1. |
The Land of the Dragons
03:38
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in the land of the dragons, I woke up, I woke up
but I pray for a better home, and the connection, I know that I am worth
so you can kill me, you can stab me, but you'll never make me angry
cos it's all I have left, ain't got nothing left, it's the thing that I like best
so much more is better than revenge
well I was aimin', for the world and (they) said they would feel me
but if I'm not scared, but i say I'm scared
it gets me out of my head and to you, and to you, and to you...
so you can kill me, you can stab me, but you'll never make me angry
cos it's all I have left, ain't got nothing left, it's the thing that I like best
so much more is better than revenge
the thing you think I do not know, I figured it out long ago
and I forgive you heart and soul, cos anger don't look good on me, no
so you can kill me, you can stab me,
oh but you'll never make me angry
cos it's all I have left, and I ain't got nothing left, it's the thing that I like best
so much more is better than revenge
in the land of the dragons, I woke up, I woke up
not angry, that's not me, baby that's you
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2. |
Spies
04:13
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you and your spies
but things can't be rebuilt upon a lie
and truth be told I'd do the same as well
for who is pure to keep their fingers still
just willing them to feel the way you feel?
spies, they look through me with guilty eyes and I, I feel like it's three years ago again tonight
but I, I wish I was a better man than the one I am, how I, I don't even deserve your spies
you, you came around and pushed your way into
'n how you broke my heart and left me in the dark
you stole all that I had to call it art
and so I stole away to keep our lives apart
spies, they look through me with guilty eyes and I, I feel like it's three years ago again tonight
but I, I wish I was a better man than the one I am, how I, I don't even deserve your spies
it's hard in love, to share it all
and I know I'm the worst, at going first
but if you only knew the sin I was born in
my own personal hell, and I'm not gonna let it hurt you as well, hurt you as well
so really don't have to spy, because I'll tell you what spies would find
I thought you saw it in my eyes, on the day that we had, said our goodbyes
as good as could be a goodbye
as good as could be a goodbye
you and your spies, you and they such better hearts than mine
I wish that I was strong, yeah I would have simply just become
the person that I know that you will find
and how I wished I were a better man than the one I am
how I, I don't even deserve your spies
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3. |
Bitter and Alone
04:39
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one more broken son
crowds the pile out the back
the rivers carry our bodies, to the heart of the city
but I don't buy into the dream
our values are top down, it's so easy to see
in fact I'd prefer to be at home,
I'm just bitter and alone
made a pact with the sky
who said it'd quit smokin' if I tried something new tonight
but the shinin' light above
burnt some memories into me
and I decided to leave, the clouds where they wanted to be
but I'm not, an expert on things
nor in touch with my feelings
in fact I'd prefer to be at home
yeah I'm just bitter and alone, I'm bitter and alone
but maybe the world is right, and I'm wrong
I must keep my mind open, cos there's a reason for everything
and there is some good, you just have to see it
and is it my ego, or something much more pure, that makes me want to change the world, into how I've seen when so many who have come before, with their grand vision, and fucked up it for everyone, so I'll just keep on singing, but only to myself, oh
and it's all only my fears
and it's all only my fears
I'm just bitter and alone
I'm trying to find a way home, to love
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4. |
Away
03:47
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until you've lost, everything, you can't run away
desperadoes, they always fare, better in the end
come in alone and it's easy to see
come in, our lovin', regret it, you are now
all I know is that you've run away, oh for the time
where the people on the streets submit the rules
and that isn't funny at all, but we've got something in our master plans
someday killers open fire, but I'm running back
to the camp solo, when love had turned so wrong, when you'd run
run away, no, the lows encourage truth, divide it and you know that this, we should not do, so we ran away, away
and up against the odds, that you used to play
but you can't beat the house when you learn it's a game too late,
so I've made my bet, there's no turning from it, let a new day begin, cos I'm all in
with the camp solo, when love had turned so wrong, when you'd run
run away, no, the lows encourage truth, divide it and you know that this, we should not do, so we ran away, away
now that you've lost everything you can run away, desperadoes they always fare, better in the end
but people run around inside, karma did it sooner remove you?
I wanted to know what it is, you can run away from, loving of the finest kind
I guess it's something that you are, yeah, mmm
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5. |
My Baby Don't Know
04:11
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let's make a deal: set me on fire, and I'll never tell
that you don't know, right from wrong and now the whole world's gonna know what you've done
and in the first place, who could imagine, the world was not there, and petty thieves, mean nothing to me, because the whole world's gonna know what you've done
my baby don't know, she doesn't know, nothing at all
my baby don't know, she doesn't know, nothing at all
and in the second place, all that was torn apart, was written to be, and all eyes turned, to exclamation, because the whole world's gonna know what you've done
my baby don't know, she doesn't know, nothing at all
my baby don't know, she doesn't know, nothing at all
and you will find out that I was the one, who stood, where you said you would
too late to change the blood on your hands, and now the whole world's gonna know what you've done!
and in my head, hid in my hands, my only thought
my baby don't know, she doesn't know, nothing at all
my baby don't know, she doesn't know, nothing at all
my baby don't know, she doesn't know, nothing at all
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6. |
Cardiac
03:03
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so many years they would come
lying doves enured your ears
making you sore, all of it
they break my heart
well don't be careless in love, when you're down
now she unlike me, is so composed
where I give in, is where she goes, and wise to all she teases me
yeah break my heart
but don't be careless in love, when you're down
and believe me when I say, I'd love to set us free
but our matching scars can tell, that love can hurt as well
so I said would you rather be alone?
than let your feelings show
now we both know
it's getting late, to always play it safe
it's common sense this way
but common sense would say
you're so very beautiful, but you don't feel it at all
you're so very beautiful, but the world's been so horrible
you're so very beautiful, but you don't feel it at all
you're so very beautiful, but you don't feel it at all
this could break our hearts,
and damn straight love don't save, this I know now
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7. |
Gentle Sky
04:03
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what I'd give, to be understood, as I look back through debris
to be let go, of the burden, the change below
you know I tried to cash it in, lord knows it's comin' out
no matter what I do
and I try to reach out, but only cos I should, my love it's just no good
to try to make, a difference, the war still in me
when only the skyline, knows I grieve, the rest just, they don't see
that like a flower bloomin' through
the cracks of concrete I know I'll find the day
where even though I can't, superman the earth back to the past
I would not want to anyway
nor try to make, a difference, the war still in me
when only the skyline knows I grieve, may a spark light up in me
so long, I'd fight to listen the war so loud for me
but how gentle the sky when, it saw I grieved, with love nor blood to bleed
nor help to bear, the distance between here and me
but oh for the skyline, my buoy in the sea
and it calls to me...
oh, oh, oh, it's the simple things that you never think, they're always there to see
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8. |
First Man on Mars
03:28
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my buddy will be the first man on mars
that's good enough for him
see I did never want, to be at the front
with life is as it is
well I'll see you on saturday, I heard a father say, by a broken home, where nobody spoke
from the plastic tomb, to the plunging harpoon, oh what on earth could save you?
so my buddy calls me, with tears in his voice
he doesn't need to say
I say, “well I did never want, to be at the front”
he said, “well it's your lucky day”
well I'll see you on saturday, was all was left to say, on the telephone, then nobody spoke
from my earthly tomb, I'll be plunging through, oh I guess I'll be gone soon
cos there was nothing to leave behind
would you look into my soul, and tell me you don't love me and I won't come home
I'm not sure if it's pink or red, but I can throw away the line
see I did never want to be at the front, but the view there is sublime
well, I'll see you on saturday, you heard the speaker say, as we were comin' home, yeah nobody spoke
in our metal tomb, as we plunged into blue, I finally didn't miss you
cos there was nothing, to leave behind
would you look into my soul, and tell me you don't love me and I won't come home
well I was the first man on mars
I don't know what it is
that makes me never want to be at the front
but I can tick mars off my list
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9. |
Butterflies
03:25
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over my fence, travel tames
ripples that couple, cobblestone roads unturned
how far can far, away be for real
offline cold into this land, loveless land
if I could fly or wade or drill
rip up the carpet, charm it and ride until
I'm with my friends, true victims, of life's cruel and damning hand
gloveless and
here, we go, like butterflies I know, who still embark, you are the only one I wanted to hear from now
I feel my face, trouble tends
riposte that couplet quip I'll stay rolling down
to forget all, a wind bleats a thrill
that i'll find calling to me when I travel
and, oh
so here we go like butterflies I know, who still embark, you are the only one I wanted to hear from now
the only one I wanted to hear from now
but over my fence I better fly right now
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10. |
Little Miracles
04:12
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yesterday my guardian angel
he told me of the son, eternally I longed
that when my bubble had burst, he'd spare my lungs
and for all I have learned, he would not but...
again in my dreams, resumed dialogue
said, “humour me as to what kind of God,
walks out of the room when you need them the most?”
though cynical, I harkened him speak:
“here where pure names bind, alloyed and written in stone
though that's where I'll be found
like the dawn bears the day, or choirs sing in the rain
all my love is the same
it's the same”
“then how holy the book, so held to the heart
too booksmart to beat when they came in the night?
it's all well and good, to turn your cheek,
but I turned to you, when they turned on me, so what gives?”
“fear ne'er you're made mine, alloyed and written in stone
though I serve the crown
and like the fawn falls as prey, or fires cinder the plain
all his love is the same
it's the same”
and I wonder are you the same angel that watched did nothing
the watch deserted you, oh, oh
although my bubble burst, I swear my lungs
upon the following words, sweet breath'd come:
“dear fair sure-aimed sprite
alloyed and written in stone, so your tenets abound
but you were gone, scared away
or why it seemed this way?”
he said, “all my love is the same”
It's the same
he said, “all my love is the same”
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11. |
So Smiled Al Capone
03:23
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up and over and round the bend
where i'll be whistling to no end
tell torrio, sonny and mae I'll break out of here someday
let's go to miami
leave behind my bentley
maybe throw a party
see if they can catch me
blind as a bat cos big al sold you that
as a matter of benefactor I would rather be straight up crook
than a hunted man
hunted over, and round the bend
where I'll be whistling, to no end
tell torrio, sonny and mae I'll break out of here someday
then shipping to chicago
disappearing cargo
sent my loyal fellow
who got hit by frankie yale
no doubt about it that frankie's gotta go
done caught stealing done as the day is now
and just like that, mob justice went
went over, and round the bend
where I'll be whistling, to no end
tell torrio, sonny and mae I'll break out of here someday
when two siciliana's, was one too many gone
on silver salvers we'll serve it cold
and cupid dropped his bow as seven men faced to the wall
our fake police just cut them to the floor...
folks by speakeasies
folks cashing out
but tell the folks I'm going away, I'm going away now
I'm going away now, oh
going over, and round the bend
where I'll be whistling, to no end
tell torrio, sonny and mae I'll break out of here someday
when I'll be over, and round the bend
but always whistling, to no end
tell torrio, sonny and mae I'll break out of here someday
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12. |
Vanish
04:39
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down by the river two footprints in the leaves, where she vanished, 'sbeen
checking the dusk for ghosts again who've seen his candlelight
like all who pass him by...
well if you wanted to know
the few to whom he spoke, told me he used to raise the town
but one mistaken kiss, has led them both to this
one heavy gaze where she vanished
do you remember you wanted?
you wanted to be loved
cos I remember you vanished
you vanished into dust
and in a winter came a fare so seeking answers pawned his heirlooms to a witch who versed in curses saw it grim
said “I'll do anything...”
“well if you wanted to know
look down below beneath your feet”
and there he fell
with corpses to the left, sleep the cerberus
an o his mouth, her ever near
do you remember you wanted?
you wanted to be loved
cos I remember you vanished
you vanished into dust
and after ten days, he came upon a cave wherein she lay, “oh my beloved, i've come to rescue thee”
she replied slowly
“well if you wanted to know
yeah I always felt your love my darling
but did you mean to send, my body away again
I think I'm right where I belong”
and then the witch came cackling down, and with these words
she sealed him there
“do you remember, you wanted?
you wanted to be loved
but in her place now, you're banished
banished with the dust”
cos I remember you wanted
you wanted to be loved
though in your place now, I'm banished
it's better that I should, too
for how I doomed my love to
as then the witch began to...
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13. |
Can't Hold On
03:45
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bearded and dazed
I've crashed this ice moon's face
but oh what fouls await
the so long lost at space?
where a white death seems, I can barely breathe, a white death seems
still I'm going out to face it on a limb
and I've paid my dues for something that I never did
father teach me all that I forgot
or just hold me when I can't hold on
one forward two back
my steps, my guilt burns black
as the hole that spaceshipwrecked
all but me slower each breath...
for a frozen beast, I'm frozen feast, for a frozen beast
but still I'm going out to face him on a limb
and I've paid my dues for something that I never did
but father why should I have been the one
that escaped when now I can't hold on
well ooh, by radio now, one thousand wolves inside me howl
well ooh, I'm sorry dear, over and out, I hope you hear, hear, hear...
son you must hold on
but the wolves are strong...
no, just hold on
I think I'll go on out to face them on a limb
cos I've paid my dues it's something that I never did
father may my mayday reach back home
or else hold me on the day I'm done when I can't, I can't hold on
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14. |
The Merman Shanty
06:00
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my comforts come, and I don't know how
maybe ask my brother who rules the ocean
here he is now, bleeding to death
“oh brother bathed in red
water tell me who did- ”
“this? don't stress your lazy fins
you've never done a thing”
crabs scatter, trident falls before me with a sailor's sleeve! oh!
I've never been in a fight, but by atlantis I would smite
the queen's entire navy, I'll show them who's lazy!
but then on my merry way, forward dark shape waved follow me
up, why would I trust a man, skull and crossbones on his hat...?
and he would grin, “at first you need to sing a song to excite us, and if it rocks we'll take you on!”
so we sailed longer than the coat, that hid my tail and not a boat of royal make came through our path
I thought to leave 'til captain spoke:
“if you was diving for pearls, there's better treasure worth your work”
said “I've my quest but name your price”, “mate you've long paid it,
you're in here for life!”
further arctic we'd sail
on lightning whiskey and hail
storms that may not strike but still
peaceful eyed that they can kill
and we would sing the words to ease our strain aboard the wildness with a monster no one saw
and when we finally arrived
thar he lay clutching our prize
“say, what's this pretty thing you've found?”
no less poseidon's shiny crown
and I bore into his soul, with lust for murder in my own
he cried, “the navy's got the rest”, oh they're gonn' wan' see this!
so sailor on my back
heaving I scaled iceberg's cap
and lo his ship you want this man?
or shall he walk my trident plank?
“you see our friend was cursed with greed and laid aloft, please take him, he's a man we do not want!”
and so exhausted from the climb
vengeance burning in my mind
I could have begged for my old life, until came mercy, streaming from my eyes
“all that I ever hoped to do, is far less work than freeing you”
and then as I dived all gasped to see, homeward bound, a merman like me
now heed the king, returned to lead burying, the old, with a trident, there is much work to be done
and mirthfully who'd sing, this song, but pirates, 'bout the monster they took on?
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15. |
Only Ever I
03:42
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from my manor
I saw kind hearts, naïve
oh what I've seen
but then in a flash, I was bound with a cause of my own
crying at my door
ooh, better unborn, to lord or serf, when we're all for ourselves
so I, I gave him away, though spare the child some blame
for his low caste, he didn't do a thing, while in my life
was only ever I
and meeting my match
I was sure it would last until
to watch her leave
and then in a flash saw oft my own sword in a stone
hands slip the hilt
ooh, in a drunken fall, I feel the frost, upon the lawn
yeah I, I gave her away, please spare for me some blame
opportunities passed, and I didn't do a thing, see in my life
was only ever I
and when the king came for his men
put the hamlet in the name
the mother of my child
the shame I leave behind
in war I dream, the man I've been
and I, I give him away, to spare the girl the blame
and spare it fast, she didn't do a thing, enough is enough
it was only ever I, oh
and to my manor, my thoughts go on, go fast, until gone still
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16. |
Edo Rose
04:04
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well oh look at the bleeding edo rose, my sister she cries alone
all would come to see, the skilled samisen player
strum notes to the wind, intent to blow them afar
but none, these days come, for songs
the courts I tell this:
“well oh look at my sister the edo rose warm by the sun of long ago,
though ever does she fade in the changing world, moored in the mist, what can you do?”
ooh
“well we will hear this rose
but should she not light our lamps
you must both at once
leave edo and its new song
where none, these days come good on their word
eagerly...
we'll look at the bleeding edo rose warm by the sun of long ago”
and ever did she soothe like sake smooth, “moored in the mist are we who, scant we can do....
cos oh, if you wanted to paint the sun redder than the one we've become, you'll never be done”
and silent since then
sister's dusty samisen
where she keeps her books
they brought across seas for us
and on these days run, like rime to thaw
through seasons
well oh look at the bleeding edo rose warm by the sun of long ago,
though ever did she glow in the willow world, clear went the mist she breathes through
but what can you do?
cos oh, if you wanted to paint the sun redder than the one we've become, you'll never be done
but I still weep for the world I know japan's sun has set finally
on the edo rose
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17. |
Arabesque
03:21
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when the march starts
it's safest to hide
wherever you can much as
this house I tumbled in to find
her in arabesque in the morning, I felt so out of place
by a glamour they can march on all they like
but she called me near
arms forward to waltz
with holes in her sleeve she was
just like me so there amongst
the arabesque window turning, so too we turned with grace
and like the window she led me to forget the chills I fled
my family frets, best be returning
but bonaparte's men had heard our carefree stomps
and come to watch
begged we'd resume
muskets undrawn, too
oh, all of my life I've wished
just to belong, just to a song
an arabesque so disarming, and then home I'd race
but I always dream of her, with she as me, but in...
in arabesque, I spin to rest
and close my eyes
and go back to my life
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18. |
Rockhopper
04:00
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rockhopper sits atop, chicks braying, “save me, save me”
red now as ever her eyes, pecking her young's crests goodbye
she gotta go, where lantern fish rumoured to be
as skuas swoop and shriek
she dives into the deep
one chin up for the brood
suddenly becomes two
porpoising in search
but rockhopper only thinks of one
both swam through gone krill until further than ever before, wings flail in vain, afraid
through nets and wires, though hanging free said old gentoo
as gentoo bit them through
the lantern school he knew
but spoke of easy days
squid galore and shore prey
no sooner did he say
that rockopper had to swim, as one
on an ice floe in shame, she sleeps defeated in the gaze
of an orca making chase, but for gentoo come to say, “quick this way!”
“d. jones whispered to me, why your mate left you for a new family”
at that she swam into the light, covered in oil
“well smoother the snow south with you
but while it still may far too much rests on my plume”
rockhopper cuts across currents a small catch, brought back
barely enough to fledge, not least her own feathers fed
and then from stealth sprung forward the seal at ice foot dwelt
but fast past his upswell
she rocket, she rocket, she rocketed as well
and landed hopped the cliffs, saw tall things docked with their ships
rockhopper simply stared
and from the shore they stood, beheld
A rockhopper who knew all too well
yeah rockhopper you know all, too well
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19. |
Revolutions
03:37
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who tills the mir? who owns the land?
petition began
and with names, came word
of worker's plans, a gypsy sang
that history is full of revolutions
now better you come, man I'm show you one
cos I see you, burning in the dark
ravens await the fake little heart
and I heard they turned your portrait to the wall
you speak for none at all
at winter palace, came slurs
I'd heard my whole life, but now wondered
why really these people came, the gypsy who had come explained,
as far as you have gone, you best beware, a greater power lies beyond
who choose our rulers, have always done, by lighting revolutions!
yeah I see them, burning in the dark
ravens await, their plain little hearts
cos although they turned a portrait to the wall
they speak for none at all
the stars wept down, as palace guards shot round after round
and we hid wondering how anyone, could write this kind of hell
so through the palace passage, this servant girl my petition I'd give
the people who make your food are dying, please, take this I beg of you
and matching her face to the painting behind
saw the princess herself and so terrified
and regal as great peter, only meeker, equal we were in our fates
if predetermined so the world is, best we love until the day
that we break through, burning in the dark
ravens await, our late little hearts
to stand and turn the portrait to the wall of who speak for none at all
and one day we'll be burning in the dark
beacons aflame for brave little hearts
who choose to burn, fake portraits at the wall
a people spoken for
but 'til that day may dawn
my revolution's mine alone
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20. |
Estonia
03:43
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dear child the world was not always as it is now
our flag our language, our peoples' beaten brow
but you could hear it in the air the change had just begun, when we'd sung
and as we hollered homeland hymns I tried to think these things
but we fell in love in estonia, yeah
from riga through tallinn could never imagine what lay before us, oh
and you know the bad guys came for those who sang too loud
and in the madness wasn't sure who made it out
neither of us knew that we were safe though we felt on that night
our hands a thousand hands apart, for all the world to marvel
and join so we might be able to say
that we fell in love in estonia, yeah
from riga through tallinn could never imagine what lay before us, oh
and whispers led me to vilnius
where we rejoined in arms
and you had just been born
when fate played cruelly on
oh how we fell, in heaven we'll together dwell
but first let me write, to you my boy that everything will be alright
cos all of your fears you needn't here in estonia, oh
and in your time you'll see the plan for peace that had long begun
when we fell in love in Estonia, yeah
from riga through tallin could never imagine what lay before us, oh
so read this dear and bury it here in Estonia
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Alex Edwards Brisbane, Australia
If you'd like to support me, one of the best ways is following my Facebook at facebook.com/alexedwardsband - your like means the world to me and helps the rest of it hear my music!
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