So it all begins. In the blink of an eye it's ending. Things killing things they're meant to be defending. Open season. On the range. Jesus mercy things are getting strange. Words. And wires. And burning spires. Man says they chopped down a tree to make a bird box out of wood. Too damn clever for your own damn good. See the tiny bird. So, can you imagine what he's thinking. Staring at you staring at him eyes unblinking. Tiny moments. Massive sparks. All this light but still we're in the dark. Words. And likes. And rusted bikes. You try to run away from what they'd use to find you if you could. Too damn clever for your own damn good. (Woah. Woah Woah. Woah Woah). He's not even in denial. (Woah. Woah Woah. Woah Woah). He says it with a smile. (Woah. Woah Woah. Woah Woah). I think he'll be a while. (Woah. Woah Woah. Woah Woah). Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah... Is anybody there? Is anybody still tuned in? I wouldn't really blame you if you'd given up listening. Bad reception. Some excuse. Exhibit C - file under "other news" Words. And wires. A world on fire. You're speaking in tongues while complaining that you've been misunderstood. Too damn clever for your own damn good. (Woah. Woah Woah. Woah Woah). He's not even in denial. (Woah. Woah Woah. Woah Woah). He says it with a smile. (Woah. Woah Woah. Woah Woah). I think he'll be a while. (Woah. Woah Woah. Woah Woah). Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah...

Wrap it up, tap, tuck it up, move on. Throw it in the back like a bit of trash, crush it like King Kong. I did not say those things. Remember when a secret really was a secret. You wrote it in a code, for a friend, only you and they know but now... A million tiny pings. Are we having fun? Tap, wipe it out, swipe, kill a bit of doubt. Sift through the wreckage for the reason for the burnout. Crowned. A million tiny kings. Everybody's ruling, fuelling, bullying and mewling. Waiting for a tiny bit of power they can drool in. Fly on someone else's wings. You learn it when you're young. They used to cut out tongues. Now it's smiling suns. Clapping hands and thumbs. Are we having fun? x 3 I’m not having any fun. Did you get my hit? I buried it, take another Merocet. Maybe if I use a fancy word I'll look intelligent. I don't know why I said that. You say you're feeling worth it? Perfect. Except you never earned it. Put you on a wave and f*cking right you're gonna surf it. But look down. Did you see those fins? You learn it when you're young. They used to cut out tongues. Now it's smiling suns. One mistake you're done. Cancelled, banished, gone. Are we having fun? x 3 I'm not having any fun. Does anybody understand? Has anybody figured out the rules? Of this great Wild West, where you're a genius or a fool. All the copying, borrowing, following and worrying. Endless mirrored halls to wander in. Take me back to 1982. For Bryan Robson versus France. BMXs, Top Trump cards. Trading stickers with my friends. Somebody's dad's Mercedes Benz. My valentine, for Karen Green. Why can't I have a Soda Stream? The endless days of childhood summers gone. Before I heard that song. Angels howling, demons singing. Tips on suicide and cleaning. All the voices saying the same damn thing. "You're not enough, you've never been." Why can't someone stop this train? x 2

Give me a voice to believe in. Bring me a glass and a listener to numb this feeling. Oh there's a howling beast inside. Scared and he's six weeks living in the wild. Oh do you know how to tame him, reach him, save him? Do you know, or would you rather kill him or restrain him? Give me a choice to believe in. Bring me a thousand opinions that I can agree with. Oh there's a crazy wind that blows. Ripping up houses, tearing at the hedgerows. Do you know how to tame it? Can you ever tame it? Do you know or do we walk into the rain and face it? Oh lord, I did not think I would make it. Oh but how the night air shines and shines. There is no magic bullet David. You simply have to climb. To climb. To climb. Tell me a story with an ending. A story where it all works out and there's no pretending. Oh there's a shiver in the Autumn breeze. Monsters snarling and gnashing their teeth. Oh do you know how to tame them? Can you really tame them? Or are they only doing what their way of being makes them? Oh lord, I did not think I would make it. Oh but how the light defines the dark. There is no magic bullet David. You simply have to start. To start. To start. And I don't know how. I don't know how. I just know why… why… why… (Lying on the ground. Left for dead on the ground) x 4 Tell us something new, something different. Something that makes us stop and think "man you're a visionary" Oh there's a ripple in the middle of the sea. To a tidal wave from a whispered breeze. Oh do you know how to ride it? Can you ever ride it? Maybe that's the only way somebody can survive it. (Lying on the ground. Left for dead on the ground) x 8

An open book. Bad handwriting. A map half drawn in biro. Why don't we speak about these things? I loved him too you know. A summer's evening in the downs, all bathed in fiery lights. The smell of smoke. The drunken bees. I dreamt of him last night. I dreamt of him last night. If I try to explain, you look at me like I'm talking in another language, made of words you don't believe in. Think about it. You remember, how you cried stood on the driveway, in the sunshine. I remember. Could we try to do this my way. Could we try to do this my way, can we... Just speak. It only takes a word. Or three, or hell, whatever works. Do you know, do you know, do you know something we don't? Do you know something we don't know? Take a walk, through the snow. I can't find the words to ask you what I want to know. So we say other things. You tell me all about your week, about the people you have seen. I know it's hard. I know. But there are doors we shouldn't close. Doors we shouldn't close. Oh... Just speak. It only takes a word. Or three, or hell, whatever works. Do you know, do you know, do you know something we don't? Do you know something we don't know? Take a walk, through the snow. I can't find the words to ask you what I want to know. So we say other things.

He met her at the wedding of a friend of a friend in Stockholm. And they danced and they drank and they laughed until the sun came up. Later that day they took plane to the south of somewhere. Because they could, so they did and they thought that it would be fun. They found a small hotel above a lake on an Italian hillside. They got drunk over lunch and fell asleep until the sun went down. Dinner was a bottle of wine and a conversation. Both were running dry by the time they staggered back from town. Singing hey, hey, hey. The world won't wait. This is who we are, this is our story and we won't look down. This is who we are, this is our story. They did their best to make the best of what they had to make the best of. As they veered from love to hate to indifference. They visited churches, took a boat ride where she kissed him. She couldn't tell if she did it out of lust or belligerence. Singing hey, hey, hey. The world won't wait. But this is who we are, this is our story and it makes no sense. This is who we are, this is our story. And when she wakes at 2.15. Remnants of forgotten dreams. Are whispering uncertainty and doubt. This stranger lying in the dark. What first appealed now leaves a mark. A bitter taste of sadness in her mouth. She wakes him with a kiss that's headed south. She wakes him with a kiss. A new day, a fresh start, they took a car and headed for the mountains. Sun's out, radio's up, they're high on hope. By lunch they're lost, "Have you ever read a map before" she's screaming. "I could concentrate better if you drove with your eyes on the road!" Singing hey, hey, hey. We made a big mistake. But this is who we are, this is our story and it will be told. This is who we are, this is our story... yeah yeah yeah yeah… etc On the last day they took a walk down to the cafe by the harbour. Silence hanging as oppressive as the heat. "I'm sorry" he said "I'll bet you're glad that this is over." She just smiled and kissed him on the cheek. She just smiled and kissed him on the cheek. She just smiled and kissed him… On the plane back home she sleeps. Looks out the window, doesn't speak. Dreaming in uncertainty and doubt. He drives her back to Sheffield, in the rain, she's home by half past seven. He kind of hopes she might invite him in, she says "I'm sorry", turns and leaves. He starts the car, waits and extra second... And then he's headed East. 24 years and whole lot of thinking later. A thousand late-night e-mails neither sent. Sitting at the wedding of a friend of a friend in Stockholm. He hears a voice behind him speak his name, he turns, she says: Hey hey hey. We made a big mistake. But this is who we are this is our story let's see how it ends.

I’ve got all the answers I’ve got all the answers I've got all the answers. And I’ll give them to you even if you just want me to shut my mouth. So wise oh so wise just like my father. Anything you want to know you see I have it all worked out. This is where I need you, somebody on my team. Who can eloquently, delicately throw it back at me. I kind of see, you see, there’s nowhere I can hide. This is where somebody has to grab you by the hand. Are you sure? Are you sure? Do you really understand? Or are you being swept out with the tide? Don’t you want to be a little more Matt Saracen? Take a back seat, in the car by the reservoir. On my stereo, I’m listening to Alison. I know what you mean man, it’s killing me too… Alison it’s true. I am all the people I am all the people I am all the people. Opinions honed from steel and fire and truth. And no matter what you say we both know that I won’t believe it. ‘Cos when you got the words and the decibels, who needs proof? This is evolution we are only being human. There’s a war at the door, man and everybody’s shooting up the bar. And see the sheriff has left town. It’s in the execution in the winning in the losing. In the standing over everyone, the shouting and the proving and the deal. The deal. The deal. The deal is going down. Don’t you want to be a little more Matt Saracen? Take a back seat, in the car by the reservoir. On my stereo, I’m listening to Alison. I know what you mean man, it’s killing me too… Alison it’s true. Sitting in the back seat listening to Alison x 4 There’s a girl at the bar and she’s looking at me like I’m an idiot. This game of cards isn’t looking like I’ve any way of winning it. Enough about you. Let’s talk about me. Alison. Alison. ‘Cos everybody knows. Everybody knows. Everybody knows it. The faster you run, the harder you hit the wall. Wise oh wise so wise I’ll damn well prove it. Over and over and over and over we fall x 6

I called Saul, he had things to do. He made a bunch of promises but we both knew. They were there for breaking if he needed to. So I thanked him and I went right back to what I knew. I called Saul, he said "you're my man" "I need you on this right away" and so I ran. I swear he only does it just because he can. Every time's the final time, next time I'll make a stand. Every time's the final time and I'm nobody's man. Aaaah it was all that I could do (I had no choice in any of it) And aaaah - it was all because of you. (you took my voice, you buried me with it) You are the smartest and the dumbest person I ever knew. You are the smartest and the dumbest person I ever knew. You are my great regret. "Don't go home, don't go home", she said. "I need you at the bar by 10.15am" I swear I saw the cross of Jesus floating in my cup. I shut my eyes, I fantasised, I drank right up. I shut my eyes, I fantasised, I drank right up. Peter said it was all that I could do. (I had no choice in any of it) Peter said it was all because of you. (You took my voice, f*cking buried me with it) You are the smartest and the dumbest person I ever knew. ( x 4 ) You are my great regret. Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah.

Sometimes I feel sad that I am human. When I see the way that I behave. Then I speak to you and you remind me who I need to be. And why it is I have to keep the faith. "Look outside" she said "there is a sunrise." "In the hedge a baby bird on wing." How come it is you who always sees it all? How come it is me who always misses everything? "Listen, these words" she said "they speak to me." "The rhythm and the cadence and the tone." "Would you open up your heart and try to hold them." "'Cos I don't want to be someone who reads these words alone." "I don't want to read these words alone.” SOLO There are nights I stay up drinking whisky. Because I like the way it makes me feel. I like the holes and cracks and gaps it opens for me. Out of which the voices of those sirens call to me. Let's go to the Black Dog and eat eggs we... Can order what we order every time. Jordan will make patterns in my coffee. He'll tell me he can teach me. And I'll tell him Monday's fine. 'Cos sometimes I feel sad that I am human. (you are the glue, you are the seam) And sometimes I feel sad that I am not. (you are the fabric in between) I think about the things we're slowly losing (stitches that bind, give me belief...) And how I'm tearing holes in all the good things I have got. (...in all the good things I have got) Remember on the streets of Copenhagen. We walked until we could not feel our feet. I took a summer jacket, I was frozen. Thank you for not laughing at my predictability.

She said I was her rock. She thought that I was wise. But I am an imposter in a badly worn disguise. A rock is solid, hard and real. It doesn't make a sound. But if you sail too close, your ship will run aground. And there's a bullet in the night. I'm in the line of sight. I can feel it coming. And then your hand in mine. You pull me to the ground. And undercover. To discover. Oh, I wonder... She said I was her rock. I always found the words. But that is giving credit that I'm not sure I deserve. A rock is solid, hard and real. Immovable and strong. A rock doesn't need to communicate in a song. And there's a bullet in the night. I'm in the line of sight. I can feel it coming. And then your hand in mine. You pull me to the ground. And undercover. To discover. Oh, I wonder... Tell me do you see the lights? (that must mean there's a fire) Can you, can you smell the smoke? (that must mean there's a fire) Maybe you can hear the bells? (that must mean there's a fire) Do you, do you know the drill? (that must mean there's a fire) Tell me do you see the lights? (that must mean there's a fire) Can you, can you smell the smoke? (that must mean there's a fire) Do feel the, feel the heat? (that must mean there's a fire) Really do you know the drill? (that must mean there's a fire) Tell me do you see the lights? (that must mean there's a fire) David do you smell the smoke? (that must mean there's a fire) Do you feel the, feel the heat? (that must mean there's a fire) Do you really know the drill? (that must mean there's a fire) That must mean there's a fire. That must mean there's a fire. That must mean there's a fire. That must mean there's a fire. I think maybe you're my rock.

In the stars, in the stars, I saw you in the Southern stars. Where there were birds and beasts and playing cards. I knew you as I lay in the night, with the desert at my back. I stared at the stars and they stared right back. In the words, in the words, in the words of a midnight song, You touched my hand, then you were gone. You were the ghost of a promise of a whisper of a distant voice. And in the end I had no choice. Through all the miles and moments, fires and long forgotten friends. Pictures from another life, my father at the end. You left a trail of breadcrumbs that I followed. I could not comprehend. And though I never knew your name, I loved you in the desert, even then. Though I never knew your name... In the smoke of a fire, in the dark of a cloudless night. The wolves they wait beyond the light. And in the voice of the wind, with the cold of the devil at my back. You spoke my name, the wolves drew back. Through all the miles and moments, all these many tiles of land. In the chapel, speech all written down, your hand upon my hand. You left a trail of breadcrumbs that I followed, but I could not understand. And though I never knew your name, I loved you in the desert, in the sand. And though I never knew your name... Well now I know your name... Now I know your name.