Holy Mother of God
You've got to go faster than that to get to the top.
Dirty old mountain
All covered in smoke, she can turn you to stone
So you better start doing it right
       better start doing it right.

You're halfway up and you're halfway down
And the pack on your back is turning you around.
Throw it away, you won't need it up there, and remember
You don't look back whatever you do.
Better start doing it right.

On your left and on your right
Crosses are green and crosses are blue
Your friends didn't make it through.
Out of the night and out of the dark
Into the fire and into the fight
Well that's the way the heroes go, Ho! Ho! Ho!

Through a crack in Mother Earth,
Blazing hot, the molten rock
Spills out over the land.
And the lava's the lover who licks your boots away. Hey! Hey! Hey!
If you don't want to boil as well.
B-B-Better start the dance
D-D-Do you want to dance with me.

You better start doing it right.

The music's playing, the notes are right
Put your left foot first and move into the light.
The edge of this hill is the edge of the world
And if you're going to cross you better start doing it right
                                 better start doing it right.

You better start doing it right.

Let the dance begin.

Keep your fingers out of my eye.

While I write I like to glance at the butterflies in glass that are all around
the walls. The people in memory are pinned to events I can't recall too well,
but I'm putting one down to watch him break up, decompose and feed another sort
of life. The one in question is all fully biodegradable material and
categorised as 'Rael'. Rael hates me, I like Rael, - yes, even ostriches have
feelings, but our relationship is something both of us are learning to live with.
Rael likes a good time, I like a good rhyme, but you won't see me directly
anymore - he hates my being around. So if his story doesn't stand, I might lend
a hand, you understand? (ie. the rhyme is planned, dummies).

The flickering needle jumps into red. New York crawls out of its bed.


And the lamb lies down on Broadway.

Early morning Manhattan,
Ocean winds blow on the land.


The weary guests are asked to leave the warmth of the all-night theater, having
slept on pictures others only dream on.


Movie-Palace is now undone,
The all-night watchmen have had their fun.
Sleeping cheaply on the midnight show,
It's the same old ending - time to go.
Get out!
It seems they cannot leave their dream.


The un-paid extras disturb the Sleeping Broadway. WALK to the left DON'T WALK to
the right: on Broadway, directions don't look so bright. Autoghosts keep the pace
for the cabman's early mobile race.


There's something moving in the sidewalk steam,
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.

Nightime's flyers feel their pains.
Drugstore take down the chains.
Metal motion comes in bursts,
The gas station can quench that thirst.
Suspension cracked on unmade road
The trucker's eyes read 'Overload'


Enough of this - our hero is moving up the subway stairs into day- light. Beneath
his leather jacket he holds a spray gun which has left the message R-A-E-L in big
letters on the wall leading underground. It may not mean much to you but to Rael
it is part of the process going towards 'making a name for yourself.' When you're
not even a pure-bred Puerto Rican the going gets tough and the tough gets going.


And out on the subway,
Rael Imperial Aerosol Kid
Exits into daylight, spraygun hid,
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.


With casual sideways glances along the wet street, he checks the motion in the steam
to look for potential obstruction. Seeing none, he strides along the sidewalk, past
the drugstore with iron guard being removed to reveal the smile of the toothpaste
girl, past the nightladies and past Patrolman Frank Leonowich (48, married, two kids)
who stands in the doorway of the wig-store. Patrolman Leonowich looks at Rael in much
the same way that other Patrolmen look at him, and Rael only just hides that he is
hiding something. Meanwhile from out of the steam a lamb lies down. This lamb has
nothing whatsoever to do with Rael, or any other lamb - it just lies down on Broadway.


The lamb seems right out of place,
Yet the Broadway street scene finds a focus in its face.
Somehow it's lying there,
Brings a stillness to the air.
Though man-made light, at night is very bright,
There's no whitewash victim,
As the neons dim, to the coat of white.
Rael Imperial Aerosol Kid
Wipes his gun - he's forgotten what he did,
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.

Suzanne tired her work all done,
Thinks money - honey - be on - neon.
Cabman's velvet glove sounds the horn
And the sawdust king spits out his scorn.
Wonder women you can draw your blind!
Don't look at me! I'm not your kind.
I'm Rael!
Something inside me has just begun,
Lord knows what I have done,
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
On Broadway -
They say the lights are always bright on Broadway.
They say there's always magic in the air.

While Henry Hamilton-Smythe minor (8) was playing croquet with
Cynthia Jane De Blaise-William (9), sweet-smiling Cynthia raised
her mallet high and gracefully removed Henry's head. Two weeks
later, in Henry's nursery, she discovered his treasured musical
box. Eagerly she opened it and as "Old King Cole" began to play,
a small spirit- figure appeared. Henry had returned - but not for
long, for as he stood in the room his body began ageing rapidly,
leaving a child's mind inside. A lifetime's desires surged through
him. Unfortunately the attempt to persuade Cynthia Jane to fulfill
his romantic desire led his nurse to the nursery to investigate
the noise. Instinctively Nanny hurled the musical box at the
bearded child, destroying both.


Play me Old King Cole
That I may join with you,
All your hearts now seem so far from me
It hardly seems to matter now.

And the nurse will tell you lies
Of a kingdom beyond the skies.
But I am lost within this half-world,
It hardly seems to matter now.

   Play me my song.
   Here it comes again.
   Play me my song.
   Here it comes again.

Just a little bit,
Just a little bit more time,
Time left to live out my life.

   Play me my song.
   Here it comes again.
   Play me my song.
   Here it comes again.

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he.
So he called for his pipe,
And he called for his bowl,
And he called for his fiddlers three.

But the clock, tick-tock,
On the mantlepiece -
And I want, and I feel, and I know, and I touch,
Her warmth...

   She's a lady, she's got time,
   Brush back your hair, and let me get to know your face.
   She's a lady, she is mine.
   Brush back your hair, and let me get to know your flesh.

I've been waiting here for so long
And all this time has passed me by
It doesn't seem to matter now
You stand there with your fixed expression
Casting doubt on all I have to say.
Why don't you touch me, touch me,
Why don't you touch me, touch me,
Touch me now, now, now, now, now...

The path is clear
Though no eyes can see
The course laid down long before.
And so with gods and men
The sheep remain inside their pen,
Though many times they've seen the way to leave.

He rides majestic
Past homes of men
Who care not or gaze with joy,
To see reflected there
The trees, the sky, the lily fair,
The scene of death is lying just below.

The mountain cuts off the town from view,
Like a cancer growth is removed by skill.
Let it be revealed.
A waterfall, his madrigal.
An inland sea, his symphony.

Undinal songs
Urge the sailors on
Till lured by sirens' cry.

Now as the river dissolves in sea,
So Neptune has claimed another soul.
And so with gods and men
The sheep remain inside their pen,
Until the Shepherd leads his flock away.

The sands of time were eroded by
The river of constant change.

It's one o'clock and time for lunch,
When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench
I can always hear them talk.

There's always been Ethel:
   "Jacob, wake up! You've got to tidy your room now."
And then Mister Lewis:
   "Isn't it time that he was out on his own?"
Over the garden wall, two little lovebirds - cuckoo to you!
                Keep them mowing blades sharp...

   I know what I like, and I like what I know;
   getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show.

Sunday night, Mr Farmer called, said:
   "Listen son, you're wasting your time; there's a future for you
    in the fire escape trade. Come up to town!"
But I remebered a voice from the past;
   "Gambling only pays when you're winning"
- I had to thank old Miss Mort for schooling a failure.
                Keep them mowing blades sharp...

   I know what I like, and I like what I know;
   getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show.

When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench,
I can always hear them talk.
Me, I'm just a lawnmower - you can tell me by the way I walk.

Leaving my family behind me
not knowing what lay ahead
waving goodbye, as I left them in tears
remembering all we'd said

I looked to the sky, I offered my prayers
I asked Him for guidance and strength
but the simple beliefs of a simple man
lay in His hands, and on my head

I gave everything that they wanted
but still they wanted more
we sweat and we toiled
good men lost their lives
I don't think they knew what for

I sold them my heart
I sold them my soul
I gave everything I had
ah but they couldn't break my spirit
my dignity fought back,
fightback
can you hear me
can you see
Don't you hear me
don't you see

We worked in gangs for all we were worth
the young boys pulling the wagons
we were digging the tunnel, shifting the earth
it was then that it happened.

No-one knew how the cracks appeared
but as it fell they all disappeared
stone fell like rain

Can you hear me,
Can you see
Don't you hear me
Can you breathe

The smoke cleared, the dust it settled
No one knew how many had died
all around there were broken men
they'd said it was safe, they'd lied
you could hear the cries, you could smell the fear
but good fortune that day was mine
and it occurred to me the heart of a good man
it seems is hard to find.

Can you hear me,
can you see
Don't you hear me
don't you see

We worked, how we worked like
the devil for our pay
through the wind, through the snow,
and through the rain

Blasting and cutting through Gods country like a knife
sweat stinging my eyes, there has to be a better life

Ah but I can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
memories of those I've left behind
still ringing in my ears
Will I ever go back again
Will I ever see her face again
I'll never forget that night
As they waved goodbye to their fathers

We came from the North,
and we came from the South
with picks and with spades
and a new kind of order
showing no fear of what lies up ahead
They'll never see the likes of us again

Driving the last spike,
lifting and laying the track
with blistering hands,
the sun burning your back

Oh but I can hear my childrens' cry
I can see the tears in their eyes
memories of those I've left behind
still ringing in my ears
Well I'll always remember that night,
As they waved goodbye to their fathers

We followed the rail, we slept under the stars
digging in darkness, and living with danger
showing no fear of what lies up ahead
they'll never see the likes of us again

can you hear me
can you see
Don't you hear me
don't you see

The grey of evening fills the room,
There's no need to look outside,
To see or feel the rain.
Then I reach across to touch her,
But I know that she's not there.
Rain keeps running down the window pane.
Time is running out for me.

Can't you see what you are doing to me?
Can't you see what you have done?
As I try to pass another long and sleepless night,
A hundred crazy voices call my name,
As I try to pass them by,
I almost can believe that she is here,
Here in the glow of the night.

Do you know what you have done?
Do you know what you've begun?
Do you see we shall never be together again?
All of my life.

Lonely people, empty rooms,
Pointless violence, silent tombs.
Could it be that we shall be together again?

Sheets of double glazing help to keep outside the night,
Only foreign city sirens can cut through,
Nylon sheets and blankets help to minimize the cold.
But they can't keep out the chilling sounds.
Will the nightmare soon give way to dreaming
That she is here with me?
Here in the glow of the night.

Do you know what you have done?
Do you know what you've begun?
Do you see we shall never be together again?
All of my life.

Lonely people, empty rooms,
Pointless violence, silent tombs.
Could it be that we shall be together again?
Could it be that we shall be together again?

In silence and darkness
We held each other near that night
We prayed it would last forever.

Blood on the windows
Millions of ordinary people are there
They gaze at the scenery
They act as if it is perfectly clear
Take a look at the mountains
Take a look at the beautiful river of blood.

The liquid surrounds me
I fight to rise from this river of hell
I stare round about me
Children are swimming and playing with boats
Their features are changing
Their bodies dissolve and I am alone.

Now see what you've gone and done.
Now see what you've gone and done.

Well now you never did see such a terrible thing
As was seen last night on T.V.
Maybe if we're lucky, they will show it again
Such a terrible thing to see - oh
But there's nothing you can do when you're next in line
You've got to go domino.

Now I'm one with the living and I'm feeling just fine
I know just what I gotta do
Play the game of happiness and never let on
That it only lives on in a song - oh
Well there's nothing you can do when you're next in line
You've got to go domino.

Do you know what you have done?
Do you know what you've begun?

In silence and darkness
Hold each other near tonight
For will it last forever?
Will it last forever - forever...

There's nothing you can do when you're the next in line
You've got to go domino.

Do you know, do you know, do you know what you have done
Do you see what you've begun?
Cos there's nothing, nothing, nothing
There's nothing you can do, there's nothing you can do
Do you see, do you see what you have done?

Another time it might have been so different
oh if only we could do it all again
but now it's just another fading memory
out of focus, though the outline still remains

Far away, away, fading distant lights
leaving us all behind, lost in a changing world
and you know that these are the days of our lives
remember

Like the story that we wish was never ending
We know sometime we must reach the final page
still we carry on just pretending
that there'll always be one more day to go

Far away, away, fading distant lights
leaving us all behind, lost in a changing world
and you know that these are the days of our lives
so remember...

Another chance hello, another goodbye
and so many things we'll never see again
days of life that seemed so unimportant
they seem to matter but to count much later on

Far away, away, fading distant lights
leaving us all behind, lost in a changing world
and you know that these are the days of our lives
remember

Creeping up the blind side, shinning up the wall
stealing thru the dark of night
Climbing thru a window, stepping to the floor
checking to the left and the right
Picking up the pieces, putting them away
something doesn't feel quite right

Help me someone, let me out of here
then out of the dark was suddenly heard
welcome to the Home by the Sea

Coming out the woodwork, thru the open door
pushing from above and below
shadows but no substance, in the shape of men
round and down and sideways they go
adrift without direction, eyes that hold despair
then as one they sign and they moan

Help us someone, let us out of here
living here so long undisturbed
dreaming of the time we were free
so many years ago
before the time when we first heard
welcome to the Home by the Sea

Sit down Sit down
Sit down Sit down Sit down
as we relive our lives in what we tell you

Images of sorrow, pictures of delight
things that go to make up a life
endless days of summer longer nights of gloom
waiting for the morning light
scenes of unimportance, photos in a frame
things that go to make up a life

Help us someone, let us out of here
cos living here so long undisturbed
dreaming of the time we were free
so many years ago
before the time when we first heard
welcome to the Home by the Sea

Sit down Sit down
Sit down Sit down Sit down Sit down
as we relive out lives in what we tell you
let us relive out lives in what we tell you

Sit down Sit down Sit down
cos you won't get away
no with us you will stay
for the rest of your days - Sit down
As we relive our lives in what we tell you
Let us relive our lives in what we tell you

Images of sorrow, pictures of delight
things that go to make up a life
endless days of summer longer nights of gloom
just waiting for the morning light
scenes of unimportance like photos in a frame
things that go to make up a life

As we relive our lives in what we tell you

   --- instrumental ---