Song #50 Man on Fire

 

MAN ON FIRE

(Listen HERE) 

Look over yonder there’s a man on fire

Life to death just a fusin’ wire

He figures he can’t get much higher

 

Saw a photo once of a man on the street

Alight with flame from his head to his feet

Gone to his end as a man on fire

 

He always knew it was a long time comin’

Lovely ladies always send him runnin’

It’s best he goes this man on fire

 

Burnin’ up from this unloved feelin’

His heart’s aglow; his mind’s a-reelin’

He’s gonna stop the eventual explosion

And end it all as a man on fire

 

Beautiful woman but he can’t reach her

His feelings smoulder; won’t someone teach her

How to love this man on fire

How to save this man in fire

 

See the smoke from across the valley

Soldiers slinkin’ down a broken alley

His number’s up, he ain’t keepin’ tally – anymore

No more

He figures he can’t get much higher

Goin’ to his end as a man on fire

Fire On Fire On Fire Fire

 

(© Michael Coghlan 1989)

Song #49 Across the Mekong

ACROSS THE MEKONG (listen in mp3)

In a world meant for others
I still find it hard to see
My way to the top
When there’s nothing there for me that I can see

I come from far away
But I’m forced to live here
Where everybody talks different
And not many care for me that I can see

I rowed across the Mekong
I spent months upon my feet
With my child in tow behind me
His mother’s gone to meet a different end

I don’t know whether to tell him
That everything will work out fine
He’s learnt the ways of this land
Where the sun always shines – but not for me

I’ve been 7 years a stranger
But there’s still no place for me
And though I still keep tryin’
I’m unemployed and dyin’ but I’m free

So I’ll leave it to my children
To reap the rich reward
From this land I’m forced to die in
Desolate and bored – where is she?

Did you get across the Mekong
And think of us lifelong
This dream we had to find you
Has long since gone away
But we’re free

(Copyright M. Coghlan 1989)

Commentary

I had begun working as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher and was in daily contact with people who had come to Australia from all sides of the planet. This song is based on the true story of a Cambodian man who escaped from the Khmer Rouge with his son but lost contact with his wife along the way and found himself alone as a single father here in Australia.

Songwriting

 

Rob Childs, SCALA Founder

After hearing my song Adelaide Born a dear friend suggested that I might write a series of songs in tribute to my home city of Adelaide. Aside from the fact that a few local songwriters (Keith Preston and his merry band, and Fergus Maximus and Dr D) have already done a fine job of this, it’s not really a thing I’m likely to do.  I was asked earlier this year why I write songs and my reply was almost glib but it’s the truth. I just have to. It’s just something I’ve always done. It fulfills a need somehow and it wasn’t ever a conscious decision. It just happened – around age 18 and has continued on and off ever since. What I find fascinating is that there are many fine musicians, some of them outstanding, who have never had the slightest inclination to write their own music. They are quite happy excelling in their craft while playing the music of others.

In a recent songwriting competition people were invited to write a song about South Australia. As I have done more travelling round my home state in this COVID world than in the previous 60 years I thought now would be a good time to put that experience into song. But I missed the deadline. The song will get written – I have begun – but it will take weeks. Perhaps months. There are one or two songs I have written very quickly but the norm for me is that they come into being slowly over an undefined timeframe. It’s a mood thing. Call it waiting for the creative urge if you like, but that’s how new songs happen for me. They come in dribs and drabs over time with no timetable; get reworked and changed as they grow, and at some point are ‘finished.’ (In fact many songs are never finished. It is always illuminating to go back and see the original lyrics of a song, or hear the original tune and realise how much it has changed over the years. They tend to have their own organic life where they keep evolving. ) However, I guess if I forced myself to, or if it were important enough to meet a deadline and finish a song by a certain date, I may be able to, but it's clearly not my preferred way of operating.

Songwriting for me is more of an organic process that occurs when the spirit is moved, or when I feel have something to say. In that sense it plays something of a cathartic role – the expression of thoughts and feelings that you need to get out. In the same way that a writer or painter may use their craft to clarify thoughts, exorcise demons, or simply think things through. These kinds of experiences don’t typically run to a timeframe. They happen when they need to. Or when one is moved, inspired, or provoked!

Song #48 Time Alone

TIME ALONE

 

It’s clear to me you’ll never understand

I never ever wanna be your man

I just like my time alone too much

 

Maybe that’s why they went away

Those two ladies who didn’t stay

Because I like my time alone too much

 

So will I reach old age alone?

Still dreaming of that perfect one

Who just likes her time alone too much

 

I want someone who don’t want me

Who wants to love me as I be

Me who likes his time alone too much

 

I’m not sayin’ that you can’t come

I just wanna be free to run

And leave you free to be alone too much

(M. Coghlan 1989)

Commentary

Alone again and at age 35 slowly working out who I am! This song had a very short life. I think there was a short time when I needed to say this out loud. It's complicated but there's a happy ending - I found her :)

Song #47 Adelaide Born

 

ADELAIDE BORN (listen)

 

  Adelaide born, 1954
  Born in the suburbs
  And what the hell for?
  To live for my fellow man,
  Or to grow grey, old and wise?
 

  Adelaide born, 1954
  No longer wonder
  What I'm here for
  'Cos six years ago
  I had my eyes opened by a child.
 

  My dad was a cop
  Out on the west coast
  So I got to travel
  Younger than most
  And that is a habit I find hard to break
  To this day
 

  I spent my youth
  In a fishing town
  In a place called Lincoln
  Where the tuna come in, and people win medals
  And cash in on big crops
  Of herb
 

  Now when people ask
  Why do you stay?
  Go out and see some other way
  Where people live on the edge,
  And cash in on seamier lives.
 

  But I've been gone
  For many a long stretch,
  And I'm back again
  To enjoy the balm
  Of this lovely piece of land
  Out on the plains by the sea
 

  And there are many right here
  Who've been away
  And have felt the load
  Of a harder road
  Where cities are bigger,
  And skies are much bleaker
  And so what?
 

  I'm Adelaide born, 1954
  And I'll be gone -
  There's nothing more sure.
  I don't want to hide away.
  I want to know if my dream's real.
  I don't want to hide away.
  I want to know if my dream's real.

(Copyright Michael Coghlan, 1989)

Commentary

I had grown up singing countless songs about American towns and cities. I have always envied American songwriters for singing about their own places and this was my first attempt to do something similar for my own hometown :)

This song earned another mention on this blog back in May. For a touch of video of a young man.

Song #46 Southern Man; Northern Lady

 

SOUTHERN MAN; NORTHERN LADY

 

I am a southern man

You’re a northern lady

Will we ever agree?

Am I too old for you?

Are you too young for me?

I’m lookin’ at your dream babe

Can you share it with me?

Do you know my dreams?

Will you ever share them with me?

Or is it too far gone?

 

We’re rising the crest of a wave

 

I am a southern man

You’re a northern lady

We could never agree

I was too old for you

You were too young for me

I was starin’ at your dreams babe

You wouldn’t share them with me

You never knew my dreams

You couldn’t share them with me

It was too far gone

We’re riding the crest of a wave

 

(M Coghlan 1989)

Commentary

Exploring what went wrong - age, culture, interests. Lots of fault lines that we couldn't fix. Sang it for a while but have completely forgotten how it went. Don't think it was much good anyway :)

 

Song #45 Walkin' On Air

 

  WALKIN' ON AIR

  (Listen HERE)

  Walkin' on home, walkin' on air
  Everything was good tonight
  Everybody was there
  And I'm walkin' on air - gonna be on the air
 
  Walkin' in hope, walkin' away from despair
  Everything's in tune tonight
  And you're finally there
  And I'm walkin' on air - gonna be on the air

Why did it take so long? what was the missing link?
I knew these chords one hundred million years ago
Why did it take so long? what was the missing link?
Perhaps you had to go for me to find my way

  To my way back home, where I'm gonna sing
  Tell all of my old good friends
  It's the only thing that I wanna do
  Sit here and sing
  Won't somebody pay me to sit here and sing?

Why did it take so long? what was the missing link?
I knew these chords way back when I was a boy
If i don't try it now I might just go to my grave
Never knowing what it's like if I don't give it a try  
 

Walkin' on home, walkin' on air
Everything is good tonight
Everybody is there
And I'm walkin' on air -  gonna be on the air
                                      gonna be on the air
                                      I'm a bit off the air

(Copyright M Coghlan, 1989)

Commentary

The essence of this song arose from a sunny morning in the backyard when I was just walking around the garden playing whatever came out of the air. Obviously part of the ongoing conversation with myself about how much time I should devote to music. Shoulda/coulda/woulda! Has become one of my better songs in my opinion and I often open with this song when playing live.

 

Song #44 Leave Me On The Beach

 

LEAVE ME ON THE BEACH

(Listen) 

Let go of your child awhile

He’s gone to his mother so smile

And leave me on the beach – I don’t want to know

 

Twenty years ago when people got married

And then too when the romance wore thin

She’d never say to him that I’m leaving you

There’s no room here for two

 

But maybe just the fear held them there

I was raised by such an imperfect pair

Who still holds hand together

And I’m a single Dad

 

CHORUS

Where’s my mother Michael?

Or where’s my Dad?

Why don’t we live together – did I do something bad?

 

So you hold in the tears and explain

That we’ll never all live together again

So it’s two homes for you, and two sets of toys

Like so many other boys

 

CHORUS

 

So here I am doing a job for meant for two

Hoping it’s OK what I do

It’s happening all over – it can’t be so bad

Or have we all gone mad?

 

Now for five long years my boy will dream

Remember how long a year used to seem?

That his Mum will come home – come home to stay

And we’ll all go out to play

 

Before the romance wears thin

And Dad comes home stinkin’ of gin

And she takes to eating and living in her dreams

All that he does is all that he means

But they stick together – through thick and through thin

For the children, and produce the likes of me

 

Leave me on the beach – I don’t want to know

Leave me on the beach – the sun is going down

© Michael Coghlan 1988 

Commentary

This song became the title track of the only collection of songs I ever had professionally recorded. I was now a single father. Such a sad but wonderful experience. The song touches on a few of the many issues it through into my life. It was a very difficult time for all of us but the good news is that - despite everything - Hiske and I have remained good friends.

Song #43 200 Years

 

Salcombe, Devon

200 YEARS

(Listen HERE)

You left home as a boy to ride the ocean breeze

You left home as a boy to sail the seven seas

Christmas Day on the ocean so far away from home

If ever you had one on England’s green shores

On England’s green shores

 

And tonight you are certain that you’ve somethin’ to sing

Yes tonight you are sure that you’re so full of song

You’ve come back for a party and a tragic event

To celebrate history however it went

However it went

 

But have you heard of a black man who lives here in pain?

For whom Christmas means nothin’ after 200 years

He’s never been on the ocean nor left his land

For the earth is his mother and the source of all being

The source of all being

 

But you the white wanderer who travels the world

This planet is your backyard to live and to grow in

You’ve come back for the party, the drinks and the song

And how could one blame you - you’ve done no wrong

You’ve done no wrong

 

Sing Happy Birthday Australia with your flag wavin’ and cheers

You’re covered with white skin so go drink your beers

It may as well be this day; it’s as good as any

To bid a warm thank you to this great southern land

This great southern land

 

Sing Happy Birthday Australia with your flag wavin’ and cheers

You’re covered with white skin so go drink your beers

It may as well be this day; it’s as good as any

To bid a warm thank you to this great southern land

That’s very much older than 200 years

Than 200 years

 

(© Michael Coghlan, December 1987)

Commentary

Best read in conjunction with the song before it - Third Fleet. Had just arrived back in Australia for the festive season and wanting to balance the ledger a little. Definitely a folk song; has a kind of sea shanty feel.

 

 

Song #42 Third Fleet

 

THIRD FLEET

(Listen HERE)

Eleven big ships left England one day

They’re gonna sail into Sydney Harbour one day

And all of those people with their skins black or brown

May well see it as a day to frown

And remember the day they lost their land

 

But I’m gonna be there when those boats sail in

I wanna feel the thrill and remember the day

That the white people came and paved the way

For people like me to be here and say

 

CHORUS

I don’t expect you to cheer with me

But I want you to know I’ve travelled the sea

I keep comin’ back to this land you see

‘Cos it’s the best that I’ve seen north or south

I wanna thank you for sharing this land with me (and mine)

 

I’m sorry we didn’t treat you right

We can all get together and make it right

There’s enough room for back, brown and white

Can’t you see that I love this land

I’m no black Australian but I call this home

The hum of this land is a part of me

 

CHORUS

 

But I’m gonna be there when those boats sail in

I wanna feel the thrill and remember the day

That the white people came and paved the way

For people like me to be here and say

 

CHORUS

 

(Copyright Michael Coghlan, 1987)

Commentary

I wrote this song on the eve of Australia's bicentennial. I was living in Holland at the time and feeling quite disconnected from my homeland. I realised that I missed the land of Australia: the land, the dirt, the hum of the desert, the colours, its sense of majesty. And the song tries to reconcile these feelings with the fact that my forebears stole the land from the Aboriginal people. I actually think it's one of my better songs. It has something of a reggae feel. I did make a proper recording of it years ago but I've lost it. So it's another one for the ever-growing to be recorded list. 21/10: a new rough version

Song #41 Northern Winter

 

NORTHERN WINTER

(Listen HERE) 

Northern winter northern home

Northern winter northern home

The sun shines clear here today

Snow lingers shining

The air seems clear

It’s as good as a day gets here

In this northern winter, northern home

 

The forest stands quietly

As the cold wind blows

The few leaves left hanging

Rustle dry sounds

And off in the distance

Unseen but well heard

The cars on the highways

Of this northern land, northern home

 

Take a stroll through the woods

Smell the fresh air

There’s moss underfoot – all gentle and soft

On a carpet of leaves

So precious this day

That calls us outside

In its own wintry way

 

Well I know that it’s beautiful

But you need too many clothes

 

The sun shines clear here today

Snow lingers shining

The air seems clear

It’s as good as a day gets here

In this northern winter, northern home

 

Northern winter, northern home

Northern winter, northern home

Northern home

 

© Michael Coghlan 1987

 Commentary

A song I'm quite proud of. Slow and wistful in the way that still cold days made me feel during Dutch winters. Still to be recorded - DONE!

 

Song #40 Rock'n'Roll Anthem

 

(Don Henley and Band, 2017)

ROCK’N’ROLL ANTHEM

 

Somebody told me it had all been done

Rock’n’roll had nowhere to go

I don’t believe them anymore than I believe you

When you tell me I’m a liar

 

You see I remember when rock was young

Full of life and with places to go

Change the world we cried and off we marched

You tell me it all went wrong – oh so sadly

 

The music lived on but the spirit died

Lead guitar faded but the keyboard soared

Long peaceful hair became short and angry

Tell me I don’t know what I’m saying at all

 

Now we’re living in the 1980s

Every new direction somebody has followed

Every new tune sounds like another of old

 

Feed the world somebody cried

Millions of people are going to die

Now rock’n’roll’s got somewhere to go

I know I’m not lying – the starving are living again

(1987)

Commentary

Trying to say something about rock music needing to reclaim a higher purpose and that perhaps the Live Aid concerts fulfilled this goal. No memory of writing this or singing it. Seems to have been triggered by something specific but don't know what they may have been either. However, in the interests of full disclosure .....

Escape from Manus - Australia's Shame

 

Find this book: Escape from Manus by Jaivet Ealom. Read it. Then ask yourself if you are happy for Australia to behave like this in your name. In our name. Appalling. Disgusting. Every Australian Prime Minister from Howard to Morrison – all of them – should be charged with crimes against humanity. How could we stoop so low?

Like most Australians I am aware of the offshore detention policy applied to refugees who attempt to come here by boat. I have always totally opposed it and it is in stark contrast to what happened in the 70’s when Australia accepted thousands of boat people from SE Asia. But what I was not aware of was the calculated and meticulous torture Australia has designed to break the spirit of these people who merely sought refuge on our shores from tyranny elsewhere.

If you have ever wondered whether Australians could behave as people in Nazi Germany did, well here’s your answer. The answer is a very scary YES. The Nazis would be proud of what Australia has accomplished in our offshore detention centres. After reading Jaivet Ealom’s account of the hell he was subjected to by the Australian authorities there is no doubt in my mind that Australia embarked on a deliberate policy of psychological torture of our most recent boat peoples. While the goal was to discourage people smugglers operating out of Indonesia and Malaysia Australia embarked on an inhumane policy of punishing the victims to achieve this goal. From the moment Jaivet arrives in Christmas Island and is given his tag with a number – he becomes EML109 - he becomes a nameless, stateless nobody to be tortured to breaking point. He could just as well have had the Star of David sewn to his sleeve.

I have never been so ashamed of my country. Somewhere deep down within our collective psyche we have lost our humanity; we have lost our soul. I repeat - find this book: Escape from Manus by Jaivet Ealom. Read it. Then ask yourself if you are happy for Australia to behave like this in your name. Whatever the goals may have been, nothing excuses the deplorable and planned humiliation of people who simply wanted our help. Nothing.

Song #39 Hollywood's Real

 

HOLLYWOOD’S REAL

 

I’ve finally been to the US of A

I started my journey in the town of LA

Screamin’ down the freeway

Doin’ it their way

In the US of A

 

I finally knew that it ain’t no dream

Hollywood’s real, not just silver screen

They’re all cruisin’ down the freeways

Doin’ it their way – in LA

 

They got black people and they got white

All playin’ together on a summer’s night

But killin’ on the freeway

That could only be their way

In the US of A

 

Busker begs money (havin’ a bad day)

Too much talk, not enough song boy

“Get down” says a brother

And no one smiled ‘cept me

 

Pancakes for breakfast

In Lily’s Country Kitchen

You know what she told us?

It was the best in LA!

 

Putting every place on the map in a song

Putting every goddamn town in a song

Now listen to me

I’ve been to Sydney

But I sing of LA

In the US of A

In the US of A

 

(© Michael Coghlan 1987)

Commentary

It's true. After year's of swearing I'd never go there we decided to go back to Australia the long way - via the US. It was exciting to be there. I enjoyed singing this song for some years but have no idea how to play it anymore. Still like the lyrics :)

Light Cycles - Illuminate Adelaide

July 18th, 2021

Light Cycles is one of the flagship events of Illuminate Adelaide, and has been created by Montreal-based multimedia studio Moment Factory. The light and sound installations that entrance as you wander the lit path through the darkness are tailored to specific parts of the gardens. The bamboo garden becomes this wondrous spectacle of dancing light on the densely packed bamboo stalks. Mesmerising beams of light dance and bounce of trees on the other side of the lake in a hypnotic, wondrous spectacle. Elsewhere a myriad of twinkling lights gives the effect of wandering through vast open fields. And the beautiful Victorian glass (Palm House) seemed like it has been sitting there for a hundred plus years just waiting for Light Cycles to realise its full potential.

Each installation is accompanied by soundscapes that are part music, part sound effects. They tantalise as you draw near the next installation and perfectly complement the visual fantasies on offer.

It was a brilliant decision to hold this event in winter. OK – so a few nights may be lost to poor weather – but dragging yourself out into the cold winter night makes you somehow appreciate the whole experience even more. The cold no longer matters as you’re transported to a world of fantasy and wonder – just a little bit Zen really!

No doubt everyone wandering through Light Cycles is aware of how fortunate we are to be living virtually COVID free in South Australia. So it was even more alarming that the early part of the session I attended was a logjam of people in long queues ignoring social distancing and not wearing masks. Organisers have to sort this. Let fewer people in per session and monitor the crowd movement to keep people properly spaced. (As I write Illuminate Adelaide management are working on a plan to address this issue.)

But once past the logjam it was possible to enjoy the rest of the circuit wandering at a leisurely pace and let the senses take over; let your eyes, ears and mind explore the colourful darkness as art, light, technology and sound transform the gardens into – yes it’s a cliché – a winter wonderland!

Song #38 Song for Peter

SONG FOR PETER

LISTEN 

Hey, why are you going away?

Goin’ away you say?

I’ve been away

I’m goin’ home

 

I’m not saying it’s easy

I’m not saying it’s wise

But I know that it’s high time

To retrace my steps

To pick up my roots

To live in the sun and be warm

 

So it’s a journey way down south

As far south as you can go

To see how the other

The other half live

I know this was my home

You’ve all been so fine

There’s a place in my heart for you always

 

But I’ve lived on the other side of the world

The person you’re looking at grew up there

Maybe I’m crazy; maybe I’m wrong

Maybe I can’t stand that southern air

But I’ve got to find out

I’ve got to know

I’ve got to know if I’m dreaming

 

Goodbye good luck good friend

Goodbye good luck good friend

Goodbye

(Amsterdam 1986)

Commentary

Peter and I had gone to the same school in Adelaide, but we weren't close friends. I had just finished a busking in session Amsterdam one day and this guy approached me and said, "Remember me?"  I did and we became close friends. Peter had actually been born in Holland but some time later he decided he needed to return to Australia. I wrote this song for him as a parting gift. I sang it at his farewell party in the big white house in the picture above.

Song #37 Has Anybody Seen the Sun?

 

HAS ANYBODY SEEN THE SUN?

 

Has anybody seen the sun? (x2)

I know it’s shining way down south – shining way down south

On the other side

I know it’s not so important

There are people dying in far off lands

But it’s cold and grey right here

 

Has anybody moved from a land of sunshine

To a land where there’s always rain

If you have you will understand that rain can mean pain

As you sit around inside all day

Waiting for the sky to clear

As you sit around inside all day

Waiting for the rain to go

It’s depression and frustration inside

 

Have you ever lived in a world of beauty

Of space and clear bright light?

Where even in the middle of the darkest winters

The world will still seem right

‘Cos the sky still dawns a deep dark blue

And the sun shines down on you

Or so it seems

And though you may have your problems

They don’t seem quite so bad

When you can walk out into the sun

 

Has anybody seen the sun? (x2)

I know it’s shining way down south – shining way down south

On the other side

I know it’s not so important

There are people dying in far off lands

But it’s cold and grey right here

I’m cold and grey right here

(Holland, 1985) 

Commentary

I really struggled with the weather in northern Europe. In Australian terms they have a 9 month winter and a 3 month spring. And so much of life is spent inside. I did a a few solo gigs in Holland and sang this song at one of them. Went down like a lead balloon! Quite cheerful and upbeat despite the bleating. Needs to be recorded. Still play it live occasionally. 

 

Song #36 Face the Fire

 

FACE THE FIRE

There’s a river on the horizon

It flows any way you want it to

You can move the great big mountains

Move the ground in front of you

 

While the fire burns in front of you

The chance is offered just this once for you

To make your move towards your future

To take what’s there for you

 

You say there is no reason for never doing what you say

Take the path you know is calling

Before the chance is gone away

 

Now the fire burns in front of you

The future lies on the other side for you

Listen deeply to what you know

To what you know is true

 

It’s time to face the fire folks

To put it out before they do

They being those who hold the power

They who know not what they do

 

Yes it’s time to face the fire folks

Yes It’s time to stop all of these jokes

Before the fire burns forever

And swallows up me and you

 

(1985)

Commentary

I can't remember much about the background to this. I still remember how it goes - slow and melodic. It seems to be a metaphorical reflection of both what what was going on in my inner life, and in the external wider world. 

Song #35 The North Wind

 

THE NORTH WIND

 

I came here cos I loved you

I leave now for the same

And as I ride home in the rain

Tears cloud my view

 

I see you standing silent in the wind

Gazing out to see

I know you’re crying for it’s the last time you’ll see me

But soon you’ll sing when you know you’re free of me

 

I had no wish to hurt you, or take your soul

Our worlds apart; our cultures old

Wild and untamed, I don’t belong in your world

‘Cept when your hair is swept by the North Wind

 

It blows in my face now as I journey home

Stops the tears running down my face

It’s the same wind that blows in your land

The North Wind still joins both our hands

 

(Michael Coghlan 1985)

Commentary

The honeymoon was over. Back in Holland again. Relationship strained. I start dreaming about going home . A mournful, plaintive tune with a Celtic feel very much influenced by the music of Alan Stivell. It has the makings of a special song. Properly recorded it could be quite haunting.

 

Song #34 Dear Life

 

The song Dear Life was prompted by the joy with which my young son would crawl across the floor towards me as I sat on the floor playing the mandolin. I think he liked the fact that it was a much smaller instrument than the guitar, and I like to think he was also drawn towards the bright and infectious sound of the mandolin. Whatever his reasons it filled me with the joy of life whenever he did it – it simply gave me a greater appreciation of how dear life is. Corny perhaps, but true :)

Written in 1984.

Listen HERE

Lyrics HERE