Year Of The Flood

Can anyone explain

I shared your truth today

So far away the rains

And the ocean

I see your flower growing

I see your rivers flowing

I see your skies open

In the year of the flood

It’s coming clear as day

Like comets blazing trails

Through the shadows and the veils

All along the valley

In every sunrise spent

All our beginnings end

All our doves sent

For the hour of knowing

You may walk and you may run

You leave your footprints all around the sun

And every time the storm and the soul wars come

You just keep on walking

It’s been this way from the start

Everybody walking round with holes in the heart

Everybody holding up skies in the dark

As the stars keep falling

Clash Of The Ash

Hey, now boys there’s something not right

Did anyone see Willie at the dance last night

Let’s pick up Boa without a fuss

Chuck him in with caimans at the back of the bus

‘Cause we’re running late, it’s way past ten

We’re driving through the straths and glens

Come on, Johnny Bulla, make it fast

For the 12 noon throw-up

And the clash of the ash

Well we’d better make change now it seems

Geek to the centre, Weed to the wing

The Rocket’s old and slow and due to retire

Stick him right on the sawdust ready to fire

But if we do all that and there’s no-one spare

Tell me who’s gonna mark the Kinlochsheil Bear

He’s hard as nails, quick as a flash

He comes down from the caves

For the clash of the ash

This story started long ago

With heroes forges and legends told

And for every fighting highland man

Stand by your brother, die for the clan

But when the whistle blows and the battle’s done

These shinty boys shine like the sun

We don’t play for fame, we don’t play for cash

We just play for the glory

And the clash of the ash

Ocean Road

I walked out, one morning fair

By the ocean road to linger there

And the sun was up, I saw the blue

But it night in my heart for you

And the turning wave filled my empty thoughts

With a homing power that washed a sea of loss

I saw my light, I held the flame

That we should take this road again

Still the ocean rolled round this smallest sphere

Through an endless void, to fade and disappear

Our fickle hearts sat down in time

For the fleeting beat of a last divide

One more, and I can see it all again

Like I was young

Strong in heart and dreams

Once more I’m staking all that’s real

Where the waters washed us clear

Soaring like a bird

Where do we go

Where do we go

On and over all we know

Where do we go

Where do we go

Atoms

Throw open all the doors

There’s a warm wind blowing through

Let the gifts of ages

Pour over you

Let it rise within you now

Let the shine light up your way

Chasing all your doubts and clouds

Far away

There’s a sky of newest blue

Way beyond this burning sun

A clear and perfect view

On and on

Every time it happens

Atoms scatter on the road ahead

So don’t look away, don’t let it stay

To other schemes instead

Don’t wait too long

Can’t you see that summer’s come

And this world that’s lipped it’s crown

It took some saving

Sona

Joyful

"Taobh cùl an dorais cha robh grian

Cha robh biadh is cha robh fìon"

Tha là' an t-saorach neist air tighinn

Mar tuil, mar eun air sgiath

"Cum a mach do shùil is èisd"

Tha tobar shaibhreas aig an fhèis

Ar clann an-diugh, le guth an dè

Gasgaich òg, le mire, le spèis

Sona 'dràsd' tha mi

'S mi gun uallach bhon a' ghreun

Linn ùr a' tighinn gu bi

'Mach à fàsach lom is tiorram

Tha i àlainn, tha i òrach

Tha i làidir, tha i bòidheach

--oOo--

“On the other side of the (prison) door there was no sun

There was no food and there was no wine”

But the day of release has now arrived

Like a flood, like a bird on the wing

“Keep your eyes open and listen”

There is a well of riches at the Feis

Our children today, with the voices of yesterday

Champions of youth, with joy, with respect

Joyful

I have no worries now

A new era has risen up

From a bleak and an arid wilderness

She is lovely, she is beautiful

She is strong, she is golden

Something's Got To Give

She walked into the room

Leaving all her lovers in her trail

And all that glitters fades

With the garlands round her fame

Out where the journey turns

Another river runs and I’m amazed,

You’re the one, locking on

Like a memory

And it’s good to feel you near

So burn anther dawn

And your tired and empty eyes look to the sun

But grace won’t come

Before this night is done

Somewhere down that road

You’ll look round and realize that it’s all gone

Empires rise, and they fall

I’ve played my part

Holding on

But if this is the way

We love and we live

So let it be

But brother, can’t you see

(But it just seems to me)

That something’s got to give

Sometimes I can’t easy see or believe

All of this nature’s too real

Road Trip

Take heart: cheat the dark

Get driving with the lark

As cities sleep

Steal a march before the sun

It’s all philosophy

An open motorway

Chasing break of day

Somewhere on a border town

I’ve packed my ceilidh boots

I’ve got my “once was” looks

I’ve got my tubes and hooks

Reel, drogue, priest and bung

Throw away your fears

Peel away the years

I’ve seen too many leaves

Falling down

Unwind: touch the brine

Take some bread: break some wine

I can see the water line

Red below the Lewis sun

Where the ocean rolls

Aboard the ship of souls

The healing wind blows

So why crawl when we can run

Go find your other life

One road: steeper climbs

Where the river winds

Straight into the west

Fade away like rust

Vanish like the dust

‘Cause, baby, tramps like us were born with cianalas

Get free: Believe: Go real

Everything you ever need

Is waiting for you here

Get Free; Believe: Go real

Could this be the living glimpse

Of all that’s meant to be

‘Cause we’ll get old

Before this night is done

So get far away

So come with me

Everything you see

Is everything you need

Take a road trip

Go soul deep

An Dealachadh

The Parting

Tha ceò geal na madainn

Àrd air a bheinn

Gach allt, eas is struthan

A' riuth tron a' ghleann

As cionn glòr na cruinne

Tha soillse air a' chrùn

Tha 'n-diugh air carradh bhuain

Nuair a sgaras an t-slighe

Thig sealladh gu duinne

Nas solleir na geallach

Nas domhainn nan cuan

An-diugh nì mi t' fhàgail

Ri taobh oir a' chuairt

Le gach miann 's gach beannachd dhut

'S dè math 'bhi beachd-smaoint

No coimhead ri ar cùl

Tha an t-slighe tha romhainn

Nas fharsainn nan saoghal

Gach ionad nam anam

A lìonadh gu tuil

Le àgh, le bròn, le gaol

-oOo-

The white morning mist

Is high on the hill

Each river, waterfall and stream

Running through the glens

And above the glory of the earth

Light is shining on the crown

That has today tilted away from us

When there is a parting of the ways

An understanding comes to man

It’s brighter than the moon

Deeper than the ocean

Today I will leave you

On the edge of a journey

With ever good wish and blessing

What use is there in contemplation

Or in looking in the past

The road that lies ahead of us

Is wider than the world

And each hidden part of my being

Is filling up to overflowing

With joy, with sorrow, with love

This Day

They’ll be gathering together

Sharing hearts and hand as first rays fall

All our connected lives

Arriving down by the mission wall

And sometimes it’s not easy

To take a step outside and face the day

‘Cause part of you for ever

In this place will always stay

Take away the pages

Keep them locked up in your memory

We all open morning doors

Go walking out with destiny

All around. Familiar faces

Voices ringing out warm and near

They take us to the moment

And the dance that leads us

You’ll be frozen in your moment

You’ll be beautiful for all of time

Waiting on the wonder road

Where saints and angels walk the line

And somebody much, much older

You’ll look back and chance to dream aloud

Was there a moment greater

Than one to make someone proud

Bless this day

I say, I pray

We’ll take this day

For always

And The Accordions Played

See the bracken green on the hills

See the gifts of every summer

Suns sinking low in the long grass

Always rising and falling down

There’s bluebells growing under the trees

And I will be there in June

I will walk back down the river

To some unknown salvation

Taking me back again

Memories of the incomplete

The birch, the oak, the rowan

And the accordions down in the hall

By the riverside

As if God hadn’t happened at all

Stealing heaven from a moon-lit door

Taking me back down the railroad tracks

To get lost in it all

On young ploughed fields I kissed your eyes

A crown of songs around your head

And by the railings at the harbor wall

The radios played

Never thought I could look upon

Something so beautiful, so pure

Brighter than sun on snow

In some new enchanted garden

She said we’ve been here before

As the skies are slashed by flames

Our citadels come crashing down

A constant sea, a war of waves

Lay down your life for me

Lay down your love again

We’ll talk it over

And we’ll waken

Like kings some day

And the accordions played

And the accordions played

In Scandinavia

I saw something in your eye

As the night came down in a Nordic sky

Walking in ways of summers past

Touching other lands

The wind filled sails

She stayed to make the moment last

There’s nothing new beneath the sun

We watched it rise

In morning skies of fire and wine

The boats that carried us

Young golden lives

Leaving on a rising tide

Here we stand in Scandinavia

We stand right now

Hold my soul

Let it carry me