a beautiful feeling

Farewell my friends
Farewell my dear ones
If I was rude
forgive my weakness

Goodbye my friends
Goodbye to evening parties
Remember me
in the spring

Work for your bread
Soon we must leave
Remember your families
and work for your children

I don’t need much
and the older I become
I realise
my friendships

will carry me over
any cause of strangeness
and any cause of distance
The friends that last

will dance one more time
with me
I don’t need much
but this I need

Look out ahead, see danger come
I want a pistol, I want a gun
I’m scared baby, I want to run
this world’s crazy, give me the gun

Baby, baby, ain’t it true
I’m immortal when I’m with you
but I want a pistol in my hand
I want to go to different lands

I met a man, he told me straight
You gotta’ leave, it’s getting late.
Too many cops, too many guns
all trying to do something no-one else has done

I walk on concrete, I walk on sand
but I can’t find a safe place to stand
I’m scared baby, I want to run
this world’s crazy, give me the gun

Bitter branches spreading out.
There is none more bitter than the wood.
Into the white world it grows,
twisting its roots, a swarm of bees,
twisting under soldiers’ feet.
Soldiers, standing in a line,
the damp earth underneath,
holding their rifles high.
Holding their young wives
with white hands.

Hold up the clear glass to see.
Hold up the clear glass and look through;
soldiers standing in formation,
the damp earth underneath,
holding their rifles high.
Their young wives,
with white hands wave goodbye.
Their arms as bitter branches
spreading into the white world.

I think I saw you in the shadows.
I’ll move in closer beneath your windows.
Who would suspect me of this rapture?
Who, but my black hearted love?

When you call out my name in rapture
I volunteer my soul for murder.
I wish this moment here forever.
You are my black hearted love.

Please don’t reproach me
for how empty
my life has become

I don’t know what really happened
I watched your disappointment
at being misunderstood

I forgive you

Something metal
is tearing my stomach out
if you think ill of me

Can you forgive me too?

I tried to learn your language
but fell asleep half undressed
unrecognisable to myself

C’mon Billy – come to me.
You know I’m waiting – I’ll love you endlessly.

Come along Billy, come to me.

I heard our song on the radio
It wasn’t long before I thought of you
Can’t get the sound outta my head
Don’t look now, it’s coming round again

I saved your voice from the telephone
I play it back on the message machine
It really sounds like you’re having fun
I’m going out into the midday sun

Come night I’m gonna step outside
Take a walk, I’m gonna clear my mind
The radio still playing our song
You got me jumping like the cat on the wall

Turn up the radio

They play the radio in my dreams
Takes me back to when I was 17
Dancing in circles on the kitchen floor
I’ll play this song till I can’t take anymore

Catherine de Barra, you’ve murdered my thinking.
I gave you my heart, you left the thing stinking.
I’d break from your spell if it weren’t for my drinking.
The wind bites more bitter with each light of morning.

I envy the road, the ground you tread under.
I envy the wind, your hair riding over.
I envy the pillow your head rests and slumbers.
I envy to murderous envy your lover.

Till the light shines on me
I damn to hell every second you breathe.

I envy the road, the ground you tread under.
I envy the wind, your hair riding over.
I envy the pillow your head rests and slumbers.
I envy to murderous envy your lover.

Till the light shines on me
I damn to hell every second you breathe.

Oh my Catherine –
your eyes smiling
and your mouth singing –
with time I’d have won you.
With wile I’d have won you.

Fifteen keys hang on a chain.
The chain is joined and forms a ring.
The ring is in a woman’s hand.
She’s walking on the dusty ground.
The dusty ground’s a dead end track.
The neighbours won’t be coming back.
Fifteen gardens overgrown.
Fifteen houses falling down.

The woman’s old and dressed in black.
She keeps her hands behind her back.
Numbers painted on the doors.
Posters on the locked up church.
Imagine what her eyes have seen.
We ask but she won’t let us in.
A key so simple and so small;
how can it mean no chance at all?
A key – a promise, or a wish;
how can it mean such hopelessness?

A circle is broken, she says.

love me tenderly my darling
in this city of light and truth
for this moment forever sing
for my darling that I love you

city of no sun
and no peace in my heart
you left me nothing
you left me broken
once sad, once grieved
you once said you loved me

outside the fields in sunlight
the singing breeze and silence

lover, release me
I can’t move, I can’t breathe
no heart, no peace
no more, nothing
long day, long night
too long, love lies

Words leave my heart dry
Words can’t save life
Love has no place here
No joy, no tears

Darling, time’s changed
Time leaves, time fades
Please see through my eyes
Save your tears for the next who dies

I shout but he don’t hear
I put down on the page
Darling spare me your tears
Just send me light of day

I can feel his heart
Wired heart
Like gunfire

How do we cope with the days after a death?
Empty days. Nothing left.
Not even a funeral.

I see shapes forming inside paintings.
Animals and humans, row upon row.
Walking towards something.
Waiting for something.

I’m looking for an answer,
me and a million others:
Disbelievers.
Deserted lovers.
Dear God, you’d better not let me down this time.

Cracks in the canvas
look like roads
that never end.

Won’t you cover me again? Dear Darkness, I’ve been your friend for many years…
Won’t you do this for me dearest Darkness? Cover me from the sound of the words tightening around my throat and around the throat of the one I love…the tightening, tightening, tightening.

Dear Darkness – now it’s your turn to look after us, because we kept you clothed and we kept you in business when everyone else was having good luck. So now it’s your time to pay – to pay me and the one I love with the worldly goods you stashed away –
with all the things you took from us.

A boy stares through the glass.
He’s saying, Dollar, dollar.
Three lines of traffic pass.
We’re trapped inside our car.
His voice says, Dollar, dollar.

I turn to you to ask
for something we can offer.
Three lines of traffic pass.
We pull away so fast
all my words get swallowed.

In the mirror glass
a face pock-marked and hollow
is saying, Dollar, dollar.
I can’t look through or past
the face saying Dollar, dollar
the face pock-marked and hollow
staring from the glass.

I lost my heart
under the bridge
to that little girl who
meant so much to me,
and now I moan,
and now I holler –
she’ll never know
just what I found.

That blue-eyed girl,
she said No more,
and that blue-eyed girl
became blue-eyed whore.
Down by the water
I took her hand.
My lovely daughter –
won’t see her again.

Oh help me Jesus,
get through the storm.
I had to lose her –
to do her harm.
I heard her holler.
I heard her moan.
My lovely daughter –
I took her home.

Little fish, big fish, swimming in the water –
come back here man, gimme my daughter.

Put on that dress
I’m going out dancing
Starting off red
Clean and sparkling, he’ll see me

Music play make it dreamy for dancing
There must be a way that I can dress to please him
It’s hard to walk in the dress, it’s not easy
I’m swinging over like a heavy loaded fruit tree

If you put it on, if you put it on…

It’s sad to see
Lonely, all this lonely
Close up my eyes
Dreamy, dreamy music make it be alright

Music play make it good for romancing
Must be a way I can dress to please him
Swing it, sway, everything’ll be alright
But it’s feeling so damn tight tonight

If you put it on, if you put it on…

You pretty thing my man says
But I bought you beautiful dresses

Filthy tight, the dress is filthy
I’m falling flat and my arms are empty
Clear the way, better get it out of this room
A fallen woman in dancing costume

If you put it on, if you put it on…

I caught it in the face
coming around again
I thought it was worth waiting
you’re caught up in my hair
wet sides from time to time
but mostly I’m just dry

you leave me dry

You’ve come all this way
no hair out of place
you put it on the stage
you put right in my face

you leave me dry

No water-well in sight
no water at my sides
I’m sucking on the well
I’m sucking till I’m white

but you leave me dry

flying
I’m flying
hitting heavens high
head on
brake to low

floating
I’m floating
hanging below the sea
I’m telling you
look at me

ecstasy
I’m in ‘e’
ecstasy

singing
I’m singing
sound it, hang it,
breathe
I’m begging you
look at me

ecstasy
I’m in ‘e’
ecstasy

The beauty of her under electric light.
The beauty of her under electric light
tears my heart out every time.

Dawn’s there waiting right outside.
Dawn’s there waiting right outside –
she tears my heart out every time.

Sirens rising across the sky.
Sirens rising across the sky –
tears my heart out every time.

I live and die
through England.
I live and die
through England.
It leaves sadness.
It leaves a taste,
a bitter one.

Remedies
never were,
remedies,
not within my reach.
I cannot go on as I am.
I cannot leave.

A withered vine,
a bitter one,
reaching from
the nations’ dirt.
England,
I have searched for your springs,
but people stagnate with time
like water or air.

Undaunted,
never-failing love for you,
England,
is all, to which I cling.

stand under fountain
cool skin, wash clean
wash him from me

along comes wind, a big bone shaker
blows off my clothes, completely naked
what to do when everything’s left you?

out of the blue, it is he
a vision to me, bearing leaves
and petals green, covers me in all my shame

hand in hand, he’s my big man
stays with me some forty days
no words, then goes away – I cry again

on my hill I wait for wind

I threw my bad fortune off the top of a tall building
but I’d rather have done it with you

Your boy’s smile at five in the morning, I looked into your eyes
and I was really in love

In Chinatown, hungover, you showed me
just what I could do

Talking about time travel and its meaning
and just what it was worth

and I feel like some bird of paradise
my bad fortune slipping away
and I feel the innocence of a child –
everybody’s got something good to say

Things I once thought unbelievable in my life
have all taken place

When we walked through Little Italy I saw my reflection
come right off your face

I paint pictures to remember, you’re too beautiful
to put into words

Like a gypsy you dance in circles all around me
and all over the world

and I feel like some bird of paradise
my bad fortune slipping away
and I feel the innocence of a child –
everybody’s got something good to say

So I take my good fortune
and I fantasize of our leaving
like some modern-day
gypsy landslide
like some modern-day
Bonnie and Clyde
on the run again

I sowed a seed
underneath the oak tree
I trod it in
with my boots I trampled it down

grow, grow, grow, grow

I sowed a rose
underneath the oak grove
with my boots on the ground
into the earth I trampled it down

grow, grow

teach me mummy
how to grow
how to catch someone’s fancy
underneath the twisted oak grove

There’s a little figure on the television
scratching at the ground by a pile of rags.
Grainy little figures on television screens
weighing up the moment – guilty, guilty.

What’s he doing with that stick?
Which one is guilty?

Back in the bunker in the operations room
a bored soldier is eating his lunch
while drones in their thousands are unveiled in Texas
to roaring voices, but nobody asked us if we wanted them.

What’s he doing with that stick?
Which one is guilty?

Power to the predator. The Grim Reaper.
Grainy little suspects running for shelter.
The drones have come in their thousands
but nobody asked us if we wanted them.

Rules and regulation…

Samson, the strength that’s in your arms
Oh to be your stunning bride

Samson, your hair glistening like sun
Oh would that it were mine

Samson your hair that’s in my hands
I’ll keep it safe you’re mine

He said, Wait! Wait!
Delilah my babe!

You lied in my face!
You cut off my hair!
You lied in my bed!

Samson, you stay with your ‘Lilah
I hold you in my hands
your hairy strength – my man

He said, Wait! Wait!
Delilah my babe!

You lied in my face!
You cut off my hair!
You lied in my bed!

Walker sees the mist rise
over a no-man’s-land.
He sees in front of him
a smashed up waste-ground.
There are no fields or trees.
No blades of grass.
Just unburied ghosts
hanging in the wire.

Walker’s in the wire,
limbs pointing upwards.
There are no birds singing
The White Cliffs of Dover.
There are no trees to sing from.
He cannot hear the wind.
Far off, a symphony.
Do you hear the guns beginning?

James Walker’s in the mist rising
over no-man’s-land,
in the battered waste-ground,
the big guns firing.

She burst, dropped off
picked the fruit, and realised
I’m naked, I’m naked too

So cover my body, dress it fine
hide my, in linen and lace
been sewing since time began

More than the hills
more than the trees
more than the mountains, you

More than I can see
in front of me
more than the mountains, you

so fruit flower myself inside out
I’m happy and bleeding for you
fruit flower myself inside out
I’m tired and I’m bleeding for you

This fruit was bruised, dropped off and blue
out of season, happy and bleeding
long overdue

too early and it’s late too
mind and body,
I would and I would not do

so fruit flower myself inside out
I’m happy and bleeding for you
fruit flower myself inside out
I’m tired and I’m bleeding for you

fig, fruit, flower myself
inside out for you

I was blind
I was lame
I was nothing
’til you came and said,
Babe,
I’ll make you sing,
I’ll make you feel,
like some queen.

I’ll take you Kathleen,
to your home and mine.
Lord, he hooked me –
fish-hook and line.

And rode in
barking mad
with a halo
of gate black,
’til my love
made me gag.
Called him, Daddy.
Take my hand.

He said I’ll take you Kathleen
to your home and mine.
Lord he hooked me –
fish-hook and line

Now I’m blind
and I’m lame
left with nothing
but his stain.
Daddy, your maid –
she can’t sing,
she can’t feel,
she’s no queen.

He said I’ll take you Kathleen
to your home and mine.
Lord he hooked me
clean out of time.

Horses in my dreams
like waves, like the sea
They pull out of here
they pull, they are free

I rode a horse around the world
along the tracks of a train
broke the record, found the gold
set myself free again

I have pulled myself clear

Horses in my dreams
like waves, like the sea
On the tracks of a train
set myself free again

I have pulled myself clear

You think you’ll come over?
I’ll give you my number.
You love her, support her? –
then give me your mother.
You come take me home
and take me to your doctor.
You think you’ll come over?
I think I’m a mother.

Roll over, roll over
and roll me in manna.
Your lover, my lover –
you just roll me over.
You give me your mother
and man, if I love her,
I’ll love her, I’ll keep her.
I’d better just keep her.

Come on and support her,
I said to that mother.
She said, You come over.
She said she’s a voter.
I loved her, I kept her,
and then she just left an’
alone, I implore ya –
I think I’m a mother.

I need you mother.
More than ever.

They swept across the land.
They did not leave a thing.
They did not leave a person
a stone, or a tree.
They did not leave anything.
All that’s left is sand.

I remember father.
I remember him.
Every minute I remember.
Every moment.
Now I hate everyone –
before I used to love.

One day thorns shall grow from their graves.
When they return
I’ll be waiting.
I will not leave
a person standing.
All I’ll leave is sand.
All I’ll leave is sand.

We got up early, washed our faces,
walked the fields and put up crosses,
Passed through the damned mountains,
went hellwards,
and some of us returned,
and some of us did not.

In the fields and in the forests,
under the moon and under the sun
another summer has passed before us,
and not one man has,
not one woman has
revealed the secrets
of this world.

So our young men
hid with guns
in the dirt
and in in the dark places.

Joseph walked on and on.
The sunset went down and down.
Coldness cooled their desire
and Dawn said, Let’s build a fire.

The sun dressed the trees in green
and Joe said, I feel like a king,
and Dawn’s neck and her feet were bare –
sweetness in her golden hair.

She said, I’m not scared.
He turned to her and smiled –
secrets in his eyes
and the sweetness of desire.

Hour by hour, may we two stand
when we’re dead, between these lands.
The sun set behind his eyes
and Joe said, Is this desire?

Oh dear sweet mama, I’m not feeling well.
Can I step out for a little while?
But I go missing – I steal away
and I go kissing in the alleyway.

All I want to do
and all I want to grow up to be
is all caught up with you –
look what you’re doing to me!

Oh dearest young man, teach me sweetheart
how to love you. I’m a clever girl.
You’ve got me lying, you’ve got me leaving home,
you’ve got me crying when I’m alone.

When I’m not with you my dreams are so very dark.
When I’m not with you I dream of my hair falling out.
When I’m not with you I walk the dark tunnels of my heart.
When I’m not with you everything comes apart.

When I was younger I spent my days
wondering to whom I was supposed to pray –

It’s you.

Joe, ain’t you my buddy thee
stay with me when I fall and die
always thought you’d come rushing in
to clear the shit out of my eyes

Joe ain’t you my buddy thee
lay my enemies out in lines
come in close and I’ll wash your feet
with my hair I’ll mop them dry

Joe, you be my buddy please
in this hell and dead-lock time
when I’m trussed in that headache tree
cut me down with your silver knife

Joy was her name.
A life un-wed.
Thirty years old.
Never danced a step.

She would have left these red hills far behind if not for her condition.
I would have left these red hills long ago if not for my condition.

Pitiful Joy.
She looked away
into a hollow sky
came face to face

with her own innocence surrounding her until it never was a question –
innocence so suffocating, now she cannot move, no question.

No hope for Joy.
No hope or faith.
She wanted to go blind,
wanted hope to stay.

I’ve been believing in nothing since I was born, it never was a question.

How could that happen? How could that happen again?
Where the fuck was I looking when all his horses came in
and he built a whole army of kamikaze?

10,000 willing pilots flying –interfacing space and beyond.
He built an army to come and find me.

Beyond all reason, beyond all my hopes
the call of duty – another war zone.

Kamikaze – you can’t touch me, kamikaze

Eight miles high, he walks his path
and I follow mine – one tooth for one eye.
He’s come to find me.

10,000 willing pilots flying – interfacing space and beyond.
Here is his army – interspace, here we come.

Kamikaze-you can’t touch me

No one but me is walking under palms that give no shade.
I’m leaving you today.

California.
How cruel was I to think that I could make you change?

Oh give me some shade.
Oh England, come soon.

How could I have believed that I could live and breathe in you?
California killed me.

I think it’s time to leave.
I told no one I’d stay.

Oh,
you’re divine.

Oh,
did I tell you you’re divine?

Oh,
did I ever –
when you were alive?

Did it hurt when you bled?

Did it –
lover-boy, fever-head?

I’ll bet you never thought I’d try –
your mouth, my love,
was open wide.

Oh,
you were my life.

Oh,
you were going to be my life.

Did you sing happy day
that time I went away?

I had to ease my aching head –
no other way –cut off your legs.

Oh.

Oh.

Did you ever wish me dead –
lover-boy, fever-head?

No, you must not go away –
but how will you ever walk again?

I might as well be dead.
But I could kill you instead

The West’s asleep. Let England shake,
weighted down with silent dead.
I fear our blood won’t rise again.

England’s dancing days are done.
Another day, Bobby, for you to come home
and tell me indifference won.

Smile, smile Bobby, with your lovely mouth.
Pack up your troubles, let’s head out
to the fountain of death
and splash about, swim back & forth
and laugh out loud,

until the day is ending,
and the birds are silent in the branches,
and the insects are courting in the bushes,
and by the shores of lovely lakes
heavy stones are falling.

duck you under
deep salt water
bring me lover
all your power
I’ll be in hell
out of your spell
over, under
die of pleasure

in my dreaming
you’ll be drowning
hell’s low and god above
all drunk on my love

you oughta hear my long snake moan
you oughta see me crawl my room

duck you under
deep salt water
in my dreaming
you’ll be drowning
raise me up lord
call me Lazarus
hey lord, you and hell
all under my spell

you oughta hear my long snake moan
you oughta see me crawl my room
it’s my voodoo working

I’m coming up man-size
skinned alive
I want to fit
I’ll have to get
man-size
I’m coming on
handsome
my leather boots on

Got my girl an’ she’s a wow.
I’ve cast my iron knickers down.
Man-size no need to shout.
Can you hear? Can you hear me now?

Man-size

I’ll measure time
I’ll measure height
I’ll calculate
my birthright.
Good lord I’m big!
I’m heading on
handsome
got my leather boots on

Got my girl an’ she’s a wow.
I cast my iron knickers down.
Man-size no need to shout.
Can you hear – can you hear me now?
My babe looking cool an’ neat –
pretty sure good enough to eat.
Man-size no need to shout.
Let it all – let it all hang out

Man-size

silence my lady head
get girl out of my head
douse hair with gasoline
set it light and set it free

Damn your chest-beating, just you stop your screaming.
You’re splitting through my head and swinging from the ceiling.
Oh, move it over Tarzan, can’t you see I’m bleeding?
I’ve called you by your first name, good lord it’s

Me-Jane!
I’m running
split head
I’m reeling
Me-Jane
Me-Jane

Damn your chest-beating just you stop your screaming.
All the time he hunting, swimming, fishing, breeding.
Don’t you ever stop and give me time to breathe-in?
I’ve called you by your first name, good lord it’s

Me-Jane!
I’m running
split head
I’m reeling
Me-Jane
I’m trying
To make sense
of your screaming

Don’t lord it on me
Don’t lord it on me
Don’t lord it over me

Tarzan, I’m pleading, stop your fucking screaming!
You’ve got me nailing walls, I’m hanging from the ceiling!
Oh move it over Tarzan can’t you see I’m bleeding?
Good lord you never stop!

I was walking through the National Mall
thinking about medicinals and how they used to grow there
when the ground was a marshland, undisturbed by human hands,
and I heard their voices;

the sumac said, We are always here
the witch hazel – We are always here
the sassafras – We are always here
bluestem grasses – Always here.

I looked about, what did I see?
Medicinals growing around me rising from the gravel.
The sumac and the witch hazel, come to soothe our pain, our sores
come to soothe our troubles.

The sumac said, We are always here
the witch hazel – We are always here
the sassafras – We are always here
bluestem grasses – Always here.

But do you see that woman
sitting in the wheelchair
with her Redskins cap on backwards
and her plastic bags swinging –
from inside a paper wrapper
she sips from a bottle
a new painkiller
for the native people.

I see it coming
at my head.
I’m not running
I’m not scared.

Big black monsoon,
take me with you.

I’m not jerking.
I won’t hide.
I’m ready
to meet ze monsta tonight.

Big black monsoon,
take me with you.

What a monster!
What a night!
What a lover!
What a fight!

Hell ain’t half full,
take me with you.

Yeah, it’s coming,
out of this world –
and I’m the lucky,
lucky girl!

Big black monsoon,
take me with you.

He should not be hid
He’s just too big
In a cloud
Please come down
I’d put stars
at your feet
put Mars
at your head

show yourself to me
and I’d believe
I’d moan
and I’d weep
fall silent
when you speak
I’d burst it
full to the brim

Mary lost her head
and let it bleed
came crying
back to me
My son
where’s he been?
Don’t deny it
don’t you hide him.

No, I’ve missed him

No word
no sign,
Mary say
I’m not lying –
how come
he’s so big,
but good lord
he’s been hid?
Good lord,
where you hid?

Did you see her walking?
Did she come around here sir?
Black hair, brown eyes –
my beautiful Leah.
She was always so needy –
said, I have no-one.
Even as I held her
she went out looking for someone.

She only had nightmares
and her sadness never lifted,
and slowly over the years
her lovely face twisted.
Did she come around here sir?
I swear you would remember –
black hair, brown eyes,
late September,

October,
November,
December…

it never leaves my mind –
the last words she said,
If I don’t find it this time
then I’m better off dead.

At the refreshments stand,
a boy throws out his hands
as if to feed the starlings
but really he throws nothing –
it’s just to watch them jump.
See the people coming,
lumbering over the grass
to squeeze into plastic chairs,

near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln.

Three notes, a bugle call –
a black man in overalls
arrives to empty the trash,
hauls it to a metal hatch,
a doorway opens up
to the underworld.
The boy throws empty hands –
the starlings jump,

near the memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln.

I have no time for hate or love.
Hey child, you’re so full of woe.
I have no time for hate or lying.
Hey child, you’re no child of mine.

In came the girl with the sad eyes
and asked him over again,
Was I too weak? Was I a child?
Can’t we leave here and start again?

I don’t mind if you take me down.
I don’t mind if you break it all.
How much more can you take from me?
How much more can you take from me?

I’d like to take you inside my head.
I’d like to take you inside of me.

You came from heaven, is all he said.
You came from heaven and came here to me, and I love you…

He drove fast through the night
and looked at his angel where she lay
resting her head, and he closed her eyes.
Outside the heat and the summer faded.

Deep in the sky, a storm he’d seen.
Deep in the sky, a storm he’d seen.

There ain’t nothing, no girl so sweet.
They took her from heaven and gave her to me.

Stella-Marie you’re my star
Stand on ground look up at her
Just hanging in the gold stone
Just hanging there face froze

But I think I see her smiling

Stella-Marie you’re my star
In your blue, blue tavern you light my lantern
O Stella’s large, pink on her face
It’s glowing this place

A place for heroes only

Stella-Marie you’re my star
I pin you to my chest, sell you to the rest
I kiss her gown
Send those angels down to woo me now

I think I see her smiling

Oh my lover, don’t you know it’s alright.
You can love her and you can love me at the same time.
Much to discover, I know you don’t have the time
but oh my lover, don’t you know it’s alright.

Oh my sweet thing, oh my honey thighs,
give me your troubles, I’ll keep them with mine.
Take at your leisure, take whatever you can find
but oh my sweet thing, don’t you know it’s alright.

It’s alright.
It’s alright.
There’s no time
so it’s alright.

What’s that colour forming around your eyes?
Waltz my lover, tell me that it’s alright.
Just another before you go away,
oh my lover, why don’t you just say my name?

And it’s alright,
say it’s alright.
There’s no time.

The scent of Thyme carried on the wind,
stings your face into remembering
that nature has won again.

On Battleship Hill’s caved in trenches,
a hateful feeling still lingers, even now, 80 years later.
Cruel nature, cruel, cruel nature.

The land returns to how it has always been.
The scent of Thyme carried on the wind.
Jagged mountains jutting out,
cracked like teeth in a rotten mouth.
On Battleship Hill I hear the wind,
Say, Cruel nature has won again.

Do you remember the first kiss ? Stars shooting across the sky.
To come to such a place as this. You never left my mind.

I’m watching from the wall as in the streets we fight –
this world all gone to war. All I need is you tonight.

And I draw a line to your heart today –
to your heart from mine. A line to keep us safe.

All through the rising sun, all through the circling years
you were the only one who could have brought me here.

And I draw a line to your heart today –
to your heart from mine. A line to keep us safe.

Let’s talk
Let’s talk
Let the dirt fall
Let heads roll

No kind hand is reaching out for me tonight

I slept facing the wall
I dreamt of our building in pieces
You slept facing the wall
and you wanted less than I wanted

Passionless
Pointless
Where does the passion go?

There’s no kindness in your hands
No reaching out for me tonight
You slept facing the wall
and you wanted less than I wanted

I slept facing the wall
but when I met you
how did you enter?
I don’t remember

I will not!

How dare you! says the angel.
He crashes down from the heights
shakes the disbeliever,
shakes the disbeliever’s head,
shakes him harder,
instructing, You will!

Hear me, and you hear the law.
All that rubbish inside your rotting mind.
I am your guardian. I am your fairy.
Do my will.

Such love as this is true love!
This is true love that we’re doing now,
even lovelier than it was before, all broken,
your face all mashed up.

I will not!

plants and rags
ease myself
into a body bag

dreamt a man
he fed me fine food
he gave me shiny things

white and black
are you looking for the sun boy?
the sun doesn’t shine down here, no

white and black
are you looking for the sun boy?
the sun doesn’t shine down here in shadow

house and home
who thought they could take away that place?
but they lead us outside and they lead us out quietly

Please don’t make my wedding dress
I’m too young to marry yet
Can you see my pocket knife?
You can’t make me be a wife

How the world just turns and turns
How does anybody learn?

Mummy, put your needle down
How did you feel when you were young?
‘Cos I feel like I’ve just been born
Even though I’m getting on

How the world slips by so fast
How does anybody last?

As the world keeps coming
And the bees keep humming
I’ll keep running

Flowers I can do without
I don’t wanna be tied down
White material will stain
My pocket knife’s gotta shiny blade

I’m not trying to cause a fuss
I just wanna make my own fuck-ups
I’m not trying to break your heart
I’m just trying not to fall apart

Tie yourself
to me –
no one else.
You’re not rid of me.

Night and day
I breathe –
ha, ha, hey, hey,
you’re not rid of me.

I beg you
my darling,
don’t leave me
I’m hurting.

Lick my legs
and I’m on fire.
Lick my legs
and I’m desire.

I’ll tie your legs,
keep you against my chest,
no, you’re not rid of me.
I’ll make you lick my injuries.
I’ll twist your head off
’til you say

Don’t you wish you never met her!

I beg you
my darling
don’t leave me
I’m hurting.

Big lonely
above everything,
above everyday.
I’m hurting.

Lick my legs and and I’m on fire.
Lick my legs and and I’m desire.

You’re not rid of me.

Oh, my Anacostia –
do not sigh, do not weep –
beneath the overpass
your saviour’s waiting patiently
walking on the water,
that flow with poisons
from the naval yard.
He’s talking to the fallen reeds.
What will become of us?

A small, red sun makes way for night –
trails away like a tail light.
Is that Jesus on the water
talking to the fallen trees?
What will become of us?

and I remember everything
sunrise on a blue horizon
you, your hand in mine
I remember the things you said –

I’ll be your lady, wait through it all
be there to catch you, after the fall
run through the red light, out of my head
run from the darkness into the day

and I dream of running,
and in the dream I myself can run
and I feel the ground beneath my feet
and I move like music
you move me like music

head out on my way
head out to red light
Hold on, the dream says
head out on my life
you said, I’ll be there

now I’m treading very carefully
and I hope that I don’t scream
and I hope that I don’t fall
off your bridge crossing over
sunny mountain swollen river
fall

you said, I’ll be there
through it all

Speak –I’m listening.
Baby –I’m your sweet thing.
Believe what I’m saying.
God’s truth, I’m not lying.

Lie steady.
Rest your head on me.
I’ll smooth it nicely –
rub it better ’til it bleeds.

And you believed me!
Caught out again.
I’m calling you weak.
Getting even.

I was joking…
Sweet babe, let me stroke it.
Take, I give in.
God’s truth, I’m not lying.

And you believed me!
I’m calling you weak.
And I’ll make it better –
rub ’til it bleeds.

I’ll rub it
until it …

Lover had to leave me
to cross the desert plains.
He turned to me, his lady,
tells me, Lover, wait.

I’m calling Jesus, please,
send his love to me.

Wind and rain haunt me.
I look to the north and pray.
Send me please, his kisses.
Send him home today.

I’m begging Jesus, please,
send his love to me.

Left alone in the desert
this house becomes a hell,
this love becomes a tether,
this room becomes a cell.

Mummy, Daddy, please,
send him back to me.

How long must I suffer?
Dear god, I’ve served my time.
This love becomes my torture,
this love my only crime.
Oh lover, please release me,
my arms too weak to grip,
my eyes too dry for weeping,
my lips too dry to kiss.

I don’t need no rising moon
I don’t need no ball and chain
I don’t need anything but you
such a shame, shame, shame

shame, shame, shame
shame is the shadow of love

you changed my life
we were as green as grass
and I was hypnotized
from the first till the last kiss of

shame, shame, shame
shame is the shadow of love

I’d jump for you into the fire
I’d jump for you into the flames
try to go forward with my life
but just feel shame, shame, shame

shame, shame, shame
shame is the shadow of love

and if you tell a lie
I still would take the blame
and if you pass me by
it’s such a shame, shame, shame

I’ve been trying to show you over and over

Look at these my child-bearing hips
Look at these my ruby-red, ruby lips
Look at these my work-strong arms
You’ve got to see my bottleful of charm
I lay it all at your feet
You turn around and say back to me

He said
Sheela na gig, Sheela na gig
You exhibitionist!

I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said you didn’t care
Wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Wash that man right out of my hair
Turn the corner, another one there
Wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before

He said,
Sheela na gig, Sheela na gig
You exhibitionist!
Put money in your idle hole

Gonna wash that man right out of my hair
Just like the first time, said you didn’t care
Wash that man right out of my hair
Heard it before, no more
Take my hips to a man who cares
Turn the corner, another one there
Take my hips to a man who cares
Heard it before

He said,
Sheela na gig, Sheela na gig
You exhibitionist!
Put money in your idle hole

He said,
Wash your breasts, I don’t want to be unclean
He said,
Please take those dirty pillows away from me

All those places where I recall
the memories that grip me and pin me down,
I go to these places pretending to think –
I can think of nothing, but anticipate

that you’ll find me there –
that by some miracle you’d be aware.

I’d risen this morning determined to break
the spell of my longing, and not to think.
I freed myself from my family, I freed myself from work,
I freed myself, and remained alone…

and in my thinking steal you away –
though you never wanted me anyway.

Silence. Silence. Silence.

Erika is watching
Daniel is hiding
Erika is counting,

16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9
Erika is coming

The sun is setting the scene
In the garden it’s starting to rain
The trees are trembling

Erika’s repeating
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Erika is feeling something
Daniel is hiding
She’s counting,

16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4

The sun is leaving the scene
It took a look and turned away
The trees are trembling

Erika’s repeating,
Oh, oh, oh, oh

There is no laughter in the garden

You snake
you crawled
between
my legs
said, Want
it all?
It’s yours
you bet

I’ll make
you queen
of everything.
No need
for god
no need
for him

Just take
my hand
you be
my bride
just take
that fruit
put it
inside.

You snake
you dog
you fake
you liar
I’ve burnt
my hands
I’m in
the fire

Oh
Oh

You salty dog
you filthy liar
my heart
it aches
I’m in
the fire.

You snake
I ate
I true
believed
put rotten fruit
inside
of me.

Oh Adam,
please!
You must
believe
that snake
put it
in front
of me.

Jesus save me
Jesus save me

Can I tell you something?
Can I tell you a story?
It’s about me and Billy
‘cos I remember, I remember it all started when he bought that car
it was the first thing he’d ever owned apart from me
and the colour was red, and the colour was red
and he drove me out of my mind –

I’m over it now

It was spring or summer ’65 I don’t remember
steaming and sweating and sticking against the wheel
and I could see the tendons stand out in the back of his neck
and he used to make me pray, wearing a mask like a death’s head
he’d put me there in the back seat, and he’d say –

Jesus save me
Jesus save me

Inherited his father’s hate is what he’d say
and he’d cuss enough to strip the paint of heaven’s gate
but somehow he would make joy come loose inside
and I would feel really, I would feel really and truly alive
and I would do anything for him –

it just wasn’t enough
it was never enough
and he’d turn to me and say, he’d say,
Even the son of god had to die, my darling

and he wanted everything, he wanted everything
he wanted the honey from the cane
an’ he used to make me pray

kneeling in the backseat –J Jesus –
he’d make me pray
kneeling there and he wanted everything
he wanted the honey from the cane – Say it!
Even the son of god had to die my darling
Go on, say it.

Jesus save me
Jesus save me

Long goes the night.
Longer the day.
Teclo, your death
will send me to my grave.

Let me ride on his grace for a while.

It starts at daylight, I see him
before my sad eyes, I hear him breathing
Oh lover, I need you to lead me
I never thought that you’d leave

That was my veil
That was my time
Once held sacred
But now lies

No words can heal my heart
Inside I’m broken, it’s done
Was she a pretty girl? Did she have pretty hair?
Was she soft-spoken? Was there our love there?

That was my veil
That was my time
Once held sacred
But now lies

I saw children through a fence,
standing by blue canvas tents,
I called to them, they moved like ghosts,
gliding, silent and remote.

A girl, whose mouth was a straight line,
looked like a creature out of time.
A grey boy, burnt by cigarettes,
pushed his scarred hands through the fence.

He tried to smile at me and said,
In my place you would have commit
suicide from what I’ve seen.
I found it difficult to breathe.

He said his school became a jail
and armed men tore out fingernails
of children tied with cord and wire.
His face grew old before my eyes.

And when I turned and tried to run
I saw ten-thousand children
were laid in lines, wrapped in white sheets
along a godforsaken street.

I prayed an angel from the clouds
would free the children from their shrouds.
I prayed and waited for an age
I waited but no angel came.

Where have you gone Daniel, my youngest son?
I keep expecting you to be here in your chair –
sitting in your favourite chair.

Pieces of my life are gone,
washed away in the water that took my son.

Louis was my dearest friend
fighting in the Anzac trench.
Louis ran forward from the line
and I never saw him again.

Later in the dark
I thought I heard Louis’ voice
calling for his mother then me,
but I couldn’t get to him.

He’s still up on that hill.
Twenty years on that hill.
Nothing more than a pile of bones,
but I think of him still.

If I was asked I’d tell
the colour of the earth that day –
it was dull, and browny-red,
The colour of blood I’d say.

Here’s the Hope Six Demolition Project
stretching down to Benning Road
a well-known pathway of death,
(at least, that’s what I’m told).
Here’s the one sit-down restaurant
in Ward Seven. Nice.
Okay, now this is just drug town,
just zombies, but that’s just life.

The Community of Hope.

Here’s the highway to death and destruction,
South Capitol is its name.
The school looks like a shit hole –
does that look like a nice place?
Here’s the old mental institution
now the Homeland Security base.
Here’s God’s Deliverance Centre,
a deli called M.L.K.

The Community of Hope.

They’re gonna’ put a Walmart here.

I’m in a crowded cell.
The super calls my name.
He shoves me in a room.
He calls two soldiers in.
They clamp my head with irons.
Their hands becoming fists.
You will see us again.
You will remember this.
They tie me up with ropes.
They beat my legs with sticks.
I cannot use my legs.
They drag me to a desk.
Behind it sits a man.
Fingernails are on the floor.
He laughs and asks, What kind
of freedom do you want?
They push me down the stairs.
I’m lying on the ground.
Behind a cellar door,
I hear two women howl.
I see three men on racks.
Their hands tied to their feet.
Their faces pinched with clamps.
Guards pulling at their teeth.
They drag me to the gate.
They dump me on the ground.
The super laughs and says,
Walk to your freedom now!

This image on repeat;
A mouth that cannot speak.
A huge force pressing in.
A giant, looming fist.
You will see us again.
You will remember this.

He came riding fast, like a phoenix out of fire-flames.
He came dressed in black, with a cross bearing my name.
He came bathed in light and splendour and glory.
I can’t believe what the Lord has finally sent me.

He said, Dance for me, fanciulla gentile.
He said, Laugh a-while, I can make your heart feel.
He said, Fly with me, touch the face of the true god,
and made me cry with joy at the depth of my love,

because I’ve prayed days, I’ve prayed nights
for the lord just to send me home some sign –
I’ve looked long, I’ve looked far,
to bring peace to my black and empty heart.

And my love will stay until the river bed runs dry,
and my love lasts as long as the sun shines in blue sky,
and I love him longer as each damn day goes,
but the man is gone, and heaven only knows,

I’ve cried days, I’ve cried nights
for the lord just to send me home some sign.
Is he near? Is he far? –
bring peace to my black and empty heart.
So long day, so long night,
oh lord, be near me tonight.
Is he near? Is he far? –
bring peace to my black and empty heart.

Promises, promises
I’m feeling burned
You taught me a lesson
I didn’t want to learn

Why did I come here?
Please tell me again
Why did you ask me?
Don’t say you forget

I long for, I long for
I long for my home
I long for a land where
No man was known

With no neurosis
No psychosis
No psychoanalysis
And no sadness

I’ll pick up the pieces
I’ll carry on somehow
Tape the broken parts together
And limp this love around

Oh love, you were a sickly child
and how the wind knocked you down.
Put on your spurs, swagger around
in the desperate kingdom of love.

Holy water cannot help you now.
Your mysterious eyes cannot help you.
Selling your reason will not bring you through
the desperate kingdom of love.

There’s another who looks
from behind your eyes.
I learn from you how to hide
from the desperate kingdom of love

At the end of this burning world
you’ll stand proud, face upheld
and I’ll follow you, into heaven or hell
and I’ll become as a girl
in the desperate kingdom of love.

As soon as I am left alone
the devil wanders into my soul
and I pretend to myself –
I pretend to myself

I go out to the old mile-stone
insanely expecting you to come there
knowing that I wait for you there –
that I wait for you there

Come here at once!
Come on a night with no moon
because all of my being is now pining –
all of my being is now pining

What formerly cheered me now seems insignificant

And he was walking in the garden
and he was walking in the night
and he was singing a sad love song
and he was praying for his life
and the stars came out around him
he was thinking of his sins
and he’s looking at his songbird
and he’s looking at his wings.

There inside the garden
came another with his lips
said, Won’t you come and be my lover?
Let me give you a little kiss,
and he came knelt down before him
and fell upon his knees
said, I will give you gold and mountains
if you stay awhile with me,

and there was trouble taking place.

There inside the garden
they kissed and the sun rose
and he walked a little further
and he found he was alone
and the wind it gathered round him
he was thinking of his sins
he was looking at his songbird
and he was looking at his wings

and there was trouble taking place.

How is our glorious country ploughed?
Not by iron ploughs –
our land is ploughed by tanks and feet marching.

How is our glorious country sown?
Not with wheat and corn –
How is our glorious land bestowed?

And what is the glorious fruit of our land?
Its fruit is deformed children.
What is the glorious fruit of our land?
Its fruit is orphaned children.

Goddam’ Europeans! Take me back to England
and the grey, damp filthiness of ages,
fog rolling down behind the mountains,
and on the graveyards, and dead sea-captains.

Let me walk through the stinking alleys
to the music of drunken beatings,
past the Thames River, glistening like gold
hastily sold for nothing.

Let me watch night fall on the river,
the moon rise up and turn to silver,
the sky move, the ocean shimmer,
the hedge shake, the last living rose quiver.

Put the pen to the paper
press the envelope with my scent
Can’t you see, in my handwriting –
the curve of my ‘g’, the longing

O

Who is left that writes these days?
You and me – we’ll be different
Take the cap off your pen
wet the envelope – lick it, lick it

O

I need you
Time is running out
Oh baby,
can’t you hear me call?

It turns me on to imagine
your blue eyes on my words
Your beautiful pen – take the cap off
give me a sign and I’ll come running

O
it’s you
I want you

Baby, you got a bad, bad mouth –
everything is poison that’s coming out.
Cheating, lying since the day you were born.
Someone oughta rinse it out with soap.

Wash it out, wash it out, wash it out.

No kind words are coming out of your mouth.
Plenty goes in but nothing good comes out.
Badmouth, sad mouth, you were an unhappy child.
That doesn’t make your lying tongue alright.

Wash it out, wash it out, wash it ou.t

‘Cos everything is poison.
You’ll be the unhappy one.
Your lips taste of poison.
You’re gonna be left alone.

When you told me every word you said
came from voices talking in your head,
baby, I just think you’re out for what you can get,
your badmouth has killed off everything we had.

Wash it out, wash it out, wash it out.

Everything is poison.
You’ll be the unhappy one.
Your lips taste of poison.
You’ll be in the corner crying.

This is the Ministry of Defence
the stairs and walls are all that’s left
mortar holes let through the air
kids do the same thing everywhere;
they’ve sprayed graffiti in Arabic
and balanced sticks in human shit.

This is the ministry of remains
fizzy drinks cans, magazines
broken glass, a white jawbone
syringes, razors, a plastic spoon
human hair, a kitchen knife
and the ghost of a girl who runs and hides.

There’s the bus depot to the right
levelled like a building site
those are the children’s cries from the dark
these are the words written under the arch
scratched in the wall in biro pen:
This is how the world will end.

See them sitting in the rain
as the sky is darkening.
Three lines of traffic edge past
The Ministry of Social Affairs.

At a junction, on the ground
an amputee and a pregnant hound
sit by young men with withered arms
as if death had already passed

through every alleyway and left
a million beggars’ silhouettes
near where the money-changers sit
by their locked glass cabinets.

What’s happened? Let’s go and ask
The Ministry of Social Affairs,
near where the money-changers sit
by their locked glass cabinets.

Oh ghost moth, hear me, hear me
Oh pale moth, shield me, shield me
I hear you beating, beating
I feel you in me, in me

Beyond yourself
into the lights
Palest wings
burning bright

Oh ghost moth, hear me, hear me
Oh pale moth, shield me, shield me
I hear you beating, beating
I feel you leaving, leaving

Lose yourself
into the lights
Palest wings
wave goodbye

Nothing else but waves of love
Nothing else but waves of love
I can’t wait for night to come
Nothing else but waves of love

Above the mountain
an eagle is flying

High above the mountain
an eagle is calling down
to the soldier who falters
a soldier on the ground

By the mountain I feel nothing
for in my own heart every tree is broken –

the first tree will not blossom
the second will not grow
the third has almost fallen
since you betrayed me so

A restlessness took hold my brain,
and questions I could not hold back.
An orange monkey on a chain
on a bleak uneven track

told me that to understand
you must travel back in time.
I took a plane to a foreign land
and said, I’ll write down what I find.

Beneath a mountain’s jagged shelves
cloaked with snow and shadows sheer
plates tipped up upon themselves
the pain of 50 million years

and mules and goats were running wild.
A happy chaos carried on
and old men and young boys smiled,
and worked until the day was gone.

Packs of sandy-coloured dogs
walked streets that looked like building sites,
but piles of rocks and dust and smog
could not block out a different light.

When I returned I ran to meet
the monkey, but his face had changed.
He stood before me on two feet.
The track was now a motorway.

Hit her with a hammer
teeth smashed in
red tongues twitching
look inside a skeleton

My fingers sting
where I feel your fingers have been
ghostly fingers
moving my limbs

Oh god I miss you!

Daddy’s in the corner
rattling his keys
mummy’s in the doorway
trying to leave

Nobody’s listening

And they came to the river
and they came from the road
and he wanted the sun
just to call his own
and they walked on the dirt
and they walked from the road
till they came to the river
till they came up close.

Throw your pain in the river
to be washed away slow.

And we walked without words
and we walked with our lives
two silent birds
circled by,

like our pain in the river
to be washed away slow.

And we followed the river
and we followed the road
and we walked through this land
and we called it a home
but he wanted the sun
and I wanted it all
and the white light scattered
and the sun set low,

like our pain in the river
to be washed away slow.

The sandman
brings me love
and sleep

Into my eyes
one thousand joys
he leaves

The moon appears
one thousand fears
arise

The sandman’s gone
when morning comes

goodbye

I’m walking in the city tonight –
I’m walking in the city at dark –
remembering – remembering light
& thinking of nothing but the shooting stars.
This world tonight is mine.
A world to be remembered in.
I think of a faded photograph –
my hair longer than it’s ever been,

and the sky lit up.

I saw the trees crossing the moon –
I saw the stars in the heaven above
shining on my own beautiful prayer –
shining on my own beautiful love
and I’m dancing with him,
in this city and in this town –
I don’t care what he’s thinking of –
just take the car, just take my hand,

and the sky lit up.

Blue now is the colour
love the drug I’m needing
got to keep this feeling

With the headlights burning
we’re looking up for something
answers on the ceiling

Watching out the windows
watch the way the wind blows
soon it will be morning

Still the question lingers
I twist it round my fingers
could you be my calling?

See this winged boy falling
falling out of something
hits the drug I’m needing

Arrows that he’s turning
need to keep this feeling
slow drug in the morning

With the headlights burning
looking up for something
something that we’re needing

Still the question lingers
I twist it round my fingers
could you be my calling?

a revolving wheel of metal chairs
hung on chains, squealing

four little children flying out
a blind man sings in arabic

now you see them, now you don’t
the children vanish behind a vehicle

now you see them, now you don’t
faces, limbs, a bouncing skull

little children, don’t disappear
                    I heard it was twenty-eight thousand
lost upon a revolving wheel
                    I heard it was twenty-eight thousand
all that’s left after a year
                    I heard it was twenty-eight thousand
a faded face, the trace of an ear
                    I heard it was twenty-eight thousand

a tableau of the missing
tied to the government building

thousands of sun-bleached photographs
fading with the roses

Speak to me of universal laws
The whores hustle and the hustlers whore
All around me people bleed
Speak to me your song of greed

Speak to me of your inner charm
Of how you’ll keep me safe from harm
I don’t think so, I don’t see
Speak to me of your inner peace

Little people at the amusement park
City people in the dark
Speak to us, send us a sign
Tell us something to keep us trying

The whores hustle and the hustlers whore
Too many people out of love
The whores hustler and the hustlers whore
This city’s ripped right to the core

Speak to me of heroin and speed
Of genocide and suicide, of syphilis and greed
Speak to me the language of love
The language of violence, the language of the heart
This isn’t the first time I’ve asked for money or love
Heaven and earth don’t ever mean enough
Speak to me of heroin and speed
Just give me something I can believe

The whores hustle and the hustlers whore
Too many people out of love
The whores hustler and the hustlers whore
This city’s ripped right to the core

Catherine liked high places –
high up on the hills –
a place for making noises,
noises like the whales.
Here she built a chapel
with her image on the wall –
and a place where she could rest
and a place where she could wash –
and listen to the wind blow.

She dreamt of children’s voices
and torture on the wheel.
She was patron-saint of nothing
just a woman of the hills,
but she once was a lady
of pleasure, and high-born –
a lady of the city –
but now she sits and moans –
and listens to the wind blow.

I see her in her chapel
high up on the hill.
She must be so lonely –
O mother, can’t we give
a husband to our Catherine?
A handsome one, a dear?
A rich one for the lady –
someone to listen with?

I have seen and done things I want to forget –
soldiers fell like lumps of meat,
blown and shot out beyond belief.
arms and legs were in the trees.

I have seen and done things I want to forget –
coming from an unearthly place,
longing to see a woman’s face
or hear a piano’s grace,
instead of the words that gather pace,
the words that maketh murder.

I have seen and done things I want to forget –
a Corporal, who’s nerves were shot
climbing behind a fierce, gone sun,
flies swarming everyone,
death lingering, stunk
over the whole summit peak
flesh quivering in the heat.
This was something else again.
I fear it cannot be explained.
The words that maketh murder.

I can’t believe life’s so complex –
I just want to sit here and watch you undress
This is love that I’m feeling

Does it have to be a life full of dread?
I want to chase you round the table, want to touch your head
This is love that I’m feeling

I can’t believe that the axis turns on suffering
when you taste so good
This is love that I’m feeling

In the summer, in the spring
you can never get too much of a wonderful thing

You’re the only story that I never told
You’re my dirty little secret, want to keep you so
Come on out, come on over, help me forget
Keep the walls from falling on me, tumbling in

This is love that I’m feeling

Can you hear them –
the helicopters?
I’m in New York.
No need for words now
we sit in silence.
You look me
in the eye directly.
You met me.
I think it’s Wednesday –
the evening.
This mess we’re in.

The city sun sets over me

Night and day
I dream
of making-love
to you –
love-making
on-screen.
An impossible dream.
I have seen
the sunrise
over the river –
the freeway
reminding
of this mess we’re in.

The city sun sets over me

What were you wanting?
I just want to say
don’t ever change
and thank you
I don’t think we will meet again.
You must leave
before the sunrise
over skyscrapers.
This evening.
The sin.
This mess we’re in.

The city sun sets over me

I was born in the desert. I’ve been down for years.
Jesus, come closer, I think my time is near.
I’ve travelled over dry earth and floods,
hell and high water, to bring you my love.

I’ve climbed over mountains, travelled the seas,
and cast out of heaven, cast down on my knees.
I have lain with the devil and cursed God above,
and forsaken heaven to bring you my love.

Oh grandmother, how I miss you
under the earth – I wish I was with you

to talk to you

I found somebody I tried to give myself to –
many times I wanted to talk to you

If I lay on the earth could you hear?

Oh grandmother, I’m so lonely
all my life

If I lay on the earth could you hear?

she lay
breathing
sunshine
beating
time here
lingers
trace with
my fingers

a circle around the sun

no more
laughter
since the
black’s come
but head down
get high
up there’s
blue sky

a circle around the sun

I need
your light
darling
love lies

and if you gave it to me
I’d hold it in the palm of my hand
like a good luck charm or a vice

and I’d reach up like a child to receive it –

and there’s no more sad
there’s no more rain
I’ve got sun on my back
and I’m in love again

take me
inside
your warm
love lie

and if he took me
I’d hold him up to the light
like a god or a good luck charm or a vice

and I’d open up like a child to believe it –

there’s no more sad
there’s no more rain
I’ve got sun on my back
and I’m in love again

but still you can’t give your peace to me

I stumble in and in
you fit me with those angel wings
send me gold, set me high
set it up till I’m in the sky

and the storm is gone
and the temperature’s high
and delight is dining at my table

till I think ha, ha, ha, how lucky we are
an angel at my table, God in my car
get it at sea, take a ship
I’d christen her ‘Victory’, she’d make it

Victory!

Come on boys let’s push it hard
you bump down push your motor car
come on boys you’ve done us proud
you sweat, dig, I’ll mop it right off your brow

Victory!

till the storm is gone
and the temperature’s high
and delight is dining at my table

water, I’m walking on water

nighing on eleven years
taking it into my head
living by the right lines
reading what the very man said

water, I’m walking on water

nighing on eleven years
taking it into my head
Mary, Mary drop me softly
I’ve been reading what your very man said

nighing on eleven years
taking it into my head
leave my clothes on the beach
I’m walking down into the sea

prove it to me

now the water to my ankles
now the water to my knees
think of him all waxy wings
melted down into the sea

Mary, Mary what your man said
washing in all over my head
Mary, Mary hold on tightly
over water, under the sea

water, I’m walking on water

We wanted to find love
We wanted success
Until nothing was enough
Until my middle name was excess
And somehow I lost touch
When you went out of sight
When you got lost into the city
Got lost into the night

I was in need of help
Heading to black out
Till someone told me, Run on in honey
Before somebody blows your goddam’ brains out
You shop-lifted as a child
I had a model’s smile
You carried all my hopes
Until something broke inside

But now we float
Take life as it comes

So will we die of shock?
Die without a trial
Die on Good Friday
While holding each other tight
This is kind of about you
This is kind of about me
We just kind of lost our way
But we were looking to be free

But one day we’ll float
Take life as it comes

The ceiling is moving
moving in time
like a conveyor belt
above my eyes

When under ether
the mind comes alive
conscious of nothing
but the will to survive

I lay on the bed
waist down undressed
look up at the ceiling
feeling happiness

Human kindness

The woman beside me
is holding my hand
I point at the ceiling
she smiles so kind

Something’s inside me
unborn and unblessed
disappears in the ether
this world to the next

Human kindness

White chalk hills are all I’ve known
White chalk hills will rot my bones
White chalk sticking to my shoes
White chalk playing as a child with you

White chalk south against time
White chalk cutting down the sea at Lyme
I walk the valleys by the Cerne
on a path cut fifteen hundred years ago

and I know these chalk hills will rot my bones

Dorset’s cliffs meet at the sea
where I walked, our unborn child in me
White chalk, gorse-scattered land
scratch my palms – there’s blood on my hands

Who the fuck do you think you are?
Get out of my hair

Who the fuck do you think you are
coming round here?

Who the fuck? Who the fuck?
Who the fuck? Who the fuck?

Who the fuck do you think you are?
Get your comb out of there – combing out my hair

I’m not like other girls
You can’t straighten my curls

I’m not like other girls
You can’t straighten my curls

Who the fuck you tryin’ to be?
Get your dog away from me!

What the fuck you doing in there?
Get your dirty fingers outta my hair!

Who? Who? Who? Who?
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck you!

I’m free! You’ll see!
I’m me! You’ll see!

Who? Who?
Who? Who?

In the night I look for love.
I get my strength from the man above.
God of piston, god of steel,
god is here behind my wheel –

I’m just working for the man.

Pretty things get in my car –
I take them flying, it’s not far.
I’ll take them handsome, or take them mean.
They look good in my steel machine –

I’m just working for the man.

Don’t you know yet who I am?
I’m working harder for the man.
I go around doing good.
I get my strength from the man above.

I’m just working for the man.

People throwing dinars
at the belly-dancers,
in a sad circus
beside a trench of burning oil.

People throw belongings,
a life-time’s earnings,
amongst the scattered rubbish
and suitcase on the sidewalk.

Date palms, orange
and tangerine trees,
and eyes are crying
for everything.

I talked to an old man
by the generator,
standing on the gravel
by the fetid river.

He turned to me,
then surveyed the scene,
said, war is here
in our beloved city.

Some dove in the river
and tried to swim away
through 10,000 tonnes of sewage,
fate written on their foreheads,

date palms, orange
and tangerine trees,
and eyes were crying
for everything.

We are waiting for the summer
The sun will bring back treasures for us
Come on my friend, drink to good times
Golden wishes to your health and mine

You come through for me
You be well for me

I’ll be lifted on this our holiday
I’ll take you my friend, I’ll take you with me

On a rooftop in Brooklyn, one in the morning,
watching the lights flash in Manhattan,
I see five bridges, the Empire State Building
and you said something that I’ve never forgotten.

We lean against railings, describing the colours
and the smells of our homelands, acting like lovers.
How did we get here? To this point in living?
I held my breath, and you said something.

And I am doing nothing wrong riding in your car,
your radio playing – we sing up to the eighth floor
of a rooftop, Manhattan, one in the morning,
when you said something that I’ve never forgotten,
when you said something really important.

Hey there Luna
I’d like ta tell ya
how sad am I
so love sick, I could die

Needing water
my neck’s stiff
my head hurts
been looking up
all night
been looking up
she’s so bright –

she’s so white
she’s so clean
I’m telling you
she’s everything
I’d give it all
my sorry eyes
give just everything
she’s got me so mesmerised

Yeah, I wish I was Yuri-G
It’s just the things that she does to me
Yeah I wish I’d been Yuri-G

Told by the doctor
to make a figure
then needles stick in her
and she’ll be your Luna

I stuck ‘em in real clean
I stuck ‘em in a mile
I drew her down on me
I drew her with a smile
I’d give it all you see
I’d give my sorry eyes
I’d give just everything
she’s got me so mesmerised

Yeah, I wish I was Yuri-G
It’s just the things that she does to me
Yeah, I wish I was Yuri-G