MARY USED TO PLAY PIANO (written by Rob Ashmore & Tom Payne) ROBBI CURTICE & TOM PAYNE 2010GOSPEL LANE (written by Rob Ashmore & Tom Payne) ROBBI CURTICE & TOM PAYNE 1968“But I haven’t heard it playing for so long, Mary’s old piano-playing days are gone....”
Robbi Curtice sings GOSPEL LANELive at l’institut francais, London, in March 2008, with Benjamin Esdraffo and band.
A CRY TO A FACE IN THE CROWD (written by Rob Ashmore & Tom Payne)ROBBI CURTICE & TOM PAYNE 1969I’ve got everything; people know my name,And they tear my clothes - I guess you’d call that fame,Seven different cars and a very large amountOf that expensive stuff inside my bank account.Though I know it isn’t very loud, can’t you hear a soundNo, I know it isn’t very loud, but can’t you hear a cryTo a face in the crowd?Everything I do people want to know,And they welcome me every place I go,They all take my hand and their faces smile at me,But there is only one I ever want to see.Though I know it isn’t very loud, can’t you hear a soundNo, I know it isn’t very loud, but can’t you hear a cryTo a face in the crowd?I would give up all my possessions if I could but call you my ownI’m so tired of living a story, I’m so tired of loving alone.Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,ahCan’t you hear a cry to a face in the crowd?Well I thought you’d come when I clapped my hand,Guess I got you wrong I didn’t understand,But you gotta come ‘cos I gotta make you seeThat if you’re not around, there’s nothing here for me.Though I know it isn’t very loud, can’t you hear a soundNo, I know it isn’t very loud, but can’t you hear a cryTo a face in the crowd?To a face in the crowdTo a face in the crowdTo a face in the crowd.In a poor poor part of town, far away from the glittering lghtsAll the walls are falling down, and it gets pretty bitter at nights,Here in my room I can hear people cry, and the old down and outsWill turn their eye towards the sky and wait to die.There’s a man next door on the cold hard floorAnd I haven’t seen him move his head,And he lies so still that I’m sure he’s illAnd I think that he might be dead.If I had my way I’d be gone today and you’d never see me here again,But my bed and board’s all I can afford in dirty Gospel Lane.Now beside my single bed is a face I can never forgetThough a photograph is dead, it’s as close as I’m ever to get.She used to talk of the way things would be; but she just couldn’t waitAnd now she’s free, there’s only me for company.As the wind blows cold through the great big hole Where a window used to be,And I’m all alone in my home sweet home,And I wish that she was here with me.If I had my way I’d be gone today and you’d never see me here again,What’s the use to try, when you’re born to die in dirty Gospel Lane.There’s a man next door on the cold hard floorAnd I haven’t seen him move his head,And he lies so still that I’m sure he’s illAnd I think that he might be dead.If I had my way I’d be gone today and you’d never see me here again,What’s the use to try, when you’re born to die in dirty Gospel Lane.Mary used to play pianoShe’d make up little tunes just for me,Pretending she could doThings that real musicians knewLike how to move into a minor key.Mary played piano just for meMy Mary played piano just for me.When Mary used to play pianoShe’d have a dreamy look on her face,As if she’d gone somewhereI could never hope to share,To her very own mysterious hiding place,Waiting for the words we didn’t say,And listening to the hours slip away.Now I sit and stare at that piano,Neglected and forgotten so long,It looks as if it’s just (If it wasn’t for the dust)Still waiting patiently for one more song.My Mary used to play pianoAnd some days we would sing a duet, Such a sweet elusive tune,I’ll remember one day soon,Can’t believe it was so easy to forget.But I haven’t heard it playing for so long,Mary’s old piano playing days are gone.
BRING BACK THE SUN (written by Rob Ashmore & Tom Payne)ROBBI CURTICE & TOM PAYNE 2007I know a place where the sun never shinesWhere it’s overcast and cloudy every day,It’s a place you would go not so very long agoBut you wouldn’t recognise it, not today.Bring back the sun, Let it shine on everyone,Bring back the sun to me.Lit by your light all the world was so brightAs we layed and played and made a Summer high,But the shadows we made as the day began to fadeWere the shadows of a love that had to die.Bring back the sun, Let it shine on everyone,Bring back the sun to me.Lost and lonely, catching cold,How I need your arms to holdI’ll be in the dark till you’re with me,Warm my heart and set me freeTouch my eyes so I can seeAll the loving light that used to be.Bring back the sun, Let it shine on everyone,Bring back the sun to me.Bring back the sun, Let it shine on everyone,Bring back the sun to me.
Ticket to Memphis (Ashmore-Payne) 1970 Robbi Curtice & Tom PayneIn my mind were lots of knotsI knew I must untiePacked my woes with my best clothesWaved you all goodbye.Because I thought that I could do it on my ownBut I just can’t bear to face the truth alone.I’ve got to be there with you tonightA ticket to Memphis will make it all rightI’ve got to be there with you tonightA ticket to Memphis will make it all right.You can see a certain oneEvery single dayNever know you need them soTill they’re far away.And I thought that I could make it by myselfBut it’s just a fool who needs nobody elseI’ve got to be there with you tonightA ticket to Memphis will make it all rightI’ve got to be there with you tonightA ticket to Memphis will make it all right.Because I thought that I could do it on my ownBut I just can’t bear to face the truth alone.I’ve got to be there with you tonightA ticket to Memphis will make it all rightI’ve got to be there with you tonightA ticket to Memphis will make it all right.
The Mighty City of Rome (Ashmore-Payne 1969) Robbi Curtice & Tom PayneHow could she kiss me like thatIf she don’t mean that kissIf she isn’t worth any loveWhy do I feel like this?I’ve got a lot to learn,I think I might go home,It took much more than a dayTo build the mighty city of RomeTo build the mighty city of RomeTo build the mighty city of RomeTo build the mighty city of Rome.How could she say things like thatAnd look me in the eye,I’m such a susceptible soulAnd I just can’t figure why,One day I’ll take my turn‘Cos everybody knowsIt took much more than a dayTo build the mighty city of RomeTo build the mighty city of RomeTo build the mighty city of RomeTo build the mighty city of Rome.
Just Like That (Ashmore-Payne 1968) Robbi Curtice & Tom PayneJust like that, without any warning,I saw you and I dropped my guardAnd the light was sinking in the sunsetAs the ploughman starred.Just like that, running from a rainbow,I thought to listen on a sound,When I heard it whistle through the treetops,And I turned around,And I turned around.I wondered up and down with nowhere to go,I wasted many years with nothing to show,And so I took the road where everyone goesMy life was just a book that somebody closed.Just like that pieces fit togetherMy mind is coming up for airI have you and nothing else could matterAs long as you are there,Just like that you’re there.Many thanks to Phish N’Chimps for putting this great new video of our song GOSPEL LANE up on YouTube for everyone to enjoy.Click here to watch
.
MARY USED TO PLAY PIANO
(written by Rob Ashmore & Tom Payne)
ROBBI CURTICE & TOM PAYNE 2010
GOSPEL LANE
(written by Rob Ashmore & Tom Payne)
ROBBI CURTICE & TOM PAYNE 1968
“But I haven’t heard it playing for so long, Mary’s old piano-playing days are gone....”
Robbi Curtice sings GOSPEL LANE
Live at l’institut francais, London, in March 2008, with
Benjamin Esdraffo and band.
A CRY TO A FACE IN THE CROWD
(written by Rob Ashmore & Tom Payne)
ROBBI CURTICE & TOM PAYNE 1969
I’ve got everything; people know my name,
And they tear my clothes - I guess you’d call that fame,
Seven different cars and a very large amount
Of that expensive stuff inside my bank account.
Though I know it isn’t very loud, can’t you hear a sound
No, I know it isn’t very loud, but can’t you hear a cry
To a face in the crowd?
Everything I do people want to know,
And they welcome me every place I go,
They all take my hand and their faces smile at me,
But there is only one I ever want to see.
Though I know it isn’t very loud, can’t you hear a sound
No, I know it isn’t very loud, but can’t you hear a cry
To a face in the crowd?
I would give up all my possessions if I could but call you my own
I’m so tired of living a story, I’m so tired of loving alone.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,ah
Can’t you hear a cry to a face in the crowd?
Well I thought you’d come when I clapped my hand,
Guess I got you wrong I didn’t understand,
But you gotta come ‘cos I gotta make you see
That if you’re not around, there’s nothing here for me.
Though I know it isn’t very loud, can’t you hear a sound
No, I know it isn’t very loud, but can’t you hear a cry
To a face in the crowd?
To a face in the crowd
To a face in the crowd
To a face in the crowd.
In a poor poor part of town, far away from the glittering lghts
All the walls are falling down, and it gets pretty bitter at nights,
Here in my room I can hear people cry, and the old down and outs
Will turn their eye towards the sky and wait to die.
There’s a man next door on the cold hard floor
And I haven’t seen him move his head,
And he lies so still that I’m sure he’s ill
And I think that he might be dead.
If I had my way I’d be gone today and you’d never see me here again,
But my bed and board’s all I can afford in dirty Gospel Lane.
Now beside my single bed is a face I can never forget
Though a photograph is dead, it’s as close as I’m ever to get.
She used to talk of the way things would be; but she just couldn’t wait
And now she’s free, there’s only me for company.
As the wind blows cold through the great big hole
Where a window used to be,
And I’m all alone in my home sweet home,
And I wish that she was here with me.
If I had my way I’d be gone today and you’d never see me here again,
What’s the use to try, when you’re born to die in dirty Gospel Lane.
There’s a man next door on the cold hard floor
And I haven’t seen him move his head,
And he lies so still that I’m sure he’s ill
And I think that he might be dead.
If I had my way I’d be gone today and you’d never see me here again,
What’s the use to try, when you’re born to die in dirty Gospel Lane.
Mary used to play piano
She’d make up little tunes just for me,
Pretending she could do
Things that real musicians knew
Like how to move into a minor key.
Mary played piano just for me
My Mary played piano just for me.
When Mary used to play piano
She’d have a dreamy look on her face,
As if she’d gone somewhere
I could never hope to share,
To her very own mysterious hiding place,
Waiting for the words we didn’t say,
And listening to the hours slip away.
Now I sit and stare at that piano,
Neglected and forgotten so long,
It looks as if it’s just
(If it wasn’t for the dust)
Still waiting patiently for one more song.
My Mary used to play piano
And some days we would sing a duet,
Such a sweet elusive tune,
I’ll remember one day soon,
Can’t believe it was so easy to forget.
But I haven’t heard it playing for so long,
Mary’s old piano playing days are gone.
Many thanks to Phish N’Chimps for putting this great new video of
our song GOSPEL LANE up on YouTube for everyone to enjoy.
Click here to watch
