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