John WETTON
&
Geoffrey DOWNES


Icon II: Rubicon

(2006)



1. The Die Is Cast 6'17
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
2. Finger On The Trigger 4'00
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
3. Reflections (Of My Life) 5'03
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
4. To Catch A Thief 5'31
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
5. Tears Of Joy
** 4'49
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes / Eddie Jobson)
6. Shannon 4'24
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
7. The Hanging Tree 4'17
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
8. The Glory Of Winning
** 4'12
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes / Richard Palmer-James)
9. Whirlpool 5'28
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
10. Rubicon 6'20
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)

Total Time: 50:27


ICON IS:

  • John Wetton - Voices, Basses, Classical / Acoustic Guitars
  • Geoffrey Downes - Keyboards, Vocoder

    DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

  • John Mitchell - Guitars
  • Steve Christey - Drums
  • Hugh McDowell - Cello

    Very Special Guests: Thankyou ladies,

  • Anneke Van Giersbergen - Voice on "To Catch A Thief", "Tears Of Joy"
  • Katie Jacoby - Violin "Tears Of Joy", "Shannr"

    Produced by John Wetton and Geoffrey Downes for ASIA ICON Ltd © 2006
    Licensed through
    ASIA ICON Ltd
    Sequenced by Steve Rispin,
    LISCOMBE PARK STUDIO, England, August 2006
    Sleeve and Photography by Michael Inns for
    MIXED IMAGES Ltd.. Thankyou Karen.

    John Wetton Offical Website:
    www.johnwetton.com
    Website and information: Kim and Drew Dancha

    Geoffrey Downes Official Website:
    www.geoffdownes.com
    Website and Information: Michael Milbourn and Dave Gallant

    Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Rob Aubrey at AUBITT STUDIOS, New Forest, England during Summer 2006
    Keyboard Overdubs Recorded at:
    The CASTLE STUDIO, South Wales
    Management: Martin Darvill QEDG,
    ably Assisted by Valentina Pianezzi

    All Music and Words Written by Wetton / Downes Except:

    *"The Glory Of Winning" by Wetton / Downes / Palmer-James and
    **"Tears Of Joy" by Wetton / Downes / Jobson

    All Songs Published ©WARNER-CHAPPELL
    **WARNER-CHAPPELL / GEMA

    John WETTON
    My Special Thanks Go To:

    The Master, Dylan, Beate,
    Mrs M Wetton, Rupert R, Davvers, Horace,
    DJE, Kim, Val, Jeff Fayman Joseph Zon,
    Anneke, RF, Gary Carter, Bobby C, Beki,
    RPJ, Marchwood, all who kept the faith -
    you know who you are, ZON Guitars,
    ROLAND AMPLIFICATION, FERNANDEZ Guitars,
    YALRI - ALVAREZ ACOUSTICS,
    SHURE Microphones.

    Geoffrey DOWNES
    My Special Thanks Go To:

    Jun Okuyama, Ace, Atsushi, and all at ROLAND JAPAN,
    Dax Kimbrough, Mike Ragogna and all at UNIVERSAL MEDIA (Santa Monica, CA),
    Dave Gallant and Michael Milbourn,
    Martine & Louis Dorey, Gordon & Heather Downes,
    Ricky Nelson, Arlo Chan at Warner Chappell US,
    Dave Ling & Nick Shilton at CLASSIC ROCK magazine,
    Jon Kirkman, Ben Woolfenden, Paul Dorey and his tribe,
    Christina & Alexandra Steen Downes, Kim and Drew Dancha,
    Sean McGowan, Scott Tibbs, Martyn Hopkins and the rest of the ROLAND guys worldwide,
    STOCKERS, Steve Rispin & Marion Darvill and all at LISCOMBE,
    and of course Davvers himself, and finally
    - Eddie Waring & Horace Batchelor, without whom,
    none of this would have been possible.

    Accountancy: Richard  Rosenberg at SRLV

    Special Thanks To Serafino, Mario, Giulio, Elio, Lorenzo and all at FRONTIERS

    All in all, if there's a message to be gleaned
    from all of this, maybe it's a personal motto:
    "Just do it!"

    - JOHN WETTON





    1. The Die Is Cast

      Die is cast, die is cast

      Would you fly in the face of Fate tonight
      Could you go dancing in the fire ?
      Would you go closer to the razor's edge
      Or stand up on the ledge ?
      Now that the die is cast

      Who dares to ride across the Rubicon
      Who cares for whom the bell will toll ?
      You're six feet under or you're in the sky
      It's do or die, at last
      Now that the die is cast
      Will fortune smile at me " Is-thiS'h'ow the cards will fall?
      As the winner takes it all
      For ever

      I see the creature in the labyrinth
      The spinning wheels of the machine
      And when the diamond-studded door will slam
      Will I be-standing fast
      Now that the die is cast ?
      When the final curtain falls
      Is the future in my hand ?
      Who knows when the dice will land
      Maybe never

      The die is cast

    2. Finger On The Trigger

      I go down fighting - thunder, lightning
      As the final curtain falls
      Although enlightening, the conclusion's frightening
      You have me by the balls

      No escape, no hand of Fate
      As the end comes into view
      Oblivion calling, no sense stalling
      Now I know it's all because of you

      You got your finger on the trigger
      You got your hand upon the gun
      You know this thing is getting bigger
      We had a good thing going on

      The bullet bitten
      My tombstone's written
      Now you're changing every line

      Your aim is true
      Through cold steel blue
      And you're waiting for the sign

      Don't think twice, cold as ice
      Forced to face your fear
      Each tortured minute, no future in it
      Now I know it's all because of you

      You got your finger on the trigger
      You got your hand upon the gun
      You know this thing is getting bigger
      We had a good thing going on

      Just where you been, girl
      Black as sin, girl
      With your smokin' 45 ?

      Take it further
      Scream blue muraer
      And to hell with 'keep it live'

      No regrets, last cigarettes
      Or 'promise to be true'
      One last kiss, remember this
      Now I know it's all because of you

    3. Reflections (of my life)

      So here I am my precious one
      I sit, reflect and try to understand my life
      For now my pretty bird has flown
      To find a freedom of her own
      This is the evening of my day
      I have been thoughtful and alone for some time
      For are there things I could have changed?
      What is the difference that I could have made?
      And in my final hour
      I face the nemesis
      Of my damnation
      Or my redemption
      There is no victory
      But through surrender
      Then we may learn to live in the affirmative
      And find the joy to give
      These are reflections of my life
      And so the question that I ask:
      "Could I have changed, can change occur, in such a single mind ?"
      Did I act just for myself
      Or let my conscience be my only guide?
      Reflections (of my life)

    4. To Catch A Thief

      The road to Hell is paved with gold
      From where I stand it's clear
      The story of my life unfolds
      And all I have at last is here
      My mask concealed no treachery
      Your heart was on your sleeve
      I removed your veil of innocence
      With no intention to deceive
      Our trust was built on promises and all that I held dear
      You were the one who stole my heart
      When it was yours for free
      And then your life was torn apart
      And it was plain to see, how far I'd fall
      A chasm deep, beyond belief
      And now I'd give it all... To catch a thief
      Your character was plain to see
      I stumbled then I fell
      Your silver words spelled tragedy
      Although you seemed to wish me well
      Then what I gave so easily, someday you will repay
      You took away my will to live
      I took all that you had to give
      Now I have nothing, I have nothing to lose
      But the pain and misery of losing you
      And I really cannot see me pulling through
      My story ends not here I see
      Your debt is overdue
      I need no mercy, take my life
      'Cause now my heart belongs to you
      We can rebuild our lives again and our reward is here
      You are the one who holds my heart
      I give it willingly
      You turned my whole life inside out
      And now it's plain to see I had to fall
      In love so deep beyond belief
      And yes, I have it all ... To catch a thief

    5. Tears Of Joy

      Every little picture
      Tells a different story
      Wating for the magic _
      Or a road to glory

      Holding you for ever
      See the tears in my eyes

      Even in the dark hours
      A glimmer in the moonshine
      In the time of sadness
      A flicker on the skyline

      Tears Of Joy

      Waiting for the dawn-light
      Feel the rays of sunshine
      Promising a new day
      And the warmth of my hand
      Holding you for ever
      See the tears in my eyes

      Tears Of Joy

    6. Shannon

      Woke up this morning, the sun on my face
      I noticed your clothes were all over the place
      "Shannon, where are you ?" I called out in vain
      There was no reply so I said it again
      "Shannon, forgive me, I thought you were dead"
      For your pillow had not seen your beautiful head
      Could it have been all the things that we said?
      Shannon, I wish you were back in my bed
      Oh, I know its not easy for you
      But I can love you forever
      Please just take it one step at a time
      Darlin' never say never ever, ever again
      You keep forgetting that I'm just a man
      Can't compete with the bottle, don't think that I can
      Last night is all history, tomorrow's a mystery
      So please don't be losing today in your haste
      Shanon, it's such a terrible sin
      To lose all that we have
      Can we make a decision today
      That take away all our sorrow ?
      Now just think of the things that I say
      Then think and think again
      They're all coming true in a beautiful way
      That gives us hope for tomorrow
      All of my thinking was in the past tense
      "Where was it, where were you ?"
      Was not making sense
      You're having the time of your life
      Young and carefree and anything goes
      Making the most of your time
      No thought for the future just live for today
      Shannon my darlin' hear this, so you know
      "If you touch the Devil, you'll never let go !"
      Oh Shannon ....!

    7. The Hanging Tree

      Out in the wood
      Where the autumn leaves
      Lie listless in the wind

      On a granite tor
      The deserted moor
      Where the gallows stand

      And the tears that fell from your face
      Cursed the ground of this place
      By the hanging tree

      And I wish I could be free
      From the shadows dancing over me
      Maybe I could see
      Through the darkness to a point of light
      My eyes will be opened tonight
      By the hanging tree

      Seasons come
      And seasons go
      But there are no leaves to show

      On this poisoned grouna
      By the hanging tree
      No flower will ever grow

      And the tears fell like rain
      On the barren dust of this terrain
      And the land that I knew
      Became the place where crosses ñ
      Standing in line
      By the hanging tree

    8. The Glory Of Winning

      Up where you hide away
      The buildings are tall
      Nobody looks at the view
      None of your consequences
      Dare to be small
      It's a lonely situation
      But you said you'd take it till you knew
      The glory of winning
      Face to face, we circle each other
      The glory of winning
      Can't erase the sadness of losing you

      Now all you idolise
      Is concrete and clay
      Where only egos can grow
      And each ambition
      Is a step on the way
      Till you join that congregation
      In a place reserved for those who know
      The glory of winning
      Face to face, we circle each other
      The glory of winning
      Can't erase the sadness of losing you
      You'll never give in
      You're counting on victory
      Now figures and schemes

    9. Whirlpool

      Never could think twice
      Drop a stone into the water
      Crystal-cut like ice
      Sacrificed like lamb to slaughter

      Falling into your whirlpool
      To nothing, you pull me under
      Silently, my breath's leaving me
      You twist me and turn me
      Go deeper and deeper

      Deeper than a well
      Darker than a demon daughter
      Sinking into Hell
      With my dreams of Holy Water

      Ripples from my heart
      Shattered dreams that once were mine
      They're tearing me apart
      Magnified a thousand times, I'm...

      Falling into your whirlpool
      To nothing, you pull me under
      Silently, my breath's leaving me
      You twist me and turn me
      Go deeper and deeper . L-v

    10. Rubicon

      Now, across the water seems so close from here
      Now say goodbye to those so dear
      There is no providence for me or you
      We live or die by what we do
      Success, of a one-track mind is born, you see
      That track, neither to the left nor right must be
      I make a promise to you now
      You conquer fear you conquer death
      Soon, soon we'll be gone
      A constant desire to move on
      This battle will never be won
      Our freedom forsaken
      This World will awaken
      To a glorious new rising sun
      True as an arrow, so we soldier on
      Right on across the Rubicon
      Straight and narrow, any doubts be gone
      Way on across the Rubicon
      So, we may never see our homes again
      All of our wives and children, all our friends
      Don't be discouraged, don't lose sight
      We stand together in this fight
      All, is as it seems
      There's no turning back on this dream
      After the die has been cast
      The course is now taken
      Resolve is unshaken
      And destiny calls us at last
      True as an arrow
      So we soldier on
      Right on across the Rubicon
      Straight and narrow, any doubts be gone
      Way on across the Rubicon
      Over the river to the rising sun
      Ride on across the Rubicon
      And there's no way back from here
      In waters deep, but we will still go on
      Straight on across the Rubicon