Carmel Charlton

MUSIC CAN DO THAT
My mother bought a piano the year that I was born
She never had the chance to learn when she was young
How I loved that piano making up little tunes
Living on a farm far from town

My love for music grew, still it grows today
So many songs going round in my head
Music always draws me like a moth to a flame
An irresistible force begging me

Chorus
Begging me to sing, begging me to share
Make a connection between your heart and mine
Begging me to sing, make you laugh or cry
Music can do that every time
Music can do that every time

Years have gone so fast, the little child has grown
Memories last of the mother that I knew
She would be so proud that I’m still playing now
And that irresistible force is begging me

Chorus

THE LOOKS HE GETS
The only photo he had of him and his mother was stolen as he slept
Taken too his few possessions and his bible
Living on the street is not a life he would have chosen
But depression set in when his mother died
He’s done nothing wrong but he gets moved on
And the looks he gets just cut him like a knife

Kindness has come from strangers who have stopped to hear his story
Taken him home for a shower and a meal
All he asks for is a shelter for those who are sleeping rough
Somewhere to feel safe on the darkest night
Out of the cold, away from crime
Cause the looks he gets just cut him like a knife

Bridge

Mm Lord when we see hearts that are hurting
May we not turn away?
life can change in an instant
And the person on the street could be …………me

All he asks for is a shelter for those who are sleeping rough
Somewhere to feel safe in the darkest night
Out of the cold, away from crime
Cause the looks he gets just cut him like a knife
 

The only photo he had of him and his mother was stolen as he slept
Taken too his few possessions and his bible
Living on the street is not a life he would have chosen
But depression set in when his mother died
He’s done nothing wrong but he gets moved on
And the looks he gets just cut him like a knife
Oh the looks he gets mm Oh the looks he gets
Oh the looks he gets just cut him like a knife

The only photo he had of him and his mother was stolen as he slept

UP DOWN SOUTH            © Carmel Charlton/Patrick O’Leary

I’m going down to Noggerup, Boyanup, Balingup,
On to Cowaramup, where it’s ‘udderly’ divine
When you get to Kojonup, more sheep than people there
Old homesteads and shearing sheds and cool crisp country air
Old homesteads, shearing sheds and cool country air

Chorus
Everything ends with up down south, means ‘place of’ you know
When I’m feeling all fed up, off down south I go
Everything ends with up down south, means ‘place of’ you know
When I’m feeling all fed up, off down south I go    Repeat

On the coast at Yallingup you’ll find caves and lots of surf
Karri forests at Manjimup, no price on what they’re worth
Go by train to Dwellingup on the Hotham Valley line
Sweet boronia at Nannup, I go there all the time
Boronia at Nannup, I go there all the time   Chorus

I’m going down to Myalup, Dardenup, Ongerup
Deep in the Porongerups, I’ll stop to taste the wine
Frankland flows through Nornalup, fish are biting there
Denmark’s name was Kurrabup, black swans in the air
Denmark’s name was Kurrabup, black swans everywhere

I’d like to thank the aborigines; the Noongar tribe
For the magic names that describe the land
Special places they’d find 
Gnowangerup means ‘Mallee Fowl’, Tambellup ‘place of thunder’.
What a heritage we have in these places filled with wonder
What a heritage in a land filled with wonder 

Chorus ….

Everything ends with up down south, means ‘place of’ you know
When I’m feeling all fed up, off down south and off down south and off down south I  (clap clap) Gotta get down!

WHISPERS ON THE WIND  
I’ve heard so many stories; I’ve been to many places,
I’ve travelled near and far and far and wide. 
While sitting all alone, staring at the ocean, 
I’ve heard so many whispers on the wind.
People that I know now, or haven’t seen for years,
Come drifting on the memories of time.
Sometimes my thoughts will linger on one of two of them,
I say a little prayer and hope they’re fine.

Chorus
Whispers on the wind, I don’t know the future,
Whispers on the wind, make the most of everyday.
Whispers on the wind, tell people that you love them.
I’ve heard all this in whispers on the wind.
Maybe there’d be peace in every corner of the world,
If people stopped to listen for awhile;
None of us are here for long when all is said and done.
Time we listened to those whispers on the wind.
Stop to smell the flowers and wonder how they grow,
Watching seabirds homeward fly.
Wonder at the universe, here we are all spinning ‘round.
Time we listened to those whispers on the wind.
Chorus

We need hope to keep us going, someone to understand.
Don’t know what the future holds,
Only know who holds it in His hands.

Stop to smell the flowers and wonder how they grow,
Watching seabirds homeward fly.
Wonder at the universe, here we are all spinning ‘round.
Time we listened to those whispers on the wind.
Whispers on the wind, I don’t know the future,
Whispers on the wind, make the most of everyday.
Whispers on the wind, tell people that you love them.
I’ve heard all this in whispers on the wind.
I’ve heard all this in whispers on the wind.