Lyrics
WALKING DREAM
(Instrumental)
CIGARETTES
I gave up cigarettes, on the night that we met.
I’d never tried to in the past, my friends said it’d never last…
They were right about you, but I don’t smoke.
I gave my car away, on the day you came to stay.
Parked it by Dad’s old shack, he said “Son, you’ll want her back…”
He was right about the car, but not about you.
It’s not about you. I can’t tell you I’m in hell.
Not about you. It was only you who fell.
Not about you. And you can’t even tell…
Why I tried
Or why you lied
Or why you cry, to this day. You can’t say.
I learned to dance all night, so I could hold you tight.
Left my friends at the bar, they said “This has gone too far…”
They were right about you, but I still dance.
It’s not about you. I can’t tell you I’m in hell.
Not about you. It was only you who fell.
Not about you. And you can’t even tell…
Why I tried
Or why you lied
Or why you cry, to this day. You can’t say.
STOP ME
Will you take me, to that old café?
The same one, that you know I hate.
Cause the waiter, always remembers your name.
A coffee and a water, is all that you’ll let me order.
Cause you got to be up and on your way.
But you always stop me, right on time.
And you always held me, right on the line.
Yeah you always stop me, right on time.
Tic-Tac-Toe and I’m a fool.
For even walkin’ home with you.
Another game I shoulda learned in school.
But you always stop me, right on time.
And you always held me, right on the line.
Yeah you always stop me, right on time.
An’ only little boys, go running in the dark.
An’ only little boys, don’t finish what they start.
But not only little boys, go and take it all so hard.
But you always stop me, right on time.
And you always held me, right on the line.
Yeah you always stop me, right on time.
ELEVATED TRAIN
Six days a week I drove these streets, to the factories that I owned.
From tinted glass, blindly I passed all the tiny homes
Of the good men that I paid
Who ride the elevated train.
But I was a big man in my day, such a big man in my day.
Now since my heart failed me in March, a strange hell I endure.
Cause I look on down and through this town, with a view so very pure.
Because now every night and day
I ride the elevated train.
But I was a big man in my day, such a big man in my day.
Sweet Mrs Jones you look so alone, as you dress to leave your room.
Your son is in bed from a poison it’s said, that I always knew
Pumped through all my workers veins,
Just like the elevated train.
I was a big man in my day, such a big man in my day.
But I was so poor…. Yeah I was so poor…
For not knowing you.
Old Arthur Gore you lived without more than the jacket on your back.
At least once or twice you asked me so nice, for the shelter of my shack.
Now I see you dying in the rain,
Under the elevated train.
I was a big man in my day, such a big man in my day.
But I was so poor…. Yeah I was so poor…
For not helping you.
Daughter of mine I raised you so fine, that you’ll never know.
Of all the things my wealth could bring, there’s nothing left to show
But the cruel words that they say
On the elevated train
“Yeah, he was no big man in his day… just a bad man in his day”
And I was so poor…. Yeah I was so poor…
For not loving you.
But I was a big man in my day, such a big man in my day…
THE WAY OF WINSOME LONESOME
(Instrumental)
TIME CAN BREAK YOUR HEART
Roads move slow, and friends won’t show
In time to play their part.
But I know, that as it goes…
Time can break your heart.
Words work fine, but I can’t find
The ones to hit their mark.
They come so slow, that it shows…
Time can break your heart.
When you’re all out of luck
Or you’re all out of love.
Sometimes you’ll find, you’re only out of time.
Places and names, of the ones may change
Who brightened up your dark.
But the light must go, and so it shows…
That time can break your heart…
Yeah time can break your heart…
Time can break your heart.
LONG FACE
There’s a long face calling my name.
Yeah it’s a long face, calling my name.
Heaven or hell, well who can really tell?
When there’s a long face, calling your name.
Just the wrong place and the wrong game.
Just the wrong place and the wrong game.
Well I’ve done some bad, but even good times feel sad,
When there’s a long face calling your name.
There’s a strong wind, blowing this train.
There’s a strong wind, slowing this train.
Well I could jump it and run, but you’ll never make it home,
When there’s a long face calling your name.
A long face calling your name…
WHICH TRAIN’S SHE ON?
(Instrumental)
30 SECONDS
He smoked those chalk sticks, cause the filters made him cough.
I’d give him one of mine, but he’d sooner break it off.
And he drove in third gear, cause it always made the most noise.
And did those silly tricks, just to impress the boys.
But I know, I should be riding on home.
Yeah I know… not to call this home.
His mother blames me, but his dad still gets me a beer.
His brother hates me, but he still keeps me near.
And he never said those words, cause he didn’t wanna hurt.
But I’ll bet now your sweet name, is every second word.
And I know, I should be riding on home.
Yeah I know… not to call this home.
But weekends come and go…
And parties move slow…
But there’s thirty seconds when I’m alone…
And I know, I should be riding on home.
Yeah I know… not to call this home.
The news had said it was the six-pack in my lap.
But I think we both know it was a little more than that.
And some kids had said it was just a stupid bet.
But I’m poor and holding you will never ease my debt.
And I know, I should be riding on home.
Yeah I know… not to call this home.
But new friends come and go…
And you’re still the only girl I know…
But there’s thirty seconds when we’re alone…
When I know, I should be riding on home.
Yeah I know… not to call this home.
WON’T BE BOUGHT
You know I won’t be bought,
And I’ll play until I’m caught.
You’ll do me wrong,
Won’t let me put my records on.
But I know you’re wrong,
So I’ll play this song.
You’ll call me names,
Now you know that none of this’ll change.
So I’ll play until I’m caught,
Cause I won’t be bought. |
Liner Notes
All songs were recorded, produced, singed, strummed and however else played upon by Toby Burke, at home in the City of Los Angeles & County of London (on a Tascam Porta07, 4-track tape machine). Except piano on songs 2 & 4, played by John Rose.
Mixed by John Rose & Toby Burke,
at The Old Sussex Arms, London, in the year of ‘04.
Mastered by Jonas Persson.
All songs written by TFX Burke
Artwork & Design by Will Mahon
Photos by Dan Ford.
Thanks to:
My friends and family - particularly Adam, Chris & Amy (for legals, lodgings and listening).
Jessica, Wilbur, John, Dan Ford, Tom & Mark, Wyndham, Jeff Samin, Sophie Best, Hayden Desser, Clint & Jeff and Beth.
A note about the lyrics (website only):
"I bought a Tascam Porta-07 4-track tape machine from a friend before I left Melbourne and packed it for Los Angeles, determined to figure out how it actually worked. Eventually I found a reprint of the manual and I was setting up in the tiny basement laundry of the house I shared with my brother, recording all sorts of stuff. The tape machine made it with me to London some years later.
The songs on Winsome Lonesome all fell into that machine somewhere along the way. “Won’t Be Bought” was written in Melbourne (as were “Cigarettes” and “30 Seconds” I think), but I recorded it and “Long Face” in LA. The basis of “Walking Dream” and “Time Can Break Your Heart” were written on the same afternoon, sitting amongst the boxes when my wife and I were moving to London.
All these songs just hung about really and never quite worked with the band. All the other records I’ve done were written as a fairly specific group of songs, these just gathered over time and wouldn't leave. I’ve always liked singer-songwriter records with no drums, sometimes the lyrics just get through to me better that way – albums like Paul Kelly’s “Post” and Springsteen’s “Nebraska” (also recorded on a Tascam 4-track) - I guess this is my contribution to that little sub-genre."
Toby
2007
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