Album: Introducing The Weathermongers 2004 All lyrics copyright Ian Roberts.

ROOF TOP PROTEST

Well let me tell you something
You're only ever going to get that one chance
And when it comes along
You've gotta reach out
I'd swim the seas
I'd row ‘round the world in a paper built boat, yeah
The Pyrenees
I'd climb every peak if it's what I've gotta do, now
I'm on my knees
I'm doing what I can just to bring you back girl
In times like these
You've gotta take a stand, you've gotta make that point

I'll shiver in the breeze - I'm begging you believe
As I sit among the leaves - In a roof top protest
Heart upon my sleeve - I'm begging to you please
As I hang upon the eaves - In a roof top protest

I'd give my heart
To Papworth Hospital or Christian Barnard
I'd die for art
And sever my connections with the avant-garde
I love my car
But only inasmuch as that it takes me somewhere
My first guitar
Consider it as a prop that's going to hide my despair

Can't you see
I'm shouting from the roof top, baby
Now hear my plea
I've gotta get a message through
If it's the last thing in the world I do

I'll sit and I'll freeze - I'm begging you please
In a roof top protest
I'm on my knees - You've gotta believe
In a roof top protest
Come on home - I want you back
Roof top protest
Come on home
Roof top protest

FIRE ENGINE

As the dream world shatters
A fire bell clatters
I'm hurtling down the street
Now I'm the king-pin Caesar
In my red six-seater
The man you'd love to meet
Well a brass band plays
While the water pumps spray
And the two-tone sirens blow
The conductor keeps time
Ringing ‘nine, nine, nine'
I'm a coming down fast, you know
Well I'm burning up the road
A fuse about to blow
My heart rate's skipping a beat
And I can guarantee a ride
In my red fire engine
Is a sensation unique
In my fire engine
In my fire engine
In my fire engine
In my fire engine
So if you wanna get around
Cause the only trip is down
And the home town scene looks bleak
Well I can guarantee a ride
In my red fire engine
Is a sensation unique

DON'T GO

She builds me up - to put me down
I never get to play or fool around
Puts it on - to turn me on
I can't pretend I'm not excited
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
She's partly dressed - I'm half possessed
I've got to get my feelings into check
In my head - the signal's red
I'm petrified and I can't hide it
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
She talks of ‘when' - I count to ten
I'll never hold my head up high again
Who's to blame - my heart's aflame
I can't complain - I've self-ignited
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
I've no control - resistance low
My heart's a racing ten times fast you know
If I die - I'll heave a sigh
And leave this world intoxicated
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go

BLUE IS MY WORLD WITHOUT YOU

I was a predator
And people would say
That the whole world
Of womankind was my prey
I wanted nothing less
Than all I surveyed
She was all I had
And I threw it all away
Baby it's true - I'm through
Blue is my world without you
Envy and avarice
Blackened my mind
Now I'm cut down
Cut down in my prime
Gone is the love I had
I was a fool
But I didn't mean
I didn't mean to be cruel
I led a double life
Deceit was my aim
I got caught out
Caught out at my game
I was the thief of night
And this was my crime
Yeah I stole her heart
And moulded it just like mine
I want to claw back every moment that I wasted
I want to turn back to the spring
How can I carry on knowing now that I've tasted
Every pleasure that a lifetime could bring

(I'M STILL) COMING DOWN

She said our romance is dead
Get your bad times out of my bed
I'd planned to paint the town red
But I can't get her out of my head
All the lights are out
They've turned off in this town
And I'm still coming down
Down
She said the whole scene is dead
I was trapped - going out of my head
Small town - there's no room to breathe
I can't stay and yet I can't leave
Nowhere town
Brings you down
She said our romance is dead
I was trapped - going out of my head
Small town - there's no room to breathe
I can't stay and yet I can't leave

DOUBLE SHOT

I'm going to raise my fortune, get out of bed
late on in the afternoon
I've got a bass drum pounding the back of my head -
banging out an evil tune

I'm in a knocked out daze, I've been losing my way -
don't know where I want to go!
I'm going to take that plunge - got a liver like sponge -
soaking up the alcohol
I've got to hit the spot
You know it means a lot
I want a love that's hot
A double shot of what baby's got
Well I remember she came on in the back of the hall,
but can't recall a thing we did
She was a temptress, practised well in the art,
of keeping her emotions hid
I've got to bide my time, take a look at my mind -
try to think of what I said!
It was a one night stand that got way out of hand -
I feel just like I'm walking dead
I want a double shot ( of what baby's got )
I want a double shot ( of what baby's got )
I'm going to comb my hair down, put on a shirt-
I know that I could make her mine
I've got to pick myself up, from out of the dirt -
I'm ready for a second time
I need to double back - I want to get on track -
find a way to let her know
I'm going to take that plunge - I've got a liver like sponge -
soaking up the alcohol

DAZED AND BEDAZZLED BY THE GLARE OF THE SUN

So where are you now in the prime of your youth
Don't beat about it, just spit out the truth
Are you drowning your sorrows or raising the roof
Tell me about it, show me the proof

The summer is over, the world has spun
Now that the battle is over and won
How does it feel to be down and done
Dazed and bedazzled by the glare of the sun
The mist on the mirror is starting to clear
Check your reflection, I won't interfere
Are you facing the future or shedding a tear
Tell me about it, I'm anxious to hear

So where is your garden and how does it grow
Now you've discovered you reap what you sow
Are you digging for diamonds or stuck in a hole
Tell me about it, I'm dying to know

The chances you squandered will never return
A rod for your back when you're old and infirm
When the wick on your candle refuses to burn
Tell me about it, I've lessons to learn

HOSPITAL WING

It's been a bad dream
It was almost goodbye
I'll be the first scene
When you open your eyes
There is a good time
To be had in the spring
But bluebirds won't sing
In this hospital wing

I was the dark cloud
That covered your world
I should have been proud
To have called you my girl
Only a madman
Would have left you to swing
Now church bells won't ring
In this hospital wing

There is a bright flame
That flickers and fades
You played the wrong game
When choices were made
Not even God knows
What daybreak will bring
While darkness reigns king
In this hospital wing

Hospital wing
Bluebirds won't sing
Hospital wing
Bluebirds won't sing

I DID NO WRONG

I'm a low down dog
in a leather collar
And the whole damn room shakes
when I holler
You can hear my bones break
for a dollar
I'm a man of good taste
and a scholar
I did no wrong - the girl kept turning me on

Now when I hear that whip crack
I'm a goner
I just love that cheap fake
fur upon her
She's a cut-rate, jail-bait
prima donna
Going to wear red war paint
in her honour
I did no wrong - the girl kept turning me on

You know I did no wrong
You know I did no wrong
You know I did no wrong
You know I did no wrong
You know I did no wrong - the girl kept turning me on

Well I was anxious, uptight
when I met her
But a voice said, don't fight
go and get her
She was candid, forthright
to the letter
And it changed my whole life
for the better
I did no wrong - the girl kept turning me on

WHAT DID I SEE IN YOU

The sunlight paints your face

In some far foreign place
It hurts to know
Your golden glow
Disguises your disgrace

The pedestal I put you on
I should have known would turn out wrong
I failed to see
What came to be
I can't believe you're gone

What did I see in you
I wish I knew
You were meant just for me
So - what could I do

The tear stains on your blouse
The passion you aroused
The flesh you bared
The love we shared
The endless drunken rows

The mind games on your bed
The hurtful things you said
Your mother's looks
Your father's books
The world inside your head

I'm never going to break this spell
I'll never get to say farewell
You'll always be
Inside of me
A part of me is always hell

What did I see in you
I'll remain blue
You were meant just for me
So - what could I do

Have you seen her

SHE MAKES ME ILL

Please don't say I'm crazy
But I swore that I'd be true
Tried to get around her
But I didn't have a clue
Much to my distraction
Every action was in vain
Told her that I need her
And It's driving me insane

Please don't ask me why
You know I swore to make her mine
It sure gets me down
To think that she won't tow my line
Tried to get reaction
Every action was in vain
Told her that I need her
And It's driving me insane

No, no, no, no
Here she comes again
Can't win her love
Can't buy a thrill

Help me - if you will
She makes me ill
She makes me ill
Help me - if you will
She makes me ill
She makes me ill

WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH MY LIFE?

She pulled back the blinds
Surveyed the scene
Stared out blinking at the sunlight clean
The kids are at school
Daddy's in town
Mummy's feeling a little down
She tidied the kitchen
She swept the floor
Cleaned the house and then locked the door
She pulled up a chair
She poured out a glass
Considered her future - mourned the past
What have I done with my life
What have I done with my life
Slash, slash, goes the knife
Slash, slash, goes the knife
She pictured the wedding Her bridal gown
Stood in the mirror and twirled around
She cursed her marriage Her dead career
Mummy's feeling rather queer

She slashed the sofa
She hurled a chair
Smashed the china and the earthenware
The kids are at school
Daddy's in town
Mummy's feeling a little down