Garden of Love

a face in a crowd fills my heart up with joy
it’s a look it’s a laugh it’s a smile it’s a boy
it’s one of those days when the sun’s full of shine
turning air into nectar and water to wine
and my eyes have zoomed in like a camera lens
so I don’t see that he’s with a bunch of my friends
someone tells me his name and I try to keep cool
but my face is on fire and I grin like a fool
he says something to me but what is it he’s said
and pictures of him float around in my head

pictures of him float around in my mind
have I just seen the light – am I mad – am I blind
as I wake, as I work, as I sleep in my bed
pictures of him float around in my head

we sit in a café, we walk and we chat
and I’m happy yes happy to leave it at that
he’s a glory a beauty a wonder a friend
and who knows or cares if or where it will end
it’s a day it’s a week it’s a month it’s a year
and the sky’s always blue and the air crystal clear
and we’re at the alter, I’m saying I do
with a strange intimation of just passing through
I feel faint is it panic or passion or dread
and these pictures of him float around in my head

pictures of him float around in my mind
have I just tied the knot – am I mad – am I blind
as I wake as I work as I sleep in our bed
pictures of him float around in my head

now that everything’s sorted desire turns to need
there are plumbers to contact and babies to feed
there are hot summer evenings and cold winter nights
there are duties and deadlines and failures and fights
there is shouting and screaming and torture and pain
till I swear on my life I’ll not see him again
it’s the end it is over we’re best off apart
and although I’m a wreck and I’ve broken his heart
and although we’ve both said things that can’t be unsaid
pictures of him float around in my head

pictures of him float around in my dreams
I want to let go but I can’t cos it seems
that whatever was done and whatever was said
fucking pictures of him float around in my head

it’s one of those days when the sun’s full of shine
turning air into nectar and water to wine
a face in the crowd fills my heart up with joy
it’s a look it’s a laugh it’s a smile it’s the boy
he has wrinkles and lines now, that wasn’t the plan
we have turned into little old lady and man
he says “shall we?” – I’m thinking, we made it, we’re here
where the sky’s always blue and the air crystal clear
I follow, I’m fine with whatever he’s said
and pictures of him float around in my head

pictures of her float around in my mind
I’ve seen the light – I’m not mad – I’m not blind
as we wake as we work as we sleep in our bed
pictures of her float around in my head

welcome to the garden
all creatures great and small
orchards laced with exotic fruit
and you can taste them all
so step right up and enjoy yourself
none of that forbidden stuff
cos this aint the garden of eden baby
this is the garden of love

theres no obligation
you can just hang out
take a walk through the perfumed groves
see what its all about
first you want just a little
then you can’t get enough
cos this aint the garden of eden baby
this is the garden of love

like the poet said loves a bird on the wing
a red red rose a wedding ring
who knows what the future may bring
love is a many splendoured thing
but you don’t have to be a poet
cos when you got it
you sure know it

this aint no garden of eden – no
this is a real paradise
you wanna be naughty be naughty
you wanna be nice – be nice
you wanna take things nice and slow
you wanna play it rough
i mean you can just sit there
a-feedin or readin, but
this is the garden of love

gonna touch – touch – touch
– touch the fire
there is such – such – such
– such desire
have as much – much – much
– youll never tire
join the choir in the garden of love

you wanna walk in the moonlight
you want the thrill of romance
you wanna feel safe and serene
you wanna take a chance
you wanna stretch out in stardust
you wanna strut your stuff
this aint the garden – it’s more of a hardon
yeah – garden of love

so many pleasures for you to find
delights for you to dwell upon
pleasures of the heart – pleasures of the mind
and of the i-ma-gi-na-tion
don’t forget spirituality
yeah but mostly
of the body

gonna peep – peep – peep
– into the garden
gonna creep – creep – creep
– into the garden
goin deep – deep – deep
– into the garden
goin deep in the garden of love

now its time to come on in
you wont ever want to go
the more that you experience
the more you wanna know
but don’t start getting hoity toity
when you see everyone in the buff
cos this aint the garden of eden honey
this is the garden
- no need to say pardon
this is the garden of love

falling in and out of love
devils below and heavens above
I’m falling in and out of love with you

with you with you with you with you

everything’s right and everything’s wrong
where in all this do I belong
when everything’s right and everything’s wrong with you

with you with you with you with you

why did I make that first mistake
that led to all this give and take
why did I listen to the mating call
when I’m an individual
am I an individual

when I’ve been married twenty years
love and kisses blood sweat and tears
when I’ve been married twenty years to you

but when the kids have flown the nest
I’ll damn well do what I like best
what I like best
or will I forever rest with you

with you with you with you with you
with you with you with you
I’d like to hope it could be true

separate stories
something you said
nothing in writing
phones clicking dead
pure fabrication
creak of a bed

the passions that fly
living the lie
of love
on the sly

your place or mine
we come and we go
mustn't hurt others
nothing must show
loving each other
and no-one will know

the passions that fly
living the lie
of love
on the sly

always a fear, someone we know may discover us here
nobody will, but somehow the danger increases the thrill
and I can't wait until

our secret liaisons
together alone
no one to answer
no one to phone
no one's permission
none but our own

passions that fly
living the lie
of love
on the sly

whatever happened to the love in your heart
whatever happened to that wonderful glow
the warmth and sweetness you possessed at the start
maybe that’s the way things go

did all your visions vanish into thin air
were you so hurt, when did this bitterness grow
the human psyche arcs from hope to despair
maybe that’s the way things go

disappointment breeds
you ignore your needs
put your dreams on hold
and think you’re safe at last but that trail leads
to a world that’s always cold

for what you gave me then I’d like to repay
to hold you close until you finally know
how wonderful you are – and yes, you can say
maybe that’s the way things go
but I still love you so

boats bobbing in the harbour here
masts tinkling in the breeze
got my right hand wrapped round a glass of beer
looking forward to a life of ease

a year ago my partner and I
decided to call it a day
people change, kids were gone
we weren’t getting on anyway
it’s high summer

six months ago mum had a fall
two weeks dad sat by her side
till the doctor said we must turn off those machines
and dad went home and died
it’s high summer

when my kids moved out I was proud of them
they were so happy and strong
when my folks died I blessed them both
they’d lived so well so long
when my partner left it was for the best
fo twentyfive years we’d got along

but just yesterday as the sun set
I sat in the last of the light
when these great deep sobs burst out of me
didn’t stop all night
it’s high summer

boats bobbing in the harbour here
masts tinkling in the breeze
got my right hand wrapped round a glass of beer
looking forward to a life of ease
a life of ease…

Mary and John fall in love at first sight
the way that they look - like they’ve just seen the light
their heads full of dreams and their eyes shining bright
floating along and everything’s right

no harm can befall them
lives full of fun
two of a kind
Mary and John

sharing a dream of what’s going to be
they rent a cottage way down by the sea
they’re working hard but they’re feeling free
next thing you know she’s having a baby

no harm can befall them
lives full of fun
two of a kind
Mary and John

in the night with Mary away
John awakes from a dream, his head bright as day
from the pit of his gut, a fit of despair
he shouldn’t be there
he shouldn’t be there
he shouldn’t be there…

she returns to the cottage, babe on her arm
note on the table but she’s feeling calm
the note says ‘I’ve left you, I’m full of alarm
I can’t be a father, I mean you no harm’

no harm?
no harm?

no harm can befall them
lives full of fun
two of a kind
Mary and son

I was a cabinet maker
I used to walk to work from here
saw the sun rise over the shipyards
in winter the snow
and in summer the sky would be open and clear

our company just folded
we didn’t know till that last day
he went bust, that was it
when I looked, I found
there was eight hundred pound in that week’s pay

time
all this time
so much time

it was alright for a few weeks
I would go shopping with the wife
but after a while the money ran out
I got on her nerves
I was no use to her, she’d got her own life

after a year we were rowing
she didn’t want sex anymore
I was out all day looking for work
it’s not very clever
looking for work when you’re fifty-four

time
all this time
so much time
what do you do when your thoughts turn black?

I started wander to round town watching girls
coming out of school and women
I tried but I couldn’t stop
I was getting all sexed up
just looking at them
oh

I was even looking at my daughter
God forgive me, I was that far gone
I’d leave the bathroom door open
hoping that she would come in
and find me with nothing on

I wasn’t myself anymore
I went to the doctor in the end
he gave me some pills for depression
I told him, I said
I am not depressed, I’m frightened, of

time
All this time
so much time
what do you do when your thoughts turn black?
time
too much time

they say the devil finds work for idle hands
I seen this old film on TV
where a man changed into a monster
it was a horror film
and I don’t know what’s happening to me

I was a cabinet maker
worked with the same blokes every day
we talked about football and telly and things
if I see them now
there’s none of them working, we’ve nothing to say

time
all this time
so much time
what do you do when your thoughts turn black?
time
too much time
I’ve got all the time in the world
and no way back

gather round me children
I wanna tell you about the Lord
now you may think he’s a peaceful guy
you wouldn’t see him with a sword

but gods can’t always be peaceful, no
sometimes they gotta play rough
and rain down pestilence and plague and shit
so beware, things are gonna get tough
when the lord starts to strut his stuff

Jesus ransacked the temples
I come not to bring peace he said
but to set ev’ry boy against his own dad
and let the dead bury the dead

cos here comes the apocalypse
the end of the world is nigh
that’s what our Lord Jesus said
you’re all gonna die
you wanna know why?

Jesus was a fighting man
Jesus was a fighting man
Jesus was a fighting man
and that’s because
he surely was
the son a’ God

Allah said I’ll cast terror
in the heart of the infidel
strike off their heads, pile ‘em up high
and cast ‘em straight down into hell

cos we’re gonna have a jihad in
accord with islamic law
we’re gonna tear ‘em limb from limb
in a goddam holy war
and don’t skimp on the gore

Mohomed was a fighting man
Mohomed was a fighting man
Mohomed was a fighting man
he made it clear
that we must fear
the wrath a’ God

cos the muslims are God’s chosen ones
and the christians they’re God’s chosen ones
but first – who did he choose?
he chose Moses – whoa Moses, yeah
and all them other jews

cos Jehovah said I am vengeful
forge your ploughshare into a sword
and with fire and brimstone, gnashing of teeth
we’ll strike ‘em down sayeth the Lord

it’s eye for eye and tooth for tooth
as ye sow, so shall ye reap
the sun aint gonna shine forsooth
till the earth’s a smokin’ heap
c’mon let’s make them angels weap

Isaiah was a fighting man
Jeremiah was a fighting man
and Ruth, she was a fighting man
cos they first heard, they heard the word
and the word was God

confucians buddhists taoists
they don’t have no god at all
instead they talk of inner peace and hide
behind their big old wall
and meditate along with tranquil brahma
or just take a nap
and drift away with monks, that Dalai Lama
isn’t he a right old charmer
smoke and gongs and puppet drama
yogis mantras bells and karma
whoosha-whoosha-whoosha-whoosha whoosh
what a load a’ crap

they’re all yella
and that Buddha
he’s just a little fat fella

the muslims, they got great missiles
won’t you look at them stockpiles grow
those jewish guys got weapons gallore
and they know how to put on a show

and christians, an amazing breed
could wipe out the human race
and when those three get up to speed
the best seats’ll be in space
it’ll put a smile on the good Lord’s face

cos the muslim God’s a fighting god
the christian God’s a fighting god
the god o’ the jews is a fighting god

bring on the fighting gods
bring on the fighting gods
bring on the fighting gods

imagine those forces meeting head on
fulfilling the prophesies we’ve read on
the day of judgement – armageddon
tell me – what are the odds?
bring on the fighting gods!

no coward soul is mine
no trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere
I see heaven's glories shine
and faith shines equal arming me from fear

o god within my breast
almighty ever-present deity
life, that in me hast rest,
as I undying life, have power in thee

vain are the thousand creeds
that move men's hearts, unutterably vain
worthless as withered weeds
or idlest froth amid the boundless main

to waken doubt in one
holding so fast by thy infinity,
so surely anchored on
the steadfast rock of Immortality

with wide-embracing love
thy spirit animates eternal years
pervades and broods above,
changes, sustains, dissolves, creates and rears

though earth and moon were gone
and suns and universes ceased to be
and thou wert left alone
every existence would exist in thee

there is not room for death
nor atom that his might could render void
since thou art being and breath
and what thou art may never be destroyed

you ask me why I'm always teasing you
you hate to have me call you pretty baby
I really thought that I was pleasing you
for you're just a baby to me
your cunning little dimples and your baby stare
your baby talk and baby walk and curly hair
your baby smile makes life worth while
you're just as sweet as you can be

ev'rybody loves a baby that's why I'm in love with you
pretty baby, pretty baby
and I'd like to be your sister brother dad and mother too
pretty baby, pretty baby
won't you come and let me rock you in my cradle of love
and we'll cuddle all the the time
oh I want a lovin' baby and it might as well be you
pretty baby of mine

your mother says you were the cutest kid
no wonder dearie that I'm wild about you
and all the cunning things you said and did
why I love to fondly recall
and just like Peter Pan it seems you'll always be
the same sweet cunning little baby dear to me
and that is why, I'm sure that I
will always love you best of all

ev'rybody loves a baby that's why I'm in love with you
pretty baby, pretty baby
and I'd like to be your sister brother dad and mother too
pretty baby, pretty baby
won't you come and let me rock you in my cradle of love
and we'll cuddle all the the time
oh I want a lovin' baby and it might as well be you
pretty baby of mine, oh
pretty baby of mine

why worry about the future
only one life to live
what in the world can we hope for
what in return can we give
with or without a mountain to climb
with or without reason or rhyme
it's clear, that

here we are on the edge of time
watching the view as the future arrives
here we are on the edge of time
in the prime of our lives
having the time of our lives

I worry about things sometimes
I crawl inside my shell
frightened to live, frightened to give
but then I think what the hell
everyone else must feel the same
and fear by any other name
is fear, yet

here we are on the edge of time
watching the view as the future arrives
here we are on the edge of time
in the prime of our lives
having the time of our lives

cultivate a happy disposition
don't let your troubles cloud your vision
if you’ve a problem make a decision
and always trust your intuition
be clear
watch the world appear, and

here we are on the edge of time
watching the view as the future arrives
here we are on the edge of time
in the prime of our lives
having the time of our lives

recently in bed at night
I’ve felt quite downcast
I’ve only just learned how to live
but half my life is past
half my life is over
it fills me full of dread
cos when I’ve lived the other half
then I will be dead
it’s made me very frightened
it’s made me very cross
it’s sucha stupid system
I demand to see the boss

and I will say
please let me stay
please let me stay
I’d like to stay
that’s what I’ll say

if there is a heaven
it seems a bad idea
and as my prize for being good
I want to stay right here
give me life and lots of it
and more and more and more
and if I live forever
it will never be a bore
there are fish and fields and mountains high
and animals that hop
there are sunny days with trees and sky
oh please don’t let it stop

and so I say
please let me stay
I’d like to stay
I want to stay
that’s what I say

how I’d leap and laugh and chortle
if I found I was immortal

please don’t make my teeth fall out
don’t make me shrink and bend
it’s cheap of you to wear me out
till I accept the end
how dare you make me hobble
with arthritis in each leg
till I fall down and don’t get up
so on my knees I beg
please make me immortal
make my friends immortal too
I want to go on doing
the kind of things I do

day after day
come what may
and so I say
Please let me stay
I’d like to stay
I need to stay
Please let me
Stay
Stay
Stay
Stay
Stay
Stay

whenever I am feeling low
and the road seems dark and long
do I lie down and give up?
no - I sing this little song

I'm a human being
and humans are the best
I'm proud to be a human
we're better than the rest

plants just sit there growing
being watered, being warmed
birds flap about in a mindless way
and monkeys are deformed

but human beings are wonderful
we're bold and brave and free
oh human beings are wonderful
ah yes - and especially me

animals know nothing
they mill about in herds
they grunt and bark and squeak and moo
whilst we can speak long words

animals are vulgar
they run around in the nude
they're too dim to realise
that they are just our food

but human beings know how to dress
we move so gracefully
oh human beings are the perfect shape
ah yes – and especially me

humans are immortal
unlike those we dominate
our souls flutter up to heaven
if we’re good, and we are, we are great

the human spine’s a miracle
so are the human hands
the brain so clever so complex
that no one understands! – no one understands?

we are not lonely or bad, we are not stupid or sad
life is not futile, we are not small
banging our heads against a brick wall
no one to hear our pitiful cries
no – don’t think that – that way madness lies, oo er
we are not just stuff that grows on a pebble in space
we are the human race and there is no end to our specialness, no! – yes!

soon there will be humans
with feathery wings that fly
and clones of us with spare bits
so our bodies never die

superhuman humans
with telepathic thoughts
who know the meaning of everything
and are also good at sports

so what's the secret of our success?
it’s our integrity
we seem to glow with an inner light
ah yes - and especially me

so if you're sad and boring
and you've gone and lost your dream
or even if you're very poor
don't let down the team

simply rise above it
and sing this song with pride
I'm a human being
I am on the winning side

us humans walk like gods upon the earth
we're making history
us human beings are the stuff of legend
yes - and especially me me me me me - me!