The Black Hole of Gambling

I once won a third prize 

in the Hong Kong Mark Six lottery, 

getting around $8,000. 

How happy I was, 

as it gave me hope that 

I could get rich by 

winning an even bigger prize 

in the future. 

Thereafter, I kept buying the Mark Six until 

I had used up all of my previous winning, 

losing every single time.

_____

The Alan Parson Project - 

The Turn of a Friendly Card Part I & II 

The Turn of a Friendly Card Part I 

There are unsmiling faces and 

bright plastic chains

And a wheel in perpetual motion

And they follow the races and 

pay out the gains

With no show of an outward emotion

And they think it will 

make their lives easier

For God knows up till now 

it's been hard

But the game never ends when 

your whole world depends

On the turn of a friendly card

No, the game never ends when 

your whole world depends

On the turn of a friendly card

There's a sign in the desert that 

lies to the west

Where you can't tell 

the night from the sunrise

And not all the king's horses and 

all the king's men

Have prevented the fall of the unwise

For they think it will 

make their lives easier

And God knows up till now 

it's been hard

But the game never ends when 

your whole world depends

On the turn of a friendly card

No, the game never ends 

when your whole world depends

On the turn of a friendly card

But a pilgrim must follow 

in search of a shrine

As he enters inside the cathedral

The Turn of a Friendly Card Part II 

There are unsmiling faces 

in fetters and chains
On a wheel in perpetual motion
Who belong to all races and 

answer all names
With no show of an outward emotion

And they think it will make their lives easier
But the doorway before them is barred
And the game never ends when 

your whole world depends
On the turn of a friendly card
No the game never ends when 

your whole world depends
On the turn of a friendly card

Losing balance

When does a person begin to realize that 

he is getting old?

Among many triggers, 

one is when he boards a double-decker bus, 

he chooses not to go up to the upper deck, 

being afraid he might fall down the stairs 

if he loses his balance.

 

Hollow Coves - From the Second Floor

He tried to see the light

Limbs failed when 

he fell down from the couch

With fear in his eyes

He tried to talk but 

the words wouldn't come out

Seemed like he lost his mind

Felt helpless as he rolled around the floor

Sent shivers down my spine

What has he done? 

Will his mind ever come back?

But everyday people try to 

numb all their pain

Or they say it's just fun and games, 

living while they're young

And every time all they do is 

mess with their mind

Think about the rest of your life, 

you only get one

Then suddenly outside

He jumped headfirst from the second floor

Sent shivers down my spine

What has he done? 

Has his time really run out?

But everyday people try to 

numb all their pain

Or they say it's just fun and games, 

living while they're young

And every time all they do is 

mess with their mind

Think about the rest of your life, 

you only get one

When the road ahead of me is long

When I was young,

I walked very fast, feeling that

the road ahead of me was long and 

I wanted to advance faster.

Now I walk a little slower.

Though the road is still long,

I like taking the time

to stop and look around.

Passenger - this road is long

Well this road is long and 

I'm so far from my home

Some days I don't recognise myself

Though my faith is strong 

there is still so far to go

Some nights I cant help but doubt myself

For I'm not the kid I used to be 

back when I was young

I talk now where I used to shout

I walk where I used to run

But I'm still my fathers boy 

I am still my mothers son

And they know like I know 

that the road is long

Well this road is long and 

the paths not always clear

Some days I don't know 

which way to go

Though my heart is strong 

it gets heavy with fear

Some nights I wonder if I'll ever know

For I'm not the man I'll grow to be 

In many years to come

I'll listen where I used to speak and 

I'll sit where I used to run

Maybe a husband to a wife 

maybe a father to a son

And they'll know like I know

That the road is long

For now I'm just the man I am

Nothing less and nothing more

I'm everything I have become

From all that's been before

I've never really known a lot

But one thing I am sure that I know

Yes I know

That the road is long

Burning Out for Something

Some people are not willing to 

burn out for a job.

But these people may be willing to 

burn out for a career.

Neil Young - My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue)

My my, hey hey
Rock and roll is here to stay
It's better to burn out than to fade away
My my, hey hey

Out of the blue and into the black
They give you this, but you pay for that
And once you're gone you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black

The king is gone but he's not forgotten
This is the story of Johnny Rotten
It's better to burn out than it is to rust
The king is gone but he's not forgotten

My my, hey hey
Rock and roll is here to stay
Hey hey, my my
Rock and roll can never die
There's more to the picture than meets the eye
Hey hey, my my
Rock and roll can never die
Hey hey, my my
Rock and roll can never die

 

Love Lost on Valentine's Day

If your lover tells you 

she is going to end the relationship 

on Valentine's Day, she is cruel,

she wants to ruin 

your future Valentine's Days 

with anyone else for the rest of your life. 

If you smell any sign that 

a breakup might happen, 

do not celebrate Valentine's Day with her.

Don't give her the chance.

________

The Bee Gees -  Odessa

14th of February 1899

The British ship Veronica was lost without a sign

Baa, baa, black sheep, you haven't any wool

Captain Richardson left himself a lonely wife in Hull

Cherub, I lost a ship in the Baltic Sea

I'm on an iceberg running free

Sitting, filing this berg to the shape of a ship

Sailing my way back to your lips

One passing ship gave word that

You have moved out of your old flat

You love the Vicar more than words can say

Tell him to pray that I won't melt away

And I'll see your face again

Odessa

How strong am I?

Odessa

How time goes by

Treasure, you know the neighbors that live next door

They haven't got their dog anymore

Freezing, sailing around in the North Atlantic

Can't seem to leave the sea anymore

I just don't understand, why you just moved to Finland

You love that Vicar more than words can say

Ask him to pray that I won't melt away

And I'll see your face again

Odessa

How strong am I?

Odessa

How time goes by

14th of February 1899

The British ship Veronica was lost without a sign

The World Needs Changes

When I was young, 

I wanted to change the world. 

As I grew older, 

I realized I was not one of those 

chosen to change it—

though I have witnessed 

how those people do, 

sometimes for the better, 

sometimes for the worse. 

____

 

Ten Years After - I'd Love to Change the World 

Everywhere is freaks and hairies, 

dykes and fairies

Tell me where is sanity?
Tax the rich, feed the poor, 

'til there are no rich no more
I'd love to change the world - 

but I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you

Population - keeps on breeding, 

nation bleeding,
Still more feeding economy
Life is funny, skies are sunny, 

bees make honey
Who needs money? 

Monopoly!
I'd love to change the world - 

but I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you... 

Oh yeah

World pollution, there's no solution, 

institution, electrocution
Just black and white, 

rich or poor, 

them and us
We'll stop the war!
I'd love to change the world - 

but I don't know what to do
So I'll leave it up to you... 

It's called luck