So Long Ago The Garden

1973

Published on Bandcamp on October 10, 2021

Combines all CD releases but with I Hope I'll See You In Heaven replaced by Kulderachna

This album was recorded at AIR studios in London, England, and released in early November 1973, possibly in October

MGM Versions (US and France) [1973, 1974] and Myrrh Records Version [1984]

meet me at the airport (fly fly fly)

[Go to Song Page]

Took a plane to Minnesota to see my lady love
The cloud was far below me and the sky was high above
And when the captain called the flight time
Well my heart cried out this song
It's still an hour till arrival
And that's an hour much too long

Fly fly fly
My baby gets me high
I spend too much time in taxicab
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky
And with a lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

We'll honeymoon in Haifa and have lunch in Galilee
We'll hitchhike up through Switzerland and drop in at L'Abri
We'll spend our winters in Laguna
And our summers on the farm
Spend the rest of life in heaven
Locked in each other's arm

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time in taxicabs
Please don't ask me why
I can't tell you

Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky
And with a lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die
And then after

Fly fly fly
My baby gets me high
Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky [x2]

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time just hanging round the airport
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Seven forty seven, halfway to heaven
A lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time in taxicabs
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky
And with a lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time just hanging round the airports
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Seven forty seven, halfway to heaven
A lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time in taxicabs
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky
And with a lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

it's the same old story

[Go to Song Page]

Now it's the same old story
And the same old stage
Though the cast is different
And you're looking at a different page
All the lines seem familiar
As you try to memorize your part
And when you finally meet the lady
You know she's gonna break your heart

Now it's the same old story
Though you approach it from a different place
And the lady is lovely
She wears such a beautiful face
And though you try hard to stop it
You feel the hopeless situation start
You're in love with the lady
And you know she's gonna break your heart

It's the same old story
Just read between the lines
Your heart will end up broken
And you'll tell yourself that love is just a state of mind (Ah ah ah)

Yeah it's the same old story
And you know just how it's gonna end
You're gonna wind up losing
So there's no reason to pretend
But you go through the motions
And you tell her that you'll never part
You say your love will last forever
But you know she's gonna break your heart

And though you try hard to stop it
You feel the hopeless situation start
You're in love with the lady
And you know she's gonna break your heart
Well you know she's gonna break your heart
You know she's gonna break your heart
You know she's gonna break your heart

It's the same old story
You tell her that you'll never never part
You're in love with the lady
But you know she's gonna break your heart

It's the same old story
I do, I do, I do remember all those lonely nights
Sitting and thinking on a cold and empty stage
It's the same old story
And the same old stage

lonely by myself

[Go to Song Page]

If I could find someone who really cared for me
Someone to share my love and keep me company
If I could find someone, I'd let them take control
And in exchange for love I'd give my very soul

It's such a lonely life, I almost cry each night
'Cause fate has put me on the shelf
I get so lonely, so lonely by myself

If I could find someone who really loved me right
They'd make my life complete, they'd make my soul shine bright
I've looked around the world, I've walked down every street
Still I can't find no one to give me what I need

It's such a lonely life, I almost cry each night
'Cause fate has put me, fate has put me on the shelf
I get so lonely, so lonely by myself

I get so lonely, so lonely
So lonely by myself

Who can I turn to, is there anybody there
Doesn't anybody care
Oo-ooh, doesn't anybody listen
Doesn't anybody care

be careful what you sign

[Go to Song Page]

I was walking down the road when I bumped into you
I was walking down the road when I bumped into you
Mmm you stopped me, you touched me, you looked me in the eye
I had a feeling that you knew me, I decided you must die
I pulled out my Thornton special, I shot you in the head
I threw you in the alley way and I left you for dead

Uh

Then a man with a hat came up from behind
The sky went black and I thought I was blind
He put his hand inside my jacket and left a million dollar bills
He slipped his hand into my pocket and gave me women and thrills
And when I turned around to thank him, there was no one there but me
And both my hands were filled with sand, I was standing by the sea

We had dinner at eight and women at nine
The party was great till we ran out of wine
There was a knock upon the bedroom door, my knees began to shake
And this man came in and melted all the candles on my cake
He said I, I've come here to escort you, it's time for you to go
He opened up my body and he took away my soul

I was running down the road
I was running down the road, I was trying to leave
An' I saw you all alone in between the thieves
And when the lightning flashed I saw somebody hanging from a tree
As I turned to walk away I realized it was me
I pulled out my Thornton special, I shot me in the head
I threw me in the alleyway and I left me for dead

Ah down the road

Down the road [x3]

baroquen spirits

[Go to Song Page]

Waiting around since last night, sitting in your garden chair
When you decide to come home I suppose I'll still be there

(Ooh ooh ooh) Everything comes to the man who waits for everything to come
But what (Ah ah ah) can he do when the thing he wants the most he's farthest from

Yes I guess I see your point
Patience growing thin
How can you respect a man
Who needs you more than you need him
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say

Give me your love or let go, but don't play with my affairs
(Ah ah ah) Kiss me goodbye or hello, but don't take lightly what we share

Yes I guess I see your point
Patience growing thin
How can you respect a man
Who needs you more than you need him
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say

(Ah ah ah ah ah ah)
What will I do if you tell me that you love me not at all
(Ooh ooh ooh) I'll charter a ship to the edge of the world and sail off

Yes I guess I see your point
Patience growing thin
How can you respect a man
Who needs you more than you need him
Baroquen spirits do you love me (do you love me)
Baroquen spirits I can't say
Baroquen spirits (oh baby do you love me) do you love me (do you love me)
Baroquen spirits I can't say

All right

Baroquen spirits (ah ah ha) do you love me
Baroquen spirits (ah ha ha) I can't say (I can't say)
Baroquen spirits (ah ah ha) do you love me (do you love me)
Baroquen spirits I can't say (Alright baby say)

Baroquen spirits do you love me (d'd'd'd'd'd' do you love me)
Baroquen spirits (baby baby I can't say) I can't say (alright)
Baroquen spirits (ah ah ah-yeah) do you love me (do you love me)
Baroquen spirits (alright ah ah ha) I can't say (ah ah ha)

Baroquen spirits (ah ha ha do you love me) do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say (oh baby I can't say)
(I wanna get down to it I really love you, do you love me)
Baroquen spirits I can't say
(I'm gonna get down) Baroquen

christmas time

[Go to Song Page]

Santa Claus is coming and the kids are getting greedy
Christmas time
They know it's in the store because they seen it on the TV
It's Christmas time
It's Christmas time

You go into the forest and you cut down all the trees (woo)
It's Christmas time
I know you've got a power saw but who plants the seeds (woo)
It's Christmas time (woo)
I said it's Christmas time

Wo oh oh it's a Christmas time
Wo oh baby [x2]

Yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh
Break

Ow

I gotta buy a present, can't remember who it's for (woo)
It's Christmas time (woo)
I said it's Christmas time
But I'll see you in an hour when I get back from the store (woo)
It's Christmas time (woo)
All right Christmas time

Wo oh oh it's a Christmas time (ch-ching)
Wo oh baby

Wo oh oh it's a Christmas time (ya)
Wo oh baby

Yeh yeh yeh yeh [x3]
Yeh-ow

Christmas time
Christmas time (Price 'em high)
Christmas time (So hot now)
Christmas time (people need to make a buck baby)

Christmas time (Christmas time) [x3]
It's Christmas time
Christmas time

EXTRA VERSES [not sung on original version]

Madison Avenue is such a pushy scene
They're making all the billboards red and green

D.J.'s on the radio they'll really talk your head off
'Cause Macy's bought an ad, they're gonna make a lotta bread off

It used to be the birthday of the man who saved our necks
But now it stands for Santa Claus you spell it with an x

NOTE: The extra verses shown above were printed in the lyrics for So Long Ago The Garden

she's a dancer

[Go to Song Page]

She's a dancer in the garden
And she dances with the flowers
In the early morning hours
When the wind shifts and the fog drifts
She's a dancer

She's a dancer and she knows it
Everywhere she goes she shows it
Condescending not pretending
No regretting
Nor forgetting
She's a dancer

And on my early morning walks I often find her
I sit pretending that I'm looking at the paper

And when people stop to watch her
She pretends she doesn't see them
Doesn't need them, and where she goes
There the wind blows
Though it's only with the flowers that she dances

And on my early morning walks I often find her
I sit pretending (I sit pretending) that I'm looking at the paper

soul survivor

[Go to Song Page]

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy
Don't leave me here alone, don't let me be
The soul survivor of this tragedy

My life was good when she was hanging round
My love was flying so high and free
But when she left my dreams came tumbling down
Now I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy
Don't leave me here alone, don't let me be
The soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm trying so hard to forget my pain
And leave my past behind
But when your life is suddenly filled with rain
You keep remembering how the sun used to shine

And I can't stand the loneliness, the constant emptiness
Why has unhappiness ah-come into my life
I spend my mornings waking and thinking
And cry my evenings late into the night

I never knew that things could go so wrong
Until this happened to me, and I'm telling you
If you're in love you better hold on strong
Or be the soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy
Don't leave me here alone, don't let me be
The soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy (Soul survivor, soul survivor)
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy (Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
Don't leave me here alone, don't let me be (Soul survivor, soul survivor)
The soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy (Soul survivor, soul survivor)
(Yes I am) Oh yes I need somebody's (I don't want nobody's sympathy) sympathy (Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
Don't leave me here alone don't let me be (Soul survivor soul, survivor)
The soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy (Ah yeah yeah yeah) (Soul survivor, soul survivor)
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy (Ooh ooh ooh ooh)

nightmare

[Go to Song Page]

Aaaaah [Yawn like]

Last night I had that same old dream, it rocked me in my sleep
And left me the impression that the sandman plays for keeps
I dreamed I was in concert on the middle of a cloud
John Wayne and Billy Graham were giving breath mints to the crowd
I fell through a hole in heaven, I left the stage for good
And when I landed on the earth I was back in Hollywood

The California earthquake, it tore the land in half
While San Andreas cleared her throat I heard Psunami laugh
The ground began to tremble, the land began to sway
And people in the other states, they were glad they'd moved away
But suddenly California just floated in a breeze
While everything that wasn't sank down into the seas

And soon I saw Atlantis rumble and rise high
And the great egg of Euphrates came down out of the sky
Out stepped Shirley Temple with Guy Kibbee, who was dead
And that communist Bill Robinson, whom Shirley called black red
They had a marionette of Harpo Marx, they said it was a inside joke
But when I honked his horn he came alive and these were the words he spoke

With the continents adrift and the sun about to shift
Will the ice caps drown us all or will we burn
We've polluted what we own, will we reap what we have sown
Are we headed for the end or can we turn
We've paved the forest, killed the streams
Burned the bridges to our dreams
The earth is bursting at the seams
And in pain of childbirth screams
As it gives life to what seems
To either be an age that gleams
Or simply lays there dying
If this goes on will life survive, how can it
Out of the grave, oh who will save our planet

I said I'm pleased to meet you, I always thought you were a scream
He said have you ever thought of having Helen Keller in your dream
I said Errol Flynn dropped by but he tried to steal my girl
Then she ran off with Ronald Colman, said something about a new world
Now I'm stuck with my own cooking, hell I'm lonely can't you see
Well he grabbed my leg, he said exactly eighty nine words to me

Count 'em

Let the proud but dying nation kiss the last generation
It's the year of the pill, age of the gland
We have landed on the moon but we'll clutter that up soon
Our sense of freedom's gotten out of hand
We kill our children, swap our wives
We've learned to greet a man with knives
We swallow pills in fours and fives
Our cities look like crumbling hives
Man does not live, he just survives
Love is a corpse, we sit and watch it harden
We left it oh so long ago the garden

The strings snapped briskly then went slack, the marionette lay dead
While Hoover played with the motorcade the body slumped and bled
The man who held the camera disappeared into the crowd
I said the hope of youth, fictitious truth lays covered in a shroud
Then up walked Elmo Lincoln and he said I beg your pardon
But we left it oh so long ago the garden

We left it oh so long ago the garden garden garden garden

Note that the French MGM LP was pressed with a slightly faster play speed, so the songs are all a little shorter

Starstorm Records RH-020 [1979]

The Rhema / Starstorm LP is identical to the US MGM release apart from Baroquen Spirits fading out a second or two earlier, making it slightly different lyrically

baroquen spirits

Waiting around since last night, sitting in your garden chair
When you decide to come home I suppose I'll still be there

(Ooh ooh ooh) Everything comes to the man who waits for everything to come
But what (Ah ah ah) can he do when the thing he wants the most he's farthest from

Yes I guess I see your point
Patience growing thin
How can you respect a man
Who needs you more than you need him
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say

Give me your love or let go, but don't play with my affairs
(Ah ah ah) Kiss me goodbye or hello, but don't take lightly what we share

Yes I guess I see your point
Patience growing thin
How can you respect a man
Who needs you more than you need him
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say

(Ah ah ah ah ah ah)
What will I do if you tell me that you love me not at all
(Ooh ooh ooh) I'll charter a ship to the edge of the world and sail off

Yes I guess I see your point
Patience growing thin
How can you respect a man
Who needs you more than you need him
Baroquen spirits do you love me (do you love me)
Baroquen spirits I can't say
Baroquen spirits (oh baby do you love me) do you love me (do you love me)
Baroquen spirits I can't say

All right

Baroquen spirits (ah ah ha) do you love me
Baroquen spirits (ah ha ha) I can't say (I can't say)
Baroquen spirits (ah ah ha) do you love me (do you love me)
Baroquen spirits I can't say (Alright baby say)

Baroquen spirits do you love me (d'd'd'd'd'd' do you love me)
Baroquen spirits (baby baby I can't say) I can't say (alright)
Baroquen spirits (ah ah ah-yeah) do you love me (do you love me)
Baroquen spirits (alright ah ah ha) I can't say (ah ah ha)

Baroquen spirits (ah ha ha do you love me) do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say (oh baby I can't say)
(I wanna get down to it I really love you, do you love me) Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say

Phydeaux Bone 777-6 Version [1980]

Christmas Time, The Same Old Story and Nightmare are different recordings than used on the original MGM version of the album. The first two of these were basically lifted from the Australian Larry Norman album, but Nightmare was a previously unheard version

Up In Canada and PeacePollutionRevolution are added, whilst Soul Survivor is removed

Fly Fly Fly, She's A Dancer, Be Careful What You Sign and Lonely By Myself have reversed stereo images compared with the MGM originals. Baroquen Spirits however does not

Christmastime

[Go to Song Page]

??? Larry Norman will now attempt Christmas Time
For this we need absolute silence
Or else we'll have to take it again [Spoken]

Santa Claus is coming and the kids are getting greedy
It's Christmas time
They know it's in the store because they've seen it on the TV
It's Christmas time
It's Christmas time

It used to be the birthday of the man who saved our necks
Ow it's Christmas time
But now it stands for Santa Claus you spell it with an x
It's Christmas time
Yeah I said it's Christmas time

Wo oh oh it's a Christmas time
Wo oh baby [x2]

Yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh
Break

Ow

You go into the forest and you cut down all the trees
It's Christmas time
I know you've got a power saw but who plants the seeds
It's Christmas time
It's Christmas time

I gotta buy a present, can't remember who it's for
It's Christmas time
Ow I said it's Christmas time
But I'll see you in an hour when I get back from the store
It's Christmas time
Yeah (all right) it's Christmas time

Wo oh oh it's a Christmas time
Wo oh baby [x2]

Yeh Yeh Yeh Yeh [x3]
Yeh-ow

Christmas time (It's Christmas time)
Christmas time (What about last year baby)
Christmas time (What did you give me baby)
Christmas time (It's Christmas time)

Christmas time (Christmas time) (It's Christmas time) [x3]

Christmas time aah (Christmas time)
Christmas time (It's Christmas time ya)
Christmas time (It's Christmas time yeah)
Christmas time (It's Christmas time)
(Christmas time) Yeah

Fly Fly Fly

[Go to Song Page]

Took a plane to Minnesota to see my lady love
The clouds were far below me and the sky was high above
And when the captain called the flight time
Well my heart cried out this song
It's still an hour till arrival
And that's an hour much too long

Fly fly fly
My baby gets me high
I spend too much time in taxicab
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky
And with a lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

We'll honeymoon in Haifa and have lunch in Galilee
We'll hitchhike up through Switzerland and drop in at L'Abri
We'll spend our winters in Laguna
And our summers on the farm
Spend the rest of life in heaven
Locked in each other's arm

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time in taxicabs
Please don't ask me why
I can't tell you

Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky
And with a lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die
And then after

Fly fly fly
My baby gets me high
Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky [x2]

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time just hanging round the airport
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Seven forty seven, halfway to heaven
A lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time in taxicabs
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky
And with a lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time just hanging round the airports
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Seven forty seven, halfway to heaven
A lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

Fly fly fly
You know my baby gets me high
I spend too much time in taxicabs
Please don't ask me why
Fly fly fly
Like an eagle in the sky
And with a lot of love, a little help from above
We'll be together till we die

She's a dancer

the same old story

[Go to Song Page]

Well it's the same old story and the same old stage
And though the cast is different
It's like you're looking at the same old page
All the lines seem familiar
While you try to find a place to start
You're in love with the lady
And you just hope she doesn't break your heart

Now it's the same old story
Though you approach it from a different place
And the lady is lovely
She wears such a beautiful face
And though you try hard to stop it
You feel the rushes of emotion start
You're in love and you can't help it
You just hope she doesn't break your heart
You hope she doesn't break your heart

It's the same old story
Just read between the lines
Your heart will end up broken
And you'll tell yourself that love is just a state of mind (Aah aah aah)

Well it's the same old story
And you wonder how it's gonna end
Are you gonna wind up losing
Then there's no reason to pretend
You feel the rush of emotions
As she tells you that you'll never part
She says her love will last forever
You just hope she doesn't break your heart
You hope she doesn't break your heart

And though you try hard to stop it
You feel the rushes of emotion start
She says her love will last forever
You hope she doesn't break your heart

You hope she doesn't break your heart [x3]

She tells you that you're never gonna part
You'll end up with a broken heart
It's just the same old story
It's just the same old story
It's just the same old story
I do, I do, I do remember all those lonely nights
Sittin' and thinkin' on a cold and empty stage

[Whistling]

baroquen spirits

up in canada

[Go to Song Page]

When I was up in Canada
I didn't have much money
You know my toes were cold
And my clothes had holes
My nose was kind of runny

I met a long-hair on the street
He said look you look like you'd like to eat
I said a glass of coke and a hotdog's fine
He said well how 'bout some bread and a glass of wine

I said lead me on, lead me on, lead me on
Lead me on where you're going
I said my body's tired but my heart's inspired
My hunger's growing

Lead me on, lead me on, lead me on
Lead me on where you're going
I said my body's tired but my heart's inspired
My hunger's growing

He took a loaf of Wonder Bread
Then he bowed his head
Then he filled my cup, drink it up my friend
It tasted better than the health food blend
He looked straight in to my eyes
I was quite surprised
He said you're locked inside but I can set you free
You will live forever if you follow me

I said lead me on, lead me on, lead me on
Lead me on where you're going, wo-oh
I said my body's tired but my heart's inspired
My hunger's growing, wo-oh

A-lead me on, lead me on, lead me on
Lead me on where you're going, oh-oh-oh
I said my body's tired and my heart's inspired
My hunger's growing

Ah, when I was up in Canada
I didn't have much money
You know my toes were cold
And my clothes had holes
And my nose was kinda runny
It wasn't funny

I met a long-hair on the street
He said look you look like you'd like to eat
I said a glass of coke and a hotdog's fine
He said well how 'bout some bread and a glass of wine

I said lead me on, lead me on, lead me on
Lead me on where you're going, wo-oh
I said my body's tired but my heart's inspired
My hunger's growing, wo-oh

A-lead me on, lead me on, lead me on
Lead me on where you're going, wo-oh
I said my body's tired but my heart's inspired
My hunger's growing

I said break
Lead me on

Ah lead me on, lead me on, lead me on (Ah-ha)
Lead me on where you're going, wo-oh (Ah ha)
I said my body's tired but my heart's inspired (Ah-ha)
My hunger's growing, was it showing (Ah ha)

Lead me on, lead me on, lead me on (Ah-ha)
Lead me on where you're going, wo-oh (Ah ha)
I said my body's tired but my heart's inspired (Ah-ha)
My hunger's growing (Ah ha)
Hope it don't start snowing

Lead me on, lead me on, lead me on (Ah-ha)
Lead me on where you're going wo-oh (Ah ha)
I said my body's tired but my heart's inspired (Ah-ha)
My hunger's growing (Ah ha)
Wo-oh-oh
Lead me on, lead me on, lead me on (Ah-ha)
Lead me on where you're (Ah ha)

be careful what you sign

lonely by myself

peacepollutionrevolution

[Go to Song Page]

The word is revolution
But no one’s fired the shot
Each side has its battle plan
With detailed counterplot
And the world is closely watching
As we near the battle line
But if you’re truly wise
You’ll keep your eyes on Palestine

The water is polluted
And the air is filled with death
Some day it won’t be easy
To stop and catch your breath
But it’s all in Revelation
It’s part of the design
'N if you’re truly wise
You’ll keep your eyes on Palestine

Sha la la la la la la la la la [x4]

Well I marched for peace in Washington
Things were getting hot
Then I gave blood in Chicago
Went anaemic on the spot
I woulda hitch-hiked to Toronto, John
But it’s all a waste of time
So I’m writing down this song to you
To sing and pass along to you
If you’re truly wise
You’ll keep your eyes on Palestine

Sha la la la la la la la la la
Revolution
Sha la la la la la la la la la
Peace or pollution
Sha la la la la la la la la la
A-persecution
Sha la la la la la (la la la la)
Ooh Jesus come quickly
(Sha la la la la la la la la la)
The world's getting sickly
(Sha la la la la la la la la la)
Revolution
(Sha la la la la la la la la la) Oh oh oh
Sha la la la la
(Sha la la la la la la la la la)
You're the solution
(Sha la la la la la la la la la) Sha la sha la sha la yourself
(Sha la la la la la la la la la)
Sha la la la la la la la la la

nightmare

[Go to Song Page]

Aaaaah [Yawn like]

Last night I had that same old dream, it rocked me in my sleep
And left me the impression that the sandman plays for keeps
I dreamed I was in concert on the middle of a cloud
John Wayne and Billy Graham were giving breath mints to the crowd
I fell through a hole in heaven, I left the stage for good
And when I landed on the earth I was back in Hollywood

The California earthquake tore the land in half
While San Andreas cleared her throat I heard Psunami laugh
The ground began to tremble, the land began to sway
And people in the other states, they were glad they'd moved away
But suddenly California just floated in the breeze
While every state that wasn't there sank down into the seas

Yeah
Wo wo-oh

And soon I saw Atlantis rumble and rise high
And the great egg of Euphrates came down out of the sky
And out stepped Shirley Temple with Guy Kibbee, who was dead
And that communist Bill Robinson, whom Shirley called black red
They had a marionette of Harpo Marx, they said it was a inside joke
But when I honked his horn he came alive and these were the words he spoke

When the continents adrift and the sun about to shift
Will the ice caps drown us all or will we burn
We've polluted what we own, will we reap what we have sown
Are we headed for the end or can we turn
We've paved the forest, killed the streams
Burned the bridges to our dreams
The earth is bursting at the seams
And in pain of childbirth screams
As it gives life to what seems
To either be an age that gleams
Or simply lays there dying
If this goes on will life survive, how can it
Out of the grave oh who will save our planet

I said I'm pleased to meet you, I always thought you were a scream
He said have you ever thought of having Helen Keller in your dreams
I said Errol Flynn dropped by but he tried to steal my girl
Then she ran off with Ronald Colman, said something about a new world
And I'm stuck with my own cooking, well I'm lonely can't you see
He grabbed my leg and said exactly eighty nine words to me

Count 'em

Let the proud but dying nation kiss the last generation
It's the year of the pill, age of the gland
We have landed on the moon but we'll clutter that up soon
Our sense of freedom's gotten out of hand
We kill our children, swap our wives
We've learned to greet a man with knives
We swallow pills in fours and fives
Our cities look like crumbling hives
Man does not live, he just survives
We sleep till he arrives
Love is a corpse, we sit and watch it harden
We left it oh so long ago the garden

The strings snapped briskly then went slack, the marionette lay dead
While Hoover played with the motorcade the body slumped and bled
The man who held the camera disappeared into the crowd
And I said the hope of youth, fictitious truth lays covered in a shroud
Then up walked Elmo Lincoln and he said I beg your pardon
But we left it oh so long ago the garden

We left it oh so long ago the garden

Garden [x7]

Wo-oh wo-oh-oh oh oh

Wo-oh oh-o-oh
Wo wo-oh wo-oh

Phydeaux ARF 777-6 Version [1984]

This is mostly identical to the Bone 777-6 release, but with the following exceptions:
Fly Fly Fly is removed in favour of Soul Survivor. This track is a remix of the original MGM version. As well as fading out earlier, there are differences in instrumentation.
The whole of side 2 (from Up in Canada) has a reversed stereo image on this LP. This is obvious on all tracks apart from Lonely By Myself, which has a well balanced stereo image. The stereo image is not reversed on the cassette versions however,

Soul survivor

1993/1994 CD releases:

These re-instated the original MGM running order.

Fly Fly Fly is the version used on the Bone 777-6 release, but with the stereo image corrected. IE it is the original MGM recording but faded out slightly later.
Baroquen Spirits is the MGM 7" single version, so significantly shorter than the vinyl LP versions.
Christmas Time is the Phydeaux LP version, but with the spoken introduction removed.
Soul Survivor is the Phydeaux version, but with a later fade out.
Nightmare is the MGM version but with a vocal effect added in places. It also fades out slightly later.
It's The Same Old Story, Lonely By Myself, Be Careful What You Sign and She's A Dancer are the original MGM versions.

Only tracks with unique lyrics are listed below, together with the bonus tracks. Note that Up In Canada is the same version as on the Phydeaux ARF 777 vinyl release.

Baroquen spirits

[Go to Song Page]

Waiting around since last night sitting in your garden chair
When you decide to come home I suppose I'll still be there

(Ooh ooh ooh) Everything comes to the man who waits for everything to come
But what (Ah ah ah) can he do when the thing he wants the most he's farthest from

Yes I guess I see your point
Patience growing thin
How can you respect a man
Who needs you more than you need him
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say

(Ah ah ah ah ah ah)
Give me your love or let go but don't play with my affairs
(Ah ah ah) Kiss me goodbye or hello but don't take lightly what we share

Yes I guess I see your point
Patience growing thin
How can you respect a man
Who needs you more than you need him
Baroquen spirits do you love me
Baroquen spirits I can't say
Baroquen spirits do you love me (oh baby do you love me)
Baroquen spirits I can't say

All right

Baroquen spirits (ah ah ha) do you love me
Baroquen spirits (ah ha ha) I can't say (I can't say)
Baroquen spirits (ah ah ha) do you love me (do you love me)
Baroquen sp'

christmas time

[Go to Song Page]

Santa Claus is coming and the kids are getting greedy
It's Christmas time
They know it's in the store because they've seen it on the TV
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time

It used to be the birthday of the man who saved our necks
Oh it's Christmas time
But now it stands for Santa Claus you spell it with an x
It's Christmas time, yeah I said it's Christmas time

Wo wo wo it's a Christmas time
Wo wo baby [x2]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Break

Ow

You go into the forest and you cut down all the trees
It's Christmas time
I know you got a power saw but who plants the seeds
It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time

I gotta buy a present, can't remember who it's for
It's Christmas time, ow I said it's Christmas time
Well I'll see you in an hour when I get back from the store
It's Christmas time, yeah (all right) it's Christmas time

Wo wo wo it's a Christmas time
Wo wo baby [x2]

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah [x3]
Yeh-ow

Christmas time (It's Christmas time)
Christmas time (What about last year baby)
Christmas time (What did you give me baby)
Christmas time (It's Christmas time)

Christmas time (Christmas time) (It's Christmas time) [x3]
Christmas time aah (Christmas time)
Christmas time (It's Christmas time ya)
Christmas time (It's Christmas time yeah)
Christmas time (It's Christmas time yeah)
Christmas time

soul survivor

[Go to Song Page]

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy
Don't leave me here alone don't let me be
The soul survivor of this tragedy

My life was good when she was hanging round
My love was flying so high and free
But when she left my dreams came tumbling down
Now I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy
Don't leave me here alone don't let me be
The soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm trying so hard to forget my pain
And leave my past behind
But when your life is suddenly filled with rain
You keep remembering how the sun used to shine

And I can't stand the loneliness the constant emptiness
Why has unhappiness come into my life
I spend my mornings waking and thinking
And cry my evenings late into the night

I never knew that things could go so wrong
Until this happened to me (and I'm telling you)
If you're in love you better hold on strong
Or be the soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy
Don't leave me here alone don't let me be
The soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy (Soul survivor soul survivor)
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy (Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
Don't leave me here alone don't let me be (Soul survivor soul survivor)
The soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy (Soul survivor soul survivor)
Yes I am, oh yes, I need somebody's sympathy (Ooh ooh ooh ooh) (sympathy)
Don't leave me here alone don't (let me) let me be (Soul survivor soul survivor)
The soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy (Ah yeah yeah yeah) (Soul survivor soul survivor)
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy (Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
Don't leave

nightmare #71

if god is my father (rough mix)

[Go to Song Page]

Hey it could be a lot lower
Yeah. It could be a little louder [Larry]
Ah louder louder [Larry]
One two three
Ma ma [Larry] [Spoken]

If God is my father
And you are my brother
Then why can't we bother
To really reach out and love one another
Why do we keep on acting the way we do
The way we treat each other
It must break his heart in two

Once we were happy
Oh yes once in the garden
And then a lie broke the stillness
And our hearts began to harden
And hoping to be wiser man has reached too far
Sometimes I think that we've advanced
But then I look at where we are

And oh I cry yeah-eh-eh
Wo-oh-ah-eh-eh-eh-eh-oh-oh

Why do we argue
Why are there so many churches
With half of them empty
And some represent a million dollar purchase
What's happened to the message given by our Lord
To take his gospel to the streets
Share our money with the poor

Learn to love
Love is the greatest thing
You've got to learn to love
Love is the greatest thing oh-oh-oh-oh

Own dom na na na na
Ah na na na

If God is my father
And you are my brother
Then why can't we bother

Up in canada (1973 single)

dear malcolm, dear alwyn (demo)

[Go to Song Page]

Two, one, two, one, two, three cha [Spoken]

Dear Malcolm, dear Alwyn
You're my favorite singers in England
But I love you so much
You've got the holy spirit's touch
You're much more than just a two man band

I got a memo from Turner
He's a poet, I'm a learner
He said you're coming back to L.A.
Well I'll see you when you land
Hope your schedule's not too crammed
Know you can't, but I wish you could stay

I miss you my friend, oh yes
I think about you all the time
You're so far away
Well I hope you're feeling fine, alright uh
Got a message from Turner
[Mumble] I'm a learner
Said you're coming back to L.A., oh yeah

Do-na-nad du-nu-du-na-na
La la la la la la la
Go cha cha cha

Woo-ooh ooh

Well I miss you my friend, oh yes
I think about you all the time
You're so far away
And I hope you're feeling fine

Duh duh
La la la la na la and you're la la la la la

You're my favorite singers in England
And your songs are so simple
But they take me to the temple
I guess I'm just your number one fan
Oh oh ho ho oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh ho oh wo woh
Ho oh wo woh
Aah ah na nana
Um na wa ooh ooh woo ooh ooh
Woo hoo da na la la la
Dagga dagga
Ah da da da da da

The 2003 CD release was distributed to stores and is basically a copy of the original CD but with reduced gaps between songs and better noise reduction. All tracks except Be Careful What You Sign fade out fractionally earlier, but only those in the accordion below are lyrically affected. Christmas Time appears to be taken from a different source and is very slightly slower and mastered more loudly

Bonus tracks If God Is My Father and Dear Malcolm, Dear Alwyn are removed and a previously unheard version of Soul Survivor added

Baroquen spirits

christmas time

soul survivor

up in canada

soul survivor (Alternate Version)

[Go to Song Page]

Soul Survivor take six. Do it a little bit faster this time
Six
One two three [Spoken]

Uow

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy (Oh oh)
Don't leave me here alone, don't let me be
The soul survivor of this tragedy

My life was good, I had my feet on the ground
My love was flying so high and free
But then my dreams they come a-tumbling down
Now I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy
Don't leave me here alone, don't let me be (Aah-ah)
Soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm trying so hard to forget my pain
And leave my past behind
But when your life is suddenly filled with rain
You keep remembering how the sun used to shine

And I can't stand it, no I can't stand the loneliness, the constant emptiness
Why has unhappiness come into my life
I spend my mornings waking and thinking
And cry my evenings late into the night

My life was good when she was hanging round
My love was flying so high and free
But then my dreams they all come tumbling down
I'm a soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Yes I need somebody's sympathy
Don't leave me here alone, don't let me be
Soul survivor of this tragedy

I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy
Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy
Don't leave me here alone, don't let me be
Soul survivor of this tragedy

(Ow ya-ow ow oh ah ah) I'm the soul survivor of this tragedy

Sing it Randy [Spoken]

Oh yes I need somebody's sympathy (Ah ha ah)
Don't leave me here alone, don't let me be
Soul survivor of this tragedy

Oh oh ah ah, alright
Soul survivor
Yea-he-he-be
Soul survivor of this tragedy
Soul survivor of this tragedy

I say, this record don't become a hit, well I think, I think it's time for me to quit

"It's on MGM and it's about a lot of different things in life. It's an album that covers a lot of personal territory."

Solid Rock Records SRD 006
[1993, USA]

12 page booklet with lyrics and write ups

Kode: SLATG-US13

Matrix, on disc rear: 'U.S. OPTICAL DISC', 'SRD 006 <01>'

Solid Rock Records SRD 006 [1994 or later, USA]

12 page, identical to that of SLATG-US13 except for a small 'printed in Canada' stamp at the bottom right of the last page, and using much thinner paper

Kode: SLATG-US17

Matrix, on disc rear: 'Technicolor', 'C1', '100693-01', 'SRD006'

Note that this pressing has a larger unprinted centre area on the disc when compared with SLATG-US13. Whilst the booklets were printed in Canada, the Technicolor facility is in California, USA, and commenced CD pressing in April 1994

Solid Rock Records SRD 006
[1993, USA]

12 page booklet, identical to that of SLATG-US13 except for using much thinner paper and having deeper colour on the front page

Note the different font used on the disc face lettering. Note also that the tray inlay has a small 'printed in Canada' stamp in the bottom right corner

Kode: SLATG-US19

Matrix, on disc front: 'US MEDIA DISC 00208-A', 'T310472-2'

Solid Rock Records SRD-006 [2003, USA]

16 page booklet with lyrics and write ups

Kode: SLATG-US14

Matrix, on disc rear: 'CDDC/CA - so long ago the garden -4420', 'IFPI WA'

Solid Rock Records SRDX-003 [2008, USA]

12 page booklet with lyrics and write ups

Kode: SLATG-US15

Matrix, on disc rear: 'CA / - Garden 2008 - 30740'

Solid Rock Records SRDX-005 [2018, USA, digipak, CDR]

Trifold eco-sleeve

Kode: SLATG-US16

Note: The SRDX-005 catalogue number printed on the spine is the result of a typing error. This is the catalogue number of the 2009 issue of Something New Under The Son

Solid Rock Records SRDX-005 [2021, USA, digipak, CD]

Same trifold eco-sleeve as SLATG-US16

Kode: SLATG-US20

Matrix, on disc rear: 'C20120615 SOLID ROCK - SO LONG AGO THE GARDEN', 'IFPI IW44'. Mould marking 'IFPI ALJ09'. Thanks to Stephen Johns for providing matrix details and disc image

MGM SE 4942 [1973, USA, Promotional copy]

Kode: SLATG-US1

Matrix, etched, side one: 'SE 4942-1', 'W', 'DSS'. Side two: 'SE 4942-2', 'W', 'DSS'

MGM SE 4942 [1973, USA, Promotional copy]

Kode: SLATG-US2

Same matrix as SLATG-US1. "Produced by...." and "Triumvirate..." text positions are corrected on side 2 labels

MGM SE 4942 [1973, USA, Promotional copy]

Kode: SLATG-US3

Matrix, etched, side one: 'SE 4942-1', 'M', 'DSS'. Side two: 'SE 4942-2', 'M', 'DSS'
Song titles and credits are on separate lines on the disc labels. Also note the oval DJ sticker

MGM SE 4942 [1973, USA, Promotional copy]

Kode: SLATG-US6

Same matrix as SLATG-US3. As per SLATG-US3, but with an 'Advanced Copy' rather than a 'DJ' sticker
Thanks to Mike Rohlinger for advising of this variant and for providing the rear sleeve image

MGM SE 4942 [1973, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US5

Same matrix as SLATG-US3. Song titles and credits are on separate lines on the disc labels

MGM SE 4942 [1973, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US4

Same matrix as SLATG-US1. Yellow and blue swirl rather than gold and blue

MGM 2315 286
[1973, New Zealand]

Kode: SLATG-NZ1

No images available at present, other than this low resolution photograph of the side one label

MGM 2315 286 [March 1974, France]

Kode: SLATG-FR1

Matrix, stamped, side one: 'MPO', 'PYR', '2315286 A'. Side two: 'MPO', 'PYR', '2315286 B'. Both sides also have an etched 'DS'
Thanks to Robert Termorshuizen for providing sleeve images

Starstorm Records RH-020 [1979/80, Australia]

Kode: SLATG-AU1

Matrix, stamped, side one: 'RH.020A', 'YPRX.1540A'. Side two: 'RH.020B', 'YPRX.1540B'

Phydeaux Records Bone 777-6 [1980, USA]

Single slip cover and printed inner sleeve. Note that whilst the record labels list the correct tracks, the rear cover lists an incorrect song order for side one, and also erroneously lists Soul Survivor instead of Fly Fly Fly. Thanks to Robert Termorshuizen for providing the front cover image

Kode: SLATG-US7

Kode: SLATG-US23

Kode: SLATG-US24

Kode: SLATG-US25

Matrix, etched, side one: 'BON-7776 -', 'SIDE ONE', '- 1A', 'A', 'ALMOST··· SO LONG AGO THE GARDEN··· BUT NOT QUITE'. There is also a scored out 'BONE-777-6' and some etchings depicting vines/flowers
Matrix, etched, side two: 'BON-7776-SIDE2-1A ' 5', 'GARDEN-1973 LONDON, ENGLAND', 'B'. There is also a scored out 'BON-777-6-SIDE 2 - 1A'
Matrix, etched, side one: 'BON-7776 -', 'SIDE ONE', '- 1A', 'A1', 'ALMOST··· SO LONG AGO THE GARDEN··· BUT NOT QUITE'. There is also a scored out 'BONE-777-6' and some etchings depicting vines/flowers
Matrix, etched, side two: 'BON-7776-SIDE2-1A ' 5', 'GARDEN-1973 LONDON, ENGLAND', 'B1'. There is also a scored out 'BON-777-6-SIDE 2 - 1A'. Note that the 1 in B1 is angled, so looks like a backslash
Matrix, etched, side one: 'BON-7776 -', 'SIDE ONE', '- 1A', '2', 'A', 'ALMOST··· SO LONG AGO THE GARDEN··· BUT NOT QUITE'. There is also a scored out 'BONE-777-6' and some etchings depicting vines/flowers
Matrix, etched, side two: 'BON-7776-SIDE2-1A ' 5', 'GARDEN-1973 LONDON, ENGLAND', 'A2'. There is also a scored out 'BON-777-6-SIDE 2 - 1A'
Identical to SLATG-US24 except with a plain inner sleeve rather than a printed one

Phydeaux Records ARF 777-6 [1984, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US9

This release used the same disc labels as Bone 777-6, and consequently was also erroneous, due to Soul Survivor replacing Fly Fly Fly

Matrix, etched, side one: 'ARF 777-6-', 'SIDE ONE'. Side two: 'BON 777- 6', 'SIDE TWO', 'RE'
Thanks to Mike Rohlinger for advising the existence of this variant

Phydeaux Records ARF 777-6 [1984, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US22

Same as SLATG-US9 but with an American Import sticker
Matrix, etched, side one: 'ARF 777-6-', 'SIDE ONE'. Side two: 'BON 777- 6', 'SIDE TWO', 'RE'

Phydeaux Records ARF 777-6 [1984, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US10

Matrix, etched, side one: 'ARF 777-6 -A', 'SIDE ONE', 'L·20703'. Side two: 'ARF- BON 777- 6', 'SIDE TWO', 'RE', 'L-20703-X'. Note that 'BON' is scored out

Myrrh MYR 1169 [1984, UK]

Single slip cover, double sided insert

Kode: SLATG-UK1

Matrix, etched, side one: 'MYR-1170-A1', with '1170' scored out and '1169' stamped above it. Side two: 'MYR·1170·B1', with '1170' scored out and '1169' stamped in front of 'MYR'. Both sides also have a stamped 'A' on its side. [Note that the 'A' could possibly be 'V']

Kode: SLATG-UK3

Phydeaux Records BON 7776C [1980, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US8

Phydeaux Records BON 7776C [1980, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US21

Phydeaux Records ARF 777-6 [1984, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US11

Phydeaux Records ARF 777-6 [1984, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US18

Phydeaux Records ARF 777-6 [1984, USA]

Kode: SLATG-US12

Myrrh MC 1169 [1984, UK]

Kode: SLATG-UK2

Larry, in 1975: The album is one song really. The song of lament. It is man looking at the mess he's made of the world and regretting that "we left it oh so long ago, the garden"

Larry, in 1980: 'So Long Ago The Garden' is part two of the trilogy. It represents a journey into the grave of the past. I'm standing there on the cover as Adam once stood in the garden, without any provision of clothing or knowledge of evil or any force except the relationship he has in his heart with the lion of Judah. And Adam is standing there in oneness with the lion. I really worked for hours taking pictures in Africa both of myself and of lions, hoping to capture a certain ambience for the graphics of the album. The back cover represents what happened just after the fall. Satan's snake-skinned feet standing triumphantly over the fallen apple. You'll notice that there are two bites taken out of the apple. A big bite and a little bite. The big bite, of course, was the woman's. I shot the back cover in England, over a period of two days. I dragged a huge wardrobe mirror downstairs into the front yard and set it on the ground to try to capture the sky and clouds, and make it look like the devil was standing throughout all eternity gloating over Adam and Eve's fall. I wanted a cold and dispassionate mood to the back cover, and a photo without any sense of humanity. Again I spent a lot of time getting my message the way I envisioned it. There were no red apples to be found in any of the markets that were large enough, so I got the largest green apple I could find, and used some of Pamela's fingernail polish to paint it red. Then I realised that I hadn't taken the bites out, so I had to go all the way back to the store for another apple, pre-bit it, and painted it red. That's how much of an effort I had to go through to get it right. I was trying to show that before the fall there was peace in Adam's life and that he was one with nature, in his own environment in God's garden, and that after the fall there was no warmth at all. No provision for peace, not until God sent the second Adam, Jesus

Larry, in 1980: It is my favourite album, and one of the most banned and misunderstood albums that I've recorded. Christians don't seem to be as aware of, or as sensitive to, the dire state of humanity as they are about the pleasant growth of their christian walk. So Long Ago The Garden was as definitive a statement as I could make about the emptiness of our lives without Christ, just how lonely and wretched we truly are. I alternated songs. One song would talk about a man trying to find satisfaction and true love, and expecting a woman to somehow fill all of his needs and be his whole world. The next song would be Lonely By Myself. Strictly about a man looking for something, and he doesn't know what it is. We know it's God, and he knows it's something like great universal love, but he can't find it, and it causes him Ecclesiastical despair. Then Be Careful What You Sign, making that choice between God or Satan, and the song after that was making a choice between your own integrity, or giving up your integrity for things like love, whatever momentary, ephemeral things that we look to for lasting happiness. So it was all a very premeditated and carefully written album

Master Tape

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