1. |
Brink of War
01:22
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Brink of War
We’re always on the brink of war, we never know who starts the show
we only know we have to go, or they will get you they will get you
We’re always on the brink of death, scared to breathe our gentle breath
we only know we will have to go or who will get me? Who will get me?
We’re always on the brink of war, we never know who starts the show
we only know we have to go, or they will get you they will get you
We’re always on the brink of death, scared to breathe our gentle breath
we only know we will have to go or who will get me? Who will get me?
©lyrics and music by Paul Clarke
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2. |
114˙ in Baghdad
03:11
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114˙ in Baghdad
It’s 114˙ in Baghdad, she’s wearing 60 lbs. of gear
strapped in from ear to ear, strapped in by fears, strapped in by tears
she said, “there’s no winning in this war,
today I killed a boy and his donkey
now I feel sad and guilty,
there’s a boy and his donkey right in front of me
it’s one thing to lose a war, it’s another thing for a nation to lose its soul
things are out of control in this foreign land that I can’t understand
I saw a terrible toll on the highways (on the country road)
a terrible toll on self-control (self-control)
a terrible toll on the byways (on the trail of tears and woe)
a terrible toll in the soul
there’s no easy way to quit this war,
it’s harder than a torture prison floor
with bars on the windows and guards behind locked doors
24/7 this ain’t heaven
I was going 50 in a 15 MPH zone (he was alone)
on a mission, with a convoy on my phone
(just a boy and his beast of burden)
walking to the other side (
then something said, “let’s ride,”)
then a boy and his donkey died.
there’s no winning we all can’t gain,
if we break down and feel the pain
of violence that’s gonna insane,
we’re losing our angels,
we’re losing our angels
if the devil is in the details
then I just killed a boy and his donkey
no one’s coming after me
except my conscience, my conscience
I saw a terrible toll on the cross roads (by the side of the street)
a terrible toll on the bridge (and by the edge of hedges)
a terrible toll in the school yard (behind the field of wheat)
A terrible toll in my soul
I
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3. |
Peace Dreams
01:59
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Peace Dreams
Peace dream dies, peace dream rise
peace dream someone fleeced my peace dream
my piece of peace my moonbeam, my moonbeam shining bright,
peace dream, someone leased my peace dream, to secret police
my peace dream has turned to fight or flight
If we want to have peace and we want to be strong
we can’t keep doing what we know is wrong
it’s wrong to steal, wrong to kill, wrong to make other people pay our bills
it’s wrong to cheat, wrong to lie, wrong to make innocent people die
if we want to have peace and we want to be strong
we can’t keep doing what we know is wrong
Hannukah, Ramdan, Christmas, Kwanza, Chinese New Years,
did you hear a closest prayer for peace?
peace around the world
peace dreams who’s been stealing peace dreams?
the thief of peace steals moonbeams that get us through the night
Peace dreams, peace dreams, peace dreams through the night
Peace dreams, peace dreams, peace dreams, shining bright
If we want to have peace and we want to be strong
we can’t keep doing what we know is wrong
it’s wrong to steal, wrong to kill,
wrong to make other people pay our bills
it’s wrong to cheat, wrong to lie, wrong to make innocent people die
if we want to have peace and we want to be strong
then we can’t keep doing what we know is wrong
Peace dreams, please release my peace dreams
my pieces of peace, my moonbeams, my sunbeams shining bright
Peace dreams, I’ve been streaming peace dreams, hear me screaming
Peace Dreams the dream that right makes might.
© lyrics and music by Paul Clarke
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4. |
Body Bags
04:43
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Body Bags
Oh God they want us to kill the man
Oh God they want us to kill the boy
Oh God they want us to kill the girls/world
I see you on the runway staring in the sky
Black clouds and moonlight the Air Force passing by
A double tour of duty in a foreign land
His father was a soldier and he’s your fighting man
He’ll be coming home soon they called you on the phone
Duffle bags and dog tags to keep when you’re alone
What’s the ancient lesson we won’t learn
Out of sight in the dead of night body bags return.
Body bags on airstrips heading overseas
Lying on the runways empty in the breeze
Planes leave behind a cloud of oil dust vapors in the sky
Take you to a foreign land and carry you home when you die.
I remember body bags and I remember dog tags.
A kinder gentler nation goes to war.
A thousand points of light aimed at your door.
The man who stole the presidency is lying more and more
Not sorry for the things he does the world is now at war
Black clouds blot the sunlight oil slick oceans foam.
Out of sight in the dead of night body bags come home.
I remember body bags and I remember dog tags.
A kinder gentler nation goes to war.
A thousand points of light aimed at your door.
I remember body bags and I remember dog tags.
A kinder gentler nation goes to war.
A thousand points of light aimed at your door.
3,000 body bags laid at your door.
10,000 body bags and counting more.
© paul clarke 2007
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5. |
War on Iraq
04:13
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War in Iraq
War, peace, love, hate, life, death, you and me.
There’s war in classroom, war on the streets, war everywhere people meet.
Where’s love in the subway and in foreign lands?
Love beyond hope and understanding?
I’ll be less likely to war if I hold my crooked heart stings in my hands.
War on Iraq is whack and I know it. War on Iraq is wrong
War on Iraq full frontal attack doesn’t belong in a song.
War is an error the terror of ages. War on earth’s a crime.
Entrepreneurs say war on the poor
Is something they think they will win over time
Daisy cluster bombs
Daisy cutters cluster bomblets
Shred your soul and shred your skin.
War on Iraq gasoline have we blown it. War on Iraq SUV. Hummer.
War on Iraq pre-emptive attack the kindling of WWIII. Bummer.
War’s perverse the world’s greatest curse. War for oil is weird.
War on Iraq is sand up your crack like paying someone in arrears
Daisy cluster bombs
Daisy cutters cluster bomblets
Shed you soul and shred your skin
Daisy cutters cluster bomblets
I’ll stick you with a good old rusty knife.
Who wears short shorts? Who’s a bad sport?
Liar. Liar. Pants on fire.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all king's men couldn't put Humpty together again.
All the king's horses and all king's men couldn't put Humpty together again.
War is suicide we’re certain. War on the Planet is death
War I am certain will bring down the curtain worser than Lady Macbeth
Daisy cluster bombs
Daisy cutters bread and butter build the latest bombers gorge and barf.
Custom bombers bread and butter dig the latest shelter in the sand.
Imperialistic colonizing insatiable in appetite while starved.
We’ll be less likely to war if we practice mercy and love.
Who wears short shorts? Who’s a bad sport?
Liar. Liar. Pants on fire.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all king's men couldn't put Humpty together again.
All the king's horses and all king's men couldn't put Humpty together AGAIN.
©paul clarke 2007
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6. |
After 9/11
03:28
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Who Am I after 9/11
Making love with Catharine after 9/11
She stopped drinking I started drinking more
Maybe I’m waiting for bombs to fall from the sky
Maybe she’s waiting for spring flowers to arrive
After 9/11.
Making love with Catharine after 9/11
She was there in 1993 on the 46th floor she came home that night to me
Maybe I’m waiting for god to rain down his wrath
And she is waiting for the Goddess to break out and laugh
After 9/11.
The sun comes up. The sun comes up. The sun goes down.
It doesn’t make a sound as the world spins round
They thought the Earth was flat -can you imagine that?
God made the world made the world in seven days
Then she went away for a billion years
And sprinkled all our dreams full of love and fears.
Do you need me like I need you?
Do you fear me like I fear you?
Making love in Heaven after 9/11
36 virgins on each knee
I’ll be having sex for Eternity.
Maybe the doctors of war will run out of hate.
Maybe the world will wake up before it’s too late.
After 9/11 who am I?
© paul clarke 2007
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7. |
Someday
02:14
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Someday
Someday mad men will not run the world
Someday mad men will not run the world
There’ll be Heaven on Earth
Peace for every body and girl.
Someday wars of terror will be done
Someday wars of terror will be done
There’ll be Heaven on Earth
No need for the latest gun.
No need to steal no need to lie
No need to kill no one has to die. No one has to die.
Someday ocean water will be clean
Someday every river every stream
There’ll be Heaven on Earth
Everyone will have a dream
There’ll be Heaven on Earth
Everyone will have a dream
© paul clarke 2007
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8. |
Zero Hero
02:19
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Zero Hero
I must drink from the bitter cup.
I must eat some crow.
I’ve got blood on my fingers.
I will not let go,
till I go down to get back to zero—
till I go down, down, down to find my hero.
I’ve got an attitude problem.
I am too gung ho.
But don’t let me abuse you.
Let your feelings show.
I will go down to get back to zero.
I will go down, down, down to find my hero.
Take an old fashioned look at myself.
See a dusty old book on a shelf.
There’s an empty page waiting for me
to write a line for eternity.
Go down, I will go down to get back to zero.
I will go down, down, down to find my hero.
I must drink from the bitter cup.
I must eat some crow.
I’ve got blood on my fingers.
I am too gung ho.
I will go down to get back to zero.
I will go down, down, down to zero hero.
©Words and Music by paul clarke
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9. |
Wakenhut
02:38
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Wakenhut
We hold these truths to be self-evident
That all men are created equal
And that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights
That among them are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
They’ve got 39,308 beds in 56 institutions
in 13 states and 7 foreign countries
they trade their shares on the N.Y. Stock Exchange
Prisons for Profits are trading across the nations
It’s a global corporation situation.
The guards beat the boys and thrown gas canisters into their barracks at night
and hold them down in isolation
and fail to provide health care and education
prisons for profit are trading across the nations
it’s another way to pay for our vacations.
OH OH
The boys got no shoes and got no blankets and the food ain’t fit to eat
Wakenhut Corrections Corporation trading on Wall Street.
Prisons for Profit are trading in Christian nations
It’s just another way to pay for our salvation
I work in a school we’re corrective action and the police are at the front desk
Will the kids go to Wakenhut Corrections if they fail the reading test?
Prisons for profit are trading in Christian nations
It’s a global corporation situation.
It’s another way to pay for our vacation
It’s another way to pay for our salvation
It’s another way to pay for our damnation
Woe
© paul clarke 2007
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10. |
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Mercy Jesus, Allah, Yaweh
When the smart bombs become the dumb wars
I wonder what the christian on the cross is for
is he a metaphor, or just a dinosaur,
or a millionaire in a five and ten cent store?
Mercy Jesus, Allah, Yaweh
There is strife God on Central Boulevard
sometimes I wish I lived in distant Zanzibar
or on the planet Mars way out beyond the stars
then I think of how connected Earth we are
a planet with a scar
where we candy coat our violence in a cookie jar
umm cookies
Mercy Jesus, Allah, Yaweh
If I were pharaoh and you were my queen
I'd pirouette on pyramids
Pieces of peace, pieces of peace, pieces of peace
I'd send to you,
my love
If we were giants in an alliance
we'd share our prayers and cares to end violence
awaken silence and self-reliance
the sacred science of unearthly duty
and civic duty
we'd we'd share our prayers and cares to end brutality
we'd we'd share our prayers and cares to end brutality
When the smart bombs become the dumb war
I wonder what the christian on the cross is for
is he a metaphor, or just a dinosaur,
or a millionaire in a five and ten cent store,
or a conquistador, a fading meteor,
or a billionaire stealing cookies from the poor?
Mercy Jesus, Allah, Yaweh
pieces of peace
I'd send to you,
pieces of peace
I'd send to you my love.
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11. |
Ancient Curse
03:07
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Ancient Curse
Who set the world on fire?
Who made the waters rise?
And made the ancient curse ten times worse?
Is it something in the water that makes a mad man slaughter
His only son and daughter in the universe?
Something said at table that makes him come unstable
And more like Cain than Able in a Bible verse?
Is there something in the heavens that gives us 9/11s?
it’s now(past) 2007 and what have we learned?
The prize we have our eyes on brings war on each horizon
the truth is not surprising lies can’t set us free.
Is it some kind of ancient curse
that takes what’s bad and makes it ten times worse?
Who set the world on fire? Who made the waters rise?
And made the ancient curse ten times worse?
Is there some kind of ancient grace
That’ll bring us peace and save the human race?
Is it some romantic notion that there’s a magic potion
To end all the commotion put a stop to war?
In my imagination there’s a joyous celebration
A touch of inspiration that’ll break the curse.
Is there some kind of ancient grace
That’ll bring us peace and save the human race?
Who lifts the soul up higher? Who fills the world with love?
And lets the ancient grace take its place
© paul clarke
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12. |
Drums of War
02:36
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Drums of War
This drum isn’t the drum of war
This beat ain’t the beat of pain
This rhythm isn’t the rhythm of charge
This drum comes from my heart
This song isn’t a song of woe (This drum isn’t the drum of war)
I won’t study war no more (This beat ain’t the beat of pain)
I will make my soul sincere (This rhythm isn’t the rhythm of charge)
Clean up all my business here (This drum comes from my heart)
This drum comes from my heart
This drum comes from my heart
This drum comes from my heart
Peace will come from our hearts
This drum isn’t the drum of war (I will study war no more)
This song isn’t the song of woe (Won’t fear the rich man nor the poor)
No families shattered across the land(I’ll bang the drums and raise my voice)
Your tears clean my hands (This song comes from my voice)
This song comes from our voice
This song comes from our choice
This song comes from our voice
Peace or War is the choice.
This drum isn’t the drum of death (This drum isn’t the drum of war)
This beat is the beat of breath (This beat ain’t the beat of pain)
This rhythm is the rhythm of change(This rhythm isn’t the rhythm of charge)
This drum beats my life (This drum comes from my heart)
This drum beats my life (This drum comes from my heart)
This drum beats my life (This drum comes from my heart)
from my heart, from my heart from our hearts
©words and music paul clarke
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13. |
Lebanon
03:47
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Lebanon
The cedars are gone in Lebanon
The coast is covered in oil
The wedding band on the mother’s hand
Holds her little boy
The boy will never laugh again.
His mother will never smile.
Mile after mile the war rages on.
In Galilee and Golan Heights (Jesus walked on water)
Forest fires make haze (mothers and daughters are slaughtered)
Where we fight to be free and we fight to be right the population’s dazed.
Neighbors share a common grave where the apartment building fell.
Shell after shell the war rages on.
You say, “Sorry, I’ve been there, I’ve heard that, I don’t buy it.
A peacekeeping cease-fire I won’t even try it.
Till I deliver the blows that secure the nation.”
I say, “Maybe it’s a failure of imagination. Imagine the world in pieces.
Then imagine the world at peace.”
I hope and pray there’ll come a day when war is obsolete.
When friend and foe will make the time & pick the place to meet
Where disagreement doesn’t mean, I’m right and you’re wrong.
Weak after strong war rages on the war rages on, the war rages on.
The war rages on.
© paul clarke 2007
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14. |
May Peace Prevail
04:12
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May Peace Prevail
May peace prevail on Earth I pray.
Woo senorita
Woo senorita
May peace prevail
May peace prevail
May peace prevail
May peace prevail
Celebrate traditions in new ways
May peace prevail on Earth.
May peace prevail
May peace prevail
May peace prevail
May peace prevail
Celebrate traditions in new ways
May peace prevail on Earth.
What’s right with me today? What’s right with me today?
I feel brand new
I’m the morning son. I’m forever young.
There’s nothing we can do wrong when we are right.
What’s right with me today? What’s right with me today?
Senorita I love you.
Woo Senorita
Woo Senorita
Senorita told me that a guy must have a dream.
Something bigger than himself or else what does it mean?
So I’ll learn to play my folk guitar then I serenade her.
Even if we don’t get far I’ll thank the god who made her.
Celebrate traditions in new ways
May peace prevail on Earth.
May peace prevail on Earth
Woo Senorita
Woo Senorita
May peace prevail on Earth I pray
May peace prevail on Earth I pray.
May peace prevail on Earth I pray
May peace prevail on Earth I pray.
Woo Senorita
Woo Senorita
May peace prevail on Earth I pray
May peace prevail on Earth I pray.
May peace prevail on Earth I pray
May peace prevail on Earth I pray.
Woo Senorita
Woo Senorita
May Peace Prevail.
May Peace Prevail
Father Time gives us time to choose.
Mother Earth will comfort you.
May Peace Prevail.
May Peace Prevail.
Celebrate traditions new ways.
May peace prevail on Earth, on Earth.
May Peace Prevail on Earth.
© paul clarke
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Paul Clarke New York, New York
Paul's songs reflect the inner and outer landscapes of our lives. Moved by the horrors and beauty of life, he considers them
his pieces of peace. His work is dedicated to lighten up the shadows and partake in creation.
He worked with producer and sound engineer, Malcolm Cecil for 20 years. "He encouraged me to keep writing and exploring. I am deeply grateful that Malcolm was my mentor."
... more
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