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1. |
Light me Up
03:05
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Today I was tired to the bone, restless and rushing
My focus, my compass was gone, shattered and sinking
But you show a way I can see, a path of unknowing
And you make no sense, not to me, no clarity growing
We only pass this way once, only have just one chance
Look at all that I have and you light me up
I waited but you never came, expectantly hoping
I knew it would always be the same, everyday longing
But you hold a key, I am opened to something and nothing
And you found a way to show me all I am missing
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2. |
Melisende
04:16
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In the forests and the meadows, in the failing of the light
Beware the stirring shadows, playing at the edge of sight
And on a holy Sunday when the faithful are at prayer
The lady Melisende will ride, a heart to capture there
Black Faulk he was a rebel and hunting was his game
And he didn’t fear the devil
He didn’t bow and he didn’t pray
And he rode out on Sunday with his horses and his hounds
He felt the thrill of freedom call
and chased his quarry down
Melisende, mother of a kingdom to come, lady of the dark
Melisende, no-one knew where you had come from
You wouldn’t change to please them
there were rumours from the start
One day he saw a vision, a lady dressed in white
His heart was in a prison, he fell in love at the very first sight
They were married on a Sunday to the sound of bell and hymn
She was the countess of Anjou, a golden wedding ring
Three sons she gladly gave him, princes they would be
The Count he needed saving, his conscience wouldn’t set him free
She would never on a Sunday come to the altar or the Host
He forced her to the rail to pray, Father, Son and Holy Ghost
They say that she was heartless, a dark angel in their midst
With a voice that brought down darkness
She stood her ground and she told them this
‘I curse the very Sunday when my husband showed his spite’
She broke each leaded window, then rode into the night
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3. |
Better To Leave
02:29
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When your anchor is gone and everything’s shifting
And you don’t know where you stand
When all that you thought that you knew is drifting away
Slipping out of your hands
Take a moment to be
Take a moment to be
It’s better to leave than be left behind
It’s better to lose than never find
Keep your heart open
When the old ways are broken and there is no mending
The sadness and regret
When you want for a new way
but it is uncertain
And you wish for what comes next
Take a moment to breathe
Take a moment to breathe
Either way is a road untravelled
Either way is a difficult path
Who can choose how a life unravels?
There’s no way back
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4. |
Lonely As The Moon
04:19
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No sleep all night
Head in pillow, heart in sight
Watched you leaving
With her love she holds you tight
Keeping quiet
Waiting for that moment when
It is certain I will be alone again
With this letter you have snapped each thread about my heart
All that’s holding me is broken
Scattered to the stars
I won’t write you of my world
For now we are apart
I am lonely as the moon
You blessed me this day
With the ring you gave away
Breaking my heart
On her finger it will stay
Restless, empty,
All my senses numb the pain
It is certain
Alone forever I remain
Brother, won’t you feel
the whole of me?
Brother, won’t you?
Brother, don’t you know
the whole of me?
Brother, that I know…
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5. |
Angel in the House
04:40
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Her voice in the room, subtle and low
a whisper in a song
I see reflections wherever I go
in the window, then she’s gone
I see a shadow of wings on the chair
where I sit and dream my dreams
She looks over my shoulder
she’s stroking my hair
She rocks my soul to sleep
I will kill the angel in the house
I will still her voice
it makes me doubt
I smother her lies
I will barricade this home
Destroy her disguise
I’m better on my own
When by my own hand she…
There’s a clock on the shelf
that’s pointing the hand
to all that I should do
The essence, the purpose
are slipping like sand
the trivial wins through
The perfume, the looking glass
waiting for me
the myth of beauty speaks
The rule of the angel and her tyranny
will tie me up in sheets
My liberation and my self-respect
took an act I had to do
The joy of the breaking of her perfect neck
I struck and feathers flew
I am the slut and my curtains are drawn
I live in perfect peace
I sit and I sing and I never shall mourn
the angel now deceased
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6. |
Beautiful Myth
03:08
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Life now lies on my face
I know I can’t replace
All the years of knowing
growing young to old
They say there’s a waning in power
Here it comes, the invisible hour
When we’re quiet
we’ll never see the riot
when we hide
Well let’s call it a day
on that beautiful myth
To tell you truth
we’re glad to see the back of it
This sideshow is closed
it’s been burned to the ground
I’ve swapped fortunes
for snake oil and paint
Years of trying
there’s still one complaint
This is ageing automatic
it’s only that dramatic when we try
We’ve got moonlight in our hair
there’s a spark in our eyes
There’s a knowing in the air
it’s the words of the wise
There’s no stopping us now
we’re ripping up the script again
Not learning those lines
we’re kicking up the dust again
Level the field
we’re all players now
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7. |
Polly Cook
04:23
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I’ll be blind by twenty, been working here for thirteen years
Not a life of plenty, I see the needle through my tears
I’ll be earning money, but he’ll cream off all that he can get
I will drug my baby, to stop her crying her needs aren’t met
Polly Cook did this
Hated every stitich
Polly Cook was here
hear me loud
hear me clear
We did start a union
sisters gathered to make a change
Through intimidation
we won’t hold together
to make our name
And your machines will come and make what we had done
You know we can’t compete with those who do not rest or eat
Will you advance my wages?
I have a child I cannot feed
You prefer my favours
then that will be the life I lead
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8. |
Over The Fields
03:39
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I was born with a view of an ocean
And the sky above was deepest blue
And I had sleep sound and unbroken
And I would dream of meeting you
What do you say on this darkening day
Let’s run over the fields and away
And now I look and the sea is guarded
And the sky looks only fit for rain
And the walls came up
And the people hardened
And now we lose before we gain
Laughing, falling
running
hand in hand with you
Dancing, sleeping, waking far away
I miss being free to dance unburdend
I miss the kicking up of leaves
And others dream
What we know for certain
Oh smoke and mirrors
to believe
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9. |
Hellcats
04:27
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This is the tale of two women who sailed
on the Curlew with Calico Jack
And they were sharper than flint
fingers were itchy on the trigger
They fought with the sword, their pistols were drawn
At the first sight of threat to their men
And they were colder than stone
always had warmth for a lover
They were known as hellcats of the ocean
They sailed their way through rum and devotion
Drink to this, life on a pirate’s ship
Standing as sisters in arms, they fought tooth and nail
One night the rum flowed on the deck and below
When the British caught up with the ship
And then the cannonball flew
expecting the crew to surrender
The men ran below, a cowardly show
and the angry women were left
And they fought back to back,
for Calico Jack and each other
They were known as hellcats of the ocean
They sailed their way through rum and devotion
Drink to this, life on a pirate’s ship
Standing as sisters in arms, they fought tooth and nail
Drink to this, chasing a pirate’s kiss
We know there’s more than one way
to raise a man’s sail
The crew were all chained, awaiting their fate,
the scaffold instead of the sea
And then the women stood tall
cursing them all ‘meet your maker’
Both quick with child, facing their trial
they pleaded their case to the judge
And it’s curious how the innocent now saves the mother
They were known as hellcats of the ocean
They sailed their way through rum and devotion
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10. |
Bitter Blow
03:51
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I’ve been holding things together for a long time now
I’ve been papering the cracks you didn’t see
I’ve been wishing it were different, so we could work it out
If only you would set me free
I’ve been waking up each morning with a heavy heart
I’ve been looking to escape this life of mine
I’ve been going through the motions, trying to play my part
Hope like hell this will be fine
Life has dealt a bitter blow, and the universe conspired
Time will heal us, this I know, but I feel so tired
Don’t make me say it again, say it again
I am going my own way
Don’t make me say it again, say it again
Starting from today
I’ve been trying to change the memories in the photgraphs
I’ve been wondering if that was really me
I’ve been ripping up the pieces, I’m never going back
I want to know what love could be
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11. |
Run with the Wolves
03:20
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I’ll gather bones and shape your form
Assemble you before the dawn
I will sing you from your death
Behold a life from my warm breath
After the sleep no more bereft
You’ll taste the air forever blessed
You will wilder woman be
More fully formed for all to see
For I know a song that stirs your soul
Takes the weight of the world
Helps you rise, a story yet untold
You will run with the wolves
Up from the ground
you have been made
The dust and dirt
your light and shade
Life proclaims a clearer tune
It will begin, it’s coming soon
Listen to your inner sound
Pry it open, pin it down
Ears to hear beyond mundane
Do not let your soul be tamed
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12. |
Lay Me Down
04:14
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Oh lay me down and close my eyes
I will not stir, I will not rise
There is no hell, nor heavenly curse
So lay me down, I go to earth
No cage am I, for spirit’s breath
I will not fly, nor haunt from death
No shade am I, to ashes one day
So lay me down and do not pray
Build me a stone and flowers bring
But do not speak of angels’ wings
And do not say my soul lives on
Just lay me down, for I am gone
Here they come
With a resurrection hymn
God does not give
And God has not taken
I’ve lived and I’ve died
There are footprints where I’ve been
I am unbecoming
So lay me down and sink me deep
Some will forget and some still weep
I do not hope to be received
But joy is in the life I’ve lived
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13. |
New Under The Sun
04:08
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Never thought it would come to the day when we’re fighting for us
Only believed we would enter a place where love and needs must
We’re going to be the ones
Who never give up
Weather our way through the storm
No matter how rough
We are new under the sun
Our voices will cut through the rain
Resounding as one
One day all the stars will align and all fortunes shine down
Until that day
We will live with the clouds
They won’t overwhelm us
I know we’ll dance in the sun
And never regret
The rising and setting’s not done
it’s not over yet
After words become the fight
In time we’ll make it right
I won’t toe your party line
I won’t give the ground that’s mine
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14. |
Silent Spring
04:24
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You knew before the rest of us
You sensed it in the air
Observed the change
You knew the damage done
You would not rest unheard
You understood the reasons
Heed the warning, take it in
They pity you to end the empty fight
But you would not rest unheard
Is the sky falling, no birds sing
So unsettling, no cry is heard
A quiet warning, soft on wings
Is the silent spring
Got to end the empty season
Find the next and ease it in
Respect the mother of all nature
Who would not rest unheard
Open skies are empty
Fields forced into more
Clouds receding gently, open skies
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Union Jill York, UK
Helen Turner and Sharon Jagger produce spellbinding effects with their rich harmonies. Playing their own material, taking their inspiration from a wide range of sources, Union Jill bring their own energy and passion to the acoustic music scene. They mix traditional folk instrumentation with an edgy contemporary feel and powerful vocal delivery. ... more
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