 Rhymes in Rooms (1992) [ larger cover art ] |
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The fishing boats go out across the evening water
Smuggling guns and arms across the Spanish border
The wind whips up the waves so loud
The ghost moon sails among the clouds
Turns the rifles into silver on the border
On my wall the colours of the maps are running
From Africa the winds they talk of changes coming
The torches flare up in the night
The hand that sets the farms alight
Has spread the word to those who're waiting on the border
In the village where I grew up
Nothing seems the same
Still you never see the change from day to day
And no-one notices the customs slip away
Late last night the rain was knocking at my window
I moved across the darkened room and in the lampglow
I thought I saw down in the street
The spirit of the century
Telling us that we're all standing on the border
In the islands where I grew up
Nothing seems the same
It's just the patterns that remain
An empty shell
But there's a strangeness in the air you feel too well
The fishing boats go out across the evening water
Smuggling guns and arms across the Spanish border
The wind whips up the waves so loud
The ghost moon sails among the clouds
Turns the rifles into silver on the border
On the border
On the border
On the border
| Papa_Smurf (Spokane WA) | Posted: May 20, 2013 - 00:48 bad ass |
| Papa_Smurf (Spokane WA) | Posted: May 20, 2013 - 00:48 what?????????? |
| Stratocaster (Bermuda) | Posted: Jan 27, 2013 - 03:40 Shesdifferent wrote: I love Al Stewart, I've seen him live a few times and he's great.....but this live version doesn't translate to "radio" very well. I prefer the regular version. Play more Al Stewart. How about Lord Grenville? WOW, you mentioned Lord Grenville - my favourite Al Stewart song!! |
| richlister (Here, there, pretty much everywhere.) | Posted: Dec 14, 2012 - 04:28 I've been on the border numerous times. The border between toilet and pants, that is. |
| Giselle62 (many bear, big rock, estuary California) | Posted: Nov 25, 2012 - 10:34 I've always loved Al Stewart's voice, from the first time I heard "Year of the Cat" in the 70's (he's an example of a non-macho voiced male that I swoon over) love it. I still stop to listen to him |
| Imkirok (The Arctic Hinter Land) | Posted: Oct 12, 2012 - 10:54 Before I looked up and saw who it was, I was thinking this might be something off the new Joe Bonamassa live album. May have to give old Al another listen. |
| AndyJ (Oregon) | Posted: Sep 23, 2012 - 13:46 JIan wrote: Thank you fredriley! Your words definitely added to this fabulous guitar work and the verse for me. Everything I have read about that war shows that there were no clean hands. The people who just wanted to raise their children, earn a living and come home at night were slaughtered... Nothing has changed. bad guys kill the innocent. Good guys do also. Who is bad or good is up to you. The French Revolution set the pattern for all revolutions that followed.... Killing is easy. Governing is hard. The winners always promise too much and find they cannot deliver without taking more from those in the middle.... which angers the middle and fires up the young and radical...and off we go again. yes, there are some things worth dying for. They are also the things worth killing to protect. One should be clear about that line and aware of the consequences of both aggression and response. be clear. |
| AndyJ (Oregon) | Posted: Sep 23, 2012 - 13:37 Education: history, poetry, music, foreign flavors...all Just That Easy. Music for people who thing as well as those who just like to dance. His song about the 9 million Germans who wer captured by Russia and never seen again is very realistic. Remids us all that war is an ugly business. That average people "go where sent. Do as told" and pay the price. It's also a lesson that governments cannot be trusted. There are no good guys, no bad guys just national "interests".... Smaller governments kill fewer of their citizens than the large all-encompassing governments... There is no Free Lunch and no friends in government. |
| rockpommel16 (rockpommel´s land...dreaming of netherlands) | Posted: Sep 23, 2012 - 13:34 Cynaera wrote: I love Al Stewart's music. He's right in my realm, from the vocals to the music, and everything in between. Something about his voice makes me want to protect him, but his words tell me he needs no protection. This song just makes me want to yell out loud, or send up a batch of balloons, or grill a perfect steak... He makes me feel alive. Always has, always will. ....goosebumps while reading THIS................ ....and THANX, ROMEO for all your comments.......wish i could visit you in your hotel room....... |
| oldsaxon (Wales via Vancouver, BC.) | Posted: Sep 23, 2012 - 13:29 Politics aside...I LOVE the playing in this all of it, every note. Peter White is amazing. |
| JIan (SW Desert, AZ, USA) | Posted: Aug 10, 2012 - 09:57 fredriley wrote: I strongly suspect that you're right. The Republican side in the Spanish Revolution/Civil War (take your pick according to political viewpoint) was desperately short of arms to fight Franco's forces as the Western capitalist countries enforced a strict arms embargo. This had zero effect on the Francoists as they had all the army stockpiles and were being supplied by fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, and had plenty of money to buy more on the black market. Effectively the Western powers sided, implicitly, with the Francoist rebels, by denying the Republicans, who were the legitimately constituted and elected government, the means to defend themselves. France also closed its border with Spain so that anti-fascists could not legimately join the Republicans so the thousands of volunteers for the struggle had to smuggle themselves across the border. Even at the time this was morally and politically shameful, and it soon came back to bite the Western powers when Nazi Germany attacked them. The simple lesson from history is: oppose fascism wherever it rears its ugly head. I was really taken with this song even as a kid when I knew zip about the Spanish Revolution, and it's got a special significance for me now that I'm a bit more aware. With the other Al Stewart songs played by RP I've really come to respect the guy immensely. 9 from the Nottingham jury, though in truth songs as profound and moving as this are insulted by ratings. Thank you fredriley! Your words definitely added to this fabulous guitar work and the verse for me. |
| Hasan | Posted: Jul 22, 2012 - 16:00 fredriley wrote: I strongly suspect that you're right. The Republican side in the Spanish Revolution/Civil War (take your pick according to political viewpoint) was desperately short of arms to fight Franco's forces as the Western capitalist countries enforced a strict arms embargo. This had zero effect on the Francoists as they had all the army stockpiles and were being supplied by fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, and had plenty of money to buy more on the black market. Effectively the Western powers sided, implicitly, with the Francoist rebels, by denying the Republicans, who were the legitimately constituted and elected government, the means to defend themselves. France also closed its border with Spain so that anti-fascists could not legimately join the Republicans so the thousands of volunteers for the struggle had to smuggle themselves across the border. Even at the time this was morally and politically shameful, and it soon came back to bite the Western powers when Nazi Germany attacked them. The simple lesson from history is: oppose fascism wherever it rears its ugly head. I was really taken with this song even as a kid when I knew zip about the Spanish Revolution, and it's got a special significance for me now that I'm a bit more aware. With the other Al Stewart songs played by RP I've really come to respect the guy immensely. 9 from the Nottingham jury, though in truth songs as profound and moving as this are insulted by ratings. Yes fredriley, reading your post while the song played today, gave it that much more depth. I'm an RP fanatic, but even so — there's too often vacuous drek getting far more air time than this wonderful piece; not to mention that another wonder: Roads to Moscow! |
| bachbeet | Posted: Jul 09, 2012 - 23:31 Never liked Al Stewart. I was definitely not one of those who bought his Year of the Cat. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jul 09, 2012 - 23:26 Cynaera wrote: I love Al Stewart's music. He's right in my realm, from the vocals to the music, and everything in between. Something about his voice makes me want to protect him, but his words tell me he needs no protection. This song just makes me want to yell out loud, or send up a batch of balloons, or grill a perfect steak... He makes me feel alive. Always has, always will. Ann, that statement is now so incredibly poignant... yes, this is a magnificent version of this song... miss you so much... rest in peace... |
| Cyclehawk (Athens GA) | Posted: Jan 01, 2012 - 15:11 This is a very good album, altho there are better versions of this particular song elsewhere. If you're a fan, also check out the live recording from a couple years back, Uncorked, which is excellent. |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet) | Posted: Oct 11, 2011 - 09:43 I love Al Stewart, I've seen him live a few times and he's great.....but this live version doesn't translate to "radio" very well. I prefer the regular version. Play more Al Stewart. How about Lord Grenville? |
| gemtag (Texas) | Posted: Sep 28, 2011 - 13:19 Not a huge Al Stewart fan, but this version is outstanding. |
| MiracleDrug (Earth) | Posted: Sep 28, 2011 - 13:17   |
| ski19570 (Northern Sierras, California) | Posted: Aug 09, 2011 - 14:15 Really love this version of this song. Better than the studio in my opinion.. |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Jun 07, 2011 - 14:06 Oh, look - more tour dates!!!!!!!! I would SO love to see him in concert... Friday, July 29th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Saturday, July 30th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Monday, August 1st, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Friday, August 5th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Saturday, August 6th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Sunday, August 7th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Friday, September 30th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Friday, October 7th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Friday, November 11th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Saturday, November 12th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Friday, November 18th, 2011 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff. Saturday, March 10th, 2012 Accompanied by guitarist Dave Nachmanoff.
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| WayUpNorth (Windswept Exile) | Posted: Apr 05, 2011 - 08:22 Wow, it was worth getting up this morning to hear this! |
| ft (Bloomsbury, NJ) | Posted: Apr 05, 2011 - 08:20 Saw Al with his current sideman Dave Nachmanoff last month at City Winery in NYC. If you dig this song and the dual-acoustic setting, I strongly recommend you catch Al and Dave if they come near you. He only gets better with age, and Dave is every bit as good as Peter White. |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet this is not my home) | Posted: Feb 01, 2011 - 13:15 Love Al Stewart, saw him many times in small venue concerts, he was great live. Still....on the radio I'd prefer the album version of any of his songs...but I understand a live version, a good live version can be a valuable asset to RP's mix. |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Feb 01, 2011 - 13:12 I love Al Stewart's music. He's right in my realm, from the vocals to the music, and everything in between. Something about his voice makes me want to protect him, but his words tell me he needs no protection. This song just makes me want to yell out loud, or send up a batch of balloons, or grill a perfect steak... He makes me feel alive. Always has, always will. |
| fatcatjb (Sunny Sacramento) | Posted: Jan 19, 2011 - 20:54 thank you, fredriley. I count on the Nottingham Jury for lucid comments such as this. fredriley wrote: I strongly suspect that you're right. The Republican side in the Spanish Revolution/Civil War (take your pic according to political viewpoint) was desperately short of arms to fight Franco's forces as the Western capitalist countries enforced a strict arms embargo. This had zero effect on the Francoists as they had all the army stockpiles and were being supplied by fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, and had plenty of money to buy more on the black market. Effectively the Western powers sided, implicitly, with the Francoist rebels, by denying the Republicans, who were the legitimately constituted and elected government, the means to defend themselves. France also closed its border with Spain so that anti-fascists could not legimately join the Republicans so the thousands of volunteers for the struggle had to smuggle themselves across the border. Even at the time this was morally and politically shameful, and it soon came back to bite the Western powers when Nazi Germany attacked them. The simple lesson from history is: oppose fascism wherever it rears its ugly head. I was really taken with this song even as a kid when I knew zip about the Spanish Revolution, and it's got a special significance for me now that I'm a bit more aware. With the other Al Stewart songs played by RP I've really come to respect the guy immensely. 9 from the Nottingham jury, though in truth songs as profound and moving as this are insulted by ratings. |
| slivers (Vancouver, Canada) | Posted: Jan 19, 2011 - 20:53 Saw Al Stewart in concert several years ago in a small venue and he was fantastic. Love his music and his political sense. It was such a close venue that he signed autographs for everyone who wanted and shook everyones hand. A great historian and musician. |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Dec 19, 2010 - 11:29 toterola wrote: This is strictly a "shot in the dark", but I always thought this song was about the Spanish Civil War. The people who opposed Franco had to get weapons wherever they could, and most of the island nations in the Mediterranean were sympathetic to the folks who opposed Fascism. But that's just my take on it. I strongly suspect that you're right. The Republican side in the Spanish Revolution/Civil War (take your pick according to political viewpoint) was desperately short of arms to fight Franco's forces as the Western capitalist countries enforced a strict arms embargo. This had zero effect on the Francoists as they had all the army stockpiles and were being supplied by fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, and had plenty of money to buy more on the black market. Effectively the Western powers sided, implicitly, with the Francoist rebels, by denying the Republicans, who were the legitimately constituted and elected government, the means to defend themselves. France also closed its border with Spain so that anti-fascists could not legimately join the Republicans so the thousands of volunteers for the struggle had to smuggle themselves across the border. Even at the time this was morally and politically shameful, and it soon came back to bite the Western powers when Nazi Germany attacked them. The simple lesson from history is: oppose fascism wherever it rears its ugly head. I was really taken with this song even as a kid when I knew zip about the Spanish Revolution, and it's got a special significance for me now that I'm a bit more aware. With the other Al Stewart songs played by RP I've really come to respect the guy immensely. 9 from the Nottingham jury, though in truth songs as profound and moving as this are insulted by ratings. |
| kentbigdog (Lost and Confused) | Posted: Nov 30, 2010 - 14:38 1978. High school. Back seat. This song and Year of the Cat. All special memories tied together. Love it! |
| mmoyer (Silicon Valley) | Posted: Nov 17, 2010 - 17:33 I love this live version |
| clwguy | Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 06:57 1977. Senior year of HS. I still love this song. Love the intro/guitar on the live version |
| bev (Reno, NV) | Posted: Sep 28, 2010 - 06:53 ...with Peter White on guitar. Saw them perform this together and ...wow! Peter is phenomenal and the two of them are really in sync. Nice. |
| DaveInVA (In a hovel in effluent Damnville, VA) | Posted: Aug 27, 2010 - 07:03 I've seen (and heard) him do this song live in concert 6 times....Great stuff  |
| ETTAKKEN (Ukraine) | Posted: Jul 13, 2010 - 08:50 Not bad. |
| wenatchee (Duvall, WA) | Posted: Jun 24, 2010 - 09:42 I like the studio version better, this version seems to have a cadence a tad fast . . . does not feel as rich as the studio version. |
| stargazer1 (Poway, CA) | Posted: Jun 11, 2010 - 12:20 I liked this song when it first came out. First time I've heard the live version too. I actually like it better than the original. Heck, for all we know, this is the original version. The album version getting cut down to fit on the B side. Maybe if the music industry ever truly embraces digital media, we can get more than 20 second solos as a matter or routine? |
| fingerpin (OhiO) | Posted: Jun 11, 2010 - 12:18 Just yesterday I bought the original CD, in used form, at my local CD/vinyl store, Shake It Records.  |
| RedTopFireBelow (Jersey shore, USA) | Posted: Jun 11, 2010 - 12:17 He was born in Glasgow Scotland, Alistair Ian Stewart..... gotta love those Scots!!! |
| Umberdog (Southern Oregon) | Posted: Jun 11, 2010 - 12:14 I much prefer the original version of this song. I bought my first Al Stewart album "Year of the Cat" when I was a wee pup of 14. I guess we often prefer songs as we originally hear them. |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Jun 11, 2010 - 12:14 Wow - I have to admit I've never heard this live version! I know, i must have been living under a rock....this is fantastic! |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Apr 21, 2010 - 20:23 I'm not reading any of the other comments, because I want to hold Al Stewart's music close. My late mom favored piano music, but she happened to catch "Time Passages" on the radio one day, and decided that she loved whoever it was that performed it. I bought the album and played it for her, and she peevishly commented, "What's he saying? Tying sausages?" To this day, I can't listen to "Time Passages" without thinking about Mom's comment. I miss her, but when I hear Al Stewart, I smile. His music transports me to a happier, safer, more creative time... |
| rbigelo (Spanish Town) | Posted: Sep 13, 2009 - 10:14 Though his music was not wildly popular with the masses, Al Stewart is to this day, always a favorite listening experience with me. ^..^~ |
| lmic (Narrow Minded Couch Potato) | Posted: Sep 13, 2009 - 10:12 I love how his accent (Scots? English?) really shines through on this version. Funny, I don't remember thinking of him as a British artist when this song was popular. |
| kaybee (Lost in the Wilds of Toronto) | Posted: Jun 10, 2009 - 19:50 toterola wrote: This is strictly a "shot in the dark", but I always thought this song was about the Spanish Civil War. The people who opposed Franco had to get weapons wherever they could, and most of the island nations in the Mediterranean were sympathetic to the folks who opposed Fascism. But that's just my take on it. Your take is correct. In much of his music, Al Stewart seems to have a good knowledge of and interest in history, especially that of the 20th century. |
| toterola (Further) | Posted: May 09, 2009 - 18:05 Odyzzeuz wrote: Now there are two skeletons. Ugghhh.    |
| TravelRat (Siberia) | Posted: Feb 04, 2009 - 02:22 Stewart was a total hit/miss type, but I appreciate his writing songs about important historical events. |
| jhorton | Posted: Jan 03, 2009 - 10:47 toterola wrote: This is strictly a "shot in the dark", but I always thought this song was about the Spanish Civil War. The people who opposed Franco had to get weapons wherever they could, and most of the island nations in the Mediterranean were sympathetic to the folks who opposed Fascism. But that's just my take on it. I think you are right, this is about smuggling weapons in to fight Franco. And a smokin' hot live version, i might add. And it ain't Flamenco-It's pop music. |
| k_trout (Dream State) | Posted: Nov 01, 2008 - 10:46 aristoteles wrote: Not a bad song, but Spanish flamenco guitarrist would laugh at his technique, sounds so "cold" when compared to a authentic flamenco guitar, just playing the correct guitar diagram doesn´t make it for me. Where is the warmth, where is the feel? where is the beef?   |
| bindi (North Carolina) | Posted: Nov 01, 2008 - 10:43 Bill, anything from this CD will make at least one of your listeners very happy! Love it! |
| toterola (Somewhere between Shipping and Receiving) | Posted: Sep 30, 2008 - 20:15 Danny_G wrote: hmm.. the border with Spain. Is Mr. Stewart from Portugal or France?  This is strictly a "shot in the dark", but I always thought this song was about the Spanish Civil War. The people who opposed Franco had to get weapons wherever they could, and most of the island nations in the Mediterranean were sympathetic to the folks who opposed Fascism. But that's just my take on it. |
| zjustme | Posted: Jul 29, 2008 - 14:39 I can only wish that my Flamenco playing and technique were this bad. Maybe if I practice more I can get a passable rasgueado. Not a bad song, but Spanish flamenco guitarrist would laugh at his technique, sounds so "cold" when compared to a authentic flamenco guitar, just playing the correct guitar diagram doesn?t make it for me. Where is the warmth, where is the feel?
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