The Piper
No, he never led them far away,
willing as they were to follow
and not to go back.
The mountain never opened
to take them in.
Just over the mountain
he left them.
Having heard such music,
they believed,
they could never again be the children
of that sad town.
Somewhere ahead must lie,
they believed,
the joyous land from which he came.
But they did not believe
that they might find it without him.
Some, in the end, went forward
and some went back.
You may know them and their kind
by a small empty place
in the corner of the eye
in every town where the young
pine for a distant land,
in every land
where they mourn the remembered town
poem by Eric Torgersen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Boys Are Back In Town
Guess who just got back today
Them wildout boys, that'd been away
Haven't changed, had much to say
But man I still think them cats are great
They were asking if you were around
How you was, where you could be found
Told them you were living downtown
Driving all the old men crazy
The Boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
(I Said) The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
You know that chic who used to dance a lot?
Every night she'd be on the floor, shaken what she got
Man when I tell you she was cool she was red hot
I mean she was steamin'
And that time over at Johnny's place
When this chic got up and slapped Johnny's face
Man we just fell about the place
What that chic don't wanna know forget 'er
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
(I said) The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
Spread the word around
Guess who's back in town
You spread the word around
Friday night they'll be dressed to kill
Down at Dino's bar and grill
The drinks will flow and blood would spill
If the boys wanna fight you better let 'em
That kid rocks down at the corner blasting out my favourite song
The nights are getting warmer and won't be long
Wont be long till the summer comes
Now that the boys are here again
The boys are back in town (the boys are back in town)
The boys are back in town (the boys are back in town)
The boys are back in town (the boys are back in town)
(Spread the word around)
The boys are back in town (The boys are back in town)
(The boys are back, the boys are back)
The boys are back in town again
They're hanging out at Dino's
The boys are back in town again
song performed by by Thin Lizzy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Emerald
Down from the glen came the marching men
With their shields and their swords
To fight the fight they believed to be right
Overthrow the overlords
To the town where there was plenty
They brought plunder, swords and flame
When they left the town was empty
Children would never play again
From their graves I heard the fallen
Above the battle cry
By that bridge near the border
There were many more to die
Then onward over the mountain
And outward towards the sea
They had come to claim the emerald
Without it they could not leave
song performed by by Thin Lizzy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Small Town
Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Probly die in a small town
Oh, those small communities
All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity
Educated in a small town
Taught the fear of jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic thats me
But Ive seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town
Married an l.a. doll and brought her to this small town
Now shes small town just like me
No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be
Got nothing against a big town
Still hayseed enough to say
Look whos in the big town
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and thats good enough for me
Well I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Gonna die in this small town
And thats probly where theyll bury me
song performed by by John Mellencamp
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sown Home Town
The world outside don't like us much,
'Cos they ain't got our classy touch,
But they ain't good enough to breathe,
This towns good air we make 'em leave
CHORUS
But it's no, no, no,
you really can't do that,
No, no, no,
down home town
No monkey business in this town,
Well who do you think you're pushing 'round,
This towns respectable and clean,
Just look around you'll see what I mean
CHORUS Repeat
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
CHORUS Repeat
We got the best town band around,
Just listen to their crazy sound
When they get hot they gonna blow,
You see them running every show
(I wish I was in the land of Dixie
Look Away...)
Down home town,
Gotta get down
Down home town
Gotta get down
Down home town
Down home town
Down home town
CHORUS
(I wish I was in the land of Dixie
Look Away...)
song performed by by Electric Light Orchestra
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Children Of The Land
Written by james young
Lead vocals by james young
Children of the land
Dont wear a frown upon your face
Come on and join your hands
Were all a part of the human race
The music is here
To let you leave your fears behind
Come on along dont do me wrong
Lets see what you might find
Children of the land
Children of the land
Dont misunderstand
Were all children of the land
Dont trust anyone else
To run your life and set your goals
Youve gotta be able to live with yourself
When you are getting old
Others are getting blamed
For messing your life around
Its your own fault if you complain
For letting it get you down
Children of the land
Children of the land
Dont misunderstand
Were all children of the land
Children - come on children now
Children - yeah
Children - I said children yeah
Children - come on children now
Children - of the land
Children - of the land
Children - I said of the land
song performed by by Styx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There the river is bridged (in answer to fanie olivier)
There the river is bridged,
meandering place to place is bounded,
a road cuts right across the mountain’s back
and when in the evening you find a tired traveller
he has stopped at a place
where the sea to the furthest horizon
stretches to the heaven
and there are lorries crawling up the hill,
the town lies beneath sparkling like stars
with lights everywhere shining
where people from near and far
at times find a resting place
even the old black man riding past on his bicycle,
or the braggart that cuts through the mountain pass with his grand car.
[Reference: “hier breek die dorp die pad se rug” (here the town breaks the road’s back) by fanie olivier.]
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Isandlwana
Scarlet coats, and crash o' the band,
The grey of a pauper's gown,
A soldier's grave in Zululand,
And a woman in Brecon Town.
My little lad for a soldier boy,
(Mothers o' Brecon Town!)
My eyes for tears and his for joy
When he went from Brecon Town,
His for the flags and the gallant sights
His for the medals and his for the fights,
And mine for the dreary, rainy nights
At home in Brecon Town.
They say he's laid beneath a tree,
(Come back to Brecon Town!)
Shouldn't I know? -- I was there to see:
(It's far to Brecon Town!)
It's me that keeps it trim and drest
With a briar there and a rose by his breast --
The English flowers he likes the best
That I bring from Brecon Town.
And I sit beside him -- him and me,
(We're back to Brecon Town.)
To talk of the things that used to be
(Grey ghosts of Brecon Town);
I know the look o' the land and sky,
And the bird that builds in the tree near by,
And times I hear the jackals cry,
And me in Brecon Town.
Golden grey on miles of sand
The dawn comes creeping down;
It's day in far off Zululand
And night in Brecon Town.
poem by John McCrae
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Travelin' Man
A-don't you know that I'm leaving
I gotta catch the next train out.
I can't believe it.
Cause I'm a-already on my own.
A-Memphis town is the place I'm found.
There ain't no use in a-sticking around.
I got my pack on my back my friends,
And I'm heading on out again.
Cause I'm a, a-travelin' man my friend.
I've got to travel across this land.
Cause I'm a, a-travelin' man my friend.
A-Lord I'm on the move.
I told you girl I ain't staying tonight.
I got to leave while the getting is right.
I got the places to see, people to meet,
And I'm a-headin' on down the street.
A-when I get to old New York town,
A-pretty ladies there to show me around.
I'll take my money, all I can spend,
And I'm headin' on out again.
Cause I'm a, a-travelin' man my friend.
I've got to travel across this land.
Cause I'm a, a-travelin' man my friend,
Lord keep a-travelin' on.
Break
Well tomorrow is coming,
And I'll be on the road again.
A-pushin' and huffin'
While trying to get ahead.
I think I'm getting ready and hot.
I know it's time for a-me to stop.
I need to back another whiskey shot,
Lord, keep a-travelin' on.
Cause I'm a, a-travelin' man my friend.
I've got to travel across this land.
Cause I'm a, a-travelin' man my friend.
A-Lord can't you see I got to keep on,
Travelin' on.
Lord keep travelin' on.
song performed by by 38 Special
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black Mountain Blues
Out in black mountain a child will smack your face.
Im saying out on black mountain a child will smack your face.
The babies cryin for liquor, and all the birds sing bass.
Well, those people in black mountain are mean as they can be.
And those people in black mountain are mean as they can be.
Now they uses gun powder just to sweeten up their tea.
Well, out in black mountain you cant keep a good man in jail.
Yeah, out in black mountain you cant keep a good man in jail
cause if the jury convicts him, the judge will pay his bail.
I had a man in black mountain, the sweetest man in town.
I had a man in black mountain, the sweetest man in the town.
But then he met a city gal, thats when he throwed me down.
Lord, Im bound for black mountain, me and my razor and my gun,
Im going back to black mountain, me and my razor and my gun.
Im gonna fire him if he stands still, Ill just cut him if he runs.
Lord, now youve heard my story, now youve heard my news.
Lord, now youve heard my story, now youve heard my news.
Now my man can clear off, Ive got the blackest mountain blues.
song performed by by Janis Joplin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cmon Children
Maurice white, verdine adams (? ), michael beal, donald whitehead & wade flemons
Way up on that mountain children
Reachin up there for ya children
Need ya back down here my children
To plant your pretty flowers children
(cmon children, cmon children)
Hey, hey-hey, hey
Come on down and lend a hand
Need your love, to save the land
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(cmon children, cmon children)
*the world needs the children
Cryin for the children
(*repeat)
Need ya back down here my children
To plant your pretty flowers children
Come on children
Need your love to save the land
Need your love to save the land
To save the land, save the land
To save the land, save the land
(repeat and fade)
song performed by by Earth Wind And Fire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Take A Step Back
Go tell it on the mountain
Like it burst forth like a fountain
Try to shake the deep foundations of this land
High up on lovers land
They got hotel rooms so grand
And no one here knows what goes behind closed doors
Take a step back to the middle of the track
Dont you know its rumoured all around
Says you know its come to town
Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track
cos the rumours are around said youre coming back to town
And with every little lie
You come and never blink an eye
You know youve got yourself all tied up
When youre around
Ive got the modern world behind me
Like a needle in a haystack find me
They build you up and then theyre going to burn you down
So take a step back to the middle of the track
The rumours all around
Said youre coming back to me
Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track
Says you know its going upside, you know whats going down
Im haunted by the wanderer deep inside
Wanted by
Haunted by
Im haunted by the wanderer thats deep in my soul
Gonna look back to the middle of the track
And you know its going upside
Le, le, da, le
Telling me
Ah ha, uh hu
Ooh look back to the middle of the track
And you know its going upside
Telling me...
Dont tell me its a bad dream
Dont tell me its not what it seems
Dont tell me pretty soon you know
Gotta stop the roller coaster
Gotta make the most of it
Gonna pull you down
Gotta make the most of it
Better cool it down
Words and music : simple minds reproduced without permission
song performed by by Simple Minds
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One Road
Time...is the enemy of a young mans dreams
Im stranded...in the heartland, or so it seems
Im hitching a ride for a chance at the good life
Ill have my own place. out on fifth avenue
Im leavin this time gonna walk on that fine line
Ill be the first one who finally breaks through
One road to the promised land
I have to get there any way I can
One road to the promised land
Gonna find out just who I am
Freedom...do you know what I mean
Flatlands...are all Ive ever seen
Stuck in a small town where you live, then you die
Aint nothin but fools workin nine until five
Ill sleep in the subways till I get what I need
Im not gonna stay here, just lie here and bleed
One road to the promised land
Im gonna get there any way I can
One road to the promised land
Show the world just who I am
One road to the promised land
I thought by now Id be a different man
One road to the promised land
Guess I found out...just who I am
song performed by by Toto
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ghost Town
This town is becoming like a ghost town;
Many of our local shops are closing down.
Once upon a time, this town was really hopping,
But now people go elsewhere for their shopping.
The life from our town has been sucked out,
And nowadays there is hardly anyone about.
Local people go to other towns and cities:
That it has ended up this way, is a real pity.
The town's population is rapidly growing,
But trade in our shops is rapidly slowing.
Many units stand empty for years and years:
Owners found the rents were just way too dear.
We need some life breathed back into town;
We need to turn this situation back around.
Of help for new businesses, we need much more,
So that our town can be the place it was before.
poem by Angela Wybrow
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Young Man's Town
You wake up one morning and it's passed you by.
You don't know when and you don't know why.
You feel like an old memory hangin' round.
And man, you've gotta face it, it's a young man's town.
You knew this day was comin' all along.
So why bitch and moan and say they done you wrong?
Just teach 'em what you know an' pass it on down,
'Cause man, you gotta face it, it's a young man's town.
Chorus:
It's a young man's town,
Full of young man's dreams.
And all God's children
Gotta learn to spread their wings.
Sometimes you gotta stand back,
And watch 'em burn it to the ground,
Even though you built it,
It's a young man's town.
You always seem to be the last to know.
Man, that's just the way that the story goes.
There's nothin' you can do when the fields have turned brown.
Man, you gotta face it, it's a young man's town.
Chorus:
It's a young man's town,
Full of young man's dreams.
And all God's children
Gotta learn to spread their wings.
Sometimes you gotta stand back,
And watch 'em burn it to the ground,
Even though you built it,
It's a young man's town.
Sometimes you gotta stand back,
And watch 'em burn it to the ground.
Even though you built it,
It's a young man's town...
song performed by by Vince Gill
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Young Man's Town
You wake up one morning and it's passed you by.
You don't know when and you don't know why.
You feel like an old memory hangin' round.
And man, you've gotta face it, it's a young man's town.
You knew this day was comin' all along.
So why bitch and moan and say they done you wrong?
Just teach 'em what you know an' pass it on down,
'Cause man, you gotta face it, it's a young man's town.
Chorus:
It's a young man's town,
Full of young man's dreams.
And all God's children
Gotta learn to spread their wings.
Sometimes you gotta stand back,
And watch 'em burn it to the ground,
Even though you built it,
It's a young man's town.
You always seem to be the last to know.
Man, that's just the way that the story goes.
There's nothin' you can do when the fields have turned brown.
Man, you gotta face it, it's a young man's town.
Chorus:
It's a young man's town,
Full of young man's dreams.
And all God's children
Gotta learn to spread their wings.
Sometimes you gotta stand back,
And watch 'em burn it to the ground,
Even though you built it,
It's a young man's town.
Sometimes you gotta stand back,
And watch 'em burn it to the ground.
Even though you built it,
It's a young man's town...
song performed by by Vince Gill
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Take Your Guns To Town
On the eastern highway we ride
Windshield wipers disperse the rain from the sky
Whats left is ivy and vine
All the letters Id sent back home
Never express the idea of how a young man
Can be so far from home
Take your guns to town
Dont take your guns to town
Take your guns to town
Dont take your guns to town
Stumble down main street alone
Just gotten home with my hand on the phone
I was drinking alone on the quilted (? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? )
Take your guns to town
Dont take your guns to town
Take your guns to town
Dont take your guns to town
song performed by by Whiskeytown
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My City, My Town
My city, my town
The day u were birthed
No one regretted
My City
The glory of both the young and old
a site for everyone to behold
My city
A place of great edifices
a town with wonderful places
Four and two-legged machines
Fills this land unconditionally
A place of constant influx
Beautiful lush green grass
Filled the lawns at every corner
Bridges everywhere
as long as monumental caterpillars
Masts of every network
as tall as the Eiffel Tower of Paris,
A total amazement..
My city,
A beauty to uphold,
Now a story yet untold
My city, oh my town
You are losing your luster,
colour and radiance
That made humans of all race
want to advance, to seek solace
My city, My town
The land that brought memories
of neighborliness,
Everyone, together as of same parents
Awake from your slumber
Oh my great city, 'The Garden-City'
The crown princess of Rivers state
Why do you constantly hibernate?
Wake up
My city, my town,
Be like David,
Defeat this Goliath called GREED!
Show your feat
and make this enemy face the heat.
Edwina Aleme, (c) 2009
poem by Edwina Aleme
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Jerusalem / Land of God
Jerusalem
Home of Saints and Prophets
All of them prayed there
with tears
I Pray
Yester
was last day
in the last year
All people
thinking
about themselves
and their families
myself
thinking of you
Because I love you
I love Jesus
the merciful
and i love you
I prayed
that you be
land of God
Land of Peace
Town of Love
Land of Jesus
Town of Jesus
The merciful
Land of Mary
The Innocent
Land of Moses
The well bred
The highly mannered
I want to pray
in your Mosque and Temple
Prayers of Love and Peace
Prayers of Forgiveness
for all the blood shed
here and there
Please give Peace
to my world
the small one
then the big one
Because you are the Most Generous
Then Suddenly
Hope came
and it comes suddenly
Like Life
Jerusalem Again
I love you
I love You So
Your air and Beauty
Your Past and Future
Please be Land of God
Land for God
Land of innocence
Land for Innocence
Land of us
Land for us
of you
for you
of me
for me
of us
for us
of Peace
for Peace
Landing
Landing
Landin g
Toward Peace/
Toward Peace/
Justice/
Prevail/
poem by Eman Elbadawi
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Midnight Cowboy Song, The
I was in an all night movie
When i heard the usher say
Here comes the midnight cowboy
Got his gun hired out for pay;
You were walking kind of faded
From the netherlands hotel
With your hat tipped off to ladies
Really looking well.
Aw joe, why don't you go back home?
Really hate to see you falling down
Get out of town.
Well you came to new york city with a calendar full of gold
Now they locked it up in the bedroom
And they kicked you out in the cold;
Now you can't afford a little blanket
You can get one from a friend
You can trick one off the corner
You can even keep the change - to spend.
Hey joe, why don't you go back home?
Really hate to see you come falling down
Get out of town.
There's a soldier in the depot
He's a fighting nightingale
Wearing western boots and buckskin on
Reading fortunes from the penny scale;
Now today he's got a a quarter
For the photograph machine
But tomorrow he'll be lonely lonely
That's the way it's always been.
Poor joe, why don't you go back home?
Really hate to see you falling down
Get out of town.
I was in an all night movie
When i heard the usher say
Here comes the midnight cowboy again
Got his gun hired out for pay;
You were walking kind of faded
From the netherlands hotel
Hat tipped off to ladies
Tipped off to gentlemen as well.
Well joe, why don't you go back home?
Find yourself a girl and settle down
Get out of town
Get out of town
Find yourself a girl, go and settle down
Hey joe, looking more lost than found
Get out of town.
song performed by by Joni Mitchell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Little Town
Words & music by paul simon
In my little town
I grew up believ--ing
God keeps his eye on us all
And he used to lean upon me
As I pledged allegiance to the wall
Lord I recall
My little town
Coming home after school
Flying my bike past the gates
Of the factories
My mom doing the laundry
Hanging our shirts
In the dirty breeze
And after it rains
Theres a rainbow
And all of the colors are black
Its not that the colors arent there
Its just imagin-ation they lack
Everythings the same
Back in my little town
Nothing but the dead and dying
Back in my little town
Nothing but the dead and dying
Back in my little town
In my little town
I never meant nothin
I was just my fathers son
Saving my money
Dreaming of glory
Twitching like a finger
On the trigger of a gun
Leaving nothing but the dead and dying
Back in my little town
Repeat and fade:
Nothing but the dead and dying
Back in my little town
song performed by by Paul Simon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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