AN ISLAND TO YOURSELF
(Words and music; Colin Reece)

1

From the Album 'Red Wing' by Colin Reece

The first two verses are for my Grandad who wasn't actually as wise as the chorus would make out.
The words to the chorus were influenced by a nursery rhyme, but it would have been nice if my Grandfather had said them.
The last verse is for Jo, who, I think, would be very surprised to find herself in one of my songs.

A quiet and a gentle man I used to know
Has been resting in a chapel for about a year or so
And to the average man outside he was a waster on his own
An island to himself
He would spend all his day trying to find anything
That would occupy half of his mind
He was waiting

And in all his life I'm sure he never found the time
To put two words together that would start a conversation
Just a half polite "Good morning" the required reply
An island to himself
But the day that he peacefully died in his bed
Well these words that he whispered to me
Left me standing.
Standing

He said, "Where are the heavy?
In sea-sand and sorrow
And what is too brief?
Today and tomorrow
And who are the frail?
Spring-blossom and youth
And what can be deeper than truth?"

Well in all the years I've known you I've looked up to you
A tall and stately lady with a well outspoken view
On almost everything you say and every thing you do
An island to yourself
Ah but I never saw just how tiny you were
'Til you broke down and started to cry
On my shoulder
You're no older

But you said, "Where are the heavy?
In sea-sand and sorrow
And what is too brief?
Today and tomorrow
And who are the frail?
Spring-blossom and youth
And nothing cuts deeper than truth."