Get all 16 Mark Laurent releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Mark Laurent (a best-of), Stations Of The Cross, One True Gift (Demos Volume 2), A-Ha-Ha (Demos Volume 1), This Is Not All There Is, The Net, UnderGrowth, Spiritual Graffiti, and 8 more.
1. |
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TRIMMED AND BURNING
I’m trimmed and burning
ready for the night
No man lights a candle
just to hide it away
but when you light a candle
you turn the darkness into day
a city built on a mountain
just can’t hide from the storm
but when you stand on a mountain
you’re the first to see the dawn
There’s just no point in turning back
once you put your hand to the plough
now we’re on this long, winding road
we’re going to make it somehow
I’m trimmed and burning
ready for the night.
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2. |
Six Crazy Hats
04:28
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SIX CRAZY HATS
I remember the night that Jimi died
it was kind of wet so I just dropped inside
this little hippie shop on Symonds Street
where the fire and the water chanced to meet
you were there, we said ‘gidday’
come what may
You wore six crazy hats to Albert Park
we stumbled up Mount Victoria in the dark
did our first trip together for a lark
and the Auckland winters couldn’t quench the spark
that we felt, needless to say
come what may
I’m the restless one, I had to hit the road
while you stayed with your mum and dad at home
till I came back with Jesus from the south
I wouldn’t have blamed you if you thrown
the both of us out
but you said ‘show me the way’
come what may
Some things move together, some things move apart
there’s continents drifting in the space between hearts
some things never finish, some things never start
We got married, and I finally got a job
we settled down to church and all of that stuff
‘til Jossey came along to fill the nest
he was quite big enough so we did without the rest
we settled down, I guess you’d sqy
come what may
But nothing lasts forever, I suppose
like hippie hats and crazy op-shop clothes
and sometimes you just need the grace to say ‘thank you’
for all the happy nights and shining days
and we’ll be friends, anyway
come what may
some things move together, some things move apart
there’s universes floating in the space between hearts
and some things never finish, some things never start.
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3. |
If I Compare You
03:51
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IF I COMPARE YOU
(Reflections on Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare, written for Simon & Alison's wedding, 4 May 2002)
If I compare you to a summer's day
you are more lovely and more still
and even the sun that shines
the taste of the sparkling wine
cannot compare with you
If I compare you to a moonlit night
you are more gentle in my sight
the stars hanging in the sky
whirling of fireflies
can't draw my eyes from you
If I compare you to a summer's day
or even the darling buds of May
a flower might last a day
beauty will fade away
still I will stay with you.
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4. |
It Makes Me Wonder
04:57
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IT MAKES ME WONDER
The sun is going to rise in just a few minutes
it’s been doing that as long as I remember
the sun is going to rise in just a few minutes
it’s been doing that as long as I remember
every time I see the new day beginning
it makes me wonder, is our love finished?
Maybe I should turn my back upon the window
because looking at the sun only makes me feel sorrow
maybe I should turn my back upon the window
looking at the sun only makes me feel sorrow
I know it’s not fair to pin my hopes on you
forget about the past and look into tomorrow
I know it’s not fair to pin my hopes on you
forget about the past and do what I must do.
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5. |
One True Gift
01:58
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ONE TRUE GIFT
What do I have to offer?
I’ve got one true gift
What do I have to offer?
I’ve got one true gift
What do I have to offer?
I’ve got one true gift
One true gift, yeah
When I wake in the morning
I’ve got one true gift
I lie down in the evening
With my one true gift
Every day’s the same
I’ve got one true gift
One true gift, yeah
It really doesn’t matter
My one true gift
I’m not climbing the ladder
With my one true gift
Tomorrow it’ll be better
My one true gift
One true gift, yeah
Each of us has a story
It’s our one true gift
We’re all part of the glory
With our one true gift
Let’s put them together
Our one true gift
One true gift, yeah.
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6. |
Sheryl Come Down
04:26
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SHERYL COME DOWN
Popping pills in the corner of that old back room
Two moths caught in the headlight of lust
There is nothing that we can’t do tonight
Desire will take what it must.
Sheryl come down again…
Lips collide in the back seat of the taxi cab
Who cares where we’re going, the driver just drives
Bodies entwine in the dark and empty room
We’re holding on for our lives.
Sheryl come down again…
I see a dirty needle and a dirty spoon
Stained in the candlelight
Why did you have to come and go so soon?
There’s no rest for me tonight.
Sheryl come down…
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7. |
Look At That
03:36
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LOOK AT THAT
Look at that girl sitting over there
Her virgo dress sets off that auburn hair
Look at her grey eyes, so gentle, so sad
Look at that girl, the girl I never had
She’s the girl I never had
Look at that rock star, up there in the light
Like a satelite shining in the stratosphere of night
See those dark eyes staring past the crowd
Look at that boy, I wish that I was him right now
I was him right now
We all dream our secret dreams – yeah
None of us are what we seem – ah
When things don’t turn out like we planned – we say
I guess it’s just the way I am –
The way I am
We all know just how this goes - yeah
The secret everybody knows - ah
This is not a race we’re in – yeah
But everyone still hopes to win
Look at this world, it’s an amazing place
We all get by with tenacity and grace
Life is strange, things don’t always turn out right
Look this world, how it shines like this tonight
Yeah it shines like this tonight.
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8. |
Streets Of Auckland #2
05:43
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STREETS OF AUCKLAND
I’ve lived in this town for all of my life
And I’ve been around but I come back here every time
Because a place is much more than lines
On a map drawn together
Or the beaches, or the mirror glass
Or the uncertain weather
But if you asked me why, I couldn’t explain
The streets of Auckland.
Up on K Road there’s a bag-lady walking
In her second-hand clothes, with herself she’s always talking
And I wonder why this is, did the city do this to her?
The people walking by
You know they just look right through her
And if you asked me why I couldn’t explain
The streets of Auckland.
There’s a sleepy old man near the fountain In Albert Park
He’s been there all morning
And he probably won’t leave until well after dark
Well the flowers grow and the rain comes down
But he doesn’t seem to notice
And all the students hurry by him
You can see they think he’s kind of gross
But if you asked me why I couldn’t explain
The streets of Auckland.
I walk these streets tonight for the ten thousandth time
I’ve been this way so often now
I could almost believe this whole town is mine
And sometimes I think of leaving, but maybe that’s only talk
Because the grass is always greener, they say
On someone else’s sidewalk
And if you asked me why I couldn’t explain
The streets of Auckland.
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9. |
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THAT’S WHAT IT’S LIKE
Well the dog jumped up and bit me
my bird lay down and died
I ran my kitty over
as I backed out of the drive
that’s what it’s like, that’s what it’s like
when feeling down and troubled
that’s what it’s like.
My baby’s gonna leave me
she told me just today
said my best friend treats her beter
besides he gets better paid
that’s what it’s like…
Is God still up in heaven
is he anywhere around
I saw a guy who looked just like him
he was hitching out of town
that’s what it’s like…
There’s philosophies and religions
they all try to save my soul
I might just a well go down into my basement
and dig holes
that’s what it’s like…
Can anybody answer me?
can anybody tell?
lord I think so much about heaven
man it makes me feel like hell
that’s what it’s like…
Well I really don’t care too much
about the answer anyway
why should I worry about tomorrow
when I can be depressed today?
that’s what it’s like…
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10. |
Guru (7 Songs version)
05:09
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GURU
I used to want to be a guru
I used to want to be the one
I used to want to be a saviour
do the things that must be done
but I will never be a saviour
no I’m really not that strong
so I just want to be your friend
from now on
I used to want to be a hero
really thought that I could fly
I used to want to be the wise one
answer when you asked me why
but I will never be a wise man
no I’m really not that kind
but I just want to be a friend
if you don’t mind
When I was a little younger
I used to want to change the world
I used to want to be your lover
I always hoped you’d be my girl
but I have never been a lovert
I don’t do it vbery well
I just want to be your friend
I hope you can tell
Well I will never be a guru
and I will never be the one
I will never be the saviour
there’s too much growing to be done
but I’m making you a promise
and I’ll keep it ‘til the end
just give me a little time
I’m going to be your friend.
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11. |
Red
04:49
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RED
I feel the pressure in my head
it’s getting out of control
I’d like to escape instead
to the country, or through some black hole
See the sun when it’s shining down
on the puddles, on the winter ground
feel the heat burning in my head
I want to move from blue to red
See the grey skies all the time
I wonder is there any point in trying
will the light ever be again
or is hell on earth not fire but rain?
I would like to be someplace else
here there’s nobody but myself
so let me howl at the blood red moon
no-one I’m accountable to
See the angel in the blood-red sky
oh if I open up my blood red eye
makes me afraid of the light of day
I have to face it, come what may.
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12. |
Silent Night (Alt.)
03:05
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SILENT NIGHT (alt.version)
Silent night, holy night
all is calm now and everything is bright
around the young virgin, mother and child
holy infant so tender and mild
sleep in heavenly pecac
Silent night, holy night
shepherds are waking up to the sight
streams of light flow from heaven, so far
the heavenly choir singing hallelujah
hallelujah, the saviour is born
Silent night, holy night
for the son of God, you're love's pure light
I see it shining from your holy face
the earth is filled with amazing grace
Jesus, Lord at your birth.
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13. |
I Fall At Your Feet
06:18
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I FALL AT YOUR FEET
You come to me when I’m alone
Touch my eyes so I can see you
You touch my wounds until I feel no pain
Undo the locks that keep my soul in chains
You come to me when I’m afraid
Speak your peace into my restless heart
You wrap your arms around my trembling form
And tear the veil that’s keeping us apart
You come to me each time I smile
Each time I see the beauty you have made
And when I take the time to stop and wait
I hear your voice in the silence
And I fall at your feet again
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14. |
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TRIMMED AND BURNING
I’m trimmed and burning
ready for the night
No man lights a candle
just to hide it away
but when you light a candle
you turn the darkness into day
a city built on a mountain
just can’t hide from the storm
but when you stand on a mountain
you’re the first to see the dawn
There’s just no point in turning back
once you put your hand to the plough
now we’re on this long, winding road
we’re going to make it somehow
I’m trimmed and burning
ready for the night.
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15. |
Lord I Have This
03:20
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LORD I HAVE THIS
Lord I have this and I give it to you
do with me whatever you want to do.
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Mark Laurent Auckland, New Zealand
I've been a professional guitarist/singer/songwriter for 40 years, & I've recorded & worked on many albums. I'm also an author with 4 collections of poetry & an illustrated children's storybook published, & I've written articles & reviews for various magazines. I live in Auckland, New Zealand. As well as cafes, concerts & churches I also do a bit of busking to keep in touch with the 'real world'. ... more
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