2006 Joel Smoker

The fourteen songs on this album deal with the passage of time and how it affects us all.

Individual tracks can be purchased at the Apple iTunes Store

Credits

Produced by Lucky Oceans
Engineered by James Hewgil
Recorded at Satellite Studios, Burswood.

Joel Smoker - Vocals
Adam Gare - Mandolin, Fiddle and Ukulele
Lucky Oceans - Pedal Steel Guitar and Button Accordion
Ian Simpson - Acoustic Guitar and Banjo
Ron Smeeton- Bass Guitar
Joe Whittle - Drums

Track Listing

Hey Corey
Ain’t No Time Like the Present
White Crosses
Live For Today
Goodbye Robert Riley
Who Wants the Blues?
Goodnight Alan
Nothing Remains the Same
Time Marches On
Not a Day Goes By
Island Song
Smile
Put on Your Dancing Shoes
When I Become a Country Music Star

Lyrics

Smile

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Life is a journey, enjoy the ride;
Let your colours fly, you don’t have to hide.
Open up the door, drop the bridge down,
It’s better to be smiling than wearing a frown.

‘Cause a smile costs nothing; you can give it for free;
It’s the best way of getting across a message to me.
What’s the use of sitting there feeling blue,
No one’s got a magic wand, it’s all up to you.

Chorus. So smile, you know you can do it.
Smile, there ain’t nothing to it.
Just let it play a-long the sides of your lips,
Next thing you know you’ll be shaking your hips.
So smile, smile, smile.

The six o’clock news, it ain’t much fun;
Turn off the tele, maybe go for a run.
There’s no future in living in the past,
Find a good place and make it last.

Chorus. So smile, you know you can do it.
Smile, there ain’t nothing to it.
Just let it play along the sides of your lips,
Next thing you know you’ll be shaking your hips.
So smile, smile, smile.

Life is made for living, but it will one day end.
You don’t get much more than three score years and ten.
So live in the moment, it’s not a running race,
And don’t forget to keep that smile on your face.

Chorus. So smile, you know you can do it.
Smile, there ain’t nothing to it.

Just let it play along the sides of your lips,
Next thing you know you’ll be shaking your hips.
So smile, smile, smile.

Ain’t No Time Like The Present

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

You can sit by the phone in hope that it will ring.
You can go down town to see what the post will bring.
You can hang around and wait for your ship to come in,
But you won’t cross the river if you don’t jump in and swim.

Chorus. Ain’t no time like the present, Ain’t no time like right now.
Ain’t no time like the present, What else matters any-how?
You may be here a moment, you may be here an hour,
There ain’t no better time than right now.

You can put off to to-morrow what you should do to-day.
You can say you’ll get de-pressed if you don’t go out and play.
But things don’t go and do themselves; you’ve got to work to make it pay,
And you can’t win the battle if you don’t join in the fray.

There’s a time to smell the roses, there’s a time to plant the seed.
A time to pull back quickly and a time to take the lead.
The trick in life is knowing when to with-draw and to proceed,
But you’ll never ride the range if you don’t mount up your steed.

You can sit by the phone in hope that it will ring.
You can go down-town to see what the post will bring.
You can hang around and wait for your ship to come in,
But you won’t cross the river if you don’t jump in and swim.

Goodbye Robert Riley

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Goodbye Robert Riley, so sad to see you go.
Wish I could have done something, but what I just don’t know.
You fought your last battle in some lonely motel room.
Goodbye Robert Riley, so sad to see you go.

You were taken from your mother when you were very young,
And raised at Sister Kates, another orphaned son.
When you finally found your family you could not relate,
You shared no memories to hang your coat up-on.

Chorus. Cry for your father, cry for your son,
He’s gone for good and nothing can be done,

It’s a long way to Canberra from the Pingelly re-serve.
And you made that journey, your people to serve.
You took on the bureaucrats, the papers and the law,
It took a lot of courage; it took a lot of nerve.

I met you one time at a Waringarri show
You were quietly spoken for a radical he-ro.
Al-though you wore the colours of your people’s angry flag,
You didn’t seem the kind to come on all gung-ho.

Chorus. Cry for your father, cry for your son,
He’s gone for good and nothing can be done,

On a fateful day, you spoke about the past.
And all those painful memories tumbled out at last
It must have been too much to ex-pose yourself like that,
With a skin full of grog, the die was cast.

The big red car went speeding through the night.
You paid no heed to that flashing blue light.
The story was beamed across the radio air-waves,
As your life un-ravelled in a way no one could save.

Chorus. Cry for your father, cry for your son,
He’s gone for good and nothing can be done,
Cry for your father, cry for your son,
He’s gone for good and nothing can be done,

Goodnight Alan

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, it’s time for bed.
Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, now rest your head.

I’ll see you in the morning when they open your cell.
You’d better look sharp when they ring the bell.
Then get yourself down to the compound ground.
Find your spot, don’t stand a-round.

Chorus. Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, it’s time for bed.
Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, now rest your head.

After brekky there’s work to do.
We’ve got a job just for you.
There’s a whole lot of signs that need to be done,
With skill like yours it shouldn’t take too long.

Lunch is at twelve, so don’t be late.
Join the queue with your plate.
There’s mashed potato and beef to be had,
It’s the chef’s special and it ain’t too bad.

Chorus. Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, it’s time for bed.
Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, now rest your head.

When the day is done and you’ve time to kill,
You can read the paper by the window sill.
See what’s news and just for fun,
Check how your stocks and shares have done.

To-morrow night is movie night,
We’ve got film we think you’ll like.
About a bloke with a boat called Australia 2,
Seems there was nothing he couldn’t do.

Chorus. Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, it’s time for bed.
Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, now rest your head.

Now don’t you fret, it’s not a dream.
Everything is as it seems.
You’ve had a fall but in no time at all,
You’ll bounce right back like a rubber ball.

Chorus. Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, it’s time for bed.
Goodnight Alan, goodnight Bondy,
Goodnight mate, now rest your head.

Who Wants the Blues

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

The blues is just a state of mind that’s there for any-one.
You can see your-self as the only, lonely one.
Everybody’s had somebody, some time do them wrong.
I don’t take much to get real gone, then you can sing this song,

Chorus. I’ve got the blues; I’ve got the blueS,
Nothing’s going right for me; you know I’ve got the blues.

May-be your wife’s com-plaining ’bout the money you ain’t made,
Or she caught you making eyes at that pretty, little maid.
There’s a hundred different reasons for you to get de-pressed,
Everybody’s on your case and you can get no rest.

Chorus. When you’ve got the blues, you’ve got the blues,
Everybody’s on your case when you’ve got the blues.

Some folks are born with money; some folks are born poor,
Some folks never take a risk and open up the door,
To an-other way of thinking, an-other way to ride,
They’d rather draw the curtain and stay there in-side,

Chorus. Saying I’ve got the blues, I’ve got the blues,
Nobody knows the trouble I see; you know I’ve got the blues.

Me, I like the sunny side, I like to do what’s right,
I’ve got no inclination to go raging in the night.
When I get to the crossroads, I will know my way,
And it won’t be with the devil, down the lost high-way,

Chorus. Where you’ll get the blues, you’ll get the blues,
You go dancing with the devil, man, and you’ll get the blues.

You might call me square; you might call me hip,
You might call me on the phone and give me some lip.
I’ll say keep it to your-self, man, I don’t need to hear,
My time’s all taken up with the ones I love so dear.

Chorus. I don’t want the blues; I don’t want the blues,
Keep it to your-self, man, I don’t want the blues.
Who wants the blues, who wants the blues?
like the sunny side, I don’t want the blues.

Hey Corey

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

I picked him up just out of town, he was standing by the road,
A duffle coat and a travelling bag was his only load.
He said, “My name is Corey”, and he offered me a smile.
“Mister would you mind if I ride with you a while?”

He looked all of fifteen as I let him jump inside.
I asked him if his parents knew just where he aimed to ride.
He said, “Ma kicked me out of home. She doesn’t really care.
Dad left some time ago. He’s living south some-where”.

Chorus. Hey Corey, what are you gonna do?
Was the story that you told me really true?
Hey Corey, did you make it through?
Where-ever you are, I take my hat off to you.

I asked, “Where do you plan to go, down this long highway?”
He said, “I’ve got some friends in Brisbane where I’ll stay.
The welfare man said, it would be the best.
There’s nothing left for me, here in the west.”

I dropped him off at the top of the hill, What he thought, I can’t tell.
I gave him my card and I wished him well.
I said, “If you need a hand, don’t hesitate to call”.
He waved me good-bye and that was all.

Chorus. Hey Corey, what are you gonna do?
Was the story that you told me really true?
Hey Corey, did you make it through?
Where- ever you are, I take my hat off to you.

There’s plenty more Coreys, out there on the road.
Kids with no one to help, with their heavy load.
In these complicated times, the young pay the price,
When their parents make their choice at the throw of the dice.

Chorus. Hey Corey, what are you gonna do?
Was the story that you told me really true?
Hey Corey, did you make it through?
Where-ever you are, I take my hat off to you.
Where-ever you are, I take my hat off to you.

Island Song

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Sing me an island song, You know it’s been too long,
Since I heard a ukulele play.

I need to sail away, to a brighter day,
Sing me an island song today.

Chorus. About blue water bay, where palm trees sway,
That’s where I want to be to-day.

Beaches that go forever, Where there’s perfect weather,
Gentle breezes drifting through the day.
At night the stars are bright, and by the firelight,
What a lovely way to start a holi-day.

Chorus. On blue water bay, where palm trees sway,
That’s where I want to be to-day.

Days fade into days; time is like a haze,
Drifting across the ocean blue.
With your special one, you’ll have lots of fun,
It’s no-ones business what you say or do.

Chorus. On blue water bay, where palm trees sway,
That’s where I want to be to-day.

So sing me an island song, you know it’s been too long,
Since I heard a ukulele play.
I need to sail away, to a brighter day,
Sing me an island song to-day.

Chorus. About blue water bay, where palm trees sway,
That’s where I want to be to-day.
On blue water bay, where palm trees sway,
That’s where I want to be to-day.

Live for Today

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

He was tall and lean and weathered by the sun,
As he got himself out of his old u-til-it-ty,
And made his way a-cross the lawn to my porch,
Sat himself down on a chair next to me.

I poured him a drink and he raised it with a grin
He said, “How’s things with you and how is the wife?”
And we got to talking ‘bout the world and all it’s trials.
He said, “I’ll sing you a song how the bushman lives his life”.

“If you’ve got a dollar in your pocket, you’d better spend it fast.
Be-fore it burns a hole down in your jeans.
Live for to-day and tomorrow will be fine.
Who gives a damn where you’ve been.”

“If there’s a job to be done, then get right down and do it.
Any dirt’s gonna wash off in the rain.
If you ride a buckin’ bronco and throws you on the ground,
Dust yourself and get back on a-gain.”

I said, “That’s all right for you, you’ve only got your-self,
I’ve got a wife and kids to sup-port.
You can be as free as the bird up in the tree.”
He said, “I haven’t finished the song that I brought.”

I saw a shadow pass a-cross his pale blue eyes,
As he sat back in his chair and rolled a cigarette.
I let the silence pass, then I picked up my guitar,
And the way we sang that song, I hope I don’t for-get.

“If you’ve got a dollar in your pocket, you’d better spend it fast.
Be-fore it burns a hole down in your jeans.
Live for to-day and to-morrow will be fine.
Who gives a damn where you’ve been.”

“If there’s a job to be done, then get right down and do it.
Any dirt’s gonna wash off in the rain.
If you ride a buckin’ bronco and it throws you on the ground,
Dust yourself and get back on a-gain.”

“If you lead the dance of life to a tune that don’t seem right,
You’ll find you’re dancing with a ball and chain.
Don’t go whining ‘bout the things that gone wrong,
You won’t know joy if you don’t have no pain.
You won’t know joy if you don’t have no pain.
You won’t know joy if you don’t have no pain.”

Not a Day Goes By

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

My days are long and busy and there’s much for me to do.
The telephone keeps ringing with orders coming through.
No time to stop and rest awhile, there’s always something new.
Then someone says something that re-minds me of you.

I can see you silhouetted against the setting sun,
On the banks of the Fitzroy River with your accordion,
While native women’s voices rise up in the night,
And soar across the treetops to the heavens so bright.

You were the lady with the camera and Bible in your bag,
And many came to see the photos that you had.
And you sent out your letters to people everywhere,
And remembered by name everyone in your prayers.

In your later years you were often taken ill,
But this couldn’t dull your spirit and couldn’t break your will.
While you read your Bible verses to give triumph o’er the pain
And I wonder if we’ll see your kind pass this way again.

Chorus. Not a day goes by when you’re not on my mind.
I see your sweet smile and hear your voice so kind.
But they’re just memories down the corridors of time.
Not a day goes by when you’re not on my mind.
Not a day goes by when you’re not on my mind.
Not a day goes by when you’re not on my mind.

Nothing Remains the Same

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

There’s a place for you in my heart,
Even though these years we’ve been apart.
The memories of those days linger on,
When we were young and our hearts could do no wrong.

Chorus. But nothing remains the same
Remains the same, remains the same.
You’ve got your lover and I’ve got mine,
Nothing remains the same.

Do your thoughts fly to another time,
When you were glad to hold your hand in mine.
We must have thought that our world would never end,
Little knowing what was up around the bend.

Chorus. But nothing remains the same,
Remains the same, remains the same.
You’ve got your lover and I’ve got mine,
Nothing remains the same.

Should we meet a-gain some sunny day
And you tell me that you’re doing O-K
I will say that the past is an open book,
And any-one can go and take a look.

Chorus. But nothing remains the same,
Remains the same, remains the same.
You’ve got your lover and I’ve got mine,
Nothing remains the same.

You’ve got your lover and I’ve got mine,
Nothing remains the same.

Put on Your Dancing Shoes

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Chorus. Put on your dancing shoes, put on your bright red dress,
Cause we’re going out tonight, gonna loose our blues.
Put on your dancing shoes.

I’ve been working all week just to pay my way,
Saying “Yes Sir, No Sir,” doing what they say.
The weekend’s come and the time is right,
For dancing our way into the night.

Chorus. Put on your dancing shoes, put on your bright red dress,
Cause we’re going out tonight, gonna loose our blues.
Put on your dancing shoes.

The bills are piling high up to the sky,
My money’s disappearing and I don’t know why.
I could loose my mind just thinking ‘bout it,
Let’s take the car and go where the crowd is.

Chorus. Put on your dancing shoes, put on your bright red dress,
Cause we’re going out tonight, gonna lose our blues.
Put on your dancing shoes.

When I’m on the floor and I’m yelling for more,
Old man trouble going out the door.
If the guitars are playing and the band is tight,
I can keep on dancing all through the night.

Chorus. So put on your dancing shoes, put on your bright red dress,
Cause we’re going out tonight, gonna lose our blues.
Put on your dancing shoes.

There’s trouble happening all round the world,
Heartaches there for every boy and girl.
If you want to keep the blues at bay,
Just take her hand and this is what you say.

Chorus. Put on your dancing shoes, put on your bright red dress,
Cause we’re going out tonight, gonna loose our blues.
Put on your dancing shoes.

Chorus. Put on your dancing shoes, put on your bright red dress,
Cause we’re going out tonight, gonna loose our blues.

Put on your dancing shoes.

Time Marches On

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Chorus. I’m not getting any younger,
I’m not getting any thinner,
I’m not getting any richer,
I’m not getting any smarter, And time marches on.

But I’ve got a lady, She’s good and she’s kind.
She cooks my dinner most nights right on time.
She’s there when I need her and I never question why,
I’ve got to tell you folks, I’m a lucky guy.

Chorus. But I’m not getting any younger,
I’m not getting any thinner,
I’m not getting any richer,
I’m not getting any smarter, And time marches on.

Now I’ve got a family, I love them every one.
They’re very good to me, especially my old mum.
They teach me how to live in the old fashioned way,
By caring for each other; what more can I say?

Chorus. But I’m not getting any younger,
I’m not getting any thinner,
I’m not getting any richer,
I’m not getting any smarter, And time marches on.

I’ve got friends that I’ve known for many years.
They help keep me sane and drive away the fears.
In an ever changing world, they’re still always there.
They give meaning to my life and show me how to care.

Chorus. But I’m not getting any younger,
I’m not getting any thinner,
I’m not getting any richer,
I’m not getting any smarter, And time marches on.

We’ve got a dog. I just call him Blue.
He greets me with a grin, no matter what I do.
He comes when I call and never questions why.
I’ve got to tell you folks, I’m a lucky guy.

Chorus. But I’m not getting any younger,
I’m not getting any thinner,
I’m not getting any richer,
I’m not getting any smarter, And time marches on.
Time marches on. Time marches on.

When I Become a Country Music Star

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Chorus. It’ll be raining cats and dogs in Birdsville.
They’ll be shouting free beers in the bar
They’ll all tell the truth in Canberra.
When I become a country music star.

Seems I’ve been singing songs for-ever.
There’s new ones coming on all the time.
But do the record companies care about this.
Seems I missed their call one more time.

Chorus. It’ll be raining cats and dogs in Birdsville.
They’ll be shouting my name in the bar
They’ll all tell the truth in Canberra.
The day that I become a country star.

Now I’ve got a wealth of experience
Had my heart broke in pieces more than once,

Been blown out on the trail, I’ve seen inside a jail,
I’m not the kind of guy you’d call a dunce

Chorus. It’ll be raining cats and dogs in Birdsville.
They’ll be singing my praises in the bar
They’ll all tell the truth in Canberra.
When I become a country music star.

You can catch my act down at the local
Where I’m bound to be putting on the pose
But you better buy my tickets now than later,
Cause one day you’ll be paying through the nose.

Chorus. It’ll be raining cats and dogs in Birdsville.
They’ll be scalping my tickets in the bar
They’ll all tell the truth in Canberra.
The day that I become a country star.

So I guess I’ll keep singing songs where-ever
Until they lay me down in the ground.
And if you listen close you might hear me,
Tapping out 2/4, that’s my sound.

Chorus. It’ll be raining cats and dogs in Birdsville.
They’ll be toasting my memory in the bar
They’ll all tell the truth in Canberra.
The day that I become a country star.
Watch out I’m gonna be a country star.
My momma said I’d be a country star.

White Crosses

Lyrics and music by Joel Smoker

Take a trip down south; take a journey to the east,
Head up north or drive to the west.
Where -ever you go, what-ever you do,
You’re bound to see them, old or new.

Some will have flowers, some will be plain;
Some will have names like Tom and Jane.
Each will have a story to tell,
‘Bout someone else’s living hell.

Chorus. White crosses, white crosses,
White crosses by the side of the road.
White crosses, white crosses,
White crosses by the side of the road.

It’s a race to the finish, a race to the end.
Who’s that coming a-round the bend?
Who’ll be the one to get there first?
Who’ll be the one coming home in a hearse?

Chorus. White crosses, white crosses,
White crosses by the side of the road.
White crosses, white crosses,
White crosses by the side of the road.

A screech of brakes, the smell of rubber,
The sound of one car hitting another.
A cry in the night, a cry of pain,
And someone’s life is lost a-gain.

Chorus. White crosses, white crosses,
White crosses by the side of the road.
White crosses, white crosses,
White crosses by the side of the road.

I can see three crosses up on the hill;
Someone’s already paid the bill.
Each man’s got one life to live,

It’s no one else’s to take or give.

Chorus. Three crosses, three crosses,
Three crosses up on the hill.
Three crosses, three crosses,
Someone’s already paid the bill.

Albums

Smile