Duxford Girl

For the record (no pun intended), I can't believe that I didn't put Lost Together on this compilation. Rain Down On Me – Lost Together (1992)
I like the “dirty-30s” theme of this video.

You never need forgiveness
Left home at seventeen
So much a child
Confident and wild
Nobody taught you how to live
What to keep and what to give
You couldn't be delivered
You would not be denied
Raised on hate
To a life that's second rate
I've seen that look before
Behind some closing door
Now she talks to strangers
Who bring her flowers for her hair
But every night you call on me
To get you out the door
Then you smile
And watch me lose control
You rain on me
Rain down on me
Rain down on me
I used to think I knew
What I was waiting for
I don't think that anymore
I never knew what to bring you
You didn't seem to need too much at all
No pearls or chains
And nobody's sad refrains
Every time I wonder why
I think back to the kindness in your eyes
Now everybody wants you
Bring you flowers for your hair
But every night you call on me
To peel you off the wall
Then you smile
And I just lose control
You rain on me
Rain down on me
Rain down on me
I used to think I knew
What I was fighting for
I don't think that anymore
*
Heart Like Mine – Casino (1987)
The Cuddy/Keelor harmonies, great, right from the start. This whole album was very retro. It sort of goes with my kitchen dining set.

Don't you know that we're out of touch
Yeah we fight too much
How'd we ever get so messed up
Every night we say the craziest things
You know our words they once had wings
Now it's all covered up
In double-talk and lies
There's a stranger looking back
When I look in your eyes
I just want to find a heart like mine
I just want to find a heart like mine
A heart like mine a heart like mine
You call me a fool 'cause I still feel the same
You say that your love has changed
Ah here we go again
Close your eyes tell me what do you see
Do you still remember me
Like some Mexican diplomat
After the fact
Air-brushed from history
Swept under the mat
I just want to find a heart like mine
I just want to find a heart like mine
A heart like mine a heart like mine
And as I walk out the door
I step into a dream
The world's quiet and I feel free
But things are never what they seem
But then I hear you call
And warn myself don't go back
But slow motion attacks
Like some Mexican diplomat
After the fact
Air-brushed from history
Swept under the mat
I just want to find a heart like mine
I just want to find a heart like mine
A heart like mine a heart like mine
*
It Could Happen to You – Tremolo (1997)
This got a lot of radio play in 1999 when the Starlight Picnic was touring in the summer. One of my biggest regrets in life is missing that tour.

They broke off the locks and they opened the doors
Fixed up the windows and painted the floors
Grew a little garden outside in the rust and sand
Raised up the roof till it touched the sky
Picked up the pieces that were left to die
Brought this building back with a healing hand
When you see trouble
You're bound to move in on the double
You leave your mark upon everything
In your head those Liberty Bells still ring
But we know that you don't even mean
A thing you say
So you brought in the army to do your job
Kicking in doors and swinging their clubs
Back in the morning to watch
Themselves on the news
You're doing the bidding of the money man
If it turns out right they'll call you friend
One little favour how could you really refuse
Oh my heart is sinking
Same old useless worn out thinking
You live your life in the court of kings
Bow to the ruler and kiss the ring
But we don't even understand a thing you say
It could happen to you
It could happen to you
It could happen to you sometime
When you least expect it
Done by the ones that you never suspected
All your bills come due
It could happen to you
You really got to wonder why you did it for
Cause you don't need an army
To move out the poor
You brought it out once I know
You could bring it again
Oh my heart is sinking
Same old useless worn out thinking
Live your life in the court of kings
Count your money as the Raven sings
Safe and sound when the wrecking ball swings
But all your riches won't mean a thing someday
It could happen to you
It could happen to you
It could happen to you
*
Bad Timing – Five Days in July (1993)
There's not much I haven't said about this song in previous posts. It's probably one of the most masterful songs ever written (in my opinion). It seems to me that the people we connect with the most in life are the ones that appear in our lives when it's just too complicated to not end up hurting one another. I'm also a little bit afraid that when we tell ourselves that “maybe soon will come a day” it's just the false hope we cling to in an effort to drag ourselves from one day to another.

Hey it's me what a big surprise
Calling you up from a restaurant
Around the bend
I just got in from way up North
I'm aching tired now
And I could use a friend
I might be a fool
To think that you do
Want to see me again
It's been awhile since I talked to you
Nothing wrong
Just nothing ever goes as planned
Many times I thought I'd call
I didn't have your number in my hand
I know it's true
You'd never do
The same thing to me

I never meant to make you cry
And though I know I shouldn't call
It just reminds us of the cost
Of everything we've lost
Bad timing that's all
Maybe soon there'll come a day
When no more tears will fall
If we each forgive a little bit
And we both look back on it
As just bad timing that's all
We used to have so many plans
Something always seemed to turn out wrong
I never could catch up to you
Moving on and doing what you've done
I don't know why
The harder I try
The harder it comes
I never meant to make you cry
And though I know I shouldn't call
It just reminds us of the cost
Of everything we've lost
Bad timing that's all
Maybe soon there'll come a day
When no more tears will fall
If we each forgive a little bit
When we both look back on it
Just bad timing that's all
*
Hasn't Hit Me Yet – Five Days in July (1993)
This is the big concert-sing-along-number. It's always best when performed at Banff as the audience always seems to break into perfect four-part harmony.

You say that you're leaving
Well that comes as no surprise
Still I kinda like this feeling
Of being left behind
Yea this ain't nothing new to me
Well it's just like going home
It's kinda like those sunsets
That leave you feeling so stoned
I fell through this crack
And I kinda lost my head
I stand transfixed
Before this street light
Watching the snow fall
On this cold December night
I never thought this could happen
But somehow the feeling is gone
You got sick of the patterns
And I got lost in this song
Hey hey I guess it hasn't hit me yet
I fell through this crack
And I kinda lost my head
I stand transfixed
Before this streetlight
Watching the snow fall
On this cold December night
And out in the middle of Lake Ontario
The same snow is falling
On the deep silent water
The great dark wonder
Into the waves of my heart
Into the waves of my heart
*
Falling Down Blue – Tremolo (1997)
This song drifted into my life when I was very much falling down over blue. Three blue uniforms, as a matter of fact, including the one I would never wear. I spent hours cruising around in my station wagon listening to this on my disk player trying to work things out. I never really have, now I just cruise around in a much nicer car that my iPod plugs into.

Everyone tells me I'm lucky
Got my whole life to live yet
I can't say they're wrong
But the days seem so long
Living inside of my head
Maybe I'll get some relief now
Now that your things are all gone
I won't sit here staring
At nothing all night
Bleary-eyed greeting the dawn
(chorus)
All right I miss you tonight
And I'm not really sure what to say
It keeps rolling in like a slow moving train
It gets harder and harder each day
Each time I think that the worst of it's through
I am stopped in my tracks by some vision of you
All right I miss you tonight
I admit that I'm falling down blue
She lived outside of the city
On days when I'd visit her there
I'd watch her out dancing
All lit by the moon
The cold winds of time in her hair
Then we'd go driving for hours
Turn off the lights and just glide
Moving like spirits
Along through the night
The light through the trees as our guide
(chorus)
*
Dark Angel – Five Days in July (1993)
I don't think I've ever seen Greg Keelor preform this without it being fantastic. This version features Sarah McLaughlin in the background. I'm sure if I'm drifting through the dreams of anyone, it's really more of a nightmare.

I met this girl
She's walking through one of my dreams
She kissed my eyes
And everything that she said
Made so much sense to me
That I still feel like I'm half asleep
My dark angel
She gave me diamonds for eyes
She walked by
Now I'm hypnotised
By this dream
That just won't stop
And I feel
Like I've always been lost in this dream
The rumours of heaven
Only speed the truth on earth
My dark angel
Shine your light on my curse
You are the other that I have to find
Until I do
I guess I'll see you 'round my mind
So Colorado
Is a place I have to go
I heard a rumour
She loves the mountains and the snow
My dark angel
She gave me diamonds for eyes
My dark angel
I offer you my heart
My dark angel
I think I loved you from the start
'Cause there is this face I know
That I've never seen
Sometimes I feel I'm living in
Someone else's dream
Still I'd like to thank you
For stopping to talk
And I wonder
Just into who's dream did who walk
Oh my dark angel
Shine your light on me
Shine your light
Shine your light
Shine your light on me
*
Already Gone – Lost Together (1993)
I've never been good at letting go, even when it's a total lost cause. This would greatly explain my political leanings.

Monday morning waking up
Still too numb to speak
Another night staring at the wall
Last night's conversation
Knocked me off my feet
I guess today I fall
I wish that we could agree
To look the other way
Be careful of the things we do
And watch the things we say
Maybe then we'd get somewhere
We've never been before
But what's the use in fighting
When you know you've lost the war
Walked the streets of New Orleans
Shirt soaked to my skin
Through the mess of yesterday's parade
A thousand times a day
I think of calling you again
But I come to my senses instead
Every time we walk away
We lose a little time
Pretending to each other
Everything is fine
After all the lies I use
To get myself to sleep
I still wake up to the promises
I know we'll never keep
Say you don't see
What's wrong
Every night
Lasts so long
I know I do
You're already gone
I wonder should I get up
I would but what's the point
When something's gone
It's gone for good
Maybe I could look away
Back to where we used to be
One more time
I wish I could
Never mind the reasons
That tore us all apart
We've both done things
I know we can't defend
What's the use in tracing
It all back to the start
There'll still be something
Missing in the end
I wish that we could find
The words to look the other way
Be careful of the things we do
And watch the things we say
Maybe then we'd get somewhere
We've never been before
But what's the use in fighting
When you know you've lost the war
Say you don't see
What's wrong
Every night
Lasts so long
I know I do
You're already gone
I know
You're already gone
*
To Love Somebody – Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (2001)
Instrument wise, this is very intense. There's a whole lot going on and I love the build up to the end.

There's a light
A certain kind of light
That never shone on me
I want my life to be lived with you
Lived with you
There's a way everybody say
To do each and every little thing
But what does it bring
If I ain't got you, ain't got?
You don't know what it's like, baby
You don't know what it's like
To love somebody
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
In my brain
I see your face again
I know my frame of mind
You ain't got to be so blind
And I'm blind, so very blind
I'm a man, can't you see
What I am
I live and breathe for you
But what good does it do
If I ain't got you, ain't got ?
*
What is this Love? - Five Days in July (1993)
If love was easy to understand I think we'd all be a lot happier. More Sarah singing backup.

What is this love
That I leave behind
How can I turn
From the tears in your eyes
What is this world
Where we always pretend
That it is worth it
Worth it in the end
What is this life we share
That I just throw away
Is this love
That causes so much pain
What is the promise
That I leave behind
Why can't I
Just lie beside you again
What's going on
How'd it get so wrong
What is this dream
That I'll never find
What is this prayer
That's stealing my mind
What is this deal
That I've made with fate
And I wonder
If I have left it too late
*
After the Rain – Casino (1990)
It's just a great heart breaker, perfect for a rainy, grey day. It contains one of the many train references in Cuddy lyrics making me fear that he may be a rail fan.

If I had my way
I would never go back
With my back to the wall
I just let myself fall
Watch the days turn black
But now and again I find
You cross my mind
If I was a train
I would never slow down
With my head in the sky
And the world going by
Every nowhere town
As I write one more letter to you
I know I can't change the things that I do
One day
You will discover
Just why I ran
Ran away from you lover
I know I'm to blame
I feel so ashamed
Call out your name
After the rain
What do you want me to do
I've thrown away everything for you
I've wasted my dreams
Each day it seems
I'm losing my way back to you
It's time for a change
What else can I do
The clock ticking time
I better make up my mind
Is it me or is it you
Tonight as I'm losing control
I will drink to the queen of my soul
One day
You will discover
Just why I ran
Ran away from you lover
I know I'm to blame
I feel so ashamed
Call out your name
After the rain
*
Black Ribbon – Small Miracles (2007)

Silent as the stars
That sleep in deep dark waters
Her face forever hidden
For she wears the black ribbon
Her face forever hidden
It's from nowhere that I came
And to nowhere I'll return again
And the same fate waits for you my friend
Blessed or forsaken
She wears the black ribbon
Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping
So let the angels sing
It's only heaven descending
It's only heaven descending
It's only heaven descending
Hold her in your arms
Hold her like a lover
More precious than any other
For she bears a heavy burden
And her heart’s forever broken
Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping
So let the angels sing
It's only heaven descending
It's only heaven descending
It's only heaven descending
*
Five Days in May – Five Days in July (1993)
I haven't really talked much about the musical expertise of the group. I know that I like what they play but I haven't the foggiest about guitar playing. There's always good solo work here and I think it's where Greg really gets to let go.

They met in a hurricane
Standing in the shelter out of the rain
She tucked a note into his hand
Later on they took his car
Drove on down where the beaches are
He wrote her name in the sand
Never even let go of her hand
Somehow they stayed that way
For those 5 days in May
Made all the stars around them shine
Funny how you can look in vain
Living on nerves and such sweet pain
The loneliness that cuts so fine
To find the face you've seen a thousand times
Sometimes the world begins
To set you up on your feet again
It wipes the tears from your eyes
How will you ever know
The way that circumstances go
Always going to hit you by surprise
I know my past
You were there
In everything I've done
You are the one
Looking back it's hard to tell
Why they stood while others fell
Spend your life working it out
All I know is one cloudy day
They both just ran away
Rain on the windshield heading South
She loved the lines around his mouth
Sometimes the world begins
To set you up on your feet again
It wipes the tears from your eyes
How will you ever know
The way that circumstances go
Always going to hit you by surprise
I know my past
You were there
In everything I've done
You are the one