Credits
Recorded May-June1990 in NYC
All Lyrics-joe Wilford with the exception of 'Mr. Maggot'-by Scott Thompson
Keyboards on 'Scenery' - Duane Larson
All Music-joe Wilford: Six and Twelve String Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitars, Harmonica, and Lead Vocals
'Hank' the Drum Machine appears on 'A Lonely Night In Algiers' and 'Scenery'
Thanks to: My Father, for loaning me the money to get my four track fixed (Thanks, Dad!)
Duane for his support and input, Anik, Rowan, and Rich (Jericho Hill will rock with these songs!)
All my family and friends who support me 100%, and YOU for listening.
©1990 Jericho Hills
Original Cassette Cover
I’ve been looking through this window
Nearly every day
I see things coming to me
And I just can’t turn away
Images so captivating spiral like a wheel
The visions cloud my thoughts
Escape from what is real
You’re on your journey now
My heart burns for the past
The times I spent with you
I wish they’d forever last
Times you touched my life
Your love for me so true
It hurts so much that you’re not here
Please tell me what to do
What can I do
The love you’ve given me
Still warms me like the sun
I recall the memories
And think of all we’ve done
Not just the times we shared
But the way made me feel
Your open heart to all has shown me what is real
That love is real
I see a river flowing smoothly
And I wish I could sail away
I see an eagle soaring skyward
And I want to do that someday
Sometimes I feel I’m just a feather
Floating slowly to the ground
I want the world to hear my voice
But I can’t seem to make a sound
I see the crimson curtains open
On the stage of the moonlit sky
I stare at the diamonds shining down
And I’ve never felt so high
Sometimes I feel I’m just a shadow
Waiting for the sun to shine
To always want what I never have
And always look for things I never find
I feel the icy wind on my back
But the sun brings color to my face
I always believed in moving on
Never staying long in just one place
It’s not a dream it’s just a vision
To try to see all I can see
It’s not something that comes too easy
Until you tell yourself that you are free
Empty rooms and empty halls
Blankness stares from every wall
Walls of silence echo in my ears
Wandering in endless space
Every thought so out of place
Confusion spinning wildly through my mind
Look ahead – Look around
I’m only feeling what you feel
Forever lost – forever found
The answer’s here for all to see
So many years so many times
I try to see so far but still feel as though I’m blind
Angers poison surges through my veins
I smash the mirror I tear down the wall
You can push me to the edge
But I ain’t ever going to fall
My love for you shines brightly through my soul
The flowers sway – a teardrop falls
And quiet echoes never scream
I reach for you I search for you
For only you can pull me through this darkness
An iron gate slams behind me
Scarlet clouds stand above me
A thirst for what I never tasted
A chance to breathe a chance I wasted
Climb with me soar with me
Hold me till I beg for mercy
Dream for me live for me
Smother me with your possession
The fog lifts the curtain closes
Snakes writhe in fields of clover
We both realize it’s never over
It’s just a change of scenery
(Instrumental)
A starry night falls over silken skies
Shimmering blue it slowly fades to gray
A torch light calls you to an open field
A flame you hope will burn your pain away
Take it away...
Close your eyes and fly with me
Slip through your chains and you are free
Like a stream you’ll find a course
And you will run and never fall down
Anger rages in you even still
Stings in your eyes and stains your soul
Your cross to bear in blood one-hundred years
A passion for a life you’ll never know
You’ll never know...
Sing to my fathers - i want to go back home
Sing to my brothers - i want to go back home
And to the skies - i want to go back home
The eagles cry - i want to go back home
All the spirits of a feather joined as one
With this pipe you shall walk upon the earth
Whatever sickens there you shall make it well
Oh thunder nation deliver me from hell
Close your eyes and fly with me
Turn from the dark and you will see
Like a stream you’ll find a course
And you will run and never fall down
Yes I’ve been down this road before
Seems I’ve taken every turn
Nailed my flag to nearly every door
But every flag is made to burn
Do you believe in my innocence
Or am I just so clearly disguised
Can you see things in a different light
Or will you always be surprised
I will surprise you
I see you standing not too far away
I’m wishing you could read my mind
You’d see right through everything I say
If you’d only dare to cross that line
Would you question my love for you
Would you say it’s all a lie
Could you see things in a different light
Or is that reaching far too high
We’re not reaching high enough
Think of all the things that you desire
Are they there within your grasp
Will you take a chance to light the fire
Or will they fade into your past
Is it really worth taking a chance
Giving all you have for something new
If you could see things in a different light
You’d have another point of view
That’s just my point of view
It was a hot summer night down south in Algiers
In a bedroom near the swamps the sweat was dripping off the wall
In the corner sat Carlos his hands over his ears
Didn’t want to answer the phone though he was waiting for a call
Iris picked it up after she ran across the room
She knew Carlos had to go and he had better be leaving soon
“There’s a shipment coming in, “ she said, “up on pier forty-two
and if anything goes wrong they’re gonna put the blame on you”
It was another lonely night for Carlos and his gun
And if someone had to die he wished that he would be the one
All the years of this job had worn away his will to live
But it was his love for Iris that kept him in this place
Howe he longed to hold her hand and kiss her sweet face
If only she knew just how much love he had to give
Down on pier forty-two things were getting underway
Carlos did the dirty work his boss got richer every day
To them he was a pawn, quiet, useful on the side
Pay him well enough to keep him but not enough to save his pride
At first if was the danger that drew Carlos in
It was the counting of the cash and the killing of the men
But one night something changed as he lay bleeding on the floor
If I make it out alive I cannot do this anymore
It was another lonely night for Carlos and his gun
Full of bullet holes and knife wounds he swore his job was done
Only to return within the week
And it was his love of Iris that kept him in this place
How he wished that they would fall in love and leave without a trace
All the pleasures of the world together they could seek
Carlos did the job everything went according to plan
“Now it’s time to lock up and get my money from the man”
He strode into the warehouse and spoke to his friend Slim
“When I get the cash I’m taking off, you won’t see me again”
Carlos faced the boss man when he spun around his chair
He said “You did all right, I’ll see you get your share”
Carlos said “I want it now, I’m leaving here tonight
It’s time to quit this game and get the hell on with my life”
His boss he looked surprised but still held out his hand
He said “Go home and count it boy and rethink your foolish plan”
“I’m tired,” Carlos said, “of living on the wrong side of the tracks
and you can let me walk away in peace or you can shoot me in the back”
It was another lonely night for Carlos and his gun
As he walked out of the warehouse he swore his job was done
Never to return again
But it was his love for Iris that plagued him night and day
If he could only make her feel his love and take her far away
Maybe just this once he could win
Carlos packed his things he planned on leaving there that night
He scribbled a note to Iris then he drove on out of sight
The note was plain and simple it said “Dear Miss McGill
I love you, I always have and I always will”
He drove down to the Algiers swamps and jumped out of his car
And with more pride than he’d ever felt before strode right into the bar
He sat down in the corner where he’d been so many years
And to think of leaving Iris nearly brought him to tears
It was another lonely night for Carlos and his gun
As he sat down in the corner he thought of what he’d done
He knew it was the right choice to make
And though his love of Iris had kept him in this place
He had to give her the note and leave and probably never again see her face
It was a chance he simply had to take
Iris spotted Carlos and began to walk across the room
Carlos jumped up and shouted “No!” as he sensed his oncoming doom
Three men burst through the door and one was his friend Slim
Who shouted as they drew their guns “Yeah over here, that’s him!”
“I know you’re planning to go out of this town
But the boss don’t want you alive so he sent us to shoot you down”
Eight bullets hit Carlos before he hit the floor
His lips they whispered “Iris” but he would speak nevermore
Iris knelt beside him – she knew that he was dead
But in his hand he clasped a note, which she quickly read
And as she read the words they struck her heart with pain
For all the years that she had known him she had felt the same
It was another lonely night for Carlos and his gun
As he lay dying on the floor he knew his time had come
Just as he had found the will to live
Though it was his love of Iris that had kept him in this place
How he longed to hold her hand and to kiss her sweet face
If only he knew just how much love she had to give…
I took the rose from her hand
As red as blood flowing through my veins
I trembled in the darkness
As she kissed me in the rain
It was so long ago I packed my bags
And set out from that place
With all that rain pouring down
You never saw the tears on my face
And now I sit here and I wonder
On the banks of the farthest shore
As I look out across the ocean
Can I do this anymore
I can’t follow all my dreams
And keep on trying to follow you
It’s hard enough on one of us
It’s double the pain for two
But I just don’t know how to let you go
And I’m just too scared to try
Every time I think of being without you
I just break down and cry
So every day I spin in circles
Waiting for the world to come
Crashing down upon my head
And I think of all the things you said
I will love you forever
No matter where you are or what you do
I’m waiting for our day together
I will always wait for you
Oh I miss you so I need you here
For love is ours alone to share
But you put your life aside for me
And that just isn’t fair
And now I sit here and I wonder
On the banks of the farthest shore
As I look out across the ocean
Can I do this anymore
I can’t follow all my dreams
And keep on trying to follow you
It’s hard enough on one of us
It’s double the pain for two
But I just don’t know how to let you go
And I’m just too scared to try
Every time I think of being without you
I just break down and cry
She took the rose from my hand
As red as blood flowing through my veins
I trembled in the darkness
As I kissed her in the rain
