Loose Magic

Standing side of stage
Watching people
Watch the Dirty Three
In one woman’s face
I can see it’s the air she needs
She needs to breathe
These songs were the only thing
That got her through seventeen
When life felt like a high-pitched scream
The boy from Clifton Hill
Who escaped to New York
Conjures up a rhythm no-one could dream of
Like some kind of sorcerer
He turns the drums
Into feeling
Loose magic slowly tumbles out
Feels like your dreaming
Everything slows right down
Nothing in the world
No, nothing could ever feel
Like the first time
Sue’s Last Ride
Messed you up for real
Everything’s fine
Everything’s fucked
No-one knows
I’m gonna lay down
Look around
Sea above and sky below
The boy from Ballarat
Who could play violin
Arcs back kicking
Like some wild thing
Horse hair fraying
And then the release
Into feeling
Precious tender melody
Can’t help but weeping
Everything slows right down
Nothing in the world
No, nothing could ever feel
Like the first time
Sue’s Last Ride
Messed you up for real
The boy from Black Rock
Playing Ocean Songs
Plucked and droning
Anchor in the storm
Each note spaced out
Like stars in the sky
Where it’s needed
Placed there with a painters eye
Easy as breathing
Everything slows right down