Try Anything Once

Cover of Try Anything Once [Notes included in the deluxe gold-CD version:] >From the Beatles' Abbey Road, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon and his work with the likes of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, The Hollies and Al Stewart, to all the classic albums that have carried his name, Alan Parsons has helped shape the sound of rock as we know it today. As the guiding force behind the Alan Parsons Project, albums like _I_Robot_, _Pyramid_, _Eve_, _The_Turn_Of_A_Friendly_Card_, _Eye_In_The_Sky_ and _Ammonia_Avenue_ became recognized as some of the most consistently innovative and adventurous music of any time. _Try_Anything_Once_, the new album from Alan Parsons, is the result of 100 days of recording at his state-of-the-art home studio in Sussex, England. The new album, his first in six years, features vocal performances by Parsons staples like _Chris_Thompson_(Manfred_Mann's_ _Earth_Band)_ and _Eric_Stewart_(10cc)_, as well as from newcomers _David_Pack_(Ambrosia)_ and _Jacqui_Copland_(Duran Duran)_. Joining Parsons to form the core band are mainstays _Ian_Bairnson_(guitar)_,_ _Andrew_Powell_(keyboards)_ and _Stuart_Elliot[sic]_(drums)_, all of whom collaborated with Alan on the songwriting. Though the album soars far and wide lyrically, offering reflections on life, fate and the soul from a variety of perspectives, Parsons cautions that it's not a unified conceptual statement in the way some of "The Project's" works were. _"There_isn't_one_consistent_theme,"_ he notes. _"If_you_find_one,_I'd_like_to_know_about_it."_ What remains consistent, of course, is Alan's trademark of richly layered, challenging instrument- ation that reveals new dimensions, and surprises, with each repeated listening. _Try_Anything_Once_ is the culmination, and continued evolution, of an extraordinary career. And, what better way to hear it in all its sonic brilliance than on this bit of incredible technology. So, sit back, and enjoy a truly astounding aural voyage.
The Three Of Me Turn It Up Wine From The Water Breakaway Mr. Time Jigue I'm Talkin' To You Siren Song Dreamscape Back Against The Wall Re-Jigue Oh Life (There Must Be More)

The Three Of Me

[Pack/Powell] There's a voice on the phone Who just called in to say "Mr. Jones isn't home He'll be gone for the day" So he pulls down the blind To adjust his disguise But it's all in his mind Which he proudly denies I turn the boat back from the weir Where to go from here I can't hide from each face I see Looking out from behind them is me I'm attempting to guess What they meant when they said "Mr. Jones and his guest Won't be using the bed" So if I take the rap While they stay out of sight I can spring from the trap When the timing is right One minute I think I know what I mean The next I hear voices inside disagree Why are they laughing at me? So I pick up the phone Someone's asking of me Is the real Mister Jones Mister One, Two or Three? So I say that they're not But it's not as I say 'Cos they're all that I've got And I can't get away As Alice waves us through the glass Are we home at last For tomorrow they'll be here you see Locked away safe inside there with me 'Cos tomorrow they'll be here you'll see Locked away safe inside they're with me One minute I think I know what I mean The next I hear voices inside disagree Why are they laughing at me?

Turn It Up

[Bairnson] It's no good believing in somebody else If you can't believe in yourself You give them the reason to take all the power and wealth It's no good you trying to sit on the fence And hope that the trouble will pass 'Cause sitting on fenses can make you a pain in the ass If there's something you find to believe in Then the message must get through So don't just sit in silence When you know what to do Turn it up. Turn it up, make it louder Turn it up. Turn it up, make it louder There's no conversation if nobody speaks And nothing gets done in the end There's no confrontation when fantasy makes you its friend So much injustice, too many lies We don't have to look very far But nothing will change if we leave things the way that they are If there's something you find to believe in Then the message must get through So don't just sit in silence When you know what to do Turn it up. Turn it up, make it louder Turn it up. Turn it up, make it louder

Wine From The Water

[Parsons/Bairnson] You can take me up, you can wind me down There's no escape, but I'll never drown No wires or strings, No rough and smooth Just fire and stings, Watch me closely, Watch my every move I can count your money while I check your hand And you know I just can't lose Wine from the water, Gold from a tree I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve Look for a mirror, There's nothing there I get rings out of nowhere, Money from thin air I can break these chains, While I'm upside down Well it may seem strange, I don't hit the ground Now you see my hand, Is quicker than your eye You should know by now, What you see here, all of it's a lie I can count your money while I check your hand And you know I just can't lose Wine from the water, Gold from a tree I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve Think of a number, I'll get it right Throw me in the river, Tie my hands up tight I can wind you up, I can turn you round No cunning stunts, till the lady's found No coils or springs, Just nice and smooth No Knaves or Kings, Find the lady, Watch my every move I can count your money while I check your hand And you know I just can't lose Wine from the water, Gold from a tree I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve Look for a mirror, No, nothing there I get rings out of nowhere, Money from thin air Wine from the water, Gold from a tree Now I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve Think of a number, I'll get it right You can throw me in the river, Tie my hands up tight Wine from the water, Gold from a tree Now I wouldn't fool you, There's nothing up my sleeve Look for a mirror, There's nothing there I get rings out of nowhere, Money from thin air

Breakaway - Instrumental

[PARSONS]

Mr. Time

[ELLIOT/COPLAND/DRISCOLL] Stealing a moment from Mr. Time He rocks in his chair like a shiny dime But it's all for show, all for show. Wearing your name and a number or two When the minute's up, so are you But everybody knows, everybody knows. Watching the hour from the light in his eyes, He waits for your soul to come in from the sky But it's lost below, lost below. Turning the Wheel of your destiny round, When the motion stops - no more sound, Does anybody care, anybody care. Where's the man, where's the child Wrapped together side by side. Who can tell you what to do, When Mr. Time has come for you. See the truth, hear the lies, Can there be no compromise And who can tell you what they knew, When Mr. Time has come for you. Is it a feeling of deja vu? When he points his finger calling you Is it illusion? Just an illusion Picking up seconds that fall to his feet He blows them away as rocks on his seat, Cool as his smile, his smile. Where's the man, where's the child Wrapped together side by side. Who can tell you what to do, When Mr. Time has come for you See the truth, hear the lies, Can there be no compromise And who can tell you what they knew, When Mr. Time has come for you.

Jigue - Instrumental

[PARSONS/POWELL]

I'm Talkin' To You

[PACK/POWELL] Somehow you fell out of time Boy you lost your place in line But don't even try To drag me down too I'm talkin' to you, I'm talkin' to you One star rises, one falls from the sky You're still hiding the way you feel inside One word closer to things we need to say One cut deeper to tear the past away You think I don't know your mind But I know fools don't change with time Until the warning signs Come out of the blue I'm talkin' to you, I'm talkin' to you One light's burning - another fades away Don't stand watching your dream go down in flames One step closer, the door is open wide Come tomorrow we'll see the other side On and on until we change Everything remains the same On and on until we learn On and on the wheels will turn... Wounded words and eyes that lie You won't let your demons die Take a look inside Or you're gonna lose I'm talkin' to you, I'm talkin' to you I'm talkin' to you Whatever you do, the last laugh's on you On and on until we change Everything remains the same On and on until we learn On and on the wheels will turn... Somehow you fell out of time Boy you lost your place in line... One star rises one star falls Do you even care at all? ... this time I'm talkin' to you I'm talkin' to you

Siren Song

[BAIRNSON/MUSKER] Days go by Adrift upon a rolling sky The miracles escape my eyes But I still hope Time, regret Is this as good as life can get? It's only when the spirit sets me free I cope If I seek in every corner If I search in every doorway When the water turns to wine will I believe? If I navigate the river Would you take me to your island? Sing a Siren song so I can never leave Long and wide Eternity from side to side Lead me through the rapids Guide me to the shore There's a place That's far beyond this time and space When each of us comes face to face with something more If I open up the channel Will you send me information If you tune me to your station, I'll receive If I navigate the river Would you take me to your island Sing a Siren song so I can never leave Plans can fail But only fail to understand The Pyramid will turn to sand and I'll be here ...I will be here

Dreamscape - Instrumental

[PARSONS]

Back Against The Wall

[BAIRNSON] Stand up, and with your hand on the Bible Tell the truth to one and all 'Cause you know that feeling When you've got your back against the wall. My God, it's only Tuesday tomorrow And "Loved One's" gone and blown it all Now you've got no money and you feel your back against the wall. Well, if you talk to your brothers and they don't give a damn And you look like you're gonna fall You can call my number when you feel your back against the wall. Some Tripper's got you right in a corner And you feel you're gonna lose it all Now you don't want trouble but you feel your back's against the wall. So the guy moves forward but you hold him away Shit there's no one there to hear you call So you take your chances and you push him back against the wall. Now the guy's in the gutter and you don't give a damn And he looks kind of weak and small 'Cause you called his number when you felt your back against the wall. Stand up, and with your hand on the Bible Tell the truth to one and all 'Cause you know that feeling When you've got your back against the wall. Well, if you talk to your brothers and they don't give a damn And you look like you're gonna fall You can call my number when you feel your back against the wall.

Re-Jigue - Instrumental

[PARSONS/POWELL]

Oh Life (There Must Be More)

[PACK/PARSONS] Waves roll out Out to sea Tasting the saltwater Tears upon her cheek Morning breaks She's not there Who could ever find her? Who would even care? No one heard No one came No angel of mercy Appears to know her name Where is hope When words fail All the colours running Inside when life turns pale In the dock the boats are harboured Where the water's cold and still Oh life, she cries, I've lost the will >From the bridge she sees a lifetime Being washed upon the shore Oh life, she cries There must be more... Tides roll in Waters rise Any chance of reason Only clouds her eyes Arms of grace She won't feel All the wounds inside her That time can never heal The city lights shine seaward Swirling in a trance Her eyes upon the water Alone in her last dance >From the docks the boats are leaving As she cries into the dawn "Oh life, I'm barely holding on" And she sees her future falling Til it finds the ocean floor Oh life, she cries There must be more There must be more And with the early light She'll sail into the clear The winds are all behind her The hour's almost here >From the bridge she hears the voices Turn into a roar Oh life she cries There must be more On the dock her soul is sinking But her spirit longs to soar Oh life, she cries There must be more There must be more There must be more Oh life I'm barely holding on There must be more There must be more Oh life there must be something more