Ray WILSON


The Next Best Thing

(2004)



1. These Are The Changes 3'36
(Ray Wilson)
2. Inside 4'03
(Peter Lawlor)
3. How High 3'33
(Ray Wilson / Scott Spence)
4. The Fool In Me 3'23
(Ray Wilson)
5. Adolescent Breakdown 2'55
(Ray Wilson)
6. Sometimes 3'28
(Ray Wilson)
7. Alone 4'15
(Ray Wilson)
8. Magic Train 3'32
(Ray Wilson)
9. The Actor 4'39
(Ray Wilson)
10. Ever The Reason 4'10
(Ray Wilson / Scott Spence)
11. Pumpkinhead 4'06
(Ray Wilson)
12. The Next Best Thing 3'57
(Ray Wilson)

Total Time: 45:37


  • Ray Wilson - Vocals, Guitars, Bass Guitars, Mouth Organ, Slide Guitar
    Additional Musicians:
  • Amanda Lyon - Backing Vocals (1-3, 7-11)
  • Irvin Duguid - Piano (5,6,10), Strings (3, 5, 9, 11), Hammond Organ (8, 11), Moog (11), Harpsichord (9)
  • Nir Z - Drums (5, 8, 9, 11)
  • Scott Spence - Lead Guitar (3, 4, 8)
  • Ashley Macmillan - Drums (3, 4, 10)
  • Colin Steele - Trumpet (4, 12)
  • Brian McAlpine - Piano, Organ and Accordion (12)

    Produced by Ray Wilson
    Engineered by Uncle Jack
    Programming by Unce Jack
    Recorded at
    JAGGY THORN STUDIO (Edinburgh)
    Mastered by Mark Finlay
    Cover Photo by Edmond Van Hoorick (Photodisk)
    Layout by Thomas Ewerhard
    Photos by Bernie Velasco

    All Songs Written by Ray Wilson,
    Except Track 2 Written by Peter Lawlor and Tracks 3 and 10 Written by Ray Wilson & Scott Spence



    1. These Are The Changes

      "24 months ago and yesterday in the memory of America
      The centre of New York City became a battlefield
      And a graveyard and the symbol of an unfinished war"


      These are the changes the day brings us
      These are the changes the day brings
      These are the changes the day brings us
      These are the changes

      These are the changes the day brings us
      These are the changes the day brings
      These are the changes the day brings us
      These are the changes

      "Like it or not we live in times of danger and uncertainty
      That is the way he lived
      That is what he leaves us
      My brother need not be idolised
      Or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life
      Be remembered simply as a good and decent man
      Who saw wrong and tried to right it
      Saw suffering and tried to heal it
      Saw war and tried to stop it"

      "We must recognise that ending the war
      Is only the first step towards building the peace
      All parties must now see to it that this is a peace that lasts"


      These are the changes the day brings us
      These are the changes the day brings
      These are the changes the day brings us
      These are the changes

      These are the changes the day brings us
      These are the changes the day brings
      These are the changes the day brings us
      These are the changes

      "I have asked for this radio and television time tonight
      For the purpose of announcing that we today have concluded
      An agreement to end the war
      And bring peace with honour in Vietnam"


      Know me, see me, try to understand me
      Why, you ask

      These are the changes the day brings us These are the changes the day brings These are the changes the day brings us These are the changes
      These are the changes the day brings us These are the changes the day brings These are the changes the day brings us
      These are the changes

      "I know that over the years many of you have seen the pictures and news clips of the wall that divides Berlin, but believe me, no American who sees first hand, the concrete and mortar, the guard posts,
      the machine gun towers, the dog runs and the barbed wire can ever again take for granted his or her freedom or the precious gift that is America."

    2. Inside

      Swing low in a dark glass hour, you turn and cower
      See it turn to dust
      Move on a stone dark night we take to flight
      Snow fall turns to rust
      Seam in a fusing mine like a nursing rhyme
      Fat man starts to fall
      Year in a hostile place
      I hear your face
      Start to call

      And if you think that I’ve been losing my way
      That’s because I’m slightly blinded
      And if you think that I don’t make too much sense
      That’s because I’m broken minded

      Don’t keep it, inside
      If you believe it
      Don’t keep it all inside

      Strong words in a Ganges sky
      I have to lie
      Shadows move in pairs
      Ring out from a bruised post card
      In the shooting yard
      Looking through the tears
      Out of the black slate time
      We move in line
      But never reach an end
      Fall in a long stray town as the ice comes down
      Rivers start to bend

      And if you think that I’ve been losing my way
      That’s because I’m slightly blinded
      And if you think that I don’t make too much sense
      That’s because I’m broken minded

      Don’t keep it, inside
      If you believe it
      Don’t keep it all inside

      (Keep it all Inside)
      Don’t keep it, inside
      If you believe it
      Don’t keep it all inside
      Don’t keep it all inside
      If you believe it
      Don’t keep it all inside

    3. How High

      I can’t believe it, Inner feelings ever changing
      This time it’s me slowly going insane
      You can’t expect me to believe, not this time
      Cause I’m going crazy
      I’m going out of my mind

      How High
      How High can you go
      How High
      How High can you go
      How High
      How High can you go
      How High
      How High can you go

      I had a dream, heavens gate came to me.
      And I fell in to it
      This never ending sleep
      I had to try hard not to feel inside me
      And it wasn’t easy to leave it all behind

      How High
      How High can you go
      How High
      How High can you go
      How High
      How High can you go
      How High
      How High can you go

      You can’t expect me to believe
      Cause I don’t believe it

      How High
      How High can you go
      How High
      How High can you go
      How High
      How High can you go
      How High
      How High can you go

    4. The Fool In Me

      She was a loner type
      Found it was easier that way
      With no one to break the peace she gained
      From learning to walk away

      And he was without good reason
      For changing her life the way he did
      He took her for everything
      Stripped her of dignity

      It’s a lonely life
      Never that easy these days
      The money to pay the bills
      It just don’t come easily
      And he was a man that didn’t care anyway
      He’d just play the clown and sit around all day

      With an atmosphere
      You could have cut it with a knife

      It’s the fool in me
      It wouldn’t be hard to see it
      Others can hide themselves away
      I have to live with it
      Nobody wants left on a fence
      Or spiritually die in ignorance
      It’s all just a chance you take
      Reality’s final break

      With an atmosphere
      You could have cut it with a knife

    5. Adolescent Breakdown

      See the sign in my eyes. Mind escaping from me
      On the crest of my wave too dark to see
      And the soreness that I feel beneath the surface
      Fear the worst is still to come

      Threatening words come my way in some strange disguises
      Flesh torn gestures in my face
      Don’t take my place away
      I could try to forgive, even though I don’t know what should be forgiven

      Do I go crazy, before you take notice, until you can see it in me ?

      Drift away touch upon the deepest emotion
      As I watch you’ll become, someone else’s problem
      Given time I’ll make waves in another ocean
      I’m the chosen one.

      Do I go crazy, before you take notice, until you can see it in me, why can’t you see it in me ?

      I adore you. I deplore you
      All your actions I can see through
      I can’t pretend I know what’s going on

      Do I go crazy, before you take notice, until you can see it in me, why can’t you see it in me ?

    6. Sometimes

      See me out, out the door, across the way
      And let me walk for miles and miles and miles
      Calm me down when I get scared
      And hold my life in your hand

      The living space inside my head is there for you
      Like a long lost friend
      Innocence and pride
      Makes me vulnerable sometimes
      Love ain’t enough

      Sometimes love just ain’t enough
      Sometimes love ain’t enough
      You give it time
      Somehow time’s all you have

      It’s the meaning of life
      And no amount of time will change a thing
      Why oh why
      In Gods name do you lie ?
      All the time

      Sometimes love just ain’t enough
      Sometimes love ain’t enough
      You give it time
      Somehow time’s all you have

    7. Alone

      Autumn leaves are falling down again.
      Last year seems like yesterday
      What to do now that those days have gone
      I have to start again.

      Inspiration ain’t so hard to find
      Words already on the page
      I just have to write it down
      In my own way
      Say something worth saying

      Time comes and goes
      A life unnoticed
      Cry out loud

      Don’t let me wake from this dream
      I won’t be a friend in need
      No one escapes from this feeling
      No no

      I tell myself hold on
      Everything is right, not wrong
      Love is what I ask for tonight

      Hold onto me
      I can’t breath
      Why am I alone

      Blame them but don’t blame me
      I know all the liars disagree
      You can’t just escape from believing
      No no

    8. Magic Train

      Life’s a magic train hell and back again
      Rollercoaster for emotion
      You think you’ve seen it all you think you know it but you don’t know

      Life’s a magic train that we’re all travelling in
      Each new day another station
      She said she wanted me but it might take a little time
      Make take a little time

      Am I supposed to wait around for you ?
      I’m not opposed to waiting around
      I just need to know cause it’s nice to be needed
      It’s getting me down, doing it now

      I hold on to love
      It’s a better place for everyone to be
      I alone can’t save the world
      I’ll only save this little part for me
      I lie here in my bed
      Wishing it would all just blow away

      Am I supposed to play the clown for you ?
      I’m not that use to fooling around
      You say you need me now
      Well I’d like to believe it
      It’s getting me down and doing it now
      Getting me down and doing it now
      You’re going ruin my life

    9. The Actor

      I smile at the misplaced faces
      Trying to convince myself
      All the answers lye with me

      I look at my broken picture
      Find it so hard to believe
      As now the past comes back to haunt me

      It’s alright I’m alright
      I just need to believe
      I’m not afraid anymore
      I will feel my way back
      Lay your hands on me

      Wish I hadn’t been so vain
      Been and gone and thrown away
      Regrets I keep
      The blame I give to me

      It’s alright I’m alright
      I just need to believe
      I’m not afraid anymore
      I will feel my way back
      Lay your hands on me

      Here’s the point I raise blame
      And discipline the fool inside my head
      Where nothings fair and no one there
      To honour all mistakes I’ve made
      And looking through my own debris
      I see nothing but me and more of me
      It’s so distressing all the blessing
      Never seems to fall on me.

      The pictures framed to form an edge
      The truth it lies within the heart
      It’s funny how we live this life and
      Never seem to live enough
      I won’t be true
      Cause I can’t seem to
      It’s only just a state of mind that
      Time and time and time and time again

      It changes, I swallow
      What I want to say
      I’m broken up I cannot breath
      I cannot be I need I need to
      All in all and every time I follow you
      I see it out; see it out of blind eyes

      It’s alright I’m alright
      I just need to believe
      I’m not afraid anymore
      I will feel my way back
      Lay your hands on me

    10. Ever The Reason

      Upon my life love of an honest day
      The memory of you will slowly fade
      Within I hold
      Hold it all alone
      The fire in my soul begins to burn

      Better to be alone
      Better be alone
      It has to be said
      Better to be alone
      Better be alone

      (I believe in me)
      No sense in holding on
      No eyes to see clear
      Pretend to gain control
      Of my life

      Better to be alone
      Better be alone
      It has to be said
      Better to be alone
      Better be alone
      It has to be said

      (I believe in me)
      No sense in holding on
      No eyes to see clear
      Pretend to gain control
      Of my life

    11. Pumpkinhead

      So what’s it all about
      Does anybody know?
      It’s hard to figure out
      To be patient
      The time is nearly now

      The walls are closing in
      And time is running out
      I’m getting out

      These changes wash over me
      In my head

      The fear is taking over
      And left me so alone
      It leaves me feeling angry
      With myself

      These changes wash over me
      In my head
      These changes wash over me
      In my head in my head

      What’s it all about what’s it all about
      Does anybody know?
      How can I explain to you?
      When how do I, I don’t know I won’t go
      What’s it all about where’s the feeling gone
      I can’t explain it
      It’s in my mind
      Burning like a fire that won’t go out it won’t go out.

      These changes wash over me
      In my head

      So what’s it all about
      Does anybody care?
      Can you feel the fear?
      Washing over everybody, everybody’s head

      These changes wash over me
      In my head
      These changes wash over me
      In my head in my head
      In my head in my head
      In my head

    12. The Next Best Thing

      ( instrumental )