The Wrong Road

Grant McLennan

Appears On:

This is a cover of a Go-Betweens song written by Grant McLennan, from their 1986 album Liberty Belle and The Black Diamond Express.

Lyrics (unofficial)

[rev. Aug. 9, 2013]

A trader in furs living in exile
Boy what a kook, look at that passport
Stale bread and paper without privilege
If you live here learn the language

When the rain hit the roof
With the sound of a finished kiss
Like a lip lifted from a lip
And I took the wrong road round

A room in the lighthouse near the park
The ghosts in the next room hear you cough
Time drags on Sunday spent in Mayfair
With all your riches, why aren't you there?

And the wind acts like a magnet
And pulls the leaves from the tree
And the town's lost its breath
I took the wrong road round

And handsome is good, pretty is better
What was that phrase, Grant, 'grace under pressure?'
Blind by the light bulb, blood to the bank
I lost all yours letters when my ship sank

In the disjointed breaking light
The soft blue approach of the water
Makes a sound you'll never forget
And I took the wrong road round

Stranded at low-tide where the river bends
Wouldn't you know it, that's how life ends
Lucky at cards, aw, that's an old lie
Lucky in love, that's how life ends

Well the turncoats turned around
When they heard the sound of the bell
Dropped their coins into the well
I took the wrong road round

Started out Oliver, ended up Fagin
Now don't you worry, it's my problem
What's my name, what's my number?
I'm the lonely one

And it's just at the end of the day
When the light makes its slow move away
That I know all I can say is
I took the wrong road round

Gambled with risk, paid you back with risk
So now you know who your friends are
They'll steal your shadow when your back's turned
Bouquets of flowers, lesson's over

When the rain hit the roof
With the sound of a finished kiss
Like a lip lifted from a lip
And I took the wrong road round