If you’re wondering what it is that Fran’s wailing about, all the Ode era lyrics are here. The b-sides lyrics aren’t official, so watch out for mistakes! For all other Travis lyrics, see Travis.ographyAll lyrics are copyright of Fran Healy
Ode to J. Smith
- Chinese Blues
- J. Smith
- Something Anything
- Long Way Down
- Broken Mirror
- Last Words
- Quite Free
- Get Up
- Friends
- Song To Self
- Before You Were Young
J. Smith EP
Something Anything
Song To Self
Chinese Blues
The snow was falling on his shoulders by the side of the road
And he watched as the sun went down
Falling on the buildings
Swallowing the children
It’s the gun in your back
It’s the heart attack
It’s the way you look back before you step out
In time to see the number of the bus that’s running you down
A million lonely people with their head in the sand
Trying to make some sense of what they don’t understand
Waiting on somebody just to give them a hand
You’re designed to fall apart on the day the warranty ends
And you try but it just can’t start
Running round in circles
Knocking over hurdles
It’s the knife in your back
It’s the heart attack
It’s the way you look back before you step out
In time to see the shadow of the one that’s cutting you down
A million lonely people with their head in the sand
Trying to make some sense of what they don’t understand
Waiting on somebody just to give them a hand
The snow was falling on his shoulders by the side of the road
And he watched as the lights came on below
And the children were sleeping
And the women were weeping
There was nobody keeping him here.
J. Smith
There’s a man on the street
And he looks at his feet from his window
And he stares at the sun
And he curses the moon for his shadow
OH-OH-OH
Take a leaf from his book
Take a thread from his suit
He’s a new man
And he prays to his god
That he reaps his reward
For his new plan
Oh, the mould has been cast
The radio’s in the bath
yeah, yeah, yeah
Salve, pia anime
Labor tuus nunc ad terminum
Sed, per deos, vade retro!
Nomen nusquam video
Carbo in culo in aeternitatem
Placet Satanae te vedere!
Something Anything
Like a melody that is impossible to play, I wait
In my memory there’s a part of you that’s gone away
To keep my mind from wandering, I’m wondering
To keep my mind from falling in, I’m following
Something anything
Just to keep believing
Just to keep me breathing
For a moment longer
Something anything
Just to keep believing
Just to keep me breathing
For a moment longer
I’d tell you anything
If I had anything to say, yeah
I keep it bottled in
Cos there’s a time and there’s a place for this, yeah
I keep my story where it is
And act as if I don’t even know what it is
When all I need is
Something anything
Just to keep believing
Just to keep me breathing
For a moment longer
Something anything
Just to keep believing
Just to keep me breathing
For a moment longer
Long Way Down
It’s a long way down
Above the two tone town
And it’s not funny when you’re stuck in the middle
I’m coming up for air
I could be anywhere
It makes no difference when you live in a puddle
Now that I see it
How can I breath
When my heart’s in my mouth
And not on my sleeve
Better run little rabbit
Back to your hole in the ground
It’s a long way down
It’s a long way down
The people look so small
Sliding off the wall
Getting dizzy as the fall in the gutter
I watch the seagull
Swooping past the steeple
Crying for his dinner as he shits on the sinners
Now that I see it
How can I breathe
When my heart’s in my mouth
Instead of my sleeve
Better run little rabbit
Back to your hole in the ground
It’s a long way down
Mama
An eye for an eye
You’d say you’d never take a side
Papa
I’m too young to die
They’re never taking me
They’re never taking me alive
They’re never taking me alive
They’re never taking me alive
Broken Mirror
Each time you go away
Part of you turns to grey
The jingle of the chains
Singled
Rearrange
Broken mirror steal my reflection
Tell me what you see
A hundred shattered eyes in the looking glass
Staring back at me
Inside
Inside
Inside tolls the bell
Outside all is well
Broken mirror steal my reflection
Tell me what you see
A hundred shattered eyes in the looking glass
Staring back at me
I never want to be alone
I never ever want to go home
This I know for sure
Last Words
Try to shine a light into the dark
Corners of the mind and of the heart
Find out what you’r carrying round
Things you can’t remember having found
Holding on
The best you can
Finding out
In the nick of time
But the last words
Are hanging on my phone
Oh the last words
Even when you’re standing on your own
Now the last words
Are lying on my floor
Ah the last words
Try to find a place you can begin
Begin to fill the space you’re living in
Rip it uo and start it all again
Turning all your enemies to friends
Oh oh oh oh
Holding on
The best you can
Finding out
In the nick of time
But the last words
Are hanging on my phone
Oh the last words
Even when you’re standing on your own
Now the last words
Are lying on my floor
Ah the last words
Oh the last words
Are hanging on my phone
Oh the last words
Even when you’re standing on your own
Now the last words
Are lying on my floor
Ah the last words
Oh the last words
Quite Free
There’s a boy I know so well
He hides inside his padded cell
And he can see
That he will never be quite free
He takes his time
Steps carefully
There’s a girl I see sometimes
She hides behind a dirty mind
And she can see
That she will never be quite free
She takes her time
Steps carefully
Free to make your mind up
Free to choose your fate
Free to hold your hand up
Free don’t leave me standing in the way
Cause I like you
And I’d like to
Be free, be free, be free, be free
Don’t stop when you really want to let it go
There’s a place I know so well
To escape my tired spell
Cos we can see
That we will never be quite free
So take your time
Step carefully
Free to make your mind up
Free to choose your fate
Free to hold your hand up
Free don’t leave me standing in the way
Cause I like you
And I’d like to
Be free, be free, be free, be free
Yeah I like you
And I’d like to
Be free, be free, be free, be free
Get Up
I wish someone would write me a song
Or tell me a story
So I don’t have to worry
I need a little love and a hand to hold
Somebody old to watch over me
I need a little time so I don’t have to hurry
Oh, you say it all
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
But I don’t wanna get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta wake up
To the situation
I wish someone would answer the phone
Stop leaving me hanging on
I’m feeling like a little ship out on the ocean
I need a little love and a hand to hold
Somewhere to hold the frustration
I need a little cause for celebration
Oh, you say it all
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
But I don’t wanna get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta wake up
To the situation
Growing up
Checking notes
So you know
Just, just which way to go
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up…
You just gotta
You just gotta, you gotta
You just gotta, you gotta, gotta
Oh, you say it all
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
But I don’t wanna get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta wake up
To the situation
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
But I don’t wanna get up
You gotta get up
You gotta get up
Friends
Who cheers you up
When you are down?
Who makes you cups of coffee?
Who picks you up
When you’re in town?
Whatever makes you happy
And I’m glad you’re better now
But I’m sad you’re not around
Friends
Won’t ever desert you
Or turn against
Friends
Won’t love you and leave you
To mend the fence
Who wakes you up
When you’re late for work?
Who makes the bed so lovely?
Who found your sock
Who ironed your shirt?
Who doesn’t think you love me?
And I’m glad I’m better now
But I’m just sad you’re not around
Friends
Will never deceive you
Or turn against
Friends
Won’t love you and leave you
To mend the fence
Song To Self
I’m singing a song to myself
I’m singing a song to myself
Pictures in your mind
Out of focus and unkind
Picture me
I picture you
Outside the sun is shining
At the back of your mind there’s a memory
By the time you hear this I’ll be gone
I’m singing a song to myself
Cos I don’t belong any longer
Just making it up in my head
This feeling is strong and getting stronger
Do you see the light?
Tell me you see the light
Just making it up in my head
Cos I need someone to sing along with
Sing along with
Pictures in your heart
Out of focus, torn apart
Picture me
I picture you
Outside the moon is shining
At the back of your mind there’s a memory
By the time you hear this I’ll be gone
I’m singing a song to myself
Cos I don’t belong any longer
Just making it up in my head
This feeling is strong and getting stronger
Do you see the light?
Tell me you see the light
Just making it up in my head
Cos I need someone to sing along with
Singing a song to myself
Before You Were Young
In the days before you were young
We used to sit in the morning sun
We used to turn the radio on
What happened?
We’d see our lies in the aisles of fate
We’d take our cradles to the grave
But even then we’re never safe
From danger
And if you ever need me call
I will be there waiting
When you fall
You know I will
I’ll love forever
I’ll never say never
But I’ve only got two hands
Ansd I never learned to dance
I’ll never get a second chance
Whatever
I’ll take the breathe away from your sighs
And wipe the tears away from your eyes
And hope the fire never dies
Inside you
And if you ever need me call
I will be there waiting
When you fall
You know I will
I love you
I love you
I love you
In the days before you were young
We used to sit in the morning sun
We used to turn the radio on
What happened?
Sarah
La la la…
Where are you going tonight?
Where do you dance when you turn off the light?
And your eyes as they roll in your head
Spin you around as you lie on the bed
But I’m not keeping time
Upon the creeping vine, vine
He was the one made you fall
But he couldn’t help you at all, not at all
So he packed up and jumped from the wall
Pushing his luck past the ghosts in the hall
Still I’m not keeping time
Upon the creeping vine, vine
Oh, Sarah
You’ve done it all to yourself
With your bottle of gin on the shelf
And your love letters sent to yourself
Oh, Sarah
You used to say you were lucky
Now your luck’s running off down the stairs
To the arms of another
At the back of her mind there’s a photograph
Of a child all alone in the dark
She can tell by the bell ringing back at her
She’s lost
Where are you going tonight?
Dressed like a ragdoll with holes in your tights
And your eyes as they roll in your head
Spin you around as you fall out the bed
But I’m not keeping time
Upon the creeping vine, vine
Oh, Sarah
You’ve done it all to yourself
With your bottle of gin on the shelf
And your love letters sent to yourself
Oh, Sarah
You used to say you were lucky
Now your luck’s running off down the stairs
And you realize nobody cares
Take the bottle of gin from the shelf
And pour me another
La la la…
Tail of the Tiger
Get out of bed while there’s a reason
Stand in the sun while there’s a season
Hold me again just like you mean it
Tell all your friends just how you’re feeling
But you hold back the tears feel like a liar
Covering all of your fears all your desire
Finding you’re touching the tail of the tiger
Out in the dark
Look’s like the wheels just keep on spinning
So pour me a drink while we are winning
Up at the top they won’t forget you
Don’t ever stop they’re out to get you
But you hold back the tears feel like a liar
Covering all of your fear all your desire
Finding you’re touching the tail of the tiger
Out in the dark
It’s so far between each star
So far
And it’s so dark between each spark
So dark
But you hold back the tears feel like a liar
Covering all of your fears all your desire
Finding you’re touching the tail of the tiger
Out in the dark
Used To Belong
A long time ago
Light years away
I had to go
You had to stay
Look at you now
What does await?
Sometimes you lose
Sometimes you win
Go to sleep
Go to sleep and tell me
That you’ll dream of me
Wake up in the river lying next to me
Waiting at the end of the line
Cos you used to belong
Used to be me and you
But now I don’t know any more
And all used to be real
Used to believe in it
But now I don’t know anymore
Take away the pain
Take away the good
Hold me like a child again
See me like you should
Go to sleep
Go to sleep and tell me
That you’ll dream of me
Wake up in the river lying next to me
Waiting at the end of the line
Cos you used to belong
Used to be and you
Now I don’t know any more
And all used to be real (?)
Used to believe in it
But now I don’t know anymore
Song To Self (extended version)
I’m singing a song to myself
I’m singing a song to myself
Pictures in your mind
Out of focus and unkind
Picture me
I picture you
Outside the sun is shining
At the back of your mind there’s a memory
By the time you hear this I’ll be gone
I’m singing a song to myself
Cos I don’t belong any longer
Just making it up in my head
This feeling is strong and getting stronger
Do you see the light?
Tell me you see the light
Just making it up in my head
Cos I need someone to sing along with
Sing along with
Pictures in your heart
Out of focus, torn apart
Picture me
I picture you
Outside the moon is shining
At the back of your mind there’s a memory
By the time you hear this I’ll be gone
I’m singing a song to myself
Cos I don’t belong any longer
Just making it up in my head
This feeling is strong and getting stronger
Do you see the light?
Tell me you see the light
Just making it up in my head
Cos I need someone to sing along with
I have no direction
Tonight is no exception
No light
No reflection
All my prayers, your interventions
Wrap your words around me
Round and round til they surround me
By the time you hear this I’ll be gone
I’m singing a song to myself
Cos I don’t belong any longer
Just making it up in my head
This feeling is strong and getting stronger
Do you see the light?
Tell me you see the light
Just making it up in my head
Cos I need someone to sing along with
Singing a song to myself
The Ballad of J. Smith
He watched the shadows
On the walls of his room
And the silence will speak too soon
And he held her tightly
So tight he could tell
He knew the feeling so well
He said “Pretty baby will you marry me?”
She said “You’d look shit upon my family tree”
And that’s when he realised he’d have to start again
And just when you think you’ve got it figured out
They light seven candles and you’re blowing them out
You know that you’re going to have to light them all again
You see her turning night into day
And the broken television display
And I know you’re hurting
But tonight I can pray
Cos you’ve got to think for yourself
Lie down everyone
Close your eyes and look for the sun
Even they don’t know where it’s gone
Reminiscing of days when you knew that you belong
He said “Pretty baby will you marry me?”
She said “You’d look shit upon my family tree”
And that’s when he realised he’d have to start again
And just when you think you’ve got it figured out
They light seven candles and you’re blowing them out
You know that you’re going to have to light them all again
