A Song for Africa

  A Song for Africa May 2007
(For John and Simon)
1
Come when you’re ready, the door’s always open
The locks and keys are all missing and everything’s broken
Ain’t no sign or number saying “this way, or that”
But then I never had to tell you, where I was at
I’m not hard to find, when you know how to find me
Dragging that old suitcase of memories behind me

Just come when you’re ready, burn your bridges all down
Let your heart do the talkin’
And your feet do the walkin’
“Cause they know where you’re bound
2
Come in the winter, come in the fall, but let me tell you
That the springtime is the best time of them all
When the poppy and daffodil burst into flame
The whole countryside’s on fire,
Every village and shire, echoing one name
This is England, my England,
I’ll never leave her again

And there’s a message going out on the wire tonight
And if I’m hearing it right, someone’s whispering my name;
“Welcome home, welcome home boy,
We’re so glad that you came!”
3
But I’m still out there on the deck, every Saturday night
Hangin’ loose, what the heck, and the mood is just right
Simon’s the D.J. I watch him sliding between
A cut-throat, African sunset, and the record machine
Fire’s cracklin’ and blazing, John’s a-stokin’ her up
And if you’re running on empty, just pass me your cup!
4
And I look back, I do, those were surely the days
That were simple and true, don’t care what anyone says
And though it’s many a memory that’s broken many a heart
It’ll take more than an ocean, to keep us apart
You’re my spirit, my fire, my blood and my kin
I’ll never give up believing that I’ll see you again
5
Just look up at that moon, in that African sky,
Hey! It’s the same one that shines down on England tonight!
And the stars, tiny mirrors, re-calling each one
Of our hopes and endeavours, under the sun
Heaven’s reflection, each one has a face,
Each one has a place
In God’s scrap book collection
6
Just come when you’re ready, you’ll know when it’s time
When the magic is flowing, with new poetry and rhyme
And we’ll sing a song for Africa
And all her sweet mysteries
And we’ll plant it in England
Beside the old chestnut trees…

And we’ll change this whole world
Godammed if we don’t
I can’t live without giving,
God help me I won’t

Just come when you’re ready, for right or for wrong
I’ll wait for you forever, if it takes you that long
Bring me all of your sunshine, and all of your rain
Bring me all of your laughter, and all of your pain
Bring whatever it takes; choose the secret hi-ways,
The ones in your heart, where the music still plays

Bring me all of what’s left, of your years and your days
And we’ll put them together,
Both yours and mine too
‘Till we see the big picture,
At last, shining through
For
I believe in a world, that we’re not living in,
It’s living inside us, it don’t end, or begin
I’ve felt it in silence; I’ve seen it in dreams
There’s a door that is no door,
That you can never go in

Just come when you’re ready
Not a moment before
And like ghosts, to the shadows
We will open that door












Copyright Scotty 2007