Category: Lyrics

Written by Robbie Smith

Find the gullwind in the harbour
Trace the tideline on the water – read the signs
Catch the fish with lure and line bamboo pole and golden twine
See the starfish shine

Paddle lightly through the narrows
Out beyond the shoals and shallows… drifting free
Out to where the floats are strung
All around my nets are hung deep with plenty
Laden deep with plenty
See the riches that have been sent me… from the sea

And a pellican cries as the dolphins rise
Into the clear blue skies

See the minnows gently splashing
Scales below the surface flashing… silver white
Soon the larger fish will come
‘neath my boat the schools will run… sleek and slender
Oh, so sleek and slender
As the soothing sun surrenders to the night

Instrumental passage

Hear the wavelets softly lapping
Sails unfurled and slowly flapping in the wind
Oh, my boat upon the currents ride
Carried on the restless tide to the mainland
Over to the mainland
There to touch upon the warm sand… once again

Written by Robbie Smith

Adventuring 1

Adventuring, adventuring – Come join in our adventuring
We serve no Prince nor Queen nor King
But serve the muses beckoning
Come join in our “Adventure Ring”

Come circle round we’ve songs to sing
Come join in our adventuring
New fables to this table bring – Come join in our adventuring
Come join in our “Adventure Ring”

Adventuring 2

Adventuring, adventuring – Come join in our adventuring
Lift high your glasses welcoming
And bid our guests assembling
To join in our “Adventure Ring”

With travellers’ tales unravelling – Come join in our adventuring
The mists of time enveloping
The silhouettes all listening
Come join in our “Adventure Ring”

Adventuring, adventuring – Come join in our adventuring
So beat the drums and sound the strings
In harmony – ring in the Spring
Come join in our “Adventure Ring”

Adventuring 3

Adventuring, adventuring – Come join in our adventuring
Imagination is our King
All hail him now with strength we sing
Come join in our “Adventure Ring”

Come circle round we’ve tales to spin
Come join in our adventuring
The webbing growing string by string
The plot-threads intermingling
Come join in our “Adventure Ring”

Written by Robbie Smith

Nestle close to me – It’s you I want to hold
Sink into my dreams – Where you’ll feel no cold
Oh the miles I’ve logged – I’ve been on overload
Didn’t see much countryside – Only saw the road

If you’d like a tune – whisper your request
Maybe just a lullabye – to give the weary rest
If you want my love – it’s yours without a word
And if you just want sleep – let love remain unstirred

Let me wish away (wish away wish away)
All remaining fear (wish away wish away)
All those stubborn hurts – let them disappear

I felt a surging urge when we were worlds apart
To be a breath away – right by your heart

Can you breathe new life – into a road worn song
Give it just a little harmony – to help the song along
Ohhh to feel your lips – softly brush my cheek
Let my tender strength make you sweetly weak…
Make you sweetly weak

Cactus silhouettes – near a desert plain
Watching as we wake – making love again
Don’t you wish this night (don’t you wish, don’t you wish)
Could just drift on and on (don’t you wish, don’t you wish
Long enough to find (long enough to find) – where two hearts belong

I felt a surging urge when we were worlds apart
To be a breath away – right by your heart

No more thoughts to think – no more words to speak
Just a tender strength – that makes us sweetly weak…
Oh that makes us sweetly weak

Written by Robbie Smith

Come all ye wise or simple men – skippers & mates & deckhands
To man the cargo ships again – skippers & mates & deckhands
We place no stock in rank nor name – skippers & mates & deckhands
To the rollin’ seas you’re all the same – skippers & mates & deckhands

All ye hale and hearty sailors – hoist the sails once more

There’s plenty of food for the men that work – skippers & mates & deckhands
And moldy bread for those that shirk – skippers & mates & deckhands
Now coins are scarce, I’m sure you know – skippers & mates & deckhands
So sign aboard and get below – skippers & mates & deckhands

Leave behind all your sons and daughters
Set the course for foreign waters – sail me hearties, sail
Wave good-bye to your wives and lovers
Cut the ropes and clear the scuppers – sail me hearties, sail

There’ll be no joking with your friends – skippers & mates & deckhands
There’s decks to wash and sails to mend – skippers & mates & deckhands
You’ll get no rest around the horn – skippers & mates & deckhands
You’ll wish, by gum, you’d never been born – skippers & mates & deckhands

Leave behind all your sons and daughters
Set the course for foreign waters – sail me hearties, sail
Wave good-bye to your wives and lovers
Cut the ropes and clear the scuppers – sail me hearties, sail

Instrumental Break

And when at last you’re back on shore – skippers & mates & deckhands
You’ll swear to god you’ll sail no more – skippers & mates & deckhands
You’ll pledge an oath to never leave home – skippers & mates & deckhands
Till you hear the call from the briny foam – skippers & mates & deckhands

All ye rugged salty sailors – hoist the sails once more
Hoist the sails once more – we’re bound to leave this shore
Hoist the sails once more

Written by Robbie Smith

The crowds are departing, the footlights are low
And so must the curtain fall
I’ll sing one more song now and then I must go
Adieu to you one and all

Goodbye, so long, fare thee well, au revoir
Goodbye, so long, fare thee well, au revoir

Now the concert is over the the shadows are long
Follow the corridor
The gallery’s vacant and the orchestra’s gone
The choir will sing no more

Goodbye, so long, fare thee well, au revoir
Goodbye, so long, fare thee well, au revoir

Ballerina kind-hearted one
She is waiting and watching the sun
Can you see her hiding a frown
Dressed in her angel gown

Now the street lamps are glowing and the river is calm
The city is sleeping still
A train is approaching announcing the dawn
Many a wish to fulfill

Goodbye, so long, fare thee well, au revoir
Goodbye, so long, fare thee well, au revoir
Goodbye, auf wiedersehen, fare thee well, au revoir
Goodbye, so long, fare thee well, au revoir…
Fare thee well, au revoir

Written by Robert S. Smith and Anne Smith

I’m an easy going fellow with ordinary taste
Always ready with a hello – never giving into haste
But I’ve fallen for an underwater girl
The world’s my oyster cause she’s my pearl

The first time I’d seen this maiden serene
She was all aglow in bright seaweed green
I watched her swim by – a real loralei
And through her mask i saw a gleam in her eye

But she flipped her frog feet so lively and cute
In her form-fitting, foam rubber, all weather,
Underwater skin diving suit

I dove in the lake to follow her wake
Feeling rather like an aquatic rake
She stayed in my sight – a slim water sprite
And my heart went with the mermaid in flight
But she flipped her frog feet so lively and cute
In her form-fitting, foam rubber, all weather,
Underwater skin diving suit

She was dancing, prancing – really quite entrancing
A luscious underwater vamp
I watched her enchanted, bubbling as i panted
Til I realized she had a cramp

I went flying through the watery blue
Caught her flowing hair of red coral hue
I towed her to land to rest on white sand
And now she’s going to give me her hand

And she’ll come down the aisle so lively and cute
Wearing wrist compass, aqualung, depth guage
And frogfeet
And form-fitting, foam rubber, all weather,
Underwater skin diving suit

(Ba rum ba da-da-da-da dum)

Written by Robbie Smith and Anne Smith

He wrote a tune and played it for the river
The silver wavelets gleaming in the sun
The gentle melody drifted o’er the waters
Where the green hued slender salmon run

She wrote a poem and read it to the forest
The lacey branches swaying in the air
Her simple rhyming drifted through the treetops
To the music made by the singing sparrows there

And a song came together of the forest and the sky
Of the earth and the changing sea
A song of the love of living on this world
The way love is meant to be

They wrote a song and sang it to the mountains
The snowy summits glowing from afar
Of loving, sighing, drifting into morning
And a baby born by the light of a star

And a song had come together of the forest and the sky
Of the earth and the changing sea
A song of a life of loving on this world
The way life is meant to be

Written by Robbie Smith

I went in search of freedom just found a larger cage
I followed doves of peace ’til they flew into a rage
I dulled my common senses to not notice what was real
And I placed my youthful future upon a roulette wheel

I played my cards of truth against a pack of lies
They dealt the hand I clutched – every loser always tries
The fear that once protected me prevented me from flyin’
And when I looked at Lady Luck – her eyes were in decline

Fate Fate let me make just one more stand
Before I heed your call
Fate Fate deal me one more winning hand
One more… before… I fall (before I fall)

In what was once my home I found him in my place
Not very much had changed – just the joker’s face
Another voice had spoken the vows I’d planned to make
Another hand was strumming – trying not to make mistakes

Too many sad reminders of those sullied broken vows
Too many reasons why I know I shouldn’t be there now
Don’t waste your life a-reasoning with dogs that have gone mad
And women left reliving the love they thought they had.

Fate Fate let me make just one more stand
Before I heed your call
Fate Fate deal me one more… winning hand
One more… before… I fall

The friendships I once valued have silently gone cold
I carry guilt around me like deathly desert gold
Seems all my limitations together have been reached
And the walls for my protection are bracing to be breached

A gambler’s life in shambles I make my swift retreat
I forage now in dumpsters for songs still incomplete
But Fate your writing’s clearer now and to it I resign
And I bequeath to you now all that once… was mine

Written by Robbie Smith

He wanted to leave his mark – set the world on its ear
So he decided to start with the local elections that year
He was all too familiar with the scandals and kickbacks and greed
And when people complained he just nodded his head & agreed

You’re right everything’s wrong
I know what it’s like – it’s been that way too long
They’re running this county – this country right into the ground
We’ve got to move quickly – some answers have got to be found

Well, he was new on the scene and he didn’t know where to begin
They said he was green and he didn’t stand a chance to get in
But he learned all about his community and the issues at hand
And if something went over his head he said: “I understand”

You’re right everything’s wrong
It’s time to speak out – we’ve been patient too long
They’ve brainwashed us all into thinking we can’t change a thing
But just lend your support and you’ll see what good government can bring

His opponents weren’t worried they said: “we’ll soon have him shakin’ in his boots”
They resorted to smear tactics – tried to uncover his roots
But he stood proud and firm cause his record was spotlessly clean
And he side-stepped the pitfalls cause his instincts were naturally keen
And he just kept on saying…

You’re right everything’s wrong
It’s that old party line and that same tired song
If I had a cent for every dollar they’ve spent on themselves
I’d get us all out of debt & put the bank-ledgers back on the shelves

Well, the old boys in power had just about counted him out
And in most of their minds the outcome was hardly in doubt
But – lo and behold – when all of the casting was done
He’d been voted in by a majority – good lord he had won

And from that day forth whenever people complained
Whenever scandal-clouds broke and heavy fallout rained
Each time his party seemed posed for an imminent fall
He’d face his constituents and explain to them all…

You’re wrong everything’s right
The future looks prosperous rosey and bright
Things have never been better and we did it together my friends
And they lived un-happily ever after cause this isn’t just a song
It’s the truth – and that’s how it ends

Written by Robbie Smith

How would you look after 40 years in this business? [dog eat dog]
How would you look after 3 hours on that stage? (on that stage)
How would you look after 5 wives and 4 divorces?
How would you look with that camera in your face?
You’re invading my space…

And I’m too far gone – I tell ya I’m-a too far gone
Too far gone for close-ups – I’m just too far gone

Why don’t you get a picture of an influential politician?
Or a more photogenic member of the band?
How about a group shot of my lovely children?
There’s so much to choose from I can’t understand – hey – why pick me?

[I know I’m] too far gone – Hey I’m-ah too far gone
I’m Too far gone for close-ups – I’m just too far gone
And I’m too far gone and I’m too far gone
Too far gone for close-ups – I’m just too far gone

Now would you blame me if I retired as a rock ‘n roll… Singer?
The paparazzi have been under my skin all night [dog eat dog]
Would you blame me if i gave them the Johnny Cash finger?
I’m never too tired to walk away from a fight
So – get outta my sight cause I’m…

Too far gone – Hey I’m-ah too far gone
Too far gone for close-ups I’m just too far gone
And I’m too far gone – and I’m too far gone
Too far gone for close-ups – I’m just too far gone

[1st voice] Too far gone [2nd voice] too far gone
[both voices in unison] Too far gone [both voices in harmony] Hey I’m- a too far gone

Too far gone – Hey I’m-a too far gone
Too far gone for close-ups – I’m just too far gone
Too far gone – too far gone
Too far gone for close-ups I’m just too far gone
And I’m too far – too far too far too far… too far gone
Too far gone for close-ups – I’m just too far…

Written by Robbie Smith

He hears the party goers celebrating down the hall
He hopes that maybe they’ll go out on a club crawl
He doesn’t need to be with that kind of crowd
Not much for talking when the music gets loud
Can’t truly get to know anyone that way

He checks the lock and then he walks ’til the bass notes fade
Gives up some sleep for the street – it’s an even trade
Says something sweet to a girl on the bus
She changes seats – no fuss no muss –
So he eyes the classifieds and thinks of what he wanted to say:

He’s looking for a one life stand – offering a wedding band
Third finger left hand – nothing less than a one life stand

He sees the sailors and he thinks about how it was
Sailing easily from port to port and from love to love
But now his soul is done with that kind of life
He just wants a companion – one to be his wife
To take away the feeling of bein’ alone

He nods to some soldiers – he can tell that they’re in town on leave
They’re plainly wearing their intentions upon their sleeves
He wouldn’t want to be a parent tonight
Staying up and frettin’ til the dawn’s first light
Still he’s sad he never had a daughter to call his own

Now he’s looking for a one life stand – offering a wedding band
Third finger left hand – nothing less than a one life stand

You might wonder if he will ever find love
Cause he’s often fallen short of the mark
People say that his kind of love is blind love
But he’s patiently waiting in the dark
For true love’s unmistakable spark

You know that he’s looking for a one life stand
He’s lookin’ for a one life stand (offering a wedding band)
He’s looking for a one life stand (one life stand…)
Third finger left hand nothin’ less than a one life stand
He’s lookin’ for a one life stand – you know he is
He’s looking for a one life stand – for a one life stand
One life one life one life stand
One life one life one life stand – for a one life stand

Written by Robbie Smith and Kathleen Glauser

Ramblin away with the gypsies
They’ll soothe your aching heart
They’ll dance with you and when they’re through
Your true song then will start

Ramblin away with the gypsies
Your set-tled ways are done
Come join their clan their caravan
New journeys have begun

Sky father earth mother
Now we are your sons and daughters
Sun moon wind water fire in the night

Ramblin away with the gypsies
Heed lightly not their rules
Shed your disguise cut free your lies
They’ll suffer not for fools

Ramblin away with the gypsies
No tethers reign you in
What’s been your past is gone at last
There’s “new tales yet to spin”

Now destined to search the whole world ‘round
For the life we once had
We nomads must roam until we’ve found
The home we once had…

Sky father earth mother
Now we are your sons and daughters
Sun moon wind water fire flaming bright

Ramblin away with the gypsies
Trust them and they’ll trust you
Where love was hate wipe clean the slate
And start your life anew

Ramblin away with the gypsies
No fortunes to pursue
Forgive forget without regret
And dance as free folk do

Sky father earth mother
Now we are your sons and daughters
Sun moon wind water
Fire in the night

Sky father earth mother
Now we are your sons and daughters
Sun moon wind water
Fire flaming bright (repeat chorus)