Death’s Dateless Night

HARD TIMES COME AGAIN NO MORE

Written by: Stephen Foster (public domain) arr Paul Kelly & Charlie Owen

Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears

While we all sup sorrow with the poor

There’s a song that will linger forever in our ears

Oh, hard times, come again no more

 

‘Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered all around my cabin door

Oh, hard times, come again no more

 

While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay

There are frail forms fainting at the door

Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say

Oh, hard times, come again no more

 

‘Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered all around my cabin door

Oh, hard times, come again no more

 

‘Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave

‘Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore

‘Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave

Oh hard times come again no more

 

‘Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

Oh hard times come again no more

TO LIVE IS TO FLY

Written by: John Townes Van Zandt

Won’t say I love you, babe

Won’t say I need you, babe

But I’m gonna get you babe

And I will not do you wrong

Living’s mostly wasting time

And I’ll waste my share of mine

But it never feels too good

So let’s don’t take too long

You’re as soft as glass

And I’m a gentle man

We got the sky to talk about

And the world to lie upon

 

Days, up and down they come

Like rain on a conga drum

Forget most, remember some

But don’t turn none away

Everything is not enough

And nothin’ is too much to bear

Where you been is good and gone

All you keep’s the getting there

 

Well to live is to fly

All low and high

So shake the dust off of your wings

And the sleep out of your eyes

 

Goodbye to all my friends

It’s time to go again

Think of all the poetry

And the pickin’ down the line

Well I’ll miss the system here

The bottom’s low

And the treble’s clear

But it don’t pay to think too much

On things you leave behind

Well I may be gone

But i won’t be long

I will be a’bringin’ back the melodies

And rhythm that I find

 

We all got holes to fill

Them holes are all that’s real

Some fall on you like a storm

Sometimes you dig your own

The choice is yours to make

Time is yours to take

Some sail dive into the sea

Some toil upon the stone

 

Well to live is to fly

All low and high

So shake the dust off of your wings

And the sleep out of your eyes

 

Shake the dust off of your wings

And the tears out of your eyes

PRETTY BIRD TREE

Written by: Lawrence John Hill (control)

Appear on the slopes and plains

In the town of Narabran

On the banks of the Namoi river

‘Neath the shade of the pretty bird tree

All my brother Daabi died down there

Neath the willows oh so cool

Now he walks with our ancestors

Underneath the Kamilaroi moon

 

Namoi River

You’re home to me

I sit with you ‘neath the pretty bird tree

 

Early on in life I took to the booze

And drank away my dreams

I watched my life flow steadily bye

Like tear drops down the drain

So I headed for the river, and became a river rat

I’d worn out all my welcomes

No place to hang my head

Oh there was cranky Franky and Jackie brown

Who demand old craigy and me

And would lay next daylight poison dogs

all around the pretty bird tree

 

Namoi River

You’re home to me

I’ll sit with you ‘neath the pretty bird tree

 

When the hallowing wind doth wane

On the Namoi late at night

You can hear the old ones singing

As they dance in the pale moon light

Oh there were many more names I can’t recall

But their faces I still see

Whisper smiths calm face appears

As I dream of the pretty bird tree

 

Namoi River

You’re home to me

I’ll sit with you ‘neath the pretty bird tree

I’ll sit with you ‘neath the pretty bird tree

MAKE ME A PALLET ON YOUR FLOOR

Written by: Traditional arr Paul Kelly & Charlie Owen

Make me a pallet on your floor

Make me baby a pallet on your floor

Make it soft, make it low

I swear he’ll never know

When your main one comes

I swear he’ll never know

 

Make it baby

By that kitchen door

Make it baby

By that kitchen door

Make it soft, make it low

I swear that he’ll never know

 

When your good man comes,

I swear he’ll never know

I get up in the morning

I’ll make you a red hot meal

I’ll get up in the morning baby

I’ll make you a red hot meal

Just to show you

I appreciate it

Whatcha did for me

When you made me

A pallet on your floor

 

Oh make me a pallet on your floor

Make me baby a pallet on your floor

Make it soft, make it low

I swear he’ll never know

When your good man comes

 

He’ll never know

Make it soft, make it low

I swear he’ll never know

When your main one comes

I swear he’ll never know

NUKKANYA

Written by: Paul Kelly

Outside the dogs are barking

And the morning sun is breaking through the trees

My heart is feeling heavy

As I listen to the moaning of the breeze

Nukkanya, baby, I really don’t want to leave

 

There’s a ticket in my pocket

I’d toss it if I only had my way

And a suitcase in the hallway

I wish I could unpack it now and stay

Nukkanya, baby, I’m gonna be back some day

 

Nukkanya

Don’t it go to show what a man don’t know

Nukkanya

Nukkanya, baby, I really don’t want to go

 

My land was once a river

I hate to see it slowly bleeding dry

My love is like an eagle

High across the desert she will fly

Nukkanya, baby, I’ll see you by and by

 

Nukkanya

Don’t it go to show what a man don’t know

Nukkanya

Nukkanya baby, I really don’t want to go

Nukkanya baby, I really don’t want to go

Nukkanya

Nukkanya baby, I really don’t want to go

Nukkanya baby, I really don’t want to go

Nukkanya baby, I really don’t want to go

BIRD ON THE WIRE

Written by: Leonard Cohen

Like a bird on the wire

Like a drunk in a midnight choir

I have tried in my way to be free

 

Like a worm on a hook

Like a knight from some old-fashioned book

I have saved all my ribbons for thee

And if I, if I’ve been unkind

I hope that you can just let it go by

If I, if I’ve been untrue

I hope you know it was never to you

 

Like a baby, stillborn

Like a beast with his horn

I have torn everyone who reached out for me

But I swear by this song

And by all that I have done wrong

I will make it all up to thee

 

I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch

He said to me, “you must not ask for so much”

And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door

She cried to me, “hey, why not ask for more?”

Like a bird on the wire

Like a drunk in a midnight choir

I have tried in my way to be free

GOOD THINGS

Written by: Maurice Frawley

Well mumma always said just climb high up to the mountain

Don’t ya fall

For she always said

Just climb high up to the mountain

Don’t ya fall

Don’t let the good things go

No not the good things

Don’t let ‘em go

 

Like those old mountain songs

Ringing through the valley

Those old mountain songs just keep ringin’ in my belly

Don’t let the good things go

No not the good thing

Don’t let ‘em go

 

Hurry on sundown

See what tomorrow brings

Before I fall

Yeah hurry on sundown

See what tomorrow falls

Before I fall

Don’t let the good things go

No not the good things

Don’t let ‘em go

 

Like those old mountain songs

Ringing through the valley

Those old mountain songs just keep ringing in my belly

Don’t let the good things go

No not the good thing

Don’t let ‘em go

Not the good things

No not the good things

No not the good thing

Don’t let ‘em go

No not the good things

Don’t let ‘em go

LET IT BE

Written by: John Lennon & Paul McCartney

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

 

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree

There will be an answer, let it be

For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be

 

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

 

And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me

Shine until tomorrow, let it be

I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

 

Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be

There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

 

Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be

There will be an answer, let it be

MIDDLE OF THE AIR

Written by: Paul Kelly

I am your true shepherd

I will lead you there

Beside still waters

Come and meet me in the middle of the air

I will meet you in the middle of the air

 

I will lay you down

In pastures green and fair

Every soul shall be restored

I will meet them in the middle of the air

Come and meet me in the middle of the air

 

Through the lonesome valley

My rod and staff you’ll bear

Fear not death’s dark shadow

Come and meet me in the middle of the air

I will meet you in the middle of the air

 

With oil I shall anoint you

A table shall I prepare

Your cup will runneth over

Come and meet me in the middle of the air

I will meet you in the middle of the air

 

In my house you’ll dwell forever

You shall not want for care

Surely goodness and mercy will follow you

Come and meet me in the middle of the air

I will meet you in the middle of the air

DON’T FENCE ME IN

Written by: Porter Cole

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above

Don’t fence me in

Let me ride through the wide open country that I love

Don’t fence me in

 

Let me be by myself in the evenin’ breeze

And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees

Send me off forever but I ask you please

Don’t fence me in

 

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle

Underneath the western skies

On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder

Till I see the mountains rise

 

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences

And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses

And I can’t look at hobbles and I can’t stand fences

Don’t fence me in

 

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle

Underneath the western skies

On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder

Till I see the mountains rise

 

Just turn me loose, let me straddle my old saddle

Underneath the western skies

On my cayuse, let me wander over yonder

Till I see the mountains rise

 

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences

And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses

And I can’t look at hobbles and I can’t stand fences

Don’t fence me in

THAT’S HOW STRONG MY LOVE IS

Written by: Jamison Roosevelt

If I was the sun way up there

I’d go with you most everywhere

I’ll be the moon when the sun goes down

Just to let you know, I’m still around

 

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong my love is

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong it is

 

I’ll be the weeping willow drowning in my tears

You can go swimming when you’re here

I’ll be the rainbow when the sun is gone

Wrap you in my colors and keep you warm

 

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong it is

 

I’ll be the ocean so deep and wide

Catch all your tears whenever you cry

I’ll be the breeze after the storm is gone

To dry your eyes, love you once more

 

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong it is.

 

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong my love is,

That’s how strong it is.

HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE

Written by: Traditional arr Paul Kelly & Charlie Owen

He was a friend of mine

He was a friend of mine

Every time I think about him now

I just can’t keep from cryin’

‘Cause he was a friend of mine

 

I stole away and cried

I stole away and cried

‘Cause I never had too much money

And I never been quite satisfied

And he was a friend of mine

 

He never done no wrong

He never done no wrong

A thousand miles from home

He never harmed no one

And he was a friend of mine

 

He was a friend of mine

He was a good friend of mine

Every time I hear his name

I just can’t keep from cryin’

‘Cause he was a friend of mine

 

Every time I think about him now

Lord I just can’t keep from cryin’

‘Cause he was a friend of mine

PARTING GLASS

Written by: Traditional arr Paul Kelly & Charlie Owen

Oh all the money that e’er I had

I spent it in good company

And all the harm that e’er I did

Alas, it was to none but me

And all I’ve done for want of wit

To memory now I can’t recall

So fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all

 

If I had money enough to spend

And leisure time to sit awhile

There is a fair maid in this town

Who sorely doth my heart-beguiled.

Her rosey cheeks and ruby lips,

I own she has my heart in thrall

So fill to me the parting glass.

Goodnight and joy be with you all

 

Oh all the comrades that e’er I’ve had

They Are sorry for my going away

And all the sweethearts that e’er I’ve kissed

Would wish me one more day to stay

But since it falls unto my lot

That I should rise and you should not

I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call

Good night and joy be with you all

ANGEL OF DEATH

Written by: Hank Williams

In the great book of John

You’re warned of the day

When you’ll be laid

Beneath the cold clay

 

The Angel of Death

Will come from the sky

And claim up your soul

When the time comes to die

 

When the Angel of Death

Comes down after you

Can you smile and say

That you’ve been true

 

Can you truthfully say

With your dying breath

That you’re ready to meet

The Angel of Death

 

When the lights all grow dim

And dark shadows creep

And all your loved ones

Are gathered to weep

 

Can you face them and say

With your dying breath

That you’re ready to meet

The Angel of Death

 

When the Angel of Death

Comes down after you

Can you smile and say

That you’ve been true

 

Can you truthfully say

With your dying breath

That you’re ready to meet

The Angel of Death

 

Are you ready to meet

The Angel of Death