Alannah Myles

This is the place where nobody comes from
Perfect strangers in this desert town
Just out of flame and looking for favours
Hungry players when the deals go down

You get a hollow heart from shallow breathing
And a see-through smile like the ones on T.V
This is the land of thrills and money where you
Hit the edge and you drift out to sea

It seems so real, looks so good
But you'd give it all up and you'd start again if you thought you could
And it sounds so sweet, feels so right
But it leaves you cold in the middle of the night

Step right up, lay your money down
If you're looking to buy love in the big town
Lift you up, tear you down
Leave you begging for more love in the big town

Down in the street with the waiters and mystics
When you got faith in nothing, you just fantasize
You look for a flame but you'd fall for a flicker
In those angel faces and those cowboy eyes

They seem so real and they look so good
And with a bit of persuasion you really believe you know you could
Tastes so sweet, feels so right
But it leaves you cold in the heart of the night

Step right up, (lay your) money down
If you're looking to find love in the big town
Lift you up, tear you down
They'll leave you begging for more love in the big town

Oh you learn to use all your desperation
Till it works its way into your soul
Then you find out that you slowly lose control

Step right up, (lay your) money down
If you're looking to find love in the big town
Lift you up, tear you down
They'll leave you begging for more love in the big town

Step right up, (lay your) money down
If you're looking to find love in the big town
Lift you up, tear you down
They'll leave you begging for more love in the big town

When Alannah Myles played the role of a young aspiring singer on an episode of The Kids Of Degrassi Street, it was more than just an act. Less than a decade later, the daughter of Canadian Hall Of Fame Broadcaster William Douglas Byles would be a Grammy and Juno Award-winning singer best known for her 1990 international hit “Black Velvet”.

Myles (who changed her last name from Byles as a teen) began writing songs at nine and was participating in Toronto’s Kiwanis Music Festival at twelve. While gigging solo at nineteen across southern Ontario, songwriter/musician Christopher Ward invited her to form a rock and blues cover band with him. During this time Ward became MuchMusic’s first VJ.

Ward spent seven years trying to get Myles signed. He produced a three song demo for her, and her entertainment lawyer Stephen Stohn came up with the idea of making a ‘video demo’ of Myles singing “Just One Kiss”. This finally attracted Warner Music Canada in 1987. The demo was passed along to Warner’s US affiliate labels and Atlantic Records also took interest.

more tracks from the album

Rockinghorse

From the album

Rockinghorse (1992)

Alannah Myles popular songs

Love In The Big TownAlannah Myles

Alannah Myles

Rockinghorse