NOTE: Lyrics in italics have been added to or repeated from the original poem by Ken Galipeau.
 

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The Railways of NY
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

All the trains on the subways that run through Manhattan
Can't carry the love that I carry for you;
Though they run under Broadway and Seventh forever
They'll never hold half of the love that I do.

All the lines from the New Jersey that lead to Penn Station
Can't hold all the feelings that my heart contains;
As I understand it, the New Jersey Transit,
However they planned it, just don't have the trains.

And By the same token, the PATH from Hoboken
To Thirty Third Street can't compete with this heart;
All Grand Central Station can't hold my elation
Since your declaration that we'll never part.

The love I've been saving's more then the New Haven
Could ship up the Sound to the next state along;
The Long Island Railroad could not tote this payload
But that's quite OK, no disgrace, nothing wrong;

And By the same token, the PATH from Hoboken
To Thirty Third Street can't compete with this heart;
All Grand Central Station can't hold my elation
Since your declaration that we'll never part.

All the trains on the subways that run through Manhattan
Can't carry the love that I carry for you;
Though they run under Broadway and Seventh forever
They'll never hold half of the love that I
Never hold half of the love that I do.

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Whichever Way You Throw Me
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

I will walk whichever I have to go
I have walked down darker roads then you may know
Love you've never gone the way I had it planned
But whichever way you throw me I will stand

Yes I know you'd like to throw me out of town
And it seems I've spent my whole life movin' around
Love you always seemed to hold the upper hand
But whichever way you throw me I will stand

Love you always seemed as big as all the world
Ya knocked me down a time or two before
But not this time I'm not that little boy
And I won't be hurt by love not anymore

If I need to I can stand here all along
I know all the words I can sing 'em on my own
Sometimes the singer has to leave the band
But whichever way you throw me I will stand

Love you always seemed as big as all the world
Ya knocked me down a time or two before
But not this time I'm not that little boy
And I won't be hurt by love not anymore

Yes, I've known your lighting flash you thunder roll
I've lost my heart sometimes but not my soul
I will always make it through the storm to land
But whichever way you throw me I will stand
I will always make it through the storm the land
But whichever way you throw me
Whichever way you throw me
Whichever way you throw me I will stand

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Heroes
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

Tell me now who are your heroes tell me which have stirred your heart
How they live and breath and function tell me what sets them apart
Them me are they brave and handsome are they in the public eye
Common folk and merely mortal tell me do they fear to die

Tell me now who are you heroes some I know would canonize
Those whose deeds entangle others in their own self sacrifice
Those who meet there fates believing human lives are not so dear
Meeting death with pride and purpose seeking out what others fear

Tell me now are these you heroes those who fear and yet still dare
When we all would free to safety here's the one who climbs the stairs
Here's the one who meets the danger facing death for workman's wage
Facing death for friend or stranger unremarked by history's page

Tell me now are these your heroes decent working folk who fought
And die in fire and dust and debris whatever hell some fool has wrought
Brave beyond romance or beauty brave whatever brings the day
Time to live and die for duty do the job and go away

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No One Wants to Meet a Skunk
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

I'm walking up your garden path; I want to be your friend;
I've been through this so many times I know how it will end.
Some just pretend that they're not in; Some sneak out the back.
I try to be a social beast But I don't have the knack.

I just want to make friends;
My Heart breaks anew each day.
No one wants to meet a skunk;
Everyone runs away.

Sometimes it seems I frighten folks; I'm baffled, I confess.
I try so very hard, and yet It's never a success.
Perhaps they think I'm poisonous; Maybe they think I bite.
I try to tell them that I won't; But still they think I might.

I Just want to make friends
I'm harmless and quite small;
No one wants to meet a skunk.
I don't understand at all.

Sometimes I've tried just sneaking up On tiptoe, but I've found
However silent in my tread, They know when I'm around.
However dark the night, they know That I am close at hand
Though I cannot be heard or seen; I just don't understand.

I just want to make friends
I'm doomed to live apart;
No one wants to meet a skunk.
Sometimes it breaks my heart.

I just want to make friends;
I've knocked; I've rung the bell.
No on wants to meet a skunk;
I turn and say farewell.

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Dachshundia
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

Dachshundia, Dachshundia, There's not a lot gets under ya.
Dachshundia, how proud your song; We are not high but we are long.
Proud people of the deepest brown, The way is up, the floor is down
The bowl of life, so sweet and deep, We sleep and eat; we eat and sleep.

Dachshundia, Dachshundia, Your people are rotundia
So brave are we, so strong of heart, Our head and tail so far apart.
Though danger looms, we will not shake; We will not even stay awake.
We do not fight as Rover does; Our enemies trip over us.

Dachshundia, Dachshundia, Proud nation of the tubular,
Our finest hour lies straight ahead; We've eaten; now it's time for bed
The sun may shine, the rain may fall; We do not like the snow at all,
And, greatest of our many cares, When we're aroused, we can't climb stairs.

Dachshundia, Dachshundia; Look down; you'll find it's under ya;
Dacshundia; beneath your skies I lay me down and close my eyes.

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Arnold
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

Arnold was an armadillo, in oh so in need of romance
That is chanced one Saturday evening Arnold went out to a dance.
The moment he walked in the room, he saw her as if he had known
She'd be there by the side of the stage, all he wanted, all in black, all alone.
She was there she was his dress to kill-o
If only his glasses where cleaner.
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.

He struggled to make conversation, he leap frogged from topic to topic
If only she'd say something back, if only he wasn't myopic
Bright silver buttons in rows, from head down to toes in black leather
Could this beauty love him here goes, poor Arnold thought its now or never.
He could picture her head on his pillow
He loved her the moment he'd seen her
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.

You can't help but feel for the lad-o, how happy poor Arnold would be
If he could make love in the shadows and no one but no one could see.
Alas what he thought might have been-o, a sweet secret was soured completely
Sex with a concertina is rarely accomplished discreetly.
The dancer stopped stripping the willow
Oh what a loud misdemeanor
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.

Picture love as a kind of concerto, poor Arnold his first was unfinished.
What let everyone who was there know, was a very loud C sharp diminished
Somebody said "Hey look its Arnold", and he ran from there scorn and their laughter
Into the darkness outside and never returned ever after.
Tales of lost love and dreams unfulfill-o
Cruel cupid you've never been meaner.
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
He was an armadillo she was a concertina.
 

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Can't Find My Invisibility Cloak
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

CHORUS:
It's a problem peculiar to wizards not one for the average bloke
I've looked and I've searched high and low can't find my invisibility cloak

You won't understand it you muggles no matter what spell I invoke
there isn't an end to my struggles can't find my invisibility cloak
I went to the shop for another once there the ship front I inspected
I couldn't see one in the window which was more or less what I expected

Chorus

I saw no one when I went inside but a voice in the nothingness spoke
so I gave her the jist of my problem can't find my invisibility cloak
I see that you wear one yourself may I ask the reason you use it
I suspected that she smiled, and she well if I take if off I might loose it.

Chorus

We may have just the thing for you i think there somewhere here
every time we put'em down the dang things disappear
I had'em all folded up neatly all sorted by size and style
they might be on the counter we haven't seen that for a while

Chorus

I suggested they may have been stolen perhaps filched by some rotter
who rides a nimbus two thousand you know who i mean Harry Potter
shop lifting always a problem some child will walk in with his cat
say he'd like to try one on we don't seem them again after that

Chorus

Stock takings never straight forward and buying one what could be dafter
I couldn't see anything I wanted exactly what I was after
I took it to the girl at the till and I shouted out "this is the one"!
I just put it down for a moment which with hind site I would not have done

Chorus

I left it on some near by shelf I paid for it I got it
I was absolutely beside myself but neither of us could spot it
shopping's no fun although it may be for ordinary folk
I say now as I did long ago I can't find my invisibility cloak

Chorus

I've looked and I've searched high and low
I can't find my invisibility cloak

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Last Incurable Romantic
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

Yesterday it seemed my love would last forever
In spite of all those games that lovers play,
The moods of love that change just like the weather,
The summer sun that swiftly turns to grey.
Why do they tell us all to hang on in there
When love becomes a trial to be endured,
A road that's all uphill and going nowhere?
The Last incurable romantic has been cured.

What is love but image and invention?
A lie; an abstract concept; just a word;
And though I've learned it too late for prevention,
The last incurable romantic has been cured.

When we think we've got it right, that's when it goes wrong;
Death, taxes, love gone wrong; three certainties;
Maybe I've just invented the unlove songs;
Don't want to play unhappy families.
Somehow I chose to think she loved me only;
From where I stood, my vision was absucred;
With all the loves she's known, she won't be lonely;
The last incurable romantic has been cured.

All those years I've wasted trusting foolish senses
To run with all the rest into the fray....
I've thrown away those old rose tinted lenses;
I'm celebrating independence day.
Think of it; it's hard to keep from laughter;
The deluded in search of the absurd,
The herd in search of happy ever after;
The last incurable romantic has been cured.

When eyes are washed with tears, they see much better;
This foolish heart has finally matured
And thrown aside its load of chains and fetters;
The last incurable romantic has been cured.
The last incurable romantic has been cured.

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Another Bloody Chorus
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

I detest folk songs, the one's that go on far too long
And as far as I can see are about how good this used to be
And just when you think nothing can get worse
You realize what comes after the verse.

CHORUS:
Another bloody chorus
Just like the one before.
Their sent by god to bore us
I'm not joining in anymore

I detest folk songs, the one's that go on far too long.
Ann then verse two comes rolling on and wishes fondly for verse one.
That bygone verse that we so miss
That we long for but what is this?

No!
Chorus

I detest folk songs, the one's that go on far too long.
And as move on to verse three verse one and two they where for me
This new verse is a dreadful beast
It means we are going to have at least.

No!
Chorus

I detest folk songs, the one's that go on far too long.
There's no coal miners anymore except the ones down in verse four
With pick and shovel down in a hole
What do they find a lump of coal?

No!
Chorus
Another bloody chorus
Just like the one before.
Their sent by god to bore us
I'm not ...

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History Man
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

Nobody listens to history man when he says its happened before
He'll tell of the weapon to terrible to use and its use in each war to end war
He'll tell of story of wars fought for peace and the sadness of the refugee
He'll tell you again what he told you before and he'll tell you what is going to be

Come sit at the feet of history man and he'll tell you where you came from
He'll tell of the weapon to terrible to use and he'll tell you of its use on the Somme
Nobody listens to history man for you all find his story to grim
The only man who listens is the man who sells war and everybody listens to him

The story he tells is his side of truth hear the rest from history man
He'll tell of the weapon to terrible to use and he'll tell you how it feel on Japan
Come take a walk where tomorrow has been to the wars to end of the past
Come and he'll show you the first day of peace is the day the canon are cast

Nobody listens the history man when he says who be rich and who'll die
He'll tell of the weapon to terrible to use and he'll tell you that we'll use it by and by
Nobody listens to history man no one hears the story he can tell
he tell of the weapon to terrible to use but never one too terrible to sell

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He Touches Me
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

He touches me; is that the way
I know that I'm on love?
He touches me and who's to say
Don't go and give you love?

I know they'll call me one more fool
Who knows that she's in love;
A child who's barley out of school
Love's cruel...but I'm in love;

He touches me like no one ever touched my soul before;
He touches me; we'll be together now and evermore.

He touches me; it feels so right,
So real, to feel this love;
My heart tells me this is the night
To share with him my love.

He touches me like no one ever touched my soul before;
He touches me; we'll be together now and evermore.

He touches me; is that the way
I know that I'm on love?
He touches me and who's to say
Don't go and give you love?

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Elect Me
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

Elect me; I'm the same as all the rest;
There's none of us will serve  your interest;
Just put a cross next to my name;
You might as well; we're all the same;
I think identical's the word that fits us best.

Blah Blah Blah Blah
Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah

Elect me; it's irrelevant, I know;
We come; we stay a while; and then we go;
By now you know what it's about;
You put me in; I sell you out;
You'll find we're all the equal lowest of the low.

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Elect me; I've spread stories in the press
That' I'm the only on who'll bring success;
All the others tell you lies,
So vote for me; you know it's wise
Cos I'm the one who tells you lies a little less.

Ya Da Ya Da
Yada Yada Yada Yada Yada

Elect me; I'm appealing to you greed;
I'll close down every service you might need;
I'll save you cash; I'll cut the cost
So you can pay for what you lost
With what you saved so you'll be very rich indeed

Wha Wha Wha Wha
Wha Wha Wha Whatever

Elect me and I promise you'll be screwed;
Is there a party with a different attitude?
I think you'll find you're prisoners;
We're all parties of big business;
We were yours when we were old; we've been renewed.

Elect me; I'm the same as all the rest;
There's none of us will serve  your interest;
Just put a cross next to my name;
You might as well; we're all the same;
I think identical's the word that fits us best.

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Places
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

There are places to be at evening,
With the light fading slowly away;
I've seen places no God would believe in
At the sweet golden end of the day.
Then behold ; all the gold turned to silver
With the light of the moon on the rise;
And we climbed to the top of the hill for
The chance to be part of these skies.

And behold; love has turned to grieving
On the hill overlooking the sea.
There are places for love and deceiving;
You gave both those pleasures to me.
There's a path through the woods to the water,
Where a fool goes in search of lost dreams,
For her time and her tears have not taught her
That love's not the treasure it seems.

There are places we shared together
On the path through the woods to the shore;
Empty spaces once full of forever
In the places we share no more.
I have walked on the shore when the evening
Is a tapestry spun from pure flame
And Imagined I've heard the world breathing
And the night softly call your name.

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That's Why I Bought All These Houses
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

My realtor is pretty
And her brain is razor sharp
And she plays the clarinet
And is most skilful on the harp.
Just to see her is a pleasure;
I’ve been seeing her a while
And her voice is soft and gentle;
She has such a pretty smile.

Oh the feelings of love she arouses;
That's why I've bought all these houses.

My realtor is sunshine
In a life so full of rain;
I can’t wait until tomorrow;
I’ll be seeing her again.
The house we’re going to visit
Is the last one in the street;
I have purchased all the others,
For she makes my life complete.

Oh the feelings of love she arouses;
That's why I've bought all these houses.

I have known her for six weeks
And I have purchased twenty three;
Though I’m nothing much to look at
I’m a man of property.
All my bank accounts are empty
But that’s such a little loss;
I’ve an awful lot of thresholds
I could carry her across.

Oh the feelings of love she arouses;
That’s why I’ve bought all these houses.

My realtor is pretty
And her eyes are soft and brown;
I’ve got houses in the country,
I’ve got houses in the town
And I have to buy another
And I need to do it soon
For you know I haven’t seen her
Since sometime this afternoon.

Oh the feelings of love she arouses;
That’s why I’ve bought all these houses.

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Go Stay Fetch
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

I’d always wanted a dog and so I took in a stray
He didn’t want to leave me and so I called him stay
I knew it was a mistake the first time I told stay to go
Go stay and I pointed but did stay go... No

CHORUS:
Go stay stay go
Why you don't know I don't know
go stay stay go
Why you don't know I don't know

Go stay i said and he started he was going and then he was not
He looked at me sad and confused two big eyes said wot
I threw him a stick i said fetch stay he started and stopped all in one
I never got round to come here stay stay couldn’t come he’d not gone

Chorus

He wanted to please but he couldn’t I spoke but he just didn’t know
So i got him a spaniel for company I shouldn’t have call it go
I said stay go go would stay a second then both stay and go were away
I’d have to shout come here stay and go they were coming and going all day

Chorus

I said stay go and stay i tried go stay and go nothing seemed to get through
Its not they were both saying no they were both saying does he mean you?
Its all very well in the park but what if we stood at the curb
Two lost souls in the dark which bloody one is the verb

Chorus

I’ve got them a new friend now I found him a poor starving wretch
I hope they’ll be very happy together go and stay come and meet fetch
(woof woof woof)!

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Remembrance
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

I want to tell you of a dream that came to me one night;
I dreamed I saw a monument, an arch of purest white,
The purest, whitest arch atop the longest marble wall;
I saw when I moved closer that it bore no words at all.

I heard a sound behind me; as I turned, I caught my breath;
I saw a hooded figure and I knew that it was Death.
“Do you like my piece of sculpture? Let me tell you what it’s for;
It’s just one more memorial to those who die in war.

It’s just one more memorial, like those in every town;
Once a year, you honour them; you stand with heads bowed down
In remembrance of the sacrifice of those who won’t come back
From Paschendael, Gallipolli, Vietnam and Iraq.

And so,” he said,”this monument; as yet it bears no text;
A monument remembering the war that’s coming next.
You’ll come here and you’ll read the names and touch the ones you know;
If ever you remembered.....you’d never let them go.

Look beside the wall; see, there’s a mason standing by
To carve the names of sons and daughters gone away to die.
If ever you remembered, he’d not carve ‘lest we forget’...
If ever you remembered; but you’ve not remembered yet.”

I woke and Death was gone; and I swore that very night
That I would build a monument; an arch of purest white;
The purest, whitest arch atop the longest marble wall;
And strive for all my life to see it bears no names at all.

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Time (Love Is Sweeter Now)
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

Lover is sweeter now, come the autumn,
When leaves are rattling upon the ground;
Nights grow longer as daylight shortens;
The time to take time lies all around.

Time, in passing, will bring experience;
And time was precious when it was new;
Turn back time; search your soul for innocence;
De tamps en temps cherche les temps perdu.

CHORUS:
April's still learning; by September she knows
October is golden and still blooms the rose.

Love is sweeter now, so sweet with knowledge;
Love's sometimes wasted upon the young;
Education don't end with college;
Some songs are sweeter the more they're sung.

Love' alive in sleepy suburbia
Let's go exploring the neighborhood;
Love's a fine place the more you learn of her;
There's time to make love; I think we should.

Chorus

Love is sweeter now; less overpowering;
And does not die, as the young suppose;
Love is sweeter when late in flowering;
Though late the hour, still blooms the rose.

Time has passed; time sometimes returns again;
De tamps en temps cherche les temps perdu.
Night descends and the candle burns again;
Time never ends and each time is new.
Time never ends and each time is new.

Chorus

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I Am a Journey
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

I am a journey;
I will not stop.
I am the road that climbs the mountain
Till it reaches to the top;
I am a journey
I am a journey
I am a journey
Reaching to the top.

I am a journey;
I wasted time,
But now I've found the right direction
And I know which hill to climb;
I am a journey
I am a journey
I am a journey
I know which hill to climb.

Don't need assistance;
Don't need the help I thought I did;
I've learned persistence;
I know the way; I tell you, kid....

I am a journey;

I'm on my way;
I am the road that climbs the mountain,
Getting closer every day;
I am a journey
I am a journey
I am a journey
Getting closer every day.

I am a journey
Getting closer everyday
I know which hill to climb
Till it reaches to the top.

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All Is Not Lost
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

I remember earning money put a face to every cent;
I know precisely how I earned them I just don't know where they went.
Its not hard to meet expenses there waiting by the door;
I meet them every morning then go out and meet some more.

CHORUS:
All is not lost; (clap) but I'm dammed if I can spot it;
All my not be lost but I am not the one's whose got it.
All is not lost (clap, clap clap, clap); but let me be clear;
All may not be lost (clap, clap); but none of it is here.

See the tall grass by my doorway where the world could beat a path,
It seems they only time they do it is the time I'm in the bath.
If at first you should succeed they say its best to hide the shock;
I tried to get a life once but they say there're out of stock.

Chorus

Someone's broken ever rung upon my ladder of success;
I started out with nothing now I've find I've rather less.
I've never been a driving force I've always been a cog;
I've always been the lamp post; I've never been the dog

Chorus

I'd like to make a comeback but I can't I'm in despair;
Because its hard to make a comeback when you've not been anywhere.
The buck will never stop here and neither will the pound;
Sometimes I see them briefly but they never hang around.

Chorus
All may not be lost (clap, clap); but none of it is here.

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Railroad Called Again
Music: Ken Galipeau
Lyrics: Les Barker

I said I won't leave again; I said those days where past.
This time was time to settle down; This time would be the last.
I said I 'd make a home with you; I said this time I'd stay.
This time you'd find me by your side; At dusk and dawning day.

CHORUS:
I thought the wonderlust had past;
When you wake you'll know.
The railroad called again last night.
I have to go.

Maybe I heard the L & N; Perhaps the Santa Fe;
I only know that when you wake; I'll be too far away.
I hear some G P 9 go crawling slow on rusty tracks;
Pulls me like a freight car; and I'll not be crawling back.

Chorus

I hear that lonesome train; I hear it calling follow me.
Whichever place I am is not the place I need to be.
I said I won't leave again; I wonder if you knew.
I wonder if you saw the lie: All though I thought it true.

Chorus
I have to go.
I have to go.

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