Gather me up in bright buttons, buttons not ribbons and bows…
A button for every day that we love, from the day when we first say Hello

The first I will give you is purple – my favourite colour, a gift from my coat
The next will be red, for the deep crimson flush of your lips… gently touching my throat
The third will be white, for the crisp linen sheets, on the bed in which we first lay
…and gave of ourselves, our innocence lost, in the promise to each that we made

And so, when alone, in this wide lonely world
Colliding and playing our part…
A coat will be missing a button…and a button, missing a coat

As the years go by more buttons you’ll keep – safe in a pretty glass jar
Bright perfect buttons – a kiss and a wave, a warm tender smile from afar
Each a memory of a day that we love…
A day that we hold in our heart

And when the room darkens and death steals my breath…a gift for her own selfish song
I’LL watch, though you will not see me
I’LL touch you, though you’ll never know
As you gather me up in bright buttons, pressing them hard to your lips
As the tears fall freely, from your eyes…and slowly I fall from your grip
As buttons scatter and dance one last time…like rainfall on well trodden streets
Their melody lost in the rhythm and beat, of the secrets that they’ll always keep

…And out there still waiting, so far but so close – alive beyond time and all hope…
A coat will be missing a button… and a button missing a coat

Time will pass slowly, but I will remain…silently by your side
‘Til you walk far and free from the darkness, ‘til you walk slowly into my light
And you gather me up in bright buttons, buttons not ribbons and bows…
A button for every day that we’ve loved…
From the day when we first said Hello

And when they come to this old house, and find us all but gone…
Bright buttons they’ll sweep, with the dust from the floor
Bright buttons still needing a home…
So if you find one – keep it safe…for in this wide, big world
A coat is missing a button…and a button still missing a coat

So gather me up in bright buttons…buttons not ribbons and bows
A button for every day that we love…
From the day when we first say Hello

Fragments…
Shattered tiny fragments colliding awkwardly
Seeking one truth and stumbling precariously on the staircase
Searching ever deeper for the gateway to their whole

The night the sky turned purple – the bruised clouds, black and blue
You said you could watch it forever
I knew then maybe I could watch too…
It came all in the crash of the thunder
It was all in the look in your eyes
It took hold of me, leaving me wanting to cry….just to cry

And so we drove forever…
Through the streets in the pouring rain
In the dark, taking strength from the silence
You said no one else could ever feel the same way…
It came all in the crash of the thunder
It was all in the look in your eyes
It took hold of me, leaving me wanting to cry….just to cry

Hold up the candle to your eyes
Let its light guide your way through the darkness
I’m alone and I’m lost and I’m falling apart
Can’t you see….you have all of me

I sit on the pavement and wait
Same time, same place
I sit on the pavement and wait…
My little square, my garden so green
My sanctuary…

Soon the music will play…
The strings will soar high into the night sky and dance among the stars
And I will go with them
Free from the chaos and discordant cacophony of this life…

I sit on the pavement and wait
Same time, same place
I sit on the pavement and wait…
My little square, my garden so green
Holy Trinity… my sanctuary

Just a Glasgow boy, through and through
Sent with all others, their duty to do
To the heat and the dust, where the pyramids rise
As a blood red sun sets in the sky…
So far from home – will it be long?
Saving your soul and singing your song
But you won’t be home for Christmas, you won’t be home again
You’ll sleep where you fall in this strange land…
You’ll sleep and the story will end

So dance John, dance, with the sun in your eyes
Sand underfoot and a gun by your side
Tilly’s at home with the boys at her knees, no shoes upon their feet…

Battle-weary, fatigued, but with heart you must fight
For the freedom to live your life just as you might
As in dreams, do you see them and keep them all safe…
So one day you will walk far away from this place…
So far from home – will it be long?
Saving your soul and singing your song
But you won’t be home for Christmas, you won’t be home again
You’ll sleep where you fall in this strange land…
You’ll sleep, but the story won’t end

So dance john, dance, with the sun in your eyes
Sand underfoot and a gun by your side
Tilly’s at home with the boys at her knees, no shoes upon their feet…

John Lang
Seaforth Highlanders
Killed in action 1918, Egypt

She lies in a room, half a world away from me
It’s all she’ll ever see
It’s all she’ll ever know
She’s letting go…
Oh woman, the price of life
A dream you can’t afford

She looks into his eyes, the child she won’t see grow
The man she’ll never know
The words they’ll never speak
She’s letting go…
Oh woman, the price of life
A dream you can’t afford

Make it me…
Cast the stone across a thousand dreams
And shatter the candied glass of endless sunsets
To the darkest depths beyond the farthest seas: sail
Where the stars lie fallen from the heavenly skies
And the broken penitent Angel awaits reprieve
There upon the yellowed vellum parchment my seal I’ll deliver…
I’ll make it you for me…

She never really knew…
Just a game misunderstood
Reeling in the fear, she’d cry
Fighting dreams: to live or die

Here come the bears, here comes the cold wet ice
Splitting the snow, blazing a trail…
On the husky ride

Now she seems to understand…
Only game – life’s trial at hand
Breathing in the fear she sighs
Memory – a place to hide

Here come the bears, here comes the cold wet ice
Splitting the snow, blazing a trail…
On the husky ride

My sister and I
Blazing a trail…
On the husky ride

Cold December night, as the snow falls down
Hush a bye baby, lie still don’t make a sound
Where you from? Where you going? Can’t stay here
Pretty pass the parcel ringing in her ears
And Carol, are you safe? are you so secure?
Come around slowly, creeping in the door
Hide a little, fight a little don’t talk back
Pennies for the angels hired for what they lack

And she’s always on her own at night
Music fills the streets where she sleeps so light
And the dream that guides the way so bright
Wakes a thousand minds, it’s going to be alright…
In the Blink of a London eye

Lindsay and the guys on the stage tonight
Sweet smell of Flowers and the music gets you high
Speak a little louder, words so wise
Smile on her face as the silence leaves your eyes
So did you really care? Did you let her go?
Sweet elusive kiss and the feelings you won’t show
So tell me now, tell me where you’re going tonight
Another cheap hotel and the fear of a long haul flight

And she’s always on her own at night
Music fills the streets where she sleeps so light
And the dream that guides the way so bright
Wakes a thousand minds, it’s going to be alright…
In the Blink of a London eye

I look into these eyes…
Freeze framed a dying light
Within once burned a life
Now pools of steel blue ice
On a day like today… and dream

In a barren land, from a distant gaze
Where nightmares reign, there lurks in a place
Underneath a threatening sky
A man with a mission, his only belief
In the gun he holds by his side…
His soul for the thrill
His heart for a price
Betraying the betrayers
Hero’s charm – the myth suffice

In a land where the blood red sun sinks deep
Into skulls of the dead as the lie asleep
Little soldier keeps count, as he stealthily creeps
Alone in the darkness
Afraid in the dreams he sleeps…
His soul for the thrill
His heart for a price
Betraying the betrayers
Hero’s charm – the myth suffice

Soldier of fortune what price your salute?
Soldier of fortune what way do you look?
When these lands are soiled and the dead lay cold
Soldier of misfortune
Hero’s charm – a story of old

Soldier of fortune re-tracing your steps
A long winding footpath that weaves though your head
Returned now from streets paved with blood, sweat and bone
With no banner to carry
No battle cry to head
Alien in your homeland
No cause left to plead…
Soldier of fortune, for you, who will weep?…
Soldier of misfortune, lay blood red the sons of the fallen ones…