Episode 1 Singer-Songwriters at the BBC

APPLAUSE

# It's a little bit funny

# This feeling inside

# I'm not one of those who can easily hide

# I don't have much money but, boy, if I did

# I'd buy a big house where we both could live

# If I was a sculptor

# But, then again, no

# Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show

# I know it's not much but it's the best I can do

# My gift is my song, yeah

# And this one's for you

# And you can tell everybody

# This is your song

# It may be quite simple but now that it's done

# I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind

# That I put down in words

# How wonderful life is while you're in the world

# I sat on the roof

# And kicked off the moss

# Well, a few of the verses

# Well, they've got me quite cross

# But the sun's been quite kind

# While I wrote this song

# It's for people like you that keep it turned on

# So excuse me forgetting

# But these things I do

# You see, I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue

# Anyway the thing is, what I really mean

# Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

# And you can tell everybody

# This is your song

# It may be quite simple but now that it's done

# I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind

# That I put down in words

# How wonderful life is while you're in the world

# I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind

# That I put down in words

# How wonderful life is while you're in the world. #

APPLAUSE

# In my mind I'm gone to Carolina

# Can't you see the sunshine?

# Well, can't you just feel the moonshine?

# And ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind?

# Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

# Karin, she's a silver sun

# You'd best walk away and watch it shinin'

# Watch her watch the mornin' come

# A silver tear appearing Now I'm cryin', ain't I?

# Said I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

# There ain't no doubt in no-one's mind that love's the finest thing around

# Whisper something soft and kind

# And, hey, babe, the sky's on fire I'm dyin', ain't I?

# Said I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

# In my mind I'm gone to Carolina

# Can't you see the sunshine?

# Well, can't you just feel the moonshine?

# And ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind?

# Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

# Dark and silent late last night

# I think I might have heard the highway calling

# Geese in flight and dogs that bite

# And signs that might be omens say I'm going

# Yes, I gotta be going

# I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

# Now, with a holy host of others standing around me

# Still I'm on the dark side of the moon

# And it looks like it goes on like this forever

# You must forgive me

# If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind

# In my mind I'm gone to Carolina

# See the sunshine low

# And can't you just feel the moonshine, yeah?

# And ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind?

# Yes, I'm gone to Carolina

# In my mind

# Said I'm gone to Carolina in my mind

# I'd better get myself on home again real soon. #

Er, I'd like to sing a song now

that I wrote, I think, before I tried to make...a second comeback,

and this...I think I'm basically talking about myself in this one.

This is called Wild World.

APPLAUSE

# La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la

# La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la

# La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la

# Now that I've lost everything to you

# You say you wanna start something new

# And it's breakin' my heart you're leavin'

# Baby, I'm grievin'

# But if you wanna leave, take good care

# Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear

# But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there

# Ooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world

# It's hard to get by just upon a smile

# Ooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world

# And I'll always remember you like a child, girl

# You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do

# And it's breakin' my heart in two

# Because I never wanna see you a sad girl

# Don't be a bad girl

# If you wanna leave, take good care

# Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there

# But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware

# Beware

# Ooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world

# And it's hard to get by just upon a smile

# Ooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world

# And I'll always remember you like a child, girl

# La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la

# La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la

# La-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la

# Baby, I love you

# But if you wanna leave, take good care

# Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there

# But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware

# Beware

# Ooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world

# And it's hard to get by just upon a smile

# Ooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world

# And I'll always remember you like a child, girl

# Ooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world

# And it's hard to get by just upon a smile

# Ooh, baby, baby, it's a wild world

# And I'll always remember you like a child, girl. #

APPLAUSE

# I spend the night in a chair thinking she'll be there

# But she never comes

# And I wake up and wipe the sleep from my eyes

# And I rise to face another day

# Without her, do do do

# Do do do do, do do do do

# It's just no good anymore when you walk through the door

# Of an empty room

# And then you go inside and set a table for one, it's no fun

# When you spend a day

# Without her, do do do

# Do do do do

# Do do do

# We burst the pretty balloon that took us to the moon

# It's such a beautiful thing

# But it's ended now

# And it sounds like a lie

# I say I'd rather die than live without her

# Do do do, do do do

# Do do do do

# Love is a beautiful thing when it knows how to swing

# And it moves like a clock

# But the hands on the clock tell the lovers to part

# And it's breaking my heart

# To have to spend a day without her, do do do

# Do do do do, do do do do

# I spend the night in a chair thinking she'll be there

# But she never comes

# And I wake up and wipe the sleep from my eyes

# And I rise to face another day

# Without her, do do do do

# Do do do do

# Can't go on without her

# Do do do do, do do do do

# There's no song without her-er-er-er

# Do do do do. #

# The wine it was drunk

# The ship it was sunk

# The shot it was dead

# All the sorrows were drowned

# The birds they were clouds

# The brides and the shrouds

# And as we drew south

# The mist it came down

# The wooded ravine

# To the wandering stream

# The serpent, he moved

# But no one would say

# The depths of the waters

# The bridge which distraught us

# And brought to me thoughts

# Of the ill-fated days

# The temples were filled

# With the strangest of creatures

# One played it by ear

# On the banks of the sea

# That one was found

# But the others they went under

# The tears which are shed

# They won't come from me

# The pilot he flew

# All across the sky and woke me

# He flew so low

# On the mercury sea

# The dream it came back

# All about the tall, brown people

# The sacred young herd

# On the phosphorus sand. #

HE PLAYS THE PIANO

APPLAUSE

Thank you.

# If I give up the seat I've been saving

# To some elderly lady or man

# Am I being a good boy?

# Am I your pride and joy?

# Mother, please, if your pleased, say I am

# And if while in the course of my duty

# I perform an unfortunate take

# Would you punish me so, unbelievably so

# Never again will I make that mistake

# This feeling inside me could never deny me

# The right to be wrong if I choose

# And this pleasure I get

# From, say, winning a bet

# Is to lose

# When I'm drinking my Bonaparte Shandy

# Eating more than enough apple pies

# Will I glance at my screen and see real human beings starve to death

# Right in front of my eyes

# Nothing old, nothing new, nothing ventured

# Nothing gained, nothing still-born or lost

# Nothing further than proof nothing wilder than youth

# Nothing older than time, nothing sweeter than wine

# Nothing physically, recklessly, hopelessly blind

# Nothing I couldn't say

# Nothing why 'cos today

# Nothing rhymed

# Oh oh oh

# Oh oh oh oh

# Oh oh

# Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm

# This feeling inside me could never deny me

# The right to be wrong if I choose

# And this pleasure I get

# From say winning a bet

# Is to lose

# Nothing good, nothing bad, nothing ventured

# Nothing gained, nothing still-born or lost

# Nothing further than proof, nothing wilder than youth

# Nothing older than time, nothing sweeter than wine

# Nothing physically, recklessly, hopelessly blind

# Nothing I couldn't say

# Nothing why 'cos today

# Nothing rhymed. #

APPLAUSE

# Riding on the City of New Orleans

# Illinois Central Monday morning rail

# There's 15 cars and 15 restless riders

# Three conductors and 25 sacks of mail

# They're out on the Southbound Odyssey

# And the train pulls out at Kankakee

# Rolls past the houses, farms and fields

# Passin' towns that have no names

# And freight yards full of old black men

# And the graveyards of rusted automobiles

# Singin' good morning America, how are you?

# Don't you know me, I'm your native son

# I'm just the train they call The City of New Orleans

# I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done

# I was dealin' card games with the old men in the club car

# And it's a penny a point, there ain't nobody keepin' score

# Won't you pass that paper bag that holds the tequila

# And you can feel the wheels rumblin' beneath the floor

# The sons of Pullman porters

# And the sons of engineers

# All ride their daddy's magic carpet, and it's made of steel

# Mothers with their babes asleep

# Go rockin' to the gentle beat

# And the rhythm of the rails is all they dream

# Singin' good morning America, how are you?

# And don't you know me, I'm your native son

# I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans

# I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done

# It's night time on The City of New Orleans

# And we're changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee

# Half way home, we'll be there by morning

# Through the Mississippi darkness, rolling to the sea

# All the towns and people seem to fade into a bad dream

# And the old steel rail, it ain't heard the news

# The conductor sings that song again

# Its passengers will please refrain

# This train's got the disappearing railroad blues

# Good night, America, how are you?

# Don't you know me, I'm your native son

# I'm just the train they call The City of New Orleans

# I'll be gone 500 miles when the day is done

# Good night, America, how are you?

# Don't you know me? I'm your native son

# I'm just the train they call The City of New Orleans

# Gone a long, long time when the day is done. #

# Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning And the first thing that I heard

# Was a song outside my window The traffic wrote the words

# It came a-ringing up like Christmas bells

# Rapping up like pipes and drums

# Oh, won't you stay We'll put on the day

# And we'll wear it Till the night comes...

# Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning And the first thing that I saw

# Was the sun through yellow curtains And a rainbow on my wall

# Blue, red, green and gold to welcome you

# Crimson crystal beads to beckon...

# Oh, won't you stay? We'll put on the day

# There's a sun show every second

# Now the curtain opens on a portrait of today

# And the streets are paved with passersby

# And pigeons fly

# And papers lie waiting to blow away...

# Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning And the first thing that I knew

# There was milk and toast and honey And a bowl of oranges, too

# And the sun poured in like butterscotch

# And stuck to all my senses...

# Oh, won't you stay? We'll put on the day

# And we'll talk in present tenses

# When the curtain closes And the rainbow runs away

# I will bring you incense owls by night

# By candlelight, by jewel-light If only you will stay

# Pretty baby, won't you wake up? It's a Chelsea morning. #

APPLAUSE

# I want to live I want to give

# I've been a miner for a heart of gold

# It's these expressions I never give

# That keep me searching for a heart of gold

# And I'm getting old

# Keep me searching for a heart of gold

# And I'm getting old

# I've been to Hollywood I've been to Redwood

# I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold

# I've been in my mind It's such a fine line

# That keeps me searching for a heart of gold

# And I'm getting old

# Keeps me searching for a heart of gold

# And I'm getting old

# Keep me searching for a heart of gold

# You keep me searching And I'm growing old

# I've been a miner for a heart of gold

# Keep me searching for a heart of gold

# Mmm-hmm. #

Judee Sill's new album Heart Food

comes out here at the beginning of April too,

and she's in this country at the moment touring with Roy Harper,

with one more gig to do at the New Theatre, Oxford, on Thursday.

If you're going, I'll see you there.

Two things, in fact, from the new LP and this is The Pearl.

# I'm looking for someone who sells truth by the pound

# Then I saw the dealer and his friend arrive

# But their gifts looked grim

# Now I'm tired of hanging on Waitin' for a showdown

# Don't you see I gotta ride 'em out Cos the pearl's just around the bend

# Beautiful pearl Oh, when will you reappear?

# Mysteries unfurl And become so clear

# When I feel you near

# I found a way outside myself To make my spirit climb

# And I coulda shinnied on up But my rope was made of wind

# I appreciate the words But I won't be there at show time

# Don't y'see I gotta ride them out Cos the pearl's just around the bend

# Beautiful pearl Oh, when will you reappear?

# Mysteries unfurl And become so clear

# When I feel you near

# When my backyard weeds grew high I hoped that they would hide me

# But I felt that the pearl was near Cos I thought I saw it shine

# I was lookin' all around When I felt it there inside me

# And I see a possibility that it's been there all the time

# Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo. #

# By the time I get to Phoenix... #

APPLAUSE # ..She'll be rising

# She'll find the note that I left hanging

# On her door

# She'll laugh when she reads the part

# That says I'm leaving

# Because I've left that girl so many times before

# By the time I make Albuquerque

# She'll be working

# She'll probably stop at lunch

# She'll try to give me a call Oh, yes she will

# But all she'll hear is that empty phone

# Just keep on ringing

# Off the wall

# That is all

# By the time I make Oklahoma

# She'll be sleeping

# She'll turn softly

# She'll call my name out low Oh, yes she will

# She will cry to think that I

# Would really leave her

# Though time and time and again

# I've tried to tell my woman so

# She did not know

# That I would really go. #

APPLAUSE

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# It's not warm when she's away

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# And she's always gone too long

# Any time she goes away

# Wonder this time where she's gone

# Wonder if she's gone to stay

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# And this house just ain't no home

# Any time she goes away

# And I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know

# I know, I know, I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know

# I know, I know I know, I know, I know, I know

# I know, I know, I know I know, I know

# Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone

# But ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# Only darkness every day

# Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

# And this house just ain't no home

# Any time she goes away

# Any time she goes away

# Any time she goes away. #

# Goodbye to you, my trusted friend

# We've known each other since we were nine or ten

# Together we climbed hills and trees

# Learned of love and ABCs

# Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees

# Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die

# When all the birds are singing in the sky

# Now that the spring is in the air

# Pretty girls are everywhere

# Think of me and I'll be there

# We had joy, we had fun We had seasons in the sun

# But the hills that we climbed were just seasons out of time

# Goodbye, Papa, please pray for me

# I was the black sheep of the family

# You tried to teach me right from wrong

# Too much wine and too much song

# Wonder how I got along

# Goodbye, Papa, it's hard to die

# When all the birds are singing in the sky

# Now that the spring is in the air

# Little children everywhere

# When you see them I'll be there

# We had joy, we had fun We had seasons in the sun

# But the wine and the song like the seasons have all gone

# We had joy, we had fun We had seasons in the sun

# But the wine and the song like the seasons have all gone

# Goodbye, Michelle, my little one

# You gave me love and helped me find the sun

# And every time that I was down

# You would always come around

# And get my feet back on the ground

# Goodbye, Michelle, it's hard to die

# When all the bird are singing in the sky

# Now that the spring is in the air

# With the flowers everywhere

# I wish that we could both be there

# We had joy, we had fun We had seasons in the sun

# But the stars we could reach

# Were just starfish on the beach

# We had joy, we had fun We had seasons in the sun

# But the stars we could reach

# Were just starfish on the beach

# We had joy, we had fun We had seasons in the sun

# But the wine and the song Like the seasons have all gone

# All our lives we had fun We had seasons in the sun

# But the hills that we... #

I would like for you to meet my guest star.

Ladies and gentlemen, Neil Diamond.

# Where it began

# I can't begin to knowin'

# But then I know that it's growing strong

# Was in the spring

# And spring became the summer

# Who'd have believed you'd come along

# Ha-ands

# Ttouchin' hands

# Reachin' out

# Touchin' me

# Touchin' you

# Sweet Caroline

# Good times never seemed so good

# I'd be inclined

# To believe they never would

# But now I

# Look at the night

# And it don't seem so lonely

# We fill it up with only two

# And when I hurt

# Hurtin' runs off my shoulders

# How can I hurt when I'm holding you

# Warm

# Touchin' warm

# Reachin' out

# Touchin' me

# Touchin' you

# Sweet Caroline

# Good times never seemed so good

# I've been inclined

# To believe they never would

# Oh no, no

# Sweet Caroline

# Good times never seemed so good

# I've been inclined

# To believe they never would

# Sweet Caroline. #

# Jamaica was the lovely one

# I played her well

# As we lay in the tall grass Where the shadows fell

# Hiding from the children So they would not tell

# We would stay there till her sister rang

# The evening bell

# Jamaica say you will

# Help me find

# A way to fill

# These empty hours

# Say you will come again tomorrow

# The daughter of a captain on the rolling sea

# She would stare across the water from the trees

# Last time he was home He held her on his knees

# Said the next time they would sail away

# Just where they pleased

# Jamica say you will

# Help me find

# A way to fill

# These lifeless sails

# And stay until

# My ships can find the sea

# Jamaica was a sweet young one

# I loved her true

# She was a comfort and a mercy through and through

# Hiding from this world together

# Next thing I knew

# They had brought her things down to the bay

# What could I do?

# Jamaica say you will

# Help me find a way to fill these sails

# And we will sail until

# Our waters have run dry. #

APPLAUSE

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Tim Hardin.

# The lady came from Baltimore and all she wore was lace

# She never knew that I was poor she never saw my place

# I was there to steal her money take her rings and run

# Then I fell in love with the lady got away with none

# Lady's name was Susan Moore her daddy read the law

# Didn't know that he was poor and lived outside the law

# Daddy said he was a thief and didn't marry her for love

# But he was Susan's true belief and married her for love

# I was there to steal her money take her rings and run

# Then I fell in love with the lady and got away with none

# The house they lived in had a wall to keep the robber out

# They never stopped to think at all if that's what I'm about

# I was there to steal her money take her rings and run

# # Then I fell in love with the lady and got away with none

# I fell in love with the lady

# Got away with none. #

APPLAUSE

# Oh, the feeling

# When you're reeling

# You step lightly thinking you're number one

# Down to zero with a word

# Leaving

# For another one

# Now you walk with your feet back on the ground

# Down to the ground down to the ground

# Down to the ground down to the ground

# Brand new dandy

# First class seat stealer

# Walks through the crowd and takes your man

# Then you rush in to the mirror

# Brush your eyebrows and say

# There's more beauty in you than anyone

# Oh, remember who walked the warm sands beside you

# Moored to your heel let the waves come a rushing in

# She'll take the worry from your head but then again

# She put trouble in your heart instead

# Then you'll fall

# Down to the ground down to the ground

# You'll know heartache

# Still more crying

# When you're thinking of your mother's only son

# Take to your bed

# You say there's peace in sleep

# But you'll dream of love instead

# Oh, the heartache you'll find

# Can bring more pain than a blistering sun

# But, oh, when you fall

# Oh, when you fall

# Fall at my door

# Oh, the feeling

# When you're reeling

# You step lightly

# Down to zero with that word

# Leaving

# For another one

# Now you walk with your feet back on the ground

# Down to the ground down to the ground

# Down to the ground down to the ground

# You'll know heartache

# Still more crying

# Thinking of your mother's only son

# Take to your bed

# You say there's peace in sleep

# But you'll dream of love instead

# Oh, when you fall

# Oh, when you fall

# Fall at my door. #

There was this liquorice tattoo

Turned a gun metal blue

It was scrawled out across the shoulders

Of a dying little town

And every night we'd take the one-eyed jacks

Out across the railroad tracks

# And with a scar on his belly

# Came a stranger passing through

# He was just a juvenile delinquent

# One of them cats that, er, never learned how to behave

# But he knew one thing in that the cops never think to look

# When you're out in Burma Shave

# And when the road is like a ribbon

# And, man, the moon's just like a bone

# Well, he didn't seem to be like any guy she'd ever known

# Man looked like Farley Granger

# Had his hair all slicked back

# She said, Baby, I've always been a sucker

# For a fella that wears a cowboy hat

# Just how far do you think you might be going, man?

# Well, that all depends on what you mean

# Cos frankly I'm only stopping here

# To get me some gasoline

# I guess I'm going that way

# Just as long as it's paved

# I guess you'd say I'm on my way

# To a place I know called Burma Shave

# So, baby, put your knees up on my glove compartment

# Just like that

# And take out your berets

# And let your hair spill out just like root beer

# She popped her gum and she arched her back

# And she said, Marysville don't amount to nothing

# But a wide spot in the road

# Some nights my heart pounds like thunder

# I don't know why I don't explode

# But everyone in this stinkin' town has got one foot in the grave

# And I'm gonna take my chances with you tonight, man

# Take me all the way to Burma Shave

# And said, Honey, nothin' to it

# Cos Presley's what I go by

# Go on and change the stations

# Let's count the grain elevators in the rear view mirror

# She said, Mr, anywhere you point this thing

# Is gonna beat the hell outta the sting

# Cos every night I go to bed

# And I lie down next to all my dreams

# But they die right here every morning

# So come on, Presley and drill me a whole a barber pole

# Cos I'm jumpin' my parole like a fugitive tonight

# Let's have another swig pass that car

# Are you brave enough?

# Let's get there before the sun comes up out in Burma Shave

# You know, someone said there was a wreck out on the highway

# And the spider web crack and the mustang screamed

# So let the sun hit the derrick and cast a bat wing shadow

# Up against the car door on the shot gun side

# And when they pull you from the wreck, baby

# You still had on your shades

# But dreams are growing wild every night

# This side of Burma Shave

# So hush little baby don't you cry

# Don't you cry

# Don't you cry. #

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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