Joan Armatrading Album

Have you met my family
Wouldn't take long to know them well
Though they number from one to a million
In this house we all dwell

Say hello to Jo, she's a goddess
And to Paul, he is a saint
And Adam, he's from the forest
And to Jane, all day she paints

You ask me how I feel now
Well I will tell you no lie
Jessie, you bring the sunshine
And you can see it in her eyes

Johnny tends the garden
And little David sows the seeds
Our manna is from heaven

He gives us all we need

He is Peter
He's a piper, yeah
And they will never grow old
So I bid you welcome
Welcome brothers, yeah
Welcome to the fold

You ask me how I feel now
Well I will tell you no lie
Jessie, you bring the sunshine
And you can see it in her eyes

Johnny tends the garden
And little David sows the seeds
Our manna is from heaven
He gives us all we need

You came into town
With your big ideas
You'll find out
That life just ain't that
Way here

There's such a lot of
Big fish in the sea
But don't take my word
Just sit back and you'll see

While closing the door
Turned and said I've seen you baby
But I've got you fooled
And so has
X million more...

There's such a lot of
Pretence in this world
But don't take my word
Just sit back and you'll see

So settle down [settle down]
City girl [city girl]
Make life what it should be
Lots of laughs [lots of laughs]
All you want [all you want]
That's how it oughtta to be

But don't take my word
Just sit back and you'll see

While closing the door
Turned and said I've seen you baby
But I've got you fooled
And so has
X million more, yeah

There's such a lot of
Pretence in this world
But don't take my word
Just sit back and you'll see

So settle down [settle down]
City girl [city girl]
Make life what it should be
Lots of laughs [lots of laughs]
All you want [all you want]
That's how it oughtta to be

But don't take my word
Just sit back and you'll see
Don't take my word
Just sit back and you'll see

I've been waking up every morning
Not one ray of sunshine through my pane
I've been sleeping wrapped warm in sadness, yeah
Not a smile upon my face
Until one day
Glad day
That you came along
I've been singing this song
Trying to chase the frown away

Hear me singing now, sadness
I can't be with you
I don't need your hand no more
Laughter, I'd like to be with you
Why don't you come knocking, knocking
Knocking at my door

Oh I'd like to spend a little time, baby
By your fire
I'd like to spend a little time, baby
By your door
And if he calls me, smile on baby
I'll come running, oh yeah yeah
Just to spend a little time, baby
By your door

Speaking of love
You ask how much you should give
Expect and receive
Take what you could, give what you must coz
Whatever's for us, for us
Mmmmmm
Whatever's for us, for us

Speaking of pride
You ask but why, what for
And what it should be
Do what you will, say what you must coz
Whatever's for us, for us

Speaking of life
You ask how, how right you are
To be feared or loved
Heed not a lie, fear not to trust coz
Whatever's for us, for us
Mmmmmm
Whatever's for us, for us

Newspaper clippings
All over your bedroom floor
And there's pictures of you since you were a girl
Since you were a girl of four
You're a child star
They ordained you
You're a child star
At that time that was right
But you're thirty-four today
You gotta stop, stop acting like a child

Been such a long time baby
Since you were knee high
And you're much too old for pampering
And you're much too young to die
Much too old for lollipops
And not old enough for lies
You're a grown woman, stop acting
Acting like a child

Box of heavy tablets
Lying by your bed
And there's sadness clogging up your memories
They block your head
You're playing games, games with nature
Games you can't afford to lose
How can you find out who you are
Surrounded by the blues

Visionary mountains
Above and afar
Like answers to questions
On life
Love
And the longing to survive

Truth all distorted
Are words I create
Today the parting
Tonight
Tonight
At the peak of your

Visionary mountains
Above and afar
Like answers to questions
On life
Love
And the longing to survive

I was very sad last night
You came by
I was so glad though sadness covered
The smile I kept for you
I was waiting for the cloud to pass over
Then I could show my love

You could have made me laugh if you'd stayed
But you left
I was more confused than I was before you came
I was frightened
I saw insanity and tears
I shouted for you to stay

It could have been better
If you had held my hand
And smiled at me
Or questioned why
My face was so distorted

I'm back in the sunlight again
Oh I'm so glad
It's only joy I wanna give to you
Sometimes I feel lost and desperate
Please forgive me
If I show no sign of reasoning
Or consideration
In my bleaker times

Caught this bit of news
From unexpected quarters
You in your close-knit family
Who says what you should be after
Don't you know what you should be after
Unless you consult the head of the table
The head of the table
He's stern and strong

Caught this bit of news
From unexpected quarters
Such a close-knit family
Keeps you on the straight and narrow
You find that you're unable
To do what you want
The head of the table
He's stern and strong

So run along
Little boy run along
The head of the table would bend
If you're able to prove that you're right
And he's wrong

Mister, so you have to go away, yeah
I love you like a sister, mother, wife
And should you not return
I guess I'll love you all my life

Mister, it's so very hard to say goodbye
I love you yesterday, today, until I die
You think you have to run before you really wanna stay, yeah
But if you wanna go, you'd better go

La, la, la...
Yeah, if you wanna go then go

I'll place an extra pillow on my double bed
If on your travels you need a place to rest you weary head
Remember me

Mister, it's so very hard to say goodbye
I love you yesterday, today, until I die
And should you not return
I guess I'll love you all my life

Two weeks, I went back
Trying to find my way in society
Found me a job
Showing consideration
For my relations
I gave it a try

Mother I have tried and cried
Father I have tried and cried
Brothers I have tried and cried
Tried it your way
Now I'll do it my way

Two weeks, I smiled
Though in my heart I cried repeated mistakes
Long left behind
Felt no desire
To return
But I gave it a try

Mother I have tried and cried
Father I have tried and cried
Brothers I have tried and cried
Tried it your way
Now I'll do it my way
Now I'll do it my way

Alice is acting very, very strange
Face almost perfect
But her mind's deranged
She's got a blissful smile
Though a sad exchange for life

Alice expecting a perfect day
Luminous daydreams
Homecoming strays

Alice in wonderland
Acting polite
Is it what she knows
Or what she invites

Alice responding to father's will
That refuses the lie
Swears she won't kill

Alice in wonderland
Wondering why
It's harder to live than it is to die
Alice in wonderland
Acting polite
Is it what she knows
Or what she invites

Alice responding to father's will
That refuses the lie
Swears she won't kill

To you it's just another day
When you see the sun you say
That's the way the day begins
And promises you make
Do you really mean to keep
Or are they words you say to fill the silent space

And when there's an empty moment
Won't you dedicate it to me
Or is it spent on burning incense
Or painting rooms in white
Lord won't you call me today just to say hello

Conversation is the name of the game
We got phone calls and letters
And brown paper parcels with To My Baby
To my baby
To my baby
With all my love

And when there's an empty moment
Won't you dedicate it to me
Or is it spent on burning incense
Or painting rooms in white
Lord won't you call me today just to say hello

You hear me cry out
Won't you save me
You smile to my face
Yet still deprave me
I need proof
You're a mean old man
Alright

In this semi-mad world
It's best not to think
Roll in your boat
And you're bound to sink
You laugh with your mouth
But your eyes don't blink
You're a mean old man
Alright

But the lord above
He knows that you lie
And your false complexion's
Just another alibi
You laugh with your mouth
But your eyes don't blink
And I'm sure glad
I've seen through you
And it seems all my friends
Are coming to

You spell me green
Though the colour's blue
The debt collector has his eyes on you

But the Lord above
He knows that you lie
And your false complexion's
Just another alibi
You laugh with your mouth
But your eyes don't blink
And I'm sure glad
I've seen through you
And it seems all my friends
Are coming to

You're a highfaluting man
Mixing with dinner party freaks
And you're dating only ladies known as the circle elite
You put me down as part exchange
And left me there with all my dreams
Waiting at the gates of all the king's gardens

It does you good to know
You've got a pretty face
Your manners quite distinguished
As a gentleman's ought to be
You hurt this girl you left behind
You put me down as part exchange
Opened my eyes to all the king's gardens

Feel the pressure rising
Getting higher and higher
Come on home, crazy baby
Light my fire
I'll make you happy
Make you laugh
Think about the future
And not the past

You're a highfaluting man
Mixing with dinner party freaks
And you're dating only ladies known as the circle elite
You put me down as part exchange
And left me there with all my dreams
Waiting at the gates of all the king's gardens

Well you try to break me up
But I'll write it down as experience
Once bitten twice shy
But I'll make my comeback
You broke up but I still will try
I'll keep on trying until I
Open the gates to all the king's gardens