Amazing Things

White clouds cover the whole of the earth

Concorde flies through the skies to the states

Lifetimes in memory, flesh being born

But this is the age of invisible dawn

And the man from the government says show me a sign

The mood of the moment says have a good time

Through stench and starvation, night never falls

There's flies on the skeletons, shapes on the wall

As I draw my latest breath

Amazing things are done on earth

And the masters of flattery colour the trees

They walk on the oceans, put the town under siege

The king of humanity sleeps in despair

Walking out in the morning with hands in the air

There's zealots in anger, divine extremes

Emotional half-lives, disposable dreams

Rumours of cease-fire inherit the streets

This is the war of the pure and the meek

As I draw my latest breath

Amazing things are done on earth

These days are overgrown in truth

Under the sun that's nothing new

But flowers still open, flowers still close

Rearranged molecules, miracle cures

And I can still love you, call you my own

Till the blooms turn to doubt,

Till the angels come home

As I draw my latest breath

Amazing things are done on earth

Wonderful

When all the world is quiet and still

And doubts run deep as the ocean

Through troubled years and broken dreams

To the place where all silence has spoken

So wonderful, too wonderful

Immeasurable, invisible

The moment golden before me

I will walk with you through the beautiful gate

My hands and heart wide open

So wonderful, too wonderful

The Greatest Flame

Like shadows on the wall

You come and you go

Through the streets

And the rain that falls down

On our sin

No more good-byes

Forever this way

Whenever the greatest flame in the world

Starts burning

This is our life, and our time

And nothing, is ever going to break us

Now we're on our own

Always in your eyes

A waking of souls

We gaze out on the road

That brought us up

To this place

The signposts never change

We'll go where they lead

Whenever the day to break us comes

We'll not give in

This is our life, and our time

And nothing, is ever going to break us

Now we're on our own

This is our place, in our lives

And no one can ever change this moment

Or pull this mountain to the ground

Live the day when the flame is strong

Live the day when the flame is strong

Come the day when love is gone

Take it over, Take it over

Live the day when the flame is strong

Live the day when the flame is strong

Come the day when love is gone

Take it over

This is our life, and our time

And nothing, is ever going to break us

Now we're on our own

This is our place, in our lives

And no one can ever change this moment

Or pull this mountain to the ground

Move A Mountain

There's a place

Where the rocks of Caithness

Lie beside the ocean

On summer days, a waiting grave

In the layers

With the pains of generations gone before us

Uranium, your age has come

There's salt and spray

On the beaches of the island that I came from

Caesium, the change will come

Across the waves

From Sellafield you came in unseen wonder

A life begun, a chain undone

And from the hollow mouths of grey

It's the future and it's safe

So let the children play

Move a mountain

Fill the ground

Take death on wheels

Re-create the land

One glance away

Civilisation on the streets of California

The burning nights, before my eyes

Savage times

In the courtrooms and the subways of frustration

Crucify, crucify

'cause man rules the waves

The rock, the road, the lanes

And all the cities of the plains

Move a mountain

Fill the ground

Take death on wheels

Re-create the land

Move a mountain

Fill the ground

Take death on wheels

Re-create the land

And we'll all be long blown rushes

When all the world's a flame

Move a mountain

Move a mountain

Fill the ground

Take death on wheels

Re-create the land

Move a mountain

Fill the ground

Take death on wheels

Re-create the land

Pog Aon Oidhche Earraich

A Kiss one Spring Evening

An saoghal, sia uairean

Obair là ri cùl

Teaghlach gabhal dhan a' mheas

Pailteas, slàinte, is gaol

An Ruis a tuiteam sìos mu'm chluasan

An Ear Mheadhain am brot cho dorch

Is thusa, uilc is a' mhuirt is a' shabaid

Na mo bheatha a h-uile oidhche

O luaidh be siod an gràdh

A dh' fhàg mi ceangailte ruit an dràsda

Co shaoileadh an rud a dh' fhàs

Bho phòg aon oidhche earraich

An greim cho teann 's àraid

Mar òrd na mo dhòrn

A' ghealach a bha cho soilleir

'S a gheall a leithid dhuinn

Bha sinn mar longan seòlaidh

Air cuan buidhe òg a' chridhe

Mu coinneamh clann an t-saoghail 's theaghlaich

Gun ghuth no gàire, Dia, no biadh

O luaidh be siod an gràdh

A dh' fhàg mi ceangailte ruit an dràsda

Co shaoileadh an rud a dh' fhàs

Bho phòg aon oidhche earraich

"Cò às an d'thàinig na reultan", thuirt mi

"Cò às an d'thàinig grian"

Tha sinn cho leòinte fon a' ghealach seo

Anam cràidhte seachad air ifrinn fhèin

Ach tha thusa brosnachadh nam bliadhnaichean

Le saidhbhreas seachad air mo dhìth

Cho geal ri sneachd gach uile gheamhradh

An t-òran gaoil m' fhaosaid chiontach fhèin

O luaidh be siod an gràdh

A dh' fhàg mi ceangailte ruit an dràsda

Co shaoileadh an rud a dh' fhàs

Bho phòg aon oidhche earraich

O luaidh be siod an gràdh

A dh' fhàg mi ceangailte ruit an dràsda

Co shaoileadh an rud a dh' fhàs

Bho phòg aon oidhche earraich

--oOo--

The six o’clock world

The days work over

Family, taking of the fruits

Of plenty, good health, and love

Russia is falling down around my ears

The middle east in a broth of darkness

And you, evil, murder, and fighting

In my life every night

Oh Love

What power there was in that embrace

That has left me in union with you today

Who could ever have foreseen all that has grown

From a kiss, one spring evening

The grasp that was so firm and special

Like a hammer in my fist

The moon that was so bright

And promised so much

We were like sailing ships

On the young, yellow ocean of the heart

Confronted by children, and the world family

without voice, laughter, a God, or food

Oh Love

What power there was in that embrace

That has left me in union with you today

Who could ever have foreseen all that has grown

From a kiss, one spring evening

So where do the stars come from, I said

From where did the sun appear

We are so wounded below this moon

Souls tortured beyond hell itself

Still you keep bringing inspiration to my years

With blessings beyond my need

Whiter than the snows of each winter

The song of love, my confession of guilt

Oh Love

What power there was in that embrace

That has left me in union with you today

Who could ever have foreseen all that has grown

From a kiss, one spring evening

Oh Love

What power there was in that embrace

That has left me in union with you today

Who could ever have foreseen all that has grown

From a kiss, one spring evening

Dream Fields

You can talk the tongue of angels

You can walk the thin white line

Raid your hearts imaginations

Let your thoughts live and run wild

But now all I see is the station

And the boats with the sun in their wake

Looking out on Scalpay dawning

And you drenched in the rain of grace

Walked down the pier road to the deep sea

It was a long confused embrace

But I have seen an awesome beauty

I've seen the tears run turn to wine on your face

And I wondered and I trembled

As you held me so close in your arms

With a love that held more learning

Than I could ever understand

Still grass grows tall in the dream fields

But after all is said and done

The only thing that ever matters

Is to love and to be loved

Still grass grows tall in the dream fields

But after all is said and done

The only thing that ever matters

Is to love and to be loved

I crossed the big years and the waters

For a new and happy land

Trading all that fire of living

For the fickle and the bland

Now I know that there's nothing

Can evermore put worth in your time

If the spirit never wooes

Or moves your paths divine

Still grass grows tall in the dream fields

But after all is said and done

The only thing that ever matters

Is to love and to be loved

Song of the Earth

It was winter on the Mersey

Snow was falling on New York

The boats were coming in from Ireland

A nation drinking round the docks

What do you do when the rain is falling

What do you do when the rain is falling down

Young men were heading back to Europe

Rocking the Reeperbahn at night

We watched the airwaves over Eval

Angels were dancing in the light

What do you do when the sun is sinking

What do you do when the sun is sinking low

The chains, slaves, praise and gospel

Burn like the sun in tortured mouths

A hurricane blew out of Memphis

Revolution in the south

What do you do when the sun is beating

What do you do when the sun is beating down

Spirits drink the milk of nations

Singing freedom and release

Cries of mercy rise like rockets

Trough the paths of the redeemed

What do you do when the guns are turning

What do you do when the guns are turning round

What do you do

Sing a song of the earth

Song the earth

Song the earth

A singer in my bloodstream

Stayed mainline all my life

His voice filled my Atlantic

A Celtic fire, a soul of white

What do you do when your homes are burning

What do you do when your homes are burning down

He wore the beauty of his people

Came to tell it to the world

Human tears, human oceans

The greatest song I've ever heard

What do you do when your hope is raging

What do you do when your hope is raging strong

It was winter on the Mersey

Through the museum on the docks

Through my years, through my failures

To where the white piano stood

What do you do when the rain is falling

What do you do when the rain is falling down

Saw all the singers of the Gaidhealtachd

And all the world could understand

I heard, maybe I'm a dreamer

I was not the only one

What do you do when the song you're singing

What do you do when the song you're singing's gone

What do you do when the song you're singing

What do you do when the song you're singing's gone

Song the earth

Sing a song of the earth

Song the earth

Song the earth

Sing a song of the earth

Song the earth

Forever Eyes Of Blue

Head of ribbons running down the brae

In the morning, in the morning

Barefoot sisters and a milking pail

Turning around

At the weekend the boats come in

From the herring, from the herring

Wives and families and the table laid

Turning again

Forever you'll be eyes of blue

In the circle of your youth

Picking every blade of truth

Down the Newton road

War is over and the boys come home

From the fighting, from the fighting

Love letters and a great unknown

Turning again

Counting your blessings at the village hall

To the dancing, to the dancing

A lot of loving and a lot of soul

Turning again

Forever you'll be eyes of blue

In the circle of your youth

Picking every blade of truth

Down the Newton road

You took your beauty and your heart of gold

To the altar, to the altar

Bound forever in an August vow

Turning around

The skies of summer shone around your door

Little children, little children

Three men who couldn't love you more

Turning again

Forever you'll be eyes of blue

In the circle of your youth

Picking every blade of truth

Down the Newton road

One door opens and another closed

Oh the parting, oh the parting

New arrivals and a family grown

Turning around

Head of ribbons running down the brae

In the morning, in the morning

Pulling moments from the clock of faith

Turning again

Forever you'll be eyes of blue

In the circle of your youth

Picking every blade of truth

Down the Newton road

Forever you'll be eyes of blue

In the circle of your youth

Picking every blade of truth

Down the Newton road

Sraidean Na Roinn-Eorpa

Streets Of Europe

Chuir mi mo chùl ri Lunnainn

An samhradh air m' aodann

'S mi air sràidean mòr na Roinn-Eòrpa

'S mi le mo rùn, le m' anam, mo bhratach

Mo ghrian mo ghealach ùr

'S sheas mi 's na àiteachan 's an do sheas m' athair

'S ioma cogadh a tha ann airson saorsa

Dà fhichead bliadhna 's an dìleab air fhàgail

Briathran do linn 's do sheòrsa

Baile beag anns a' Ghearmailt

Gruagach cho bòidheach

Le sùilean làn sonas is bròn

Thuirt i "am bheil fhios agaibh fhèin, an t-sochair 'tha agaibh

Tha eallach eachraidh air mo ghualainn cho trom"

Chrath sinn làmhan, 's dh' fhalbh i a' seinn

An dàn tha domhainn, 's gach anam de dhaoine

Dh' fhàg mi i le blas beag de mo dhùthaich

Dh' fhàg i mi leis a chompanas ùr

Tha na brataich a' snàmh

An cuan de dhathan

Do chànan binn an cluas na Roinn-Eòrpa

Tha na sràidean beò le cainnt 's togair

Sràidean am Babel ùr

'S thusa mo rùn, tha cothrom mad choinneamh

Tha do chliù air 'dhol tarsainn an cuan

Thusa tha meanbh, bi làdir, bi àlainn

Taisbean do chànan, bi buan

--oOo--

I have put London behind me

The summer is on my face

And I am on the big streets of Europe

With my love, my flag

My sun, and my new moon

I stood in the places where my father had stood

Many are the wars of freedom

Forty years and the legacy is still with me

The words of his kind and generation

A small town in Germany

A beautiful young girl

Her eyes full of sorrow and joy

She said "Are you aware of the privilege you enjoy

The burden of history lies heavy on my shoulders"

We shook hands, and she went on her way singing

The song that is deep in the soul of all people

I left her with a small part of my country

She left me with the fellowship of a new age

The flags are swimming

In a sea of colour

My language melodious in the ear of Europe

The streets are alive with conversation and purpose

Possibilities for a new Babel

And you my love have opportunity before you

Your renown has crossed the ocean

You that are small, be strong, be beautiful

Reveal your great language, be everlasting

Canada

A prairie and a wind

Canada on the wire

I'm trading all my fears

And all my desires

I watch your sun go down

A burning amber road

Following the ghosts

Wherever they go

'S chan fhaic mi cladach geal

No achadh cruithneachd 'fàs

Gun sealladh mòr de chràdh

'S dealbh de bhàs

A window on the stars

the journey of the few

Watching it all survive

It's all I can do

Ard

High

Madainn Di-haoine 's an dùthaich fo sgòth

'S mi sgìth le cuid smalan, mi-mhisneachd is bròn

Seo an deicheamh là dhan a' Ghiblean 'sinn fo ghruaim a rithist

An co-dhùnadh a cheannaich na daoine aig prìs

Tha spiorad nan daoine nas soilleir na ghealach

Nas doimhne na 'n cuan

Gheibh sinn ar n-àite 'san t-shaoghal

'S an ginealach ùr

Àrd: blàr nan daoine

Àrd: guth is saorsa

Àrd: tha sinn gluasad

Gu h-àrd thèid sinn suas

'S iomadh trioblaid tha romhainn 'nis Gaidheal agus Gall

'S mi le aon sùil air eachdraidh, aon sùil air mo chlann

Ach cùm creideamh nad bheatha, sonas nad chridhe

Chan e seo deireadh rathaid ach toiseach linn

Tha spiorad nan daoine nas soilleir na ghealach

Nas doimhne na 'n cuan

Gheibh sinn ar n-àite 'san t-shaoghal

'S an ginealach ùr

Àrd: blàr nan daoine

Àrd: guth is saorsa

Àrd: tha sinn gluasad

Gu h-àrd thèid sinn suas

(Chorus)

Chan urrainn dhomh fuireach an taigh 'tha fo sgòth

Ach le creideamh is dòchas gu deireadh mo là

Tha an lasair nad anam aig meadhan do bhith

Nas làidir 's nas mòtha na riaghaltas no rìgh

(Chorus)

(Chorus)

--oOo--

Friday morning and the country is under a cloud

But I am tired of sorrow, pessimism, and gloom

This is the tenth day of April and we have been let down again

The decision that our people have bought at a price

The spirit of the people is brighter than the moon

Deeper than the ocean

We will find our place in the world

In a new generation

High: The peoples struggle

High: A Voice and self-determination

High: We are moving

We will reach up there

Many troubles now confront us, Highlander and Lowlander

As I keep one eye on history, one eye on my children,

Keep belief in your life, joy in your heart

This is not the end of the road, but the start of a new age

The spirit of the people is brighter than the moon

Deeper than the ocean

We will find our place in the world

In a new generation

High: The peoples struggle

High: A Voice and self-determination

High: We are moving

We will reach up there

(Chorus)

I can not live in the house of despondency

But in faith and in hope till the end of my days

The spark in your soul is the centre of your whole existence

And it is bigger and stronger than any government or King

(Chorus)

(Chorus)