The Grosvenor Loner goes Bart to Homer in a decade and a half
But who’s counting – we’ve got a fountain, a mountain of vinyl and a phonograph
Paint a picture – put it on a railing on Queen Margaret Drive
Chart the movements of students – oh man alive
You play a song – no one listens on Byres Road Saturday afternoon

Casual crowds are not allowed to keep you from calming down
In tucked away alleyways, cafes and galleries, Caledonian Camden Town
I ran into somebody between the shop Fopp and the library
We did the catch-up, lifted the latch up
On the door called memory – that’s what you’ll see
Till night’s down, wraps around Byres Road Saturday afternoon

Keep the conversation going cos I do love Byres Road Saturday….

My Skyscrapers

I said hi – I don’t like to get too high
I don’t like to tread on the other guy’s sky – baby alright
My skyscrapers are not built so high
So please don’t look up in the sky

Hello – I don’t like to get too low
But if you go diving with Jacques Cousteau – baby alright
My skyscrapers might make themselves known to you
My skyscrapers into view

They don’t scrape the sky of blue
They’re not there to be seen
What we can do is watch them through
The windows of the sea of green

Downstate Update

Paper’s wood and love is trust
Did what i could to push that stuff
Need an update for my mind
Random thoughts and file aways
Are all I got to take your place
Downstate update, think you’ll find

I walked out in the weather – get it together – downstate update
I walked out in the freeway – give me some leeway – downstate update

Got a magic notion for a beautiful girl – update all over the world
Got a magic notion for a beautiful girl – update all over the world

Ride the pipeline, lay the cable
Feed me fruit and vegetable
Need an update for my head
Random thoughts and file aways
Are all I got to take your place
Downstate update – back to bed

I walked out in the weather – get it together – downstate update
I walked out in the freeway – give me some leeway – downstate update

Got a magic notion for a beautiful girl – update all over the world
Got a magic notion for a beautiful girl – update all over the world

More Fool You

Whistling in the sidestreet gathering gloom
Try to burn a little heat here in my room
Sprayed some graffiti on a favourite bench in the park
Fair and square I think you beat me – I lost you in the dark

More fool you – that’s what they’re laying on me
More fool you – now that you have gone free
Ninety-nine times out of ten what I start I can never defend
But more fool you – I’m happy being lonely

Always close to the spirit of the thing, I can get my kicks any old way
The play of light on the cellophane wing of my friend the fly till I get my spray
But I can’t spray the pain away – ain’t she sweet
But I don’t mind, I think you’ll find I’m happy in defeat

More fool you – that’s what they’re laying on me
More fool you – now that you have gone free
Ninety-nine times out of ten what I start I can never defend
But more fool you – I’m happy being lonely

If god created hangovers to show he don’t exist
And our song has been sang over and it all comes down to this

More fool you – that’s what they’re laying on me
More fool you – now that you have gone free
Ninety-nine times out of ten what I start I can never defend
But more fool you – I’m happy being lonely

Wonder Understand

This is wonder Understand…this is Wonder Understand…
When we argue it’s alonely sound that echoes in the alleyways
But even when I’m coming down
It feels like I can almost touch some sunrays
For a second I can get away

As I wonder I understand over under sideways down
Till it does what it’s got to do and it slips from out my view

When we’re dancing to a fuzz guitar like a buzz-saw through the years
There’d be twice as long a queue at the barricades
If they could serve something to keep it clear
What we’re doing here – here it comes just to disappear

As I wonder I understand over under sideways down
Till it does what it’s got to do and it slips from out my view

I wanted to be someone who made everything blend
Get there on the journey, not just get there in the end
I’m starting from scratch again

Makes me wonder I understand over under sideways down
Till it does what it’s got to do and it slips from out my view

But as I wonder as I wonder please let me understand

You Did Ask

It’s not my style to say what’s true but you did ask – you said “How are you?”
If you’re gonna be that direct there’s some rough and smoothe you must expect
‘Bout how I feel – was I too real at this juncture?
I just jumped your train – if it’s all the same

You can run away, you can stay and bask
In the light of my sun, and the warmth of my flask
You can tell me to go to hell but well, you did ask
How I feel, I won’t make a meal of the answer
No cliches – let’s see if honesty pays

I know my sofa bed will drop dead of frustration
Pillows will ache for your sweet head and a little variation – do these things ever last?

Life’s a gas – you did ask, I grazed on your grass, you did ask
Into my life – you came to pass
From out my life – you’ll come to pass – you did ask

I shot the lock off the vault, I put the axe to the cask
And out it all gushes – well, you did ask
How I feel – was I too real at this juncture
Cos I’ve just jumped your train – I can’t explain

Someone’s gotta level with you or what the devil will you do?
Someone’s gotta lay it straight – someone not prepared to proscrastinate

It’s not my style to say what’s true but you did ask, you said “How are you?”
I don’t mean to set a difficult task, baby it’s backatacha but you did ask
How I feel – was I too real like a puncture cos I just broke your chain
You ain’t no Alice Coltrane, girl
I don’t mean to tell you anything that would tie me up in long and binding string
Bits of string and chains of gold
Hey baby, you’ve been told.

Rhythm From The Rails

Policemen moving through the train have a right to arrest me if my love is in vain
All my trials, all my trails – well, tonight I’ll get my rhythm, my rhythm from the rails
The train retains my rhythm nightly, I gain it once the sun dips slightly
Over freshly cut hay bales – tonight I’ll get my rhythm, rhythm from the rails

Wild thing – she left you this morning
I can’t believe she would leave you at all
Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm, rhythm
I thank the lord that the world is not so small

You know I’ve felt the blade of a Turkish barber
Open blade, hot blade against my neck
A ship of trade I’ve seen submerged in half a harbour
Sold for scrap, a ship of trade become a wreck
But diesels hum the wind into my sails – wind into my sails can turn the tide
So chalk your destinations up my friends
On my wooden wagon sides

Wild thing, she left you this morning
I can’t believe she would leave you at all
Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm, rhythm
Wild thing, she left you this morning
You never know where the future might call
Rhythm, rhythm, rhythm, rhythm
Thank the lord that the rails know it all

As we cross the cantilevers, we got all manner of believers
..in the blue Canadian Rockies, they had sensurround sound before the even had talkies…

If You Knew Where To Look

If you knew where to look you’d see where I stood ground
She bought it over to just knock it down
I maintained it so well, polished the bell
She’ll demolish it all to hell
I don’t know if it’s good or it’s bad
She gives me so much I keep nothing I’ve had
Would you say it’s ok or it’s bad

If you knew where to look you’d see where I stood ground
For king and country she’ll knock it down
I maintained it so good, polished the wood so it looked pretty good
I don’t know if it’s good or it’s bad
She gives me so much, I keep nothing I’ve had – what I stood for good or bad

Forsook each name and number in my little red book – I’m really shook

I don’t know if it’s good or it’s bad
She gives me so much, I keep nothing I’ve had – would you say it’s ok or it’s bad?

Forsook every name and number in my little red book – I’m shook

In the garden’s a rose, the last one to stand
Took four hundred blows from the side of her hand
She’ll abolish my past, demolish so fast
If you knew where to look my fate has been cast

I don’t know if it’s good or it’s bad – she gives me so much I keep nothing I’ve had
What I stood for good or bad – I’d say it’s pretty bad

Forsook the early morning dark, forsook the cover of the dark
Forsook the sky of treacle black, forsook – that served to mask the tack

I don’t know if it’s good or it’s bad
She gives me so much, I keep nothing I’ve had – would you say it’s ok or it’s bad?

Out Of Print

Hey, you wrote that life’s a boat upon a silver sea
Who’s left to keep these words afloat? I guess it’s only me
I know you live on laudanum and so your words are such
If you think you see god in them you must be losing touch

You wrote the book, I took in every hint – each sepia tint
You wrote the book but look, it’s out of print

The shop that sells the shoe repairs has a powerful taste
That keeps Calder Street sweet through the years and these are years of waste
A black cab does a U-turn for a pick-up in the streetlight
A mobile phone shakes out a raving tone in the greying heat

But through every paragraph bright rays would glint, fresh as a mint
Yes you wrote the book, but look, it’s out of print

I love the grass that’s growing now underneath our feet
I love the glass that’s broken now – it’s so incomplete
Old yellow crane in evening light in the George V Dock
If I’d had an easy night your book could still be bought

You wrote the book, I took in every hint – each sepia tint
You wrote the book but look, it’s out of print

Slow Rock Forever

Slow Rock Forever – windswept as a Hebridean croft
Dona little leather – keep those Zippo lighters held aloft
Here’s the right idea to keep you warm as you are driving home
He is called Chris Rea – you were born to let him drive you home

You were into punk, liked music with a thunk but you drove on
We see you settling into Drive Time, The Eagles come alive time
And you’re no Desperado
For you there is no pounding bhangra, no metal pseudo anger
To thunder under white sky
You just go on like this, man, listening to Chris, man
As you watch the road go by

Slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock forever

Styx and Boston and Dire Straits but not Tom Waits
Slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock forever
Genesis, though sometimes quite good – believe me
Slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock forever
Chris Rea and Chris Rea, Chris Rea, more Chris Rea
Slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock, slow rock forever

Six Degrees
Should I cool it before I suddenly say too much about conspiracy & JFK
If bullets hadn’t flown in that way
Would you & I have happened today?
But November 22nd 1963 might be so far removed from you or me – you’re telling me
Chorus:         Ev’rything’s connected by underground seas
Rivers in the clouds. Spirits in the trees
Here to heaven’s no eight, not seven but six degrees of separation
Hell to heaven’s not twelve, eleven but six degrees of separation
I have occupied a place on this planet for some time now I know
Who set this up & then who ran it’s like some unsolved crime on radio
I can’t even say to you with my friends
Where one might begin & the other ends – keep telling me
(Chorus)
I can’t do the mathematics: I don’t know how I feel, feel about fanatics who’re telling me
(Chorus)
Tellin’ me ‘bout six degrees, tellin’ me…
A universe, a lonely sea, washin’ all over six degrees…

Her Collected Poems
Her collected poems could surely break a heart if by heart I could know them – girl, you better start
To keep those pieces of paper – don’t throw them away
We’ll read & take heed of the lovely things you say
Take time to know them – her collected poems
People seem to think that she’s crazy – too hazy & easily hurt
But her collected poems – I know what they’d be worth
Just her selected poems could surely break you down
Into your core components and spin your all around
What she fleetingly thought at the seaside & carved with a stick in her hand’s
Not on the seashore anymore, washed away by the sand
Take time to know them, her collected poems
People seem to think that she’s lazy – a runaway, a little town flirt
But her collected poems I know just what they’re worth
People seem to think that she’s crazy, etc
Take some time to know them …her collected poems

Teachers At Night
Teachers..
I catch sight of you every day – a bell rings, you’re on your way
Out of sight like teachers at night
Thought I saw a spark where your long robes flow – meet me after dark: we could watch it glow
There’s a lot I don’t know about teachers
In my mind you lead an invented life – I’m no schoolboy but I know what it’s like to
Speculate all night about teachers
Mark my words while you smoke & drink
Write “See me” in your boldest red ink
There’s a lot to think about teachers at night
At night…
Teachers..
Teachers who know nothing, teachers out of control
Teachers who know something, teachers on a roll…

Baby, Look No Further
My highlight was standing on the skylight glass above some smoky dive
All the students skiooin’ classes breathin’ fumes & gasses just to feel alive
In a city of sulphurous vapours – betting slips & cigarette papers
I see the same things you do & I see you
My highlight would be you seein’ my light & knockin’ on my door, I’d come slive
Like schoolgirls used to play elastics, my favourite plastic 45
In this city of sulphurous vapours, betting slips & fish’n’chip paers
I see the same things you do & I see you
I see you setting up your easel, all you see is greyness
Peepin’ thru a keyhole to see the rich & famous
But if you ever wonder if somebody could love you
Baby look no further – I’m on the floor above you
I see the same things you do & I see you.
I see you….

First You Fall In Love
You wake up, you work out a dream of ev’rything
Go back home, go back home & dream of ev’rything
She walk by, you get high – it’s over
Nothing to do with you, nothing to do with you
Nothing to do with you Do do do do do do do
Chorus:         First you fall in love then you find a girl
        Then you find a girl you’re dreaming you’re dreaming you’re dreaming
        You’re dreaming of
Time for tea and complete concentration
Time for she and such sweet contemplation
Then you wake up to find that she has moved on
Nothing to do this time, nothing to do this time
Can’t you make up your mind what to do do do do do do do
(Chorus)

Maximum Smile
Double talk, want your cake & eat it
I wanna walk but I’m staying seated
I don’t care at all when we kiss
Why why why should I care at all when it comes down to this – I know that
Chorus: Once in a while Maximum Smile it really makes my night
        Blows my mind, maximum’s fine but a little bit’s alright
The world was made for you & I – not made for you & some other guy
I don’t care at all when we touch
Why why why should I care at all if we don’t do it much – I know that..
Once in a while comin’ out to play
Maximum Smile let it flow my way
It blows my mind then it blows away
(Chorus)
Smile-once in a while, smile- maximum smile

Great Wall Of China
You can see the Great Wall Of China from the  moon so they say
You can see the Great Wall Of China – I’ll hide behind that wall today
Oh – you’ll never know the way I’m feeling today
Oh – train running slow –it’s getting much faster each day
Moon shining bright makes me feel quite cavalier
And the love that I save is the love that I’ll save for her here
Don’t you know that it’s clear they’re no bigger than we are
And from here you’re no bigger than me
So if you want to know a secret that you oughta know come & see me
You can see the Great Wall Of China from any passing Saturn 5
You can see the Great Wall Of Chinna – makes you kinda glad to be alive
Oh – you’ll never know the way I’m feeling today – in the rain ^& the snow
Train running slow – it’s getting much faster each day
Moon shining bright, etc.
Come & see me, come, come & see me..
Come & see me – come, come..
 
Train Your Thoughts On Love
If there’s an all night talker on the night train & you’re meeting your girl in the morning
Don’t worry: lack of sleep can be good for the mood in the dawning
Let her meet your inner child running all over the place
Th eone that’s running wild at the thought of watching her face
Chorus: (Train, train your thoughts on love – love & happiness, baby) x 2
My headphones tell me loneliness is a cloak you wear
Hey Scott I got a duffel coat rough with fluff & a great big tear
Donated by my inner child the kind you try to keep well hid
The kind that’s always running wild – she’ll be kinda glad he did
(Chorus)
I’m on the right lines… She’s gonna be mine…I’m on the right lines
(Chorus)

David Niven
If you’ve seen me at my best then you’ve seen me at my worst
Turning green in my life-vest, over-satisfied thirst
Waking up in the late afternoon
Hazily helicopters ride
This emptiness could all too soon
Become a little more unjustified
Chorus:         You drive me crazy if I need to be driven
I think I’m too lazy to be forgiven
The moon’s a balloon if your name’s David Niven
But anyone can surely see
The moon is not that way for me
If you see me get it right then you see me get it wrong
In the space of just one single night, space of just one single song
To the drumming of the plumbing you can listen
In the pit of the listlessness hotel
I’ll admit when I try your patience
Sometimes I think I might as well
(Chorus)

Goodnight Everyone
You can’t always get what you’d like
Run for your life, I’ve run out of patience
Fixing the chain on your bike
Goodnight Ev’ryone
One of these days you’re sent down
Find your defence disintegrating
The jury’s out, the judge stuck around
Goodnight Ev’ryone
Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight Ev’ryone
Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight Ev’ryone
I want the real thing – when I’m round give me the real thing
Goodnight Ev’ryone
You’ve got a reputation to win
I won’t type your recommendation
Screw it up & aim for the bin
Goodnight Ev’ryone
Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight Ev’ryone
Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight Ev’ryone
I want the real thing – when I’m round give me the real thing
When I’m round…. I want the real thing
You can’t always get what you want
Run for your life, I’m runnin’ I’ll run away____
Goodnight Ev’ryone
Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight Ev’ryone
Goodnight, Goodnight, Goodnight Ev’ryone

Rio Cafe, January 2010

Mollerman on lead guitar

Home recorded at 405 West Princes Street

Nectarine No.9 song, live at the Rio Cafe, January, 2010.

From the album Speak When I’m Spoken To
Video by Larry Daniel