Lyrics | All lyrics written by Raylee Bradfield

Roads

I can’t tell you how many times that bus took her down those gravel roads
Winding through the hills to school where she never wanted to go
And all the car rides with her mother, who was always on the run
From the ghosts inside her mind and things that cannot be undone

So she left home at 16, with no clue, no idea
Of where to go and what to do when she finally got there
A nervous pulse and fear of shadows keeps her moving all time
From the memories you cannot erase no matter how you try

The roads most traveled where our soles wear through
Are often roads that we don’t get to choose
But these roads we’ve traveled where hearts break in two
Can be ones that lead us back to you

Good fortune found her young, the day the music makers came
They recognised the frequency and called to her by name
To a place of words and melody that helped her finally see
That questions with no answers can live peacefully
Inside of her, inside a song….

The roads lead us home to you
The roads lead us home to you
The roads lead home to you

Spark

It’s been LA skies for months now it seems
Rainfall has become a memory
Plastic melts into tar sealed roads
Tanks’ drying up but the weeds still grow

One little spark is all you need 

The forest is proud, it’s closed on in
The saplings have seen no sun
The ground is tired from all of the shadows
It’s hoping for daylight to break

One little spark is all you need

It was a day like the rest, probably 100 degrees
You walked by, caught my eye and I felt a breeze
Then you stopped and looked at me as all my leaves came falling down

A smell of smoke rose up from the ground 
One little spark is all you need 
A little breath of wind, a pile of leaves 
To set it all on fire, all on fire 
All on fire 

It only took a minute for the things that I’d collected
To go up in a wall of flames
Everything that I had built is now ashes round my ankles
I have nothing left to my name
Except some seeds that burst open in the heat of the explosion
Waiting for the moment to reclaim

All I’ve lost,
All I’ve lost…

Arctic Tern

I’ve only seen you in a book
Never in the sky above me
But I’m dazzled all the same
At how you fly
Do you ever get so tired
That you can’t go another mile
And do you just want to lay down to sleep 

So far….so far away
So far away you fly… 

All the places that you see
Glistening waters endlessly
Calling you on from sun to sun
We’re looking up much less these days
Distracted with our own ways
All the while you travel round the world 

So far….so far away
So far away you fly… 

If my thoughts could unravel
They too would reach the moon
Three times over
And if my heart ever untangles
I will fly, I will fly…… away…
so far away…

Gold

I wish I was strong like you
Holding fast, resolute
I wish I was strong like you

I wish I could see like you
Towering above with a bird’s eye view
I wish I could see like you 

I’m a bloomer in the valley
No one knows my name
I’m bound to the seasons
They’ll take my colours someday
But if you’d come down here
When the water is clear
You’ll find gold here 

I wonder if you could love me
Cause I’m nothing like you’ve ever seen
And I’ll never know the things that you know

But maybe you won’t mind the change
Of looking at the world in a different way
Seeing flowers that don’t grow way up there 

Gold in the river that runs straight from you
Maybe we’re not so different after all
Gold in the river that runs down from you
Maybe we’re not so different after all 

But if you come down here
When the water is clear
You’ll find gold here 

The Ways of Water

It’ll find the cracked edge between glass and stone
It’ll find the slope and keep going till it’s all gone
It’ll patiently drip a hole right through you
If you let it , if you let it 

It’ll find the dip in the spoon, pothole in the road
It’ll quench your thirst, soothe your aching bones
But you’ll beg for mercy when it rolls in with the storm
Unexpected, unexpected  

The ways of water
Flowing til it meets its match
The ways of water
Flowing til it meets its match 

It’ll fill the tanks til they’re running over
Cleanse your wounds, freeze the pipes to bursting
It can wash away your sins
And it can take you under
Are you ready
Are you ready  

The ways of water
Flowing til it meets its match
The ways of water
Flowing til it meets its match 

It’s in a dance with the moon, and drawn to the shore
It’s cursed by the man who hasn’t fixed his roof
We cannot live without it
But it sure can take your life
In a moment, In a moment! 

Falls from the sky, comes up with the river
Freezes to blue in eternal winter
A home for the fishes, and a drink for the beggar
Falls from the sky, comes up with the river
Freezes to blue in eternal winter
A home for the fishes, and a drink for the beggar 

Tōtara

When he was a baby, he had the biggest green eyes
Searching out adventure every day
A fearless lion heart and a friend to anyone
On his 27 trips around the sun

 As a little boy he’d been found
Playing in a ditch down by the road
Wearing his gumboots and a smile
He didn’t seem concerned that he was out there on his own
Or that he wasn’t sure which way was home 

Sure as the night, clear as the day
Bright as the sun in the sky
Wide open arms where the birds loved to sing
Our tōtara tree 

Out on the farm, down in the creek
Making homemade spears with sticks
Skinning eels on the washing line
Cooking yabbies on the stove
Driving his motorbike as fast as it could go! 

 Sure as the night, clear as the day
Bright as the sun in the sky
Wide open arms where the birds loved to sing
Our tōtara tree 

Then the lights came
Shot him through from the side
They say it was from a hit in the head
Blurred vision, skull incisions
Medications by the bed 

 He carves taonga from bone
Ceramic and stone
All the while wondering why
Why is my body breaking?
Why do I keep on shaking,
When all I want to be is alive!  

Dark is the night, but sure is the day
Bright as the sun in the sky
Wide open arms where the birds loved to sing
Our tōtara tree 

Green eyes close, for the final time
Out on a hill, under a blue sky
Called home to the shining One
Haere, haere atu rā
Haere, haere atu rā 

 Long is the night but sure is the day
Bright as the sun in the sky
Wide open arms where the birds loved to sing
Our tōtara tree
Our boy, the tōtara tree

 Under the Surface

The fog set in months ago
But it won’t rain, and it won’t clear
Pacing the floor knowing somethings wrong
But there are no words to hear
We’ve pushed them down, kept them in
They’re only on the inside now
Our ground divides, we shut our eyes,
Hold our breath one more time 

Under the surface
Under the surface
Under the surface 

There used be oak trees in the front yard
But we got tired of raking up the leaves
It’s easier to build a fence and put some concrete down

Meadows used to have wildflowers
Until we thought we only needed grain
And I shouldn’t have to tell you why I’m in this much pain  

Under the surface
Under the surface
Under the surface 

All this time
I tried hard to love you
All this time
I tried hard to give you, give you
To give you… 

The fog set in months ago
But it won’t rain
And it won’t clear 

She Wild

Don’t go out on the ridge tonight
She’s smoking, yeah she’s fuming
She’s ready to light
The sky with her fire
The earth with her might
Don’t go out on the ridge tonight 

She wild!
She wild! 

History says she’s been woken before
100 years ago but nobody’s sure
Predictions line up, they all want to see
If the talk is true about her majesty 

She wild!
She wild!
She wild!
She wild! 

Nobody gets out of here alive
You can’t run faster than the speed of light
Nobody gets out of here alive
You can’t run faster than the speed of light 

She looks so pretty with her glistening hair
On such a bright day there’s nothing to fear
So do you really want to know what’s going on, on the inside?
Cause she can’t help the fact that she is wild, wild, wild 

She wild!
She wild! 

Meet Me in the Meadow

Meet me in the meadow
Where the wildflowers grow
We can talk for hours
And ask those flowers what they know 

Meet me in the meadow
As the sun is going down
Meet me here alone
There’s a lot I need to ask you now 

Meet me in the meadow
Where the butterflies dance
A multi-coloured symphony in a trance

Meet me in the meadow
When the sunlight’s almost gone
Meet me here alone
There’s a lot I need to ask you now 

Why is the heart so untamable
Rearrangeable, uncontainable
Why do we think we’re so powerful
When we’re fragile, so very breakable 

Meet me in the meadow
Where the earth meets the sky
I’ll let you do the talking; I’ll stop asking why
Cause if you met me in the meadow
And I got to see your face 

I think all these questions would fly away….. 

Slow Down

Anyone seen my youth?
It was here a moment ago
Anyone seen my keys?
Please let me know 

Time draws lines on my face
I try real hard to erase them
Oh 

Remember the kids?
They’ve all left home
Only me and the dog
In this house alone 

And time’s drawn lines on my face
I try real hard to erase them
Oh 

I’m so tired of going this fast
Can we slow down? Can we slow down
And take a walk outside
I’m so tired from going this fast
Can we slow down, slow and down
And take a walk outside 

Do you remember daydreaming?
Visions passing you by
Now our thoughts need protection
With copyright law 

And time’s drawn lines on my face
Down my arms, around my waist
Oh no …. 

We might even find something
We did not know that we’ve been looking for
We might even find something
We did not know that we’ve been looking for

Hey! 

Can we slow down!
Can we slow down and take a walk outside
‘Cause I’m so tired from going this fast
Can we slow down, can we slow down
and take a walk outside 

Down in the Valley | 2021

Down in the valley where the shadow’s long
I wait for you with my broken song
Down in the valley where the shadow is wide
I lay right here through the long dark night

Down in the valley where I cannot see
I have fallen down, fallen to my knees
Down in the valley, I don’t understand
I hope for a sign that you know where I am

Come on down to this place
Let your mercy find us here
Come on down to this place
May your mercy find us here

Down in the valley where the river runs
I hear it’s song, the tune it hums
Down in the valley where the flowers are gone
I know you are coming but don’t take too long

Down I Go | 2010

I’ve always been one for a really good mystery
But when it comes to you and I all I want is some clarity
Cause all the late night calls and the sideways looks are haunting me
And I get a sinking feeling that disasters creepin’ up on me
Down I go

I’m looking for a sign that you still wanna be with me
I’ve lost that reassurance that there’s only me
In your mind, in your heart, can you tell me, tell me please
Cause I get a sinking feeling that disasters creepin’ up on me
Down I go
Down I go

You’ve got me spinning on a dime and I can’t stay
Another minute in this mess, this mess we’ve made
It’s simple really it is yes, yes or no, stay or go
I’m going down

There was a time when I could read your mind
I knew your every word, I could recite your every line
But these days I can’t read your face, maybe I’m going blind
But I have a sinking feeling you’re no longer mine
Down I go Down I go

One more minute and I’m dead for sure
Don’t leave me hanging on this ledge no more
Please let me in on the changing score
I’m going down I’m going down

Lonely No More | 2012

I’ve been hoping you’d find me
Under this big old tree
Cause I’ve been running for so long
And I’m tired from all that I’ve seen
I’m tired from all that I’ve seen
I’m tired from all that I’ve seen

Take me somewhere I can finally sleep
In a dreamless peaceful night
Cause my eyes are heavy from staying awake
To fight off the ghosts in my mind
I’m fighting the ghosts in my mind
I’m fighting the ghosts in my mind

Take now my hand, clasp it with yours
Hold me forevermore
Cause I never knew love til I saw your face
And now I know I’ll be lonely no more
I’ll be lonely no more
I’ll be lonely no more

Take me down to the riverside
And wash all my fears away
And take this heart you can have it Lord
It is yours today
Take me down to the riverside
And wash all my fears away
And take this heart you can have it Lord
It yours today

I’ve been hoping you’d find me
Under this big old tree

Peace | 2018

I met a man from a faraway land
Where the ground has given up waiting on rain
The children go hungry, they cry on their beds
While their mothers pray silently

This is the world that he sees everyday
Though his eyes held no storm
He smiled at me with the warmth of the sun
Like he owned everything

He had peace down in his soul
He had peace down in his soul

We stood at the ocean that he saw for the first time
Oh it was a sight to see
Just like a child he swayed side to side
Singing, “Glory, Glory!”

He had peace down in his soul
He had peace down in his soul

So wide, no storm could blow it over
So deep, no grief could swallow it whole
So high, it goes all the way to heaven

He’s got peace

He told me his stories of loss and goodbye
Of a sorrow not easily erased
But there was no thunder in the tone of his voice
No anger held in his face
Just a gentle sound like an old melody
That my heart had been waiting to hear
So I leaned in to that song that he sung
And it carried off all of my fears

Sold On You | 2007

I’m so in love, so in love with you dear
All of the mysteries it’s perfectly clear
That when I’m old, it’s you that I’ll hold
So dear

When I am gone you will be gone too
Packed in my suitcase under my shoes
There’s no denying undeniable truth
You see I’m sold on you baby
Sold on you

And if the sun don’t shine
But I know you’re mine
I will go on with a smile on my face
You can’t erase this, love that I feel 

When I’m in your embrace
Oh darlin’ it’s true there is only,
Only you

And even if life comes a little undone
And I’m wondering whatever is to come
I won’t be afraid, with you I’ve got it made
No cloud up in the sky with you by my side
Only love only love only love
Only love only love only love

Why Do You Find Me | 2009

I pulled you up, I let you out,
Said goodbye to you
Tried so hard not to delay
In getting my point through
I tried to leave, don’t wanna stay
With you around my neck
But the more I try the more I fail
At telling you to get

I have loved you for so long
But I can’t find one reason why I should stay
But you keep me hanging on
Why do you find me, why do you find me
Why do you find me once again

Just like a drug you pull me in
And tell me it’s okay
And just when I give in to you
I’m trapped without delay
I try to leave, don’t wanna stay
With you around my neck
But the more I try the more I fail
At telling you to get

Give me the Answer | 2010

A woman with a crooked heart cried on her bed
Why do I love the night so?
I wanna be free but my heart won’t let me be
So I’m left here out in the cold

I tried long ago to deny my intent
but wherever I’d go that’s where it went
You can try waking up somewhere new if you want
But you’ll always wake up with yourself

Give me the answer that I’ve been searching for
I’ve been down and I need some more time to find
What I’ve been looking for

This is my lucky coin he said to his friend,
“You wait, I’m gonna win tonight”
And as he puts his last dollar into the machine,
he wipes his forehead dry
“Winning streak, winning streak, one more time,
‘cause it’s my family’s life on the line,
If you’ll let me just borrow a little more time, I’ll be home tonight”

You don’t have to tell me I’ve got it all wrong
Cause that’s the most rehearsed line in this bitter song
Can you give me something I can use to get along, get along

Wounded Heart | 2016

There’s not enough roads to drive these blues away
Not enough magic to numb the vacancy
No amount of laughter can drown out all these cries
Cause this amount of madness cannot be disguised

When you’ve got a wounded heart
When you’ve got a wounded heart

Faraway looks and a wandering eye
Searching for an exit to be rid of all these lies
Just a moments relief from the endless replay
Of things you can’t change and things you can’t say

When you’ve got a wounded heart
When you’ve got a wounded heart

When everything you had has fallen apart
When everything you dreamt got lost in the dark
When you finally get what you’ve always wanted
to find out you were wrong

When you’ve got a wounded heart

New Sky | 2018

There’s a new sky rising
There’s a new sky rising
There’s a new sky rising over my head

I’m gonna run, run run toward the sun
Little one can you see
We’re gonna go higLittle one can you see
We’re gonna go high

We’re gonna run run run
We’re gonna run run run
We’re gonna run run run

Toward the sun
Toward the sun
Toward the sun

Love You So | 2009

If you’re gonna leave me here
If you’re gonna steal my heart
If you’re gonna play in my head you better know
I love you so, I love you so

If you wanna take me away
Somewhere warm night and day
If you wanna to tell me all your secrets
You’ve told nobody else
You better know
I love you so, I love you so

Why do I let you keep me on a string
When I think that you are my everything
So please don’t play with my heart
Cause I love you so
Love you so

If you wanna buy me a ring
Or a bird that can sing
If you wanna take me to the stars
And find the bullet in my heart
You better know that I love you so
I love you so, I love you so

Keepin’ On

I’ve been up, I’ve been down
Saved my pennies for this crown
I have lost but I’ve taken ground

I have cried a river of tears
I have had my share of broken years
But my heart has learnt to go on
We don’t let go, no, no no

I have lived and I have died
Many more lessons this heart will survive
One more day is still one day less
So, we don’t let go, no no  no
No, no don’t let go

When will this stop
We just don’t know
But we keep on going strong
When will this end
Oh we just don’t  know
But we keep on keepin’ on

Keeping,  keepin’ on
Keepin’ on

11th Hour

When I see the light is fading
When there’s nowhere left to turn
Will you come to find me here
And carry me home

When I can no longer walk this road
When my tired limbs just can’t run
Will you open up the heavens for me
And send me a message of hope

I’ve been running like I’m winning
I’ve been running like I just can’t lose
So here I go I’m calling
Out here on my own

When I have tried all there is to try
When you’re the last place that I go
Will your mercy find me here
And carry me, carry me
Home

Luke

Silent night, holy night
I hear the choir sing
Those coloured lights, they shine so bright
And I remember when

We held Christmas in our hands
And praised the Lord above

Angels sing a Saviour song
The King has come to earth
And the human heart that has turned to stone
Will melt in the arms of love

We’ll hold Christmas in our hands
And praise the Lord above

I will dream of when you and I were young
And all those Christmas songs we sung
I can hear them