NEVER KNOWN
Ola Onabule © 2006

 Smart brother with an afro like a halo round his head,
Still marching to the rhythm of a hero hate beat dead.
Heard his kin in the gutter, call a damn good woman a  bitch!
Says, ‘How we gonna get a little further’,
When you scratching that same old itch.

 Forgive me if I preach,
But don’t he wanna reach,
For  what the world can teach him
Hey, he says...

 My ignorance is bliss
There’s not a thing I miss
But listening to this hymn,
You sing, Brother you sing!

 Coz I don’t wanna know, I don’t ever ask, 
And because I don’t ask
It’s never  known.
if it isn’t for me, I won’t even look, 
And because I don’t look, 

It’s never known.

 Sister with aspirations, to inspire other lives,
If she can only hold it, past school yard hunting knives.
Every kids got a story, how they’ve gotta a bigger blade
Being real cool don’t cut it,
You make your mark with the right upgrade.

 She’s gonna make ‘em see,
How different it can be,
She’s gonna make ‘em right on!
‘But ignorance is bliss,
Are you trying to diss,
I’m gonna have to get my big gun!

 Chorus and ad libs out…
back to the top

---

WHERE THE PAST GOES
Ola Onabule © 2006

 She can’t know what I’m thinking
while I watch her flash chichi smiles,
Watch her work the room, reel ‘em in for miles.
A whole lifetime we don’t get one another
and we just don’t care,
We act as though we do, when she works the room.

 I know I’m gonna pay for it,
there’ll come a day I’ll have to pay for it,
I’ve been putting bits away for it,
Inside my mind.

 Guess I held my ground, for far too long.
I got stuck saying no, 
Let no sentiments grow,
Where the new renditions of the past go.
When after all that time is gone,
Hope I’ll  just let it slide,
Like a weight off my mind,
I can let it all go where the past goes, when it goes.

 Somewhere deep within
I feel a version of a love for her,
And from what she’  says, she’s not behind by far.

 I’m learning how to roll with it.
It’s not easy, I’ll grow into it.
If I just make more than history fit,
Inside my mind.

 Chorus

 I’ve been doing some thinking,
that we move things around,
Change our perspective,
Who knows what may happen.
Maybe we could see it another way,
Maybe you and I could find some common ground,
Maybe…

 Chorus and ad libs out…
back to the top

---

THE DEVOURED MAN
Ola Onabule © 2006

 Back in the day he was so cool,
Virtue like a  glistening jewel,
proud of being incorruptible.
Now he won’t scrutinize his soul,
And what he’s chosen not to know,
Beneath a mask  of denial and stone.
 
 Its the motion, of stagnation,
A wink from temptation,
the skirts of wind blown caution,
That devalue a man.
Greeds belly rumbles,
We pause in vain fumbles,
A minutes silence in the jungle,
For the devoured man.

 We know he’ll want to justify,
With protestation, testify,
We get in line for all he’s left behind.
If he behaves it wont be far,
It’s just a heartbreaks drive by car,
close enough to know whose loving her.

 Chorus

 Was it fragile pride,  it never falls with grace.
It can quit without a single trace,
Leaving all it ever craved with bright red hands.
Was he an honest man,  who planned to slay his price,
Till his price came knocking more than twice,
Guess now there aint no doubt he understands.

 Choruses and ad lib out…
back to the top

---

THIS FOOL AGAIN
Ola Onabule © 2006

 It’s the girl with the hapless plan,
To pursue sweet revenge.
She’s resigned to do all she can,
To execute a tragic end.

 Her bouquet of seduction floats,
past the traps of her eyes.
Feel her senses all taking notes,
She speaks her truth, but I hear lies. 

 If I get out of this and heaven spares my life,
Then I swear I’ll never be this fool again.
I can’t stay ever green or somewhere down the line
I just know I’m bound to meet this fool again,
In places just like this.

 Now my mind’s playing chess with me,
I’m not doing so well.
I imagine what she can see,
Our room in her very own hell.

 
When she smiles I hear exits shut,
And I know that it’s time.
If this moment belongs to hurt,
then good luck was never quite mine.

 If I get out of this and heaven spares my life,
Then I swear I’ll never be this fool again.
I can’t stay ever green or somewhere down the line,
I just know I’m bound to meet this fool again
Message to myself, at your peril ignore,
You must never stand in for this fool again.
So bold, yet so naive, it’s time you knew the score, 
One more slip like this, you’ll lose this fool again,
this time, for good, for sure.
back to the top

---

GROOVE TO THE LIE
Ola Onabule © 2006

 He was the small guy, with a big gun,
From a small town, sent to the strange lands.
Was singing ‘get down’, now it’s stay down,
sometimes stand down and other commands.

 Thinking where’d it all go wrong,
I can kill poor people, can’t make them rich or strong.
Damned if I do, damned if I don’t,
Makes him wanna...

 Put a groove to the lie, they’re not like us, 
And they don’t really get peace.
Put a funk to the shots yeah!, from all those guns,
coz they love on the wrong beat.

 He gets the white lies, on the black days,
Where the bloods red, whatever  shade you are.
He gets the gizmos, he can unload,
Then return home, no internal scars.

  How did he get back here,
We’ve all got protection,  but live in total fear.
Fear over there, war over here
Makes you wanna

 Put a groove to the lie, they’re not like us, 

Coz they don’t really get peace.
Put a funk to the shots yeah!, from all those guns,
coz they love on the wrong beat.

 
Lets put some hip in the heads,
 of  Mr. Man, we chose to play us just right.
Put a groove to the lie yeah yeah!, that love is dead, 
Because it’s missing tonight.

 Groove to the lie that they’re not like us
A funk to the shots from all those guns
A hip in the heads of the Mr. Man
Just put a groove to the lie!
back to the top

---

MIRACLE OBSTACLE
Ola Onabule © 2006

 He feels that energy
And It’s the best shot anybody’s given in a long while.
From the contortions of her sexy body, He knows that he’s about to
be the man of his dreams and her dreams too.

 It’s out of control,  the feelings grown,
he wants to pick the cherries to go and lets her know.
But he’s got no accessories, so she tells him no Sirree,
You can’t get in, without a permit…

 Obstacle to the miracle, a miraculous obstacle.

 He’s off into the night,
his destination being seven-eleven Ooooo yeah!
Where the storekeeper could chat all night,  ‘Bout anything from sport to
whats been on TV and on radio 2.

 He’s losing control and says ‘Man I’ve got to go’.
Things I’ve got to tend to at home, so here’s your dough.
Then he rushes back prayerfully, Hope she’s waiting expectantly
But He can’t get in, he’s blown the permit…

 Obstacle to the miracle, a miraculous obstacle

 Oh he’s raging and disbelieving, he let his, sure thing fall apart.
Aching, parts of him aching, knows for sure, one is his heart.

 It’s out of control,  the feelings grown,
he wants to pick the cherries to go and lets her know.
But he’s got no accessories, so she tells him no Sirree.
You can’t get in, without a permit…

 Obstacle to the miracle, a miraculous obstacle

 Just about to lay good lovin on the line,
 But your kid walks in, and now you’re not doing so fine
Communicating so well, you thought you were in the zone
But your best friend stepped in and soon he will be taking her home

Ad libs out…
back to the top

---

---

TRUE FRIENDS
Ola Onabule © 2006

 Shake it off,   shake off the feeling.
That notions helpless without you, so get back to believing.
It’s a straight up hustle,  Where you pay to bow.
If you keep it in play, you’ll never see your happy ending out.

 Tune it out, I said, tune out the static.
Don’t let it loose in your mind, And take the place of your logic.
Losers  give opinions,   on winning and success.
Whatever gets them talking,  that’s what separates you from the rest.

 Ask what you have...   everything,
Ask what you’re worth... I’d say everything,
But if you don’t know that, it’s not worth a thing,
And those tears will flow, with each hurtful sting.

 Where you go do they know of your dignity,
And the way you defend those you love 
Or the quickness of your generousity 
Are these true friends that you’re speaking of, 

 Get it on, get on with living.
You owe nobody a thing, good’s been long in the coming.
So like headless chickens, let them run amok,
Trying to figure out exactly how you came by such amazing luck.

What would they give... everything,
To be where you are... I’d say everything,
But if you don’t know, it’s not anything,
But how gentle hearts get to struggling.

 Chorus

 You’re gonna say maybe I’m wrong,
then ask me more whys and wherefores,
It’s just the way it is You can make it hard,
Or as simple as it needs to be.

 Choruses & ad libs out
back to the top

---

MY OTHER PRAYER
Ola Onabule © 2006

 
I’ve never prayed here, it’s miles from my deep fears
I rise, rub the sleep clear, I’m fine, undeniably.
My world fits like a good glove, but what I’m mostly proud of,
Is how it seems to just work, no fuss, uncomplicatedly. 

 Go where you will, 
you’ll always be where you’re meant to be.
Seems like I’ve found a prayer, 
that you were meant to be with me.

 Still disbelieving, we’ve chanced on such a good thing,
that gives life true meaning, no doubt, universally.
And so in that spirit I’m thankful each minute,
Could have all been so very different, no you, inconceivably.

 Go where you will, 
you’ll always be where you’re meant to be.
Seems like I’ve found a prayer, 
that you were meant to be with me.
Ask what you will, 
you’ll only get what was always yours.
And so my other prayer, 
Is what we have was always ours .

 Go where you will, Ask what you will, Do what you will,
It’s gonna be the way, it’s meant to be!

 Choruses and ad libs out…
back to the top

---

THE DETAIL

Ola Onabule © 2006

 They’ve got people making up just what to believe,
Till you believe enough to simply leave things be, yeah.
And there are others with a take on how to survive,
Till you’re trusting that they care if you’re alive.

 Lately you’ve begun to question why,
The wool from over your eyes.
You don’t like what you see,
But they say.

 Certainly it would appear the truth is being 
twisted, wasted, distorted.
We don’t think that you should get hung up on detail, do you.
Yes it would appear our facts have been a little
way off, way out, and waylayed.
We don’t think that you should get hung up on detail do you.

 
Now they got you wondering who really is real,
The baddie can be cool, the goody’s a bad actor.
And all that charm is making you forget what you feel,
They spun you in with smoke then out with a big fire.
Lately you’ve begun to feel short changed,
All the best bits were staged.
You don’t like it one bit,
but they say.

 Choruses and ad libs out
back to the top

---

WHO ARE YOU
Ola Onabule © 2006

 He had a dye job, to make him stand out,
this little despot, In a fluorescent coat. He said...
I was a hoodlum, there could be no doubt, Just for returning,
by continental boat , returning to my home.

  I don’t mind, stuff is happenning all the time,
But the drift of my soliloquy may be,
Not a one, of any one, I counted on,
Steps up to the line for me.
Born alone, Dies alone
 But doesn’t figure on fighting all alone

 Oh who are you, what are you doing here, living like Me
Yes I am you, being the things that you won’t dare to be
Who the hell are you!

 It’s not America, back in the twenties,
How can he do this, I wanna cut him bad. And my...
Mist is reddening, my teeth are clenching, I need to drive off,
before he drives me mad, All around the bend.

  still they’re not here, lights are on but not upstairs.
And the soul of their philosophy may be,
If I’m alright then it’s alright for every one,
the hells it got to do with me.
Born alone, Dies alone,
They never figure on fighting all alone.

 Chorus

 I don’t mind, stuff is happenning all the time.
But the drift of my soliloquy may be,
Not a one, of any one, I counted on,
Steps up to the line for me.
Born alone, Dies alone,
 But doesn’t figure on fighting all alone.

Choruses ad libs out
back to the top

---

BACK HOME
Ola Onabule © 2006

 Time breaks into my heart, steals my last remaining hope.
Doubts grow hazing the light of  my memories of home.
They no longer know me,  I’ve been gone too long,
And now I know, that love’s been long gone.

 I’ll ever be the one that left,
Ever the great outsider, fallen angel.
I flew my pride in fortunes face,
A fall from grace,
Who needs that shame back home. 

 No more desperate aims to redeem my shattered name.
Can’t keep tryin to explain that I’ve always been the same.
By now they ought to know me, without compromise,
But if they don’t, I can’t live their lies.

 I’ll ever be the one that left,
Ever the great outsider, fallen angel.
I flew my pride in fortunes face,
A fall from grace,
Who needs that shame back home.

 Home, home was a place where
someone elses dreams for me never came true.
Home to me now is where ever I breathe.
Are they thinking of me, can they still recall
How we were, before the great fall

 I’ll ever be the one that left,
Ever the great outsider, fallen angel.
I flew my pride in fortunes face,
A fall from grace,
Who needs that shame back home.
back to the top

Click here to join OLA'S mailing list.