I’m on the outside- looking in..
always just unsure where to begin
Oh and increasingly… its seems to be..
Wearin’thin.
I live in seclusion with my widescreen tv set
Waiting on something… Dunno what it is yet
But with time and space…I know I will replace..
All I plan to forget.
Chorus
But those black clouds on my horizon….
Could be my chickens coming’ home to roost
Ah but as you might guess..
I couldn’t care less…
What’s above or behind me.
Guitar Solo
But I’ve no plans to alter the scene
Changing behaviour would only demean..a
lifetime convention..
No I’ve no intention..
Of changing routine.
This song is based on a poem written in 1918 by a Major Oliver Hogue.(The first three verses). Refrain by C.G & D.J williams (c)
The story is now reasonably well known- At the commencement of World War 1 thousands of Australian and New Zealand troops went over seas with their own horse- paid for by their respective government. Most troops went on to Europe (without their horse) but the lucky ones who spent the entire war in the Middle East, did so fighting with their horse throughout the campaign. At the end of war government couldn’t afford to pay for the return of the horse and ordered the troopers to leave their horse behind in Egypt. As the locals were not noted for their animal welfare… most soldiers chose to shoot their horse instead to save it from a miserable existence.
The Horses Stay behind
In days to come we’ll wander west and cross the range again
We’ll hear the bush birds singing in the green trees after rain
There’ll be old friends to greet us, and the people will be kind
But we’ll have different horses- our horses stay behind.
I don’t think I could stand the thought of my old fancy hack
Just crawling round Cairo with a gyppo on his back
Perhaps some English tourist out in Palestine might find
My broken hearted whaler with a wooden plough behind
No, I think I’d better shoot him and tell a little lie
He floundered in a rabbit hole and just lay down to die
Maybe I’ll get court-martialled but I’m damned if I’m inclined
To go back to my homeland and leave my horse behind.
You see me level this gun at your head-
Well in a minute now you’ll be dead.
Will they find out… will they know…?
I don’t think so…
this resulted after taking our grand daughter to the miniature train playground at Halswell… everything was great… until the train started moving. She then proceeded to scream for the entire trip!!!
Some exaggeration has been included… the heroics of Grandy Boy only occurred in his mind…
At first I thought it was really neat..-
I had my own compartment and a first class seat
So.. I sat right up front- where the driver sits
Just me and my Dad- he was thrilled to bits.
Mum was there too- with Nan and Boy
Along with.. I think.. my favourite toy
We’d no sooner sat down- enjoying the fun
When all hell let loose and things came undone.
We’d started off slowly.. but came a hiss and a roar
And I heard someone screaming and banging a door
Soon people were shouting and beginning to plead
But we were racing down hill at a ridiculous speed
We flew around corners, down hills and through mud
The smoke was atrocious ( and don’t mention the blood)
I hung on for dear life and grabbed at Dad’s neck
But I could tell by his eyes he was a gibbering wreck
I looked back at Mum- but that was no use
She was holding up Nan- who was screaming abuse
And just when I thought I couldn’t take anymore
GRANDY BOY stood up.. and he raced to the door
He shut down the engine- and he pulled at the brake
And he kicked at the driver- who was FINALLY awake
We shuddered about until we screamed to a halt
And Dad glared at the Driver- as it was clearly his fault…
But before he could start… with a move brave and bold
Grandy Boy grabbed at the Driver… and he knocked him out cold!!!
It was all a bit risky..,. and too much of a strain….
Oh I don’t care what you think…. you can stick your old train!!!
My wife is starting to panic
And..just maybe… losing the plot
“I knew you’d both forget” she said
“Youre a lazy blimmin’ lot..
Pick up those books-And hide those shoes
Before I turn real mean..
This place needs a tidy up
Because…
I’ve got someone coming to clean”!!!
“I need a line to hang the shirts
So fix something to the wall..
After you’ve done that job
Just vacuum done the hall
This place looks like a pig sty.. and..oh.
Just look at the mess near the sink!
We’ve got to clean this house up now…
Goodness me…
what will the cleaner think!
