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Warhorse

by dwarf band

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1.
Warhorse 05:10
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WARHORSE I’ll tell you a story, for that is my role May be a tall one, may not even fit into the whole I am a warrior, an ancient of fame Fought with the Trojans, Goths and Vandals trembled at my name A war-weary general, mercenary pure In every battle, I participate and I endure I’m propaganda, constant of war Say it again now, I have said it many times before And I can justify any action, any lie I can dress the Devil up so fine Name the place and time, and who it is must die I can make arrangements down the line Among my kind I travel on wires, and work from behind I make the myths now, I have redefined the real front line Adaptive to changes, cowboy of tech Guided by lasers, weakness I am certain to detect I’m propaganda, timeless and great You think you control me, I have appetites you cannot sate I’m propaganda, deceitful and bold Give me a run-down, then you do exactly as you’re told And I can justify any action, any lie I can dress the Devil up so fine Name the place and time, and who it is must die I can make arrangements down the line Among my kind
2.
It All Fell Down 03:11
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IT ALL FELL DOWN (Now and Then) We had a blue and I blamed it on you Then it all fell down A stupid sick row when I think of it now But it all fell down And I think of you now and then Think of you still, as a friend We shared a love but were baying for blood When it all fell down We had it wired but we seemed to grow tired Then it all fell down We’d never flirt then you suddenly hurt And it all fell down And I miss the occasional look Glancing away from your book Then the eyes went so vague, barriers raised And it all fell down Down, like the Berlin wall Foundered, on the siren’s call Now and then I feared a fall But the wall came down Now in a dream a familiar old scene As your hair fell down Calm and so warm with no sign of a storm Then the rain fell down And I think of you now and then Think of you still, as a friend We shared a love but were baying for blood When it all fell down We shared a love but were baying for blood When it all fell down We shared a love but were baying for blood When it all fell down We shared a love but were baying for blood When it all fell down
3.
The Spreader 02:48
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THE SPREADER He was a handsome dude, with a one-track mind A piece of tail, wasn’t hard to find When the morning came, they were cast aside A minor sleight to his boundless pride She was a lonely girl, in a foreign place When the morning came, a smiling face Though cast aside, a fast joyride She couldn’t hide, she didn’t mind And some called him a sinner Most thought he must be bad This man was close to saintly The best friend that you could have And the secret’s in the eyes I see - he treats all people equally His attention comes for free, the only way he can be It was a crowded train, on a two day haul When Benares came, he’d had the call In the morning shade, not a promise made A ghost is laid, a path repaved And some called him a sinner Most thought he must be bad This man was close to saintly The best friend that you could have And some called him a sinner Most thought he must be bad This man was close to saintly The best friend that you could ever have
4.
Never Say Never 04:16
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NEVER SAY NEVER Her husband left, he just disappeared Her little boy was only four He gave her strength, from year to year Every night she held him to her breast Whispered words which blossomed into threats Never, never run away from me Never, never go astray Never, never run away And the rest of our days Will be sunshine and showers, never rain The young man woke, in a fit of pique Looked at his girlfriend lying there She’d been out three times this week He polished off his TV snack Woke her with a poke, hard in the back Never, never run away from me Never, never go astray Never, never run away And the rest of our days Will be sunshine and flowers, summer haze He looked down, with his wise warm gaze All of his followers were there Prepare yourself, for the coming days Drink deep and thus be spared the wrath Alone we’ll climb the stairway up to God Never, never run away from me Never, never go astray Never, never run away And the rest of our days Will be sunshine and flowers, on our graves Never, never run away from me Never, never go astray Never, never run away from me Never, never go astray Never, never run away from me Never, never go astray
5.
The Battle Of The Sisters 04:01
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THE BATTLE OF THE SISTERS She wandered alone in the courtyard She thought of her love gone afar Banished to wait, for she was just a woman The tide of our times was astir The rights of each side soon to blurr And they suffered into suffrage And the sisters carried on Utterly against the odds Still the sisters carried on Through their liberation The sisters seemed so strong But none foresaw the turncoats The shoulder pads and fur coats None believed that it could happen to them The turncoats proved better at being men Than men, at being men Better than men, at being men She wanders alone in the unit She thinks of her love on the rig Banished to wait, for she is just a woman The scream of the child flips her lid The pressure, the bills and the kid They have suffered through their suffrage Yet the sisters carry on Utterly against the odds Still the sisters carry on Through their liberation The sisters seemed so strong But none foresaw the turncoats The shoulder pads and fur coats None believed that it could happen to them The turncoats proved better at being Turncoats prove better at being Turncoats prove better at being men Than men, at being men Better, than men, at being men Better, than men, at being men Better, than men, at being men Better, than men, at being men Better, than men, at being men Better, than men, at being men
6.
Rat Race 03:25
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RAT-RACE Any one of many cities Summer heat and dust and fumes Sun is baking without pity Expressionless, a blank face Urban jungle forms Fighting for their small space On the long march - of the rat-race hordes Any bus or train or tram-car Nearly splitting at the seams People milling in a stockyard Straining for a hint of air Grabbing at the cords Wanting to be anywhere But not a part - of the rat-race hordes Marching to the rhythm of the moguls in the wings Encouragement is given for the progress that it brings Rats don’t know the wheel goes round But they don’t change their place They say it’s done with mirrors It’s a real rat-race There’s the boss, you hardly ever see him He’s the keeper of the cheese He will feed you when you weaken Morsels of stale cheddar Furtive, small rewards Never getting better On the long march - of the rat-race hordes Marching to the rhythm of the moguls in the wings Encouragement is given for the progress that it brings Rats don’t know the wheel goes round But they don’t change their place They say it’s done with mirrors It’s a real rat-race They say it’s done with mirrors - it’s a real rat-race They say it’s done with mirrors - it’s a real rat-race They say it’s done with mirrors - it’s a real rat-race
7.
Your Secret 03:19
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YOUR SECRET I can see you hurting, I know you’ve done it hard I can’t help observing, the way you’ve dropped your guard I don’t have the answers, I can’t set you straight But I can see some chances, if you can learn to wait And tell me your secret, I’ll lend you my ear I hope you will trust me, you’ve no need for fear I have caught a glimmer, of what you see as real In my world it’s a sliver, of life’s ironic deal I see the injustice, and all she’s done to you But the tango is for partners, and you are one of two And tell me your secret, I’ll lend you my ear I hope you will trust me, you’ve no need for fear You are disappointed, in what you have become No-one is anointed, life’s a smoking gun You may want to wallow, to vacuum your esteem Pride is hard to swallow, forget that bitter scene And tell me your secret, I’ll lend you my ear I hope you will trust me, you’ve no need for fear You’ve no need for fear, no need for fear No need for fear, no need for fear
8.
Wise Men 03:23
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WISE MEN Three wise men were big in dealing opium Took a flat-top caravan to Bethlehem Somehow they got caught up in a scene We don’t know what these crazy people mean We haven’t got a clue what’s going on It might be cool if we just play along Taken to a stable and a gathered throng Smile and try to look as if you know their song I cannot pick a single word they say Soon we will be free and on our way This isn’t such a hefty price to pay They think we’re Kings, so we are today They think we’re Kings, who are we to disappoint them Think we’re Kings, we’d better bless this baby here They think we’re Kings, they don’t know we’re frightened dealers Think we’re Kings, and they think this kid’s a seer (Ha, look regal gentlemen) The payment for the hundredweight of opium Smuggled very carefully into Bethlehem Leaf of gold, frankincense and myrrh When revealed created quite a stir Don’t give too much we need to keep a stash If the O is cheap we can buy some hash They think we’re Kings, who are we to disappoint them Think we’re Kings, we’d better bless this baby here They think we’re Kings, they don’t know we’re frightened dealers Think we’re Kings, and they think this kid’s a seer They think we’re Kings, who are we to disappoint them Think we’re Kings, we’d better bless this baby here They think we’re Kings, they don’t know we’re frightened dealers Think we’re Kings, and they think this kid’s a seer
9.
Lore Of The Land 03:08
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LORE OF THE LAND They first sent Cookie in a ship Bligh and Phillip had a dip Thus began the old land's trip Far from its primal state First they were, at first sat back Tried to bargain, tried attack Thus began the old land's sack The forests and the plains Would never be the same It's the law of the land, you cannot hope to save Your old lore of the land , it’s the white law to the grave First the rivers then the beach Poisons oozing toxins leech Forests dying, out of reach The old land will fight back First they were, last they'll be When land is darkened, they’ll still see Dream and wait 'til land is free The land will take them back Their land will have them back It's the lore of the land, you cannot run away It's the lore of the land, and she has the final say It's the lore of the land, you cannot run away It's the lore of the land, and the users, are sure to pay It's the lore of the land, you cannot run away It's the lore of the land, it will always rule the day It's the lore of the land, you cannot run away It's the lore of the land, she has the final say
10.
Underdog 04:11
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UNDERDOG They rode into Glenrowan after weeks on the run These were the boys of Ned Kelly Everybody knew, their time it had come A feeling deep within the belly Hart says to Byrne, this is it mate Seasons have turned, this is our fate Now come what may, I hope and pray I'll show the courage of Ned Kelly We'll need the courage of Ned Kelly Simpson had a donkey bringing men from the line He didn't give a damn 'bout Johnny Every day they saw him, their spirits soared high Life on that ridge wasn't funny He says to the sapper, she's right mate We'll have you at home in quick shakes On Anzac Day, you'll hear them say He had the courage of Ned Kelly A man who could stand with Ned Kelly Tall, tall poppy, underdog - our Ned Kelly next to God Tall, tall poppy, underdog - our Ned Kelly next to God War and fighting ended and the lamb became fat Diggers did battle with the mortgage Enemies were friends, the budgie and cat Hats were the only place for corkage Heroes were made on a big ground Stand in a shirt front, don't go down And in the end, a blood-spattered win Won with the courage of Ned Kelly Men who could stand with Ned Kelly Modern days have followed, the cringe is thrown off A land that God would choose to live in But is there something missing, a sense of some loss Times when people still were giving It's hard now to see when the slide came Video freeze the precise frame Though diggers did bleed, there's no-one to lead Who has the courage of Ned Kelly None has the courage of Ned Kelly Who now could stand with Ned Kelly Tall, tall poppy, underdog - our Ned Kelly next to God Tall, tall poppy, underdog - our Ned Kelly next to God Next to God, underdog, next to God, underdog Next to God, underdog, next to God, underdog Next to God, underdog, next to God, underdog Next to God, underdog, next to God, underdog
11.
Plainly, Punk and Lonely 03:02
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PLAIN, PUNK AND LONELY He came down from Birmingham, to try his luck, a London band He really didn’t have a plan, he practised looking vague He went out to buy some drugs, came back with a Persian rug Passed it off with just a shrug, another loss he’d made And he’s cool, and he’s punk, and he’s lonely So cool, and punk, and plain lonely And it’s hard looking surly, looking tight You can’t go home early, in the night Dance in a trance ‘til daylight Dance on to noon, hey it’s all right (Nothing wrong with that once in a while, nothing wrong with that at all) She went to another rave, the mood was wild, real depraved Pigged out, ecstasy she’d saved, she practised looking wan She doesn’t eat and rarely sleeps, can’t remember how to weep Cries or laughs in sudden leaps, a sucker for the con And she’s cool, and she’s punk, and she’s lonely So cool, and punk, and plain lonely And they’re cool, and they’re punk, and they’re lonely So cool, and punk, and if only Cool, punk, and plain lonely Cool, punk, and if only Cool, punk, and plain lonely Cool, punk, and if only
12.
Make Or Break 03:04
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MAKE OR BREAK He’d been married three times before And three times she’d walked out the door He’d lost all, of his confidence But she number four seemed determined To make it one more (he said) Make or break, this is my last fling at it Make or break, this is all I have to give Make or break, this is what I need to live Make or break, this is my last fling He’d been cracking safes for two decades Been inside for mistakes he’d made Retired now, to the front bar He lost a bet and then gambled again On the debt (one more time) Make or break, this is my last fling at it Make or break, this is all I have to give Make or break, this is what I need to live Make or break, this is my last fling And weren’t we all supposed to learn from life We were bound to find our one-love wife We were told to keep our noses clean But thrills are always lurking, sliding out of dreams A junkie, for too long to think He’s hovered on the black-hole brink He’ll try now, for the tenth time Withdraw, a cocoon, and recoil from the light Of the moon (this time it’s) Make or break, this is my last fling at it Make or break, this is all I have to give Make or break, this is what I need to live Make or break, this is my last fling at it Make or break, this is all I have to give Make or break, this is what I need to live Make or break, this is my last fling
13.
Morgan's Tale 03:37
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MORGAN’S TALE He came out to the gold-fields, from the green hills of old Wales Suffered on the journey, becalmed and withstood gales Could scarcely believe where his wish to be free would now lead Across the sea Onward past Benalla, saw the mighty Ovens flood Dug into a valley, spent his heart, his sweat and blood Who would’ve thought of old Morgan’s Wandilagong reef Beyond belief A god-fearing man of the Methodist clan He hit pay-dirt A god-fearing man who gave not a damn For the money, or a new shirt Sing now Morgan, sing to the warm wind of fate Sing now Morgan, sing to the sun, the earth, the stars Esther found it just right, and she headed back to town Settled into Brighton, where she partied from sundown She said that Morgan’s rich vein was the first of a few She said she knew Morgan stayed a bushman, the lights he loved were stars A digger in an era of no phones or fancy cars He knew that one strike was more than enough for his dream A simple scheme A god-fearing man of the Methodist clan That was Morgan A god-fearing man who gave not a damn But his poor wife, she was mourning

about

THE dwarf band / KELLAWAY SAGA (continued from 'Took A Shine' )

This album continued the divergence from the early Kellaway production process. John was out of the loop for many of the sessions, but Ken and Alf ploughed on. So, most of the recordings set out without any particular sound in mind, often with the rhythm section as the starting point. The songs, too, did not lend themselves so much to the acoustic treatment and thus an album emerged with quite different arrangements.

Warhorse did introduce a potent new player on the technological block: digital capture and sequencing through Logic Audio, the short-lived King of Windows ‘affordable’ music software (soon to be gobbled up by the Apple-Mac mob). The Fostex reel-to-reel , grand old servant over many years, was retired and the band entered a new era. No more bouncing down to 7 effective tracks, the sky was the limit. But, as ever, Ken was judicious and this is not a cluttered album. In recognition of the changing paradigm, dwarf band was now into its last production and the band name would subsequently be retired (along with Fossie) in favour of a new moniker.

credits

released February 15, 1998

Songs and vocals: Alf Davies

Backing vocals, acoustic 6 & 12 string Matons, mandolin, percussion & patented soft whistle: John Dean

Electric guitars, keyboards, stand-up snare, backing vocals, engineering & arrangements and all aspects of production: Ken Stephenson

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The Kellaways Melbourne, Australia

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