IRONBARK LYRICS

HIGHER GROUND

Bitter in the belly, sweet on the tongue
pick up the pieces gonna tell someone
wind blows gentle and the wind blows warm
carry me on to the eye of the storm
water is rising it's an awful sound
carry my feet to the higher ground

I don't know but I been told
It takes a whole lotta diggin for an ounce of gold
Ounce of gold don't buy no bread
Everybody sleeping in a strangers bed
Water is rising it's an awful sound
Carry my feet to the higher ground

foot on the sea, foot on the land
loud as a lion with a book in your hand
I ain't singing in the lukewarm choir
Standing on the world with your legs on fire
time no more it's an awful sound
carry my feet to the higher ground

Written by Josh Cunningham

NOT THE LONELY

You can say what you want about him
You can sing words of spite and untruth
But I know that you can live without him
And you know that he’ll do alright without you

Believing life goes the way that you want it
Foolish hearts put it all on the line
Now you spend your days feeling sullen and empty
And he’s doin fine.
But you are so lonesome you could cry

Still your heart skips four steps for him
And your mind spins like a ferris wheel
But you’ve got to know when over is over
Though it’s hard you’ve got to let him go

To some love blows in on a gentle breeze
To others love is like a desert in the summertime
You wanted yours to be easy
Without any soul without sacrifice

Lift your head and your heart it will follow
Can’t be that bad when the wrong one shuts the door
Get back in the fray your bound to be drawn to another
But this time you’ll be the one he’s looking for
You’ll be the one and the only
Not the lonely

Written by V.Thorn/D.Simpson

I WON'T GO DOWN

Silver dagger lightning slashed the sky
Its Crooked tongue was telling crooked lies
Blood flowed down in a bitter driving rain
As I stand upon the sand I feel the pain

Savage ocean pounded patient shore
Like a jealous lover trying to feel secure
But the sand withstands it don't admit defeat
And on the turning tide
The angry waves retreat

I won't go down
I won't go down
I won't go do-o-wn

Demon wind was howling threats and hate
It's salty spray was spitting in my face
Without something firm to stand upon
I'd be here one minute and the next be gone

I won't go down
I won't go down
I won't go do-o-wn

Storm as big as a mountain range
Coming down - heavy, strange
I perish Lord you know I will
A voice it whispers
"Peace, be still"

The dying sun was all but laid to rest
But for the remnant of
Some gunfight in the west
Goodbye's never easy don't I know
But these fingernails are finally letting go

I won't go down
I won't go down
I won't go do-o-wn
Without a fight

Fading distant fireworks display
Is growing silent as the fury rolls away
Shooting stars are dancing up on high
They ask me
"May I have this dance before we die?"

I won't go down
I won't go down
I won't go do-o-wn
Without a fight

Written by Josh Cunningham

IMPORTANT THINGS

Caught up in these changing times
True happiness is hard to find
Everybody wants to do what they wanna do

This world is so unkind
There's no safety for a heart like mine
Everybody's trying to get what they can from you

Important things before
Don't seem to matter anymore
We stumble our way through

Now everything is turning blue
Nobody's looking out for you
People only want to do what they want to do

Important things before
Don't seem to matter anymore
We fight our way on through

All alone you sit behind closed doors
You treat the symptom but not the cause
Doesn't anybody really want to find a cure

People now they say what's right for me
It's my own truth so let it be
But wouldn't it be easier with a common view

Important things before
Need to matter even more
I believe that's true...

Written by Josh Cunningham

LION AND GAZELLE

What brought them both together
Light as lace tough as leather
He had a hunger insatiable
And instinct overruled his will
To hunt her down and make the kill

But she was fast
It was her gift
Jumps so high a gait so swift
To her it merely was a game
To run him around to not be slain
To send him back from whence he came

Oh lion and gazelle

Bound with the strength of many men
Captive in the lions den
He prowls and roars above his prize
Her fear won’t look him in the eye
Victorious the beast he knows
His love for her will let her go
His instincts overrule his will
To hunt her down and make the kill
And she will not ever know why
He let her run he let her fly
Young love under a broken sky
The lion and gazelle

Written by Vikki Thorn

DONE AND DUSTED

Love’s done and dusted, that ship has sailed
Loves done and dusted, I’m on my way
Loves done and dusted, going to spread my wings
Going to sail away see what fortune brings

I’m going to sing, sing, sing me away
I’m going to sing, sing, sing me away

I’m on the ocean, big wide and blue
I’m on the ocean, shed no more tears for you
I’m on the ocean,
neath threatening skies
Gonna to sail away, sail me to paradise.

I’m going to sing, sing, sing me away
I’m going to sing, sing, sing me away

Love is done and dusted left upon the shore
Love is done and dusted, I won’t sail with him no more
Love is done and dusted, I am going to steer my fate
Love is done and dusted, see what treasures await

I’m going to sing, sing, sing me away
I’m going to sing, sing, sing me away

Love’s done and dusted that ship has sailed
Loves done and dusted I’m on my way
Loves done and dusted Going to spread my wings
Going to sail away see what fortune brings

Written by Donna Simpson

DIRTY LITTLE BIRD

A night so still , silent the Whippoorwill
And down by the river a sweet moaning can be heard
A moon so thin, milk on their skin
Whispering betrayal
Love’s a dirty little bird

He’s a dirty little bird with dirty little wings
That fly across the night on high to other pretty things
Down by the river, sweet moaning can be heard
It’s telling me my love’s a dirty little bird

It was long ago I was young and fine
When he took me by the hand and promised that his heart’d be mine
We prayed for a son, I could bear him none
Barren and bitter love’s a dirty little bird

He’s a dirty little bird with dirty little claws
That prance and creep and pleasure seek
Behind the bedroom doors
And he gives out all the tenderness I yearn
My love’s a dirty little bird

Dirty little birds got dirty little eyes
That bare my soul -it’s a heavy toll
And tell me I should wise up and heed all the lessons I could learn
My love’s a dirty little bird

A womans heart can be broken some
And her mind and her spirit they will see her overcome
But break a womans pride and woe to you
You’d better go and grab your gun man
There‘s no telling what she’ll do

Dirty little birds got dirty little beaks
That peck and pry the wretched lies
For revenge that they seek
And she’s walking down the path of no return
Woe to that Dirty Little bird

You take my heart and you take my time
You leave my soul without grace or pride
You take what’s yours and you break what’s mine
You take and you take

Dirty little bird got dirty little wings
That fly across the night on high to other pretty things
Down by the river sweet moaning can be heard
It’s telling me
My love’s a dirty little bird

Written by Vikki Thorn

GRAND PLANS

All our grand plans
Built on quicksand
Washing away
Washing away
Oh my love

Floods of strong words
Rising deep hurts
Washing away
Washing away
All my love

You can bathe in the water
And never be clean
From the dirt that is hidden inside
You can polish your cup
So the outside gleams
Til the outside's one big gleaming lie

Water on stone
Steady and long
Wearing away
Wearing away
All my love

You can drink from the fountain
And walk away dry
You can drink and not be satisfied
There's a fountain of water
Waiting to burst free
From deep in you
Clear and alive

Healing river
Living water
Can cleanse every stain
The stench and the shame
Oh my love

Let's go down to that river
Sink our roots in the ground
Til we drink from that water of life
Let it drench every part
Of our dry thirsting hearts
Let it quench all that longing and pride

Til those grand plans
In the storms stand
Won't wash away
Won't wash away
Oh my love
Won't wash away
Won't wash away
Oh my love

Written by Josh Cunningham

SOMETHING'S COMING

Something’s comin round the bend
I don’t know what it is and I don’t know when
But somethings comin round

Ain’t nothing knowing it’s just a feeling inside
I carry no fear and I have nothing to hide

Love will move mountains if you give it away
It flows like a river down unto rest in grace

What’s in your heart that you won’t listen to
Speak not a word, hear how it talks to you

Best you get ready it will be here soon
I’ll sing it in with this high lonesome tune

Written by Vikki Thorn

SYRIA

Nails and bombs and dying son, daughter is nearly three
Give a man my coin, take a boat with my family
I’ve heard all about the sunshine, but all I see is rain, rain, rain
Raining bombs upon our home cannot return again

What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do.
When everything’s been taken from you
What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do.
Nails and bombs and a dying son, what’s a man to do.

I know nothing about the ocean, I’ve been reared a farming man
Head up above the water until your feet hit the sand
We’re floating in the darkness , now they are talking about tides , tides , tides
I’ve got everything to lose my wife and children by my side

What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do.
When everything has been taken from you
What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do.
Nails and bombs and a dying son, what’s a man to do.

Life’s my God given right, God damn this holy war
Don’t know who they are fighting against, don’t know who they are fighting for
I Spend my time praying to God, praying for peace, peace, peace..
What’s the use of praying to God if my God ain’t hearing me

What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do.
When everything has been taken from you
What’s a man to do, what’s a man to do.
Nails and bombs and a dying son, what’s a man to do.

Pray,pray, pray….

Written by Donna Simpson

AMAZING EVERYTHING

There’s a sound rising up and it wants to be heard
It’s a melody , it’s a cry out , a last breathe or just a word
A symphony for all to come and all to which we cling

Somewhere, everywhere, here and now
It can be sung out loud and proud
A tool to overcome and resonate in every heart and rival heavens ring
Amazing Everything

Slow down take all this beauty in
Let it seep into your soul
Let it heal you from within
Be complete in who you are and leave behind all you have been

I want to ride through the wilds of your heart
Through the forest of your being
I want to know who you are
And understand that I am what I take and what I bring

Amazing everything

Written by Vikki Thorn

THE SHACK

When I grew up my family lived in a shack
Mum and Dad and my brother and sister and me all in a one room shack
We didn't care about material things we lacked
There was lots of love in that tiny shack

Where I grew up we caught our water in a tank
We heated it in an old copper on a 44 gallon drum with a fire inside
And on cold winter nights we'd sit around warming our hands as the flames crackled and hissed
We didn't have any television you see
No telephone, no electricity
We had to occupy ourselves in other ways Reading, writing, conversation
There were stories told and jokes cracked
We didn't want for anything - we had it all
Love and laughter filled that tiny shack

And then one day I found an old guitar tucked away in the corner of the shack
And that first note I plucked was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard
Even though the strings were old and black
So I taught myself how to play that old guitar
And my life was changed forever - no turning back
Love, laughter, and now music filled our shack

That one room shack, the council could have condemned it as a place not fit to live
"A one room shack with no modern conveniences" they could have said
"That's no place to raise your kids"
But if they ever tried to do it I would have told them a thing or two
Cos' that one room shack with no modern conveniences was the finest home I knew And sure there were things that we missed out on by not living in the town
But the townsfolk missed out too
Cos' out here with no distractions around
The important things get through...

Written by Josh Cunningham

LONG WAY FROM HOME

This chill in the air tonight tells me that summer is coming to an end
I know where you’ll be when the weather turns cold out here
You’ll be out on the water drifting quiet
On some unbridled sea
On your own

This fire has burned down to ashes that I sift through for memories of you
I’m trying to recall the words to the songs you used to play
These guitar strings are ringing clear tonight but the songs don’t sound the same Now that I’m all grown
And a long way from Home

You just can’t deny what runs through your blood
It’s hard to leave behind people you love

You were both so young and I wonder did you find it hard like I do
When you’re shouldering the sky, carrying the days
Doing what it takes to get you through
The love I have surrounding me fills me with a warmth that burns inside
I’ve got all that I need right here.
But the bent of my mind it holds me bound on the way I feel tonight
All Alone
And a long way from home

Written by Vikki Thorn

SONG FOR JACQUELINE

Some music drips like honey
Sweet into your ear
Sure to make your troubles go
Every new day makes the darkness disappear
You're the song that soothes my soul
 
You're the song that soothes my soul
Sweet and steady pure and clear
A melody to make my broken spirit whole
You're the song that soothes my soul

And there's some music gets down deep inside of you
Its' arrow flies straight to your core
Sounding harmonies and chords you never knew
Til' you're different than before

You're the song that soothes my soul
Sweet and steady, pure and clear
A melody to make my broken spirit whole
You're the song that soothes my soul
I heard you're music before I ever spoke to you
It was a window to your soul
Before you looked at me or I'd laid eyes on you
I knew you were beautiful

You're the song that soothes my soul
Sweet and steady, pure and clear
A melody to make my broken spirit whole
You're the song that soothes my soul

Written by Josh Cunningham

STANDING STRONG

Don’t take this away from me baby.
Cause I feel it all tonight
Your eyes tell that I’m home
But I feel like a stranger under these Northern Skies
I feel like a stranger

Our blood lies in this here sand
Buried down under the sheoak trees
Young boys will grow into men
And stand strong against the buffeting winds
See them standing strong

So don’t take it away from me
Cause I feel it all tonight
Your eyes tell me that I’m home
And I wont feel like a stranger

There was something divine in the way we met
In a distant isle on a leaking boat
We sang songs under conspiring stars
They hatched a plan and sent us far apart
8 years go by and you walk through the door
My life was in a mess my heart was on the floor
You lifted it up and that’s how I knew
I was meant to be with you

Don’t take it away from me
Cause we’re standing strong

Written by Vikki Thorn

SUGAR MAMA

I wasn’t born with much, I married a million bucks
I buried husbands one, two, three
I pawned all the glass, copper, gold and brass,
and now I am richer than I have ever been
So boys lets get high from jumping up and down
Sugar Mama heres going to get you high
A few dollar bills can get an old man killed and I will be richer than I have ever been again

I swing, I sway, I am spending up everyday, rolling in my caddy, furs and fines
All the boys like to dance hoping for a chance that sugar mama here will catch his eye
So I grab me a man in a fine suit if I can,
Marry that fine man straight away,
A little coffee and some pills will get an old man killed
And I will be richer than I ‘ve ever been again
So boys lets get high, sugar mama is out to play, we got Hokum Blues and cocaine
Just a few dollar bills can get an old man killed
And I will be richer than I‘ve ever been again……
And I will be richer than I‘ve ever been again……
And I will be richer than I‘ve ever been again……

Written by Donna Simpson

DON'T YOU EVER FEEL

Did you ever stop to wonder about the choices that you were making
That every path you ever walked led to where you’re standing here and now
The shame of it all it was your heart that you were breaking
When your desires are stronger than your will it leaves you broken down
Broke and down

Did you ever love somebody so hard that you broke them
And when you tried to pick up the pieces all that was left was scattered around
All you had to do was say the words that you left unspoken
The kind of gentle words that live inside but can’t always be found
Find them now

Don’t you ever feel sometimes don’t you ever feel

Did you ever wake to a sun that was rising for you only
To a day that asked for nothing and promised nothing in return
Where all that emptiness wasn’t the kind that left you feeling lonely
More the kind that said you’ve got to open up your heart to live and learn
Live and Learn

Written by Vikki Thorn

TAKE ME TO TOWN

Someone’s got to wear a dress around here
It can’t all be dust and desert highways
Someone’s got to turn this town on it’s ear
Give folks an excuse for looking sideways

It can’t all be blue jeans and leather
In this kind of weather
A girl has got to feel a little breeze between her thighs
So baby put that hammer down
Your taking me to town
and I’ll be wearing this dress for you tonight

Someone’s got to let their hair down once in a while
It can’t just be work and resting Sundays
A little dancing and singing all through the night
You know the kind of hell we used to raise
So take this body in a hold
Before we get too old I’ll put on my heels and start scuffing up the floor
Oh baby cut the engines now
Your taking me to town
I’ll be letting my hair down for you tonight

A place like this gets into your bones
All that wild land and emptiness can make a woman feel lonely
And the world outside she sees it passing her by
She’s got to hold tight before she disappears
Someone’s got to wear a dress around here

Someone’s got to wear a dress around here
We can’t all be pissin sideways
Someone’s got to turn this town on it’s ear
It can’t just be dust and desert highways
It can’t all be blue jeans and leather
That’s some kind of tether
A girl has got to feel like she could fly into the sky
So baby bring the ponies around
We’ll ride them into town
I’ll let my hair down
And I’ll be wearing this dress for you tonight

Written by Vikki Thorn

GOODNIGHT LIL' COWBOY

There's a saucepan full of hot chocolate
Up in the sky tonight
It don't matter how long I watch it
It don't quench my appetite

There's a warm golden glow on the ocean
A stairway right up to the moon
I aint' reached it yet
All I get is wet
And I don't  think I'll make it there soon

The campfire coals are a' glowin'
'Lectricity free bedside lamp
They wink at me as if they're knowin'
Everything's cosy in camp
There's a silhouette on the horizon
That looks like my old teddy bear
Gonna tether my nag
And climb in my swag
And dream of somebody somewhere

So long little cowboy (cowgirl)
It's time you were sleeping too
There's a hundred ways to tell you how boy (girl)
Your mum and daddy love you

So come here - I'll tell you a story
Gonna kiss you and tuck you in tight
With a big dose of love
And the good Lord above
Hey, I think you'll grow up alright.'

Written by Josh Cunningham

THE COAST

If you want my treasure I’ll send you my king
And if you dare you do your battle with him
If you win you take home my spoils
And if you lose , I hope you like the cold
I hope you like it

On the beaches lay scattered bones
Hear their cries through the mist and the foam
Set us free and take us home
Lay me down somewhere dry and somewhere warm

At night they do tell of troublesome things
Of enchants and presences drawing them in
Voices from the dark depths calling them near
Saying come a little closer you’ve nothing to fear
Come a little closer

Beauty behold this watery tomb
In these crags and these cliffs I have carved out your doom
Gentle like a lover or as wild as the same
You come to me wanton and you curse my name
I took you as a parlay and you rue the day
You heed not the warnings
Your only to blame

On the beaches lay scattered bones
Hear them cry through the mist
Oohh oh
Set us free and take us home
Lay me down somewhere dry and somewhere warm

Written by Vikki Thorn

SHINY APPLE

Shiny apple rotten on the inside
Skin is smooth but you soul is soft
Oh you look so appetising but
Taste the truth it'll make you spit
And how long have I known you now
But I knew after just one taste
And how long has my mouth been sour
It's been sour ever since that day
And how long can I go on like this
Knowing what I know anyway
But it makes me feel helpless to
Stand and watch while you rot away

Written by The Waifs

WILLOW TREE

Under the willow tree, that's where I wait for you
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
I just sit by here in the morning sun,
and I wait under the willow tree.
It was a bitter seed that you left that day
when you walked out my door screaming "Get out of my face!"
I took all your hurtin' words, I took your bad deeds
and I buried 'em deep underneath that tree.
Under the willow tree, that's where I wait for you
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
I just sit by here in the morning sun,
and I wait under the willow tree.

But such beauty grew from bitterness.
Oh how it's helped to heal this heavy heart,
oh and I want you to know, yeah that it's ok.
If you come back I would welcome you like it was yesterday.
Under the willow tree, that's where I wait for you
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
I just sit by here in the morning sun,
and I wait under the willow tree.

Oh, but I'm not asking you for union, no-no.
I want your promise to be true oh,
'Cos I've been around the world, honey I've seen enough to know -
there aint nobody else. I'd rather walk with you.
Under the willow tree, that's where I wait for you
to come back to me, but you're so far away.
I just sit right here and I play my guitar,
and I wait under the willow tree.
Under the willow tree.

Written by The Waifs

TAKE IT IN

Now she's thinking of the red soil
And the mango trees
In her mind she's still splashing 'round
Down on Cable Beach
And her eyes, they are as rich and faraway
As the sunset there
She's not taking in a word I say
Well I might as well be talking to myself
Take it in, take it all in
Now is a time that
Will not come again
Take it in, take it all in
This is a day that
Is here for the living
So we step outside
Into this Melbourne weather
With a shock it
Brings her back to where she is
Now we've made this place our home
Surrounded by unknown
We're gonna stick it out
Until it comes together
Take it in, take it all in
Now is a time that
Will not come again
Take it in, take it all in
This is a day and
It's here for the living
We're only living for a day
To come or some days gone by
Never taking in each moment
Never knowing what you had
Until it passed you by
And it'll pass you by
Take it in, take it all in
Now is a time that
Will not come again
Take it in, take it all in
This is the day and
It's here for the living
Take it all in
Now is a time that
Will not come again
Take it in, take it all in
This is the day and
It's here for the living

Written by The Waifs