News update: A Friend of Mine and Read On have been digitally re-released and are now available to stream on your favourite platform

John Dawson Read

Albums

john Dawson Read, One Life One Life
Rough Cuts Rough Cuts
Now, Where Were We? Now... Where Were We?
Read On Read On
A Friend of Mine is Going Blind A Friend Of Mine
Is Going Blind

Now... Where Were We? 2005

Lyrics: click a song title to reveal

Oh it's cold upon the moor, grey as flagstones on the floor
and the wind will white the windows,
bite the bricks and bleach the door.
Some say this winter wind's so cold it cracks the lips
and turns the soul to solid stone
And from deep within my bed
I watch the clouds skid overhead
And from the distance comes the rumble of the sea
But it's so cold upon the moor,
sometimes I can't believe it's happening to me.

Roll on the day they let me out of here
Roll on the day they set me free

And so another day arrives, come to cheer our weary lives
And once again my thoughts will wander
to the place I've left behind
As I chase each bead of rain that twists and turns across the pane
And fades away
And I remember how we'd fight
'bout what was wrong and what was right
well I don't ask myself these questions any more
but somewhere in my mind I mark the passing of the time
or maybe scratch another match along the wall
for it's so cold upon this moor
sometimes I can't believe I'm really here at all

Roll on the day they let me out of here
Roll on the day they set me free

And in the morning's virgin light
when I hear the gates shut tight
I'm gonna look to find the sounds I know so well
Like the whistle of the train that kept me whole
and kept me sane, and gave me hope
when I believed all else had failed
For it's so cold upon this moor
I must believe it can't be cold back home as well

You see... I miss you
You'll just never know how much I miss you

Ship to shore, I can't hear you any more
I'm drifting in nowhere and I'm lonely
Ship to shore, I can't hear you any more
Won't you please guide me home

I was never one to wander and I never wanted anybody else
But I had things to ponder, I needed time to think
and time to be myself and I always thought you'd be there waiting
- like a harbour in the storm
but ship to shore I can't hear you any more
Won't you please guide me home

No I never had a reason
No hope in hell of telling you for why
But I couldn't fight the feeling
Just had to get away to see the highland eagle fly
And I always knew you'd be there waiting
You're my harbour in the storm
But, ship to shore I can't hear you any more
Won't you please guide me home

The wind is in the mountain, the mist is on the day
The air is still with morning chill that hangs above the bay
The sun's on Sausalito, soon it will be here
So won't you keep me warm 'til then
Won't you hold me near
It's funny how each new day makes everything seem right
No birds have ever sung so loud, no sun has shone so bright
And no wine will ever warm me quite like this my friend
So before the City finds its feet, we'll walk the wharf again

... and I just can't believe
that any place has been this beautiful before
But if I really tried I'd find that it's inspired
a million songs, or more.

Oh oh - goodbye the moon
Stretch your limbs like butter wings
Fresh out of the cuckoon
Oh oh - hello the sea
You seem to flow like highs and lows
That come and go in me

... and I just can't believe
that any place has been
so beautiful before
but if I really tried
I'd find that it's inspired
a million songs, or more.

The wind is in the mountain,
the mist is on the day
The air is still with morning chill as it floats above the bay
The sun's on Sausalito,
soon it will be here
So won't you keep me warm 'til then
Won't you hold me near.

Sunday morning, rain or shine, soon as she can talk
She wakes me, very gently, and she whispers "Sunday Walk"
So we put on boots of leather - head out of the town
To take some time together, taking in what's all around

And life has never been so sweet
Far from the cars and the heat of the street
Life has never been so sweet
As Sunday, my child and me

And who can stop a long-haired dog jumping in the mud
And looking like a rodent that's been washed up in the flood
As we pick on nuts of hazel, feed on fruits of briar
And gather golden grasses to be dried before the fire

For life has never been so sweet
Far from the cars and the heat of the street
Life has never been so sweet
As Sunday, my child and me
La la la etc...

And she's shining in the sunshine
She's laughing in the rain
She's talking to a pony who we meet along the lane
And there's music in the bushes, music on the wing
There's music in the memories
that these precious hours will bring

For life has never been more sweet
Far from the cars and the heat of the street
Life has never been more sweet
As Sunday, my child and me
La la la etc...

Find yourself a feather
Make a pen, and send a letter, back to me
Put it in a bottle
seal the top, and let it wobble, out to sea
And some fine day it will come my way
and though the words be few
I'll turn the tide and I'll jump, astride
and I, will float, my green glass boat to you

Find a weeping willow
spread a bed, and lay a pillow, in its shade
Pull the world around you
let the sunlight warm the ground where you lay
and some fine day I will come that way
as sure as birds do fly
I'll ride the waves, 'til I find the way
until, you see, the green glass boat and me

I would like to be somewhere,
at least a million miles from here
where only we could go
Somewhere where the city heat
won't dull my brain and slow my feet
a place, where we, can be, alone, alone

And on some secluded beach
out of sight and out of reach, you will be free
to let your body mingle
with the silver sand and shingle, and the sea
And some sweet day, through the salt sea spray
you'll strain your eyes to se
e a ship ahoy, a dolphin boy, or -
could it be, the green glass boat and me.

Once upon a time
Before the likes of you or I
had taken steps to learn to cry
Once upon a time
How they would labour night and day
To clear the ground and pave the way
For those who live after them
The next of the line
To give just the best to them
Once upon a time

And once upon a time
Was someone fussing over you
Brushing hair and shining shoes
And, once upon a time
Was someone there to bring you round
When growing up had got you down -
You who are beautiful, in body and mind
Thank God that someone cared
Once upon a time

And yet - heaven only knows
There's so much gone before us
Yet there's still so far to go
So you who are beautiful, in body and mind
Thank God that someone cared
Once upon a time

So many ladies have passed this way
Along well worn paths onto Berkshire's plain
Passionate pilgrims, each in their way
Well I am with you Mary

In silent silos, cold and deep
Satan's final fury sleeps
And by the wire young Mary weeps
Well I am with you Mary

... and sure she knows this is no answer
sure she knows she's not to blame
but lest the Devil be the master
she will stay - Mary stay Mary stay...

Gold and rolling is the plain
Still her vigil she maintains
And when December chills the blood in her veins
I am with you Mary

... and sure she knows this is no answer
sure she knows she's not to blame
but lest the Devil be the Master
she must stay, Mary stay... Mary stay

And when the Berkshire battle's done
Troops and ladies are moving on
Mary's will, will still be strong
Well I am with you Mary
I am with you Mary.

It must be eight thirty, it must be a fact
As the light fights its way through the curtain crack
I've got aches in my legs
I've got pains in my back
That was really some party on Sunday

Oh good God above
May the Angels take me away
Oh good God above
That was really some party on Sunday

I'm feeling real beat up, I'm feeling corrupt
I need seven strong people to help me up
But I won't try to stand 'cos I know I'd just drop
that was really some party on Sunday

Oh good God above
May the Angels take me away
Oh good God above
That was really some party on Sunday

I feel like a rowing boat caught in a storm
Like a fox that the local hunt hounded
I feel like an icicle brought in to the warm
Oh if I were a plane, I'd be grounded
Oh good God above
May the Angels take me away
Oh good God above
That was really some party on Sunday etc

There's nothing outstanding to pay
Nothing that's needed to say
We've been through the motions of love and devotion
It just didn't work out our way

Can't you see, that the best of it's gone
So for me, it's the road and a song
And maybe it's time we should say
It's time that we call it a day

It's nothing we either have done
But nothing's left over to come
No bitter feeling, no hurt needed healing
It just seem to run out of run

Can't you see, that the best of it's gone
So for me, it's the road and a song
And maybe it's time we should say
That this time that we call it a day

No sad good-byes for me
A kiss and drift away
For no finer friends could be
And that's the way to stay
Can't you see
Can't you see

And one day we'll meet up again
So think of us warmly 'til then
For nothing's been wasted by pleasures we've tasted
But all things must come to an end

Can't you see, that the best of it's gone
So for me, it's the road and a song
And maybe it's time that we say
It's time we should call it a day

Maybe it's time we should say
It's time that we call it a day.

Guess you could say that I'm happy
Guess you could say that I'm doing fine
Guess I could say that you're lying
The way that I live just passes the time

These are the right times, living here on my own
This is my life – this is my home

Guess you could say that I miss
Guess this is time I opened my eyes
Guess you could say that I wish you
All of the love I see in your eyes

These are the right times, living here on my own
This is my life – this is my home

I will remember you
Here in my heart
Here in my soul
Here on my own

I will remember you
Here in my heart
Here in my arms
Here in my own

... Here on my own.

Now... Where Were We?, John Dawson Read

£8.50 +p&p *

Starting with the reprise of Days of Sweet Remembrance, the last short track from Read On, Now…Where Were We picks up from where we left off nearly thirty years earlier. Thinking at the time that this would probably be John’s last album the last track This is my Life is sung, written and performed by Christopher James Dawson Read, John’s son, who is definitely carrying the banner for the next generation. However, as it happened, Rough Cuts followed soon after …and then One Life.…..so….what next?

** This Is My Life written by Christopher James Dawson Read. The preview song is a new mix (2014) and differs from the album version.

* Postage and packing: 1 or 2 CDs: £3.50, 3 CDs or more: £5.00