David Thomas Lyrics
The Sound Of The Sand
(1981)



Birds Are A Good Idea

Birds are a good idea
I heard those hearts in rooms
Tapping on the window panes
They remembered what birds say
Birds say Happiness
I saw eyes light up
I heard eyes light up.

Birds are a good idea
I saw saddened eyes
Looking at the shoes go by
Then they remembered what birds say
The birds say Happiness
I saw eyes light up
I heard eyes light up.

I think the birds are a good idea.

Writers: Thomas - Moxham - Thompson
©1981 Hearpen Music / Complete Music / Island Music (World).


Yiki Tiki

Remember the birds?
Remember the shoes I wore?
Remember the things I said before?
I think 'em again
A wink of the eye to you
I thought 'em all up for you.

I think about you
It's one of my favorite things to do
I remember the things we learned today
I remember the things we thought today
I think of our happiness
I like it alot I'll sing it again.

Yiki-tiki-takezadu.

I thought of a new way to say the same old thing
I thought I'd jump up
Twirl my arms like a windmill
I thought I'd jump up
Spin around like a lighthouse
I've thought of a new way to say the same old things.

Writers: Thomas - Fier - Thompson
©1981 Hearpen Music / Rough Trade Music / Island Music (World)


Sound Of The Sand

I heard a sigh
Quietly it comes
Traces of sadness linger in your eyes.

Please bear this in mind
Someone will find this in time.

The sound says Hush
The sound says
Do not cry.

There comes a time
Quietly it does
Traces of sadness are kissed from your eyes.

Writers: Thomas - Moxham - Thompson
©1981 Hearpen Music / Complete Music / Island Music (World)


The New Atom Mine

Here's the physicist working in the Fermi Lab
Lights burn every night
Around every bend there comes no end
He's working in Atom Mine and going down down down.

Lights burn in the night every night
He whistles a happy tune hums like a loon
The night passes over like a summer's mist
There's something very grand he sees.

Writers: Thomas - Fier - Greaves - Thompson
©1981 Hearpen Music / Rough Trade Music / Albion Music / Island Music (World)


Big Dreams

The big dreams get big
They get too big
What becomes of the too big dreams?
Stop.

Harry burst the bubble yesterday
They thought he was loonie
They thought he was a cray nut.


Don't look under the rock.

The big dreams get big
So?
They're no good that way
So?
They're never real anymore
So?
They're too big
They're not real
Stop.
Writers: Thomas - Moxham
©1981 Hearpen Music / Complete Music (World)


Happy To See You

I was so happy to see you
I was so happy I danced a jig
I was so happy I fell on the ground and jumped up again
I was so happy I fell into the basement.

Writers: Thomas.
©1981 Hearpen Music


Crush This Horn, Part 2

I blow my horn
It goes Me-me-me
It crawled out from under a rock you see?

Writers: Thomas - Fier
©1981 Hearpen Music / Rough Trade Music


Confuse Did

What do you do with a wreck of a car?
What do you do with a long grey hair pin?
What do you do with a certain look?
Who confused you?
Did you?

What did you say
That love says that love won't say?
What do you do with a searching look?
Who confused you?
Did you?

What pulls the long face
Launches the heavy sighs?
What can you say with all certainty?
Who confused you?
Did you?

What can you say certainly now?
What would you do if all hope walked away?

Writers: Thomas - Fier
©1981 Hearpen Music / Rough Trade Music


Man's Best Friend

The details of my fabulous past
Noisy clatter cans of my fabulous past
They come right in sit right down
Very pleased with themselves
I wish I could put them on the bus or something.

My feet are my special friends
They ask no questions
They push me home
Swing low
Push me home.

Writers: Thomas - Fier - Thompson - Thornton
©1981 Hearpen Music / Rough Trade Music / Island Music (World)