KEVIN COYNE LYRICS - ALBUM: Blame It On The Night 1974

River Of Sin (Kevin Coyne)

River of sin, the river of sin

You be careful - don't fall in

Yellow and dirty and the surface is dim

Black as coal right to the rim

Yes the river of sin

The river of sin

Don't fall right into the river of sin

I'll leave you but I'll be back again

A long long tale to tell you but I don't know when

Mascara'd eyes sparkling like the dew

I am one of that poxy crew, a sailor

Sailor

The river of sin

I'm falling right in

I'm sinking down in the river of sin

I'm sinking

I'm sinking

The river of sin

I'm falling in

Falling right back in the river of sin

Acorns growing up on a tree

Green pastures but they're not for me

Quiet river and it's all so wide

Health and perfection on the other side

It's the river of sin (x3)

It's it's it's the river of sin

So relax and enjoy it al

Before you go before you fall

Noises noises in my ears

Too many wines and too many beers

---

Sign of the Times (Kevin Coyne)

Wild palms in the hinterland

Stretches of yellow sand

A blue bird trapped in my hand

It's hard to understand

It must be a sign of the times - times

It must be a sign of the time - time - time - time - time

My friend can't talk no more

He just gazes at his kitchen floor

Building a boat that will never float

Packing it with animals and bags of oats

Must be yes a sign of the times - times

It must be a sign of the times - sign of the times

Oh give me a sign

Oh what is the sign?

Oh what is their line?

Oh a sign - a sign - any sign - any line - any time - any sigh - any lie - not mine - not mine

I'm building

What am I building?

I'm working

Why am I working?

My hands are clean and never dirty

I wear something and it hurts me

Must be my sign of the times

Must be yes my sign of the times

Sign of the times

Must be - give me a sign

Oh any sign

Oh any sign

Oh any line - any sign - any rhyme - any time - not mine

It's not mine It's not mine It's not mine It's not mine It's not mine

My mother, she knows

I really think she knows

Taken to painting her toes

Taken to wear those odd clothes

Must be a sign of the times - times

Must be a sign of the times - times - sign of the times

So you can help me

Let me know you can help me

Make it a positive sign

Cos this face is not really mine

Must be a sign of my mind - mind - mind

Must be a sign of the times - sign of the time

A sign of the times

My face is not mine

My face is not mine

---

I Believe in Love (Kevin Coyne)

Heaven is here - so sharp

Lightening up that awful dark

Building dreams that are turning real - oh so real

Dark days creep away

I'm on the road to Mandalay

One hug and kiss and I begin to fall down

In silent prayer

Honey I believe in love (x3)

Believe in love (x2)

I was so lonely all the time

Now I've found words that rhyme

No cliches, I'm running wild

I'm a poet

I can sing better than before

The black dog has left my door

Hear my voice searing through the clouds

And high unto hills

Honey I believe in love (x3)

Believe in love (x2)

Honey I believe in love (x3)

Believe in love, believe in love

Honey honey honey I believe in love (x2)

Honey I believe in love

Believe in love (x2)

Honey I believe in love (x3)

---

Don't Delude Me (Kevin Coyne)

I am precious in my way

And I had a busy day

So don't delude me

Don't delude me

I have awful little time

And I want to hear the rhyme

Don't delude me (x2)

Present me with an easy flow

And then I will go

Don't delude me (x2)

You are the hatchet man

And I think you understand

So don't delude me

Don't delude me

Oh you delude me

And I think you're rude to me

Rude rude rude rude

You don't need to delude me

Don't delude me (x2)

If there's stars in your eyes

Then let them shine bright

Don't delude me (x2)

If you have a tricky foot

Then let me see that foot

Don't delude me (x2)

A pointed shoe in my back

Will make my spirit crack

So don't delude me

Don't delude me

Well give me chance to run

Give me chance to go

Don't delude me

Oh don't delude me

Oh don't you, don't you delude me

Don't delude me (x2)

I'm wondering in my way

I've had a busy day

Don't delude me (x2)

And the confusion that keeps me going

Is going and going

And I'm not going

Don't delude me (x2)

I am now rowing on a boat

In a river somewhere

And you're deluding me

You're deluding me

If I'm going to sink

Then please God let me sink

Don't delude me (x2)

Don't you delude, delude me

Don't delude me (x4)

I don't want to see sunshine when it's raining

I'm not concerned if you are telling lies

I'm much more concerned with the problem

That turns my dark eyes into light

---

Wanting You Is Not Easy (Kevin Coyne)

Tonight as I sit by your window

Thinking of your love, your perfect love

The darkness outside your window

The lights up above, the lights up above

Your head on the bed

Your hair all red

I know it's dyed

But I don't mind

I love you so

You know I'd go

Anywhere and this is not a joke

Wanting you is not easy oh little little girl (x2)

Tonight everything's quiet

Someone there who I don't care about

But I should care cause that's my style

I'll make it in a while

But your soul and your sound is on my mind

All the time

Those branches beating

Against your window

Please be kind

Oh please be kind

Loving you is not easy little girl oh little girl

You know that loving you is not easy little girl - oh little girl yeah

Well you know now wanting you is not easy little girl oh oh

Wanting you is not easy little girl oh little girl

Tonight, I am full of sadness

And you know why

I'm not one for easy romance

But you told me a lie

If I'm not up to it then let me know

Don't make me cry

Cos wanting you and loving you gonna make me die

Oh gonna make me die

Wanting you is not easy little girl oh little girl (x2)

You know wanting you is not easy little girl, oh little girl

Wanting you is not easy oh little girl, little girl

It's not easy, it's not easy, it's never easy

Oh it's never easy

Wanting you - wanting you

Wanting you - loving you

Little girl oh little girl

Wanting you

---

Take a Train (Kevin Coyne)

Take a train train train (x2)

Gotta get back home

See my mother and father again

I'm insane sane sane (x2)

Nobody remembers me

Nobody knows my name

Am I to blame blame blame (x2)

Standing in the gutter

Looking at the gurgling drain

Home is where the heart is, yes

That's where I belong

Home is where the heart is, yes

That's why I'm coming home (x2)

Take a train train train (x2)

Get back home

See my mother and father again

I'm insane sane sane

I'm insane sane insane

Nobody remembers me

Nobody knows my name

Am I to blame blame blame? (x2)

Standing in the gutter

Looking at the gurgling drain

Home is where the heart is, yes

That's where I belong

Home is where the heart is, yes

That's why I'm coming home (x2)

Taking the train

The choo choo train (x3)

Taking the train (x2)

The choo choo train (x2)

Taking the train (x2)

---

Blame It On The Night (Kevin Coyne)

At night I see a great big tree

An icy waterfall on me

Oh I blame it on the night

Yes I blame it on the night

Well I blame it on the night

The Virgin Mary by my bed

Eyes full of tears, patting my head

Oh I blame it on the night

Yes I blame it on the night

Oh I blame it on the night

A laughing face at every pane

The sight, the sight of a bloody rain

Oh I blame it on the night (x3)

Those yellow gates - the big white walls

Look at the snow - just how it falls

Oh I blame it on the night

Oh I just blame it on the night

Oh I blame it on the night

Blame it on the night oh oh

Blame it on the night

The night is not right

Why don't you blame it on the night?

So if you think you thought you knew

Look at me - I don't know what to do

I only blame it on the night (x3)

So I think I'm rich and I think I'm poor

I see that crystal emerald door

And I blame it on the night

It's just a dream

Yes I blame it on the night

Oh I blame it on the night

Fetch me something that is real

A big teddy bear that I can feel

Oh I blame it on the night

Where's my mummy? I blame it on the night

We all blame it on the night

We all blame the night

We all blame the night

The night is right, there is no light

You can blame it - blame it on the night

Blame it on the night

---

Poor Swine (Kevin Coyne)
( Robert Olver has this "analysis" of the song which I think is really good:
"The opening verse describes the funeral procession of 7 miners killed in a mining accident..."pit boots" are the big boots miners wear...members of the procession casting roses while ladies look down from windows and cry...our "poor swine" is the mine owner or boss who is heartsick about what's happened, but is blamed for it. In fact, this is one of my favorite Coyne songs. One of the great things about Kevin is that he often expresses sentiments that no one else does and this is a prime example. We often hear about the discrimination of the upper classes against the lower, but this is the only song I know of that talks about the reverse situation.")

See the red-neck climb the cobbled streets casting roses around

Little old ladies hang from windows tears rolling right to the ground

Seven men down in a hole everyone of them is dead

And it would have been better if he'd stayed home in his big fat bed

I feel sorry for that man, I know he's doing the best he can

He might sit at home and sip his dinner wine but God help the poor swine

God help the poor swine

Smart wife, posing and gracious [or Smart wife pours the 'Earl Gray' says]

"How's it going today?"

Chinless wonder son fusses in the hall, don't even hear his call

Goes to his room and lies on the bed feeling sick and low

Flash car in the drive, but, man alive! There's nowhere he can go

I feel sorry for that man, I know he's doing the best he can

He might sit at home and sip his dinner wine but God help the poor swine

God help the poor swine

He needs help, can't help himself

We feel smart cause we got roots wearing our big pit boots

We feel so grand, we think we understand

With our red, gnarled hands

But we don't see that an M. B. E.* can lead to grief and pain

Oh I love that man, I think I understand although he don't know my name

I feel sorry for that man

I know he's doing the best he can

He might sit at home and sip his dinner wine

But God help the poor swine (x2)

* M.B.E.: "Member of the British Empire" --it's an award given by the government in England for distinguished civilian service (Rob)

---

Light up Your Little Light (Kevin Coyne)

I've seen you in your coat

I've seen you standing by the moat

I've seen you standing by the row

Watching the buses as they go

Lighting up your little light (x2)

I've seen you speaking to him

I think I know him and his name is Jim

A classical figure from the past

Your relationship will never last

Lighting up your little light (x2)

His mother does not approve

She does not approve of your love

She says your love is bad

And you are slighty twisted and mad

Lighting up your little light (x2)

Your past history is well known

To everyone in this particular home

He has not so long to go

Soon he'll be back to the people he knows

Lighting up his little light (x2)

They call you Margaret in your big pink hat

Slightly overweight, yes a little fat

Your pain is plain to see

But Jim's around and he makes you happy

Lighting up your little light (x2)

If I knew the way to set you free

I would give you my bunch of keys

Pass your hand through that gate

And let you turn the lock but it's too late

To light up your little light

Oh light up your little light

So bye bye, sleep well

Bye bye - this isn't Hell

Somewhere where you have some style

You never know, you just might smile

And light up my little light

Little Margaret

Light up my little light - light

---

Choose (Kevin Coyne)

Well one is the fat one on his own

The other's a king on a golden throne

Choose baby, choose baby, choose, choose

One's a blond, long blond hair

The other never changes his underwear

Choose baby, choose, baby choose

Well as for me - I don't mind

Sometimes I think I'm deaf and blind

I never

Choose baby, choose baby, choose

Choosing's not easy

When there's nowhere to go

Choosing's not easy, n o

They all say I love you so (x3)

Well, oh I do, I do , make a choice

So if you're the fat one on your own

I'll be the king on the golden throne

Gotta choose baby, choose baby, choose

You got to choose baby, choose baby, choose

Choose baby, choose baby, choose

Make a choice

Choose baby, choose baby, choose (x2)

---

Witch (Kevin Coyne)

Witch she's a witch and everybody knows

She's a witch and everybody knows

Why does she treat me this way?

Why does she often turn and say

"You can go away, I don't want you here today

You can't play, you cannot play"

Witch she's a witch and she's breaking my heart

She's a witch and she's breaking my heart

Why does she mooch around the house

Refer to me as 'that louse', say all those things to my friends?

It drives me round the bend! She drives me round the bend!

Witch she's a witch and I want to go

She's a witch and I can't be slow

I must rush down the road

With my little bags packed down the road

I must turn and scream at the passersby

"That woman's told me lies! You can see it in her eyes. She always was a liar."

But in another day she was so good

She helped me cut the hedge, even helped collect firewood

But that was when we was poor, didn't have a thing

Now we've got so much, our hands are smothered in clusters of rings

We've got little trinkets, a little dog with a bell that ping, ping, ping, stinks

Witch she 's a witch and everybody knows

She's a witch and everybody knows

I cannot stand her friends anymore, I'm going to wipe them across the floor

I'm going to shout abuse as they drive away

I hate their faces anyway. They laugh at me anyway

Witch she's a witch and leave me alone!

She's a witch and she won't leave me alone

She has this little idea about me, she knows all my secrets, you see

She knows what I do in that little room

She says she's going to lock me in it, trap me in it like a tomb

But in another day she was so kind, made little comments about the quality of my mind

Said delicious, delicious things about my figure and hair

I knew I knew I knew I knew she really cared to share the things we had

Now there's too much and that is bad

Now there's too much of everything bad

And look at this! We don't need this! What have you bought that for, we don't want that!

These possessions! Possessions are getting on top of us all. Every little thing! My goodness. You don't need golden walls. What about me?

---

Right On Her Side (Kevin Coyne)

Well she's got a furry hat

And she's got a funny cat

And she leaves notes on the door

And she's always got clean floors

Yes she's got right on her side

Yes she's got right on her side

Well she's got right on her side

Well the neighbours never say

That she has a busy day

But she keeps herself to herself

And she don't want nobody else

Cause she's got right on her side

Yes she's got right on her side

Well she's got right on her side (x2)

Well she always says her prayers

And she always dusts the chairs

And she never poses bare

In front of windows that are there

'Cos she's got right right upon her side

Yes she's got right on her side

Well she's got the right on her side

And she cooks her little meals

And she never ever squeals

And you never see the weals

Of the life scars that never heal

Andshe's got life on her side (x2)

Oh she's got life and light right on her side

Oh she's got life and right right on her side, oh she has yeah

Well she's never ever rude

And she's never ever crude

She's never been known to swear

What would she do if a man was there?

She'd still have right right on her side

Well she'd have right on her side

Well she'd have right on her side

Well this lonely little lady

Well I think we'll call her Mabel

But I do not know her name

Is she lonely

Or is it just me, am I saying

She's got right on her side

She's got right upon her side

Well she's got right right on her side

 

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