The Runaway
Jimmy Lee & The Edge of Chaos Orchestra
Jimmy Lee’s songs and life story come together in a show, with Jimmy, his guitar, wonderful songs and narrative linked to projected images that give you a personal insight into one of the most incredible life stories you are ever likely to hear....’There are great stories told in lyrics woven in beautiful melodies.
Track | Sample | Title | Lyrics | Songograhy |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Listen to The Granuaile on SoundCloud | The Granuaile | Lyrics | Songography |
2 | Listen to Hamlet on SoundCloud | Hamlet | Lyrics | Songography |
3 | Listen to Eileen on SoundCloud | Eileen | Lyrics | Songography |
4 | Listen to Written in the Sand on SoundCloud | Written in the Sand | Lyrics | Songography |
5 | Listen to No Flowers for Geordie on SoundCloud | No Flowers for Geordie | Lyrics | Songography |
6 | Listen to The Ballerina (instr.) on SoundCloud | The Ballerina (instr.) | Songography | |
7 | Listen to Sweet Mystery on SoundCloud | Sweet Mystery | Lyrics | Songography |
8 | Listen to Hard man on SoundCloud | Hard man | Lyrics | Songography |
9 | Listen to When I'm In Need Of You on SoundCloud | When I'm In Need Of You | Lyrics | Songography |
10 | Listen to The Chalk Stream on SoundCloud | The Chalk Stream | Lyrics | Songography |
11 | Listen to The Drunks/Turkey in the Straw (Trad. Arr.) on SoundCloud | The Drunks/Turkey in the Straw (Trad. Arr.) | Lyrics | Songography |
CD Catalogue No JL03 — All compositions, music and lyrics, written and produced by Jimmy Lee
The Granuaile
I was drinking, with a Twangman in a bar down by the Old Burgh Quay
The banjo man played Peggy Gordon the night before we put sea
In the darkened dockyard, someone called me I swear I heard a 'banshee' wail
But young and bold my life before me I stepped aboard the Granuaile
We were heading for the Tuscar Rock where the Devil stirr's the sea
My tiny boat in open water put the fear of God up me
Granuaile take me back to the Liffey
Safe and sound by the Old burgh Quay
Let me drink my porter in the Twangman
Peggy Gordon the banjo man and me
The Bull Rock light house on a granite boulder stands alone against the sea
Davy Jones came and tapped my shoulder and put the fear of God up me
Hang on tight boys, I'm on the tiller, I know your frozen to the bone
Jump my boys next time she rises the Granuaile will take you home
Coming out of Wicklow harbour in a cutter on my own
No stars that night no lights to guide me I prayed to God please get me home
Lost and frightened, I pressed onwards into the night, into the gale
On the lost horizon my prayers were answered I saw the lights of the Granuale
The Granuaile
Out of work in Dublin but still in possession of my Able Seaman’s ticket I signed on as crew on the Granuaile moored on the river Liffey by O’Connell Bridge. She was part of the fleet that served the light houses around the Irish coast taking provisions and relief lighthouse keepers to there various stations. I had served in the Royal Navy for almost 7 years and considered myself to be an excellent ‘ small boatman’ but had never experienced such ‘stomach churning’ fear when working the Tuscar and Black Rock light houses. I completed several trips on the Granuaile, the Atlanta and the Isolda until I sought the safety of dry land. My admiration for those who served on those ships, and still do, knows no bounds. By the way, the ‘Banjo Man’ was Luke Kelly of The Dubliner’s !
Hamlet
Hamlet came a calling
He didn't say a lot
He was tired and cold and hungry
We gave him honey
From a pot
We breathed warm air upon him
In a caring hopeful way
But it really didn't help a lot
Poor Hamlet passed away
He hadn't lost his colour
Still perfect as a pearl
We wrapped him in an autumn leaf
That had just begun to curl
We placed him in the branches
Of a tree that fateful day
In it's arms a frozen moment
Of when poor Hamlet passed away
So sad he didn't make it
But glad a chance to share
In a kindly woven moment
A moment love laid bare
Fragile 'did' for Hamlet
How fragile you and me
Everything is fragile
Beware fragility!
How beautiful was Hamlet
That humble....Bumble.... Bee
Hamlet
A poem …like what I wrote !
Eileen
SUN ON THE SHANNON AS SHE RODE BESIDE ME
THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL WITH GREEN EYES AND BLACK HAIR
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS EXCHANGING GLANCES
PUNCTUATED THE SILENCE AS WE RODE ON TO CLARE
WHEN WE GOT CLARECASTLE OUR JOURNEY WAS OVER
SHE SMILED AND SAID THANK YOU, I SAID NOT AT ALL
THEN FROM UNDER HER EYELIDS SHE VENTURED TO ASK ME
WOULD I TAKE HER THAT NIGHT TO LAHINCH TO A BALL
CHORUS; WOULD YOU TAKE ONE MORE DANCE WITH ME EILEEN
WOULD YOU TAKE ONE MORE DANCE WITH ME
IF I COULD MEET YOU THERE IN THE COUNTY CLARE
WOULD YOU TAKE ONE MORE DANCE WITH ME
JUST FOR A MOMENT I STOOD THERE IN SILENCE
HOW COULD I SAY NO TO THIS LOVELY COLLEEN
I'D BE PROUD TO GO WITH YOU I VENTURED TO ANSWER
PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE NAME, SURE MY NAME IS EILEEN
WE DANCED THROUGH THE EVENING AND INTO THE MORNING
I COULD NOT BELIEVE SHE WAS DANCING WITH ME
ONCE MORE ROUND THE FLOOR I SWEPT THE YOUNG EILEEN
IN MY ARMS I WAS HOLDING THE ROSE OF TRALEE
A FAIRY TALE STORY TIARA'S AND GLORY
SHE REIGNED FOR ONE YEAR DID THAT YOUNG BEAUTY QUEEN
BUT NOT SO LONG AFTER TEARS MIXED WITH LAUGHTER
AS I HAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO EILEEN
LONG YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE I HAD TO LEAVE IRELAND
AND THAT BEAUTIFUL GIRL WHO BY CHANCE RODE WITH ME
I'LL NEVER FORGET HER NOR THE WAY THAT I MET HER
THAT GIRL FROM CLARECASTLE THE 'ROSE OF TRALEE '.
WOULD YOU TAKE ONE MORE DANCE WITH ME EILEEN
WOULD YOU TAKE ONE MORE DANCE WITH ME
IF I COULD MEET YOU THERE IN THE COUNTY CLARE
WOULD YOU TAKE ONE MORE DANCE WITH ME
TAG;.....SURE I'LL NEVER FORGET HER ....
'NOR THE WAY THAT I MET HER
THE GIRL FROM CLARECASTLE .............THE ROSE OF TRALEE
Eileen
Driving out of Limerick on my way to County Clare a beautiful young girl was hitching a lift, so, naturally, being a gentleman, I stopped. We chatted and ‘small talked’ along the way. At the end of the journey she asked if I would take her to a dance in Lahinch that evening. She was somewhat embarrassed to ask but her escort had let her down at the last minute. Naturally, being a gentleman, I agreed. I did not know at that time that this was a Ball to select the Rose of Tralee to represent County Clare…. I’m delighted to say that Eileen won that honour and went on to represent Ireland and then on to the World Finals…. and won!
A fairy tale story, tiaras and glory,
She reigned for one year did this young beauty Queen.
I’ll never forget her nor the way that I met her
That girl from Clare Castle the lovely Eileen
Written in the Sand
IF YOU SHOULD ASK ME WHERE I'M GOIN TO, I COULD TELL YOU WHERE I'VE BEEN
IF YOU SHOULD ASK WHAT I'VE BEEN WITNESS TO I COULD TELL YOU TELL YOU WHAT I'VE SEEN
FOR AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE WE'RE TAKEN BY THE HAND
AND AFTER ALL WHAT WE BECOME HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN THE SAND
A CLIMBING ROSE LEARNS AS IT GROWS TO HANG ON NATURALLY
THE THORN STAYS ON WHEN THE BLOSSOMS GONE THAT'S HOW IT'S MEANT TO BE
AND THE YEARS HAVE SHOWN A KINDNESS, NOW I THINK I UNDERSTAND
THAT A CLIMBING ROSE LEARNS AS IT GROWS WHATS WRITTEN IN THE SAND
YOU DON'T SUPPOSE A CLIMBING ROSE COMMITS TO MEMORY
THE THORN, THE BLOSSOM, HOLDING ON, WELL IT'S THE SAME FOR YOU AND ME
AND YOU MAY NOT HEAR THE MUSIC PLAYED NOR SEE THE MARCHING BAND
BUT YOU WILL COME TO KNOW, FOR SURE, WHATS BEEN WRITTEN IN THE SAND
SO WITH EACH EVENTUALITY, AS YOUR FOOTSTEPS RISE AND FALL
THERE'S A FAIR DEGREE OF CERTAINTY, YOU'VE ONLY ANSWERED TO A CALL
AND WHEN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT COMES AND YOU'R CALLED TO TAKE THE STAND
YOU CAN SWEAR ON THE HOLY BIBLE THAT, IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE SAND
YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHERE I WAS GOIN, YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHERE I HAVE BEEN
YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT I'VE BEEN WITNESS TO YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT I HAVE SEEN
THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY GHOST TOOK ME IN AND HELD MY HAND
THEY SMILED AT ME AND THEY LET ME SEE, WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE SAND
SO WHEN NOTHING STANDS BEFORE YOU NOW AND NOTHING'S WHAT IT SEEMS
DON'T DISPAIR THERE'S SOMONE THERE SO HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS
LET THE DOVE OF PEACE THAT'S IN YOUR HEART, SMITE THE SWORD IN YOUR RIGHT HAND
AND USE YOUR WILL TO LOVE NOT KILL WHATS BEEN WRITTEN IN THE SAND
NOW YOU KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING TO, NOW YOU KNOW WHERE I HAVE BEEN
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN WITNESS TO AND YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE SEEN
THE DOVE OF PEACE BEATS IN MY HEART MY SWORD SLEEPS IN MY HAND
'COS THE CLIMBING ROSE AND I BELIEVE WHATS BEEN WRITTEN IN THE SAND
Written in the Sand
Sometimes songs come from nowhere…… or do they sometimes come with age! ?... I love the meaningful lyrics and the melody…and we all have to fight the good fight !.....the whole song was written in just a few minutes….
No Flowers for Geordie
NO FLOWERS FOR GEORDIE, HE'S NOT HERE TODAY
THE SEA HAS CLAIMED MY GEORDIE BOY
PLEASE NO FLOWERS TODAY
FIFTEEN YEARS OF LEARNING, HE'LL NOT GO DOWN THE MINE
SO WE TOOK HIM NEAR TO IPSWICH TOWN
FAR FROM THE SEAMS OF THE TYNE
IN A PLACE THEY STILL CALL 'GANGES' WITH TWO THOUSAND OTHER BOYS
HE LEARNED TO SPLICE AND SAIL A BOAT
TALL ORDERS WERE HIS TOYS
THE 'BULLY BOYS' CAME NIGHTLY, DID THINGS A BOY COUNDN'T TELL
BUT THEY MADE HIM WRITE IN HIS LETTERS HOME
MAMMA YOU'R BOY'S DOIN WELL
THEN NEWS CAME OF SOME FIGHTING IN A FAR OFF DISTANT LAND
WE NEED THOSE BOYS THUS SPAKE FOUR RINGS
IN OUR BIG SHIPS THEY CAN RIDE
IT'S WRITTEN ON HIS PAPERS, TWAS NOT THE DEED OF A MAN
BUT A WAVE THAT TOOK MY GEORDIE BOY
FIVE MILES OFF PLYMOUTH SOUND
SO NO FLOWERS FOR GEORDIE HE'S NOT HERE TODAY
THE SEA HAS CLAIMED MY GEORDIE BOY
PLEASE NO FLOWERS TODAY
No Flowers for Geordie
Like lots of other boys I ran away from home when I was 14 yrs old and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman 2nd class. I was sent to the training Ship HMS Ganges a cruel harsh 12 months lay ahead of me and thousands of other boy’s. One lad, a Geordie, was drafted early to a Destroyer bound for the Mediterraniann sailed from Plymouth… He was washed overboard on his first few hours at sea……..His parents never knew of the misery he suffered at Ganges. I wrote this song a long time ago.
The Ballerina (instr.)
If you have ever had a musical box you will remember how it wound itself down and never ever finished where you wanted it too! So you wound it up again and again. Then wound it in the opposite direction to make it play fast! Then you over wound it and it broke! Then opened it up to mend it and broke it some more! The figure that revolved as it used to play was often a ballerina……. and she got broke too!
Sweet Mystery
YOU'R MY RIPPLE ON THE WATER, YOU'R MY RAGING WATERFALL
YOU'R MY EVERLASTING KISS GOODNIGHT, YOUR MY EARLY MORNING CALL
YOU'R A BIRDSONG FLOATING FROM A TREE, A MOON BEAM HAVING FUN
YOU'R THE FREEZING GRIP OF WINTER, THE GENTLE BURNING OF THE SUN
YOU'R THE WEEPING OF THE WILLOW, YOU'RE THE CAUSE OF ALL MY WOUNDS
YOU'RE MY ENDLESS STREAM OF LAUGHTER, YOU BRING COLOUR TO MY TUNES
SOME DAYS WE WALK TOGETHER, SOME DAYS WE WALK ALONE
SOMEDAYS SHINE LIKE DIAMONDS, WHILE OTHERS TURN TO STONE
SWEET MYSTERY, IT IS TO ME, OH WHAT AM I TO DO
I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TO ME , WHAT AM I TO YOU
YOUR'E MY HEART RACE AT FRESHLY FALLEN SNOW, THE RUNNING FINGERS THROUGH MY HAIR
YOU'R MY KNIGHT IN ALL HIS SPLENDOUR, WHEN THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO CARE
SWEET MYSTERY, IT IS TO ME, OH WHAT AM I TO DO
I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TO ME , WHAT AM I TO YOU
YOU'RE MY MUSIC YOU'RE MY MASTER
YOU'RE MY MISTRESS YOU'RE MY GUIDE
YOU'R MY MOTZART YOU'R MY FATHER
YOU'R MY CHOPIN YOU'R MY BRIDE
SWEET MYSTERY, IT IS TO ME, OH WHAT AM I TO DO
Sweet Mystery
Life and love is still a mystery !
Hard man
MY HEART WOULD SKIP AND MISS A BEAT AS I HEARD MY HERO'S FOOTSEPS MEET
THE GRAVEL ON THE PATHWAY TO OUR DOOR
HEARD THE SOUND OF A SCRAPING CHAIR AS MOTHER ROSE TO MEET HIM THERE
GIVING TO HER MAN THE THINGS HE NEEDED
HIS FOOTSTEPS HEAVY ON THE STAIRS, HAVE YOU BEEN GOOD AND SAID YOU'R PRAYERS
AND GOD FORBID IF HIS ORDERS WERE NOT HEEDED
NO KINDLY WORDS, NO KISS GOODNIGHT, CLOSE THE DOOR, TURN OUT THE LIGHT
IN OUR SILENCE WE COULD HEAR EACH OTHER BREATHING
WE ALL WORKED HARD TO EARN OUR KEEP, ATE IN SILENCE, DO NOT SPEAK
GOLDEN RULES THAT NEVER COULD BE BROKEN
NO WARMTH, NO SMILE, NO FOND EMBRACE, BEWARE THE HAND ACROSS THE FACE
IN THE SILENCE YOU COULD HEAR YOUR OWN HEART BEATING
LATE AT NIGHT HAVING SAID OUR PRAYERS WE'D SIT ON THE TOP THREE WOODEN STAIRS
AND LISTEN TO THE OLD MAN PLAY ACCORDION
PEACEFULL FEELINGS, LORD BE PRAISED, TONIGHT NO ANGRY VOICES RAISED
LIKE SILENT LAMBS PRETENDING WE WERE SLEEPING
Refrain My daddy was a Hardman...... My daddy was a hard hard ,man
I GREW UP FAST, LEAN AND STRONG AND HONEST KNOWING RIGHT FROM WRONG
BUT BY THIS TIME I HAD STOPPED BELIEVING
NO COMFORT HERE, NO LIFE AT ALL, I SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL
AND COUNTED DOWN THE DAYS WHEN I WAS LEAVING
I HUGGED MY MUM, KISSED HER FACE, THREW A SHIRT AND TIE IN AN OLD SUITCASE
WAY OUT THERE ANOTHER WORLD WAS CALLING
YOU CAN CALL ME BACK IT'S NOT TOO LATE, NO WORDS CAME SO I CLOSED THE GATE
AS MAMA'S TEARS LIKE AUTUMN LEAVES WERE FALLING
refrain WHEN MAMMA WROTE MY HEART WOULD BURN, MISSED MY HOME BUT NOT RETURN
SENT BACK MY LOVE AND PRAYED FOR THERE SAFEKEEPING
I LIVED MY LIFE WITH THE MARK OF CAIN AND WE HARDLY EVER SPOKE AGAIN
AND SAD TO SAY HIS HARDNESS LAY WITHIN ME
WHEN HIS TIME CAME TO TURN TO DUST, I JOURNEYED HOME AS EACH CHILD MUST
GATHERED ROUND HIS GRAVE SOMONE WAS SPEAKING
SOMETHINGS ANGRY, SOMETHINGS SAD, SOMETHINGS GOOD, SOMETHINGS BAD,
SHEDDING TEARS THE YEARS HAD BEEN KEEPING
I HAD NEVER BEEN IN HIS ROOM BEFORE, I TURNED ON THE LIGHT AND LOCKED THE DOOR
HOPING THAT SOMEHOW I MIGHT BE NEAR HIM
IN A CARDBOARD BOX TIED UP WITH STRING WERE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I'D NEVER SEEN
PRESSED FLOWERS IN LOVE LETTERS HE'D BEEN KEEPNG
WARTIME MEDALS IN A ROWE WERE THERE COMPLETE WITH RIBBONS AND A LOCK OF HAIR
CHRISTMAS CARDS, KISSES LOVE AND GREETINGS
THEN I READ HIS LETTERS TO HIS MUM AND DAD FROM A FRIGHTENED LONELY SOLDIER LAD
FROM A RED CROSS BED WRITTEN WHILE HIS WOUNDS WERE HEALING
MATHEW FIVE VERSE TWENTY ONE 'THOU SHALL NOT KILL' HIS LINES BEGUN, WORDS HE TOOK FROM A BOOK HE WAS READING
I COULD ALMOST HEAR MY DADDIES SCREAMS, SACRIFICED FOR SOMEONES DREAMS
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS MEND WHAT YOU HAVE BROKEN
I FELT MY KNEES SINK TO THE FLOOR I'D LOST MY DAD IN THAT 'KN WAR
HIS STORY TOLD NOT A SINGLE WORD WAS SPOKEN
I HOPE HE KNOWS THAT WHEN I LOOKED INSIDE I FOUND A GENTLEMAN WITH A GENTLE SIDE
AND SUDDENLY I FELT VERY NEAR HIM
I PUT BACK HIS THINGS WITH A TENDER CARE AS HE MUST HAVE DONE WHEN HE PUT THEM THERE
BECAUSE MY DADDY WAS A HARD MAN.........MY DADDY WAS A HARD HARD MAN.
Hard man
This is a song about and tribute to my Father. The hardest song I have ever written and sometimes too difficult to perform. Thousands upon Thousands of men returned from the war emotionally broken with no help at all. It is now known as Post Traumatic Stress and the damage took its toll on many a family. I know I am not alone when I sing the song. It strikes a chord with many people who have ‘been there’………words say it all!
When I'm In Need Of You
Come my love and sit down here beside me
A touch a smile a kiss kick off you shoes
I’ll light a candle wonderful to see you
While I fill your cup please tell me all your news
I can’t believe that you’re not with me
I can’t believe that you’re not near
I can’t believe you’ve gone forever
So do you mind if I pretend that you’re still here
Hush awhile my love I’ll close the curtains
I couldn’t bear for anyone to see
Through the window who it is I’m talking too
They won’t understand and they might think it’s me
Take my hand, come and grace the table
In case you call I always lay for two
Turning down the bed my hands were shaking
At the thought that I might once more cradle you
That time has come again my heart is breaking
Yes, I hope I’ve brought you comfort too
You’ll come to me again of that I’m certain
You always seem to know when I’m in need of you
When I'm In Need Of You
I’m not sure where this song came from but it is very personal and pleasing although sometimes difficult to sing. Imagination is sometimes more powerful than reality and sometimes reality is too painful to bare. Comfort comes to us in its own time and in its own way.
The Chalk Stream
Someone broke into my heart where I rise beneath the Downs
And stole my chalk stream water and sold me to the towns
I don't know what you called me I don't think I had a name
Call me 'crystal clear spring water' I was gifted by the rain
My shining waters sounded out
With every rise and fall
In August I would whisper
In January call
Now I move quite slowly
Will I die is this my death
I don't want to join the silent
I want to live not fight for breath
I want my life blood back again
To leap and turn and run
Sing out loud and sparkle
Flood meadows and feel the sun
Let me spill into the river
Ride the tides that come and go
Let me run my course forever
It's the only thing I know
I want those who lived within me
And those who've passed this way
And all who lived beside me
To come home and home to stay
Here with me when I was born
Long before you came
By my plunder you may reach the stars
But you'll whither just the same
So should I die don't mourn my loss
I'm home, I'm in the rain
And all in all rain has to fall
Somewhere I'll rise again.
The Chalk Stream
Born and bred on The South Downs chalk streams are the lifeblood of our rivers. I went back to visit the chalk stream at Burpham where, as a small boy, I swam played and fished to find, to my horror, that it had all but disappeared. I followed the dry stream bed to where it used to rise beneath the Downs only to find a pumping station. I was informed that the water was “gawn to Little’ampton“… this is my lament for the loss of most of our beautiful chalk streams.
The Drunks/Turkey in the Straw (Trad. Arr.)
SET YOU’R BUTT IN THE CHAIR RIGHT NEXT OUR HOG
SPIT ON THE FIRE THROW ON ANOTHER LOG…OK
IT’S COLD OUT THERE BUT THE NIGHT IS YOUNG
GOT ME A BOTTLE GONNA HAVE A LITTLE FUN…OK
‘COS THE WOMAN FOLK GONE TO THE PRIEST ON THE HILL
WELL WE NEVER BEEN YET AND WE NEVER DAMN WILL …OK
WELL PETE HAD A LOOK HE COULDN’T LOOK VERY FAR
HE WAS TWO THIRDS WAY THROGH HIS SECOND STONE JAR…OK
I COULD TELL HE WAS DRUNK BY THE RED IN HIS EYE
HE COULD SEE THREE OF ME AND HE DIDN’T KNOW WHY….OK
‘COS THE WOMAN FOLK GONE TO THE PRIEST ON THE HILL
THERE PRAYIN THERE YET AND THERE PRAYIN THERE STILL ….OK
OH WOMAN OH WOMAN THERE’S NO NEED TO PRAY
THE GOOD LORDS CLEVER AND HE’S FOUND US A WAY TO STOP
OH WOMAN OH WOMAN THERE’S NO NEED TO PRAY
THE GOOD LORDS CLEVER AND HE’S FOUND US A WAY TO STOP
‘COS ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT
IT’S THE GOOD LORD SAYIN THAT THERE AINT NO DOUBT YOUR DRUNK
‘COS ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT
IT’S THE GOOD LORD SAYIN THAT THERE AINT NO DOUBT YOUR DRUNK
YOUR DRUNK
The Drunks/Turkey in the Straw (Trad. Arr.)
Life and love is still a mystery !