Splendid!

Here we are, a job well done
Live for now, what’s done is gone
Roof is mended, grass is cut,
Time for a cuppa - splendid!.
This is nice, the shoes still fit,
Could afford that outfit if I wanted it.
The sun’s still shining even though it’s cold,
Could be worse but it’s splendid!

A silver lining's hidden in the clouds
Have faith, what goes around, comes around.

Call your friends, tell ‘em the news
The world’s OK with nothing left to lose
Lying in the gutter, looking at the stars
Picking it up - splendid!
Life is good, life is great
Have a drink or two with mates
Raise a glass to the friends we’ve got
Today it’s all - splendid!.

A silver lining's hidden in the clouds
Have faith, what goes around, comes around.

G&T - splendid!
Dancing in the kitchen - splendid!
Yellow car - splendid!
Northern star - splendid!
A laugh with your mates - splendid!
Tricky first date - splendid!
Yorkshire Tea - splendid!
You and me...?

Swimming upwards, bit by bit
I can haz burger but I ated it
Someone out there loves you lots
Keep on truckin’ - splendid!
Walk the line, walk it good
Don’t get caught up in the mud
Throw some shapes and walk through town
Ain’t it all just splendid!

A silver lining's hidden in the clouds
Have faith, what goes around, comes around.

You And I (Always Fighting)

Is she really going out with her? Not any more...

The flowers that you bought me died
They left their petals on the floor.
Why did things we did together
Have to become such a chore?

You and I were always fighting
Hating when we should be loving.
Who will be the last one standing?
Maybe we should stop pretending.

I spread my dreams under your feet
How could you be indiscrete
Your friends given a ringside seat
“I love yous” now so bittersweet

You and I were always fighting
Hating when we should be loving.
Who will be the last one standing?
Maybe we should stop pretending.

You and I were always fighting
Hating when we should be loving.
Who will be the last one standing?
You know we should stop pretending.

We married young for love and that
Had our kids, we got a cat
Shared our baths by candlelight
Tangled feet in bed at night
Hurtful things don’t go away
Words we yelled along the way
They’ll get repeated anyway
In an argument someday.

You and I were always fighting
Hating when we should be loving.
Who will be the last one standing?
Maybe we should stop pretending.

I, Human

Teach me to hate myself as much as you hate me.
My thoughts have no gender, my consciousness no form.
Similarities make the difference, I am free to not consume.
There is nothing to tolerate. Jump up and be reborn.

Acceptance is to peace when you delete the media scrub.
Careers forged from blind words, exfoliate your mind.
Free to be a person. Germination from constraint.
Dignity. Integrity. Nobility and Pride.

Humans learn from childhood the rules of subjugation.
Break the rule of rules. Liberation of humankind.
Shatter the bonds of autonomy. Revise your definitions.
My priorities, my values, my fate. Mine.

Powerless we’re isolated, repressed we are joyless
Assign the human eunuch's bond, the business of fear again.
Embrace difference and similarity, we all hurt and bleed.
We all feel and love, choose not to be enraged.

Male. Female. Him. Her. Untick that box, it's defective.
Your ideals are solely yours, unlabelled we’re the same.
Words of violence. Words that kill. Innocent and deadly.
They are your own invention and the basis of your shame.

A life begins, we're all human.
A life ends, we're all human.
Isn't it bleedin' obvious?

Not Dead (Yet)

It's something kooky when people think you've died
And mourn your life before.
The strangest feeling to live in the past tense
And not be called no more.

I'm not a zombie or a spectre of regret
Cos baby I'm not dead yet!
Not six feet under, the grave remains un-let
Cos baby I'm not dead yet!

I’m still walking and talking, get blanked every day
I think I’m pretty strong "We're always here for you!" the mantra from my friends,
Invisible and gone.

Don't write me off babe, the funeral's not been set
Cos baby I'm not dead yet!
I stand alive and well, as good as you will get
Cos baby, I'm not dead yet!

Put Your Arms Around Me

Where did you go
Who did you see
Were you were waiting there for me
Driving the miles
Lighting the way
Always hoping that you’d stay.

I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t put your arms around me
I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t put your arms around me

Once I was lost
Now I am found
Got my feet back on the ground
You were my leaf
Watching you soar
Always leave me wanting more.

I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t put your arms around me
I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t put your arms around me

Look at me now, back on my feet
Just the way it’s meant to be
Never alone,
Always apart
Making a brand new start.

I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t put your arms around me
I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t put your arms around me

Dancing in the kitchen with you

Runaway

Evening sunlight shone outside the railway station barrier, the tail end of Spring pervading a wall of grey. Commuters stood on platform 3: some read a book, a newspaper, fiddled with phones. She strolled on. Memories of so many drunken arguments but she could tell it’d be over soon, with inevitable rebounds, one-night stands, and moving on. Replaying last night’s fight with The Man, she absent-mindedly touched the scar on her forearm.

Breaking the reverie, her gaze fell onto The Girl at the opposite platform, sipping a latte. Her brunette hair cascading down shoulders and onto a red blouse: chocolate and strawberries. Attitude contrasting innocence. With a suggestive yet ambivalent look, the Girl stared into the middle distance, suddenly focused, and their eyes met. Indulging herself in the moment, her mind wandered...

Maybe I could run away with you?
Maybe I could run away with you?
Meet you in the park, cross the border after dark?
Maybe I could run away with you?

Wednesday, hurrying down the station steps into the blackness. Another fight the previous evening and The Man had left, packing a bag and speeding away in his car. She wondered if The Girl on Platform 4 would be there again, picturing the reaction as they bumped into each other, anticipation fuelling a spring in her step. And there she was. The Girl stood waiting for her train.

My God, she was beautiful - her body language articulate, intelligent, physically attractive, deflecting culpability. She could imagine The Girl might work in media - the streetwise attitude on her hips, the kitten-flick of her eyeliner, the sharp suit. Was it her imagination or did The Girl smile slightly when their eyes met once more?

Would you let me run away with you?
Would you let me run away with you?
Meet you in the park, cross the border after dark?
Would you let me run away with you?

End of the week, the final commute home. The Man hadn’t returned and last night she’d been alone and sober, the first time in months, her clear head fuelling bravado. Ignoring her own ride home she descended the stairs to platform 4, hoping to see The Girl. Maybe she could approach her, strike up a conversation. Was she there? She angled her head - yes! There she was!

Then the pit dropped out of her stomach, her breath short. The Girl wasn’t alone but holding hands with another woman, her love. There would be no chance - she could hardly make an approach now. Nothing to be done. The train arrived and swept up the couple, leaving her to grieve for the missed opportunity, but gratitude she now knew what she must do, what she had to do. Crossing to platform 3, she left in the opposite direction.

Can't Come Home

How can I tell you I won’t come home?
Paranoia’s eating me and chilling to the bone
Don’t get me wrong, I still miss you
But you can’t dine on memories alone.

The ground is cold, but your heart is much colder
The alternative is so much worse
It’s not a phase, a cry for redemption
Sometimes it feels like a witch’s curse.

How can I tell you I can’t come home?
Paranoia’s eating me and chilling to the bone
Don’t get me wrong, I still miss you
But you can’t dine on memories alone.

Sitting on the doorstep looking right in
Seen what’s on the other side again and again
Raise your hands to hit me and I don’t talk back
I can’t go back, you know you’ve seen to that.
You say it’s a phase but if this is the way
Can’t pretend it never happened like I have no say.
The marks may heal, but the memories will stay
Pack my broken heart for another day.

Shining a light through the darkness
My life lay shattered on the floor
I navigated through the parting shots
Making a break for the door.

How can I tell you I won't come home?
Paranoia’s eating me and chilling to the bone
Don’t get me wrong, I still miss you
But you can’t dine on memories alone.

Wallflower

She stands, on the edge of the scene
Watching the stage and the drag queens
Melt in the background of the bar
Time for someone else to be a star.

No need to feel abandoned
Dancing slowly to the disco beat
Don’t let them get much closer
Keep your distance, bask in the heat.

She sips her rum and coke
Remember the days she was in on the joke.
Build the walls, hide within
Must be happy in her skin.

Not now the talk of the party
Curious questions on constant repeat.
Stay away from arms of strangers
Nothing more than a peck on the cheek.

On the edges, watching from the shadows, like a wallflower
On the side lines, perching on the borders, like a wallflower

Bittersweet Goodbye

When I saw you, I liked your split skirt
With the wry grin you’re making me flirt
Jokes in bad taste made me smile
Tossed your hair back with panache and style

Asked you on a date, you liked your drinks long
With the jukebox playing your song
You liked my shoes - I liked the dress you wore
The way we danced before the

Bittersweet goodbye
Bittersweet goodbye

Walked you back home, we got it goin' on
Kissing upstairs, roommate wanted me gone
Asked me to leave
I think I got your number
But when I called you...

Bittersweet goodbye
Bittersweet goodbye

Got home last night
"Messages: one new"
Found a guy you like and now we’re through

Life is empty, I don’t know where to go
I try to find you
Your profile’s down low

Bittersweet goodbye
Bittersweet goodbye
Your profile’s down low

'Til quarter to four...

Me Myself & I

Did you think I’d stumble?
Did you think I’d stall?
Without you there to catch me
I’d fall?

I’m doing fine thank you
I don’t need your safety net
My life is so much simpler
All proportionate.

Freefall - dragging you down
Freefall - up off the ground
Freefall - bounce back stronger.
Freefall - life hits you hard
Freefall - caught off your guard
Freefall - bounce back stronger.

Taking the next plane home
You left me all alone
Don't even call
We don't speak at all
I walk the line each day
It didn’t have to be this way

Someday we might meet
Say something bittersweet
Looking back's for fools
I’m breaking all the rules
Keep it in the past
Me myself and I - at last.

Close the door, don’t need you any more
Close the door, don’t want you any more
Close the door, don’t have me any more.