Faster Than a First Kiss, Jo Meares Band live Sydney 2022, by Jo Meares (2024)

1.

When was it I learnt that they will put coins on my eyespush me on the dark lake?was I playing with tin soldiers and little cars?when did I know that summers end?That I would disappear so many times….faster than a first kiss.faster than a first kiss.the small, happy boythe lonely, awkward teenagerthe wild young manwould all disappearfaster than a first kiss.The driver with no faceHe can take you to the placeacross the water up the hillto where your Mother waitsYour sister and your brothers all your long lost loversthe little witch on Halloweenthe beautiful vampire queenWill all disappearfaster than a first kiss.That morning by the riverthe promise on the golden bridgethe lovers and the sinnersall the love you giveAll the lives you leadbeginnings and the endsthe books that you readand all the broken breadThe Sun and the moonand the parties and the songsthe magic and the loonsall I held strong The treasure that I keptThe air and all the bloodand everyone I lovewill all disappearfaster than a first kiss

2.

Let’s walk for awhile feel the wind, see the sky, hear the birds feel like we’re alive again… Here’s the place the place that you adore the little strawbale house you built when you had nothing left to live for You came so far just to leave it all behind you were broken could no longer touch you had lost so much I can hear the angels and they’re fighting yeah they’re flapping and beating their wings the lonely mermaids they’re weeping, they’re weeping, weeping hey can no longer swim The pretty dancer what is she dreaming of Is her lover so far away? Did he die in the fight? Would he return on his horse? With roses someday When you fall down Oh into an abyss maybe you got pushed you got tricked When you’ve fallen down so long all you can do is hold onLet’s walk for awhile over the bridge down by the river Over those green fields of yesterday flowers in your hair when we were lovers Let’s walk for awhile just be grateful with all we got Oh let’s walk for awhile won’t be long until we have to walk across

3.

The streets are empty againlove is long gonedon’t be so saddon’t look so forlornIts just love and rainIts just dreamsIts just love and rainjust dreamsjust dreams gone badHear the silencehear the gentle wavesa rose and a haloa lonely saint cravesIts just love and rainIts just dreamsIts just love and rainIts just dreamsdreams gone badI asked some questions of the moonWhere is the ship going?What happened to time?Why all the weepingShe said its just love and rainIts just dreamsShe said its just love and rain just dreamsJust dreams gone badThe streets are empty againlove is long gonedon’t be so saddon’t look so forlornIts just love and rainIts just dreamsIts just love and rainjust dreamsdreams gone bad

4.

I’m going downto the Dream HotelI’m coming hometo the Dream HotelAnd sweet music will play I will hear the angels singI will see Solveig Dommartinsmiling on her swingAnd summers never endThere are no broken heartsno one ever leavesthe Dream HotelI’ll hold my little brown cathe’ll be purring on my lapI will talk with my motherand kiss my beautiful old friendI will see your faceI will hold your handyou won’t cryyou won’t hurtbecause no one diesat the Dream Hotelno one ever leavesthe Dream HotelI will see my favourite lovershe will softly kiss my lipswhisper there was no otherthere was nothing like thisAh c’monand saddle up your best horseAh c’monand fill your bags with goldAh c’monlisten to the trumpets blowNever ever grow oldThe lights are onat the Dream HotelI’m going downto the Dream HotelGoing downto the Dream HotelComing hometo the Dream Hotel

5.

Sometimes I’m up sometimes I’m downSometimes I am almost in the groundDry bones in the valleydon’t liveDry bones won’t rise upthey got nothing to giveHere comes another stormanother testFire in the eastand fire in the westShadows of eaglesand their wingsin the valley of dry bonesno angels singAn old man screamswe’re going to hellthe ghosts of lost childrenhowling in the wishing wellWe’re all going to helllay down in the valley of dry bonesthey got nothingSometimes I’m up sometimes I’m downand sometimes I’m almost in the groundDry bones in the valleydon’t liveDry bones won’t rise upthey got nothing to give

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8.

I took to the bottle much too youngthere was so much beauty to touchI was old before my timeI really needed a crutchI lived beyond my meansI just needed fire and woodI always wanted to be cleanyou know I never couldI took to the bottle much too youngYou climbed the stairsShouted my nameI was never thereYou could never stake your claimI see the darkness movingMoving through the pastI should have been a soldierDressed right and done my partNot toiled in the abstractPlayed the dirty game of artPlayed the dirty game of artIt’s the last days of dancingIt’s the last days of dancingIt’s the last days of dancingBefore we say goodbyeI left the churchWhere I went to prayI made sure to smash the altarLong before the wedding dayYou can never see the cracksI forgot your name in timeI finally grew weakWhen I lost my winning streakI finally grew weakWhen I lost my winning streakI see the darkness movingMoving through the pastBefore I was even bornBefore I had a chance

9.

released August 18, 2023

Jo Meares - vocal
Reuben Alexander - drums
Matt Galvin - guitar
Anth Dymke - bass/keys
Dave Milne - piano
Jessie Newling - backing vocals
Jessica - backing vocals

mixed and mastered by Colin Wynne at 30 Mil Studios, Melbourne