To Samuel A Son

On a clear day in May
When the sun was out to play
And the children all made hay
Samuel J was heard to say
"I've got a son"

All the neighbourhood could hear
Everybody far and near
And they all let out a cheer
Sammy's son was gonna
Grow into a man

Years and years gone the J's
Had longed for a son
Someone they could show
The world as their own

8 o'clock in the morning
Everybody's yawning
School bell is ringing
Little voices singing

All is nice and beautiful

Growing up believing
Till it's time for leaving
All he's been concerning
His ambitions burning

ABC and XYZ, 2 by 2 and 3 by 3
He is learning
Learn to choose, to win and loose
Grown up life can be so new
He's learning

When we wakes in the morning
And opens up his eyes
Sun is rising in the sky
Another day will soon pass by
And he won't know the reason
Why he's growing

This same boy, now he's older
Laughs at his young days
Because he's changed
In many ways
Passed the stage of
Playground toys
And all the games of little boys
Puts away his jigsaw puzzles
And all his favourite colouring books

Oh ... he's growing 
Oh ... he's growing
Isn't that a shame
His childhood dreams
Are almost gone
But he won't complain
It will all come true as time goes on

Thirteen years have passed by
Sammy dreams of love
And his mind's in imagination
Fills his head with promises of
Endless days of grown up ways
Just a little complication
This celebration has to end

Oh ... he's growing

Sammy's gone to find the job
Sticking wings on flies
Building clouds or thunderstorms
Growing apple pie

This could be the end
Of beautiful baby dreams
Getting old before his time
Or that's the way it seems
He is faced with failures
Ocean devils' evil schemes

Sammy had the chance
To make it in one year
Everyone hustled
Trying to find him a nice career
But he's so tired of
Hang-ups searchin' ???
He's leaving here

He closed his eyes
And pretended to sleep
And he dreamed a dream
Of a lady to love
Day after day
To walk down the isle
And say: "I'll be your lover"
And there'll be no other for me
Or for you, or for us

Sammy, Sammy don't hesitate
She knows your love
Her love won't wait
You've got to stop thinkin'
Of your future life
So make a lady
From Dover your wife

A golden band and
A few chosen words
From a christian man who was
In charge of the church at the time
For a lady from Dover
It was very soon over
Her name was Jane
And it had changed
At the top of her hat, fancy that
At the top of her hand

Lady, lady, hold my hand ...

Penny dear, wish you could be here
Sammy's far away
He'll be back one day
He thinks of you
Hope you're thinking of him
He's feeling bad, you're feeling sad

Penny dear, it's plain and clear
You're both far apart
Your thoughts are in his heart
You write each day
And he reads what you say
Though you're sad, it's not so bad

You know he loves you and it's true
You know he needs you, only you
You know he loves you and it's true
You know he needs you, only you

Penny dear, the time is near
He is on his way, only one more day
You've been alone
And now he's coming home
No falling tears when he appears

Listen babe, he's coming home
Where he belongs
So stop your weeping
Enough of hard time
He'll be by your side ??
In the bed he always
Used to sleep in

So stop your wondering, guessing
Sammy J is coming home
It's been a long time, sad time
Bad time living on your own

For your sadness
Will turn to gladness
By the time you come
One hundred and ten, girl
Watch your babe go to dinner ??
Listen for the ??

All the years you've been crying
All the time you've not dying ??
All you really needed was to be
Beside the one you love

Sammy and his wife
Living city life
From eight till six every day
Fourtynine years and all
They've spent in the big time ???
With never a morning away ???

All at once the day approaches
Sammy knows it's time to leave
One thing playing on his mind is
Do they know how he will grief

But Sammy needn't sigh ???
Stays and not past by ???
Without being noticed at all
At nearly five to three
The manager wants to see Sammy
In his office by the hall

"Please accept this gift we offer
Thank you for your loyal years"
Then it's over, the story's silent
Sammy cries devoted tears

What will Sammy do
His working life is through
But the firm must have
Cared after all
A part of him has died
But he still has the pride 
To fight to three
In the office by the hall

Have you read the morning paper
Did you see my picture there
Have you seen
The watch I'm wearing
Given to me on that day

Oh, how the days fly by
Never stopping for a minute
While he cries, no, no, no
But the tears fill in his eyes
And no signs of goodbyes
To the world that is
Treating him badly

Now his autumn leaves
To cloud his mind with fears ???
He knows his time has come
Life is almost gone

As life leaves
The strongest fighter dead ???
And the figures of
Past years are approaching ???
Shared those sorrow on this day
As he passes away
Samuel J is the name
They'll remember

??? yet life begins
He looses but he wins
Sammy will live on
In the shadow of his own son

If she brings me down what can I do
There'd be nothing left if I lost you

If she makes me sad
And goes away
(She makes me sad)
There'd be nothing left for me to say

And so I cry, cry, cry, yes I cry
Though I try, try, try not to cry
I cry

Cry, that's me and
It can hurt you too
(Cry hurts me too)
So you know it's only up to you

In my heart I know it hurt to stay
(Inside my heart)
Come, stood still, moved ???
Then she went away

Standing outside in the rain
Loaned all my money again
Shining in the gutter
The neon lights can hurt her again

Sam said outside will be o.k.
Whispered, man, we've got it made
I just got the invite
And we won't spend
Our whole night ???

Something is wrong
I don't feel like I should
I know you've tried
And if I understood
I'd stay the whole thing
And I'd come if I could
But something is wrong
You better forget it
Forget it, forget it!

And I know something is wrong
(Something is wrong)
Don't let me you go along
(We're going on)
Said I know something is wrong
(Something is wrong)
I've lost the truth of my song

So believe me when
I whisper its' so groozy
All you hippy happy chicks
Are really choosy
Try to make an effort
Forget about the sad thing
You can tell Luther is a nasty ???
always was a ???
Don't forget that whiskey makes
your ego growing ???
And it's nowhere ???
we can make a good time ???
Hey ain't that mean ???

Momma I need
Your shoulder to cry on
Bring it on home for me to rely on
Momma I need your bed to lie on
I'm sure my time has come

Here I stand, a broken man
A lifesize illustration of
A fallen favourite son
And I lay deep in sleep
Of a lonely kind
And darkness reflecting misery

Good morning, sorrow
Today I'm going out ot borrow
Just a little of the sun
From someone else's eye
But the ways of happiness
Is gonna be closed again
And so I begin to feel
It just the same

In her heart a million ways to love
In her heart a thousand
Poisoned dreams
Just for the first time
This is got to be the last time
I can't get down any further

Painted dreams, a hand in hand
But who holds the answer I need
When it's my turn in
The life's long rod ???
Daylight, take a sidelink
To this hell I'm in

Momma I need
Your shoulder to cry on
Bring it on home for me to rely on
Momma I need your bed to lie on

By the sun and candlelight
Wandered through a misty night
In a dream not long ago I saw her 
In a dream not long ago

I walked all around the town
Thinking she might be around
In a dream not long ago I saw her
In a dream not long ago

Foolish heart of mine
Going out to find
Someone who is never there
How am I to know
If she'll care at all
For someone who's never there

Lovely Anita, I'd love you
To meet her
Her eyes are as deep
As the wishing well
Her eyes are so pure
And her lips are so cool
I love her forever and ever

She makes my heart bleed
When she knows that I need
The good things in life
That I know she can give
And when we're alone
And there's no-one the same
I tell her I love her again and again ..

Yes, I know Anita is mine
Lips like strawberry wine
Yes, I know Anita is mine
Mine till the end of time

Lovely Anita, I'm going to meet her
She waits for me down by
The trees near the lane
And when we're alone
And there's no-one around
We make love again and again ...

Lovely Anita ...
Going to meet her ...

Maria
I just met a girl named Maria
And suddenly that day
Will never be the same to me

Maria
I just kissed a girl named Maria
And suddenly I've found
How wonderful a sound can be

Maria
Say it loud and let music play
Say it soft and it's almost like pray

Maria
I'll never stop saying Maria