amazing things

1. amazing things

white clouds cover
the whole of the earth
concorde flies
through the skies to the states
lifetimes in memory, flesh being born
but this is the age of invisible dawn
and the man from the government
says show me a sign
the mood of the moment
says have a good time
through stench and starvation,
night never falls
there's flies on the skeletons,
shapes on the wall

as i draw my latest breath
amazing things are done on earth

and the masters of flattery
colour the trees
they walk on the oceans,
put the town under siege
the king of humanity sleeps in despair
walking out in the morning
with hands in the air
there's zealots in anger,
divine extremes
emotional half-lives,
disposable dreams
rumours of cease-fire
inherit the streets
this is the war
of the pure and the meek

as i draw my latest breath
amazing things are done on earth

these days are overgrown in truth
under the sun that's nothing new

but flowers still open,
flowers still close
re-arranged molecules,
miracle cures
and i can still love you,
call you my own
'till the blooms turn to doubt,
'till the angels come home

as i draw my latest breath
amazing things are done on earth

2. wonderful

when all the world is quiet and still
and doubts run deep as the ocean
through troubled years and broken dreams
to the place where all silence has spoken

so wonderful, too wonderful

immeasurable, invisible
the moment golden before me
i will walk with you through the beautiful gate
my hands and heart wide open

so wonderful, too wonderful

3. the greatest flame

like shadows on the wall
you come and you go
through the streets
and the rain that falls down
on our sin
no more goodbyes
forever this way
whenever the greatest flame in the world
starts burning

always in your eyes
awaking of souls
we gaze out on the road
that brought us up
to this place
the signposts never change
we'll go where they lead
whenever the day to break us comes
we'll not give in

chorus

live the day when the flame is strong
live the day when the flame is strong
come the day when love is gone
take it over, take it over

live the day when the flame is strong
live the day when the flame is strong
come the day when love is gone
take it over

chorus

4. move a mountain

there's a place
where the rocks of caithness
lie beside the ocean
on summer days,
a waiting grave
in the layers with the pains
of generations gone before us
uranium, your age has come.

there's salt and spray on the beaches
of the island that i came from
caesium, the change will come.
across the waves from sellafield
you came in unseen wonder
a life begun, a chain undone.

and from the hollow mouths of grey
it's the future and it's safe
so let the children play

move a mountain
fill the ground
take death on wheels
re-create the land

one glance away civilization
on the streets of california
the burning nights, before my eyes.
savage times in the courtrooms
and the subways of frustration
crucify, crucify
'cause man rules the waves
the rock, the road, the lanes
and all the cities of the plains

move a mountain
fill the ground
take death on wheels
re-create the land

move a mountain
fill the ground
take death on wheels
re-create the land

and we'll all be long blown rushes
when all the world's a flame

move a mountain

move a mountain
fill the ground
take death on wheels
re-create the land

5. pog aon oidhche earraigh

an saoghal, sia uairean
obair la ri cul
teaghlach gabhal dhan a'mheas
pailteas, slainte, is gaol
an ruis a tuiteam sios mu'm chluasan
an ear mheadhain am brot cho dorch
is thusa, uilc is a mhuirt is a shabaid
na mo bheatha a h-uile oidhche

o luaidh be siod an gradh
a dh'fhag mi ceangailte ruit an drasda
co shaoileadh an rud a dh'fhas
bho phog aon oidhche earraich

an greim cho teann's araid
mar ord na mo dhorn
a 'ghealach bha cho soilleir
's a gheall a leithid dhuinn
bha sinn mar longan seolaidh
air cuan buidhe og a 'chridhe
mu coinneamh clann an t-saoghil's theaghlaich
gun ghuth no gaire, dia, no biadh

o luaidh be siod an gradh
a dh'fhag mi ceangailte ruit an drasda
co shaoileadh an rud a dh'fhas
bho phog aon oidhche earraich

co as an dainig na reultan, thuirt mi
co as an dainig grian
tha sinn cho leointe fo na ghealach seo
anam craidhte seachad air ifrinn fheinn
ach tha thusa brosnalchadh nam bliadhnaichean
le saidhbreas seachad air mo dhith
cho gheal ri sneachd gach uile gheamhradh
an t-oran gaoil m'fhaosaid chiontach fheinn

o luaidh be siod an gradh
a dh'fhag mi ceangailte ruit an drasda
co shaoileadh an rud a dh'fhas
bho phog aon oidhche earraich

o luaidh be siod an gradh
a dh'fhag mi ceangailte ruit an drasda
co shaoileadh an rud a dh'fhas
bho phog aon oidhche earraich

english translation

a kiss one spring evening

the six o'clock world
the days work over
family, taking of the fruits
of plenty, good health, and love
russia is falling down around my ears
the middle east in a broth of darkness
and you, evil, murder, and fighting
in my life every night

oh love
what power there was in that embrace
that has left me in union with you today
who could ever have foreseen
all that has grown
from a kiss, one spring evening

the grasp that was so firm and special
like a hammer in my fist
the moon that was so bright
and promised so much
we were like sailing ships
on the young, yellow ocean of the heart
confronted by children, and the world family
without voice, laughter, a god, or food

oh love
what power there was in that embrace
that has left me in union with you today
who could ever have foreseen all that has grown
from a kiss, one spring evening

so where do the stars come from, i said
from where did the sun appear
we are so wounded below this moon
souls tortured beyond hell itself
still you keep bringing inspiration to my years
with blessings beyond my need
whiter than the snows of each winter
the song of love, my confession of guilt

oh love
what power there was in that embrace
that has left me in union with you today
who could ever have foreseen all that has grown
from a kiss, one spring evening

oh love
what power there was in that embrace
that has left me in union with you today
who could ever have foreseen all that has grown
from a kiss, one spring evening

6. dream fields

you can talk the tongue of angels
you can walk the thin white line
raid your hearts imaginations
let your thoughts live and run wild
but now all i see is the station
and the boats with the sun in their wake
looking out on scalpay dawning
and you drenched in the rain of grace

walked down the pier road to the deep sea
it was a long confused embrace
but i have seen an awesome beauty
i've seen the tears turn to wine on your face
and i wondered and i trembled
as you held me so close in your arms
with a love that held more learning
than i could ever understand

still grass grows tall in the dream fields
but after all is said and done
the only thing that ever matters
is to love and to be loved

i crossed the big years and the waters
for a new and happy land
trading all that fire of living
for the fickle and the bland
now i know that there's nothing
can evermore put worth in your time
if the spirit never woos
or moves your paths divine

still grass grows tall in the dream fields
but after all is said and done
the only thing that ever matters
is to love and to be loved

7.song of the earth

it was winter on the mersey
snow was falling on new york
the boats were coming in from ireland
a nation drinking round the docks
what do you do when the rain is falling
what do you do when the rain is falling down

young men were heading back to europe
rocking the reeperbahn at night
we watched the airwaves over eval
angels were dancing in the light
what do you do when the sun is sinking
what do you do when the sun is sinking low

the chains, slaves, praise and gospel
burn like the sun in tortured mouths
a hurricane blew out of memphis
revolution in the south
what do you do when the sun is beating
what do you do when the sun is beating down

spirits drink the milk of nations
singing freedom and release
cries of mercy rise like rockets
trough the paths of the redeemed
what do you do when the guns are turning
what do you do when the guns are turning round

what do you do
sing a song of the earth
song the earth
song the earth

a singer in my bloodstream
stayed mainline all my life
his voice filled my atlantic
a celtic fire, a soul of white
what do you do when your homes are burning
what do you do when your homes are burning
down

he wore the beauty of his people
came to tell it to the world
human tears, human oceans
the greatest song i've ever heard
what do you do when your hope is raging
what do you do when your hope is raging strong

it was winter on the mersey
through the museum on the docks
through my years, through my failures
to where the white piano stood
what do you do when the rain is falling
what do you do when the rain is falling down

saw all the singers of the gaidhealtachd
and all the world could understand
i heard, maybe i'm a dreamer
i was not the only one
what do you do when the song you're singing
what do you do when the song you're singing's
gone

what do you do when the song you're singing
what do you do when the song you're singing's
gone

song of the earth
sing a song of the earth
song of the earth

8. forever eyes of blue

head of ribbons running down the brae
in the morning, in the morning
bare-foot sisters and a milking pail
turning around
at the weekend the boats come in
from the herring, from the herring
wives and families and the table laid
turning again

forever you'll be eyes of blue
in the circle of your youth
picking every blade of truth
down the newton road

war is over and the boys come home
from the fighting, from the fighting
love letters and a great unknown
turning again
counting your blessings at the village hall
to the dancing, to the dancing
a lot of loving and a lot of soul
turning again

chorus

you took your beauty and your heart of gold
to the altar, to the altar
bound forever in an august vow
turning around
the skies of summer shone around your door
little children, little children
three men who couldn't love you more
turning again

chorus

one door opens and another closed
oh the parting, oh the parting
new arrivals and a family grown
turning around
head of ribbons running down the brae
in the morning, in the morning
pulling moments from the clock of faith
turning again

chorus

9. sraidean na roinn-eorpa

chuir mi mo chul ri lunnainn
an samhradh air m'aodann
's mi air sraidean mor na roinn-eorpa
's mi le mo run, le m'anam, mo bhratach
mo ghrian mo ghealach ur
's sheas mi's na aiteachan a sheas m'athair
's ioma cogadh a tha ann airson saorsa
da fhicead bliadhna's an dileab air fhagail
briaran do linn's do sheorsa

baile beag anns a' ghearmailt
gruagach cho boidheach
le suilean lan sonas is bron
thuirt i "am bheil fhios agaibh fhein,
an t-sochair 'tha agaibh
tha eallach eachraidh air
mo ghuaillan cho trom"
chrath sinn lamhan, 's dh'fhalbh i a'seinn
an dan tha dcmhainn, 's gach anam de dhaoine
dh'fhag mi i le blas beag de mo dhuthaich
dh'fhag i mi leis a chompanas ur

tha na brataich a'snamh
an cuan de dhathan
do chanan binn an cluas na roinn-eorpa
tha na sraidean beo le cainnt's togair
sraidean am babel ur
's thusa mo run, tha cothrom mad choinneamh
tha do chliu air 'dhol tarsainn an cuan
thusa tha meanbh, bi ladir, bi alainn
taisbean do chanan, bi buan

english translation

the streets of europe

i have put london behind me
the summer is on my face
and i am on the big streets of europe
with my love, my flag
my sun, and my new moon
i stood in the places where my father had stood
many are the wars of freedom
forty years and the legacy is still with me
the words of his kind and generation

a small town in germany
a beautiful young girl
her eyes full of sorrow and joy
she said "are you aware of the privilege you enjoy
the burden of history lies heavy on my shoulders"
we shook hands, and she went on her way singing
the song that is deep in the soul of all people
i left her with a small part of my country
she left me with the fellowship of a new age

the flags are swimming
in a sea of colour
my language melodious in the ear of europe
the streets are alive with conversation and purpose
possibilities for a new babel
and you my love have opportunity before you
your renown has crosses the ocean
you that are small, be strong, be beautiful
reveal your great language, be everlasting

10. canada

a prairie and a wind
canada on the wire
i'm trading all my fears
and all my desires
i watch your sun go down
a burning amber road
following the ghosts
wherever they go

's chan fhaic mi cladach geal
no achadh cruithneachd 'fas
gun sealladh mor de chradh
's dealbh de bhas
a window on the stars
the journey of the few
watching it all survive
it's all i can do

11. ard

madainn di-haoine 's duthaich fo sgoth
's mi sgith le cuid smalan,
mi-mhisneachd is bron
seo an deicheamh la dhan
a'ghiblean 'sinn fo ghruaim a rithist
an co-dhunadh a cheannaich
na daoine aig pris

tha spiorad nan daoine
nas soilleir na ghealach
nas doimhne na'n cuan
geigh sinn ar n-aite 'san t-shaoghal
's an ginealach ur
ard: blar nan daoine
ard: guth is saorsa
ard: tha sinn gluasad
gu h-ard theid sinn suas

's iomadh trioblaidtha romhainn '
nis gaidheal agus gall
's mi le aon suil air eachdraidh,
aon suil mo chlann
ach cum creideamh nad bheatha,
sonas nad chridhe
chan e seo deireadh rathaid
ach toiseach linn

tha spiorad nan daoine
nas soilleir na ghealach
nas doimhne na'n cuan
geigh sinn ar n-aite 'san t-shaoghal
's an ginealach ur

ard: blar nan daoine
ard: guth is saorsa
ard: tha sinn gluasad
gu h-ard theid sinn suas

(chorus)

chan urrain dhomh fuireach
an taigh 'tha fo sgoth
ach le creideamh is dochas
u deireadh mo la
tha an lasair nad anam
aig meadhan do bhith
nas laidir's nas motha
na riaghaltas no righ

chorus

english translation

high

friday morning and the country
is under a cloud
but i am tired of sorrow,
pessimism, and gloom
this is the tenth day of april
and we have been let down again
the decision that our people
have bought at a price

the spirit of the people
is brighter than the moon
deeper than the ocean
we will find our place in the world
in a new generation

high: the peoples struggle
high: a voice and self-determination
high: we are moving
we will reach up there

many troubles now confront us,
highlander and lowlander
as i keep one eye on history,
one eye on my children,
Keep belief in your life,
Joy in your heart
this is not the end of the road,
but the start of a new age

the spirit of the people
is brighter than the moon
deeper than the ocean
we will find our place in the world
in a new generation
high: the peoples struggle
high: a voice and self-determination
high: we are moving
we will reach up there

(chorus)

i can not live in the house
of despondency
but in faith and in hope
till the end of my days
the spark in your soul
is the centre
of your whole existence
and it is bigger and stronger
than any government or King

(chorus)

12. on the edge

instrumental