The Die is Cast
(Wetton/Downes)
Die is cast, die is cast
Would you fly in the face of fate tonight
Could you go dancing in the fire?
Would you go closer to the razor’s edge
Or stand up to the ledge?
Now that the die is cast
Who dares to ride across the Rubicon
Who cares for whom the bell will toll?
You’re six feet under or you’re in the sky
It’s do or die at last
Now that the die is cast
Will fortune smile at me
Is this how the cards will fall?
As the winner takes it all
For ever
I see the creature in the labyrinth
The spinning wheels of the machine
And when the diamond-studded door will slam
Will I be standing fast
Now that the die is cast?
When the final curtain falls
Is the future in my hand?
Who knows when the dice will land
Maybe never
The die is cast
Finger on the Trigger
(Wetton/Downes)
I go down fighting-thunder, lighting
As the final curtain falls
Although enlightening, the conclusion’s frightening
You have me by the balls
No escape, no hand of Fate
As the end comes into view
Oblivion calling, no sense stalling
Now I know it’s all because of you
You got your finger on the trigger
You got your hand upon the gun
You know this thing is getting bigger
We had a good thing going on
The bullet bitten
My tombstone’s written
Now you’re changing every line
Your aim is true
Through cold steel blue
And you’re waiting for the sign
Don’t think twice, cold as ice
Forced to face your fear
Each tortured minute, no future in it
Now I know it’s all because of you
You got your finger on the trigger
You got your hand upon the gun
You know this thing is getting bigger
We had a good thing going on
Just where you been, girl
Black as sin, girl
With your smokin’45?
Take it further
Scream blue murder
And to hell with “keep it live”
No regrets, last cigarettes
Or “promise to be true”
One last kiss, remember this
Now I know it’s all because of you
Reflections (of my life)
(Wetton/Downes)
So here I am my precious one
I sit, reflect and try to understand my life
For now my pretty bird has flown
To find a freedom of her own
This is the evening of my day
I have been thoughtful and alone for some time
For are there things I could have changed?
What is the difference that I could have made?
And in my final hour
I face my nemesis
Of my damnation
Or my redemption
There is no victory
But through surrender
Then we may learn to live in the affirmative
And find the joy to give
These are reflections of my life
And so the question that I ask:
“Could I have changed, can change occur, in such single mind?”
Did I act just for myself
Or let my conscience be my only guide?
Reflections (of my life)
To Catch a Thief
(Wetton/Downes)
The road to hell is paved with gold
From where I stand it’s clear
The story of my life unfolds
And all I have at last is here
My mask concealed no treachery
Your heart was on your sleeve
I removed your veil of innocence
With no intention to deceive
Our trust was built on promises and all that I held dear
You were the one who stole my heart
When it was yours for free
And then your life was torn apart
And it was plain to see, how far I’d fall
A chasm deep, beyond belief
And now I’d give it all ..To catch a thief
Your character was plain to see
I stumbled then I fell
Your silver words spelled tragedy
Although you seemed to wish me well
Then I gave so easily, someday you will repay
You took away my will to live
I took all that you had to give
Now I have nothing, I have nothing to lose
But the pain and misery of losing you
And I really cannot see me pulling through
My story ends not here I see
Your debt is overdue
I need no mercy, take my life
‘Cause now my heart belongs to you
We can rebuild our lives again and our reward is here
You are the one who holds my heart
I give it willingly
You turned my whole life inside out
And now it’s plain to see I had to fall
In love so deep beyond belief
And yes, I have it all .. To catch a thief
Tears of Joy
(Wetton/Downes/Jobson)
Every little picture
Tells a different story
Waiting for the magic
Or a road to glory
Holding you for ever
See the tears in my eyes
Even in the dark hours
A glimmer in the moonshine
In the time of sadness
A flicker on the skyline
Tears of joy
Waiting for the dawn-light
Feel the rays of sunshine
Promising a new day
And a warmth of my hand
Holding you for ever
See the tears in my eyes
Tears of joy
Shannon
(Wetton/Downes)
Woke up this morning, the sun on my face
I noticed your clothes were all over the place
“Shannon, forgive me, I thought you were dead”
For your pillow had not seen your beautiful head
Could it have been all the things that we said?
Shannon, I wish you were back in my bed
Oh, I know it’s not easy for you
But I can love you forever
Please just take it one step at a time
Darlin’ never say never ever, ever again
You keep forgetting that I’m just a man
Can’t compete with the bottle, don’t think that I can
Last night is all history, tomorrow’s a mystery
So please don’t be losing today in your haste
Shannon, it’s such a terrible sin
To lose all that we have
Can we make a decision today
That takes away all our sorrow?
Now just think of the things that I say
Then think and think again
They’re all coming true in a beautiful way
That gives us hope for tomorrow
All my thinking was in the paste tense
“Where was it, where were you?”
Was not making sense
You’re having the time of your life
Young and carefree and anything goes
Making the most of your time
No thought for the future just live for today
Shannon my darlin’ hear this, so you know
“If you touch the Devil, you’ll never let go!”
Oh Shannon
The Hanging Tree
(Wetton/Downes)
Out in the wood
Where the autumn leaves
Lie listless in the wind
On a granite tor
The deserted moor
Where the gallows stand
And the tears that fell from your face
Cursed the ground of this place
By the hanging tree
And I wish I could be free
From the shadows dancing over me
Maybe I could see
Through the darkness to appoint of light
My eyes will be opened tonight
By the hanging tree
Seasons come
And seasons go
But there are no leaves to show
On this poisoned ground
By the hanging tree
No flower will ever grow
And the tears fell like rain
On the barren dust of this terrain
And the land that I knew
Became the place where crosses grew
Standing in line
By the hanging tree
The Glory of Winning
(Wetton/Downes/Palmer-James)
Up where you hide away
The buildings are tall
Nobody looks at the view
None of your consequences
Dare to be small
It’s a lonely situation
But you said you’d take it till you knew
The glory of winning
Face to face, we circle each other
The glory of winning
Can’t erase the sadness of losing you
Now all you idolize
Is concrete and clay
Where only egos can grow
And each ambition
Is a step on the way
Till you join that congregation
In a place reserved for those who know
The glory of winning
Face to face, we circle each other
The glory of winning
Can’t erase the sadness of losing you
You’re playing to win
You’ll never give in
You’re counting on victory
Now figures and schemes
Are hunting your dreams
And they are the means
To take you away from me
The glory of winning
Face to face, we circle each other
The glory of winning
Can’t erase the sadness of losing you
The glory of winning
Worlds apart, we circle each other
The glory of winning
The sadness of losing you
Whirlpool
(Wetton/Downes)
Never could think twice
Drop a stone into the water
Crystal-cut like ice
Sacrificed like lamb to slaughter
Falling into your whirlpool
To nothing, you pull me under
Silently, my breath’s leaving me
You twist me and turn me
Go deeper and deeper
Deeper than a well
Darker than a demon daughter
Sinking into hell
With my dreams of Holy Water
Ripples from my heart
Shattered dreams that once were mine
Rubicon
(Wetton/Downes)
Now, across the water seems so close from here
Now say goodbye to those so dear
There is no providence to me or you
We live or die by what we do
Success, of a one-track mind is born, you see
That track, neither to the left nor right must be
I make a promise to you now
You conquer fear you conquer death
Soon, soon we’ll be gone
A constant desire to move on
This battle will never be won
Our freedom forsaken
This world will awaken
To a glorious new rising sun
True as an arrow, so we soldier on
Right on across the Rubicon
Straight and narrow, any doubts be gone
Way on across the Rubicon
So, we may never see our homes again
All of our wives and children, all our friends
Don’t be discouraged, don’t lose sight
We stand together in this fight
All, is at it seems
There’s no turning back on this dream
After the die has been cast
The course is now taken
Resolve is unshaken
And destiny calls us at last
True as an arrow, so we soldier on
Right on across the Rubicon
Straight and narrow, any doubts be gone
Way on across the Rubicon
Over the river to the rising sun
Ride on across the Rubicon
And there’s no way back from here
In waters deep,but we still go on
Straight on across the Rubicon |
