The Railway Tapes (volume one)

by Peter Benedict Gallagher

The Railway Tapes (volume one) cover art
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1.
05:41
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2.
04:17
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3.
03:44
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4.
04:35
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5.
03:41
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6.
03:31
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7.
05:34
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8.
02:39
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9.
03:57
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10.
01:58
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11.
04:00
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12.
03:23
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about

The Railway Tapes One and Two are songs, some old, some new, that I composed for the bands I have played with, and in the case of ‘The Casual Ties’ still do. My wife had bought a little four track recorder for me one Christmas and I used it to record the absolutely stripped down versions of them; mostly just me with a guitar at my desk at work. “You should do something in between the tea breaks”, she says.

credits

released 01 January 2009
Peter Benedict Gallagher

tags

tags: aor alternative classical dark ambient rock Stockport

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Track Name: Toast
A Mouth Full Of Toast.

When I was a child I loved the pouring rain,
I loved the wrestling; I loved the sweet shop on the hill.

When I was a child I didn’t understand
Why everybody cried when someone got killed.

When I was a child I knew a thing or two
About not getting in the way; about getting my own way.

But now I’m much older and all I seem to know
Is how little I know that matters.

Now how can it be, that a man cannot see
Anything he doesn’t believe?

How can it go that whatever you sow
Never sees the fullest green?

And where are the people who understand the world
When you can’t find the money for your board?

What happened to the child with his mouth full of toast
With a dream in his heart for war?

The lessons are here for us mere mortal men
We work till we drop and we die when we’re done

The lesson today is a stones throw away
But you need a strong arm and the clocks ticking

What did you do that was so important?
Is the world much improved by your short sojourn?

Me, I’m a monster, ready to eat you
Ready to teach you and ready to die.
Track Name: Consequences
Consequences

Once upon a time, once upon a summers day
High up on the hayloft, deep in the arms of my lover I lay
Her cool white skin beneath me, her soft long hair in waves of gold
With a whispered voice; with deep concern, and a silver tear she tells me
“I can almost see the tears of our fathers far away
I can almost feel the fear of our children through the haze”

Once upon a time, once upon a summers night
High up on the mountains side, standing tall to view the sight
Far below the city sprawl, a million ladies turned to whores
Alone beyond their wildest dreams, I hear them sing and even scream
I can almost see the tears of our fathers far away
I can almost feel the fear of our children through the haze

Come, come, just a little kiss. A touch of tenderness a touch of bliss
Come, come, just a little sore. You lay real still and I’ll give a little more
Come, come, just a little kiss. A touch of tenderness a touch of bliss
Come, come, just a little sore. You lay real still and I’ll give a little more.

Once upon a time, once upon an ocean wave
Secretly amid-ships, deep in the arms of my lover I lay
Her soft black skin above me, her silken hair, straight and jet
Breasts of milk so warm and sweet, with eyes of fire she says “and yet
I can almost sense the time when our madness will be counted
I can almost taste revenge with ruthless mindless violence
I can almost see the tears of our fathers far away
I can almost feel the fear of our children through the haze”

Come, come, just a little kiss. A touch of tenderness a touch of bliss
Come, come, just a little sore. Stay real still and I’ll give a little more
Come, come, just a little kiss. A touch of tenderness a touch of bliss
Come, come, just a little sore. Stay real still and I’ll give a little more.
Track Name: Crystal Gaol
Crystal Gaol

On a clear summers day I can stand up here
And look across this range of hills
I can swim these lakes and I can climb these trees
Let my senses take their fill
With time to study and time to ponder
The planet moves around me
And I stand too much in awe
To question such ruthless beauty

Now the daylight fades to red and gold
As the sun disappears from view
The night draws in and the temperature drops
The meadows shimmer with dew
Millions of stars in a moonless sky
A meteors speeding trail
A planetary gemstone in a vacuum vault
Imprisoned in a crystal gaol

Back in the city with it’s artificial day
The broken neon-lit stone
I climb stairs to eat my fill
Of this fine restaurant
But the call of the wild has me spellbound
And I cannot eat a thing
Because I’m sick to the stomach with people
Whose indifference drowns my soul

So the sea turns black and the sky turns brown
From colossal industrial waste
And the earth cries out for a helping hand
But it just isn’t there
And you sit in a church and pray to a god
That someone invented
But you’re not surprised when the answer never comes
It is what you expected
Track Name: Johnny Be Bad
Johnny B Bad.

Johnny soldier man, are you getting all at war, Johnny?
Johnny sailor man, are you killing the evil bastards, Johnny?
Johnny airman man, are you gonna dodge the bullets, Johnny?
Are you really comin’ home?

Johnny captain lad, are you shouting the odds, Johnny?
Johnny boson lad, are you counting the shiny bombs, Johnny?
Johnny pilot lad, are you polishing your boots, Johnny?
Are you really comin’ home?

Johnny battalion boy, are you cashing your wage cheque, Johnny?
Johnny fleet boy, are you diggin’ mass graves, Johnny?
Johnny squadron boy, are you looking at the bloody mess, Johnny?
Are you really comin’ home?

Johnnys wife and kids alone again and crying in the dark.
Track Name: Politicians
Politics

Shake the newcomers hand
Buy the lady a drink
Keep the eyeballs in your gaze
Fray the edges of that maze

Do they please their children
Its havoc when they don’t
Hold the little one in ransom
Bend down and say he’s handsome

Will the cameras work you good
And make you look sincere enough
Or shall you hide your snide from view
Perhaps they’re getting tired of you

With the dawn the news shall break
The deals you made are now at stake
The arms you sold are killing men
Who’s vote you stole to buy the oil

The suit looks fine against the green
The nurse is nervous and oh so shy
The waiting room is full again
Of journalists to the slaughter

A suggestion here and a little doubt there
And a sea of willing imbeciles
The darkness dressed up in righteousness
And a bank balance not to be questioned

And when it is over bar the shouting
And the embers are damping down
Who is it that crawls from the turret
To kiss the widows hand?

I know these things of some
All kindred to the regiments
Of whom it is said can see
Anything indeed for a fee

Hold the children in your smile
The red balloons float across the sky
Here come the bombers in shape of a “v”
My thoughts exactly.
Track Name: Directions
Directions.

If you take the high road
You need to go straight
For anything up to a mile

At a pub called “The Fox”
There’s a very odd roundabout
Where you follow the sign for Wales

As you pass the old gas works
You’ll notice a café on the left
Go in and order steak pudding with chips, twice

The beautiful Andrea
Will ask if you need a muffin
Say yes and you get mushy peas for free

Get me on my mobile
And I’ll meet you in there
The day after tomorrow at six.
Track Name: The Gift
The Gift

There was a moment,
Not long ago,
You had an idea,
Resulting in pain.
Paper wraps stone,
Stone sharpens sword,
But the sword cuts deeper,
Than any written word.
Maybe you thought you could just walk away,
And your favorite song would just keep on playing.

There goes the perfect choice,
And you chose the cruelest road,
So there goes the plan of plans,
Now let me show you the cost.
Paper wraps stone,
Stone sharpens sword,
But sword cuts deeper,
Than any written word
How you must wonder at hearing the consequences,
Cut out and paisted for your pleasure in song.

What do your voices say?
What do your voices never say?
Have you had one kind thought?
Since you went that way?
Paper wraps stone,
Stone sharpens sword,
But sword cuts deeper,
Than any written word.
Are you as sorry as you could ever be?
Let me sing your favorite song until they go away.

I could’ve taken you to paradise,
In a beautiful pea green boat,
I could’ve stopped the pain with magical drugs,
And played until you floated away.
Paper wraps stone,
Stone sharpens sword,
But sword cuts deeper,
Than any written word.
That was the betrayal of friendship for mischief,
Know now that you are found out and exposed.