1. SOLO

Good morning, good afternoon,
And what have you got to say?
Well I'm waiting, but I can't stay long,
It's such a lovely day.
There's a time to be talking
And a time when it's no use.
Right now I think the things you say
Are liable to confuse.

I've just gone solo.
Do you play solo?
Ain't life a solo?

What a wonderful way to live,
She's travelling all over the world.
Why, the fame and all the golden
Opportunities unfurled.
No time for the gent with the Mulliner Bentley
And heaven knows what else.
Why, he wouldn't even stand a chance
With all his oil-wells.

She just went solo.
Do you play solo?
Ain't life a solo?

I've always lived in a mansion
On the other side of the moon.
I've always kept a unicorn
And I never sing out of tune.
I could tell you that the grass is really greener
On the other side of the hill,
But I can't communicate with you
And I guess I never will.

We've all gone solo.
We all play solo.
Ain't life a solo?


2. LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED WALTZ

Roses are red, and violets are blue,
Primroses pale on a velvet green hue,
Warm summer days by cool waterfalls,
Like the music we hear,
Those things we'll always hold dear,
Like an old fashioned waltz.

When the moonlight shines down
On the Hollywood world,
And the heroine waits for her beau to return,
And violins play from behind garden walls,
How I'd love to remain with the silver refrain
Of an old fashioned waltz.

As they dance round the floor,
And there's no-one else there,
And the world is no more and there's never a care,
By the perfect lagoon where the nightingale calls,
With only the moon and the nostalgic tune
Of an old fashioned waltz.

Roses are red and violets are blue,
Primroses pale on a velvet green hue,
Warm summer days by cool waterfalls,
Like the music we hear,
Those things we'll always hold dear,
Like an old fashioned waltz,
Like an old fashioned waltz,
An old fashioned waltz.


3. WHISPERING GRASS

Why do you whisper, green grass,
Why tell the trees what ain't so?
Whispering grass,
The trees don't have to know.

Why tell them all your secrets,
Who kissed there long ago?
Whispering grass,
The trees don't need to know.

Don't you tell it to the breeze,
`Cos she will tell the birds and bees,
And everyone will know
Because you told them once before.
Yes you told them once before,
It's no secret anymore.

Why tell them all the old things,
They're buried under the snow.
Whispering grass, don't tell the trees,
'Cos the trees don't need to know.

Now don't you tell it to the breeze
`Cos she will tell the birds and bees,
And everyone will know
Because you told them once before.
Yes you told them once before,
It's no secret anymore.

Why tell them all the old things,
They're buried under the snow.
Whispering grass, don't tell the trees,
'Cos the trees don't need to know.


4. FRIENDS

I've watched you rise up and I've watched you fall down
'Til you've lost everything but what money can own.
And you feel alright now, but for how long?
You feel alright now, how long?

Do me a favour, stay away from my door.
I could use some good company but I don't care for yours.
No more pageants, no more.
No more pageants, no more.

I find your words empty and you know as a rule
To you I have purposefully never been cruel.
But you waste my time, such fools.
You waste my time, such fools.

My love is not here, my love is away.
You've caught me alone but you've nothing to say.
And it's time to leave now and you know the way.
And it's time to leave and you know the way.

Go and live in the country and I'll stay in town.
I have everything but what money can own.
And I'll be just fine now, so long.
ll be just fine now, so long.
So long.


5. CARNIVAL

The Summertime's escaping, and the carnival's away,
And the sunshine is awaiting for another sunny day.
Breakers whisper to the shells upon the shore,
And hear the seagulls they cry for more.
And hear the gulls they cry for more.

Good day to you sweet Autumn, so gently you appear.
Why I never even realised those rustic times were near.
The moment's changing from a dusty green to gold,
The Summer fair she has grown old.
The Summer fair she has grown old.

And away in the blue of the skies and over the trees
How the carnival flies on the wings of a breeze.
You've had your time and now it's mine for me to go,
These colder days they move too slow.
These older days they move too slow.

So the Summertime is leaving, and the carnival's away,
So the sunshine is relieving us of all our sunny days.
But I'll be waiting for to greet your fleeting calls,
So come back soon the carnival.
So come back soon the carnival.
Come back soon.


6. DARK THE NIGHT

Love, oh don't we know
How can the river flow without you.
Warm, like the sand upon the land.
How can we doubt you?

Dark to me the night and dim
The morning light tomorrow.
How can we not see
The simple melody of sorrow?

Oh, to be with you, oh, to see them through
Those days when we think you are gone,
They are so lonesome, and so long.
What shall we do?

Parting comes to soon,
My weary tune has lost its pleasure.
Waiting for the time, this lonely wine
Has lost its treasure.

Dark to me the night
And dim the morning light tomorrow.
How can we not see
The simple melody of sorrow?

Oh, to be with you, oh, to see them through
These days when we think you are gone,
They are so lonesome, and so long.
What shall I do?


7. AT THE END OF THE DAY

Oh babe you are the one I love,
You are the one I'm thinking of.
You know it's still a long long way,
But I'll be home at the end of the day.

I'll sing my songs just for you
And I'll bring my love home to you.
I can hardly wait to see your face again,
But I'll be home at the end of the day.

Just miles and miles of rosy sky,
I'll fall asleep by and by.
I'm crying now 'cos you're so far away
But I'll be home at the end of the day.

Oh babe you are the one I love,
You are the one I'm thinking of.
So many words I need to say.
You'll hear them all at the end of the day.
But I'll be home at the end of the day.


8. UNTIL THE REAL THING COMES ALONG

I'd work for you, I'd even slave for you,
I'd be a beggar or a knave for you.
And if that isn't love it'll have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.

I'd gladly move the earth for you,
To prove my love dear and its worth for you.
And if that isn't love it'll have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.

With all the words dear at my command,
I just can't make you understand.
I'll always love you darling, come what may,
My heart is yours, what more can I say.

I'd sigh for you, I'd cry for you,
I'd tear the stars down from the sky for you.
And if that isn't love it'll have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.

I'd sigh for you, I'd cry for you,
I'd tear the stars down from the sky fo you.
And if that isn't love it'll have to do,
Until the real thing comes along.


9. NO END

They said that it was snowing in astounded tones upon the news.
I wonder why they're always so surprised 'cos every year it snows.
Frozen images of snowploughs as they churn along the motorways.
I haven't had no boots to wear or any loot to spare for days and days.

I've travelled more than forty miles today, I must have grown some wings.
It's strange how time just seems to fly away, I can't remember things.
In a world of my own they say and who can blame them, they're just not the same.
I've known about it all along though I thought I was all wrong, and it's such a shame.

Why don't you have any brushes any more, I used to like your style.
I see no paintings anywhere and there's no smell of turpentine.
Did I really have no meaning? Well I never thought I'd hear those words from you.
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle any day for a very fine view.

I couldn't even tell you all the changes since you saw me last.
My dreams were like the autumn leaves, they faded and they fell so fast.
In fact as you say the snows are here and how the time it slips away.
But I'm glad you did pass by, I think I'll have another try. It's another day.

The day and then the night have gone, it was not long before the dawn,
And the travelling man who sat so stiffly in his chair began to yawn.
Having kept me here so long my friend, I hope you have a sleeping place to lend,
But the painter he just smiled and said - I'll see you in a while, this one has no end.


BONUSTRACKS (REMASTERED 2005)


10. AT THE END OF THE DAY

(See lyrics on track 7)


11. KING AND QUEEN OF ENGLAND

Bring back the king to his throne,
And the smile may return to the queen.
How can she rule on her own,
When the glory of what might have been is all she feels?

The fire still burns in the hearth,
The music still plays for her pleasure.
But the air is as cold as the death,
And the soft melodies only measure her bittersweet tears.

Every note of each song brings a vision
Of love and of pain back to me,
Like a captive I've locked in a prison
And whose liberty rests upon me.

But I can't find the key.
You may never be free.
The servants still hang on his every word,
But his youthfulness passes him by.

The king only watches the seasons
And they watching him see his sparkling eye
Holds no diamond any more.
In the folds which begin every ending,
I wish I forever could lie.

But the cloth I wear is not for mending,
For what tailor could stitch up the torn blue sky?
So the battle is done.
Nobody won.


12. LIKE AN OLD FASHIONED WALTZ

(See lyrics on track 2)


13. NO END

(See lyrics on track 9)