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MUSIC OF A
THOUSAND NIGHTS
Music
covers many feelings and this album I feel does just that with
songs that speak of ancient times in "This I Surely
Know", "Cold Stone Wall". Past days singing in
clubs, with my friends in "Troubadours" up to the
present with "Real Thing".
Click
song titles for lyrics, speaker icons for Real Audio sound clips
 Track
Listing & Sound Clips
1.
Cold Stone Wall
2. View From The Heart
3. On a Friday Afternoon
4. Troubadours
5. Johnny Be Fair
6. Snowbird
7. Cold As A Russian Winter
8. This I Surely Know
9. I Will (In Time)
10. Married In The 60's
11. No Matter What We Say
12. The Real Thing
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Cold
Stone Wall
She
walked through the meadow
On a cold winter's night
She went to meet him
By the cold stone wall
Mary, you're late now, yes I know it's true
Someone was watching when I came to you
She
said I will see you whenever I can
But lately it's harder to get past the gates
They watch from the window
Oh I hear you call
Save me the last dance by the cold stone wall
Chorus
If we don't dance tonight love we'll dance when we can
Whenever there's moonlight to show us the way
With make-believe fiddles, Oh I hear you call
Save me the last dance by the cold stone wall
She
reached out to kiss him, the wind drew a breath
The whole world grew silent no words did they speak
The hour is late now, yes I know it's true
Someone is waiting when I leave you
She
walked through the meadow on a dark winter's night
This was the last time by the cold stone wall
Tomorrow a journey would take her away
No heart to tell him, and no words to say
Chorus
He
waited the hours, she did not appear
They sent down the word, she was no longer her
Now many years later, they still hear him call
Out to his true love, by the cold stone wall
Chorus
(Repeat)
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited
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View
From The Heart
When I
was a young child and rather early
I had a feeling of being weary
I was wise for my years, I was lonesome for my age
I had a burning desire to be loved someday
So with
mixed emotions and a few kind words
Some stolen moments in a brand new world
I followed my heart around every corner
Believing in love like there was no tomorrow
My
hands in my pocket and my heart on my sleeve
i had a feeling that was way down deep
I was eager for learning I was learning to please
I had a burning desire to find my dream
So with
sweet devotion and a candle burning
I made my way while the world was turning
And I followed my heart around every corner
Believing in love like there was no tomorrow
Chorus
Now you know me I've got my life together
And the pieces that are missing are lost forever
But the view from the heart keeps getting better
And love's looking good to me
The
tree's peeping through the fog in the morning
The days grew bright and the nights grew warmer
I was set in my ways it was a long time coming
I had a burning desire to love somebody
So I
climbed the mountain and I felt the tumble
But I still believe that love will conquer
And I followed my heart around every corner
Believing in love like there was no tomorrow
Repeat
Chorus (2)
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited
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On
A Friday Afternoon
I found
the Poncho and Lefty tape
We played it time and time again
Has anything changed since the good old days
Well, I can name a few
There's
a lot more water under the bridge
And we don't live as close to the edge
The time that's left
And the time we spent
Chasing after our dreams
Chorus:
So I
called you up for the hell of it
I chilled the wine for the love of it
Remembering what we've not forgotten
On a Friday afternoon
And it was good to see you smile again
You sure light up the room
And it was good to see you leave before we got to close
Oh we both knew we would
Now
there's a rumour that's going round
A generation of the lost and found
The dance is slower and the music's down
A different point of view
There's
a lot more dinners by candlelight
Some easy talks and early nights
And I can see through that moon
That played with my heart
Chorus
We
spent the day on the life we lead
We talked it over and we both agreed
There's no more running if you're really free
And we're not running now
There's
a two lane highway running through this town
And every weekend it's the same old crowd
They're just as crazy and they're just as loud
As we were way back then
Chorus
And it
was good to see you smile again
You sure light up the room
And it was good to see you leave before we got to close
Oh we both knew we would
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
@ 1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited
::
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Johnny
Be Fair
Billy
be fair and Billy be fine
He wants me for to wed
And I would marry Billy
But my father up and said
I'm sad to tell you daughter
what your mother never knew,
but Billy here, he's a son of mine,
and so he's kin to you
Oh
Johnny be fair and Johnny be fine
He wants me for to wed
And I would marry Johnny
But my father up and said
I'm sad to tell you daughter
what your mother never knew,
but Johnny too, he's a son of mine,
and so he's kin to you
Well
you never seen a girl so sad
And sorry as I was
The boys in town are all my kin
And my father is the cause
If life should thus continue
I will die a single miss
I'm going to go to mother
And complain to her of this
Oh my
daughter haven't I taught you
To forgive and to forget
And if your father's sown his oats
Well still you needn't fret
He may be father to all the single boys in town but still;
He's not the one who sired you, so marry who you will!
Words
and Music By Buffy St. Marie
Gypsy Boy Music
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Troubadours
Oh
Jerome I heard you play last night
And you took me back to the corner pub
Where I saw the faces of the ones I love
They were waiting to surrender
Mo chridhe agus m'anam
To the
music of a thousand nights
Where we held our court on Friday's time
Where we missed our cues, but we made it right
We were all troubadours then
And we
heard the words o cia mar a tha thu?
And we answered with a quick glé mhath
They were phrases from another time
Some were passed around and some survived
But we knew their heart and we knew their pride
We were all troubadours then
Oh I
still recall the ancient halls
And the many nights we played til dawn
Where I heard the voices of the ones I love
They were waiting to surrender
Mo chridhe agus m'anam
To the
echo of a thousand songs
Where we raised our glass while the chorus rang
Where we left our hearts and we made our mark
We were all troubadours then
And we
heard the words o cia mar a tha thu?
And we answered with a quick glé mhath
They were phrases from another time
Some were passed around and some survived
But we knew their heart and we knew their pride
We were all troubadours then
And we
heard the words o cia mar a tha thu?
And we answered with a quick glé mhath
They were phrases from another time
Some were passed around and some survived
But we knew their heart and we knew their pride
We were all troubadours then
Yes we
knew their heart and we knew their pride
We were all troubadours then
And
Joella's voice would fill the night
We were all troubadours then
Words
and Music By Rita MacNeil
1996 Big Pond Publishing and Productions Limited
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Snowbird
Beneath
this snowy mantle cold and clean
The unborn grass lies waiting for its coat to turn to green
The snowbird sings the song he always sings
And speaks to me of flowers that will bloom again in spring
When I
was young my heart was young then too
And anything that it would tell me that's the thing that I would
do
But now I feel such emptiness within
For the thing that I want the most in life is the thing that I
can't win
Chorus:
Spread your tiny wings and fly away
And take the snow back with you where it came from on that day
The one I love forever is untrue
And if I could you know that I would fly away with you
The
breeze along the river seems to say
That he'll only break my heart again should I decide to stay
So little snowbird take me with you when you go
To that land of gentle breezes where the peaceful waters flor
Chorus
Yeah if
I could you know that I would fly away with you
Words
and Music by Gene MacLellan
1970 Beechwood Music of Canada
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Cold
As A Russian Winter
It was
cold as a Russian winter
When she walked into the room
She said I have something to tell you
That you may not want to hear
But she knew he knew her secret
When she looked into his eyes
She was desperate for forgiveness
He was shaken by her lies
Chorus
Once in awhile you follow your heart
And it may lead you astray
And in the heat of the moment I gave myself away
And if you don't love me now
I don't know what I'll do
And it felt cold like a Russian winter
When he walked out of the room
He said
all these years I've loved you
And we've walked a twisted road
I have rayed down beside you
And talked you through the storms
But she knew that it was over
When she looked into his eyes
She was begging for the last time
She was taken by surprise
Chorus
She was
left to stand in silence
For his words hung in the air
She fell frozen in her moment
Only time could break the spell
But she knew he'd not forgiven
When she looked into his eyes
She was stricken by the anger
He was holding back his heart
Chorus
Repeat
Chorus
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited
::
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This
I Surely Know
She
felt the cold winds in the night
Blow lowly through her door
She stood beside the raging fire
To keep her spirits warm
Oh love
it can be many things
For this I surely know
When you cast a stone into the sea
It is lost forever more
A
gentle hand is needed now
To heal a wounded soul
An empty sky, a parting kiss
These things in time will know
But
hope will come with the morning dew
For this I surely know
The season of a broken heart
In time will take its toll
A
singing bird came to her gate
Lamenting sweet and low
In every note she heard a sigh
And gently closed the door
A true
blue heart you hold it dear
For this I surely know
They come but once in every life
And pass this way no more
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited
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I
Will (In Time)
I left
the party when the lights were down
I looked behind me and I watched you dance
Dancing closer than we've ever been
Are these the warning signs I failed to see
I dial
your number and a voice came on
"I'm not available to take your call"
Did you forget that we had plans tonight
How many times before I get this right
Chorus
Oh I will stop believing all the lies you tell
In time you'll lose the magic that you weave so well
Leave you to give your cheating heart to someone else
Oh I will in time leave you
I hear
the music and I watch you smile
You have a distant look you can't deny
Is there a story you forgot to tell
is it just better if I walk away?
Chorus
Repeat
1st Verse
Repeat
Chorus
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
@ 1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited
::
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Married
In The 60's
It's a
very Mary, married
In the 60's room
Just enough satin with a hint of lace
A three legged table with a photo or two
And they're standing in the frame
So young and strong
And thirty years later she's as true to her picture
As she was to his love
It's a
never ending season on the heart
They're living well in their future now
From time to time they look back
And she had a dream of dancing long ago
You can tell by her picture
If things had been different
She would have stole the show
Chorus:
And you can tell they've grown familiar
In some ways they've grown apart
But even in their distance
They're connected by the heart
And there's a gentle wind
That's blowing 'round the door
And married in the 60's
It seems so long ago
It's a
very busy life when day is done
The children have their own life now
And they've married off their only son
And with souvenirs from places they have been
Love it just happens, and forever matters
When two hearts bend as one
Chorus
(Repeat)
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited
::
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No
Matter What We Say
Jesus
lights the sky at night
Plenty stars, it's plenty bright
The big dipper and the little one too
All our wishes are going to come true
Ocean
deep, ocean wide
Sailor watch the stars tonight
In the morning if the sky is blue
Sail away with me and you
Chorus
No matter what we say or do
Or when we make a plan or two
Or if we win or if we lose
We look to heaven for the answer
Blue
horizon all around
Better days are coming down
Plenty hopes and plenty dreams
Plenty room for you and me
Chorus
Friends
will gather 'round the door
Easy come and easy go
Now in the morning if the friends are true
Sail away with me and you
Chorus
(Repeat)
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
©1995 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited
::
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The
Real Thing
I was
always surprised
By the look in your eyes
When I said the words
I love you
Your world came undone
With the thought of such love
You're simply, simply the real thing
I could
sometimes get by
With a few restless nights
When I missed the warmth of your touch
In the blink of an eye
Your love is my life
You're simply, simply the real thing
Chorus
Now the real thing's living in my world now
No more reason to doubt somehow
And one thing more, this for sure
You're simply, simply the real thing
When
your world is on fire
You feel so alive
And you only hear your heartbeat
You stand by the chance to find true romance
You're simply, simply the real thing
Chorus
I was
always surprised
By the look in your eyes
When I said the words
I love you
And one thing more, this for sure
You're simply, simply the real thing
Simply, simply the real thing
Words
and Music by Rita MacNeil
1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited
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