The Waterboys

Let It Happen

The Waterboys


Such a sad procession 
winding down the lane 
What a strange impression 
was branded on my brain 

A band was playing endless mindless 
It was like a hooligan's lament 
It was dumb but it was timeless 
I still wonder what it meant 

But whatever needs to happen 
let it happen, let it be 
through all I am protected 
grace is effected over me 

"Behold the lights of London" 
the skipper said as his hands shook, 
his aura eaten by his jealousy 
and all the drugs he took 
He said "This is the real world, Buddy 

Toughen up your ass or it'll break" 
I said "I'm not your buddy, Buddy 
and your real world is a fake" 

And whatever needs to happen 
let it happen, let it be 
through all I am protected 
grace is effected over me 
The D.J. took his vengeance 
as the weding guests arrive 

There was malice in his handshake, 
quicksand in his eyes 
As he slunk across the courtyard 
from far-off I heard a horn 
Somewhere in the bleak mid-distance 
something beautiful is born 

And whatever needs to happen 
let it happen, let it be 
through all I am protected 
grace is effected over me 

I stumbled down a street of shadows 
a black hallelujah split the night 
anarchists and priests were playing stripjack 
underneath the crude lamplight 
I came upon a weeping soldier 
he said "I'm all washed up now hush !" 
But when I glanced across his shoulder 
he held the royal flush 

And whatever needs to happen 
let it happen, let it be 
through all I am protected 
grace is effected over me 
I'm still here, I'm still breathing 
I'm who I thought I was or just about 
I'll be walking down this boulevard 
until my legs give out 

Thoughts like storms and seas are raging 
I know it is a matter of degree 
but it's not the world outside that's changing 
it's me 

And whatever needs to happen 
let it happen, let it be 
through all I am protected 
grace is effected over me 

Whatever needs to happen 
let it happen, let it be 
through all I am protected 
grace is effected 
over me