5 Long Days – Scorpion Jack Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keys – David Preston Bodhrán, Percussion – Rohan Young Drums – Michael Mormecha Produced by Mudd Wallace Assistant Production: Paul Ohagon Engineer: Chris Smith Artwork – Greg Wallace All songs written and performed by Scorpion Jack © Preston and Young 2014 all rights reserved Recorded at Mouth Recording Studio - Conway Mill, 5- Conway St, Belfast Thanks to everyone that has helped over the years. Lyrics 1/ BOXING (ABOVE YOUR WEIGHT) Thoughts racing through my head, Speeds up when I get to bed, So much to do and so much to see, I make a list to give my head peace. Tick things off as I get them done, Add more just for the fun, Big plans and big ideas, Reality out of dreams. I don't know if this is the answer, If it is then how on earth do we chance it, It's the right time, night time, life time, For us to see it through. Oh my, oh my will it ever stop, Moving fast and playing hard rock, Keep it going have you ever heard the story that, Boxing above our weight for years now it almost seems normal now Oh no, oh no it can never be, Task master to task complete, Big foes and woes head down until it goes, Boxing 'bove our weight for years, It almost seems normal now. This heart, this soul, rise up, Sustain on the never never, I don't minding waking beaten and bruised, Its a nice place to come from with nothing to lose. All love, all hope, all might, all time, all right now, More determination than Andy Dufresne, Push through the fatigue and feed on the pain. I don't know if this is the answer, If it is then how on earth do we chance it, It's the right time, night time, life time, For us to see it through. Oh my, oh my will it ever stop, Catch yourselves on 'til we get caught, I can hear you maybe you want to wear it, Boxing 'bove your weight for years, It almost seems normal now. Oh yes, oh yes I can feel it, Take charge but conceal it, Making moves that our dreams approve, Boxing 'bove our weight for years, It almost seems normal now. This heart, this soul, rise up, Sustain on the never never, I don't mind waking beaten and bruised, It's a nice place to come from when you've nothing to lose. 2/ SOMALIA PIRATES I wish I was a Somalia Pirate, Rocket launcher in hand I'd sail the seas. Oh if I was a Somalia Pirate, A pirate's life is the one for me. We demand ransoms for your vessels, You won't see me on CCTV. We hoard your ransoms with our treasures, Or send your crew back piece by piece. Speed boats hurtle through the waves, Warning shots fly past prospective bows. We're real pirates we don't copy DVD's, A pirate's life is the one for me. I'm a pirate I've got my chat in my pocket, I'm a pirate on my boat with my rocket, If a pirate is not on the water, Then a pirate's with someone else's daughter. A pirate's life is the one for me, Maybe sail all 7 seas, Or reduce that number to three, Cover our territory with ease. I know, I know, I should not be stealing, I want, I want your boat to be sinking, Send your boat down ten fathoms, Unless you pay us, our ransom. International navies start to close in, Private security fire upon our boats. 5 million dollars you must pay us, Our threats you see are not a joke. Entrepreneurs of Somalia, Criminals in the rest of the world, 20 years without any government, Sunken boats and prison now await. Hostage and curt negotiations, Insurance premiums rocket high, But we're real pirates we fear nothing, Live our lives until the day we die. I'm a pirate I've got my chat in my pocket, I'm a pirate on my boat with my rocket, If a pirate is not on the water, Then a pirate's with someone else's daughter. A pirate's life is the one for me, Maybe sail all 7 seas, Or reduce that number to three, Cover our territory with ease I know, I know, I should not be stealing, I want, I want your boat to be sinking, Send your boat down ten fathoms, unless you pay us, our ransom. 3/ NEWS I read the news today I can't believe what I saw, The world is topsy turvy kicking off and all, And when I read and the truth starts to leak out, There's revolution in the air. Sensationalism's so rife, How can they balance such a story, Such a sharp knife and then we read it, And the truth starts to leak out. I flick the pages and I click and scroll about, Madness everywhere it's not just in this town, Times have changed and the futures anyone's guess, Could it be organised chaos. Oh my feeling is rising, The winds blowing strong, The suns still shining, Hacked to pieces where will it all end. Politicking and campaigns are everywhere, I want someone to follow who has a little flair, Elections looming the lot are a waste of space, New blood not spilt blood please. All of this news fills me with emotion, I feel it with the rising of the ocean, I read the news even though I've had my quota. Oh my it rolls faster, I see it rolling on and then I have to let it through because it, Feeds moving compare the news to another story, That twists the story just for you, And if you hold it back and tease it out, Then what you hear comes straight from the horses mouth, I see the words my computers now crashed, Linked to the core the shares will surely crash and what then? The information is now found everywhere, Leaked to somebody then they put it on the net to share, And we can read it but there's so much of it out there, Information leaked knee deep. Morality is so open, It could mean one but it could be closed and stolen, Oh well time could tell I suppose. I read the news today I can't believe what I saw, The world is topsy turvy kicking off and all, And when its written and the truth starts to leak out, The writing's sprayed upon the wall. 4/ LIGHT Woke up this morning and the sun it was bright, Roll out of bed and get a taste of this light, The coffee is brewing gonna get me a cup, This day will be good I cannot get me enough. It's the light that I'm looking, It's the light, knock on your door. Studied for years in Aberdeen, The wind it was merciless the cold it was mean, The words that I heard were always so warm, Keep your friends nice and close and you will come to no harm. It's the light, that I'm looking, It's the light, knock on your door. My brothers my sisters keep a close check on me, Wherever I wander wherever I'll be, I'll call them we'll talk just to kick things around, Head in the clouds but feet on the ground. It's the lights, search all around, It's the lights, don't make a sound. Pack up my things and drive to the sea, This light rises up to shine over me. It's the light that I'm looking for, It's the light, knock on your door. Woke up this morning and the sun it was bright, Roll out of bed and get a taste of this light, The coffee is brewing gonna get me a cup, This day will be good I cannot get me enough. It's the light that I'm looking, It's the light, knock on your door. 5/ TOP OF THE HILL I walk this path, I read the map, I'll cycle fast, to the foothills, The foothills of your love. x 3 Start to climb, I heat up as I go to new heights, Each step I take I think I must be more, Than I have ever gone, before in my whole life. All the way up to the top, Top of the hill, top of the hill, I think I've got it then I get enough, My love is sincere then it overfills. I keep on going right on to the top, Top of the hill, top of the hill, on the search for utopia. I'm living wild, I'll take my time, Back to the start, back to find, The foothills of your love, The foothills of your love. Keep it for, your own memories, I won't forget, all the things that passed as we moved through this hell, Climbing to see a place where we could see from the top. All the way up to the top, Top of the hill, top of the hill, I think I've got it then I get enough, My love is sincere then it overfills. I keep on going right on to the top, Top of the hill, top of the hill, On the search for utopia. Oh, oh, oh, oh All the way up to the top, Top of the hill, top of the hill, I think I get it then I get enough, My love is sincere then it overfills, All the way up to the top, Top of the hill, top of the hill, On the search for utopia, On the search for utopia. 6/ FIVE LONG DAYS 5 long days I travelled fast, Gaining speed by spending cash, As if I had a choice in this, To avoid their angered fist, But with this body and with this mind, I know I'm gonna beat perpetual time, To bring this message to the king, So that his army can finally win. And as the sun crept through the leaves, I kept walking as to sleep, Striding along this forest path, To see how long my strength would last, No sleep for me, not on this day, A sacred message I must relay, To the king of the land, I cannot rest till its in his hand. And then I see it moving closer, I've got its all its such a joke, You know its in your blood and heart, You know its there and it will never part, When its going, when its wild, When you're moving but you're out of time, And if you mean to when you do, You know its up to you. Oh, I don't know if it's right, Oh, I'm almost out of time. I was flying I was trying, I was climbing I was running, And I had to go, had to go, I was climbing running, And I had to keep it flowing, I had to go, had to go and, Oh its my body and I've got to go, Oh its my mind and I cannot show, All the cards at the table where I'm playing, Cause I don't have it all to bet. Mmmh oh mmmh mmmh oh Stopped for a while in a farmers house, He gave me bed and food to mouth, But his daughter was strong and fine, My eyes turned to her after home made wine, Till the farmer caught me, Then I knew I'd have to leg it, Fore pitch fork flew, He ran and I had to go, It was a memory fast and a memory slow. Oh, I don't know if it's right, Oh, I'm out of time. Yet I know where I must go, To the castle high in the snow, To deliver this message to the king, So that our armies will surely win, In the grandest battle that ever was, A noble fight for noble cause, My brothers fell but rose again, Testing the might of foreign men. Oh oh oh Still I run as fast as I can, So that I can rest and weep, For my lost kin lost in this war, The thoughts of them are still so sore, But in this forest with sun and light, They are with me holding on tight. But in this forest with sun and light, They are with me holding on tight. 7/ LAME DUCK SYNDROME Loafers, spongers and wasters galore, Are all knockin upon my door, I think they're lookin somethin', somethin' from me, And all I get in return is interrupted peace I, Should have seen it, should have seen it coming, Should have headed them off at the ravine, Time has been stolen again, The lame duck syndrome of the Preston men, Lets go! Liars, schemers and bullies en masse, Have got an open source loser pass, Upon my lawn, upon my brow, The time was then, the time is now, And its happened since I began, And it was never part of the plan, I'm the same as my great Uncle David, Wall to wall lame ducks, Who could believe it. Taking time to reflect, Of the lame duck effect, Just to watch the birds fly, Catch it in the corner of your eye, Like a poem long once writ, The words are soft, the meaning split, Passion cries, out aloud, From someone within the crowd. I will not let this lame duck be the one, That will drag me down. Loafers, spongers and wasters galore, Are all knockin' upon my door, I think they're lookin' somethin', somethin' from me, And all I get in return is interrupted peace, I, Should have seen it, should have seen it coming, Should have headed them off at the ravine, Time has been stolen again, The lame duck syndrome of the Preston men. Hold it closer, living wild, moving out it, Out of time (once again), Only cause it, rolled up, (Preston love), Keep it going get enough, (we'll live for). 8/ HEADROOM Must be the morning, could be the night, Doesn't really seem to matter, what sort of time. I saw it roll right back up, the hill again, Tryin' to avoid trouble and all those debt collection men. Take all your imperfections and Turn them into one perfect lie. Keep it up, never give it up, No matter what they say or what they try. Instead I'm living it up, Instead I'm going to the bright lights. Instead I'm living it up, Instead I'm heading to the bright lights. I've got to keep it going, despite what I hear Oh my can you hear it in the fallen snow, it sounds so clear. I want a buffer, I want some headroom, I need to get myself an overdraft that I don't have to pay back any time soon. And it all keeps living it up and I can keep it going if I have enough and as the backlight Lights all those around, slip in the slip stream like a passing sound. I need an epiphany to come right up, stand up, square up to me. Anthropomorphic I love it, its always been this way and it always will. And I saw it there in stormy weather, knew to myself it would take forever, And if you want we can take it along and see how long the wind will hold. And I want a buffer, I want some headroom, I want to get myself an overdraft that I don't have to pay back any time soon. And it all keeps moving it back, And I can keep it going if I do my best, And if I want to try then I know I will and if I stop then I might have to kill. I need a philosophy to come right up stand up square up to me, Anthropomorphic, I love it, its always been this way and it always will, I'm never quite just sure how it goes, cause nobody does it and nobody knows, Oh this light is blowing wild and this is how it's going to stay. I need a buffer, I need some headroom, I need to get myself an overdraft that I don't have to pay back any time soon. I want a buffer, I want some head room, I wanna get myself an over draft that I don't have to pay back any time soon. 9/ ROLLING ON THE MORNING (V) Rolling on the morning, Dust settled upon the floor, And its been coming alive again, I had a little taste but I want more, x 3. (CH) More of the same, something different too, Letting it out, was the only thing to do. (V) Trying to be different, the more that I try, The less that I want, And its been showing its face again, Rise to the mood just to explore, I had a little taste but I want more. (CH) More of the same, something different too, Letting it out, was the only thing to do. (VCH) It was a cold night, with a long way to go, I moved as quickly as I could. Only to find obstacles on the way, No I could not see anyone following me, No I could not see anyone coming at me, And as I turned my head I hit the car full on. (Br) Eyes flash and my head is mighty sore, sore, Hit me to the ground right to the core, core, And then, then to my surprise, I opened up my eyes, I could not believe what I saw. (V) Waking up in the hospital, Nurse tells me I'll be ok, And it has started to refresh my memory, Too much taste but I want more, Head is pounding legs are sore, IV out, drag my body to the floor. INSTR (V) Holding my head in wonder, wonder where are my clothes, And I can see my boot laces hanging out, From the cupboard in the corner where they are stored, Old friends even though well worn. (CH) More of the same, something different too, Letting it out, was the only thing to do. (BR) Get dressed cause it is time to move, move, If they find me they'll put me back in this room, room, And well, I've got things to do, people to go see, Especially the ones that owe me money. (V) Walking down the corridor, As if no-one's noticing me, And I just walk right out the front door, As if anyone isn't looking for me, walk right out and they're I'm free. (CH) More of the same, Something different too, Letting it out, Was the only thing to do. (V) Rolling on the morning, Dust settles upon the floor, And it's been coming alive again, I had a little taste but I want more, x 3. FIN 10/ APOCALYPSE SORTED All packed up time to go, Ash in the sky is falling like snow, Check the perimeter you never know, Glad we got, apocalypse sorted. How did it come to this, Warning signs, hard to miss, Each day's a fight just to exist, At least we've got, each other. And for now, we'll plough on, To the end of the road. The weather's mad, water's on the floor t The tide has turned and so has the shore 19 billion dollars profit and more Status Quo, new world order Sharp knife, wind up radio Warm coat, flint, sovereigns of gold It was too warm now it's too cold Its just as well I'm a hoarder And for now we'll plough on Past the end of the road Internet's nice, now it's gone, Instruments are handy play a song, Glock in the glovebox if things go wrong, Blood out of stone, get it sorted. Jenga fire watch the embers glow, The crackle on the radio is getting old, Lost on the motorway get off the road, All pull together, it's worth it. And for now we'll plough on, To the end of the road. Philanthropic for one more push, Religious smoke from the burning bush, Protein, minerals and plenty of juice, I'm glad we got it all sorted. We're all pretty smart but it seems to be, The good ideas don't get room to breath, The old guard don't just want a piece, The dominoes fall, beautiful motion. And for now, we''ll plough on, To the end of the road, To the end of the road, To the end of the road. Thanks for listening and read the lyrics, hope you enjoyed and watch out for some more stripped back Scorpion Jack, keeping it dark and defiant.