1. Two went into flame

three froze then caught fire

Faith died when that happened as

Hope goes by and by

Shelter from a truth

Too huge not to be told

Hides but breeds such terror by night

Now I dare not go

Sunset on this sinking wreck

Bathes us in its glow

No one pulled the fire alarm

No ambulances show

Until the moment

We're bloody, bent and broken

They'll crowd around instead

To tell us that we're dead

That blow would take too long!

One  night our lives flash by

And in their dust the day

I was a bull in a china shop

and you were my fair maid

I'll find my hat

and knock out all the glass

Here, grab your purse

But a coroner and hearse?

That blow would take too long!

Momma's baby

Born one Judgement Day

Did the doctor drop me on my head

from a chandalier?

'Cause the years gone by clinging

Rolled off one by one

and left me

Act nonchalant

Pretend there's nothing wrong

Pay your last respects

They'll be no last regrets

That blow would take too long!

C'mon baby we're gone

The crowd gone home

Ages ago

I'm still sat out on a ledge

Afraid one day of what might happen

If I let go

A piano falls into your dreams

Look out down below

2.  Do you see me?

Am I out there somewhere

at the bottom of the Western World?

Was I late?

Are the long knives taken?

When's the last stage outahere?

Tinned sardines

on stale saltines

Finds his keys

Leaves his wet underthings drying

Shaving bag

Cash and fags

Hails a cab

Forgets which airline he's flying

Parks his arse

in business class

Another glass

of free champagne

and first run movie

The flight's on time

They take his bribe

A car arrives

And everything is right on schedule

3.  Don't ask me for help

For I am helpless

And please allow a month

or More

Before my reply

I know you have feelings

And yes they're important

Please hold I was first

Wait your turn

You don't have to be crazy

to stay here but it would

sure help if you'd stop

asking questions that answer

like this:

No promises.

I know we should talk

But they're locking the doors

This window's closed too

They've stopped passing out forms

And I did take your call

But not anymore

Don't ask me for help

For I'm helpless too

And if you can't help yourself

Then what can I do

If I can't help myself?

Two went into flame

Three froze then caught fire

Faith died when that happened as

Hope goes by and by

4.  Just before he made the other side

Saw himself on the shore

One last time

Would you rescue him

Hold him in your arms

Lift him high

Until he died

Is this the thanks I've earned

for a billion years?

For a billion years

Now the food is gone

The guards all disappeared

Open gate through sheeets of rain

Streaming into tears

of a billion years

of a billion years

"Have you news of my boy Jack?"

Not this tide.

"When d'you think that he'll come back?"

Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

5.  You'll find the strength to leave

I don't mind

Lay me down like a stone

And rub out this day

"Has any one else had word of him?"

Not this tide.

For what is sunk will hardly swim,

Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.

Wave the smoke from my eyes

Finish my drink, chew the ice

Marching lies to the wall

There we'll go

Swallowing earth

Woke to the wall's soft breathing

Pulled blankets onto the floor

Your friend's on the phone

and he's screaming

"Hello, I'll ruin your life!"

I've ruined my own

What do we do with a drunken sailor

early in the morning?

Out on the poopdeck

I'm spewing up spunk

When a sock full of birdshot

Comes down with a thunk

on the back of my neck

I'm over the side

Gagging down bilge

As the last only light

in the world sails on

Flickers than fades

And everything else

Is just wave after wave

after wave

wave

The wind's screaming banshees

So no one takes note

of the man overboard

with no wing and no hope

no hope

no hope

What do we do with a drunken sailor

in the morning?

6.  A first mate was handed to us

Who went by the name of Jack

But jack got hit by a runaway arc

And Laid out cold on his back

e thought he was dead

medics came in

And hauled what was left on a cot

Stayed that way for a couple of weeks

Don't know if he got up or not

Domine fili, Unigenite, Jesu Christe

Shipped out a crew

A crew on a launch

Still no response

to our radio calls

Out went the crew

They boarded the ship

This is all what they found

3 in the deck

2 in the bulkheads

1 with his head in the wall

The field collapsed

They started to drift

Some never came back at all

Sailors that waiver in some heat mirage

Swaying up high off the ground

These are the most desperate of men

lay your hands on them now

Domine fili, Unigenite, Jesu Christe

7.  Damn your eyes

My name's Bligh

I'm a survivor

I don't see many hands

here going up but

I'll stick to my guns

True, I've no solid proof

Neither do you

As for the admiralty

diidling one another

Pull up the covers

and send my morning paper

to the morgue

You're all mad as hatters

But we're just the captain and crew

in a small town

neare the rear of the daily papers

Some spring? Fall?  Winter?

Notsummer

An item appeared:

Sailors raid a local gin and beer joint

The cook threw a fit

Tongued a duchess

Where, I'm not sure

Nobody can come aboard

Nobody

Nobody can go ashore

Nobody

Ah, but most dames are crazy

And anyway

We're all just bent on destruction

This is my own

I Don't see many heads here

Bowed low but

I'll stick to my guns

8. Joan's golden armor

At the head of the slaughter

English and French boys

Wailing for water

Moaning for mother to come

But Joanie only talks with God

So you stay through the black eyes

And stay through the carpet burns

And stay through the bruises

And say it's for the children

Did you walk lightly over the fallen

When they cried

And no one would come?