The Mermaid and the Swimming Lad (Lauren South and Reg Meuross)

[based on the poem by W. B. Yeats]

 

A mermaid found a swimming lad

Swimming all alone.

A mermaid found a swimming lad

And she picked him for her own.

 

And on her lips were sailors’ tears

Kisses from the sea.

Her breath was of the salt spray fine

And of the waters free, oh free.

 

She swam to him, her eyes steel grey

Her seaweed hair entwined.

She swam to him, her eyes steel grey

All on the foaming brine.

 

The swimming lad, he turned to flee

To the safety of his ship.

The swimming lad, he turned to flee

But she held him in her grip.

 

And floating down he heard her song

A siren from the sea

And floating down he heard her song

And was bound by water’s sleep.

 

She pressed her body to his body

Laughing, they plunged down

Forgot in cruel happiness

That even lovers drown.

 

 

 

 

 

Tiny Boat

 

There is a boat, a tiny boat

That sails on the raging sea.

And oh, that boat,

That tiny boat

Holds all that’s dear to me.

 

And oh, that boat, that tiny boat

Well she sails on the raging sea,

Her mast is strong and her sails are fair

And she’s all that’s dear to me.

 

Oh, sail on

Take care as you go

But will you be sailing with me?

Oh, sail on

Take care as you go

You deserve to be free.

 

I’m just a man, a foolish man

Got tired of the raging sea.

I met a girl, a pretty girl

Pulled me far away from thee.

And when our little babe was born

On the boat, on the raging sea,

I left you there all alone

So far across the sea.

 

There is a boat, a tiny boat

That sails on the raging sea.

And oh, that boat,

That tiny boat

Holds all that’s dear to me.

Oh she’s all that’s dear to me.

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica

 

Jessica walks with her coat zipped up

Headphones on, and a half-full coffee cup.

Under the railway and down to the track

Left past the church and there’s no going back.

 

Jessica, you need to free your mind

Oh Jessica don’t let them waste your precious time.

 

Up onto main street she crosses the road

The weight from her shoulders lifts its heavy load.

The colour of peacefulness behind the noise

She smiles at a friend and the cute delivery boys

 

Don’t look back, don’t look back…

 

The dust on the fireplace, the rain on the roof

The smell of the breakfast reminds her of her youth.

The ripples of laughter, the splash of the stream

The warmth of the bed where maybe she’ll dream

 

False friends aren’t worth it

Those people are gone

She’ll put down some new roots

As she travels on

Things’ll come good and the earth will still spin

Jessie my love, you’ll still win

 

Ooooh Jessie, you need to free your mind

Oh Jessica don’t let them waste your precious time.

 

Don’t look back, don’t look back…

 

 

 

 

 

Here for You

 

Oh the world’s a funny place

Just a great big rock on space

And when the rain falls on your face

You know, I’ll be here, I’ll be here -

Fall into me.

 

And when the leaves aren’t on the trees

Oh and Mother Nature grieves

For the light and warmth she needs

You know, I’ll be here, I’ll be here -

Fall into me.

 

When life’s a bit rubbish

And black turns to white

You can find me, just follow the light.

On all of your glad days

If hopes turn to fears

I’ll keep you steady, you know

 

I’m here for you…

Oh, You.

 

When the clouds are moving fast

‘Cross the skies of your past

Oh and you know the sun won’t last

You know, I’ll be here, I’ll be here

Fall into me

 

‘Cause I’m here for you…

Oh, You.

 

For I’ll be here ‘til time goes dark

Then beyond the stars

And out to the night.

I’ll be here when the sun shines through

Oh I’ll be here for you,

I’ll be here for you,

For You.

 

 

 

 

 

Heavens

 

 

The darkness hides all things

The dark gives light its wings

If I could fly to you

Wish I could fly to you

 

My feet won’t leave the ground

My thoughts, they make no sound

If I could fly to you

Wish I could fly to you

 

Oh Heavens, clear and deep

The magic while we sleep

Oh Heavens, clear and deep

The magic while we sleep

 

So still, but yet so loud

My stars I hope you’re proud

If I could fly to you

Wish I could fly to you

 

Star light you break my heart

Star light when we’re apart

Little beacons in the dark for you, for you, oh for you

 

What’s passed and yet to come

I’m at the mercy of my stars and my sun

I’ll do my best with what I’ve done

For my stars and my sun

For all three precious ones.

 

 

 

 

 

Across the Sea

 

She was the sunlight shining in his grey and

He was the dawn and the turning of her day

 

Bonny was the ship that brought you right here next to me

And fair were the winds that sailed your ship across the sea, across the sea.

 

She held his hand like a child lost then found

He kept her heart safe so it wouldn’t run aground

 

Through all their seasons and all their strife

And while their hearts were mending

They looked for blessings, oh they counted blessings

And walked together through life.

 

She was the sunlight shining in his grey and

He was the dawn and the turning of her day

 

 

 

 

 

Bring You Home

 

World weary and broken

The clear air, it is my hymn of praise.

Pockets full of sorrows

Become our tomorrows on their way.

 

She will bring you home…

 

Your eyes take my words away

I lose my mind but find my soul.

Your earth and your water

Scatter my thoughts into the sky.

 

The breeze is my daydream, dewdrops my gemstones

The sunlight ignites

Like a thousand candle flames

 

All of our best days

They are the ones we spend with you.

Oh you in your slendour

My Miracle Mender grounds again.

 

 

 

 

 

Wayfinder

 

Can you hear my questions?

I’m praying through the microphone

Don’t you see I’m cautious of all the things I’ve known?

The glimmer of an answer

It seems so out of reach

Finding ways along this path is something they don’t teach.

 

For all of my time I’ve been chasing rainbows

All of my time I’ve been dreaming

Of the clouds in the sky and the thought that maybe all is not as we know…

With my Wayfinder I’ll go

With my Wayfinder, my wayfinder, with my wayfinder I’ll go.

 

Sunlight trickles down the hill, my evermore, my guide

Your silent strength and power when forces they collide

Love, love it is the key

It fights the dark, you see

Can you hear the things unheard, and can you hear me?

 

And who makes the moon glow?

And who makes the rivers flow?

Who talks to me in the rustle of the leaves?

Whispers to me, whispers to me

I want to know

 

 

 

 

 

Love is the Answer

 

When you’re so lost and you can’t find your way

You’ve been here so long, you’ve got nothing left to say

You’ll find me in song, story and rhyme

I will be near you all of the time

 

For my love will fly, my love can climb

And my love will stretch over space, over time

So whether you’re near or if you’re far

My love will reach you wherever you are

My love will reach you wherever you are

 

How blue is the sky, how clear is the air?

Like a paintbox, Spring flowers are dotted here and there

Love is the answer and love is the way

You’re in my heart all of every day

 

If the sky is falling

Breathe it in, oh breathe deep

And if the sky is falling

Breathe it in, oh breathe deep, breathe deep.

 

When you’re so lost and you can’t find your way

You’ve been here so long, you’ve got nothing left to say

You’ll find me in song, story and rhyme

I will be near you all of the time

 

Reach you wherever you are

I will reach you wherever you are

Oh I’ll reach you wherever you are

Yes I’ll reach you wherever you are

 

Wherever you are…

 

 

 

 

 

Weather the Storm

 

The dark of the day when you’re nearly done

Thickening clouds have hidden the sun

Standing alone with nowhere to hide

The wind whips your hair, rolls in like the tide.

 

Waves the crash in, beating the shore

Life doesn’t feel like it used to before

There’s no going back, you’ve got to keep warm

Sooner or later you will weather the storm

Weather the storm

 

The gulls wheeling high below sky black as black

You’ve got to move forward, there#s no turning back

You hear the gulls cry, there’s no-one around

They cry to tell you, ‘Keep your feet on the ground’.

 

You root to the clifftop and stand proud and strong

Think of all those that have done you wrong

Take a deep breath and brace for the dawn

Sooner or later you will weather the storm

Weather the storm

Weather the storm

 

And you’ll wish you were a thousand miles away

Oh to be a thousand miles away...

 

Your eyes are shut tight and you’re holding on

Open them up, and the worst is all gone

There are more of us now, in stillness and light

The knowledge and truth set a course for what’s right.

 

Stand side by side under sapphire sky

A new time is dawning, the worst has passed by

And as the earth heals, she smiles in awe

Standing together it’s us who weathered the storm

Weathered the storm

Weathered the storm

 

And you’ll wish you were a thousand miles away

Oh to be a thousand miles away

Oh to be a thousand miles away

Oh to be a thousand miles away

 

 

 

 

 

One Star Awake

 

If I could fly, If I could fly

I’d fly far away from here and build a new life in the sky.

 

Our home would be, our home would be

A tiny dwelling just above the clouds, where you and I could both be free.

 

And the dawn comes ever lifting

And the wheels they’re ever shifting

 

And I see one star awake

I see one star awake

And I see you shine silently

But you see to the heart of me.

 

The setting sun, it calls me home

And now the keepers of the stars will hold me safe until the dawn.

 

As night time falls upon us all

The darkness like a blanket wraps us as we’re waiting for the dawn.

 

Oh You, you are the light...

Why won’t you stay with me?

Why won’t you stay with me? Stay with me.

One star awake, one star awake

 

 

 

 

 

Judith’s Song

 

She was a beauty, she was

Working for her familiy, she was.

A wife and a mother, life’s in full swing

She says God’s got a plan, he can change anything.

Oh, she was a beauty, she was.

 

She was stronger than I’ve ever known,

When life fell apart, she took every spear thrown.

We’d marvel at nature and look to the sky,

Well it’s all going wrong and we can’t work out why.

 

So we’d look at the stars

And we’d look at the seas

And hope, my friend.

We’d look at the roses

Ans look at the trees

And hope, my friend.

That nature would win in the end

That nature would win in the end

You say, God’s got a plan, my friend.

 

Ohh, memories live on…

 

Look up to the sky, the stars are shining bright.

And in the daytime they’re there, but out of sight.

Now you’re not here, it’s been so long

Time never stops, it just flows on and on.

 

 

 

 

 

Shine Away

 

There are plates on the table

And toys strewn on the floor

Pink felt tip on my new jeans

And I don’t sleep well any more

 

There are times when the moon shines down on us

There are times when the evening sighs for us

There are times when my heart flies

And she wonders how we all got here.

 

You’re all growing so fast now

We’re racing through the schools

And our life’s a bit chaotic

But we’re making up the rules!

 

Three little lights

Shine away, shine away

Grow strong and bright

Shine away, shine away…