The Insect
From Camoweal to Windywoe, from Windywoe to Thirstyville,
We'll drag the line around the map, along the plain, and up the hill;
Scross the desert, to the swamp, across the swamp and up the rise.
'Our ' Sacred Rights must be preserved, 'our' claims you'll have to recognise.
One night, while others were abed,
With weary eyes and aching head,
I pored for hours and hours upon a map,
Till dots and lines began to swim.
'Suggested routes' grew blurred and dim,
And then, I think, I must have had a nap.
But, with a start,it seemed to me,
I sat boolt upright suddenly,
And gazed, with staring eyes, before me straight;
For there, upon my inkwell's brim,
With aspect most grotesque and grim,
Methought a large, fat, hairy spider sate.
'Good fellow, you behold in me
An insect of repute,' said he.
'I'm that State Insect, so much talked about.
I've frequently been mentioned in
Such papers as THE BULLETIN;
So you have beard of me before, no doubt.
'You've recently,' pursued the brute,
'Been pondering upon the route
Of our Transcontinental Railway Line.
I do not know what views you hold;
But, if it be not deemed too bold,
I'll just acquaint you with a few of mine.'
Then, suddenly, the creature dropped
Heels over head, and downward flopped
Into the pot, and floundered in the ink.
I calmly thought, 'He'll drown, no doubt';
But presently he struggled out
And sat, once more, all dripping, on the brink.
'Ere I proceed to illustrate
The views of each protesting State
Thus did the beast address me from the pot
'Please understand I represent
All phases of State discontent;
In me is concentrated all the lot!'
Then quickly from the pot he crawled,
And, ere I could prevent it, sprawled
Upon the map. I cursed at him in vain.
And as he went, and left behind
Long, inky smears, all crossed and lined,
He chanted this preposterous refrain:
'From Drouthyhurst to Dottytown, from Dottytown to Thirstyville.
We'll drag the line around the map, and o'er the plain, and up the hill;
With here a twist, and there a turn and over here a wide detour.
Our claims you have to recognise; our prejudices must endure.
From Boodle's run to Foodle's pub our Sacred Rights you must preserve
From Foodle's pub to Doodle's dam, the int'rests of the State to serve;
Insanely crawling through the map, and in and out, and to and fro,
If you'd propitiate the States, this is the way the line will go.'
I seized a pen, in angry haste,
And, with a curse, the creature chased
From off the map, then looked, and cursed some more.
But 'round the corner of the pot
The spider peered and said, 'What rot!
I don't see what you've got to curse me for!
'I will explain, if you'll permit,'
It said ; but in an angry fit
I banged the map and yelled; 'Upon my word!
You've crossed and lined it back and forth,
But one straight line from south to north
Does not appear! Your system is absurd!
'Suppose,' I said, 'invaders came;
Here, in the north. How, in the name
Of thunder, could we quickly move our troops?
How could we rush our army forth
Into the unprotected North
With all your crazy twists and turns and loops!'
'Good fellow, I have yet to learn
That it is any State's concern
To meddle with Defence,' he made reply.
'That is the Commonwealth's lookout;
They'll get 'em there. I have no doubt;
But, as for us, we've other fish to fry.
'Yet if you really want to know
Which way the troops will have to go,
Once more I shall be happy to explain.'
And, as I planned his sudden death,
The creature drew a long, deep breath
And sang again this maddening refrain:
'From Drouthyhurst to Dottytown, from Dottytown to Thirstyville.
We'll drag the army 'round the map, and o'er the plain, and up the hill;
With over here a wide detour, and here a twist, and there a turn;
And if they never meet the foe it isn't any state's concern.
We'll drag 'em miles and weary miles, from Foodle's pub to Boodle's run;
The while the foeman gains the North, without the firing of a gun.
From Boodle's run to Doodle's dam, o'er kink and curl and loop and curve.
Our int'rests you must recognise, our Sacred Rights you must observe.'
Again, all haste I made to grab
A pen; this time resolved to stab
The loathly insect in some vital spot;
But, though with murd'rous aim I hit,
'Twas wasting energy, for it
Eluded me and dodged around the pot.
'Aha! You're not the first of men
To try to slay me with a pen,'
It sneered. 'They try in vain; I still survive.
And now I go to make a league
And weave a web of State intrigue
That will enmesh you all, if I'm alive.'
Then, with another wicked sneer,
The creature seemed to disappear.
I searched in vain; the thing had vanished quite.
And though I laugh, and talk, and think,
And go to church. and take to drink,
I can't shake off the horrors of that night.
For still that ruined map I've got,
All sullied o'er with smear and blot,
The sight of which calls forth a frenzied scream.
And, since that night, I've counsel sought
Of learned men who surely ought
To know, but all declare it was a dream.
Yet, when the views of PHILP or WADE,
Within the Tory press displayed,
Assault mine eyes, I seem to see quite plain
That ugly spider, fat and squat,
Perched insolently on the pot;
I seem to hear again the weird refrain:-
'From Drouthyhurst to Dottytown, from Dottytown to Thirstyville,
We'll drag the line around the map, and o'er the plain, and up the hill;
With here a kink, and there a curve, and here a needless, wide detour.
Our claims you have to recognise; our sacred int'rests must endure.
For Boodle has a bit of land, and Foodle has much influence.
And Doodles cattle must be trucked, whatever happens to Defence.
So down it goes by Snoodle's road, from Snoodle's road to Noodle's Well.
Aus-tral-i-an defence be blowed! Austral-i-a may go to Hell!'
poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
California
California got her right
You will have to wait
Calling from the golden gate
Sentimental sparrows
Keeping me awake
Funny how the mornings late
Funny how the mornings late
Come around with your heavenly smile
Come around and drag me out again
After a while we can sit and watch them all rush by
Come around and drag me out again
Come around and drag me out again
Always wanted to leave
Always felt that Id get stopped
But I could never see myself
In anybody elses arms
In anybody elses arms
Come around with your heavenly smile
Come around and drag me out again
After a while we can sit and watch them all rush by
Come around and drag me out again
Come around and drag me out again
Always wanted to leave
Always felt that Id get stopped
But I could never see myself
No I could never see myself
With anybody else
If you want a piece of my life
Get in line, baby get in line
If you wanna kiss then do it fast
Get in line, baby get in line
If you wanna practice, spill the past
Get in line, baby get in line
Get in line, baby get in line
Californias angel
Its more than I can stand
Calling down the sunsets pain
Sentimental star unsolved
As soon as we wake
Funny in the morning state
Funny in this morning state
If you want a piece of my life
Get in line, baby get in line
If you wanna kiss then do it fast
Get in line, baby get in line
If you wanna practice, spill the past
Get in line, baby get in line
I will smile and chuckle till the last
Get in line, baby get in line
Get in line, baby get in line
Get in line, baby get in line
Get in line, baby get in line
song performed by by Gomez
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Git-Yer-Gun
Thus it happened .... Let me mention, lest I raise an unsought quarrel,
This occurred in times long vanished, in the land of Git-yer-gun.
'Tis a quaint, unlikely story; some folk say it has a moral;
But that's a little matter you may settle when I'm done.
Mr. Foodle led a party that was strongly democratic,
And it represented people with the Christian name of Bill.
And in all his hustings speeches Mr. Foodle was emphatic
That his crowd existed solely to uphold the people's will.
Mr. Boodle led a party that was Liberal - or Tory
(Just according to your view-point) - and it represented those
Christened (by immersion) Percy, whose hot socks proclaimed their glory;
And its policy was such as you may readily supose.
So they strove in an election .... (Now, I wish it noted plainly
That this happened years ago, and in the land of Git-yer-gun) ....
And each side employed its talent to upbraid the other mainly,
While the voters cheered them madly, and the crowd enjoyed the fun.
The Democratic Party (Bill by name) supported Foodle
For such was the convention with this quaint old Party Plan
While the Tories fought like fury to promote the cause of Boodle,
And, of course, the crowd named Percy voted for him to a man.
And the others of the nation - all the Johns and Jeremiahs,
All the Peters, Pauls and Paddys, all the Colins and Carews,
All the Richards and the Roberts, and the Hanks and Hezekiahs
Voted for some bloque or other, each according to his views.
Then they counted up the numbers, when at last the fight was over,
And both Democrats and Tories - Bills and Percys - looked quite sour
When the numbers showed them clearly neither party stood in clover;
For a few odd Independents held the balance of the power.
Mr. Foodle called his Caucus .... And he put it to them plainly:
'Never mind the Bills,' said Foodle; 'we have got them in the box.
If we would escape extinction 'tis our plan to pander mainly
But with caution - to the Percys and the cause of fancy socks.
'For,' said Mr. Foodle gravely, 'understand me, votes are needed!
How to catch and how to keep them is the question of the hour.
Never mind your Public Questions; let the Big Things go unheeded;
We must compromise a little if we mean to hold the power.'
Mr. Boodle called his Caucus ... And he put it to them clearly'
'Gentlemen, ignore the Percys! We have got them in the bag!
But the Bills, we must remember, have the votes we covet dearly;
And till we contrive to get them we must let the Big Things lag.'
So began the op'ning session, with both sides electioneering;
Boodle grew more democratic; Foodle watered down his views;
Bit by bit they drew together, more and more alike appearing,
Till the voters, looking at them, vowed there wasn't much to choose.
Sometimes Foodle reigned in office, sometimes it was Mr. Boodle.
'Twas the Grand Old Party System, for the shibboleth held still.
And they vowed that ev'ry voter - (as was plain to any noodle)
Must most palpably be Percy if he wasn't christened Bill.
Meantime all the Dicks and Davids, all the Johns and Jeremiahs,
All the Mats and Pats and Peters, surnamed Smith or Brown or Burke,
Shouted with the Ned and Normans and the Hanks and Hezekiahs,
'What of those Big Public Questions? When do you begin to work?'
Still the factions went on fighting - ('Tis a right that factions cherish)
But on one important matter both the parties were agreed;
In this world of sin and sorrow Bills may die and Percys perish,
But the votes to hold his billet are a politician's need.
Boodle battled strenuously, on his rival's ground encroaching;
Fearlessly the Foodle faction sneaked the other Party's views;
Full of fight were both opponents; the elections were approaching;
And upon mere Public Business none had any time to lose.
With the public patience straining, and quite half the nation scoffing
At the Bill and Percy parties, and the voters in despair.
Lo, a party led by Doodle rose serenely in the offing;
And it said it represented folk who sported Ginger Hair.
Doodle soon became the fashion: thousands flocked aronud his banner;
Scores of Antonys and Arthurs, Joes and Jacobs, Mats and Micks,
(Even some stray Bills and Percys renegaded). In like manner
Flocked the Hanks and Hezekiahs, and the Davids and the Dicks.
All the Red-haired of the nation joined the mighty Doodle party;
And the Brown-haired and the Black-haired and the Grey-haired sought him too;
For, they said, 'What does it matter? He has our support most hearty.
Never mind what shade your hair is. He will see the Big Things through!'
Then, when that great Doodle Party swept the polls at next election,
What a great rejoicing followed! Heavens, how the people cheered!
And the Boodle-Foodle party - (fused for general protection)
Was so absolutely routed that it almost disappeared.
How the Dicks and Davids shouted with the Johns and Jeremiahs:
'We don't care what shade his hair is - black or brown or pink or blue!'
'Glory!' cried the Mats and Michaels with the Hals and Hezekiahs.
'Hail to Doodle! Red-haired Doodle! He will see the Big Things through!'
Mr. Dooddle called his Caucus .... And he put it to them tersely:
'Gentlemen, it now behoves us, seeing all the votes we've got,
To be very, very careful lest we're criticised adversely.
Never mind the Red-haired voters; we have got them in the pot.
'But,' continued Mr. Doodle, 'there are others - perfect snorters.
There's this new Bald-headed Party led by Snoodle! Statesmanship
Now demands we do our utmost to win over his supporters.
Meantime, gentlemen, I'm thinking we must let the Big Things rip.
'Or, if we must tackle something to allay the public clamor,
Let us not be over-zealous and this alientate support
From our Party when the...Gracious!!!!'
I should like to go on telling how they fared; but foreign raiders
At this very hour descended on the land of Git-yer-gun;
And the Red-heads and the Bald-heads fell beneath the fierce invaders
Men who bore aloft a banner blazoned with a Rising Sun.
And they smote the Pats and Percys, and the Jims and Jeremiahs.
Bashed the Doodles, smashed the Snoodles, left the Mats and Micks for dead.
Thrust cold steel into the vitals of the Hanks and Hezekiahs,
And plugged all the Johns and Jacobs and the Josephs full of lead.
Thus it happened .... As I've mentioned, some folk think it has a moral.
You may judge that little matter, as I said when I began.
'Tis to me the simple story of a very ancient quarrel
'Mid the Git-yer-gun debaters with their quait old Party Plan.
poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Climb That Hill
Something threw me in the dirt
Kinda got my feelings hurt
We was burnin somewhere down the wind
I had to get up and climb that hill again
Little lucys such a doll
Like to climb her garden wall
But she only sees me as a friend
I got to get up and climb that hill again
I gotta bury my pride, drag this line
Over that hill one more time
Gotta get up in the morning, make my way
Over that hill again
I gotta bury my pride, drag this line
Over that hill one more time
Gotta get up in the morning, make my way
Over that hill again
Tempers flare and the words are spoken
You close one door and another opens
You hear the music and youre wondering
You got to get up and climb that hill
Get up and climb that hill
You got to get up and climb that hill again
song performed by by Tom Petty
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Another Fusion
There's been fierce argument of late
In my vicinitee,
Between the Commonwealth and State,
For I fell out with me.
I am a sturdy Federalist,
A staunch Australian;
And I have waved an angry fist
At me, the States' Rights man.
The argument began like this:
I to myself one night
Remarked: 'There's something sore amiss
That cries to be put right.
'This argument 'twixt Commonwealth
And State must cease, 'tis plain.
'Tis interfering with my health
And rending me in twain.'
'Then, as a free,' myself replied,
'Elector of the State,
I hold my Rights can't be denied,
And I've been wronged of late.
'The Commonwealth's extravagance'
'Hold on,' I said, 'hold on!
A fool could tell you at a glance
Where all the money's gone.
'Of late the States' expenditure
Has risen high and higher.'
'What rot,' me thought. 'That's pretty pure!'
Then shouted, 'I'm a liar!'
I rose to smite the Fed'ralist
And - what do you suppose?
I found, with my avenging fist,
The States' Rights person's nose.
And yet, it did seem strange, because
Though, truly, as I've said,
I hit the State elector, 'twas
The Federal nose that bled.
'See here,' I said, 'this game won't do.
We'll have to stop and think.
There's something wrong with me and you.
Let's go and have a drink.'
We entered, without further hitch,
A pub across the way,
And had a single drink, for which
We both appeared to pay.
'Enough of this!' the States' man brayed.
'You asked me over here
To have a drink, and when I've paid,
You drink the bloomin' beer!'
'Nay,' quoth the Fed'ralist, 'I think
You err. To me 'tis clear
I paid the money for the drink,
And you consumed the beer.
'I don't know what you are to me,
A foe, or friend, or brother.
To settle it I think I - we
YOU better have another.'
We had another. Then we sat
Awhile, morose and mute;
Then drifted into friendly chat
About our late dispute.
'I think I see a point we've missed,
And that suggests a plan.'
At length said I, the Fed'ralist,
To Me, the States' Rights man.
'It may seem strange to you at first;
We both wear one same hat,
We have one coat, one shirt, one thirst;
Why should we stop at that?
'To buy two drinks to quench one thirst
Is utterly absurd;
Unless, of course, you're on a burst
Or jag (excuse the word).
'But, since, we're one in thirst and dress
Why not be one in view?
I can't see why we don't possess
But one opinion too.
'For I begin to think 'tis true,
Whatever else we be,
That while I'm virtually you
You're practically me.
'We're both one man. It's all a fake!
You're me, and I am you;
Though politicians try to make
Us think that we are two.
'And if a thing suits one it should,
Quite clearly, suit the two.
And if this Federation's good
For me, it's good for you.
''Tis folly that we two should fight,
And wrangle, and abuse;
So, seeing things in this new light,
It's up to us to fuse.'
We fose forthwith, I'm pleased to say,
We're now a single man.
And that man is, from now, alway,
A good Austral-i-an.
poem by Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Josephus Riley
The rum was rich and rare,
There were wagers in the air,
The atmosphere was rosy, and the tongues were
wagging free;
But one was in the revel
Whose occiput was level -
Plain Josephus Riley, from the North Countree.
The conversation's flow
Was not devoid of “blow,”
And neither was it wanting in the plain, colloquial “D.”
With a most ingenuous smile -
'This here is not my style,'
Said plain Josephus Riley, from the North Countree.
'And I wouldn't be averse
To emptying my purse,
And laying some small wager with the present
companee,
To cut the matter short -
Foot racing is my forte,'
Said plain Josephus Riley, from the North Countree.
“I think it's on the cards
That I can run three hundred yards
(The match to be decided where you gentlemen
agree)
Against your fleetest horse;
The race would prove a source
Of pleasure,' said Josephus, from the North Countree.
'To equalise the task,
This little start I ask -
The rider, ere he follows, must imbibe a cup of tea;
A simple breakfast-cup
He will have to swallow up.
That's me - Josephus Riley, from the North
Countree.'
Then a “knowing 'un” looked wise,
“Begged to apologise;
But might he ask what temp'rature the liquid was
to be!
Would it come from out the pot
Milkless, steaming, boiling-hot?”
'Oh, not at all,' said Riley, from the North
Countree.
'Allow me to explain;
I do observe with pain,
This jocular reflection on my native honestee,
My bump of truth is huge,
I'd scorn a subterfuge' -
Said plain Josephus Riley, from the North Countree.
“Before the parties start
I'll take the Judge apart
To prove, by tasting, whether I have tampered with
the tea;
And I beg to state again
Your suspicions give me pain,'
Said plain Josephus Riley, from the North Countree.
Then they were all satisfied
That the match was 'boneefied,'
The bond was signed, and Riley went to 'preparate”
the tea;
But his slow, ambiguous smile
Would have seemed to token guile
In any man but Riley, from the North Countree.
He brought the fatal cup -
By its saucer covered up -
The Judge examined its contents with awful gravitee,
Then read the papers o'er,
But could not find a flaw:
'Wade in! Josephus Riley, from the North Countree.'
Then the “wagerer” just bowed,
And, passing through the crowd,
He handed up the beverage unto the “wageree;”
And off across the flat,
Springing gaily, pit-a-pat,
Went plain Josephus Riley, from the North Countree.
But behind him what a yell
Of execration fell
From lips that lent themselves to shapes of great
profanitee!
For the people of that town
Were done a lovely brown
By plain Josephus Riley, from the North Countree.
And here's the reason why:
The tea was simply DRY,
You might eat it, but to drink it was impossibilitee;
But, curious to state,
Men did not appreciate
This hum'rous innovation from the North Countree.
You'll understand, of course,
That wager was a source
Of very little profit to the hapless “wageree,”
And, dating from that day,
I much regret to say,
Men look askance at Riley, from the North Countree.
poem by Barcroft Henry Thomas Boake
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Statecontrol
I've been around the world I take credit for the things I've done.
I've done a lot of things and I just turned 21.
They tied me up put red tape around my hands.
I got caught in the web cause I didn't stand a chance.
I can't control the state I'm in - Go back in line and repeat it again.
I said "Please Mr. Doctor" won't you cure my disease.
I got a sore throat and I got scrubs on my knees.
No matter what I do I can't get it straight.
I tried to sort things out but I'm still stuck in the state.
I can't control the state I'm in - Go back in line and repeat it again.
Can't control the state I'm in - Go back in line repeat again.
I'm gonna lie
song performed by by The Hives from Veni Vidi Vicious
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Great Pioneer
Graham Russell)
It happened long ago
When I felt the need
For a life of my own
I dreamt of summer love
And moving high up north
But no one would go
So I walked up the hill and lay there
Imagining the day was near
I know I want to stay there
And be a great pioneer
I made a promise then
That I'd find a place
Where my world won't end
Give me a piece of land
That will be my life
That I will defend
If I work really hard
I will surely survive
I know my virtue is strong
No one could oppose a spirt
So raw to be a part of the state
To be known as a great pioneer
I keep the fires burning
To let you know I'm free
My heart will always be yearning
CHORUS
To be a part of the state
To be a part of the state
To be known as a great pioneer
And if it all should end
ANd I hear the call
From the great unknown
I'll need to go my way
Let me have my day
Let me be alone
I was dreaming here and lay there
Knowing that my time is here
I know I wanna stay there
And be a part of the state
And be a part of the state
And be known as a great pioneer
song performed by by Air Supply
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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State Of The Heart
I know your name
I told you mine
Weve stopped and passed the time of day
You work in town
I work at night
That gives us six until seven to work this out
If I seem a little strange
Its just the state of the heart
Im waiting here for you
In the state Im in
You are the moon
I am the sea
You pull me in and gaze on down at me
I was alone
I thought I was immune
Its good to know
The door can still be open wide
If I feel a little strange
Its just the state of the heart
Im waiting here for you
In the state Im in
Its just the state of the heart
I wait in the dark
I the state Im in
We get closer and closer
To falling out or falling in
I go over and over
But I cant change the state
This heart is in
If I seem a little strange
Its just the state of the heart
Im waiting here for you
In the state Im in
Its just the state of the heart
You know I wait in the dark
In the state Im in
It s the state of the heart
The state of the heart
The state of the heart
The state of the heart
song performed by by Rick Springfield
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Meeting eye to eye
i have to agree i am still in the
process of being made
yet to be fullyfunctional
i hardly know myself
the good news is i have
started to recognise
a little of you as you are
all hands, thoughts
spirits over me
i feel you in my dreams
in my waking state
and quite aware
you make things
happen a coincidence
one time too often
are you excited?
this creature is
starting to respond
to get to know what's around
despite the darkness
that surrounds him as to
his own significance
in the chain of creation?
I will keep what little
part that is now me
open to the next step
of your creation
does it excite?
does it make me
fly through the sky?
does it make me
round like planet in space?
in a perpetual state
of meditation?
i will pray, pray, pray with
all the consciousness
that i possess to
get to the heart of myself
so that i could respond
with all of myself
pull myself together
when we are to meet
eye to eye
yes, i know i am
still being made
thanks for inspiring
me to meditate on you
thanks for teaching me this:
know yourself, know your creator
i know i am still
being made
three quarters made
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The War Cry of the Eagles
I
Tecumseh of the Shawnees
He dreamed a noble dream,--
A league to hold their freedom old
And make their peace supreme.
He drew the tribes together
And bound them to maintain
Their sacred pact to stand and act
For common good and gain.
II
The eagles taught Tecumseh
The secret of their clan,--
A way to keep o'er plain and steep
The liberty of Man.
The champions of freedom
They may not weary soon,
Nor lay aside in foolish pride
The vigilance of noon.
Those teachers of Tecumseh
Where up to meet the dawn,
To scan the light and hold the height
Till the last light was gone.
Like specks upon the azure,
Their guards patrolled the sky,
To mount and plane and soar again
And give the warning cry.
They watched for lurking perils,
The death that skulks and crawls,
To take by stealth their only wealth
On wind-swept mountain walls.
They did not trust the shadows
That sleep upon the hill;
Where menace hid, where cunning slid,
They struck--and struck to kill.
Through lonely space unmeasured
They laid their sentry rings,
Till every brood in eyrie rude
Was shadowed by their wings.
Tecumseh watched the eagles
In summer o'er the plain,
And learned their cry, "If freedom die,
Ye will have lived in vain."
III
The vision of Tecumseh
It could not long endure;
He lacked the might to back the right
And make his purpose sure.
Tecumseh and his people
Are gone; they could not hold
Their league for good; their brotherhood
Is but a tale that's told.
IV
The eagles a Tecumseh
Still hold their lofty flight,
And guard their own on outposts lone,
Across the fields of light.
They hold their right of birth,
They do not cede their pride of breed
For things of little worth.
They see on earth below them,
Where time is but a breath,
Another race brought face to face
With liberty or death.
Above a thousand cities
A new day is unfurled,
And still on high those watchers cry
Their challenges o'er the world.
Where patriots are marching
And battle flags are borne,
To South and North their cry goes forth
To rally and to warn.
From border unto border,
They wheel and cry again
That master cry, "If freedom die,
Ye will have lived in vain!"
poem by Bliss Carman
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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A Long Long Long Time Ago
Yesterday arrived too quickly
Caught me right off guard
My defence moved in too slowly
Missed it by a yard
Id just settled down
With a bottle of gin
So I moved on to whiskey
And it hit me again
Memories were raining punches
Down on my head
Knocked me into the past so quickly
They almost raised the dead
So I drank some more booze
And it helped me to sleep
Where I dreamed of my youth
And the secrets I keep
Oh history is a friend of mine
She comes over to my place
And we have a good time
But the memories
She sometimes brings with her
Get out of line
Theyre out of line
Show me things I dont want to see
(wanna see, wanna see, wanne see)
Remind me of who I thought I was gonna be
(ganna be, gonna be, gonna be)
Take me places I used to go
(used to go, used to go)
A long long time ago
When I woke I remembered nothing
Suppose thats just as well
And although my head was aching
I could hear a bell
So I put on some clothes
And I reached my front door
When I pulled it wide open
She joined me once more
Oh history is a friend of mine
She comes over to my place
And we have a good time
But the memories
She sometimes brings with her
Get out of line
Theyre out of line
Show me things I dont want to see
(wanna see, wanna see, wanna see)
Remind me of who I thought I was gonna be
(ganna be, gonna be, gonna be)
Take me places I used to go
(used to go, used to go)
A long long time ago
A long long time ago
song performed by by Proclaimers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Loves On The Line
Tell me baby
Have we lost everything that we had before
What do you do in the day
When I walk out the door
I can see you made up your mind
And I know our loves on the line
Loves on the line, our loves on the line
Loves on the line, our loves on the line
Loves on the line, our loves on the line
With each passing day
I gotta watch more and more what I say to you
I can feel your eyes looking through me
As I sit at the table at dinnertime
I can feel our loves on the line
Loves on the line, our loves on the line
Loves on the line, our loves on the line
Loves on the line, our loves on the line
I watch our kids
Growin up, going to school
Is there anything else for us now
Are we both just fools
Wasting our precious time
At night we lay in bed
But its like youre not even there
Theres something real bad
Going wrong somewhere
Last night I heard you cry
And I know our loves on the line
Loves on the line, our loves on the line
Loves on the line, our loves on the line
Loves on the line, our loves on the line
Loves on the line
song performed by by Bruce Springsteen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Attica State
What a waste of human power
What a waste of human lives
Shoot the prisoners in the towers
Forty-three poor widowed wives
Attica state, attica state,
Were all mates with attica state
Media blames it on the prisoners
But the prisoners did not kill
Rockefeller pulled the trigger
That is what the people feel
Attica state, attica state,
Were all mates with attica state
Free the prisoners, jail the judges
Free all prisoners everywhere
All they want is truth and justice
All they need is love and care
Attica state, attica state,
Were all mates with attica state
They all live in suffocation
Lets not watch them die in sorrow
Nows the time for revolution
Give them all a chance to grow
Attica state, attica state,
Were all mates with attica state
Come together join the movement
Take a stand for human rights
Fear and hatred clouds our judgement
Free us all from endless night
Attica state, attica state,
Were all mates with attica state
Attica state, attica state,
We all live in attica state
Attica state, attica state,
Attica, attica, attica state
song performed by by Lennon John
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Go West
Safe on the interstate
New york is three thousand miles away
And Im not looking forward to following through
But its better than always running back into you
Ive closed my eyes and my bank account
And gone west, young man
Take off the parking brake
Go coasting into a different state and Im not looking forward to missing you
But I must have something better to do
Ive got to tear my life apart and go west, young man
And it feels like Ive got something to prove
But in some ways its just something to do
My friends turn me around and say, you go west, young man
Stepping down off my platform shoes
69 in the afternoon
And Im waiting for someone in the know
Like pirner tells me on the radio
Says take it from someone whos been there before
You go west, young man and Im looking for somebody to do my thinking for me till I come through
The state-line highway sign says you have gone west, young man
And it feels like Ive got something to prove
But in some ways its just something to do
The state-line highway sign says you have gone west, young man
song performed by by Liz Phair
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Walk The Line
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the ties that bind
Because youre mine I walk the line
I find it very very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each days through
Yes I admit it, I am a fool for you
Because youre mine I walk the line
As sure as night is dark and days light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness Ive known proves that its right
Because youre mine, I walk the line
Youve got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I cant hide
For you I know Id even try to turn the tide
Because youre mine, I walk that line
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because youre mine, I walk the line
Because youre mine, I walk the line
Because youre mine, I walk the line
Im gonna walk it
Im gonna walk the line
Im gonna walk it, walk it, walk it
Im gonna walk that line
Im gonna walk it because youre mine
Im gonna walk it, walk it
Im gonna walk the line
Im gonna walk it, walk it
Im gonna walk the line
Im gonna walk it
Im gonna walk the line
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Obvious
Wake me from this altered state
My future's looking brighter all the time
I'm stumbling and delirious
Something's changed since those teenage days
I'm growing into my own
I'm the talk of the town
Looking strange and I'll say it out loud
There's nothing left to hide
When duplicating the obvious
And it's nothing we decide
Like you, like me
Twist my words so they reed me wrong
The truth was neevr good enough for you
Is that the best you can do?
Talk me down look in my face
Look at you now, feeling like the clown
Next time you should think it over
There's nothing left to hide
Nothing left to hide
When duplicating the obvious
When duplicating the obvious
And it's nothing we decide
Liek you, like me
With no reason, you twist my words
'Cause you're helpless lost in a state of madness
In a state of madness
In a state of madness
Lost in a state of madness
In a state of madness
In a state of madness
Lost in a state of madness
In a state of madness
Lost in a state of madness
Lost in a state of madness
song performed by by Orgy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Our Friendship Ain't Fateful
Late out of state without absolute hate,
I decline to incline my fate into failure’s plate
I perceive not me able to be for you that great
Yet you make perfect of me, even in my state
Looking down upon me not, yet looking upon me without hate
Of how it came to being is a mystery that revives history in slate
Oh how I hate the thought I could lose my current state
In hate I’d sulk to ever cross a path that seals this fate
Can destiny and fate really drag me away? I doubt; they’re late
poem by David Munene wa Kimberly
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Another Yankee Doodle
Yankee Doodle had a mind
To whip the Southern traitors,
Because they didn't choose to live
On codfish and potatoes,
Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
And to keep his courage up
He took a drink of brandy.
Yankee Doodle said he found
By all the census figures,
That he could starve the rebels out,
If he could steal their niggers.
Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
And then he took another drink
Of gunpowder and brandy.
Yankee Doodle made a speech;
'Twas very full of feeling;
'I fear,' he says, 'I cannot fight,
But I am good at stealing.'
Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Hurrah for Lincoln, he's the boy
To take a drop of brandy.
Yankee Doodle drew his sword,
And practiced all the passes;
Come, boys, we'll take another drink
When we get to Manassas.
Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
They never reached Manassas plain,
And never got the brandy.
Yankee Doodle soon found out
That Bull Run was no trifle;
For if the North knew how to steal,
The South knew how to rifle.
Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
'Tis very clear I took too much
Of that infernal brandy.
Yankee Doodle wheeled about,
And scampered off at full run,
And such a race was never seen
As that he made at Bull Run.
Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
I haven't time to stop right now
To take a drop of brandy.
Yankee Doodle, oh! for shame,
You're always intermeddling;
Let guns alone, they're dangerous things;
You'd better stick to peddling.
Yankee Doodle, doodle-doo,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
When next I go to Bully Run
I'll throw away the brandy.
poem by Anonymous Americas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lost And Found
I always used to be afraid
That I was going to lose my way
I never used to walk in line but stray
I never thought I'd see it through
That I could deal with losing you
But suddenly I see the light of day
Leading me in
From out of the night
Staying on course - I'm still alive
I had to confess I never thought I would ever survive
chorus
I was lost and found
I had run aground
I was lost but now I'm found
Focused on my altered state
I would just disorientate
Suffering alone amongst the crowd
Drifting on a sea of doubt
And no-one ever heard me shout
That I was lost and couldn't find my way
No-one at hand
Having no plan
I stumbled through a barren land
After so long
Of going wrong
I found the road
chorus
I was lost and found
I had hit the ground
I was lost but now I found
That I don't need no-one
To survive
You've got to believe alone
You'll rise
Starting to run
Shedding the load
Now I can see I'm close to home
After so long
Of going wrong
I found the road
chorus
song performed by by Judas Priest
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Silver Dollar Forger
Swingin my sweet chariot low
Gotta make it home to georgia
Excise lawman on my trail
Im a silver dollar forger
I see a road block on my right
Engine take me through the night
Gotta make it home to the arms of my sweet baby.
Twenty miles from that georgia state
I can hear the sirens wailing
If only I can cross that line
And leave the police trailing
I see a red light at my rear
Now Im sweatin cold steel fear
Gotta make it home to the arms of my sweet baby.
Im tired of all this running
Hiding from the light
I want to walk out in the sun
Ill soon be home I can see the clay
Ill soon be in atlanta
If only I can hold that line
I can live just how I want to
I see the state line in my lights
Engine take me through the night
Gotta make it home to the arms of my sweet baby.
(copyright 1974 mountain/carlin music)
song performed by by Nazareth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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