Over Time

Paul Murphy

Volume 28 in the series collecting the lyrics of singer/songwriter Paul Murphy.

This anthology contains all the known extant material composed in May 2025. An amazing 60 songs were created in just 31 days - ballads, torch-songs, social commentaries, political excoriations and, as might be expected from a man fighting the final days of his Functional Moror Neurological Disorder, some dark, contemplative pieces.

The material is presented in the order of composition, and each lyric is accompanied by a photograph of its original handwritten manuscript, where available; due to the spread of paralysis, several of the final works were composed live-to-camera and transcribed from there.

Also included are song notes written by Paul, detailing the back-story and circumstances to the works. These notes are presented as their original draft, as no final edit was able to be completed.

Once again, these works show the narrative mastery of a unique artist in the songwriting halls.

I Wish I Had Faith

I wish I had faith, what can I say?

I searched for faith in the lonesome night
If I could find it, I'd hold it tight
But it always stayed five steps away
You said 'No' then, so I'm saying 'No' today

Faith has a beauty all of its own
You see it clearer when you're all alone
One more chance I plaintively cried
Open up your door, and let me inside

I was always here, it smiles in reply
But you only want me now - I wonder why?
Can it be that you've realised
Faith is more than what you see with your eyes

You won't get far if you don't have faith
Without it your heart is an empty space
When faith comes, your soul goes aflame
And nothing is ever the same again

- - - -

Closing Time

Closing time - the axe is falling
Closing time - the widow's calling
She says her grave has room to spare
She points my way - and I don't care

Pull the cord - turn the handle
My tie's on tight - let me dangle
The hands have stopped, the clock-face broke
I said So what - but I misspoke

What's my name - I can't remember
All my dreams lie there dismembered
The raven smells what tongues won't tell
Far more than tears this bleak day fell

Take my hand - now point it forwards
See that glade it's beckoning towards?
From whence I came, I still don't know
But closing time - means I must go

I said to faith I am ready now
I want to proceed but I don't know how
Faith said You want me when you're in need
And that's the very worst kind of greed

I unclothed my mind and said to faith
Please let me in before it's too late
I looked past you to what was in my hands
And only now do I understand

Faith spoke soft in its resonant voice
I only go to those by their own choice
If you truly seek me, search within
That is where our journey will begin