Promises and Lies Lyrics

C'est La Vie
a woman came and said to me
she'd seen a lady sell baby
for ten or twenty dollars maybe
and everybody thinks she's crazy
they're too blind to see
she never failed to call attention
to the things we never mention
real horror, daily, courtesy of your tv
c'est la vie

a woman came and said to me
now listen very carefully
there's brother killing brother
people living on their knees
biting sugar coated bullets
for the pain of this disease
c'est la vie

a woman come and said to me
she had a husband on an island
found his body on a wasteland
soldiers came and took him
just to torture her you see
all alone she mourned her lover
crossed the sea to find a brother
maybe he could help get her baby back for free
c'est la vie


Desert Sand
you tell me there's no darkness
while the sun shines down on you
and just because your life is peaceful
there's no fighting left to do
for every cup that runneth over
many more are filled with pain
you talk to me of sunshine
when it's pouring down with rain

just because you can't see it
doesn't mean it isn't there
just because it can't touch you
doesn't mean you shouldn't care
for every life that's lit with love
many more are racked with pain
you talk to me of sunshine
when it's pouring down with rain

it's a long black night, good people
descended on our land
share your light make a flower grow
in the desert sand


Promises and Lies
all the sorrow and the pain
all the sacrifice in vain
i was much too blind to see
you make a loser out of me
you put me down for oh so long
while you sang your serpent's song

the rest is history
you can do no more to me
i've been down so low
had nowhere left to go
i could see it in your eyes
all your promises were lies
promises and lies

you cut was quick and deep but then
you thought you'd never need a friend
but all things change, and tides must turn
and you let your bridges burn
too many fatal wounds to heal
now you're feeling what i feel

the rest is history
you can do no more to me
i've been down so low
had nowhere left to go
i could see it in your eyes
all your promises were lies
promises and lies


Bring Me Your Cup
dis i ever say, how i feel about you
a thing i never found that easy to do
the things that you do, don't need to be heard
you know your actions, baby, speak louder than words

i've got the bottle, bring me your cup
pop the cork, and try a sup
and when you're empty, i'll fill you up
we'll drink it down till the sun comes up

i'm heading home, like a steaming train
foot to the floor, in the driving rain
my head is aching and my mouth is dry
i've got a thirst only you can satisfy

i've got the bottle, bring me your cup
pop the cork, and try a sup
and when you're empty, i'll fill you up
we'll drink it down till the sun comes up


Higher Ground
moon and stars sit way up high
earth and tress beneath them lie
the wind blows fragant lullaby
too cool the night for you and i
on the wind the birds fly free
leviathan tames angry sea
the flower waits for honeybee
the sunrise wakes new life in me

and every hour of every day i'm learning more
the more i learn, the less i know about before
the less i know, the more i want to look around
digging deep for clues on higher ground...

the fishes swim while rivers run
thru fields to feast my eyes upon
intoxicated drinking from
the loving cup of burning sun
in dreams i'll crave familiar taste
of whispered rain on weary face
of kisses sweet and warm embrace
another time another place

and every hour of every day i'm learning more
the more i learn, the less i know about before
the less i know, the more i want to look around
digging deep for clues on higher ground...


Reggae Music
i said we friendship come first, the band did come second
and that's why i decided to put in a song
so listen crowd of people and throw up unnu hands
if you love deam their style and you love derm pattern

reggae music can't refuse it
so give us what we want and mek me gwan

i said yes crowd of people we come back again
i man thriller e. and all me best friends
i know most of dem from age eleven
and some of tdem even even before then
we traveled the whole world, think it could never end
but don't get me wrong it a no big problem
'cos reggae what we love and that's what we defend
and that there love that could a never end

reggae music can't refuse it
so give us what we want and mek me gwan

so let me get back to the subject of me friends
'cos me respect and love love the whole of them
and that there love that could never end.
and now it is time to hail the whole of them
me love me mickey v. him in a category
robin on guitar him just a nice up every bar
me love me astro because him deh pon de go
me love me norman 'cos him a don gorgon
me love me ali c. with his golden voice
him nice up every dance nice up every party.
me love me brain t. pon de saxophonee
buttons pon de bone, patrick him a hit the high c
them bad pon their own or in a section of three
and that only leaves me and jimmy
jimmy a the drummer me a the basee
and that is the whole of ub40


Can't help falling in love
(no lyrics)


Now and Then
now and then
i must admit i wonder if i had the chance
to vanquish foes with nothing more than just a glance
how perfect every single day would be

to never wait in driving rain
for the bus that never came
not to be one to blame
for anybody else's misery

now and then
i contemplate a different way around this day
with nothing more than simple words, so can i say
i'm quite content and happy being me

walking tall with peace of mind
to leave no childhood dreams behind
arriving home to always find
things just as i know they ought to be

now and then
i must admit i wonder if i had the chance
to vanquish foes with nothing more than just a glance
how perfect every single day would be

to never wait in driving rain
for the bus that never came
not for the one to blame
for anybody else's misery

now and then
i wake up when it hits me like a ton of bricks
i realise it's me who has to take the licks
no angels up there looking after me
no rainbow with a pot of gold
no cloak to shield me from the cold
no pill to stop me growing old
dreams fading into stark reality


Things Ain't Like They Used To Be
are you wondering why
no one talks any more
and all you hear
is the cry for war
are you wondering if
there are people who
hurt inside the same as you

there are grey-faced men always telling me
things ain't like they used to be
you kids have got no self respect
wake up old man to your neglect
it's a dog eat dog
it's a hand to mouth
it's east and west
it's north and south
just like you drummed it into me
things ain't like they used to be

i'll tell you why i can't afford
to hang my hopes upon your word
and when i'm done, i'll join the queue
and take my chance, no thanks to you
it's in or out
it's stop and go
it isn't what
it's who you know
i've heard you, now can you hear me
things ain't like they used to be

ancient rules for ancient men
but this is now and that was then
don't lay your heavy hand on me
and sink me in your poison sea
it's us and them
it's me and you
it's guessing games
it's what to do
exactly like you said to me
things ain't like they used to be

are you wondering why
no one talks any more
and all you hear
is the cry for war
are you wondering if
there are people who
hurt inside the same as you


It's A Long Long Way
it's a long long way from here
don't you worry yourself my dear
it's a long long way from here

drought and famine in my tv land
read the sunday papers credit card ina your hand
sing your song of freedom just to ease your troubled mind
and save your gilty pennies for the ones you leave behind

the burden that you carry from the cradle to the grave
is like a badge of honour that you wear upon your sleeve
you make your contribution and you shed a little tear
and stage your celebration just to show how much you care

you obscure your stolen power with hipocrisy and lies
you talk of understanding is a wafer thin disguise
you glorify my image but deny me flesh and blood
you radiate with goodness when you hear me beg for food

those rivers of blood will flow again
someone changed the lyrics but the song remains the same
you can build a wall of protocol to keep the wolves at bay
but history dictates that someone has to pay

it's a long long way from here
don't you worry yourself my dear
it's a long long way from here


Sorry
please don't say sorry
presuming a respect for what you say
if in your heart you mean it
then you'll understand me feeling
you must prove it sign the cheque without delay
most humbly yours, four hundred years back pay

just don't say sorry
and if that can excuse this tyranny
no value in your talking
money speaks and bullshit's walking
round in circles re-inventing history
trying to erase our memory

if you say sorry
can i assume you've realised the shame
the seeds of your oppresion
fall and ripen with agression
you can't hold us any longer with your chains
time to compensate us for our claims

i'm not begging charity
don't confuse the things i say
give me what belongs to me
gime me what belongs to me

rap:
don't bother wi' no sorry
don't bother wi' delay
a four hundred years
is not just the other day

i'm not begging charity
don't confuse your mind
payment overdue
fe a long long time

you come a we gate
no bother to hesitate
you tek away we tings
like a damn pirate