Can’t Close a Blind Eye
Tracks / Lyrics
At some of the things you’ve done
Do you wish you could turn back time
To see where it would run
Jump right in if you’re human
The river runs so fast
You can sink or swim
Jump right in
You may have some memories
That you just can’t forget
If there’s a lesson here for you
Have you learned it yet
Jump right in if you’re human
The river runs so fast
You can sink or swim
Jump right in
When I look back over my life
At some of the things I’ve done
You get to chose however you want
To walk the path you’re on
Jump right in if you’re human
The river runs so fast
You can sink or swim
Jump right in
Sink or swim
Jump right in
Sink or swim
And jump right in
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2000
to buy a lot of things
but we have each other to keep it happening
I thank my lucky star
for bringing me to you
and I know you feel the same way too
You can’t take it to the bank
but we got love
I’m strumming my six string
at the end of the day
You give me that look to come upstairs and play
I know that dreams come true
I see it in your eyes
Man I’m such a lucky guy
You can’t take it to the bank
But we got love
Some folks never find happiness
They somehow lose their way
You and I get by on love
Living from pay to pay
I wake up in the morning
I see your smiling face
I know within my heart there is no better place
When the day is done
The kids are all tucked in
You’re back in my arms again
You can’t take it to the bank
But we got love
We don’t have lots of money
to buy a lot of things
but we have big dreams to keep it happening
I thank my lucky star
for bringing me to you
and I know you feel the same way too
you can’t take it to the bank
but we got love
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2001
Trouble on the run always making noise
Oh to be young tonight I dream
To play once again with my brothers
I would scream
My younger brother now he’s one fine drummer
But he makes his way working with wood
I guess that’s just like Jesus
But he’s no angel he’s my younger brother
A carpenter for good
My older brother’s gone to be a gypsy
Travelling the world searching for a home
He calls now and again but not too often
I wish he’d call tonight
I’m feeling alone
Oh to be young and to play once again
With my brothers like we used to do
Oh to be young and to fight once again
With my brothers like we used to do
Here I sit and play for you my song
It came to me one night after praying hard and long
I was born the middle of three sons
I’ve never known the joy
Of a sister and her fun
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 1995
I know you need somebody you can call your own
You can’t go on living by yourself
Look at you now you never want to come out
Back off love I don’t need you now
I always end up hurting and I lose somehow
Don’t sweep down with that power of yours
You know I won’t be answering my front door
That sure don’t sound like the girl I used to know
She’d cradle love in her heart until it would glow
She looked at life with such high regard you know
Love has a laugh and says you have no choice
If I pick you you’re gonna hear my voice
You can’t live your life hiding from me
I don’t have all the answers but I’ll set you free
Who are you to laugh I’ve heard you before
I’ve seen freedom I don’t want it anymore
You can call on me but I will not come back
I’m just not ready and I like it like that
That sure don’t sound like the girl I used to know
She’d cradle love in her heart until it would glow
She looked at life with such high regard you know
It’s a tough tough road to go it alone
I know you need somebody you can call your own
You can’t live your life hiding from me
I don’t have all the answers but I’ll set you free
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2002
Reasons come sometimes too slow
They ask of you let go
And grow as you will
Forcing your will
Seems to work for you until
You find a heart too big to fill
With the little love you have
Is it wrong when times are hard
You get dealt another card
High or low you play to show
That’s the chance you take
You stand to lose your shirt
Or you sit on top unhurt
If you’re scrapping by what’s another try
Is the going always tough
The fool in me cries out and says
Do you know beyond a doubt it works like that
Or does it always change
And leave you full of pain (I)
And leave you in need again (II)
And leave you confused again (III)
Ain’t it funny how things go
Reasons come sometimes too slow
They beg of you let go
And grow as you will
Forcing your will
Seems to work for you until
You find a heart too big to fill
With the little love you have
when I left my momma’s home
With my daddy’s blessing
I set out on the road
Headed west on old seventeen
The ocean in my ears
and freedom all I see
Driving through the night
on the flat prairie
While everyone sleeps
I’m wide-eyed at the wheel
Up ahead an eighteen wheeler roadside
The driver waving frantic
as if to stop the night
I had a dream
I saw horses running free
Horses running free
Diesel and blood fog and steam
Tangled in the wheels of that truck
lay a broken dream
I jerk away
Screaming why oh why
when I see a shooting star
blaze across the sky
David McLachlan © SOCAN 2001
Picking and chewing
The old men sit silent and still
A slate grey monument
Gives them stability
For lost fertility of dreams
You can’t look down upon another
Who has lost his way somehow
He doesn’t need those kind of looks
He could probably use some help
A newspaper drifts by
Blowing and scattered
An old one it’s yellow and brown
Yesterday’s bread crumbs
Lay few on the ground now
An affordable luxury they found
A bag lady known as Katie
Belches with laughter
Her print dress is soiled but proud
Her afternoon visits
Break up the boredom
Of old age time and a crowd
The pigeons are cooing
Picking and chewing
The old men have all gone now
A slate grey monument
That gives them stability
Tomorrow will host another round
You can’t look down upon another
Who has lost his way somehow
And as you pass linger to laugh
Find a smile not a frown
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2001
May be on hallowed ground
I’d love to play there
But I haven’t heard when
Outside the hall
A poster up on the wall
Lets people know a legend
Will play here next week
I’ve been waiting anticipating
Will I get a chance to play Massey Hall
You may say
I’ve been dreaming my life away
What’s wrong with that
If it gets you through day to day
Down on Victoria Street
They say that you can meet
People you know
Lined up to be entertained
In from the night
You’ll find lovers of music
Coming to grace a seat
In that old hall
Don’t tear Massey Hall down
It may be on hallowed ground
I’d love to play there
But I haven’t heard when
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing 2001
Lost in thought waiting for my turn
In front of me an older woman stood
She seemed confused in the light of day
I could not help overhear her say
She was not quite herself today
What I heard set me on my ear
She said she felt herself a perfect fool
You’re one day closer to infinity
The moment the day becomes the night
You’re one day closer to infinity
The moment you give up the fight
She turned to me toothless grin and all
Apologized for holding up the line
Now I could see her sad and tired eyes
Lost somewhere in another world
With wrinkled hands she took her parcels up
Gave a nod and made to leave the store
Few steps gone by she turned around and screamed
Don’t you go and be a perfect fool
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 1999
And all you do is struggle
You want that easy road
It may not exist (i)
Does it exist (iii)
I hate to burst your bubble
But the thing that you call trouble
Can straighten out
And then again just twist
You can’t close a blind eye
To what you know is true
You don’t want to see
What’s happening to you
You get in deep and it gets rough
You get brave and you strut your stuff
You try to break free
But you don’t know what it takes
You say you’re bound to feel this way
That’s all I ever hear you say
You’re not bound to any old circumstance
You’re only free if you want to be
Stay a slave if it’s easy that way
You always end up running
Every time you get another chance
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing 1995
I left my boots for repair
They weathered time over the miles
And I thought it only fair
Thought it only fair
Thought it only fair
Dusty boots your skin has changed
From young to that of old
But you wear it with a dignity
That was not there when you were sold
Not there when you were sold
Not there when you were sold
Dusty boots you’ve carried me
So far along the road
You’ve carried me through danger
You’ll carry me through stories yet untold
Stay true my dusty boots
Stay true my dusty boots
Dusty boots you never know
How far you have to run
Remember then to just enjoy
When you walk in to the sun
Walk in to the sun
Walk in to the sun
Dusty boots carry me
Once more along the road
Carry me through danger
Carry me through stories yet untold
Stay true my dusty boots
Stay true my dusty boots
I just returned from the leather shop
I got my boots from repair
When I pulled them on
They seemed to say the open road’s out there
The open road’s out there
The open road’s out there
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 2002
I said to my good friend
I just don’t show
my happiness like you
Some people laugh out loud
I keep some inside
That’s good for them
It works for me
And you know deep inside
The happiness runs free
It’s always there
It’s just for you to catch
And she said look inside
And get some out for me
I’m happy now
And I want you to come along
Was a sad sad face I saw
Lost deep in need of love
But she never even
Turned my way
I could have given
What I had if it would help
Seize the moment
Before it slips sway
David McLachlan © Handy Publishing/SOCAN 1999
