New river

NEW RIVER (E A D G B E, capo 3)

I can’t feel my fingers. I can’t hold this pen. It keeps happening to me and it’s happening again. It’s happening everywhere and it’s happening to you. I’m happy you could be here. I’m happy it is true. I’m happy there are stones at the bottom of this pool. At the bottom of this pool, I am holding onto you. At the bottom of this pool.

 

I can’t see the difference but I can feel it change. I can’t understand it but I won’t cut it down. I can’t put it together and I can’t explain how. I’m ready for that black hole. I’m ready for the light. I’m ready to be ready when I finally arrive. When I finally arrive I will know what it feels like. I will meet you in the ocean.

 

Jumping into rivers. The water is the same. Who can see the difference between the stone and the lake? Who can see the difference between the ocean and the wave? The waves are breaking gently. The waves are powerful. The waves are only ripples but I’m always being pulled. I am always being pulled towards the bottom of this pool. Out into the ocean through a river brand new. Through the same water but the river is brand new.

Climb up the walls

CLIMB UP THE WALLS (D A D G B E)

 Climb up the walls. I forgot to say. I wanted to leave but I did not want to disappear.

It’s not what you think it’s what you do. You’ve always got an option or an out, I thought you knew.

So maybe next time we should talk. I’ll tell you how I feel and you can tell me too.

And we can land like birds on a branch in the afternoon as the clouds turn pink and orange.

I want it. I want it.

 

So, climb up the walls, I left a note. Just follow the cockroach he will tell you everything.

Fall on your back, it can’t be helped. Things just happen, it can’t be helped. Don’t call for help, you can’t be helped. You can call for help but you won’t be helped. Stop climbing up the walls, you can’t be helped. Let it go, you can’t be helped. It’ll be fine, you can’t be helped. You’ll be alright, you can’t be helped.

You don’t need help.

Don't go gettin all nostalgic

DON’T GO GETTING ALL NOSTALGIC (E A D G B E)

 Don’t go gettin all nostalgic. Don’t get all hung up on the past. Them things were never made to last. Don’t get stuck in what was.

Don’t go gettin all blurry eyed. Don’t get all bent out of shape. Sorrow painted on your face. Don’t go gettin all carried away.

 

Bogged in what could have been. “Oh, those were the days.”

And it feels like some things never change. But some things just can’t stay the same.

 

Don’t get all sad romantic. Life gets better when you let it. Don’t go getting all nostalgic.

Autumn colours

 AUTUMN COLOURS (D A D G A E, capo 2)

Autumn skies are rising. Autumn winds are blowing. Autumn colours are coming.

Autumn birds are singing. Autumn waves are waving. Autumn colours are coming.

 

When I wake up from a dream everything falls back in place. I can believe in everything.

When I hear thunder in the distance I count the seconds it takes before my hands are empty again.

 

Dig me a hole I can find on the brightest day or darkest night. Dig me a hole I can find.

Give me a song I can sing that lets me believe in everything. I can believe anything.

 

Autumn skies are rising. Autumn winds are blowing. Autumn colours are coming.

The ballad of the crow

THE BALLAD OF THE CROW (E A D G B E)

 

The ballad of the crow is long. It doesn’t sound anything like this song.

Its words are light with the weight of truth. And if you hear it you will know what to do.

 

Where do you hear a tune like that? Where do you find a crow with a coat so black?

Silence in the void

SILENCE IN THE VOID (E A D F# A D, capo 2)

 Don’t take too long. It will kill me. I left nothing for a reason.

No one tells you. No one asks why. Look behind you. But do not dwell there.

If you kill me I won’t dwell there.

We will meet like silence in the void.

What about the flies

 WHAT ABOUT THE FLIES (E A D F# A D)

What about the flies? What about the rats? What about the roaches climbing up the walls? What about the king who’s just about to fall?

What about the fish in water so clear, looking for an ocean they will never reach? What about the rocks? What about the stones? What about the boulders?

 

And what about the rich? What about the wealthy? What about the one percent who all own all the property? What about the housos? What about the children of housos who spend their whole lives in the housos?

And what about the ones who get rich? Now the housos are rich and the wealthy are poor or in jail or divorced or in jail or divorced or in jail.

 

But what about the flowers? What about the leaves? What about the mountains? What about the oceans? What about the kookaburra who’s been following me? And I know that he’s looking out for my family.

But what about the dead bird that I buried in the sand? What about the pile of feathers I left there? And what about the flies?

Murder

MURDER (E A D F# A D)

 

I buried a dead bird in the sand. I dug a hole with a stick and filled it in with my hands.

It fell with a soft thud that rang out through the beach. And then the rain fell so I ran for cover in the trees.

 

Underneath a gum tree I stared at my feet. And up above my head on a branch a black crow started to speak.

He said: Where did our friend go? I thought I saw him with you. He’s been missing for a few days. What did you do?

 

I kept staring at my feet and the rain kept falling. When I finally looked up the crow was gone.

Then the sky turned blue. I started walking home. And flying in the distance I saw of family of crows.

I'm a cockroach

I’M A COCKROACH (E A D G B E)

 I’m a cockroach stuck on my back. You’re a black and white housecat.

Pick me up, pull me apart. You can break my legs but not my heart.

 

I’m a cockroach scurrying away. You’ve been chasing me all day.

You just wait until they turn out the lights. I’m on my back but I’m not ready to die.

 

I’m a cockroach, what can I do? All my worst fears are coming true.

And I guess it’s just like they say: when the going gets tough just hide in the drain.

Shade's always moving

SHADE’S ALWAYS MOVING (E A D G B E)

Shade’s always moving and so am I. Sky turning blue so I wait for the night. Waiting for the right time.

Shade’s always moving but we’re not in sync. The harder I chase the further I fall behind. Waiting for the right time.

Sitting still in the backyard. I can see it coming right for me. I don’t even need to move.

 

Shade’s always moving, whaddaya know? The backyard is spinning but it spins so slow. And the sky spins too.

Shade’s always moving all the way over there. Sometimes it’s right here and I’m already there. Sometimes I don’t even care.

First and last and in between. Have you seen the flowers behind the washing machine?

 

There’s so much to worry about I get worried when there’s nothing to worry about and right now there’s nothing to worry about.