Songs about demons and saints and voodoo and shysters and rounders and shamans - things that go bump in the night. Scary stuff.
1. through galileo's eyes
2. silver stones
3. the demon haunted world
4. alexandra
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5.the nature of the beas
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6.mi cariño girl
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7.7. the walls of babylon
8. gypsy wine
9. something more
10. sail away
11. calle ontario
through galileo's eyes (rowland-ryland)
lookin to the sky man first came to the final concern
and as he pondered why he knew there were things he would never learn
from the myths he'd make still the fear was great so he had to take
some comfort there
on a city street there's a child that runs some kind of test
with anyone he meets he sees if he can take the predators best
but the fangs are sharp and the flesh is weak and the ailing heart
will make him see
thru galileo's eyes where all the world will be opened up for him
thru galileo's eyes where there's a light that can shine inside of him
Conchita has never lost because she knows we're all the same
she wears a broken cross 'cause heaven can't be forced it can't be gained
with a marching drum no spoken psalms and no holy songs
can break her now
she takes you by the hand and you feel a surge of life inside
you know there is no crime except the one that makes you run and hide
when the judgement falls you crumble to your knees as her spirit soars
you realize she sees
thru galileo's eyes where all the world has been opened up for her
thru galileo's eyes there's a light that shines inside of her
in the land of time you could watch the moving of the sky
in the land of time you can walk across the great divide
you can find some fame with the holy ones or the muscle men
but know they're both the same the dove's forever caught in the mortal sins
of the tortured souls that like a thief will try to steal control
of anyone who peeks
thru galileo's eyes where all the world can be opened up for you
thru galileo's eyes there's a light that can shine inside of you
top
silver stones (rowland-ryland)
mexican skies fill my eyes desert heats upon your lips
wrap me in your brown arms and hold me tight tumbleweed sails by like abandoned ships
is this treasure I'm feeling is there gold in the gallions
is it my heart that you're stealing do you bleed when you've found it
hispaniola to vera cruz a way of life you would never choose
born into freedom and under a star oh come and tell me now who you are
there's a secret you're hiding a veil covers your fear
and the cannons are frightening the thunder so near
cortez the killer and ponce de leon packed up their worries and ran away from their home
one was a butcher and one was a fool and you on that beach in1492
your chiqita tears are revealing like silver stones in the sand
and the danger is appealing tall ships and distant lands
top
the demon haunted world (rowland)
there's footprints leading to the garden wall waiting in the rain for the spirit call
gotta be sure that there have been no mistakes
ya know the spirit called to joan of arc when the night was cold and the sun was dark
twas the holy spirit but they still burned her at the stake
it's a demon haunting it's a witches brew
it's a demon haunting coming after you
there's a leper prince walking on this earth marking every hide from the day of birth
wearin the coat of the good self righteous man
there's a darkness that is shining now through the crystals and the pyramid power
blocking all the light of reasoning
it's a demon haunting it's a ghoulish time
it's a demon haunting haunting your mind
well i'm in my circle i got all my charms and every night i check my sign
but hecatee's still casting down her spells
and i see my poppit full of pins and i'm turning kinda blue and green
and lucifer is reaching me from hell
i trusted her so adriana came to the san sebastion beach and the spanish sun
we listened to the music pouring from the guitar strings
i told her that i thought she was lookin kinda pale she said she'd found a new lover and a place to dwell
she looked kinda hungry as we went on a moonlight swim
it's a demon haunting it's an evil son
it's a demon haunting haunting everyone
i feel the fear when the moon is full i see the crossed bones and the broken skulls
i see the holy men but all they do is kneel and pray
i'm feeling kinda dizzy the room's in a spin i swear i heard some angels but it could've been men
speakin in tongues and gettin me all hyped this way
it's a demon haunting it's a devil king
it's a demon haunting haunting all your dreams
and every night i confess my sins but the sorcerers won't let me in
they want to see me tremble on my knees
but i learned that there is no escape when the ship you're on is about to break
and everybody's got a special need
oh it's a demon haunting it's the astral plane
it's a demon haunting it's the dragon bones
it's a demon haunting it's the evil son
it's a demon haunting can't hide can't run
top
alexandra (rowland-ryland)
if the sunsets on the morrow
and your heart's still filled with sorrow
and moonbeams leave you lonely
oh, come and talk with me
like a rat running a maze
i've been lost in so many ways
but i promise i will listen
and give you biscuits and tea
alexandra, alexandra
with the moon and stars above you
how your love shines alexandra
on a poor old heart like mine
as you travel through your time
and life gives no reason or rhyme
lose your fears and insecurities
and throw a rope to me
like a sparrow with a broken wing
i've been grounded by so many things
but now i see the skyline
oh come and fly with me
alexandra, alexandra
all the heavens kneel before you
how your love shines alexandra
on a poor old heart like mine
alexandra, alexandra
i can see why men must have you
for your love lies alexandra
like a cure for broken lives
top
the nature of the beast (rowland-ryland)
well she walks so fine yeah she draws the line
in the sand where you bow to her sympathy
well the fire is lit and you take a hit
as you wait with desire for her company
and like a child or a woman she is there for you
and like a pro she will lead you to release
and like a fool you will hate what she does for you
everybody knows it's the nature of the beast
well he walks so fine yeah he tows the line
can't be moved by some pride or some dignity
yeah he's got the touch and you won't matter much
as he climbs to the power that he wants to be
he raises arms to his causes and to god above
he never listens to the teachings of the priests
and like a child he will never ever get enough
and everybody knows it's the nature of the beast
and on and on in this world we carry on
always lookin for a little relief
on and on we need someone to rely upon
something more than just a belief
well the stage is set it's either right or left
getting lost we divide among the spirit kings
one says find a way one says it's here today
one says follow me i'll show you all you need to see
and like a child we are led and then led some more
never questioning or looking for disease
and like a fool we will suffer and still want some more
and everybody knows that it's the nature of the beast
well you left me here now you're nowhere near
as i ponder this condition of humanity
yeah you gave your faith to this broken thief
as i tried to steal away all your fantasies
and now i'm sorry that i questioned all the hopes you shared
but you know, well, you've never been deceased
still there's something in the love that you found in there
and no one seems to see it's just the nature of the beast
and on and on in the world we carry on
always lookin for a little relief
on and on we need someone to rely upon
something more than just a belief
and on and on ah you know we carry on
some are humbled while some learn to please
and on and on in the world we carry on
everybody knows it's the nature of the beast
top
mi carino girl (rowland)
i woke up this morning still wearin the ball and chain
the bosom of abraham has eluded me again
with a red horse trailin behind and the pale horse leadin the way
i climb from my bed to face another day
well i tried for the great virtues but my brother refused thecall
in the land of milk and honey he wanted to have it all
with the blood of the innocent on the golden calf
they called it a sacrement but it's just a wicked plan
but i don't really care about this no the day is still so new
all i want is your lovin baby all i want is your love to be true
chorus
listen to the nightingale sing a song of a lovers tale
and gather 'round the wishing well
hey hey hey and make a wish for the good good world
underneath the starry light gonna take her and hold her tight
gonna make everything allright
hey hey hey for mi carino girl
the treasure is held aloft it's noon in the marketplace
the lamp of the body's cost is a price you negotiate
and there's actors out in the streets their charity is everywhere
and as they say please no reward their trumpets fill the air
and all the men praise these deeds you can watch it on tv
they think it's what we want to hear but it don't fool the land ands ea
and they keep coming up to me they swear i can make it through
and in their persistant ways i'll surely find what is true
but i don't really care about this no it's just a ringing bell
all i want is your lovin baby all i want is you to be my girl
chorus
as the evening falls i walk the streets alone
i see a narrow gate ahead so i turn to go back home
it's such a silly world fear and boredom take many forms
you have to fight for something seems that's the price of being born
but i'm not fighting it baby, not gonna fight it at all
i learned long ago everyone must answer the call
and i know what i want my banner is unfurled
all i want is your lovin baby all i want is you to be my girl
chorus
top
the walls of babylon (rowland)
spirit lights nights of fire heatin up like young desire
breeze ridin in on a burning moon
it comes so strong but he knows his place below the heights and above disgrace
between the garden and the drunken afternoon
and something in a heart of passion makes a man the man of action
something in the light across her eyes
falling down like all before him drifting to the muse of heaven
there where the path is long
inside the walls of babylon
she left him there so long ago on a night in the ice and snow
she told him then to let the passions end
he knew the words that came before he heard the creaking of the floor
he took the lonely walk in the pouring rain
and on a howling night in soho he knew he'd find a way to go on
but something in the light across her thighs
made him turn to see her walkin through the gates of nighttime talkin soft
like a whisper on
the walls of babylon
oil burns on lighted streets shadows cast to be discreet
there's a stranger standing at the flank
with a movement of the hand a glance here a hint of sand
she fell in step with the mountebank
and he knew he couldn't save her now the stars and spells would charm her now
but still he raged against the hour glass
he could hear her nervous laughing as the clock of mignight struckeach bong
as she faded from
the walls of babylon
evil men and evil times penetrate the social climes
she was always his on a balance beam
he pushed himself the time was short he had heard the bad reports
but he knew it was never as it seemed
and somewhere high up on a mountain he'd learned the secrets of the wise men
but truth was not the thing he had in mind
he'd trade the wisdoms of the seers to have her back so he could hear her voice
echo on
top
gypsy wine (rowland-ryland)
she crossed the street the light was green
the barcelona skies were threatening
she promised me a tour of the countryside
she always acted restless when she lied
well i should have known better but the night was young
and there's never time to think when you're on the run
she took me by the hand and then led the way
to a litte flat behind a small cafe
she said everything' is fine
take off your shoes and try to unwind
nothin matters here not space or time
now take a little sip of this gypsy wine
that night i tried to find a place where luck is good
where beauty is for free and it's understood
that those who choose to turn away are those who die
where youth is in the heart and the soul can fly
she came to find me there at ciatadella park
i was listenin to the sounds of catalan at dark
she whispered to me like only a lover can
i lingered on her words like a starvin man
she said everything' is fine
take off your shoes and try to unwind
nothin matters here not space or time
now take a little sip of this gypsy wine
the days passed slowly like in a dream
there were no mistakes or so it seemed
only lillies in the fields on sunny days
the cracking of the walls as the guitar plays
well we went and found a church but the sign said closed
i could tell she was feeling kind of indisposed
but i looked through the glass and i knew right then
that i'd never find her love again
and she said everything is fine
there are many in the world who can be unkind
so cruel and heartless but pay them no mind
just take a little sip of this gypsy wine
well we danced thru the night with the northern breeze
under mediterrenean skies
the moon in her face reflectin everyplace
and everyone who ever laid by her side
plaza real is where she left me last
now i can't recall a single thing of our past
i only seem to know that it's all ok
still there's something missing every day
and now i look out on the spanish stars
i look to the future that's not so far
i look to a place a face a time
i look to a life without gypsy wine
top
something more (rowland-ryland)
every night when the sun goes down
i see the same people gathering around
and every evening as the sun sinking low
i see the city cast it's long shadow
and there's a man sitting in his window
and a woman standing in the door
and you're in the alleyway and i'm on the rooftop
searchin for something more
my love came to me late at night
to whisper to me that love was allright
like a concertina it rang in my ears
when the morning came my love had disappeared
and there's a man standing in his shadow
and a woman behind a closed door
you search the highway and i'll search the sky
lookin for something more
down in the valley there's a war ragin on
the forces of apathy are gettin so strong
the wise old woman recalls these days
when young girls give love and young men fight anyway
and there's a man standing in the fields
and a woman doing the chores
and you're on the mountaintop and i'm diggin holes
searchin for something more
sing to me angels of clouds rolling by
sing to me so sweet and fine
forgotten dreams are the weave of a lie
so sing to me soft and sing to me of what is mine
the wheels of fortune are turning away
as those in the know have nothing to say
the spiritual now is the comfort zone
how much to have before you go it alone
and there's a man who says i'm a fool
and a woman who says i'm a bore
and you're in the concert hall and i sing off key
searchin for something more
top
sail away (rowland)
we sailed that night on open seas thinking of only you and me
new york a distant memory of what could be in times of need
i could never seem to get it right do we love or do we fight
you know i tried with all my might to hold a dream for just onenight
sail away sail away
there's still a part of me that longs for cafe nights and bawdy songs
but then i learned the right from wrong
how in your heart no one belongs
sail away sail away
the moon looks good off the starboard bow
as i dream about the city and you somehow
still by my side
you know the winds have died away
as to where i cannot say
i know they left the very day
you sailed away
top
calle ontario (rowland-ryland)
the sun sinkin low on ontario
the people walk their dreams down my street
they come and they go like a rainbow
with their tears their fears and their smiles
they walk along ontario
hello may you've been sleepin the winter away
are you here to pay the debt you've made
in the twilight when the shadows fall and you're full of sight
you try to settle everything that you owe
you walk along ontario
top
the nature of the beast was produced by riley mcmahon withrowland and sven abow
recorded and mixed by geoff turner at wgnsstudios in washington, d.c.
mastered by mark edmondson at SouthMoon Productions.
musicians:rowland - vocals, acoustic guitar / riley mcmahon- guitars,organ
sven abow - drums, percussion / donovan marks - bass / diedre pascale- backup vocals, organ
frank agbro - bass / lise e- backup vocals
arrangements on any given song by one or more of the following:
rowland, riley, sven, donovan and david ryland
vocal arrangements by lisa e and riley mcmahon
cover drawing by christophe tant
all songs ©1996 by rowland-ryland or rowland
all rights reserved
