THE COMPLETE LYRICS FOR THE ALBUM DESIRE LINES

The Chrysler Girl

Notes on Desire Lines: The Chrysler building in New York City turns into a woman.

(by Andy davis and Gus Ferguson)

New York city’s a coral reef
And at it’s heart there’s a pearl
If I could give you anything in this world
It would be the Chrysler girl

If we can’t help each other
Nobody else will
We can go to the top if we want
Just like the Chrysler girl

The Chrysler girl
Connections on the road
She’s never under sold
Call if you want her

She looks tall and feminine
Catches light like mother of pearl
One day we’ll all return to dust
Just like the Chrysler girl

Always looking perfect
She shimmers in the heat
One of these days I’ll dream my dream
And fall down at her feet

The Chrysler girl
She’s so tall and discreet
Got connections on the street
Call if you want her

She looks tall and feminine
Catches light like mother of pearl
One day we’ll all return to dust
Just like the Chrysler girl

Dirty Nightingale

Some people are always complaining about their bad luck.

(by Andy Davis and Gus Ferguson)

Now you say that you’re so blue
All for a girl you hardly knew
And all you need is a hard drink
And another soft shoulder to cry on
And information to rely on

You’re a dirty nightingale
Sing your pretty tune
Sing across the rooftops
Na na na na na na na

Now you say you’re life’s a mess
You’re torn up with sorrow an loneliness
You’re stranded on the road to success
And nobody’s willing to guide you
These things have always denied you

You’re a dirty nightingale
Sing your pretty tune
Sing across the rooftops
Na na na na na na na

Now you say that this is the end
You’ve lost your lover
Now mourned a friend
And all you need is a hard drink
And another soft shoulder to cry on
And information to rely on

You’re a dirty nightingale
Sing your pretty tune
Sing across the rooftops
Na na na na na na na

Emily

The voices in all my songs are probably me.

(by Andy Davis and Gus Ferguson)

Emily if you’re so smart
How come you aways wind up with a broken heart?

Emily if you’re so cool
How come everybody takes you for a fool?

You tried all night but his heart ain’t in it
He won’t surrender to your charms
Always the bridesmaid and always willing
To take a leap into his arms

Emily if you’re so fine
How come the only love you ever had was mine?

Emily if you’re so smart
How come you aways wind up with a broken heart?

All I do is Dream of You

I wanted to write a song that sounds like it comes from the 1940s. I love the songs of this period. 

(by Andy Davis)

I feel it when the day begins
And dawn is slowly creeping in
When shadows fall across my room
They whisper that you’ll be here soon

I feel it in the midday sun
‘Specially when we’re having fun
No matter whether near or far
I close my eyes and there you are

And all I do is dream of you
It’s oh so true
All I do is dream of you

I feel it when the sun goes down
When blue of night is all around
There’ll always be a brand new star
Shining down on where you are

And even when we’re old and grey
Our love will never slip aways
The time we had will always be
The best thing in life for me

And all I do is dream of you
It’s oh so true
All I do is dream of you

And when the sandman comes
And when we’ve had our fun
When shadows fall across my room
They whisper that you’ll be here soon

And all I do is dream of you
It’s oh so true
All I do is dream of you

Marching Down The Road

Some people love to hate.

(by Andy Davis and Sarah Menage)

Gather round all you children
There’s a message on the wire
Gotta drive out all non believers
Into brimstone and hellfire

I tried the milk of human kindness
But it tasted far too sweet
I broke the bread and drank the wine
But it’s flesh and blood we need

Marching down that road again
Jesus is by my side
Marching in the name of love
Nobody’s left alive

Listen up you doves and doubters
Take a lesson from the meek
You’ll be blessed but you’ll be finished
If you turn the other cheek

Marching down that road again
Jesus is by my side
Marching in the name of love
Nobody’s left alive

I’m acquainted with the prophets
And I’m learned in God’s will
Come the day it’ll all be over
And my prophecy fulfilled

Marching down that road again
Jesus is by my side
Marching in the name of love
Nobody’s left alive

How Many Tears

The lyrics speak for themselves in this one really. You made me suffer now it’s your turn.

(by Andy Davis and Clare Lindley)

You’ve got to take the chance you get
You can’t afford to lose it
Take a chance on what is right
Just don’t abuse it
You’ve done so many wrongs
You can’t make it right
Now it’s you turn to shiver
In the dead of the night

How many tears will you cry me?
How many times will you’re heart break?
How many roads will you walk along
Looking for some place where you belong?
Now that you’ve put yourself out there
Did you think that you’d be free?
You ask me when I might take you back again
When you’ve cried as many tears as me

Streams have washed the dirt away
Summer’s leaves are showing
Knowing you’ve ben through the mill
Really keeps me going
You’ve done so many wrongs
You can’t make it right
Now it’s you turn to shiver
In the dead of the night

How many tears will you cry me?
How many times will you’re heart break?
How many roads will you walk along
Looking for some place where you belong?
Now that you’ve put yourself out there
Did you think that you’d be free?
You ask me when I might take you back again
When you’ve cried as many tears as me
When you’ve cried as many tears as me
When you’ve cried as many tears as me

Hothouse Party

Splendour in the sand.

(by Andy Davis and Pete Brandt)

Tonight we’re going to a hothouse party
Think I’ll grow myself some wings
And after midnight there’s a girl that’s waiting
For her humming bird to sing
Na na na na na na it’s another country
But that’s another tale to tell
Na na na na na na it’s a road so bumpy
To get to know each other well

Curse that goddam train
Cos now I’ve missed my plane
I wanna see the sea
Cos I know that’s where you’ll be.
We’d walk along the sand
With a Sunday in your hand.
And we’d sing yeah yeah yeah yeah

Tonight we’re going to a hothouse party
Think I’ll grow myself some wings
And after midnight there’s a girl that’s waiting
For her humming bird to sing

If you were here tonight
With stars all shining bright
Would we rumba thru the night?
When the moon is shining bright
Then we’d turn the lights down low
And I’d wonder if you’ll stay.
And you’d say no no no no

Tonight we’re going to a hothouse party
Think I’ll grow myself some wings
And after midnight there’s a girl that’s waiting
For her humming bird to sing

Then we’ll rumba thru the night
When the moon is shining bright.
Then I think we’ll kind of laugh
What a lovely photograph.
I’d pick up on your light
But turn the flame down low.
And you’d say no no no no

Tonight we’re going to a hothouse party
Think I’ll grow myself some wings
And after midnight there’s a girl that’s waiting
For her humming bird to sing
Na na na na na na it’s another country
But that’s another tale to tell
Na na na na na na it’s a road so bumpy
To get to know each other well

The Airs Of Selivoe

The Airs of Selivoe is on the west coast of Shetland. It’s where my grandfather was born and my mother spent the first 16 summers of her life. I always wanted to write a song about Shetland and had the tune and the title ready to go, and after swapping family histories with Pete Brandt one day, he came up with the lyrics. I’m proud of my Shetland heritage.

(by Andy Davis and Pete Brandt)

It’s time to turn this boat around
Too many months of salt and wind
I long for solid ground
The turbot and the ling
Ensure our sustenance
They give us everything

Turn this craft and head for shore
We’ll ride the waves and see our women soon
In the place that’s always home
The airs of Selivoe

I’ve missed her shawl of Shetland lace
But tomorrow I’ll be I’ll be anchored
In my sweetheart’s warm embrace
The autumn winds that blow
Are counting down the winter months
Till springtime comes

We’ll take the North Atlantic coast
And sail away as far as we can go
Loved ones far behind
In the airs of Selivoe

Desire Lines

Splendour in the grass.

(by Andy davis and Sarah Menage)

I’ve walked this path before
It wanders through the trees
Down to where the river bends
Sometimes I see you there
With sunlight in your eyes and
And summer on your lips again.

Your head on my shoulder
Fine dogwood in your hair

I know this road by by heart
I’ve followed every turn
Up the hill and back again
Where you kicked the clover down
Threw petals all around
And laughed me off my feet and then

Birds flocked together
White feathers on the ground

But where d’you run to?
And where d’you hide?
Are you still crazy in the summertime?
With your sweet loving
And your heart a’fire
Lost in your desire lines

So shine on harvest sun
it’s yellow and it’s blue
It’s where I fell in love with you

You knew the stars by heart
You counted every one
What is there left to wish upon?
Love was forever
And old friends will never die

But where d’you run to?
And where d’you hide?
Are you still crazy in the summertime?
With your sweet loving
And your heart a’fire
Lost in your desire lines