Good tradition
There's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside
there's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside

and through the rain may fall - your father's calling you
you still feel safe inside
and through your ma's too proud - your brother's ignoring you
you still feel safe inside

oh, was this solo?
was this yesterday?
was this true for you?
'cos while all rest have taken time
this didn't do a lot for you

and the corners laced with memories
tell you how it used to be
your mother smiles, the children play, and all the bad things happen miles away

and strong feelings never bother you
you hold your head up while the rest of us try to

oh, call the stations
call the people
we all want to know
'cos while all the rest have taken time
you don't wanna know

well, there's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside
there's a good tradition of love and hate staying by the fireside

and through the rain may fall - your father's calling you
you still feel safe inside
and through your ma's too proud - your brother's ignoring you
you still feel safe inside

oh, was this solo?
was this yesterday?
was this true for you?
'cos of all the choices you have made
this didn't do a lot for you

Cathedral song
I saw from the cathedral
you were watching me
and I saw from the cathedral
what I should be

so take my time
and take my lies
'cos all the others want to take my life

and I wach, with an intent, basic
it's the same for you
you hold your hand and it's all fine - laced and
what would you make me do?

so take my time
and take my lies
'cos all the others want to take my life

serious for the winter time
to wrench my soul
whole cotton, whole cotton ears
but I know there must be
yes I know there must be yes I know there must be a place to go

you saw me, from the cathedral
well I'm an ancient heart
yes, you saw me from the cathedral
well here we are just falling apart

you catch me
I am tired
I want all that you are

I saw you from the cathedral
you were leaving me
and I saw from the cathedral
you could not see to see

so take my time
and take my lies
'cos all the others want to take my life

Sighing innocents
Give me a stand
a standing ovation, baby
give me a road
which I can tail
you don't know nothing
about my sad face, baby
so don't pretend
or you might pay
cost
it's costing us nothing, baby
I might feel some shame
but I don't care

and if you won't mind
just moving the fireside, baby
I'd rather be cold
than lying over there
no, this ain't sighing innocents
this ain't sighing innocents
no, this ain't sighing
I'm just trying to follow you

and if you walk
I might just tag along
it only be shop talk, some
well that's something to do

or I might take a walk
by the river, baby
but no I won't
no I won't be waiting for you

no, this ain't sighing innocents
this ain't sighing innocents
no, this ain't sighing
I'm just trying to follow you

sorry but no sense
that (no one will miss you)
no one will miss you
if you die

they might send a wreath
they might send a reason
they might send a reason
but us, we know

join in the sus
it's always the same, man
he's taking a stroll
and then they tie him to his ghost
I know it's sad
but you never listen
no, you never listen
you just drive home

I love you
Johnny was a peculiar guy
brought upon love and the reasons why
but the reasons why ought not to be said
and so I'm left hands held to my head

I love you
I love you
I love you

it's a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful thing
it's a beautiful, beautiful thing

chances, changes are all that you have
as you take the hard stuff, and lie on your back
the smoothness, strangeness
fits like a glove
but the comfort of tease
still rises above

I love you
I love you
I love you

but is it possible, possible, possible babe
is it possible for you and me

gold and waves and betty blue
are thye images that lead to the clues of why
I can't love you
I can't love you
I can't love you
it isn't possible

World outside your window
Everyone has said that I might go
'cos my red suitcase and my ray-bans
weren't quite so
I'd bear the heavy wind and the rain that falls
I'll never come back again
'cos you know I laugh when the winter shows her hand
well that picture framed is the saddest thing you'll see
but it bought me time and a place that love could be
and since I'm going now, please rearrange
'cos I'd like to think that things have changed
I don't believe you'll be open anymore

tell me if you want to see
a world outside your window
a world outside your window isn't free
and tell me if you wanna catch that feeling of redemption
that feeling of redemption doesn't do much for me

well, everyone was hoping you would stay a while
tell us 'bout your great land in the south
I see that man - now ain't he under offer
I tell you child you go wash out your mouth
tell me if you want to see
a world outside your window
a world outside your window isn't free
and tell me if you wanna catch that feeling of redemption
that feeling of redemption doesn't do much for me

what can you say
I'm hiding in the belfrey
what can you say - I want to catch time
how can you say you know anything about me
well I knew about you. but I don't care about you

everyone has come to see, well somethings have to die
flowers out for this graphic haunt, but they all pass me by
but the age is not a funny game, it don't give such a buzz
and when I winced with ignorance
I had to kiss this dust

For all these years
I got a scent on you, I got something here to show
(it's) somebody's slice of life
I had it tailor made, I had it soken, shaken and shown around the world
and for all these things you tell me, well
I can't quite believe
you are still there and I'm still trying to be somebody

always on the upkeep, always trying to reach the rest of us
we don't have anything to say, nothing to give
well, life it blows away
I have another chance, I may have two lives
but my both lives will be brief lives
and then, you all will wonder why

I was nearly 16 years old
you were only 17, life isn't so complicated
but then life isn't 'sposed to be
for all these years
for all these years

could somebody tell them
to hurry on, hurry on down
would somebody tell them to hurry on, hurry on down

every censor, everybody loses their way
I have a wealth of material, I have a well of people to share with you

every lover
well they all tell lies
yes, I have his wife in the background
but I have more than this, I have more than this
and if mr Chaste, he has a past
give it to me

I was nearly 16 years old
you were only 17, life isn't so complicated
but then life isn't 'sposed to be
for all these years
for all these years

Twist in my sobriety
All god's children need travelling shoes
drive your problem from here
all good people read good books
now your conscience is clear
now your conscience is clear

in the morning when I whipe my brow
whipe the miles away
I like to think I can be so willed
and never do what you say
and never do what you say

look my eyes are just holograms
look your love has drawn red from my hands
from my hands you know you'll never be
more than twist in my sobriety
more than twist in my sobriety
more than twist in my sobriety

we just poked a little pie
for the fun that people had at night
late at night don't need hostility
the timid smile and pause to free

I don't care about the different thoughts
different thoughts are good for me
up in arms and chaste and whole
all god's ghildren took theire toll

look my eyes are just holograms
look your love has drawn red from my hands
from my hands you know you'll never be
more than twist in my sobriety
more than twist in my sobriety
more than twist in my sobriety

cup of tea, take time to think, yea
I'm to riska life, alife, a life
sweet and handsome
soft and porky
you pig out 'til you've seen the light
pig out 'til you've seen the light

half the people read the papers
read them good and well
pretty people, nervous people
people have got to sell
news you have to sell

look my eyes are just holograms
look your love has drawn red from my hands
from my hands you know you'll never be
more than twist in my sobriety
more than twist in my sobriety
more than twist in my sobriety

look my eyes are just holograms
look your love has drawn red from my hands
from my hands you know you'll never be
more than twist in my sobriety
more than twist in my sobriety
more than twist in my sobriety

Poor cow
Today is my birthday
I stay outside the hall
inside sit the butterflies
for the butterfly ball

all the boys are graded now
they come in the white socks, flat tops
and somehow, they find a place
all the boys are winning now
they play all the tricks with smiles
and a sorry past
for poor cow

their own roomand winter trees
never touched these girls before
they hear the car stereo
and they know what life is for

all the boys are weary now
listening to the family sing song
family say so

must carve, must carve poore cow
slice her, slice her up, poor cow
slice her, slice her up, poor cow
slice her, slice her up, poor cow

Today is my birthday
I stay outside the hall
inside sit the butterflies
for the butterfly ball

He likes the sun
Some say the world goes crazy
it's summertime
I say I'm feeling lazy
hammocks in mind

and I can't change a thing
so I won't stay around
if you can feel so hot
why don't you feel for me
if you can feel so much
why don't you let it out
and let me be alone again

I keep watch, that's alright
'cos it comes in this real night

he likes the sun
see the cornered clown
he likes the sun
let us waste this town
and when it rains
you feel the click in his heart
and that's when the pain in mine will start
and that's when the pain in mine will start

I'm used to growing older
and feeling down inside
but yes, I know, well someone told
you should have seen him cry

well that's not my life
I'm tired of chip inside and playing bronze for cool
y'know that sometimes light
and sometimes you can just be that fool
who can really say

if I'm cross - it's a joke
if I'm lost - let it go up in smoke

he likes the sun
see the cornered clown
he likes the sun
let us waste this town
and when it rains
you feel the click in his heart
and that's when the pain in mine will start
and that's when the pain in mine will start

jump right out of your class colours
and make like you were easy prey
and cheer us solemn of a possible
is it possible?
I could really play could really play
all these things I say
though not torn inside, though not torn
you just lie, lie low - lie low for me

I'm in deeper waters - where everyone would claim
we used to know the daughter - throw it away it's not such a shame
if you're feeling blue
and like icy looks and great command
he likes the way I'm true
but I know inside
this is real life sham - but that's okay
and this song can't be sued
I assume - you get up and renew yourself

he likes the sun
see the cornered clown
he likes the sun
let us waste this town
and when it rains
you feel the click in his heart
and that's when the pain in mine will start
and that's when the pain in mine will start

Valentine heart
If I was a londoner, rich with complaint
would you take me back to your house
which is sainted with lust and the list less shade
if I could have held you once more in that light
it's nothing to you, but it keeps me alive
like a valentines day, it's a valentines heart anyway

the king and the ages, they fall by the plan
it's always the tired and the ordinary man
(it's the) challenge it's funny and such
I want to see you again
I want to see you again
it's so simple and plain
but I'll come back and see you again

the life is the angel, it doesn't exist
I tell you it's funny but you like just to twist all my words
it's a shame you're so young
my words, it's a shame I'm so dumb
I figure a house with the smoke and the fence
the people round here would be pleased
take my word on this

I believe just in you, just believe in you, I would believe, just believe in you
and five days to catch me around with my ring
as I visit the friendship which ment everything to the girl
with the clowns face, to the girl with the clowns face, round here

Prayed upon
When your life has all been token
and your stance is akin to broken hearts
you've grown weary
I can take your part

it's eye-open time, sailor
when they want you to pretend
you were inside that playground
you maybe old - but not so old
that I can't see
see your old friends, and it's fresh as dew
but see what's new and it's all the same to you
now I'm not choosy and I'm just half grown
I took the old man - I gave the old man
I took the old man back home

safe with us to serenade
to hang around your black scarf and black ways
I have "no idea" he said, "no idea of what I'll do"

and talking less - it chases home
it chaces dreams - but I have really no reason, no goal and so
if you "wanna" play real basic
if you "wanna" help us make it
don't forget you're alone
unless it's all alone
don't forget you're alone
unless it's all alone

you get prayed upon
ohh oh

I need time to complicate you
to make you hate the things you might have done
and come out into this morning
it's the sun you want
not the foreign time


The sweet keeper (1990), Everybody's angel (1991), Eleven kinds of loneliness (1992), Lovers in the city (1995), The best of Tanita Tikaram (1996), The cappuccino songs (1998).