Gypsy
Album: Very 'Eavy ... Very 'Umble ... (1970)
Mick Box /David Byron

I was only seventeen
I fell in love with a gypsy queen
She told me: "Hold on"
Her father was the leading man
He said: "You're not welcome on our land"
And then as a foe
He told me to go

He took me to a little shack
And put a whip across my back
Then told her leave me
I was out for quite a time
Came back with her on my mind
Sweet little girl
She means all the world

Oh, I want my gypsy queen
Will she still be torn between
Her father and lover
One day I will go to him
Strong enough to fight and win
The kind of a man
That he'll understand ...

Come Away Melinda
Album: Very 'Eavy ... Very 'Umble ... (1970)
Fred Hellerman /Fran Minkoff

Daddy, daddy, come and look
See what I have found
A little ways away from here
While digging in the ground

Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
It's nothing, just a picture-book
They had before the war

Daddy, daddy, come and see
Daddy, come and look
Why, there's four or five
Little Melinda girls
Inside my picture book

Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
There were lots of little girls like you
Before they had the war

Oh Daddy, daddy, come and see
Daddy, hurry do
Why, there's someone
In a pretty dress
She's all grown up like you
Won't you tell me why 

Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
That someone is your Mummy
You had before the war

Daddy, daddy, tell me if you can
Why can't things be
The way they were
Before the war began

Come away Melinda
Come in and close the door
The answer lies in yesterday
Before they had the war

Bird Of Prey
Album: Salisbury (1971)
Mick Box /David Byron /Ken Hensley /Paul Newton

I can see that look that says beware
try to move in closer if you dare
So I must sit and play
My waiting game
And for a while I know
She'll do the same
Fly away

Watches like an eagle from its eerie
And like a bird of prey
She captures me
But I am older and
More wise than you
Bird of prey
Straight into me you flew
Fly away

Now every time I tried to set her free
I'm glad to say she comes
Right back to me
But if I knew she didn't want to stay
I wouldn't try to keep that
Lovely bird of prey

I'll Keep On trying
Album: Very 'Eavy ... Very 'Umble ... (1970)
Mick Box /David Byron

You came to me
With all of your lies
And I was taken in so well
It took me quite a time
To see the disguise
You made it very hard to tell
Now here you are again
But you're begging in vain
'Cause I really don't want to know

You came to me
With a little bit of charm
You had me down on my knees
I didn't really think
There was any harm
But all you ever did was tease
You took all the love
That I ever had to give
There was nothing left to show

Well, I remember everything
Everything around me
The long dark of winter
Till the breath of spring
Came close enough to drown me

So I'm gonna keep on trying
Till I feel like dying
And I lay down and pass away
But that won't happen till tomorrow
And by then I can
Borrow another day
So I'm gonna keep on trying

High Priestess
Album: Salisbury  (1971)
Ken Hensley

You, who brought
The sunshine to my eyes
You, who wondered
Through my sad disguise
And I have a love
That cannot die ... for you

High priestess of my heart
Tell me that we won't part

Then let's get together in the sky
To leave the lonely world
To wonder why
For we have a love
We can't denie ... so true ...

The Park
Album: Salisbury  (1971)
Ken Hensley

Let me walk a while alone
Among the sacred rocks and stones
Let me look in vain belief
Upon the beauty of each leaf

There is green in every blade
The tree tops lean providing shade
Maypoles spin in happy sound
All nature's strength around

And there's a horse that feels no pain
Its iron strength to take the strain
Children rock it to and fro
And gaily drink its colour-glow

Above, the sky, devoid of cloud
Thinks not to cast a thunder shroud
Upon this place so full of joy
A field of gold of loves employ

So, why my heavy heart? You say
When tears would stain
The sights so gay
My brother's dreams once here did soar
Until he died at the hand
Of needless war

Lady In Black
Album: Salisbury (1971)
Ken Hensley

She came to me one morning
One lonely Sunday morning
Her long hair flowing
In the midwinter wind
I know not how she found me
For in darkness I was walking
And destruction lay around me
From a fight I could not win
Ah ah ah ...

She asked me name my foe then
I said the need within some men
To fight and kill their brothers
Without thought of love or God
And I begged her give me horses
To trample down my enemies
So eager was my passion
To devour this waste of life
Ah ah ah ...

But she wouldn't think of battle that
Reduces men to animals
So easy to begin
And yet impossible to end
For she's the mother of our men
Who counselled me so wisely then
I feared to walk alone again
And asked if she would stay 
Ah ah ah ...

Oh lady lend your hand outright
And let me rest here at your side
Have faith and trust
In peace she said
And filled my heart with life
There is no strength in numbers
Have no such misconception
But when you need me
Be assured I won't be far away
Ah ah ah ...

Thus having spoke she turned away
And though I found no words to say
I stood and watched until I saw 
Her black coat disappear
My labour is no easier
But now I know I'm not alone
I find new heart each time
I think upon that windy day
And if one day she comes to you
Drink deeply from her words so wise
Take courage from her
As your prize
And say hello from me
Ah ah ah ...

Look At Yourself
Album: Look at Yourself (1971)
Ken Hensley

I see you running
Don't know what
You're running from
Nobody's coming
What'd you do that was so wrong

Look back and turn back
Look at yourself
Don't be afraid, just
Look at yourself

If you need assistance
Or if all you need is love
There's no point in hiding
Tell me what you're frightened of

You've got a friend, just
Look at yourself
Don't be afraid, just
Look at yourself

July Morning
Album: Look At Yourself (1971)
David Byron /Ken Hensley

There I was on a July morning
Looking for love
With the strength
Of a new day dawning
And the beautiful sun

At the sound
Of the first bird singing
I was leaving for home
With the storm
And the night behind me
And a road of my own

With the day came the resolution
I'll be looking for you
La la la la  ...

I was looking for love
In the strangest places
Wasn't a stone
That I left unturned
Must have tried more
Than a thousand faces
But not one was aware
Of the fire that burned

In my heart, in my mind, in my soul
La la la la  ...

In my heart, in my mind, in my soul
La la la la  ...

There I was on a July morning
I was looking for love
With the strength
Of a new day dawning
And the beautiful sun

And at the sound
Of the first bird singing
I was leaving for home
With the storm
And the night behind me
Yeah, and a road of my own

With the day came the resolution
I'll be looking for you
La la la la ...

Tears In My Eyes
Album: Look At Yourself (1971)
Ken Hensley

I thought no-one could keep us
From sharing the rest of our lives
Like a fool I believed you were true
And had no disguise

There's a clear blue sky outside
And the summer is fine
But with tears in my eyes
I'm no longer
Pretending you're mine

It's the same weary story
Of a woman abusing her man
So I have to forget you
Though I'm not even sure if I can

Love Machine
Album: Look At Yourself (1971)
Mick Box /David Byron /Ken Hensley

Lovely little lady
You got me on the run
You're a love machine
And you say that I'm your gun

But I don't care
'Cause I've got to know 

She said she were a loser
The kind that came off worse
So I had to try hard
To satisfy your thirst

But I don't care
'Cause I've got to know 

The only time she's happy
Is when the bullets fly
And she'll make you
Feel you're better
Than any other guy
And I don't care
'Cause I've got to know 

Lovely little lady
You got me on the run
You're a love machine

And I'm trying to be your gun
And I don't care
'Cause I've got to know

The Wizard
Album: Demons And Wizards (1972)
Mark Clarke /Ken Hensley

He was the wizard
Of a thousand kings
And I chanced to meet him
One night wandering
He told me tales
And he drank my wine
Me and my magic man
Kinda feeling fine 

He had a cloak of gold
And eyes of fire
And as he spoke
I felt a deep desire
To free the world
Of its fear and pain
And help the people
To feel free again

Why don't we listen to
The voices in our hearts
'Cause then I know we'd find
We're not so far apart
Everybody's got to be happy
Everyone should sing
For we know the joy of life
The peace that love can bring 

So spoke the wizard
In his mountain home
The vision of his wisdom
Means we'll never be alone
And I will dream of my magic night
And a million silver stars
That guide me with their light

Why
Recorded as Look At Yourself sessions at Lansdown Studios July 1971
Mick Box /David Byron /Paul Newton /Ken Hensley

Thought of no tomorrow
The pain, tears and sorrow
And you never told me why
The way you cheated
And mistreated
You could never tell me why

But I'm gonna find out
I'm gonna find out
What's been messing up your mind
Messing up your mind

Is there any true reason
Or anything I can explain
Can't we talk about it baby
Get together again
You see I have the feeling
That this isn't the end
And I feel it knowing
On you I depend

I'm gonna find out
Yeah, I'm gonna find out 
What has been
Messing up your mind

Perhaps it's best for us
To stay together 
And try to live our lives as one 
And maybe we will find
We're still together
To watch the setting of the sun

Traveller In Time
Album: Demons And Wizards (1972)
Mick Box /David Byron /Lee Kerslake

Every day I have to look to the sun
To see where it was that
I have come from
I have a feeling that
There must be a time

When I'll get a chance to go home
'Cause I'm so tired
Of being here alone
But I'm just a traveller in time
Trying so hard to pay for my crime

If I could go back
The same way I got here
And see the people that
I once held so near
I'd do my best to
Find an answer for you

But first I must wait till I'm set free
And I don't know
How long that's gonna be
'Cause I'm a man with 
A whole lot on his mind
Just out there somewhere 
Travelling in time
Travelling in time

I've tried for so long to find
Some way of helping mankind

Easy Livin'
Album: Demons And Wizards (1972)
Ken Hensley

This is a thing I have
Never known before
It's called easy livin'
This is a place I've
Never seen before
And I've been forgiven

Easy livin' and I've been forgiven
Since you've taken
Your place in my heart

Somewhere along the lonely road
I had tried to find you
Day after day on that windy road
I had walked behind you

Easy livin' and I've been forgiven
Since you've taken
Your place in my heart

Waiting, watching
Wishing my whole life away
Dreaming, thinking
Ready for my happy day
And some easy livin'

Circle Of Hands
Album: Demons And Wizards (1972)
Ken Hensley

Circle of hands
Cold spirits plan
Searching my land
For an enemy
Came across
Love's sweet cost
And in the face of beauty
Evil was lost

Sky full of eyes
Minds full of lies
Black from their cold hearts
Down to their graves
Murdered the dawn
Spreading their scorn
Cursing the sun
Of which love was born

We must keep them away
Or pretty soon we'll pay
And count the cost in sorrow
Sacrifice - the future has it's price
And today is only
Yesterday's tomorrow

Tomorrow ...

Rainbow Demon
Album: Demons And Wizards (1972)
Ken Hensley

There rides the rainbow demon
On his horse of crimson fire
Black shadows are following closely
On the heels of his desire

Ridin' on in the mist of morning
No one dared to stand in his way
Possessed by some distant calling
Riding on through night and day

Rainbow demon
Pick up your heart and run
Rainbow demon
Lives for his sword and his gun

Paradise / The spell
Album: Demons And Wizards (1972)
Ken Hensley

I feel you trying
Though in my heart
I know you're lying
And though your love
For me is dying
I see you crying

It's the pain of your secret heart
Bringing you to tears
Filling you with fears
For your mind and for your soul

I touch you softly now
Borne on by hope
Until the end somehow
I am a man and I must keep my vow
I must go on

But the wall of your secret heart
Keeps my distance clear
Helps my footsteps fall
Back in line inside my mind

What's the use you turned me loose
And left me here to cry
Where's the love we talked about
Where's my sunny sky

Secret hearts and sorry tales
Will never help love grow
Spread your wings my daunted soul
The time has come to go

I will not be hurried down
Or blackened by your lies
I must go and find my dream
And live in paradise

...

What do you think I am
Do you think I'm dreaming
Don't you know I know
What it is you're scheming 

Who d'you think gave you the right
Hidden by the dead of night
To take the world and
Turn it upside down
When it should be round

Seems I made it just in time
To use my reason and my rhyme
To save us from
The evils of your mind 

I will cast the spell
Be sure I'll cast it well
I will light a fire
Kindled with desire

I'll fill you with fear
So you know I'm here
And I won't be treated like a fool

It's no good you pretending
There'll be no happy ending
I'm alive and darkness is my tool 

But when the night is over
And daytime steals your cover
The goodness of the morning sun
Will warm away
What you have done
And leave you cold 

I have no need for moonlight
You're wrong to trust in sunlight
For I exist not just in storms
But in life itself in so many forms
To leave you cold 

I will leave you now
But you won't defeat me
You had best beware
When you come to meet me

Love and truth will follow me
An army of reality
Brought from every corner
Of the world

You will never break the spell
I'll summon all the fires of hell
And this is my advice 
For what it's worth

Let us not begin
This fight we cannot win
Be sure you're watching me
'Cause all through your life
Everyday and everynight
You should know that
I'll be watching you

Sunrise
Album: The Magician's Birthday (1972)
Ken Hensley

Sunrise
And the new day's breakin' through
The morning
Of another day without you
And as the hours roll by
No-one's there to see me cry
Except the sunrise
The sunrise and you

Tired eyes drift across the shore
Looking for love and nothing more
But as the sea rolls by
No-one's there to see me cry
Excep the sunrise
The sunrise and you

Sunrise
Bless my eyes
Catch my soul
Make me whole again

Sunrise, new day
Hear my song
I'm tired of fightin'
And foolin' around
But from now on
Till who knows when
My sword will be my pen
And I'll love you, love you
For all of my time

Sunrise
Bless my eyes
Catch my soul
Make me whole again

Sunrise
Bless my eyes
Catch my soul
Make me whole again

Sunrise ...

Blind Eye
Album: The Magician's Birthday (1972)
Ken Hensley

Stranger than the sunrise
Darker than the night
Fiercer than a rainstorm
This is man's delight
This is man's delight

Weaker than a moment
And hot as any fire
Blinder than the blind eye
This is man's desire
This is man's desire

I ran to a place in the open sea
Where I pledged
My life to the sun
It was good for a while
I could laugh, I could smile
But when I woke up one day
The sun had gone

I ran to a place in the open sea
Where I pledged
My life to the sun
It was good for a while
I could laugh, I could smile
But when I woke up one day
The sun had gone

So what of my meaning
What am I trying to say
What of my caution
I'm a man anyway
I'm a man anyway
I'm a man anyway
I'm a man anyway

The Magician's Birthday
Album: The Magician's Birthday (1972)
Mick Box /Ken Hensley /Lee Kerslake

In the magic garden
Some were singing
Some were dancing
While the midnight moon
Shone brightly overhead

The stars so gaily glistened
And the sphinx in silence listened to
The magician tell of 
Lives that he had led

Let the bells of freedom ring
Songs of love to Friday's king

Let's all go to
The magician's birthday
It's in a forest
But not so far away
Much to do
And so much to say
While we listened to
The orchid orchestra play

Happy Birthay to you ...
Happy Birthday to magician 
Happy Birthday to you ...

Then at the dead of midnight
As we watched the dancing firelight
The air grew cold
And seemed to dull the flame
The fire died
The music faded
Filled with fear of death we waited
For now we knew
Some evil was to blame

I challenge you
I challenge you all
For all you own
And all you know
And by all the powers of darkness 
I will steal what is mine

Surrender now or face my spite
I grant you it may be Friday night
But did you know this day
Also numbers thirteen

First I'll give you fire
I turn your fire into a sleepy stream
Yes, now I give you nightmares
From your horror I'll create a dream

You cannot fight me
For I have the sword of hate
But one thing you can't see
My answer is simply
An impenetrable fortress
Of love ... love ... love ...

The fear went as quickly as it came
The air was clear
The fire burned again
The flames leapt
The organ played
The swans sang
To greet the day
And then we knew that
Love will find love will find love ...

Sweet Lorraine
Album: The Magician's Birthday (1972)
Mick Box /David Byron /Gary Thain

Would you like to take
This magic potion with me
On a trip to a cosmic
Playground far beyond
She understands
She's been before
It's in her hands
To find the door

Sweet Lorraine
Let the party carry on
You and I will swim the sea
Sweet Lorraine
Let the party carry on
You and I can feel the breeze

There is no time, no wealth
Only I surround you
The fortune of this guide
Is simply sincerity
She understands
'Cos she's been before
It's in her hands
To find the door, so

Rain
Album: The Magician's Birthday (1972)
Ken Hensley

It's raining outside
But that's not unusual
But the way that I'm feeling
Is becoming usual
I guess you could say
The clouds are moving away
Away from your days
And into mine

Now it's raining inside
It's kind of a shame
And it's getting to me
A happy man
Why should you want to
Waste all my time
The world is yours
But I am mine

Rain, rain, rain in my tears
Measuring carefully my years
Shame, shame, shame in my mind
See what you've done to my life

See what you've done to my life

Stealin'
Album: Sweet Freedom (1973)
Ken Hensley

Take me across the water
'Cause I need some place to hide
I done the rancher's daughter
And I sure did hurt his pride

Well, there's a
Hundred miles of desert
Lies between his hide and mine
I don't need no food
And no water, Lord
'Cos I'm running out of time

Fightin', killin', wine and women
Gonna put me to my grave
Runnin', hidin', losin', cryin'
Nothing left to save but my life

Stood on a ridge
And shunned religion
Thinking the world was mine
I made my break and a big mistake
Stealin', when I
Should've been buyin'

All that fightin', killin'
Wine and those women
Gonna put me to an early grave
Runnin', hidin', losin', cryin'
Nothing left to save but my life, life...

So I stood on a ridge
And shunned religion
Thinking the world was mine
I made my break and a big mistake
Stealin', when I should've been buyin'
I was stealin'
When I should've been buyin'
I was stealin'
When I should've been buyin'
Stealin', when I should've been buyin'
I was stealin' ...

Sweet Freedom
Album: Sweet Freedom (1973)
Ken Hensley

As you look around you
Do you like what you see?
Though it sometimes
Makes you lonely
Do you like being free?
And are you sure you'll be okay
Without my company?
I just want you to be happy
Even if it's not with me

Sweet sweet freedom
Sweet sweet sweet
Will the line between all this
And my love ever meet
Sweet sweet Freedom
Sweet sweet sweet

What I'm really tryin' to say
Is that I will be around
Should you find that after all
You can't get by
With what you found

Oh, it wasn't just my heart you took
And gently tossed into the sea
Though it's hard to find
The words I need -
I guess it was me

Will the line between all this
And my love ever gonna meet
Sweet sweet Freedom
Sweet sweet sweet

Oh sweet, oh sweet sweet freedom
So sweet, so sweet

Wonderworld
Album: Wonderworld (1974)
Ken Hensley

We freely speak of dreams
We marvel at what they conceal
But in my wonderworld
Each sleeping vision is so real
So I believe and hope
That all the things I see
May one day bring
Such truth and peace
As we can feel

Free from this waking world
Deep in sleep's mystery
My will is free to wander
Free to wander carelessly
At times it's not so far
From what we call reality
And at times I know I wonder
If it all could come true

Oh, Mr. Wonderworld
Don't be afraid
'Cause dreams were made
Were made to dim the light
The torment day can bring
And leave you free
To laugh aloud and hear
Your heart bells ring
Oh, oh, Mr. Wonderworld
Wonderworld

Oh, Mr. Wonderworld
Don't be afraid
'Cause your dreams were made
They were made to dim the light
The torment day can bring
And leave you free
To laugh aloud and hear
Your heart bells ring
Oh, oh, Mr. Wonderworld
Mr. Wonderworld
Mr. Wonderworld

The Easy Road
Album: Wonderworld (1974)
Ken Hensley

If you're looking for a place
You can fly together
And you're really afraid of
What you're leaving behind
Take the easiest road
But take care my brother
For you'll never find peace
With a troubled mind

Far better to love each other
Than to worry so deeply
'Bout the place you're in
And far better to kiss her softly
Than lookin' back on a love
You'll never have again

Time's as fickle as
The sky in winter
And two hearts always
Were better than one
Love has the wings
Of a tireless angel
She'll stay beside you
Till the day is done

La la la la la ...

You'll never have again
No no no, never again
You'll never have again

Return To Fantasy
Album: Return To Fantasy (1975)
Ken Hensley /David Byron

Searching every day
Looking every way
trying to make a connection
To find a piece of the action
Like a hungry poet
Who doesn't know
He is close to perfection
Choice is the question

Moonlight night
After moonlight night
Side by side
They will see us ride
But if they cared to look
Then they would see
It's our return to fantasy
Fantasy, fantasy …

Can you understand
That in every man
There's a need to unwind
That's never been defined
Somewhere deep within
There's another being
You are somehow abusing
By the person you're using

Moonlight night
After moonlight night
Side by side
They will see us ride
But if they cared to look
Then they would see
It's just our return to fantasy
Fantasy ... Fantasy ...

Travelling faster than lightening
Closer than ever before
We can go on for you
And take you nearer to
The legend of mystery
From the beginning of time
Dreaming... time ... dreaming
We can return to
The land of the good and the kind
Time... dreaming... time... dreaming
Why don't you come to our party
And open your minds

In another place
There's a newer face
Like an unfinished painting
Your creator is waiting
The brush and pen describe
What it is inside
That will set your mind thinking
While the others are sinking

Footprints In The Snow
Album: High And Mighty (1976)
Ken Hensley /John Wetton

Just like footprints in the snow
Who knows where my heart will go
Will it lead me to you
Or will I see another empty day

Seasons come and quickly go
Kinda makes me
Wonder if they know
Why my heart keeps
Running near and far
If only they could tell me
Where you are

If you've ever been in love
Then you'll know the rocky road
I've been speaking of
You'll remember when
The times were good
And the times
You had to do without 
Think carefully my friend 
It may look like a start
But it could be the end

I'm not trying to bring you down
I'm just so tired of hangin' around
I won't make
The same mistake again

Weep In Silence
Album: High And Mighty (1976)
Ken Hensley /John Wetton

You who thought
Your eyes could tell no lies
So your life became a compromise
And it was you
Who had seen men dyin'
You heard their children cryin'
While their women weep in silence

And you who thought
You were so wise
Succeeded only in disguise
Now and then
You'd find a bridge to cross
Reach the other side
And you'd still be lost
Evaded by the sweet smell of life

And the people that you try
To show the way
Never believe you
Never believe you - no way

While your women weep in silence
Your women weep in silence
Women weep in silence