Permaisuri

Words and music by Richard Homer 

 4/4 93 bpm Intro EAE, EAE, ABE, ABE, AEBE 

 EAE 

the Talgarth bluff in a / gusting / May 

EAE 

the eagle going from / Brecon to / Hay 

ABE 

winging your way / in high / gear 

ABE 

winging your way / to me / here

AEB, EABE, AE 

// going // away, //// Permaisuri 

a quiet Boughrood / morning / where 

a lark rises in the / autumn / air 

the pine trees whispering as / if to / greet 

the grunting tractors / on their / beat

 // going // away, //// Permaisuri 

 on a Pembroke cliff of seagull, / puffin / cry 

watching the sea, the / rain go / by 

the storm-beaten / breakers / flay 

the rough rocks of a / windswept / bay

// going // away, //// Permaisuri 

the Ysgyryd Fach in the / brisk March / air 

honking ducks fly / up to / where

high cloud, / grey rain / race 

each wanting to / escape the / place

// going // away, //// Permaisuri 

the snow floating, / gentle, / clear 

a robin, enquiring, / coming / near 

the barren trees hint / they / know 

the Blorenge sunset / about to / go

 // going // away, //// Permaisuri  

GC 

on the craggy, bare / Ysgyryd Fawr 

F B flat where thick-clad sheep in / winter cower 

E flat C # 

you go up / high A flat sus4, A flat

BAE 

then come / back to / me

come / back to / me 

Ch 

AE, AE 

Permaisuri, / Permaisuri, / wing your way / back to me 

AEBE 

fly to / me / back in / time 

fly to / me / back in / time 

fly to / me / once / again 

fly to / me / once / again

B EABE, AEBE / AE

Permaisuri, / come / home to / me

Negara tenggara (Watermelon Bay)

09 April 2009

Words and music by Richard Homer

4/4, 125 bpm 

Intro C Em G C, Em F G C high twice

Em F G C 

I’m thinking, yet / again, of a / place with warm / weather

C F G C

to be on an intricate / crab beach, / to eat seafood, / aware

Em F G C 

of where I can / be in peace / we two / together

C F G C

to enjoy the / fishing, / embracing the / air 

where we can eat / carrot, / mushroom, baby / corn

in a soft yam / cake, / that we both // enjoy

with chili crab, / cuttlefish, / chicken, tiger / prawn

by the / beach surf, / watching the estuary / buoy 

Am G FCGC

whispering to the / coconut tree /// Watermelon / Bay

here, the / throbbing / wooden boats going / out

to catch the / gleaming / morning fish // tonight

the fishermen will / throw their / gear that will / tout

for work under the / moon-sea, / cool and / bright

Am G FCGC

moon breeze on the / estuary /// Watermelon / Bay

the beginning of the / morning, / time now to go / back

we can / take a shower together, to / wash the sweat and / grain 

running on your / body, the warm / water changing / tack

then sleep in / harmony, / embracing once / again

Am G FCGC

Negara // tenggara /// Watermelon / Bay

C G FGC

Oh yes, I / think, I / think of a / warm / place

C G FGC

Oh, yes, I / think, I / think of a / warm / embrace

G C G C

to be here on the / beach with you, / to be in / love with you

C G FGC

Oh yes, I think we / might spend time / enjoying a / moon that’s / new

G G17 G G17 

Oh, ma / chérie, / tu es qui / j’adore 

G G17 G C 

Oh, ma / chérie, / tu es qui / j’adore B dim Am, G F 

FGC

tu es / qui / j’adore C F G / C F G / C high 

Am G FCGC

Negara // tenggara /// Watermelon / Bay

I went to town

 Friday 2 December 2005 

Words and music by Richard Homer 

4/4, 125 bpm Intro C, FCGC, FCGC 

CFGC 

I went to the / town by the / cream bus // tonight 

FCGC 

if you’re not by the / stop, the chauffeur / waits, a nice / man 

FCGC 

the rain pissed on / down as / only Gwent / can 

GFC 

I got soaked to the skin, and / huddled up / tight 

CGC 

when I went to town alone by the / cream bus // tonight 

FCGC, FCGC Ooh 

I went to / Edwards the / Butchers // tonight 

for burgers, / home-made, now in / cold freezer / care 

I then went back / out to the / evening wet / air 

whilst Rob and Bridget put the / shop to / right 

when I went to the town alone by the / cream bus // tonight 

I went into / Stokes to buy / broccoli // tonight 

I enjoy going / there with their / polite, youthful / crew 

the manager is just a / boy; the / girls are pretty, too 

I got one small leek, hands / wet, cold and / bright 

when I went to the town alone by the / cream bus // tonight 

I went into / Threshers for the / Scrumpy // tonight 

a long, cold, wet / trek through the / miserable / street 

the cold, hard, wet / rain thumping / down on its / beat 

I got a pack too, of beer to / get me through the / night 

when I went to the town alone by the / cream bus // tonight

I went back to / wait for the / cream bus // tonight 

to go, via the / Knoll, back up the / hill, and then / home 

the poor bloke, well, / he had / Llanellen to / roam 

before he could sign off, get the / evening // alight, 

when I came back alone on the / cream bus // tonight

I went to the / rear of my / small house // tonight 

to cook up some / meat; then / after my / shower 

barefoot but / warm, by the / mélange of / flower 

the wireless told me Friday, the / music is / right 

when I came back alone by the / cream bus // tonight 

I went up to / bed in my / cold house // tonight 

alone, as / always; oh / yes, that I / know 

just watching the / computer and / gas fire / glow 

the evening came in with its / brisk winter / bite 

when I came back alone by the / cream bus // tonight 

Ch 

AF I know you / won’t be there

GC no holding hands, kissing, / taking care 

AF Where are you now? / Why did you go?

CGC Are you coming back to me?  / I want to / know

Flight to Kerteh

 Words and music by Richard Homer

4/4, 110 bpm Intro CF/CF/CF/CF/GC, CF/CF/CF/CF/GC

C F C

Why they put me on a / flight to / here,

G F C

twenty years before I / began to / know

C F C 

I would wait, forlorn, like a / rotting / pier,

G F C, CF/CF/CF/CF/GC, CF/CF/CF/CF/GC

watching the rusting come, and the / memory / go.

I look back now, a journey through a / maze of / time 

thinking where else I might have / gone, with / whom,

I might have kept warm, not cut by / touching / rime, 

maybe not taking refuge in a / quiet rear / room.

When I caught the plane that / early / morning

flying across a landscape of / watery / green

nothing in the air gave a / hint of / warning

I would end up the pauper, / you the / queen

The sun’s beginning to go, the / neighbour’s dogs / bark

in relentless, uncaring way / at the / rear,

papaya blob near where the / eating birds / park,

yet another Chinese / New Year / here.

Am G17 Am 

Get off the plane, get / thinking into / gear

Am G17 Am 

get your bag, watch the / Fokker / climb;

Am F C

they can keep the ticket, / bring someone else / here

Am F C

but they didn’t, that’s why I’m / out here / now, 

FC/FC/FC/FGC

counting / counting / counting counting / the / time.

I’m in bed this morning, / wife lying / near,

rubbing her back in half- / affectionate / care,

but my mind and heart in / low grinding / gear,

thinking to go, but / how, when and / where?

High tea in Paka

Words and music by Richard Homer

4/4, 95 bpm 

Intro C G F C, G F C, G F C G C twice

C G F C

I walk with you, hearing the / kampung / chickens / crow,

F G CG

no arm, now, / around each other // here;

C G F C

the surf slips in and out like a / cockroach / on the / go,

F G CGC

the sun is going out, / night is coming / near. 

GFC GFC GFCGC

ooh, / ooh, / ooh, / ooh, / ooh, / ooh, / ooh, / ooh, / ooh, / ooh, / ooh

There, across the way, the // restaurant / where

we had a ramble of a / high noon, high // tea,

in quarantine from the / hot, / humid / air, 

you now going away in / quarantine from / me.

I watch the sea breeze / attacking / your / hair,

you bend, pick up a / starfish, peach and / pink,

I breathe in the bracing late // afternoon / air,

knowing that we have / come to the / brink.

G F C

High tea in Paka, with you one / High Noon / afternoon,

G F C

listening to the surf / playing a foaming / tune, 

G F C

watching the unceasing sea birds / circle and / climb,

G F C

I’ll think of that day for a / long, long / time,

F G C

but I know you won’t be / thinking of / me.FGC

When you told me about your // other / man, 

my heart and my / memory // ache

for the time we grew up together / in // Cwmbrân, 

but Paka is our / point where we / break.

You get the Kuala Lumpur coach, / kiss / me / goodbye, 

I hear the breeze / hug a crying // tree;

tomorrow when the sun is / hot / and / high, 

I know you will be / gone for good from / me.

CGC

I’ll walk on the beach when the / sun has / gone, 

FGC

thinking of the / time I spent with / you,

CGC

the night when the music and the / loving / came / on, 

FGC

now the South / China Sea / tears will come on / cue.

CGC

The years ago, when we used to / walk to the / park, 

FGC

to watch / Pontypool and / Cross Keys / play,

CGC

listening to the song of the / Gwent evening / lark, 

FGC

or wandering through the / bookshops in / Hay.

I think of the plight of those / tough / lonely / men, 

Gary Cooper, Charlton / Heston, John / Wayne,

how they squared up to what was / thrown / at / them, 

then I’ll think of you my / love once // again.

G F C

High tea in Paka, with you one / High Noon / afternoon,

G F C

listening to the surf / playing a foaming / tune, 

G F C

watching the unceasing sea birds / circle and / climb,

G F C

I’ll think of that day for a / long, long / time,

F G C

but I know you won’t be / thinking of / me

F G C

but I know you won’t be / thinking of / me

F G C

no, I know you won’t be / thinking of / me

The old men and women of the Mardy in Gwent

Words and music by Richard Homer 

4/4,110 bpm Intro CFC/FGC 

C F C F G C 

One old man, with a / dog on a / chain, 

a / man with a / dog on a / chain

F C F C 

walking / behind the / animal, both / slow

G C G F 

I stop, / greet them, / then I / go

C F G C F G C G 

knowing I’m / bound to bump / into them / again 

I’ll / bump into / them / again

A woman I talked to, who, / thirty years / ago, 

a / woman who / thirty years / ago

came from the / north of / England to here 

where they enjoy the / warmth of the / Ysgyryd bragging / air

to see the Blorenge / sunset / come and then / go

the / Blorenge sunset / come and / again

My neighbours, most of / them are getting / on, / 

oh, / they’re getting / on

with the / afflictions that they / now have to / bear

in the warm summer / evening or the / bitter winter / air

when the bird, the / leaf, the / last train have / again 

when the / bird, leaf, the / last train have / again

Going to Gary’s shop, the / tarmac is / bright,

the / tarmac is wet, / whining and / bright

I pick up some / beer, a / Strongbow / pack

Janet checks the / money, I / quiet trek / back 

home, I turn the / wireless / on for the / night

I / turn the wireless / on for the / night

Waiting on the // post-midnight floor / here

I think of those that / came / into my / thought just / now

when I / return, I’ll / try to kow / tow 

to the memory of the / evenings of / quiet glass / cheer

the / evenings of / quiet glass / cheer

When I get back to my / tropical / home

I’ll think / what the place / meant 

After a / long, hot, / sweaty day is / through

I’ll get a cold / beer, then / I’ll drink / to 

the old men and / women of the / Mardy, in / Gwent

the / people of the / Mardy, in / Gwent

repeat line 2, 3 with the / boys and / girls of the / Mardy in / Gwent, the / people of the / Mardy, in / Gwent

One old man, with a / dog on a / chain, 

a / man with a / dog on a / chain

GGCCFFCC

Ending CFGC

Mimi

Words and music by Richard Homer

4/4, 145 bpm

Intro E A B E

EABE

come to me, / Mimi, on a / warm night / here

EABE

come to me, / Mimi, I / want you / near

AEBE 

come to me, / Mimi, / come to take / care

AEBE, B, B7

come to me, / Mimi, in the / warm night /// air B, B7, B, B7

EABE

come to me, / Mimi, in the / warm night / air

EB

walk down the lane in / damp attire

ABE

gritty road / crunching / tyre

A B E, B, B7

with Mimi and me / on a warm night / here

hear the insects / whistle in the tree

they, maybe, are / talking to / me

with Mimi and me / on a warm night / here

waiting, quiet, to / ambush me

one arrogant dog // generosity

with Mimi and me / on a warm night / here

go round the corner, the / back house lane

another rough, tethered / brute / again

with Mimi and me / on a warm night / here

B     E

Mimi, Mimi, / where are you?

B    E

I just want to / be with you

A  E  B  E 

Mimi, / Mimi, / come to / me

A  E  B  E 

Mimi, / Mimi, come / back to / me

next morning, sun bright / reality

I ask why Mimi didn’t / come to / me

no Mimi and me / on a warm night / here

three years ago, I go / back in time

to the hotel room of / musty / grime

no fridge, rough / carpet, walls / bare

B    E

meeting Mimi for the / first time there

B    E

meeting Mimi for the / first time there

E  A  B  E 

meeting / Mimi for the / first time / there

the dusty road, the / telephone

warm water, / me / alone

through the window, the / school, the / orange / air

B    E

meeting Mimi for the / first time there

B    E

meeting Mimi for the / first time there

E  A  B  E 

meeting / Mimi for the / first time / there

hear the insects / whistle in the tree

they, maybe, are / talking to / me

with Mimi and me / on a warm night / here

with Mimi and me / on a warm night / here

with Mimi and me / on a warm night / here