NICKI PAULL & KEITH POTGER - SMILE NOW

Here you'll find all the lyrics and a few thoughts behind the tracks of Keith's most recent offering, SMILE NOW...

SMILE NOW

What a difference a smile makes. I believe a smile is worth a thousand pictures and, if a picture is worth a thousand words, you're already miles ahead with just one smile. In the lyric, the "you" is a mother and the "heartbeat you love" is her daughter. Fill in the rest as you wish.

Emptiness grows green shoots of pain Tropical moon follows soft falling rain Dominant fool, ego unfurled Jaded translucence in her silent world For you're not alone One more lifetime remains Leave the heartache behind you and Smile now, smile now Think of something truly beautiful and smile now That's where you were in your moment of truth But this is your time, hold it close, don't let go and Smile now, smile now Wounded you stood, bled your defence Patience was virtue for trust made no sense Wilderness called wisdom to heel But only the strongest would know when to yield The heartbeat you love Loves you with no pretence You can ride on the moment and Smile now, smile now Think of something truly beautiful and smile now That's where you were in your moment of truth But this is your time, hold it close, don't let go and Smile now. Bow to your blackness you know how to grieve Future believers believe Heroes in crucibles learn how to lead So you're not alone One more lifetime to feed Leave the heartache behind you and Smile now, smile now Think of something truly beautiful and smile now That's where you were in your moment of truth But this is your time hold it close, don't let go Yes this is your time, hold it close, don't let go and Smile now

GUARDIAN ANGEL/GUIDING LIGHT

The Seekers recorded this on the Future Road CD. I have been singing it in my solo performances but have not recorded my own version until now. Some kind folk have used it as a wedding or anniversary song. Please let me know and I will be happy to send you the music and chords should you wish to do the same. I think Universal Music, who have the publishing copyright, will be amenable to this so long as they are given the appropriate credit.

You and I, we've come this far through the long and lonely night And you've always been my guardian angel, always been my guiding light We'll be on this road so long and sometimes not know where we are But somewhere along that lost horizon you will be my Shangri La. Praise slips out so easily it may not sound sincere But it only seems to come to me whenever you are near When the sun was far too strong, when the wind was cold as ice You've always been my life's oasis, always been my paradise. So thank you for the joy you bring and thank you for your love each night You'll always be my guardian angel, always be my guiding light You always know the kindest words your praise is so sincere And the love I feel inside just grows whenever you are near So thank you for the joy you bring and thank you for your love each night You'll always be my guardian angel, always be my guiding light

LOVE YOU AS I FIND YOU

Sometimes a significant event can lead to the creation of a song. The "major blunder" in the lyric refers to just one of those significant events which, when the greater love is considered, fades into insignificance...

I find you as I leave you Love you as I find you wrapped around my memory I need to learn so much We both agree it's you and me not merely such and such I found you when I left you Fragile feelings kept you trapped inside a melody I didn't know the score The wandering act had missed the fact we both want so much more No, time is never on our side, it feeds on future passed Growing restless, one tempestuous silence in the deathless blast I'll never ever leave you Love you as I find you Wrapped around the certainty of you and me Beware the feral universe can bite the feeding hand Major blunder makes me wonder can I help you understand I'll never ever leave you Love you as I find you Wrapped around the certainty of you and me

DEAR FRIEND

Frank Howson's lyric, as always, is thoughtful and colourful. This song came together quite quickly. Must have been a quiet day for the Muse, not much to distract her, so she laid it out straight on to that old A4 sheet of paper

Time is a practical joke I used to be whole but something broke I read the classics like you read me In our coffee table world of shared history Now I'm standing in the spotlight of your empty stage Love sees no colour, love knows no age As it was in the beginning so it will be at the end In spite of it all, thank you for being my friend Thank you, my dear, dear friend Life is a wandering star We meander on and don't get too far I quote the westerns while you quote verse We were made for each other for better or worse Now I'm standing in the spotlight of your empty stage Love sees no colour, love knows no age As it was in the beginning so it will be at the end In spite of it all, thank you for being my friend Thank you, my dear, dear friend I could've done more, should've opened my heart But I lived with the fear that someday we'd part So the last laugh's on me. Is it too late to start? If I give you my all is it too late to start? Now I'm standing in the spotlight of your empty stage Love sees no colour, love knows no age As it was in the beginning so it will be at the end In spite of it all, thank you for being my friend Thank you, my dear, dear friend

GLIDE ON THE MORNING

I started this in 1967 when Matthew was born, wrote a few more lines in 1969 when Cassi was born then realised I'd better get it finished in time to record it for this new CD, 40 years on. I made a point of using my 1967 Maton 12 string for this track. Both the bridge sections are recent but they recall magical times when M and C were aged in single figures. It has been a joy to see who our babies have become. Their babies will continue the joy.

Glide on the morning, feel the new dawning arise Open your eyes and see how your day has begun Fly to your lover, you will discover the prize Open your eyes and see how your love has begun Lean back in wonderment, circuses, carousels whirling through your mind Midnight, the lift carpet turnaround magic was there for you to find Once upon a time... Tides and horizons older and wiser they rise Open your eyes and see who your babies become Chase down the steps of the basement apartment the one you left behind Church playground slides to be hurtled down headlong and when was that sublime? Once upon a time... Ride over sorrow, live for tomorrow's sunrise Open your eyes and see how your day and your love and your life have begun

SANCTUARY

My move to a secular frame of mind does not sit well with some people. However, a form of spirituality still is alive and well within me. I just feel that it would be wonderful if various gods/Gods did not induce some people to create such mayhem in their name.

How do I make a sanctuary? Tell me if you can Would I need more than a simple place that I can build by hand? If you don't know the answer now I will understand Sanctuary is so hard to find within the laws of man I'd like to make my sanctuary open to the sun Open to all of the primal truths so they shine on everyone And when compassion fills our hearts while our race is run Then, only then, will we overturn what the laws of man have done There'll be no songs of victory, no defeat to bear No one to blame or to criticise, no hunger, no despair Silence when silence holds the faith so serene and fair Laughter when laughter can build the bridge That the gods of man don't share Cherish we will our nights of peace on this sacred earth Nourish our path so the days ahead show what paradise is worth I believe we'll find sanctuary when our race is run When in our life we have overcome what the laws of man have done Then, only then, will we overturn what the gods of man have done

WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?

I had the melody for this long before I met Frank Howson so the fact that his lyric just glided into the music was a source of wonderment to both of us. Harmonica by Chris Pain and violin by Nicolas (yes, he spells his name like that) Lyon add the atmosphere to this track. What a shame we can't get this to Frank Sinatra for the follow up to his "Only The Lonely" album of the late '50s.

A foolish word An ill-timed glance A gauche embrace can end this merry dance Your clever conversation Witty repartee Your silence after midnight When you've set your martyrs free All you've left me are questions Where did we go wrong My angel girl My gypsy soul I can't forget your eyes as black as coal They'll never compensate for what you took from me Your violence in betrayal I've been scarred for all to see All you've left me are questions Where did we go wrong? I'm just a shadow of a shadow of a broken down dream If you listen closely to my spirit you can hear a distant scream. I hide in bars and drink too much but still my heart would crumble at your touch I tried to make you love me, hung on far too long Your islands gave you shelter, washed away my dignity All you've left me are questions Where did we go wrong?

THESE THINGS

This features some great harmonica by Chris Pain, who also played on the previous track WHERE DID WE GO WRONG. Adding the dobro, accordion and electric guitar fills is Michael Cristiano. Lyric by Frank Howson, making it a neat trifecta for him within this CD.

Crowded trains pass me by Smokestack black, empty sky I don't burn no cigarette I just learn how to forget Yes I'll learn, I'll surely learn to forget these things One by one, they'll all be gone These things Shuck 'n' jive all I hear Someone shed a silent tear My life and time's a magazine Fine merlot, French cuisine Yes I'll learn, I'll surely learn to forget these things One by one, they'll all be gone These things We never saw Paris, never filled our shelves Never broke down, how we fooled ourselves You said this world's what we deserve I almost agreed but I lost my nerve Lost my nerve Lost our love, lost the dream Second Act, Final Scene Curtain down, rafters ring Soon be gone, all these things Yes I'll learn, I'll surely learn to forget these things One by one, they'll all be gone These things

MAKE BELIEVE IT'S A DIAMOND

I had the chance to record this while in Nashville songwriting with some talented people. How intriguing it was then that it was Andrew Matheson, based in Toronto, who wrote the lyric for this country song. Just shows what a global village we enjoy these days.

I stare in shop windows from shabby to chic Can't think about jewellers when dime stores and pawn shops are out of my league Though my prospects look slim babe and my pockets are empty Before I ask for your hand with this plain metal band make a promise to me Make believe it's a diamond 'Cause a diamond's what you're worth You're a heavenly treasure I found right here on earth I know it's not a diamond, but one day it will be That's my promise to you If you'll promise to be a diamond to me I'd work for a lifetime to have and to hold I'd set down the stars from the skies and I'd die for a ransom in gold Time can tarnish a feeling, time can change everything But say you'll be mine and forever will shine in this wedding ring Make believe it's a diamond 'Cause a diamond's what you're worth You're a heavenly treasure I found right here on earth I know it's not a diamond, but one day it will be That's my promise to you If you'll promise to be a diamond to me

SILVER BULLET

I grew up listening to my parents' collection of 78rpm records. For whatever reason, they had an eclectic selection ranging from Glenn Miller to Country & Western (yes, the "Western" was still part of the description) to classical arias and orchestral works. Hank Snow, star of C&W in those mid '50s days, was a favourite of mine and his self penned song "Golden Rocket" was embedded in my memory bank of songs. So, as a tribute to this wonderful artist I decided to write a "train" song. The Golden Rocket morphed into the Silver Bullet.

That old Silver Bullet's standing at the station 'Bout to take my blue eyed gal away Be twelve months tomorrow since she stepped off that train Don't know how I'll last another day Silver Bullet blow your whistle sweet and low Tell my blue eyed gal it's not the end 'Cause somewhere down the line When I help her change her mind Silver Bullet, you can bring her back again Same old story going down City girl in a country town Thought I'd never have this tale to tell The moment she arrived that morning Took my breath away, no warning Left me tongue tied, nothing I could say All that seems like only yesterday Now that Silver Bullet's standing at the station 'Bout to take my blue eyed gal away Be twelve months tomorrow since she stepped off that train Don't know how I'll last another day Silver Bullet blow your whistle sweet and low Tell my blue eyed gal it's not the end 'Cause somewhere down the line When I help her change her mind Silver Bullet, you can bring her back again Shared the seasons through that year Seemed like she was happy here Guess I didn't know her all that well Then just like the seasons turning She went back to city yearning Left me stranded, nothing I could do How to keep her? Lord I wish I knew Now that Silver Bullet's standing at the station 'Bout to take my blue eyed gal away Be twelve months tomorrow since she stepped off that train Don't know how I'll last another day Silver Bullet blow your whistle sweet and low Tell my blue eyed gal it's not the end 'Cause somewhere down the line When I help her change her mind Silver Bullet, you can bring her back again

SINGING FOR DAD

Glenny Palmer, who wrote this sensitive lyric, adopted Brett Ritson who has now a family of his own. Brett's efforts to find his biological father are echoed in families all over the world. What emotions these efforts uncover.

I'd like to call you "Dad" if that's OK It doesn't have to be forever, even just one day To shake your hand and see you smile and talk awhile, have fun And maybe, even only once, to hear you call me "Son" I really need to find you Dad, OK? I really need to find you I'd love to see the man you are today For I have only known you in my heart, 'cause that's the way The cards were dealt and I did fine, but what about you Dad? Did you search the faces in the street for me, your lad? I'm here for you to see now Dad, OK? I'm here for you to see now You sing and play a fine guitar they say Who knows, I may have heard your songs and listened to you play But nowhere was a lyric written sweeter than the one You sang when you gave life to me, your lost and loving son I sing your song by living Dad, OK? I sing your song by living But life can sometimes write a cruel play I wonder in our travels did we meet and say "G'day"? Then go about our business, never knowing we had met And wish each other "sweet dreams" every night in vain and yet I'll keep on searching for you Dad, OK? I'll keep on searching for you 'Til the day I stand before you And we'll sing our song together Dad, OK? We'll sing together one day Dad, OK?

NASAL TWANG

The first 7" 45rpm record I bought was The Great Pretender, round 1956. How intriguing to me that over 50 years later I should be writing a sort of Country song about great pretenders in the Country music market. If you can't see the tongue planted firmly in my cheek, then please please PLEASE take this song seriously. Michael Cristiano adds the incredibly necessary country licks on electric guitar and I love the way the audience gets into the mood as they get into the song's message. This also may be the only song in the world that contains the word 'epiglottis'.

I wanna sing with a nasal twangI won't say darn, I'll just say dang Make my career go with a bang When I learn to sing with a nasal twang There's Aussie dudes, some girls, some men They train their throats just so's they can Sound like Shania, or Merle, or Buck But when I try, my epiglottis gets stuck So I'll learn to sing with a nasal twang And join those guys and girls in the outback gang They don't wear thongs, they all wear thangs So I'll learn to sing with a nasal twang And all those songs that The Seekers do Like Georgy Girl and Another You I'll sing 'em all like they're meant to be Straight outa Nashville, Tennessee And if it takes some surgery Want you to know that's dang fine with me Hey doctor, doctor, quick lay me flat Cut out the parts that make me sing like that So I'll learn to sing with a nasal twang I won't say darn, I'll just say dang And I won't wear thongs, I'll just wear thangs It'll make my career go with a bang When I learn to sing with a nasal twang

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