The Express Office
(Traditional)
Performer(s): Paralee Weddington



The express office opened
When an old man worn in years
Entered, an' his tear worn face
Showed signs of grief an' tears
And as the clerk approached him
With trembling voice did say
I'm looking for my boy, sir
He's coming home today

O, you have made a slight mistake
For surely you must know
This is an express office, sir
An' not a town depot
An' if your boy is coming home
With smile the clerk did say
You'll find him with the passengers
At the station o'er the way

You do not understand me, sir
An' the old man shook his head
He's not coming home as a passenger
But by express instead
He's coming home to Mother
An' a tear fell as he said
He's coming in his casket, sir
He's coming to us dead

Just then a whistle pierced his ear
An express train, someone cried
The ole man rose in breathless haste
And quickly rushed outside
An' from the coach a long white box
Was lowered to the ground
The scenes were most heart rendering
To those who stood around

Don't handle it so rough boys
It contains our darling Jack
He went away, as you boys know
See how he's coming back
He broke his dear old Mother's heart
Her warning has come true
She told him he'd be brought back dead
When he joined the boys in Blue

Cat Food
Composer(s): Robert Fripp - Ian McDonald - Peter Sinfield
Performer(s): King Crimson
and multiple other artists



Lady Supermarket with an apple in her basket
Knocks in the manager's door
Grooning to the muzak from a speaker in shoe rack
Lays out her goods on the floor
Everything she's chosen is conveniently frozen
"Eat it and come back for more!"

Lady Window Shopper with a new one in the hopper
Whips up a chemical brew
Croaking to a neighbour while she polishes a sabre
Knows how to flavour a stew
Never need to worry with a tin of 'Hurri Curri'
"Poisoned especially for you!"

No use to complain
If you're caught out in the rain
Your mother's quite insane
Cat food cat food cat food again

Lady Yellow Stamper with a fillet in a hamper
Dying to finish the course
Goodies for the table with a fable on the label
Drowning in miracle sauce
Don't think I am that rude if I tell you that it's cat food
"Not even fit for a horse!"
Fripp, Sinfield, McDonald 

Fogyism
Composer(s): Ida Cox
Performer(s): Ida Cox



Why do people believe in some old sign?
Why do people believe in some old sign?
To hear a hoot owl holler, someone is surely dyin'

Some will break a mirror, cry bad luck for seven years
Some will break a mirror, cry bad luck for seven years
And if a black cat crosses them, they'll break right down in tears

To dream of muddy water, trouble is knockin' at your door
To dream of muddy water, trouble is knockin' at your door
Your man is sure to leave you, and never return no more

When your man come home evil, tell you you are getting old
When your man come home evil, tell you you are getting old
That's a true sign he's got someone else bakin' his jelly roll

The Exodus Song (This Land Is Mine)
((Adapted from: Exodus (Ernest Gold) - 1960))
((French Version: Exodus (Edith Piaf) - 1961))
Composer(s): Ernest Gold - Pat Boone
Performer(s): Pat Boone - 1961
and multiple other artists



This land is mine, God gave this land to me
This brave and ancient land to me
And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plain
Then I see a land where children can run free

So take my hand and walk this land with me
And walk this lovely land with me
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
With the help of God, I know I can be strong

Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
With the help of God, I know I can be strong

To make this land our home
If I must fight, I'll fight to make this land our own
Until I die, this land is mine

Cat Fever
Composer(s): Bill Payne - Lowell George
Performer(s): Little Feat



Livin' in strange dreams
Takin' prescribed medication
Where will i take me, where will it take me
My vision's all marred by a careless
Chance visit on the part of me

Cat fever, I got cat fever
My breathin is harder sittin in back of the theatre
When will he make
Forgot about fixin the leak in my faucet
What come over me
I'll let my dogs loose prayin' that they
Will protect me
Give me a bullet, one silver bullet
I won't let them get me 'cause those
Demon figures are after me
Cat fever, I got cat fever 

Foggy River
Composer(s): Fred Rose
Performer(s): Don Gibson;
and various other artists



Your love is colder than a foggy river
Flowing o'er a heart of stone
You left me stranded on this foggy river 
Drifting helpless and alone
Can't escape this broken heart of mine 
There's no freedom anymore
Oh heaven help me on this foggy river 
Help me find the distant shore

There's no tomorrow on this foggy river 
Only mem'ries linger on
A mist of sorrow chills this foggy river 
Everything I love is gone
Always knew some day you'd let me down 
I've got troubles on my mind
I guess I'm doomed to sail this foggy river 
Till I leave your love behind

Everglades
Composer(s): Harlan Howard
Performer(s): The Kingston Trio
and multiple other artists



He was born and raised around Jacksonville
A nice young man not the kind to kill
But the jealous fight and a flashing blade
Sent him on the run through the Everglades
Runnin' like the dog through the Everglades
Now the posse went in and they came back out
And said he'll die and there ain't no doubt
It's an eye for an eye the debt is paid
You won't last long in the Everglades
A man can't live in the everglades
Where a man can hide and never be found
And have no fear of the baying hounds
But he better keep movin' and don't stand still
If the skeeters don't get him in Gatersville
If the skeeters don't get him in the Gatersville

Now the years went by and his girl was wed
His family gave him up for dead
Now and then the natives would say
They'd seen him a runnin' through the Everglades
Runnin' like the dog through the Everglades
Now he never heard the news on the radio
He was deep in the glades and he'll never know
He's runnin' and a hidin' and didn't make much sense
The jury had ruled it was self-defence
The jury had ruled it was self-defence
Where a man can hide...

Cat Black (The Wizard's Hat)
Composer(s): Marc Bolan
Performer(s): Marc Bolan & T. Rex



Cat black the wizard's hat 
Spun in lore from Dagamoor 
The skull of jade was pearl inlaid 
The silks, skin spun, repelled the Sun 
A tusk of boar with dwarfish awe 
Sobs on the door where stood before 
A mountain man with sky-blue teeth 
Upon his head a python's wreath 
A deer he slew in the dawning's dew 
Her heart was a dagger for a murderer's brew

A toad of jet on a sill cast in brass 
Portrayed for his sight mysteries of the past 
A yellow orphan dancer rich in Nature's costly gold 
Wept for the jailer of time to bless her old 
But his kiss he held and shadowed for the spell of nights are strong 
And spiralled like a whirlwind in the childhood of a song 

Cat black the wizard's back 
Daubed in doom in his tounge tombed room 
We of the wind must rejoice and speak 
And kiss all our starbrowed brothers on the cheek 

Foggy Notion
Composer(s): Sterling Morrison; Lou Reed;
Maureen Tucker; Hy Weiss; Doug Yule
Performer(s): 
The Velvet Underground; Downbeat 5; 
Echo & The Bunnymen; The Modern Lovers; Joe Viglione



She's over by the corner
Got her hands by her sides
They hit her harder harder harder
Till they thought she might die

Well I got a foggy notion, do it again
Over by the corner, do it again
I got my calomine lotion baby, do it again
I got a foggy notion, do it again

She made me do something that I never did before
I rushed right down to a flower store
I bought her a boundle a beautiful batch
Dont't you know something, she sent 'em right back

Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae
Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae

Eve Of The War
Composer(s): Jeff Wayne
Performer(s): Jeff Wayne
and multiple other artists



The Coming of the Martians

The Eve Of The War
Journalist: 
No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century 
that human affairs were being watch from the timeless worlds of space 
No one could have dreamed we were being scrutinized 
as someone with a microscope studies creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water 
Few men even considered the possibility of life on other planets and yet, across the gulf of space 
minds immeasurably superior to our regarded this Earth with envious eyes 
and slowly and surely, they drew their plans against us

At midnite on the twelfth of August, a huge mass of luminous gas erupted from Mars and sped towards Earth 
Across two hundred million miles of void, invisibly hurtling towards us 
came the first of the missiles that were to bring so much calamity to Earth 
As I watched, there was another jet of gas 
it was another missle, starting on its way

And that's how it was for the next the next ten nights 
A flare, spurting out from Mars - bright green, drawing a green mist behind it - a beautiful, but somehow disturbing sight 
Ogilvy, the astronomer, assured me we were in no danger 
he was convinced there could be no living thing on that remote, forbidding planet

"The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one," he said

"The changes of anything coming from Mars are a million to one-but still they come!"

Journalist: 
Then came the night the first missile approached Earth 
It was thought to be an ordinary falling star, but the next day there was a huge crater in the middle of the Common 
and Ogilvy came to examine what lay there: a cylinder, thirty yards across, glowing hot...
and with faint sounds of movement coming from with

Suddenly the top began moving, rotating, unscrewing, and Ogilvy feared there was a man inside, trying to escape 
He rushed to the cylinder, but the intense heat stopped him before he could burn himself on the metal

"The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one," he said

"The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one - but still they come!"

It seems totally incredible to me now that everyone spent that evening as though it were just like any other

From the railway station came the sound of shunting trains, ringing the rumbling, softened almost into melody by the distance

It all seemed so safe and tranquil

Casual Conversations
Composer(s): Rick Davies - Roger Hodgson
Performer(s): Supertramp



It doesn't matter what I say
You never listen anyway
Just don't know what you're looking for

Imagination's all I have
But ever then you say it's bad
Just can't see why we disagree

Casual conversations how they bore me
They go on and on endlessly
But no matter what I say
You ignore me anyway
I might as well talk in my sleep (I could weep)

You try to make me feel so small
Until there's nothing left at all
Why go on? Just hoping that we'll get along

There's no communication left between us
But is it me or you who's to blame?
There's nothing I can do, yes you're fading out of view
Don't know if I feel joy or pain

And now it's all been said
If you must leave then go ahead
Should feel sad
But I really believe that I'm glad
Yes I really believe that I'm glad

Foggy Mental Breakdown
Composer(s): Larry Byrom; John Kay
Performer(s): Steppenwolf



Hear me holler down the mountain side
I'm near the sky blinking at the evil eye
Hear me holler at the city's grind
It stole my soul just about lost my mind

Let the loneliness roll in 
Like the foggy mountain dew
Wipe the madness from my eye 
'Till my anger slowly dies
When the shadow play begins
I'll be watching thru the night
'Till I find myself again

Hear me holler cross the sea of light 
It took my dream and smashed it 'gainst the night
Hear me holler at the town below
Got nothing left to make me stay and no place left to go

Let the loneliness roll in 
Like the foggy mountain dew
Wipe the madness from my eye 
'Till my anger slowly dies
When the shadow play begins
I'll be watching thru the night
'Till I find myself again

The Equestrian Statue
Composer(s): Neil Innes
Performer(s): The Bonzo Dog Band



There once was a very famous man 
On his famous horse he'd ride through the land 
The people used to see him everywhere 
When he died, they put a statue in the square 

(hooray) 

Here comes the Equestrian Statue 
Prancing up and down the square 
Little old ladies stop 'n' say 
"Well, I declare!" 

Once a month on a Friday there's a man 
With a mop and bucket in his hand 
To him it's just another working day 
So he whistles as he rubs and scrubs away 

(hooray) 

Here comes the Equestrian Statue 
Prancing up and down the square 
Little old ladies stop 'n' say 
"Well, I declare!" 

It's a sight to bring you joy, you feel so gay 
And it's guaranteed to brighten up your day 
If it's gray 

(hooray) 

Here comes the Equestrian Statue 
Prancing up and down the square 
Little old ladies stop 'n' say 
"Well, I declare!" 

It's a sight to bring you joy, you feel so gay 
And it's guaranteed to brighten up your day 
If it's gray 

Feel so gay 
Feel so gay 
Feel so gay 
Feel so gay 
Feel so gay

Castles Made Of Sand
Composer(s): Jimi Hendrix
First release by: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - 1967
Covered by multiple other artists



Down the street you can hear her scream 'you're a disgrace'
as she slams the door in his drunken face
And now he stands outside 
and all the neighbours start to gossip and drool

He cries 'oh girl, you must be mad 
what happened to the sweet love you and me had?'
Against the door he leans and starts a scene 
and his tears fall and burn the garden green

And so castles made of sand fall in the sea, eventually

A little Indian brave who before he was ten 
played war games in the woods with his Indian friends
And he built a dream that when he grew up 
he would be a fearless warrior Indian Chief
Many moons passed and more the dream grew strong
until tomorrow he would sing his first war song and fight his first battle
But something went wrong, surprise attack killed him in his sleep that night

And so castles made of sand, melt into the sea, eventually

There was a young girl, whose heart was a frown
'cause she was crippled for life, and she couldn't speak a sound

And she wished and prayed she could stop living, so she decided to die
She drew her wheel chair to the edge of the shore
and to her legs she smiled 'you won't hurt me no more'
But then a sight she'd never seen made her jump and say
'Look, a golden winged ship is passing my way'
And it really didn't have to stop, it just kept on going

And so castles made of sand, slip into the sea, eventually

Fofoca
Composer(s): Hermeto Paschoal
Performer(s): Raimundo Fagner



Toda pessoa que mente
Não olha direito na gente
Desconfia de todos
Fingindo estar contente

E quando encontra alguém
De quem fez fofoca também
Mudo de assunto na hora
Nem jeito de andar não tem

Inventa sempre uma história
Que não convence a ninguém
Um dia cai do cavalo
Porque não vale um vintém

A mentira é passageira
E a verdade é de quem tem
Fica nesse vai e vem
A verdade é de quem tem
A fofoca acabou
Fica lá que eu já me vou

The Entertainer
Composer(s): Tony Clarke
Performer(s): Tony Clarke



You're the entertainer, the entertainer
You're the entertainer, the entertainer

You made 'em laugh, and you left 'em feelin' glad
You made 'em cry, and you left 'em feelin' sad
They've seen you perform in so many plays
But they're not to know you're unhappy today

So they'll never know, go on with the show
'Cause, You're the entertainer, the entertainer
You're the entertainer, the entertainer

The curtain's up, and your audience is waiting out there
Now walk on stage, boy, like you don't have a care
And don't let 'em know that you're feelin' so low
Since your girl put you down, you're a sad-hearted clown

But the show must go on, go on and on
'Cause, You're the entertainer, the entertainer
You're the entertainer, the entertainer, yeah

Now hear that applause, now you know you made the grade
You fooled them well, for the money they paid
Now walk off in style, and don't forget to smile
Though your heart tells you, "frown" you can't let the people down

Sure your one girl has gone, but you've got to walk on
When, you're the entertainer, tell yourself
(the entertainer)
You're the entertainer, you know, you can do it
(the entertainer)
You're the entertainer, walk on, in style now
(the entertainer)
You're the entertainer, come on, in style now
(the entertainer)
You're the entertainer, come on, in style now
(the entertainer)...

Castles In The Air
Composer(s): Don McLean
Performer(s): Don McLean; Celtic Thunder; George Hamilton IV



And if she asks you why, you can tell her that I told you
That I'm tired of castles in the air
I've got a dream I want the world to share
And castle walls just lead me to despair

Hills of forest green where the mountains touch the sky
A dream come true, I'll live there till I die
I'm asking you to say my last goodbye
The love we knew ain't worth another try

Save me from all the trouble and the pain
I know I'm weak, but I can't face that girl again
Tell her the reasons why I can't remain
Perhaps she'll understand if you tell it to her plain
But how can words express the feel of sunlight in the morning
In the hills, away from city strife
I need a country woman for my wife
I'm city born, but I love the country life

For I cannot be part of the cocktail generation
Partners waltz, devoid of all romance
The music plays and everyone must dance
I'm bowing out 
I need a second chance

Save me from all the trouble and the pain
I know I'm weak, but I can't face that girl again
Tell her the reasons why I can't remain
Perhaps she'll understand if you tell it to her plain

And if she asks you why, you can tell her that I told you
That I'm tired of castles in the air
I've got a dream I want the world to share
And castle walls just lead me to despair

Fodder On Her Wings
Composer(s): Nina Simone
Performer(s): Nina Simone; Vic Chesnutt



A bird fell to earth
Reincarnated from her birth
She had fodder in her wings
She had dust inside her brains
She flitted here and there
United States, Switzerland, France, England, everywhere
With fodder in her wings
And dust inside her brains
Oh how sad
Oh how sad
Oh how sad

She watched the people how they lived
They'd forgotten how to give
They had fodder in their brains
They had dust inside their wings

She watched them how they tried to live
They'd forgotten how to give
They had fodder in their wings
They had dust inside their brains
Oh how sad
Oh how sad
Oh how sad

A bird fell to earth
Reincarnated from her birth
She had fodder in her wings
She had dust inside her brains
She flitted here and there
United States, France, England, everywhere
With fodder in her wings
And dust inside her brains
Oh how sad
Oh how sad
Oh how sad

She watched the people how they lived
They'd forgotten how to give
They had fodder in their wings
They had dust inside their brains

She watched them how they tried to live
They'd forgotten how to give
They had fodder in their wings
They had dust inside their brains
Quel pays
Quel pays
Quel pays

The English Roses
Composer(s): Chrissie Hynde
Performer(s): The Pretenders



Just before it rains
The wind whips 'round the balcony
And the sky closes on the English roses
And she'll be pacin'
'round and 'round and 'round and 'round her room
These storms always find here to remind her

To the endless sky
The pink over grey
She looks for an answer
But it's too late
Maybe it's true
Some things were just never meant to be
Maybe not

This is a story
Fruit cut from the vine
Forgot and left to rot
Long before its time
This is a story
About the girl who lived next door
Looking for someone to hold

A wish made on a star
Brought her here tonight
At a courtyard she waits
A thousand broken dates
But she holds the hymnal
Where so carefully pressed
Is the english rose she laid to rest

It's only a story
Flowers in full bloom
Bouquets in every room
Ooh, this is a story
Fruit cut from the vine
Looking for someone to hold

Castle Walls
Composer(s): Dennis DeYoung
Performer(s): Styx



Once in a dream
Far beyond these castle walls
Down by the bay where the
Moonlit water falls
I stood alone while the minstrel sang his song
So afraid I'd lost my soul

There in the fog his song kept calling me
Leading me on with its haunting melody
Deep in my heart a voice kept echoing
I knew I'd soon be wandering

Far beyond these castle walls
Where the distant harbour meets the sky
There the battle rages like hell
And every dove had lost its will to fly

Far beyond these castle walls
Where I thought I heard Tiresias say
Life is never what it seems
And every man must meet his destiny