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FLY
Words & Music by James Webb © 2008. Son Of Jack WAM
Tell me your dreams,
Shadows of all the things,
You want to do.
Open your eyes,
Light the places we can go,
Just me and you.
I would fly a magic carpet,
Take you far as you want to go.
Then wrap you in my arms,
Sanctuary of souls.
Into your heart I’d pour my love,
From your words I’d make a song or rhyme.
If love can lift you up,
Darling fly.
V2 Let your desire,
Rest upon your eyes, your lips,
I’ll touch you there.
Your hand on mine,
Trembling of your heart,
Tells me you really care.
Unfold your impassioned wings,
Soar as high as you can go.
I’ll hold the solid ground,
While you liberate your soul.
Into your heart I’ll pour my love,
From your words I’ll make a song or rhyme.
If love can lift you up,
Darling fly.
A puzzled smile for ev’ry word I say,
Bemused that I might see you this way.
Just can’t believe that all these rhymes are true,
Meant perhaps for someone else not you.
Repeat Chorus
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2. |
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TOAST
Words & Music by James Webb © 2009 Son OF Jack WAM
Give you my shirt so you can sit up in bed,
To have breakfast.
Trusted your body to me in the night,
Now so modest.
Brush back the hair from your face, soft and cool,
A smile forming.
Tracing your lips I ask, “Would you like more?”
You look up and reply, “Just toast.”
I have never loved more,
Than the feeling I get when you’re here.
The longing to nurture you,
Body and soul, force majeure.
We get so little time so there’s candles and wine,
Gourmet food, it’s the best on the coast.
I go out of my way to impress you to stay,
But all I need to get right is your toast.
Last evening you sat with your drink,
While I prepared salmon.
Atmosphere electric,
Heavy with passion.
No more lost chances, I slid on one knee,
To my siren.
Lifted your hands to my lips, “Will you stay?”
You eased into a smile, “Is there toast?”
Repeat Chorus
Give you my shirt so you can sit up in bed,
To have breakfast.
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3. |
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WHAT ABOUT THAT
Words & Music by James Webb © Son Of Jack WAM 1986, 2019
What about, The good side of me?
What about, All the things you didn’t see?
What about, All I did for you?
What about that,
And what about that?
Did you think, She was prettier?
Did you think, She would love you more than I?
And did you think, We couldn’t work it out?
Now don’t you blame me,
You just didn’t try.
Big man wrote a letter, couldn’t say goodbye
Better run than to swallow his pride.
Hurtful words to justify he ain’t around.
A put-down I’m not going to put aside.
Now what about, I just let you go?
What about, I give it all to me?
And what about, I change the locks?
What about that? And what about that?
You could have made good,
So don’t blame me, you’re misunderstood
So, what about that?
Now it’s all about me.
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4. |
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I'M READY
Words & Music by James Webb © 2008 Son OF Jack WAM
Turned my back on love,
Burned by a woman, she did me wrong.
I faced the world alone,
Made up my mind to hold out strong.
But I didn’t see you coming,
Slipped under my guard,
And I was gone, gone, gone.
Maybe I’m ready this time,
Someone to take me on.
A couple of changes behind her, said I had to grow.
If I was willing to work on it, swore she wouldn’t go.
Did everything she asked me,
From the outside in, turned inside out,
But she left me a note, of the ties she’d unbound.
So I turned my back on love,
Trust and betrayal, that same old song.
Walked the road alone,
Telling my heart to hold out strong.
But I didn’t see you coming,
Slipped under my guard,
And I was gone, gone, gone.
Maybe I’m ready this time,
Someone to take me on.
Knew you well when I met you,
Well that’s how it seemed.
We dined down by the ocean,
All hope redeemed.
Now best of all is the music,
When you take my hand, when I hear you say
“I love you sweetheart, It’ll be OK”.
Well I had turned my back on love,
Trust and betrayal that same old song.
Walked the road alone,
Telling my heart to hold out strong.
But I didn’t see you coming,
Slipped under my guard,
And now I’m gone, gone, gone.
Now that I’m ready, are you?
Ready to take me on.
Now that I’m ready, my darling
Come on and take me on.
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5. |
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MAKE IT EASY
Words & Music by James Webb © 2009 Son Of Jack WAM
I was hurt once before, Spirit was crushed.
Got back on my feet, Ready to trust.
Then you sold me your dreams,
Carpets magic and flying.
Eyes wide awake to your lying.
Make it easy, easy for me,
No way out, no way out.
Long as you keep, keep holding on,
There’s no doubt, no way out.
I should tell you, tell you to go,
But I can’t, like I want.
You say you’ll do anything,
So make it easy for me.
I don’t want to hear,
Of chances we’ve lost.
Warm nights and full moons,
As if I don’t count the cost.
It was nobody’s fault,
Darling some things just happen.
We gave it our best,
Now it’s thanks for the ride and amen.
Repeat CHORUS
You say you’ll do anything,
So make it easy for me.
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6. |
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN
Words & Music by James Webb © 2008 Son Of Jack WAM
What does it mean,
When you hurt the one you love.
Echoes and dreams,
Words that withered the rose.
Were you out of your mind,
Crazy, out of control.
What were you thinking,
How couldn’t you know.
What it would mean,
When you hurt the one you love.
Made her cry,
Kept secrets from her.
Blamed herself,
For being deceived.
Why can’t she see,
That she’s the victim.
The villain in the picture is me.
To run or to stay,
Now you’ve hurt the one you love.
She’ll push you away,
But don’t you leave her alone.
So you picked the wrong time,
Or perhaps the wrong place,
Do something about it,
Before it’s too late.
That’s what it means,
When you hurt the one you love.
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7. |
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LINE IN THE SAND
Words and Music by James Webb © 2008
You take on too much.
Bets are down, ten to one,
You can’t keep it up.
You take on too much.
Heading for a breakdown if you,
Don’t give him up.
Life is not your own,
Everyone wants their part of you.
They don’t know what it takes.
Now your man wants even more.
Whatever happened to “never again”?
Draw a line in the sand.
Don’t be afraid, (2) Don’t be ashamed,
You can show your hand.
Go this far and no more.
You’ve got the power to say “no”,
To take a stand.
Draw a line,
In the sand.
You’ve got to let go.
The world can sort out
Its own overload.
Just let it go.
No Juliet to some
Lost Romeo.
Life is not your own,
Everyone wants their part of you.
They don’t know what it takes.
Now your man wants even more.
Whatever happened to “never again”?
Repeat CHORUS
Draw a line,
You’ve got to draw a line,
In the sand.
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8. |
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THE GARDEN
Words and Music by James Webb © 2019 Son Of Jack WAM
“It’s lovely”, she says,
As she climbs the path,
To where he stands.
Her arms wrap around,
His weary frame,
As she lifts her face to kiss him.
Standing amongst his tools,
And feeling older.
Recalls a life gone all wrong,
Then lets out a breath held too long,
And surrenders.
The colours cascade,
Dew drops shimmer,
As she passes by.
Gathers her blooms,
Pausing to embrace the morning sun.
Trailing behind
He dares not steal her moment.
Then she turns and offers her hand,
Their eyes meet,
At one where they stand,
And still he wonders.
“What do you see?”
The silent question he asks her.
Out of the darkness it echoes,
“Why chose me?”
Should he continue,
To be no more than his history.
Or better to be,
The man that she sees?
Better to be the man,
Better to be the man,
Better to be the man,
That she sees?
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9. |
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BRAND NEW STORY
Words & Music by James Webb © 2014 Son Of Jack WAM
Although I knew that it was over,
I searched beyond the final page.
No words appeared, not one single line.
The story ended, yours and mine.
Re-read chapters we had written,
Round in circles, unresolved.
You turned to me, said, ’Let’s start again.
Let’s write a brand new story without end.”
Just when I thought that it was over.
Close the library, lose the key.
You found within you, the words to set us free
Free to write a Brand New Story.
For ‘auld lang syne’, the bread I gave you.
Surprised you’d be so overcome.
“Con Te Partiro”, “L’amore sei tu”.
Toast and music helped to pull us through.
Repeat CHORUS
Brand new girl, Brand new Boy,
Free to write a Brand New Story
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10. |
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Burn Some Bridges
Music & Lyrics by James Webb, © 2012, Son Of Jack WAM
Again I’m walking out your door,
Heart in my hand, blood on the floor.
Chasing shadows into the night,
Easy to run, much harder to fight.
But soon you’ll waltz back, straight into my heart,
‘Till I believe that you’re the best I’ll ever get.
Time to end this circle dance,
Step out of line, no regret.
But the only way out is to burn some bridges.
Whatever it takes to reach the point of no return.
Explode the myth that I can’t live without you.
Light the fire and watch those bridges burn.
The lie that haunts you can’t be undone.
Look at us now, this mess we’ve become.
Truth and forgiveness, you say ‘No’.
Won’t let me in, won’t let me go.
Now she’s not like you, but I caught her eye,
More open in her loving words and gentle touch.
My heart astride the old and new,
Dreams at my feet turned to dust.
Now the only way out is to burn some bridges.
Whatever it takes to reach the point of no return.
Explode the myth that I can’t live without you.
Light the fire and watch those bridges burn.
Light the fire and watch those bridges burn.
Light the fire and watch those bridges burn.
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You're Never There
Music and Lyrics by James Webb (c) 2012 Son Of Jack WAM
I love you more than words can tell,
Countless the ways that I care.
I try but still can’t let you know,
How can I when you’re never there.
A blinding flash when stars collide,
I hold it in until you’re near.
A sudden music then you’re gone,
The darkness ringing in my ears.
Like a big family house standing empty,
A party I gave where no one came.
Long abandoned treasures,
Shadows in a junkyard,
A heart unguarded, unclaimed.
My world’s evolving every day,
So many things I need to share.
Reached out for someone, should have been you.
I would have but you’re never there.
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12. |
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MY BABY'S WORTH IT
Music & Lyrics by James Webb © 2015 Son Of Jack WAM
You ask me why I’m working late,
Don’t ever seem to take a break.
I’m making money,
To buy things for my Baby.
Well I don’t mind,
‘Cause my Baby’s worth it.
Baby says she don’t need a thing,
Since I bought her that golden ring.
Her smile is catching, // Her smile’s contagious,
See I’m grinning all over.
I do what it takes,
‘Cause my Baby’s worth it.
Says I should be free,
She’s got the blues and she’s a burden.
Tell her I should stay,
Share the load, ease the hurting.
Her hair is grey, it once was gold.
She worries ‘bout her looking old.
But I won’t buy that,
She is the queen of my castle.
Still give her the eye,
‘Cause my Baby’s worth it.
Still give her the eye,
‘Cause my Baby’s worth it.
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13. |
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CLOSER TO HEAVEN
Music and Lyrics by James Webb © 2014. Son Of Jack WAM
Heaven is to stand beside the ocean,
The wondrous breaching of a whale.
To walk a beach and climb the headland,
Like some Pacific castaway.
Heaven is to touch the peaks and ridges,
Where ancient forest meets the hazy blue
But as high as I may be,
Closer to heaven is sharing it with you.
Not sure if there’s a god somewhere,
And maybe love’s too good to be true.
But if the North Coast is truly paradise,
Then closer to heaven is sharing it with you.
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APPEARANCES
Music and Lyrics by James Webb © 2011 Son Of Jack WAM
You must walk behind her,
You are so much older.
Rachel knows what people think,
And she is so much younger.
She’ll meet you for breakfast,
When her man’s not awake yet.
You’re all strung out on caffeine,
While Rachel hedges her bets.
Making her man jealous,
But not enough to leave her.
Appearances.
Says she likes a scoundrel,
So you do your best to earn it.
As soon as people notice,
She’ll just treat you like a bastard.
But safe behind the curtains,
As if today her world might end
She’ll take you every way she can,
Then make it clear you’re just a friend.
She shows you her emptiness,
But the deal is you don’t notice.
Appearances.
Keeping up appearances,
Works so hard.
She says never let them see who you are,
Like in the school yard.
Who she is and what she seems,
The life she makes,
She takes from dreams.
He walks beside her,
Now she is so much older.
Wears her like a trophy,
Cause he is so much younger.
Her man left her years ago,
Truth fell out through the lying.
One more tale to spin and weave,
While gossips keep on buying.
Rachel knows how people think,
So she’ll give them something bolder.
Appearances.
Keeping up appearances,
Works so hard.
She says never let them see who you are,
Been that way since the school yard.
Who she is and what she seems,
The life she makes,
She takes from dreams.
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THE GIFT
Music & Lyrics by James Webb © 2016 Son Of Jack WAM
Asked what you wanted for Christmas,
Two weeks, and not a word in reply.
Hesitation was more than the answer,
Like the glisten in the corner of your eye.
Precious the life, yours but not to own,
Duty, the seed of a strangler tree.
Claims of the heart were one bridge too far,
Last car in the train was me.
As darkness stills the twilight chatter,
Flashes of doubt,
In the candle’s flicker.
What more could I have done?
When your night was at its darkest,
I was sleeping rough,
Beneath the arches.
Shopping bags were empty.
Held to the last, this precious gift,
Was to set you free.
Chocolate eggs in shells of gold,
Her hand in words on a card.
We did our best, no regrets,
Now it’s done, doesn’t seem that hard.
As darkness stills the twilight chatter,
Flashes of doubt,
In the candle’s flicker.
What more could I have done?
When her night was at its darkest,
I was sleeping rough,
Beneath the arches.
Shopping bags were empty.
Held to the last, this precious gift,
Was to set her free.
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This album had two streams to its final creation. After release of the Desperation album (2011), I kept on writing and producing concept tracks for songs and by 2019 had decided that many of them should be produced as an album. At the same time, having been also involved in live theatre, I was engaged by the thought of some of my musical theatre friends sharing the vocals. The songs mostly have an element of resolution or redemption in them, whether it's breaking free, a transition from darkness into light or simply spontaneous optimism.
The garden? Underlying the translation of all of these pieces into a finished product was the prior two years I spent creating a half-acre of garden as an act of love.
James Webb
April 2021
