how ’bout a tear for the year of 1960
i watched the fins of the cadillac fall
i remember dad explained about the berlin wall

how ’bout a tear for the torment and the trouble
that was brewing in the asian way
i wore a smile like the faces that surround l.a.

in the city of the lost and found
it’s hard to get a break
hard to stop from getting turned around
and make the same mistakes

my reputation’s on the line
the final day of ‘59
but like the sun, just watch me shine
today

how ’bout a cheer for the piano virtuoso
i practiced 61 minutes a day
i could never reach the keys
but it was all ok

how ’bout a cheer for the humour in my brother
that could brighten up the darkest nights
it’s just another sign of love
whenever we would fight

it’s all the same twenty years ago
as it is right now
like a tour at the closing show
when i take my bow

my reputation’s on the line
at the start of ‘79
but like the sun, just watch me shine
today
i’ve played this part so many times
since the end of ‘59
but like the sun, just watch me shine
today

written by gerry beckley, ©1984
found on perspective.

walking down 5th avenue
i saw him walking there with you
people see and people talk
word travels fast round my block

might just save you the price of writing
i could save you an hour or two
walking down 5th avenue
walking down 5th avenue

don’t know what to ask of you
my mind is gettin’ so confused
even when i really try
keeps sounding like i’m saying goodbye

somewhere deep in my heart i’m hurtin’
’cause i keep on remembering you
walking down 5th avenue
walking down 5th avenue
such a long way to go

how many times must i look up and say
what kind of fool am i
but i can’t turn my back on the times that we shared
no matter how i try

walking down 5th avenue
can’t seem to shake the thought of you
even in the dark of night
your memories of shining light

though i’m tryin’ to change direction
i pray what i saw ain’t true
walking down 5th avenue
walking down 5th avenue
such a long way to go

do, do, do, do …

a horse with no name

on the first part of the journey,
i was looking at all the life.
there were plants and birds. and rocks and things,
there was sand and hills and rings.
the first thing i met, was a fly with a buzz,
and the sky, with no clouds.
the heat was hot, and the ground was dry,
but the air was full of sound.

i’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name,
it felt good to be out of the rain.
in the desert you can remember your name,
’cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain.
la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la

after two days, in the desert sun,
my skin began to turn red.
after three days, in the desert fun,
i was looking at a river bed.
and the story it told, of a river that flowed,
made me sad to think it was dead.

you see i’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name,
it felt good to be out of the rain.
in the desert you can remember your name,
’cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain.
la la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
la la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la

after nine days, i let the horse run free,
’cause the desert had turned to sea.
there were plants and birds, and rocks and things,
there was sand and hills and rings.
the ocean is a desert, with its life underground,
and a perfect disguise above.
under the cities lies, a heart made of ground,
but the humans will give no love.

you see i’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name,
it felt good to be out of the rain.
in the desert you can remember your name,
’cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain.

la la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
la la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
la la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
la la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
la la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la
la la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la

on the first part of the journey
i was looking at all the life
there were plants and birds and rocks and things
there was sand and hills and rings
the first thing i met was a fly with a buzz
and the sky with no clouds
the heat was hot and the ground was dry
but the air was full of sound

i’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name
it felt good to be out of the rain
in the desert you can remember your name
’cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain
la, la …

after two days in the desert sun
my skin began to turn red
after three days in the desert fun
i was looking at a river bed
and the story it told of a river that flowed
made me sad to think it was dead

you see i’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name
it felt good to be out of the rain
in the desert you can remember your name
’cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain
la, la …

after nine days i let the horse run free
’cause the desert had turned to sea
there were plants and birds and rocks and things
there was sand and hills and rings
the ocean is a desert with it’s life underground
and a perfect disguise above
under the cities lies a heart made of ground
but the humans will give no love

you see i’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name
it felt good to be out of the rain
in the desert you can remember your name
’cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain
la, la …

i look to the east when the day
is done and think of it all
all the thoughts that i’ve seen of
satin seams and tide pool dreams
i look to the sun
as the day is dawning
i carry my dreams
from a moment before
i try to recall
but i find myself yawning
i guess they are gone but there’s more
so i head out the door

all around, listen and you can
hear the sound
on cloudy days seems like i
always feel this way

first break in the day if the time
is right and nobody minds
i stroll down the lane take a breath
of air and drift on a dream
i look to the sun
as the day is warming
consider the things
that have happened before
i feel like i’m one
with the wind on the hillside
i feel like i’m one with the
river that runs by my door

all around, listen and you can
hear the sound
on cloudy days seems like i
always feel this way

all around, listen and you can
hear the sound
on cloudy days seems like i
always feel this way

i look to the sun
as the day is dawning
i carry my dreams
from a moment before
i feel like i’m one
with the wind on the hillside
i feel like i’m one with the
river that runs by my door

all around, listen and you can
hear the sound
on cloudy days seems like i
always feel this way

(repeat and fade)