lay

‘Play’ is quite similar to ‘Up’ as it also contains cover songs and traditional songs, but this album differs in the way that as a whole it has a more upbeat feel to it. One of the contributors to this new style is the cover song ‘End of the World’ that was originally done by REM. With it’s racy tempo and it’s erratic lyrics, anyone could get tongue tied trying to keep up. This song is the one that is the bands most popular and it is commonly heard on the radio. Many people could tell you who sings it whether or not they are familiar with the band.

There is also a softer more emotional side to this album that briefly takes you way from the fun and dancing. ‘My Apology’ is a beautiful ballad that was written by Séan McCann and it is sung by the composer himself. McCann sings it with a tremendous amount of emotion that gives us a good taste of the serious side of this band.

Tracks:

Ordinary Day
When I'm Up
The Night Pat Murphy Died
How Did We Get From Saying I Love You ...
Donkey Riding
Haven't Seen You In A Long Time
End Of the World
General Taylor
Seagulls
Recruiting Sargeant
Greenspond
My Apology
Jakey's Gin
Something I Should Know
Jolly Roving Tar

Top

Ordinary Day
I've got a smile on my face and I've got four walls around me
I've got the sun in the sky, ah, the water surrounds me
I'll win now but sometimes I'll lose
I've been battered, but I'll never bruise... it's not so bad

Chorus:
And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day
and it's all your state of mind
At the end of the day,
you've just got to say... it's all right.

Janie sings on the corner, what keeps her from dying
Let them say what they want, she won't stop trying
Oh, you know
She might stumble, if they push her 'round
She might fall, but she'll never lie down... it's not so bad
And I say,

Chorus
'Cause it's alright, it's alright It's alright!
Accordian Solo
In this beautiful life there's always some sorrow
And it's a double edged knife, but there's always tomorrow
It's up to you now if you sink or swim,
Just keep the faith that you're ship will come in... it's not so bad
And I say,

Chorus (2x)
'Cause I've got a smile on my and I've got four walls around me.

Top

When I'm Up
I am the fountain of affection
I'm the instrument of joy
And to keep the good times rolling
I'm the boy, I'm the boy,
You know the world could be our oyster,
You just put your trust in me,
'Cause we'll keep the good times rolling
Wait and see, wait and see....oh wait and see!
His Exhaltation, a sweet disintegration.
A few discolourations, then it comes along
Up is what he chooses, the kisses and the bruises
There ain't nothing he refuses, then it comes along
It comes along, and I am lifted, I am lifted, I am lifted!

Chorus:
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground

He just needs, something to blind him
Something to wind him up
It won't take long to find him
When it comes on strong.

Wise guys are grinning, street lights are spinning
The night is just beginning, and then it comes on strong
It comes on strong, and I am lifted, I am lifted, I am lifted!

Chorus
Oh it comes on strong, and I am lifted.
It comes on strong, and I am lifted.
I am lifted, I am lifted!

Chorus
Oh, I can't get down
Oh no, no, no, no, no, I can't get down
Oh-oh-oh I can't get down

Top

The Night Pat Murphy Died
Oh the night that Paddy Murphy died, is a night I'll never forget
Some of the boys got loaded drunk, and they ain't got sober yet;
As long as a bottle was passed around every man was feelin' gay
O'Leary came with the bagpipes, some music for to play

Chorus:
That's how they showed their respect for Paddy Murphy
That's how they showed their honour and their pride;
They said it was a sin and shame and they winked at one another
And every drink in the place was full the night Pat Murphy died

As Mrs. Murphy sat in the corner pouring out her grief
Kelly and his gang came tearing down the street
They went into an empty room and a bottle of whiskey stole
They put the bottle with the corpse to keep that whiskey cold

Chorus
About two o'clock in the morning after emptying the jug
Doyle rolls up the ice box lid to see poor Paddy's mug
We stopped the clock so Mrs. Murphy couldn't tell the time
And at a quarter after two we argued it was nine

Chorus
They stopped the hearse on George Street outside Sundance Saloon
They all went in at half past eight and staggered out at noon
They went up to the graveyard, so holy and sublime
Found out when they got there, they'd left the corpse behind!

Chorus
Oh the night that Paddy Murphy died, is a night I'll never forget
Some of the boys got loaded drunk and they ain't been sober yet;
As long as a bottle was passed around every man was feelin' gay
O'Leary came with the bagpipes, some music for to play

Chorus
Well every drink in the place was full the night Pat Murphy died!

Top

How Did We Get From Saying I Love You...
"It's a cold day for September", was all I thought to say
When I saw you on the street the other day
I knew something changed between us, all the talk we made was small
But what do you say to someone when they've heard you say it all?
It's an awkward conversation, in a most peculiar way...
How did we get from saying "I love you" to "I'll see you around someday?"

It seemed like only days ago, we had so much to say
Did we take it all for granted?, did it all get thrown away?
"It calls for rain this afternoon", you finally replied
Then there was such a stuttering silence, that I felt my mouth go dry
We'll talk about the weather, cause there's not much more to say...

How did we get from saying "I love you" to "I'll see you around someday?"
How did we get from saying "I love you" to "I'll see you around someday?"

Has all the ice been broken?
All our surfaces been scratched?
Have all the words been spoken?
Have we finally met our match?
'Cause its an awkward conversation, In a most peculiar way

How did we get from saying "I love you" to "I'll see you around someday?"
How did we get from saying "I love you" to "I'll see you around someday?"
How did we get from saying "I love you" to "I'll see you around someday?"

Whistle Solo

Top

Donkey Riding
Chorus:
Way hey and away we go
Donkey riding, donkey riding
Way hey and away we go
Ridin' on a donkey.
Was you ever in Quebec
Launchin' timber on the deck?
Where ya break yer bleedin' neck
Ridin' on a donkey!

Chorus
Was you ever 'round Cape Horn
Where the weather's never warm?
Wished to God you'd never been born
Ridin' on a donkey.

Chorus
Was you ever in Miramichi
Where ye tie up to a tree,
An' the girls sit on yer knee?
Ridin' on a donkey

Chorus
Was you ever in Fortune Bay
See the girls all shout, "Hooray!"?
"Here comes dad with ten weeks pay
Riding on a donkey."

Chorus
Was you ever in London-town
See the King he does come down?
See the King in his golden crown
Riding on a donkey

Chorus (2x)

Top

Haven't Seen You In A Long Time
I haven't seen you in a long time since I've been gone
It always seemed to be the wrong time
Its the same old song
Looks like we'll never be together our whole life through
There might be changes in the weather But not for me and you.
Can you hear me, when I'm calling out to you?
Can you see me, sometimes in the night
When you put out the light?
I haven't seen you in a long time
Since you put me away
I only see you in my dream time, at the break of day
I know I never ever listen, my whole life through.
If I had heard your words of wisdom,
I could be with you.

Can you feel me,
When he's making love to you?
Can you hear me,
When your alone, when you hang up the phone,
When its real late at night, and you put out the light!

I still see you and I still feel you
And when I'm alone my mind starts to roam
You come in the night when I turn out the light

I haven't seen you in a long time since I've been gone
It always seemed to be the wrong time
It's the same old song
Looks like we'll never be together our whole life through
There might be changes in the weather
But not for me and you.

Top

End of the World
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine
That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds, snakes, an aeroplanes, Lenny
Bruce is not afraid. Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn - world serves its
own needs, dummy serve your own needs. Feed it off an aux speak, grunt, no,
strength, Ladder start to clatter with fear fight down height. Wire in a fire, representing
seven games, a government for hire and a combat site. Left of west and coming in a
hurry with the furies breathing down your neck. Team by team reporters baffled, trumped,
tethered cropped. Look at that low playing! Fine, then. Uh oh, overflow, population,
common food, but it'll do. Save yourself, serve yourself. World serves its own needs,
listen to your heart bleed dummy with the rapture and the revered and the right, right.
You vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright light, feeling pretty psyched.

Chorus:
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.

Six o'clock - TV hour. Don't get caught in foreign towers. Slash and burn, return, listen
to yourself churn. Locking in, uniforming, book burning, blood letting. Every motive escalate.
Automotive incinerate. Light a votive, light a candle. Step down, step down. Watch your
heel crush, crushed, uh-oh, this means no fear cavalier. Renegade steer clear! A tournament,
tournament, a tournament of lies. Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline.

Chorus x 2
The other night I dreamt of knives, continental drift divide. Mountains sit in a line, Leonard
Bernstein. Leonid Brezhnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs. Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly
bean, boom! You symbiotic, patriotic, slam book neck, right? Right.

Chorus x 2

Top

General Taylor
Well General Taylor gained the day
Walk him along, John, Carry him along
Well General Taylor he gained the day
Carry him to his bury'n ground

Chorus:
Tell me where you're stormy
Walk him along, John, carry him along
Tell me where you're stormy
Carry him to his bury'n ground

We'll dig his grave with a silver spade
Walk him along, John, Carry him along
His shroud of the finest silk will be made
Carry him to his bury'n ground

Chorus
We'll lower him down on a golden chain
Walk him along, John, Carry him along
On every inch we'll carve his name
Carry him to his bury'n ground

Chorus
General Taylor he's all the go
Walk him along, John, Carry him along
He's gone where the stormy winds won't blow
Carry him to his bury'n ground

Chorus
General Taylor he's dead and he's gone
Walk him along, John, Carry him along
Well General Taylor he's long dead and gone
Carry him to his bury'n ground

Chorus x 2

Top

Seagulls
She left St.John's one day in May
Dressed in her Sunday best
A kind man sat beside her
As she cried her way out West
She moved in with her cousin
Found a job down in the mall
Her friends at home were jealous
Said "We'll see you in the fall."

Chorus:
But, you know that she wants to try,
Never let's you see her cry
You know that she wants to try,
She's got seagulls in her eyes

The people here seem really nice
But the winter's way too long
Her new friends don't understand
They just tell her to be strong

She made some decent money
Yeah, but nothing comes for free
The busy streets, just don't compete
With the sky, the rocks and sea

Chorus
Her parents came at Eastertime
They wanted her to stay
But she went and got a panel van
And moved home on her birthday

The girls in town all said
She couldn't make it on her own
Now the sky's a little smaller
And it doesn't seem like home

Chorus (2x)
She's got seagulls in her eyes

Top

Recruiting Sargeant
Two recruiting sergeants came to the CLB,
For the sons of the merchants, to join the Blue Puttees
So all hands enlisted, five hundred young men...
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me
They crossed the broad Atlantic in the brave Florizel,
And on the sands of Suvla, they entered into hell
And on those bloody beaches, the first of them fell...
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me

Chorus:
And it's over the mountains, and over the sea
Come brave Newfoundlanders, and join the Blue Puttees
You'll fight the hun in Flanders, and at Galipoli
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me

The call came from London, for the last July drive
To the trenches with the regiment, prepare yourselves to die
The roll call next morning, just a handful survived.
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me

Chorus
The stone men on Water Street still cry for the day
When the pride of the city went marching away
A thousand men slaughtered, to hear the King say
Enlist you Newfoundlanders and come follow me

Chorus x 2

Top

Greenspond

Greenspond is a pretty place, and so is Pinchard's Island
Ma will buy me a new fur coat when da gets home from swilin'
Here he comes as white as ghosts
Children in their little boats
Women in their petticoats
Down from Petty Harbour

Top

My Apology
It's not the way that I intended this
I didn't realize, how much I would miss
But with every parting of our company
I hate to think, what it has done to me

Chorus:
You didn't see, that I was sorry
This has to be, my apology
When cruelty comes with blind indifference
My humanity becomes the best defense
But if you consider the alternative
I really didn't have that much to give

Chorus
A tragic victim of my circumstance
Never give the devil a second chance
If you do you know that you can never win
Probably best to forget and begin again

Chorus
My apology, my apology...

Top

Jakey's Gin
When I was a young man I was led astray
I met with a buddy down in Logy Bay
We went out in a weather
We wore out our shoes,
And up Kingsway road for a drink of old blue

Chorus:
Drink 'er up boys its well after ten Drink 'er up boys its well after ten
Some people say that the pinky is fine
Others will swear by a drop of moonshine
But as for myself I'm a bottle of each,
mixed in with a gallon of dipper or screech

Chorus
Its the old shavin' lotion that's made me this way
Sweeter than Pepsi and stronger than tea
And when in the evening when we're feeling fine
We'll stop into Jakey's for icon and shine

Chorus
Its the old shavin' lotion that's made me this way
Sweeter than Pepsi and stronger than tea
And when in the morning when I'm feeling rough
I curse, ol' Jakey who sold me this stuff

Chorus x 2
Take it two four out the door!

Top

Something I Should Know
Am I leaving you tomorrow, I can't see
Is this how it's gotta to be?
In the morning must I go,
So let's take a little time, say what's on your mind
Is there something I should know ?
I thought we went through all this yesterday
You said you were OK, you just had to take it slow
Well I'm tired of these little games you play, are you here to stay?
Is there something I should know?

Chorus:
Is there something I should know?
Is there something I should know? (Is there something?)
Is there something I should know?
Is there something I should know? (Is there something?)

I think about everything we've seen, was it just a dream
How did we get so low?
To leave it all behind would be obscene
Where's your self-esteem? Is there something I should know?

Chorus
Keep on talking, you know I've got all night
But don't keep telling me, that everything's all right...
I'm not all right. I'm not all right.

I'm leaving you tomorrow, I can see
This is how it's got to be,
In the morning I must go...
So let's take a little time, say what's on your mind
Is there something I should know?

Chorus

Top

Jolly Roving Tar
Ships may come and ships may go
As long as the sea does roll.
Each sailor lad just like his dad,
He loves the flowing bowl.
A trip on shore he does adore
With a girl who's nice and round.
When the money's gone
It's the same old song,
"Get up Jack! John, sit down!"

Chorus:
Come along, come along, You jolly brave boys,
There's lots of grog in the jar.
We'll plough the briny ocean
With the jolly roving tar.

When Jack comes in, it's then he'll steer
To some old boarding house.
They'll welcome him with rum and gin,
And feed him on pork scouse.
He'll lend, spend and he'll not offend
Till he's lyin' drunk on the ground
When the money's gone
It's the same old song,
"Get up Jack! John, sit down!"

Chorus
Jack, he then, oh then he'll sail
Bound down for Newfoundland
All the ladies fair in Placentia there
They love that sailor man.
He'll go to shore out on a tear
And he'll buy some girl a gown.
When the money's gone
It's the same old song,
"Get up Jack! John, sit down!"

Chorus
When Jack gets old and weatherbeat,
Too old to roam about,
They'll let him stop in some rum shop
Till eight bells calls him out.
Then he'll raise his eyes up to the skies,
Sayin' "Boys, we're homeward bound."
When the money's gone
It's the same old song,
"Get up Jack! John, sit down!"

Chorus (2x)

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