Song Description

Semi-finalist UK Songwriting Contest 2007

Lyrics

his life is on hold, he's only looking back
past the dark, copper beeches down the old muddy track
that leads to the hills where he walked every day
where he ran with his children before they went away
to places where postcards never arrive
and he doesn't know if they are dead or alive
and he stands alone
he starts to sing

he's singing for the open road, for the freedom and the thrills
for the meadows and the songbirds and the jasmine daffodills
for the blue skies and the warm winds on those brilliant summer days
and her soft lips and dark eyes and coquettish little ways
and he stands alone

his future is lost in his black bitter cup
he won't see the evening, his mind is made up
of madness and sorrow piled up through the years
along with doubt and mistrust and unreasonable fears
to such an extent that he no longer cares
about the people in his life or the people in his prayers
and he stands alone
and he starts to sing

he's singing for the melodies that overwhelmed his youth
he's whispering the poetry that teased him with the truth
he's hiding from the sun that blessed his golden days
he's missing the lovers that never came his way
and he stands alone

he's a long way from home like a tourist on the run
lost in his reason he won't be outrun
because no one is chasing, no one's aware
that the house has been tidied and the papers prepared
for the journey ahead into the unknown
and he doesn't care if it's silver or stone
and he stands alone
and he starts to sing

he's singing for his mother's love and the happy lives they led
he's haunted by his father and what he never said
he's thinking of the games he played with his friends out in the woods
and he played out the final one in the only way he could
and he went alone