Henry's Songbook

I can't touch the clouds for you
I never reached the sun for you
I can't do the things that you need done for you
I've stretched as high as I can reach
I guess I'm not the one for you
I can't touch the clouds or reach the sun for you

I can't turn back time for you
And make you sweet sixteen again
I can't turn your faded leaves to green again
I can't sit around and talk
About what might have been again
I can't turn back time and make you young again

I hope you'll find somebody who can do the things I didn't do
Find the roads I didn't find and build a brighter world for you
I hope you'll find somebody bold enough to reach and take a hold
Change your ever-changing mind and free your ever-rising soul
'Cause I can't - I can't

I can't look inside your head
See the things you're groping for
I can't help you chase the dreams you're hoping for
You say your arms are open wide
God knows who they're open for
I can't look inside and see your mind

So say good bye and don't look back
I've had some happy days with you
Sorry I can't be the one who stays with you
If they ask about me
You could say I was the one with you
Who never touched the clouds or reached the sun for you

(as sung by Iain MacKintosh)

[1991:] Long ago, at his home in Copenhagen, Tom Buhmann played this track to me. One for you, Iain, Tom said. But then the whisky bottle was produced and the song forgotten until one night, years later, I heard Jim McKenna sing it in Glasgow's Star Club. (Notes Iain MacKintosh, 'Just My Cup of Tea')

[1993:] I recorded this song on my last album, and after I recorded it - quite recently, in fact - I discovered there's a verse and a half in the song that I had never heard. So I'll try and sing the verse and a half that's not on the album. (Intro Iain MacKintosh)