Slipping past the chimney-pots,
 Down among the ashes, away from old times--
 Why must I self-indulge in memories?
 I should be celebrating to a moving melody,

      But it hurts me, it hurts me,
      Honey, honey, it hurts me.
      And I'm feeling like a waltz,
      Growing old, old, old, old, old.

 I was firy but you put me out.
 I was always one for loving and leaving.
 I like to think I was immune to romance.
 I should be laughing at some good old comedy.

      Oh, but it hurts me, it hurts me.
      Honey, honey, it hurts me.
      And I'm feeling like a waltz--

 If you laughed at me, I'd laugh too.
 [Inaudible], don't you know that I'd be really breaking.
 L'amour--mon choux avec un etranger.
 I shouldn't care, you're not my darling anymore,

      But it hurts me, it hurts me,
      Honey, honey, honey, honey.
      And I'm feeling like a waltz,
      Growing old, old, old, old, old.

 A long way up in light-years,
 Just a pinpoint in space,
 In a century of planetary storms,
 Stranded at the moonbase,

      The air is getting low.
      The air is getting low.

 Looking out at the roof-window,
 I've seen many strange things,
 From shooting stars to Stars 'n' Stripes--
 Thought I'd caught a glimpse of golden wings.

      The air is getting low,
      The air is getting low,
      The air is getting low,
      The air is getting low.

           I got the vision of big white dove.
           I've heard the creaking of the pearly gates above.
           I'm wond'ring why the big white dove
           Is keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
           Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
           Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting.

 Looking way down below me,
 The worlds are all awhirl-whirly. [Uncertain]
 Won't you come along beside?
 This place waits for company.

      The air is getting low.
      The air is getting low.

 I leave my limbs behind me.
 As I'm being lifted
 Out into the--into the
 Spiritual boom-boom abyss. [uncertain]

      The air is getting low.
      The air is getting low.
      The air is getting low.
      The air is getting low.

           I got the vision of big white dove.
           I've heard the creaking of the pearly gates above.
           I'm wond'ring why the big white dove
           Is keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
           Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting,
           Keeping me waiting, keeping me waiting.

 Last night you were on my balcony.
 You needn't try, know the whole story.
 Before it's too late I must get away,
 But both of us know you must stay.

     Oh, come on, Camilla,
     Surrender into the roses.
     Go back home under the posies.
     Surrender into the roses,
     Camilla, Camilla, Camilla.

 Tying, dying, flowers around the room.
 It keeps me safe, but oh! the sickly perfume.
 Well, it makes me long for the good times,
 When you were really alive.

     Oh, come on, Camilla,
     Surrender into the roses.
     Go back home under the posies.
     Surrender into the roses,
     Camilla, Camilla, Camilla.

I fell in love with Rinfi the gypsy.
He said when I grew up he'd marry me,
Carry me away on his steed.

"Don't worry, my baby!
 Don't die, my funny little darling!
 I'm going away for a little while,
 And shouldn't be gone for very long."

Ooh, then I really fell for Geoffrey, our gardener.
He said he'd marry me, too.
Oh, and I believed him, just like a fool.

"Don't worry, my honey!
 Don't die, my funny little doll!
 I'm going away for a little while.
 Shouldn't be gone for very long."
 (Ooh, a very, long, long time!)

     Playing canasta in c-cold rooms,
     Playing canasta in cold rooms,
     Playing canasta upstairs, downstairs,
     And in my lover's...ooh...

I met a boy who took me upstairs,
Then took me in his arms and told me
I comforted him, uh-huh.

"Don't worry, my dear,
 Don't cry, you weird little stranger.
 I'm going away.
 You probably won't ever see me again."

Oh, yes, I know, I'm always falling,
Gazing at hazy goldfish in your swimming eyes.
How could I not lie there with you?

"Don't worry, my darling!
 Don't die, my silly little baby!
 I'm going away for a little while,
 And shouldn't be gone for very long."
 (Ooh, long, long, long!)

     Playing canasta in c-cold rooms,
     Playing canasta in cold rooms,
     Playing canasta upstairs, downstairs,
     And in my lover's...ooh...

 Whenever I look out french windows
 It's always snowing outside.

 Feel your body relax on mine,
 Giving me all the good lines,
     (Uh-huh)
          All the good lines,
          All the good lines...

     Hot in the ice,
     On fire inside,
     A snowball.
     Ah, but she's wonderful,
     Set in the snow.
     Ah, but she's wonderful,
     Set in the snow.

     Hot in the ice,
     On fire inside,
     A snowball.
     Ah, but she's wonderful,
     Set in the snow.
     Ah, but she's wonderful,
     Set in the snow.

 A crystal layer of ice on our skin:
 Very numb outside but warm within.

 I bend to join our lips, but it's too cold
 To kiss and hit. Is it you I'm feeling?
          Is it you I'm feeling?
     (Yes?)
          Is it you I'm feeling?

     Hot in the ice,
     On fire inside,
     A snowball.
     Ah, but she's wonderful,
     Set in the snow.
     Ah, but she's wonderful,
     Set in the snow.

     Hot in the ice,
     On fire inside,
     A snowball.
     Ah, but she's wonderful,
     Set in the snow.
     Ah, but she's wonderful,
     Set in the snow.

 High,
 ---------------------------.
 Alone and higher still
 She keeps her gallery.
 Distance means nothing
     To me.

          A-ee-aha-ee-aha-oo,
          A-ee-aha-ee-aha-oo...

     Debris everywhere,
     Gazing. It's amazing.
     Ferry me over,
     Ferry me over,
     Ferry me over
         The music, darling.

Deeper here
Lie hidden
Answers and treasures for him.
"Oh, I prefer absence," said she,
"My heart grows fonder
     Alone."

          A-ee-aha-ee-aha-oo,
          A-ee-aha-ee-aha-oo...

     Debris everywhere,
     Gazing. It's amazing.
     Ferry me over,
     Ferry me over,
     Ferry me over
         The music, darling.

 Destiny took me in her arms and told me:
 "You're a little lost on the fall.
  You fall for all the men
  You shouldn't fall for at all."
 Ooh, I know she knows, but still I go on,
 Well, I'm a fool.

     Climbing up the atoms
     To slide down the adders
          On the rocks,
          On the rocks,
          On the rocks,
          On the rocks...

 Joan of Arc walks into my mirror,
 A burning sword.
 I'd like to cry. I look into her eyes.
 I see she -----------.
 "Ooh," she says,
 "The games are still the same, I see,
  But they've changed the names now.
  Are all Lionhearts put in parks, apart?"

     Lionhearts in the asylums,
     Lionhearts tossed at sea,
     Lionhearts who've lived their lives, like Arthur.
     Lionhearts in cathedrals,
     Lionhearts at mournings,
     Lionhearts in every seed--
          But they're sown
          On the rocks,
          On the rocks,
          On the rocks,
          On the rocks...

 Somebody I couldn't see
 Tied me up and put me away,
 Here on the rocks,
 Here on the rocks,
 Here on the rocks...

 I tried to study it for just a while:
 All of the potions, from oysters to seducing smiles.
 But I've found it's already inside me:
 A big warm bubble of sensuality,
 There to be burst,
 But I'm worried about getting hurt.

     I know how you like to kiss.
     I'll ask you what you're thinking.
     Soul burns, and I don't care.
     The sheets are soaked by your tiny fish.

          The craft of life,
          The craft of life,
          The craft of life,
          The craft of life,
          Oo-ooh...

 Tears spring to mind when I go back in time.
 All those lost bodies just seeking security.
 Jittering strangers with smutty hands,
 Heavy and clever and full of demands.
 Well I'm similar to you:
 We're familiar with what to do.

     I know how you like to kiss.
     I'll ask you what you're thinking.
     Soul burns, and I don't care.
     The sheets are soaked by your tiny fish.

          The craft of life,
          The craft of life,
          The craft of life,
          The craft of life,
          Oo-ooh...

 I've never seen
 Such a sad queen
 As Eddie.
 I've seen him raving,
 Maybe even in pain,
 But never
      Weeping like a baby.

     On Saturday afternoon
     He was really fine to him.
     And on Saturday evening,
     Oh, well Eddie was so pretty.
     But now his boy is leaving.

 Hey, boy, you're so young
 To be a queen weeping.
 You're just a little princess.
 Oh, Eddie, don't!
 'Cause what can I do
 But listen to you tell your story?

     On Saturday afternoon
     He was really fine to him.
     And on Saturday evening,
     Oh, well Eddie was so pretty.
     But now his boy is leaving.
     But now his boy is leaving.
     But now his boy is leaving him.

Queen, come home soon!

 There's something that sounds like a song
 In my garden, by the willow--
 A piper:
 "Oohoo, ahoo, oohoo, ahoo, oohoo, ahoo..."

 I see him when I turn the lights down low,
 In my garden, wading through the pond.
 Resting so ------------.
 "Oohoo, ahoo, oohoo, ahoo, oohoo, ahoo..."

 I've called him by every name I know,
 By every name I know,
 But he won't answer me.
 He keeps coming forward, but never moving.
 Is there no destiny here?

 It sounds like a song
 In my garden, by the willow--
 A piper:
 "Oohoo, ahoo, oohoo, ahoo, oohoo, ahoo..."

 Just traveling on a bus
 From a friend's home,
 And all these people are looking at me.
 They're gazing out windows,
 At any English country [garden?].

 But as gazes meet,
 Vacancy shows onscreen.
 But I feel inside
 The latent hysteria:
 "Why is she looking at me?"

     And as I drift from one to one I can see
     They're all like me.
     They've all got frightened eyes
     Saying what they're thinking,
     What they are doing tonight.

     They've all got frightened eyes,
     Saying, "Leave me alone,
     I'm perfectly safe here inside.
     Please don't surprise me."

 Expressionless.
 Everyone here loves cheap wine--
 We all know good taste,
 We just get too busy trying to find
 The right games to play.

 Impatient, aren't we all?
 Watching the time trip by.
 And all these people are looking at me.
 They're gazing out windows.
 They're burning out in there.

     And as I drift from one to one I can see
     They're all like me.
     They've all got frightened eyes
     Saying what they're thinking,
     What they are doing tonight.

     They've all got frightened eyes,
     Saying, "Leave me alone,
     I'm perfectly safe here inside.
     Please don't surprise me."

 So much for all the prayers you've learned.
 They are no help to basic needs.
 And all the worlds they've shown you
 Just make you even greedier.

      So what about divinity?
      I'm further away than before.
      You're like two stars colliding,
      And you're never going to hit the floor.

 Why should I whisper in the church?
 Because they say it's sacred ground?
 Oh, my sacrilege would do you good.
 You see, there's nothing here, I've found.

      I feel so sorry for you,
      Believing because they control.
      And of all the guardian angels
      They chose me to save your soul!

 Oh, I'm just trying to explain,
 I'm a disbelieving angel.

 You've never driven through a red light,
 Or let your mind leave your body.
 It's pitch black in bed every night:
 You set the clock right for the morning alarm.

     You've never wanted to start any fights,
     Don't know a thing about tapping in on wires.

          I fill the room with people
          but still you sit empty,
          Stuck like putty.
          I tried to teach you good rock'n'roll,
          But you couldn't get over the old one-two,
          And nevertheless, you'll do.
          Nevertheless, you'll do.
          Nevertheless, you'll do.

 You get up in the morning and put on your suit
 For the office, and leave me.
 You come home all pushed and pulled,
 At six-thirty in the evening.

     The television, it takes you away
     To a picture-world where I have no say in it.

          I fill the room with people
          but still you sit empty,
          Stuck like putty.
          I tried to teach you good rock'n'roll,
          But you couldn't get over the old one-two,
          And nevertheless, you'll do.
          Nevertheless, you'll do.
          Nevertheless, you'll do.

 Come closer to me, babe,
 And the night will come much closer, too.
 Can't you see the light
 Drawing pictures nearer in the skies?

 What is that you whisper
 When you close your eyes?
 Come closer to me, babe.
 Is it me it's all about?
 And who is that you're always
 Calling in your sleep?
 Who is Sylvia?

     Goodnight, baby. Please
     Come on home,
     Come on home,
     Come on home soon.
          Goodnight, baby,
          Goodnight, baby,
          Goodnight, baby,
          Goodnight, baby.

 Come closer to me now,
 For I know there's something you must tell me.
 When slumber slips between your lips
 Will the secrets ooze out easily?

 What is that you whisper
 When you close your eyes?
 Come closer to me, babe.
 Is it me it's all about?
 And who is that you're always
 Calling in your sleep?
 Who is Sylvia?

     Goodnight, baby. Please
     Come on home,
     Come on home,
     Come on home soon.
          Goodnight, baby,
          Goodnight, baby,
          Goodnight, baby,
          Goodnight, baby.

 Held in your arms in the back seat,
 Cruising down the main street,
 How can anyone have such little defense?

     You're soft.

 In between the sheets, left in limbo,
 Covered me like a pillow--
 I can hardly tell the difference.

     You're soft,
     So soft.
     To be, to be with you
     I'd leave everything.

           But I don't know how to deal with you.
           I swear you'd fall like a feather if I was cruel.
           Love would melt me like hot butter.

     You're soft,
     So soft.
     To be, to be with you
     I'd do anything.

 Walking down the street, brushing arms,
 You're moonlight dancing.
 I try hard to keep my feelings in.

     You're soft.

 Dancing to the music, so low.
 I knead you like dough.
 How can anyone be so loving

     And soft,
     So soft?
     To be, to be with you
     I'd leave everything.

          But I don't know how to deal with you.
          I swear you'd fall like a feather if I was cruel.
          You melt me like hot butter.

     You're soft,
     So soft.
     To be, to be with you
     I'd do anything.

 There's beauty in such a sacred structure,
 That thing that is nurtured and loved.
 It's quite an occasion.
 It's driving me crazy.

 I'm not allowed to touch -----.
 I've gotta get a hold of myself.
 I must-----doo-doo-doo-doo-doo...

     I don't see why I shouldn't,
     I don't see why I shouldn't,
     I don't see why I shouldn't
          Pick the rare flower.

     I don't see why I shouldn't,
     I don't see why I shouldn't,
     I don't see why I shouldn't
          Pick the rare flower.

 Walking in a Paradise or Eden,
 Oh, temptation:
 Give me one second to succumb.

 It's calling me.
 -------------- whisper.
 Magical---------------.
 I've gotta get a hold of myself,
 You see, but it ain't easy.

     I don't see why I shouldn't,
     I don't see why I shouldn't,
     I don't see why I shouldn't
          Pick the rare flower.

     I don't see why I shouldn't,
     I don't see why I shouldn't,
     I don't see why I shouldn't
          Pick the rare flower.

 I stayed the night in your arms.
 Over half an hour I stayed awake,
     Looking at you.

 Your face seemed radiant.
 The ------------------------------ (?)
     As I held you.

     Oo-ooh...

     And while a-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Davy dozed
     I closed my eyes, realised
     The time was close for us to go.
     Hold me, oh hold me.

          Davy, Davy,
          Bending like a willow-branch.
          He rocks me like a baby.

     Oo-ooh...

 I know he loves another lady,
 But I still see him in the hallway
     Calling me.

 Oh, when we danced so closely,
 I really felt as though I was melting
     In a pool.

     Oo-ooh...

     Oh, while-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Davey dozed,
     I closed my eyes, realised
     The time was close for us to go.
     Hold, please hold me.

          Davy, Davy,
          Bending like a willow-branch.
          He rocks me like a baby.

     Oo-ooh...

 "He got her drunk very quickly.
 Holding hands, they found the broom-cupboard,
 Where he had control as far as the fall,
 When his hand covered wet hair.
 She took over among furniture wax,
 Dust, and the cloying yellow of polishing-cloth.
 When he was sick, she comforted him."

     Hush, my friend, sleep,
     And cuddle to the wind.
     Sleep on through the waves
     That may wet your lover's dream.

          We have been far through this night long hours.
          We will go far, tomorrow, out of sight, ooh...

 "He couldn't do it properly;
 The disco, the office, the pub,
 Had left out those details of delight.
 Satisfied, he would collapse out,
 Puzzled at why she still squirmed,
 Held onto him, tears curling into her mouth.
 This was something their stories always omitted:
 That her joy would seem like pain,
 When he focused after his release."

     Do sand and shells and stones
     Peep in through your night?
     But you should not be hurt
     For all will pass in time.

          We have been far through this night long hours.
          We will go far, tomorrow, out of sight, ooh...

 "In the third week of the relationship
 She was tripping on organic acid,
 Would stop to pick up a rained-out leaf,
 Would give it tenderly into his hand--
 Full of dead things before they reached the car.
 When they drove she sat with mouth open
 As though photographed on the impact of a stomach [?],
 Her right fist gripping the skin of his left leg.
 Hooking the steering-wheel closer to his heart,
 He feared her, and slapped out sideways into her face.
 She entered the cut with her tongue,
 Gurgling gratitude for the strange taste."

     Do you feel the dark?
     Then hush, and realize
     That though the angels never come,
     Prayers can soothe your mind.

          We have been far through this night long hours.
          We will go far, tomorrow, out of sight, ooh...

 "There was no premonition of the wet hog's back.
 The sportscar slumped, snout into a beach,
 Their corpses giving the vehicle arms,
 Petrol and blood at last dripping together.
 But quick flashes of a planned lunch:
 Cold red beef, white cloth by a cherrywood fire,
 Game pie, and for him two pints of colder beer,
 The winter air tucking under their eyelids
 As they spun on the gravel at Clamdon;
 Their hands steaming from quick moisture,
 The aromatic finger drawn up to his nostril--
 Dazed after mutual masturbation,
 They zigzagged into a conservative end."

     Oh hush, my friend, sleep...

Before the Fall 
 He got her drunk
 very quickly:
 holding hands they found the broom cupboard
 where he had control as far as the fall,
 the rasping descent of her tights.
 When his hand covered wet hairs
 she took over among furniture wax, dust,
 the cloying yellow of polishing cloth.
 When he was sick
 she comforted him.

 He couldn't do it properly: the club,
 the office had left out details of delight.
 Satisfied, he would collapse out,
 puzzled at why she still squirmed,
 held on to him, tears curling into her mouth.
 This was something stories always omitted:
 that her joy would seem like pain
 when he focused after release.

 In the third week of the relationship
 she was tripping on organic acid,
 would stop, pick up a rained out leaf,
 would give it into his hand,
 full of dead things before they reached the car.
 When they drove she sat with mouth open
 as though photographed on the impact
 of a stomach punch, her right hand gripping
 the skin of his leg: he feared her,
 slapped out sideways into her face.
 She touched the cut with her tongue,
 gurgling gratitude for the strange taste.

 He stood looking through uncleaned windows,
 concentrated on the yellow of his car below.
 On the uncarpeted floor, with practice,
 she closed her eyes and drew on the cigarette.
 Twill jacket and polo-neck made him sweat,
 his nape skin red from a hair cut.

 Between two smokers she smiled up at him;
 as the weed approached he apologised
 suddenly wanting familiar territories:
 beer, to put his hand up her skirt.
 At the bottom of the limbed stairs
 he booted the cat, a drop kick in their twenty-five
 as he imagined her sylph laugh
 gathering chuckles around the room.

 There was no premonition of the wet Hog's Back,
 sports car slumped snout into a beach,
 their corpses giving the vehicle arms,
 petrol and blood at last dripping together
 but quick flashes of a planned lunch,
 cold red beef and a cherry wood fire,
 game pie and for him two pints of colder beer,
 the winter air tucking under their eye lids,
 spinning on the gravel at Clandon:
 the hand steaming from quick moisture,
 the aromatic finger drawn back into his nose.
 Dazed after mutual masturbation
 they slewed into a conservative end.

 -- John Carder Bush

 She wanted to test her husband.
 She knew exactly what to do:
 A pseudonym to fool him.
 She couldn't have made a worse move.

 She sent him scented letters.
 She was a delightful detective,
 Just like his wife
 But how she was before the tears,
 And how she was before the years flew by,
 And how she was when she was beautiful.
 She signs the letter

      "All yours,
       Babooshka, Babooshka, Babooshka-ya-ya!
       All yours,
       Babooshka, Babooshka, Babooshka-ya-ya!"

 She wanted to take it further,
 So she arranged a place to go,
 To see if he
 Would fall for her incognito.
 And when he laid eyes on her,
 He got the feeling that he knew her well.
 Uncanny how she
 Reminds him of the hills beyond the sea. [?]
 She seems to know the way to please him,
 Just like his wife before she freezed on him,
 Just like his wife when she was beautiful.
 He shouted out, "I'm

      All yours,
      Babooshka, Babooshka, Babooshka-ya-ya!
      All yours,
      Babooshka, Babooshka, Babooshka-ya-ya! [to fade-out]

 She wanted to test her husband.
 She knew exactly what to do:
 A pseudonym to fool him.
 She couldn't have made a worse move.

 She sent him scented letters,
 And he received them with a strange delight.
 Just like his wife
 But how she was before the tears,
 And how she was before the years flew by,
 And how she was when she was beautiful.
 She signed the letter

      "All yours,
       Babooshka, Babooshka, Babooshka-ya-ya!
       All yours,
       Babooshka, Babooshka, Babooshka-ya-ya!"

 She wanted to take it further,
 So she arranged a place to go,
 To see if he
 Would fall for her incognito.
 And when he laid eyes on her,
 He got the feeling that he knew her well.
 Uncanny how she
 Can take him back into the blue summers, [?]
 Can say the things that make him want to laugh,
 Just like his wife before she freezed on him,
 Just like his wife when she was beautiful.
 He shouted out, "I'm

      All yours,
      Babooshka, Babooshka, Babooshka-ya-ya!
      All yours,
      Babooshka, Babooshka, Babooshka-ya-ya! [to fade-out]