Acting Like Tourists

[Ray Brookes]

It is a morning of hot coffee, cold stares and romancing facts
Conflicts, cornflakes and ridiculous balancing acts
Accusations and rejections
Like an 'Eisteddfod' of objections
No one here is perfect and neither of us purists
But sometimes it seems like we both act like tourists

It is an afternoon of soccer-dads, gushing and rushing
Kits washed and pressed; everybody fussing and pushing
Angry yells at the play
Can't afford to lose here today
I look at my boy and realize he don't wanna do this
All those parents on the touchline acting like tourists

I met a girl on the way home, speaking in palindromes,
"Was it a rat I saw?" she cried
Took me a moment to figure it out
"Never odd or even" I replied.

It is a night of catfish cooked on an open fire
Teenagers on the beach getting higher and higher
Some kid with a guitar wearing a pineapple shirt
Singing his songs like he was some kind of life expert
Me? I gaze at the stars like some intellectual futurist
But I guess that night I was just another tourist

I guess sometimes we all act like tourists.

[StephenM]

the lyrics are incredibly deep and I don't get all of them but I think I get the idea...
the music is lovely Ray...

I like the answer to the rat question... great answer!  I sure as heck don't get the answer or the question but I think it's great...
and the thing about the guitar player in the pineapple shirt..  lovely work Ray

[Zoltan]

There's a lot of depth to the songs Ray does. The lyrics are filled with strong and vivid images. The performances are airy and gentle. The acoustic guitar playing sounds really beautiful, and the way the synth strings are used is really tastefully done.
I'm hearing this in a moment where i feel rushed... Yet this song still managed to bring me back.

Wonderful songwriter, and a performer. That's what Ray is.

[StephenM]

Some examples of palindromic words are redivider, deified, civic, radar, level, rotor, kayak, reviver, racecar, madam, and refer. There are also word-unit palindromes in which the unit of reversal is the word ("Is it crazy how saying sentences backwards creates backwards sentences saying how crazy it is?").

well, now i am getting educated through your song Ray! 

eis·tedd·fod
/īˈsteT͟Hˌväd/
noun
a competitive festival of music and poetry in Wales, in particular the annual National Eisteddfod.

I think my reply here is proving your point in the song... yeah.... acting like tourists....

[Rene Asologuitar]

It is a morning of hot coffee, cold stares and romancing facts
*********************
Hi Ray,
Beautiful lyrics.
This is truly a poetic composition, and the melody is so lovable.
Ver original storyline and words!
As usual, the guitar is so beautiful.
Your vocals can really tell a story!
Love this recording.
Rene

[guitarron]

Lovely tune Ray.

[SE]

Yes this is quality stuff, really nice soft synth with Knoffler style guitar motif,s, but thats just the back drop to the the painting pictures lyric, great hook/title, great stuff enjoyed it lots!!

[TPB]

As your norm excellent lyrics and playing well done brother
Tim

[Farrell Jackson]

Some real nice shimmer on the acoustic guitars Ray. Are you using a capo on one of them? The lyrics and vocal are very in-depth but flow along seamlessly with the rest of the song. The subtle yet prominent strings at the very end are a cool production choice. Nicely done!

[Johnbee]

You just can't beat the sound of a 12-string acoustic.  It's such a pretty sound as it creates a wide and beautiful background.  This song is one to contemplate life by in every situation and probably every culture.

  John B