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- Duration: 4:35
- Updated: 17 Aug 2013
- published: 21 Mar 2011
- views: 287892
- author: Tackertoons
Difficult age
You're just fourteen
And you're not friends with your body
Painfully thin
Look at your skin
Play with yourself for a hobby
How can they love a man who does that to himself?
Difficult age
Turn on the page
Have that wee drink in the meantime
Difficult age
Now you're eighteen
Here's all the freedoms you wanted
All the best clothes
A looker who goes
The size of your wage packet flaunted
How can they love a man who does that to himself?
Difficult age
Turn on the page
And have that wee drink in the meantime
Difficult age
He's twenty-nine
Thirty just lurks 'round the corner
Settled for life
Nice kids and wife
Pull out a plum like Jack Horner
Difficult age
Turn on the page
Have that wee drink in the meantime
Difficult age
Now thirty-eight
And you're not friends with your body
Wish you were thin
Look at your skin
Wasting yourself for a hobby
How can they love a man who does that to himself?
Am I asleep
Or am I fast
You every race
You first, you last
Roads girdle the globe
We all safe in your concrete robe
Hail mother motor
Hail piston rotor
Hail wheel
Roads girdle the globe
Am I tied in
Or do I turn
Your sacred incense
You tyre burn
Steer me Anna
Am I get there
When is A, B
Oil, iron, steel
H-A-T-E
Is that how you spell love in your dictionary
K-I-C-K
Pronounced as kind
F-U-C-K
Is that how you spell friend in your dictionary
Black on black
A guidebook for the blind
Well now that I can see my eyes won't weep
Now that I can hear your song sounds cheap
Now that I can talk all your corn I'll reap
I'm not so sure that Joey wed a Virgin Mary
There are no words for me inside your dictionary
S-L-A-P
Is that how you spell kiss in your dictionary
C-O-L-D
Pronounced as care
S-H-I-T
Is that how you spelt me in your dictionary
Four-eyed fool
You led 'round everywhere
Now that I can see it's the queens new clothes
Now that I can hear all your poison prose
Now that I can talk with my tongue unfroze
I'm not so sure of Santa or the buck-tooth fairy
There are no words for me inside your dictionary
Now your laughter has a hollow ring
But the hollow ring has no finger in
So let's close the book and let the day begin
And our marriage be undone
(Andy Partridge)
We, we will dance like tiny boats with cotton sails upon the tops of the seas,
That would pull us down to the depths and crush us flat if given half a chance.
No need to look back to pictures of lost, when all was rust.
We, we will skim across the surface of the mud as if we're spinning pebbles
Oh, in our yacht dance
Oh, in our yacht dance
We, we will dance like tiny boats with cotton sails upon the tops of the seas,
Made of people stained with scorn who never see the light of real love.
No need to look back through diaries of lost now turned to dust.
We, we will skate across the surface of the storm as if we're wheeling sea-birds.
Oh, in our yacht dance
Oh, in our yacht dance
And how they'll be jealous of both of us!
In our yacht dance.
We, we will dance like tiny boats with cotton sails upon the tops of the seas,
That would pull us down to the depths and crush us flat if given half a chance.
No need to look back to pictures of lost, when all was rust.
We, we will skim across the surface of the mud as if we're spinning pebbles
Oh, in our yacht dance
Oh, in our yacht dance
And I won't take from you
Don't you know
'bout a zillion years ago
Some star sneezed, now they're paging you in reception
Don't you know
Jack and Jill-ion years ago
Some dinosaur dropped the pail when it saw our reflection
Don't you know
We're all light
Yeah, I read that someplace
Don't you know
We're all light
Yeah, I read that someplace
So you won't mind if I kiss you now
Before indecision can bite
Don't you know in this new Dark Age
We're all light
Don't you know
At your fingertips arrayed
there's a universe of atoms that thinks you're real something
Don't you know
Just a couple of lips away
There's an revolutionary bean-feast whose insides are jumpin
Don't you know
We're all light
Yeah, I read that someplace
Don't you know
We're all light
Yeah, it's a bumper sticker someplace
So you won't mind if I kiss you now
We may hear the angels recite
Don't you know in this new Dark Age
We're all light
And I won't take from you what you can't take from me
And I'll leave nothing here that you can't use upon your trip
And I won't take from you what you can't take from me
And I'll leave nothing here but love and milk a' plenty for your tea
Don't you know
Upon the pillion of time's bike
We roar onto the stage and too soon we're dead center
Don't you know
Buffalo Bill-ions raised his sight
He's picking up the whole herd as soon as we enter
So you won't mind if I kiss you now
And maybe come on in for the night
Don't you know in this new Dark Age
We're all light
We're all light
And I won't take from you
what you can't take from me
And I won't take from you
(you know where you itch, is a little tiny switch, and if you let
me in, I can show you just the pin, that you put in the slot and the
element gets hot, and the stuff just pours out)
And I won't take from you
what you can't take from me
(all we're light)
(kiss me now, kiss me now)
And I won't take from you
what you can't take from me
And I won't take from you
what you can't take from me
He makes a beeline for the place
Where he gets his only ace
Sometimes he's standing in the rain
Oh Gene Kelly's hat and cane
He has the Rhythm in his head
He has the Rhythm, sing!
It's chaotic at the bar
B & O those sweaty drops
We are all mesmorized
To the thing we have inside
Inside, outside, eastside, West
We kill the beast
Yourside, myside, worlds collide, yes
Meet you in the secret place
Scuffling in the dirt I wait
Whistle will blow, whistle will blow,
Share a joke the laugh's on me
But when I get you on your own we'll see
Someone might hear, someone might hear
You're a working girl now
You've got money of your own
Hmmm The meeting place
Hmmm The meeting place
Strolling under grimey skies
Machines that make you kiss in time
Smoke on your breath, smoke on your breath
Chimney never looked so good
Never looked the way it should
From lying in the bracken wood
Coat on the ground, coat on the ground
Take a walk down the lane
We'll be late back again
Hmmm The meeting place
All around the world,
Every boy and every girl,
Need the loving.
The humble and the great,
Even those we think we hate,
Need the loving.
Soldiers of the Queen,
All the hard men that we've seen,
Need the loving.
Babies at the breast,
Those in power and those suppressed,
Need the loving.
Let's face it you just can't hide,
Your first taste'll send you reeling,
Like a firework to which we're tied,
Be prepared to go through your ceiling now.
The loving's coming,
The loving's more than just an ad man's vision.
The loving's strumming,
On your heart strings,
So loud that you can't help but listen.
Sailors on the seas,
Or the clergy on their knees,
Need the loving.
All the rich and poor,
Even those we fight at war,
Need the loving.
That thing that we need most of,
That stuff we should try before we've died.
Everyone is begging to be loved,
With a free gift, a working heart inside.
The loving's coming,
The loving's advertised in all the papers.
The loving's humming,
Your favourite song,
For once it won't annoy the neighbours.
The loving, the loving.
All round the world,
Every boy and every girl,
Need the loving.
Cold-hearted or warm,
Every single person born,
Needs the loving.
Way out there in space,
Think we'll find that alien race,
Needs the loving.
And just to end the list,
Everything that could exist,
Needs the loving.
The loving's coming!
The last balloon is leaving, the last balloon from fear
The last balloon is leaving, form that line right here
Climb aboard, climb aboard you menfolk
You won't need any bombs or knives
Climb aboard, climb aboard you menfolk
Leave all that to your former lives
Drop it all
The last balloon is leaving, the last balloon of all
The last balloon is leaving, undress, discard, let fall
Climb aboard, climb aboard you women
You won't need any gems or furs
Climb aboard, climb aboard you women
Leave all that to the bad old years
Drop it all
The last balloon is leaving, the last balloon they'll fly
The last balloon is leaving and we won't qualify
Climb aboard, climb aboard you children
Move aloft, while you're fleet and fast
Climb aboard, climb aboard you children
We're weighed down by our evil past
Drop us all, you should drop us all
drop us all and free your hand
drop us all, you should drop us all
drop us all like so much sand
In the car park
In the lamplight
Go for a walk
Clock him shiv-fight
Sodium-a-shine on
All the faces white now
And he got his Docs on
Bottle out all right now
As you might say
Him super-tuff
In the corner
In the cold rain
Sting like iodine
In my brain
Fist you til you fall down
Hit him back make him mad
Really hard. Really fast
Have you ever been had?
('Cos he's having you now)
Super-tuff
Happy I'm floating
Around on my feet now
You make me go dizzy
I'm weak at the knees
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
Well you say I'm faking
And I say don't worry
The way that I bubble
There's something in the make
I feel like I'm walking
Round ten feet tall
Right, the chemistry is right
This boy has reached his height
The feeling just goes on and on...
From strength to strength
I'm ten feet long...
I feel like I'm walking
I'm enlisting, overseas aid
need assisting, help with a maid
get the expert, on mademoiselles
he could diffuse, any bombshell
If I could only be tough like him
then I could win
my own, small, battle of the sexes
Sgt. Rock is going to help me
make the girl mine
keep her stood in line
Sgt. Rock is going to help me
make the girl mine
keep her stood in line
make the girl mine, wave the victory sign
I'm invading, territories
Girls are foreign, and strange to me
get the expert, at kissing and stuff
he stays easy, when things get rough
Sometimes relationships don't go as planned
some girls, can make themselves so cold
Ha Ha Ha
Ho Ho Ho
Now you see it
Now you don't
Has no bones
To hurt your throat
Good and sweet
Nice to eat
If you like it
Just repeat
I'll set myself on fire
I'll set myself on fire
I'll set myself on fire
Oh strike my hand
On a stone Joan
God knows this is yuk
Do it all in unison
Ha Ha Ha
Ho Ho Ho
We have the pool
Ah - No that's cruel
Why do you take me for
A fool?
Try the rails
It's just not me
No No No
Hey, hey,
The clouds are whey.
There's straw for the donkeys,
And the innocents can all sleep safely,
All sleep safely.
My, my,
Sun is pie.
There's fodder for the cannons,
And the guilty ones can all sleep safely,
All sleep safely.
And all the world is football-shaped
It's just for me to kick in space
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste
And I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in.
I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference
'Tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and the pleasure
And the church bells softly chime.
Hey hey,
Night fights day.
There's food for the thinkers,
And the innocents can all live slowly,
All live slowly.
My, my,
The sky will cry
Jewels for the thirsty,
And the guilty one's can all die slowly ,
All die slowly.
And all the world is biscuit-shaped,
It's just for me to feed my face,
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste,
And I've got one, two, three, four, five,
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in.
I've got one, two, three, four, five,
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference,
'Tween a lemon and a lime,
Pain and the pleasure,
And the church bells softly chime,
And birds might fall from black skies,
And bullies might give you black eyes,
But to me it's very, very beautiful ˇ
(England's glory!)
Beautiful ˇ
(A striking beauty!)
And all the world is football-shaped,
It's just for me to kick in space,
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste,
And I've got one, two, three, four, five,
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to tell the difference
'Tween the goods and grime
Turds and treasure
And there's one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference
'Tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and the pleasure,
And the church bells softly chime.
Fire they cried
So evil must die
And yields are good
So men pull back hoods and smile
The scapegoat blood spilled
Spittled and grilled it crackled and spat
And children grew fat on the meat
Change must be earnt
Sacrificial bonfire must burn
Burn up the old
Ring in the new
Assembled on high
Silhouette against the sky
The smoke prayed and pranced
And sparks did their dance in the wind
Shadows wore thin with less and less skin
And the clothes that were draped
Was all that told man from ape
Change must be earnt
Sacrificial bonfire must reign
Reign over good
Banish the bad
(Colin Moulding)
Oh run-a, oh run-a, oh runaways,
(Please come home)
Oh run-a, oh run-a, oh runaways
(Please come home)
Daddy hit you in a temper,
But he's sorry now,
(Please come home)
Just a quarrel had with mummy,
Just a family row
(Please come home)
You caught mum chasing dad with a knife,
(Don't cry, don't cry)
You ran away to escape from the fights,
(Don't cry, don't cry)
Now you're lost in a maze of neon light,
And she's worried,
He's worried
She's worried, oh...
Oh run-a, oh run-a, oh runaways,
(Please come home)
Oh run-a, oh run-a, oh runaways
(Please come home)
Pacing street-lamps on the highway,
Haystack for your bed
(Please come home)
In the morning we will find you,
In papers to be read
(Please come home)
You heard screams from
The warmth of your bed
(Don't cry, don't cry)
You slumbered on without being fed
(Don't cry, don't cry)
Now there's no more tears to be shed,
And she's sorry,
He's sorry,
He's sorry, oh...
Oh run-a, oh run-a, oh runaways,
(Please come home)
Oh run-a, oh run-a, oh runaways
(Please come home)
I dunno wot she got
I dunno wot she got
I dunno what she got but it seems to have a grip upon me
No telling where she learn the things she do to me
And I don't know what she done wrong but I want to hurt her
(wanna) take it out on her
Take it out on her
Take it out on her
With my weapon
She's so exacting that she tells me when I go wrong
She doesn't value the attention she receives
She says I'm taking all the time but I'm not returning
(that's right)
'Do this' but she won't do that
Lying beside me like a parcel of fat
Hot love - cold sweat - feel her beneath me wanna crush her to death
She tries to justify the people who despise me
She puts her finger on things she knows will hurt
And I can't defend myself till we turn the lights off then
I dunno wot she got - my weapon
Anytime you rise, I'm here,
And I'm crazy for you pink thing.
You make me want to laugh,
You make me want to cry,
When I stroke your head I feel a hundred heartbeats high,
Pink thing.
I want to take you out and show you round the world,
Pink thing it'll be OK.
If I could only wake you from your slumber curled,
Pink thing what would straight folks say?
That man isn't fit to enter heaven.
That man is a sinner,
Ever burning in disgrace.
Pink thing, spit in my face,
I'd love you for it.
Anytime you call, I'll fall,
Into madness for you pink thing.
You make me want to live.
You make me want to die.
And when I stroke your head I feel a hundred heartbeats high,
Pink thing.
I want to take you out and show you to the girls,
Pink thing they're a whole new tribe.
If you could only see the way the way the gingham swirls,
Pink thing it's a whole new vibe.
That man isn't fit to be a father.
That man is a sinner,
'Fore they cast me down to die,
Pink thing, spit in my eye,
I'd love you for it.
Yes, I'd love you for it.
Anytime you rise, I'm here,
And I'm crazy for you pink thing.
You make me want to laugh,
You make me want to cry,
When I stroke your head I feel a hundred heartbeats high,
Pink thing.
Hundred heartbeats high,
Pink thing.
Hundred heartbeats high.
I want to introduce you,
Take you to the brink thing.
I want to introduce you,
Tell me what you think thing. I want to introduce you,
Make that missing link thing.
Don't you think it's time you met some female pink thing?
You make me want to laugh,
You make me want to cry,
So why is it I'm happy when there's tears down in your eye?
Little pink thing.
In my heart, in my heart
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
In my head, in my head
Where the lions wear the right tie,
where the gems roar, there be lovely
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
In my bed, in my bed
Where the ocean wears the shore down
Where's the on switch?
There be lovely laying waiting naked for you
(Chorus)
We can play every day
We can play at being lovers
We can play every day
We can play on my brown guitar
(Repeat Chorus)
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
In my yard, in my yard
There be inchworm, there we football
Take my yardstick, stir some lovely
Laying waiting naked for you
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
In my field, in my field
There be green grass, there be pink skies
There be blue birds come and nest there
(Chorus X 2)
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
In my heart, in my heart for you
(Andy Partridge)
The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the line;
The husband burns his paper, sucks his pipe while studying their cushion-floor;
His viscous poly-paste breath comes out,
Their wall-paper world is shattered by his shout,
A boy in blue is busy banging out a headache on the kitchen door.
And all the while Graham slept on,
Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.
No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
The young policeman who just can't grow a moustache will open up his book,
And spoil their breakfast with reports of Asians who have been so badly kicked,
Is this your son's wallet I've got here?
He must have dropped it after too much beer.
Oh, officer, we can't believe our little angel is the one you've picked. and
And all the while Graham slept on,
Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.
No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
They never read those pamphlets in his bottom drawer,
They never readthat tattoo on his arm.
They thought that was just a boys club badge he wore,
They never thought he'd do folks any harm.
The insect-headed worker wife will hang her waspies on the line;
She's singing something stale and simple now this business has fizzled out;
Her little tune is such a happy song
Her son is innocent,
He can't do wrong,
'Cos dads a judge and knows exactly what the job of judging's all about.
And all the while Graham slept on,
Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.
No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
Higher.
I'm a king, yes, I'm a head of state.
But I'm the kitchen boy who'll wash your dirty plate.
I had no message and the message was,
We're all Jesus, Buddha, and the Wizard of Oz.
I'm merely a man,
And I bring nothing but love for you.
I'm merely a man,
And I want nothing that you can't do.
And you know it's true.
That with logic and love we'll be lifting humanity higher.
Higher.
I'm all religious figures rolled into one,
Gaddafy Duck propelled from Jimmy Swaggart's tommy gun.
Don't promise rainbows with some golden pot,
In fact what I can offer I know you've already got.
I'm merely a man,
And I bring nothing but love for you.
I'm merely a man,
And I want nothing that you can't do.
And you know it's true.
That with logic and love we'll have power enough,
To raise consciousness up and for lifting humanity higher.
Higher!
And you know it's true.
We should chase superstition and fear from our hearts,
If we're going to survive and take levels of sanity higher.
Kick it up... Higher.
I'm merely a man,
And I bring nothing but love for you.
I'm merely a man,
And I want nothing that you can't do.
And you know it's true.
That with logic and love we'll have power enough,
To raise consciousness up and for lifting humanity higher.
(Colin Moulding)
People rushing round with no time to spare.
I'm so dizzy,
I'm neither here nor there.
In this traffic jam,
I just want to shout,
Let me off o' this English roundabout
English roundabout
And all the the horns go 'beep! beep!'
All the people follow like sheep,
I'm full of light and sound,
Making my head go round, round.
Everyone is cursing under their breath,
I'm a passenger,
I feel close to death,
Hopeless situation,
I have no doubt.
Stop the madness, English roundabout
English roundabout
And all the cars go 'brum! brum!'
And in my ears I feel a hum,
The neons blind my eyes,
All those tempers rise, rise.
Cars and buses go,
Puffing out their smoke,
Roll my window down,
I begin to choke.
I have had enough,
I just want to get out.
Let me off o' this English roundabout.
English roundabout.
I'm in the limelight
No time for sun ray
We are the happening
This day is our day
I'm in the limelight ah ah
Big on my block now ah ah
I'm in the limelight ah ah
I'm in the limelight
I'm in love
with myself
Please don't break the spell
Or give to someone else
I am a success
At least for a short while
I make decisions
Gold sun rolls around
Chocolate nipple brown
Tumble from your arms
Like the ground your breasts swell
Land awake from sleep
Hares will kick and leap
Flowers climb erect
Smiling from the moist kiss of her rainbow mouth
CHORUS
Stage left
Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk
Stage right
Now the son has died, the father can be born
Stand up
If we'd all breathe in and blow away the smoke
New life
We'd applaud a new life
Odin mounts the tree
Bleeds for you and me
Splashing on the lamb
Gamboling with spring's step
Buds will laugh and burst
Racing to be first
Turning all the soil
As the promptress fingers through her spinning script
CHORUS
Easter ... in her bonnet
Easter ... in her hair
Easter ... are the ribbons
She tied everywhere
Living through another Cuba
it's 1961 again and we are piggy in the middle
while war is polishing his drum and peace plays second fiddle
Russia and America are at each other's throats
but don't you cry
just on your knees and pray, and while you're
down there, kiss your arse goodbye
We're the bulldog on the fence
while others play their tennis overhead
it's hardly love all and somebody might
wind up red or dead
pour some oil on the water quick
it doesn't really matter where from
he love me, he loves me not
he's pulling fins from an atom bomb
This phenomenon happens every 20 years or so
if they're not careful your watch won't be the
only thing with a radioactive glow
I'll stick my fingers in my ears
and hope they make it up before too late
if we get through this lot alright
Everybody lives somewhere
Mud hut or igloo
But what I got is the hottest spot
And it's away from you
Everybody says something
Truth lies or both
But dear all your hot air
Don't encourage my growth
Do you wonder why I look so fresh
Do you wonder why I look so tall
Do you wonder why you'll never ever move me
Life is good in the greenhouse
Rather be a plant than be your Mickey Mouse
Life is good in the greenhouse
Everybody eats something
But you won't eat me
You won't get me on your plate
Or have me over for tea
Everybody lives somewhere
Mud hut or igloo
But what I got is the hottest spot
An alchemy, human alchemy
We stole them from their freedom to be sold
To turn their skins of black into the skins
Of brightest gold
An alchemy, human alchemy
We stoked the fires of trade with human coals
And made our purses from the flailed skins of
Purest souls
An alchemy, human alchemy
Other lands became a larder full of all the good things
All we had to do was go and take
Blood the colour rain that grew our wicked harvest
Black the colour icing on our cake
An alchemy, human alchemy
We stole their babes and mothers, chiefs and braves
Although we held the whip, you knew we were
The real slaves
To alchemy, human alchemy
J.U.M.P.I.N.G. jumping in Gomorrah, I'm religion free
J.U.M.P.I.N.G. jumping in Gomorrah, I'm religion free
Bring your horn of plenty
Gold calves, if you got 'em
We'll get stuck in history
All aboard for Sodom,
Bring your burning bush,
Harlots if you're able
We'll get stuck in history
Next stop tower of Babel
J.U.M.P.I.N.G.
All aboard for Sodom
(Andy Partridge)
Knuckle down,
Love his skin,
It doesn't matter what colour skin he's locked in,
Knuckle down,
Knuckle down and love that skin.
Knuckle down,
Love his race,
It doesn't matter if you win or lose a little face,
Knuckle down and love that race.
One bright morning the world might end with a big bang,
And you'll never get yourself another chance.
Put aside the hoodoo and some of the voodoo,
'Bout people being different,
They're not so different.
Take them by the arm and run to the street,
Take a little drum to supply the beat,
Soon the whole world will be up on it's feet and dancing.
For my sake,
Won't you put your knuckles down, boys?
For my sake,
Won't you put you knuckles down?
Love her skin,
It doesn't matter what colour skin she's locked in,
Knuckle down,
Knuckle down and love that skin.
Knuckle down,
Love her race,
It doesn't matter if you win or lose a little face,
Knuckle down and love that race.
One bright morning you just might wake when the coin drops,
Even though you think that love is such a corny thing.
You can burst the bubble full up with trouble,
Says that people always got to be fighting
(not right!)
Take them by the arm and run to the fields,
Blow on your horn until Jericho yields,
Soon the whole world will lay down swords and shield for singing.
For my sake,
Won't you put your knuckles down, boys?
For my sake,
Won't you put you knuckles down?
Knights in shining karma
Tend your flame
And with love for armor
They'll remain
Ever by your bed
Guarding, still sleeping
Shield your soul from this rain
Knights in shining karma will remain
Jealous winter sun...
Cold as vichysoisse
Steals your smile for fuel
They'll ignite with braziers
Of warming stars
Knights in shining karma
Wash your feet
And with spotlesss darma come complete
Ever by your sink drying
Up tea tears
Shield your soul from this heat
Knights in shining karma come complete
Swollen summer moon
Hot as boiling air
Poach your dreams to ash
They'll bring sips from restful slumbers
Cooling keg
Jealous winter sun...
(Andy Partridge)
Chant your spirit free;
Rush to greet truth like a dart
Shake your bag o'bones,
Shake your bag o'bones.
That's not traffic roar,
That's a leopard in your heart,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Shake your bag o'bones.
Go tell your stale friends,
go tell false prophets,
And drug traffickers,
Not to try to push our bodies any faster
We're dancing with disaster,
And the first will be the last,
It's nearly Africa,
Oh-oh,
It's nearly Africa,
Oh-oh,
Any day now,
Any day, now now
Unplug future plans;
Finger-paint the sun on you,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Mend your missing links,
I think trust should be the glue,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Shake your bag o'bones,
Go tell your warboys,
Go tell all leeches,
And blind panickers,
Not to try to push your bodies any faster,
We're dancing with disaster,
And the first will be the last,
It's nearly Africa,
Oh-oh,
It's nearly Africa,
Oh-oh,
Any day, now
Any day, now now
Our civilisation car is running wild,
Who did you give the wheel to?
The fat man driving us over the edge of the nearest cliff-face,
Is he the same god that I've seen you kneel to?
Well, would you want me, in your afternoons
If I seduced ya, in your Mills and Boons
Well, I'll be the master if you'll be the mate
But don't you get those headaches
In another life
I'll bring your milk tray, from a parachute
I'll play the Hollywood hunk, you can dye your roots
Or I'll be your Burton if you'll be my Liz
And there might be flying pigs
In another life
That's how we're built, love
Don't let it wilt, love
I'll take your flat feet
Well, if you'll take my habits, it all works out in the end
Ah, but in another life...
I'll be the stranger, in your horoscope
The cheeky builder, calling with his quote
Or maybe a Chippendale, on girls' night out
Make mine the biggest pouch
In another life
That's how we're built, love
Don't let it wilt, love
I'll take your mood swings
Well, if you'll take my hobbies, it all works out in the end
Ah, but in another life...
Well, I'll be your Burton if you'll be my Liz
There might be flying pigs
In another life
And you'd give up the cigs
In another life
And beer tastes good in tins
Test matches we might win
And your mother buys her gin
Clock in my head
Clock on the wall
And the two of them
Don't agree at all
Friday is heaven, Friday is heaven
Day in day out
Day in day out
Wish you were here
On the shop floor
And together we could
Count the dots on the wall
Friday is heaven, Friday is heaven
Day in day out
Day in day out
Friday is heaven
Day in day out
And I may as well wish for the moon in hand
I own this river, I own this town
All of its climbers and its wino's sliding down
But I can't own her and I never will
No I can't own her and that's a bitter pill
Taken with rain
'Til the gutter shines like the swirling sky
Like the swirling sky
I've got all morning, I've got all year
It's down in my pocket with the daylight folded there
But I can't own her and I never will
No I can't own her and that's a bitter pill
Taken with rain
How I'd wash her hair like the swirling sky
Like the swirling sky
And when I say I can't own her
I don't mean to buy her
It's nothing at all to do with money
I simply want her in my arms forever more.
Is that an odd request?
Is that something so funny?
And I may as well wish for the moon in hand
Yes there's more chance of that coming true
But I can't own her and I never will
No I can't own her and that's a bitter pill
So I can't own her (Of all the things you've got the thing you want the most is her)
And I never will (And she's the one thing that you just can't have)
No I can't own her (Of all the things you've got the thing you want the most is her)
And that's a bitter pill (And she's the one thing that you just can't have)
Taken with rain
Which I swallow down with the swirling sky
With the swirling sky
But I can't own her
And I may as well wish for the moon in hand
No I can't own her
Yes there's more chance of that coming true
Humble Daisy
Form a chain to hold all battleships in check
Humble Daisy
Knit a ladder down to nature's sunken wreck
Ragged rug unbound
Tangle trip the lovers
Royal barge aground
Brighter than all of the others on the window sill
I'll sing about you if nobody else will
Humble Daisy
Cast the milk and coins of morning's cash about
Humble Daisy
I fell down to heaven as you picked me out
We'll look up together
Browsing through some old sky
Sipping in the weather
You've got me dizzy, the fly that climbed the sugar hill
I'll lay upon you 'till somebody else will
Humble Daisy
Battery brides, ha ha have you ever tried
To break out of your waiting room
And find yourself a waiting groom
Ba ba ba ba battery brides
Ba ba ba ba battery brides
She left school with a million others
And worked in a store part time
She dreams of a husband and a lover
Here comes President Kill again,
Surrounded by all of his killing men.
Telling us who, why, where and when,
President Kill wants killing again.
Hooray, ring out the bells,
King Conscience is dead.
Hooray, now back in your cells,
We've President Kill instead.
Here comes President Kill again.
Broadcasting from his killing den.
Dressed in pounds and dollars and yen,
President Kill wants killing again.
Hooray, hang out the flags,
Queen Caring is dead.
Hooray, we'll stack body bags,
For President Kill instead.
Ain't democracy wonderful?
Them Russians can't win!
Ain't democracy wonderful?
Lets us vote someone like that in.
Here comes President Kill again,
from pure White House to Number 10.
Taking lives with a smoking pen,
President Kill wants killing again.
Hooray, everything's great,
Now President Kill is dead.
Hooray, I'll bet you can't wait,
To vote for President Kill instead...
Tending my fruit, tending my fruit
Ah you've got to have a hobby
A man must have a shed to keep him sane
Spraying my buds, spraying my buds
Got to keep away diseases
I mix the poisons and the wife don't complain
Some people say
That I am out of my tree
Or just a strawberry fool
Someday they'll see
'Til then I'll blow you a raspberry
'Cos apples and pears are me
So I'm tending my fruit
And I don't give a hoot
'Cos it keeps me sane, it keeps me sane
Some people say
That I am out of my tree
Or just a strawberry fool
Someday they'll see
'Til then I'll blow you a raspberry
'Cos apples and pears are me
So I'm tending my fruit, tending my fruit
Ah you've got to have a hobby
A man must have a shed to keep him sane
To keep him sane, to keep him sane, to keep him sane
Oh the wife can't complain
To keep him sane, to keep him sane, yeah keeps him sane
Yeah to keep him sane, to keep him sane, yeah it keeps him sane
(Colin Moulding)
I am the fly on the wall,
My prying eyes are looking through your bottom drawer.
I just came flying through your door,
You didn't notice that your number had been called.
I see the mother who's beating the babe,
I see the money,
The pennies you save,
Stored on computers,
From birth to the grave.
The fly on the wall,
He's seeing it all.
I am the fly upon the wall,
You're in the index of the files that stand so tall.
Although your health is rather poor,
We have a place for those who cannot find a cure.
I know your income,
Your daily crust,
I know your pleasures,
Your passion,
Your lust,
I know when you're living and I know when you're dust.
The fly on the wall,
He's seeing it all.
One is born and one will die, it's all understood
The bit that's in the middle doesn't count
I am the fly on the wall,
My prying eyes are looking through your bottom drawer.
I just came flying through your door,
You didn't notice that your number had been called.
I see the mother who's beating the babe,
I see the money,
The pennies you save,
Stored on computers,
From birth to the grave.
The fly on the wall,
He's seeing it all. I am the fly
I am the fly upon the wall,
You're in the index of the files that stand so tall.
Although your health is rather poor,
We have a place for those who cannot find a cure.
I know your income,
Your daily crust,
I know your pleasures,
Your passion,
Your lust,
I know when you're living and I know when you're dust.
The fly on the wall,
He's seeing it all.
I put on a fake smile
And start the evening show
The public is laughing
I guess by now they know
So climb from your high horse
And pull this freak show down
Dear Madam Barnum
I resign as clown
You said I was the master of all I surveyed
But now I'm sweeping up
The last in line in your circus parade
Children are clapping
As I fall to the floor
My heart torn and broken
And they just scream for more
If I'm not the sole fool
Who pulls his trousers down
Then dear Madam Barnum
I resign as clown
You tread the high wire
Between truth and lies
Your safety net just walked out
Much to your surprise
Strike up the band love
And let the show begin
For this is the last time
I'm painting on a grin
If I'm not the sole fool
Who pulls his trousers down
Then dear Madam Barnum
What makes you wander far
Don't know who you are
Now if the vibe is right
I'll go out tonight
Cause it's Buzzcity talking
it's Buzzcity talking
Go and find a late night bar
If I'm not back, leave the door ajar
It's Buzzcity talking
Talking to me
We have sickness in our hair
We have time to spare
You close another door
Break another law when it's
Fast, night goes fast
Bungalow
Bungalow
By the sea
Bungalow
In the sea air
Climbing rose
Time to spare
Luxury accommodation traps the sun
So we're working every hour that God made
So we can fly away
Saving it all up for you bungalow
Bungalow by the sea
Bungalow
Silver shoreline
In the gorse
You can be mine
Standing prime position for the town
Working for a vision through this life
So we can fly away bungalow
Bungalow
Boarded up
Yeah, we're boarded up
Nailed up shut
Yeah, we're boarded up
Music venue has had its day
Death watch beetle band moved in to play
Groups don't come down from London way
Cos we're boarded up
Yeah, we're nailed up shut
Two-by-four-ded up
Yeah, we're boarded up
Touring companies stay away
Rats and mice take the centre stage
Carpenter's mate have a field day
Boarded up
Yeah, we're nailed up shut
[don't mind me at all]
Two-by-four-ded up
Yeah, we're boarded up
Pubs and clubs had the chop
Making way for a superstore plot
Some town planner didn't know when to stop
Boarded up
Come and see us
Boarded up
Don't wait too long, now cos we're
Boarding up
Yeah, boarded up...
My heart is taken it's not lost in space
And I don't want to see your mooney mooney face
I say why on earth do you revolve around me
Aren't you aware of the gravity
Don't need another satellite
I'm happy standing on my feet of clay
I have no wish to swim your milky milky way
I say why on earth do you send your letters 'round here
Only to gum up the atmosphere
Don't need another satellite
So circling we'll orbit another year
Two worlds that won't collide
So circling we'll orbit another year
Moon still tries to steal the tide away
Don't need another satellite
Don't need another satellite
Abort your mission let's just say you tried
Before you glimpse I have a darker darker side
I say why in Heaven's name do you come on these trips
Only to freeze in a total eclipse
Don't need another satellite
So circling we'll orbit another year
Two worlds that won't collide
So circling we'll orbit another year
Moon still tries to steal the tide away
Don't need another satellite
Don't need another satellite
"There must be some way out of here," said the joker to the thief,
"There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief.
Businessmen, they drink my wine, plowmen dig my earth,
None of them along the line know what any of it is worth."
"No reason to get excited," the thief, he kindly spoke,
"There are many here among us who feel that life is but a joke
But you and I, we've been through that, and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
All along the watchtower, princes kept the view
While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too
Outside in the distance a wildcat did growl,
Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl
Fine art never moved my soul
No vintage wine designer clothes
But my world shakes for me
My bird sings sweetly
A different kind of tinsel
Decorates my tree
Yes my bird performs
A thousand Cheshire cats
Grin inside of me
Yes my bird performs
There she goes
Shakespeare's sonnets leave me cold
The drama stage and the high brow prose
But my world shakes for me
My bird sings sweetly
The brightest fireworks
Are lighting up my sky
Yes my bird performs
The cage is open
But she's no desire to fly
'Cause my bird performs
There she goes
And you keep saying what you got
You keep saying what you got
The urge to take you grows more strong
For time had made me wait too long
Each watch I smash apart
Just adding to my power
Each watch I smash apart
Just bringing near the hour
of 25 o'clock, that's when you're going to be mine
25 o'clock, we'll be together 'til the end of time
At 25 o'clock
The ticking seconds hear them call
My spell of hours will make you fall
Each timer that I break
Will halt the flowing sands
Each timer that I break
Will put you in my hands
At 25 o'clock, that's when you're going to be mine
25 o'clock, we'll be together 'til the end of time
At 25 o'clock
Each watch I smash apart
Just adding to my power
Each watch I smash apart
Just bringing near the hour
Well you're a good man Albert Brown
And you was wounded in the war
And though you shot some people down
You're still a good man Albert Brown
Well you're a good man Albert Brown
Though you are drunk upon the floor
And if you're buying the next round
Then you're a good man Albert...
Brown was the colour of the mud across the Somme
Red was the blood you spilled upon it
Pink were the fingers of the nurse who dressed your wound
White was the starch upon her bonnet
And you married that nurse
And her name was Else
And then along came dad
...I'll have another pint of...
Brown is the colour of your old walking boots
Green is the cash you'd love to squander
Gold is the colour of your wife's faithful heart
So get yourself home, no more to wander
And you married that nurse
And her name's still Else
And another child was had
You're a good man Albert Brown
Do you know what noise awakes you
Every morning from your bed
A-coming from the farthest hillside
A-coming from inside your head
You have heard
You have heard the loudest sound
In this and every world you can think of
Chorus: Louder than tanks on the highway
Louder than bombers in flight
Louder than noises of hatred
Dancing us from darkest night is the rhythm of love
Powered on the the beating of hearts
And did you know you had this power?
Drumming on it always stays
Never try to use it badly
Tunes of good are all it plays
You have heard
You have heard the loudest sound
In this and every world you can visit
For a heart without love is a song with no words
And a tune to which no-one is listening
So your heart must give love and you'll find that
You shine like rain on the leaves you'll be glistening
You have heard
You have heard the loudest sound
In this and every world you can think of
Louder than thoughts of dictators
Louder than rattling swords
Louder than loading of rifles
My heart is taken it's not lost in space
And I don't want to see your mooney mooney face
I say why on earth do you revolve around me
Aren't you aware of the gravity
Don't need another satellite
I'm happy standing on my feet of clay
I have no wish to swim your milky milky way
I say why on earth do you send your letters 'round here
Only to gum up the atmosphere
Don't need another satellite
So circling we'll orbit another year
Two worlds that won't collide
So circling we'll orbit another year
Moon still tries to steal the tide away
Don't need another satellite
Don't need another satellite
Abort your mission let's just say you tried
Before you glimpse I have a darker darker side
I say why in Heaven's name do you come on these trips
Only to freeze in a total eclipse
Don't need another satellite
So circling we'll orbit another year
Two worlds that won't collide
So circling we'll orbit another year
Moon still tries to steal the tide away
Don't need another satellite
One thousand umbrellas
Upturned couldn't catch all the rain
That drained out of my head
When you said we were
Over and over I cried
'Til I floated downstream
To a town they call
Misery oh oh misery
Misery oh oh misery
And one million teacups
I bet couldn't hold all the wet
That fell out of my eyes
When you fell out with me
Now I'm crawling the wallpaper
That's looking more like a roadmap
To misery oh oh misery
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
And you'll soon forget her
If you let the sunshine come through
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
If you never let a girl rain all over you
And just when I thought that my vista was golden in hue
One thousand umbrellas opened to spoil the view
One million salt seas
Recalled from school atlas
Alas would be filled to the brim
Sunny Jim couldn't jump it
How can I be pleased
When I'm handed the keys
To a town they call Misery
Oh oh Misery
So with a mop and a bucket
I'll just say forget her
And carry on sweeping up
Where I've been weeping
The Jesters will creep in
To strike down the newly crowned Monarch
Of Misery oh oh Misery
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
And you'll soon forget her
If you let the sunshine come through
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
If you never let a girl rain all over you
Just when I thought that my skies were a June July blue
One thousand umbrellas opened
Two thousand umbrellas opened
In the car park
In the lamplight
Go for a walk
Clock him shiv-fight
Sodium-a-shine on
All the faces white now
And he got his Docs on
Bottle out all right now
As you might say
Him super-tuff
In the corner
In the cold rain
Sting like iodine
In my brain
Fist you til you fall down
Hit him back make him mad
Really hard. Really fast
Have you ever been had?
('Cos he's having you now)
Super-tuff
But also tender
Terrorism
You’re writing your diary in innocents’ blood
You’re vain and you’re ugly, you’re no robin hood
You don’t steal from the rich to help the poor
You just take life from both and what is more
You break your bread and drink
But post-confession you’ll still stink of
Terrorism
Terrorism
But you’re sikh, jew, muslim and christian, you say
Now which religion will you wear today?
And in whose Bible do you find your cause
That says bomb children in department stores?
I hope your God is pleased
To see all creation on their knees for
Terrorism
Terrorism
Angel of death with black woolen mask
Freedom they bring you is a long wooden cask
They never doubt that right is on their side
When right is rifle-shaped where can you hide?
Don’t want daughter sweet
To be target practice in the high street
Terrorism
Drowning here in
Under mats of flower lava
Please don't pull me out this is how I would want to go
Breathing in the boiling butter
Fruit of sweating golden inca
Please don't heed my shout I'm relax in the undertow
When Miss Moon lays down
And Sir Sun stands up
Me I'm found floating round and round
Like a bug in brandy
In this big bronze cup
Drowning here in
Trees are dancing drunk with nectar
Grass is waving underwater
Please don't pull me out this is how I would want to go
Insect bomber Buddhist droning
Copper chord of August's organ
Please don't heed my shout I'm relax in the undertow
When Miss Moon lays down
in her hilltop bed
And Sir Sun stands up
raise his regal head
Me I'm found floating round and round
Like a bug in brandy
In this big bronze cup
Strange tales,
Scribbled on a uniform
Strange tails,
Scribbled down in cuneiform.
It had been written,
You had to get in.
You know a cat’ll play,
You used to be a big mouse.
Strange tales, strange tails.
Strange tales,
Scribbled on the shelter walls.
Strange tails,
Scribbled as the idol falls.
It had been written,
You had to get in.
You know a cat’ll play,
You used to be a big mouse.
Strange tales, strange tails
There are no secrets in star park
(we’ll) rendezvous to a peacock’s call
I said I’d meet you after dark
For a night we’ll trip, but never fall
(chorus:)
So bring your old umbrella
And some hair conditioner too, yeah
So bring your old umbrella
A swell time will be had by me and you
Yeah yeah yeah
In star park, maybe, after darkness
There are no secrets in the trees
They tell them out so constantly
I only sing and dance to please
A foreigner from no country
(chorus)
There are no secrets in star park
I said I’d be by you after night
So take your [ginger? ], catch a spark
We won’t get left if it runs not right
(chorus)
Here he come again
Dress in all that skin
Like he was still human being
Look at he long ears
And he big brown eyes
And with them truth he is seeing
Isn't it a shame you kicked that girl
Isn't it a shame she kicked you back, jackass
She really shake you donkey up
She really make you donkey up
She really shake you donkey up, quite a packet
How she carry you
Over thick and thin ice
You still dug you spurs in
Now you forced to walk
Laden down with shame
It's not just you back that's hurting
Now children saddle him for riding
Pick a fight with love and she will
Tan your hide in
She really shake you donkey up
She really shake you donkey up
From pools of xylophone clear
From caves of memory
I saw the children at heart
That we once used to be
Borne on foaming seahorse herd
Compose with trumpeting shell
From lines across their hands
A song as new as new moon
As old as all the sands
Shrank to stagnant from Atlantic wild
Lost that child 'til mermaid
Smiled
Summoned by drum rolling surf
As laughing fish compel
The young boy woken in me
By clanging diving bell
Breakers pillow fight the shore
She wriggles free in the tide
I'm locked in adult land
Back in the mirror she slides
Waving with comb in hand
I was lucky to remain beguiled
Grown to child since mermaid
Do something for me, boys
If I should die at sea, boys
Write a little note, boys
Set it off afloat, saying
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
I think about your pale arms waving
When I see the caps upon the green
And the rocking roller-coaster ocean
Think about you every night when I'm fathoms asleep
And in my dreams
We are rocking in a similar motion
I think about the salt sea rolling
Down in pearly tears upon your cheeks
Just like the day the harbour pulled away
I think about your warm white sheets unfolding
The more I have to drink
It's your big day, your big day
So you want to tie the knot
Tie it tight, don't let it rot, the memory of this day
Are you deafened by the bells
Could be heaven, could be hell
In a cell for two
Big day come and big day go
Life goes on after the show
But will your love have the fire and glow
Like on the big day
Statistics they don't say a lot
But can you keep what you have got forever together
There's a lesson to be learnt
Many fingers have been burnt with the touch of gold
Love can come and love can go
What your chance is I don't know
But if you have love then let it show like on the big day
You're a new recruit
The big day
in your wedding suit today
Like on the big day
yes you're looking fine
The big day
sign on the dotted line
The big day
O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk me through your garden
I crave your pardon if I woke you with my thinking
Ladybird
O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk me through your meadow
You'll spread no wings to fly in fright if I'm beside you
Ladybird
All through the winter time
When wood was warm and splintered
Time seemed longer than a goods train
Now that spring is back again I'll ask your name
Your name
O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk across my pillow
No weeping willow was ever as beautiful, sad as you are
Ladybird
And as you're walking past
I'm laying on the grass and making chains of thought
To snare you with my wit
But bit by bit you fade to gone
Gone
All through the iron season
Love was hanged and treason became
Something of a parlour game
Now sun is back in power I'll ask your name
Your name
O ladybird
I have heard you have to run to tend your children
No flood can drown nor fire blacken purest longing
For ladybird
J.U.M.P.I.N.G. jumping in gomorah, I'm religion free
J.U.M.P.I.N.G. jumping in gomorah, I'm religion free
Bring your horn of plenty
Gold calves if you got 'em
We'll get stuck in history
All aboard for sodom
Bring your burning bush
Harlots if you're able
We'll get stuck in history
Next stop tower of Babel
J.U.M.P.I.N.G.
Funk pop a roll beats up my soul
Oozing like napalm from the speakers and grill
Of your radio
Into the mouths of babes
And across the backs of its willing slaves
Funk pop a roll consumes you whole
Gulping in your opium so copiously from a disco
Everything you eat is waste
But swallowing is easy when it has no taste
They can fix you rabbits up
With your musical feed
They can fix you rabbits up
Big money selling you stuff that you do not need
Funk pop a roll for fish in shoals
Music by the yard for the children they keep
Like poseable dolls
The young to them are mistakes
Who only want bread but they're force-fed cake
Funk pop a roll the only goal
The music business is a hammer to keep
You pegs in your holes
But please don't listen to me
I've already been poisoned by this industry!
2032
Housewives shock in blue
What in the world is it coming to
What in the world
2033
Cannabis in tea
What in the world. Acid is free
What in the world
If daddy could see today
he'd be turning in his grave
If mummy could see the way
The boys and girls and the manner in which
they talk to their parents
2034
Women fight the wars
Men are too bored, they're scrubbing floors
Men are too bored
They're staying at home
doing the chores
What in the world
Do you remember when this life
was in perspective and the grownups were respected
They'd give up a seat on the bus
Open your door with no fuss
2035
The whole world's one beehive
Throw us a line you might be in time
Throw us a line
What in the world
Who gets the girl
It's the airwaves of the world
Not the hairwaves on your head
Oh But anything can be
On land and in the sea
When you've got
Crosswires
When you've got Crosswires
Everything is Buzz Buzz
Everything is Beep Beep
Strange things happen everyday
It's confusious the Chinese say
Brings a nation to its feet
What was I supposed to do?
I turned around with the world and she simply was there
My blood ran like ice right through
She had your face and your lips
And your eyes and your hair
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish that I had
I wonder if she knows that when I made her up
I made her eat an apple
And I made her drink a cup or two
Wish wish wish wish wish
Wish wish wish wish wish for you
Who'd believe me if I said
I brought an angel to earth by the power of mind
Think I'm going off my head
She caught the same bus as me and she sat down behind
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish that I had
Little did I know that on a rainy day
All the little wishes I had put away
Would bring you
Wish wish wish wish wish
Wish wish wish wish wish for you
Well if wishing is bad bad bad
Then send me to hell hell hell
But If you take my wish away
Then this cold world would burn as well
You put your cleanest dirty shirt on
Then you stagger down to meet the dawn
You take a ride upon a bus, it's just a fuss
You know it keeps you born
You get to know a morning face
You get to join the human race
You get to know the world
Has passed you by
Who cares? You might be dead
Who cares? You stayed in bed
Who cares? You wrote the note
Who cares? You might have spoke
Wake up!
You take a snack to fill the gap
And then you're ready for another shift
Your attention was diverted
By the girl who smiled and made the lift
The radio is blaring out
It's in one ear and then it's out
You didn't notice that the record's over
Who cares? You might be dead
Who cares? You stayed in bed
Who cares? You wrote the note
Who cares? You might have spoke
Wake up!
In the road a crowd had gathered
And a man was close to dead
The blood is running down the gutter
While you're yawning, nothing's said
His body's wriggling like an eel
They got no sense, no touch, no feel
Somebody better go and get a blanket
Who cares? You might be dead
Who cares? You stayed in bed
Who cares? You wrote the note
Who cares? You might have spoke
If you think there's something wrong
Holes appearing on your lawn
Don't you blame the man next door
It's not him
Flowers walk from place to place
Dark spot moves around your face
Objects vanish without trace
It's not you
I'm the mole from the Ministry
And you'll all bow down to me
I'm the mole in your potting shed
I'm the bad thoughts inside your head
And you won't catch me
(Fish and visitors smell after three days)
If you thinks there's something strange
Garden starts to rearrange
From perfect lawn to mountain range
It's not you
I'm the mole from the Ministry
Working underground
And you'll all bow down to me
Moving facts and figures all around
I'm the mole in your potting shed
Undermine your world
I'm the bad thoughts inside your head
And you shouldn't think me, No!
And you shouldn't think me
Mole
Mole
Go and speak to your niece (do this do that)
Kiss your aunt on the cheek
Don't talk back, now run along
It's gone eight, say goodnight
That's the way that it's done
Boy and girl, girl and boy
This is how you do it and
Who am I to reason why
Wear a shirt, wear a tie
You look smart in a suit
Use your fork in the left
Straighten up shoulders back
I'm like a spinning top
Going round and around
Well I don't know what's up
And I sure don't know what's down
Now watch me - I'm like a spinning top
Can't tell day from night
Well I don't know what's wrong
And I sure don't know what's right
Now watch me
It started when I heard your song of love
Pouring down like honey from above
I started to spin
I started to move
Just like a needle
That's sticking in the same old groove
I'm like a spinning top
We smelled your soup on the fire cooking
We saw your toys and your pencils looking bright
So bright and yet they come from oh so far away
We heard your flags and your banners flapping
We felt the air from from your hands all clapping time
In time, I'm sure your time is not so far away
Millions, all moving forward
Millions, all babbling crossword
Millions, all flow at water
Millions, all bright with laughter
He make you glowing
He bake you golden like a yangtse mud
I saw your writing on paper landing
Your stamps showed bridges and temples standing still
So still, and yet they're standing oh so far away
I saw you asking for western thinking
I say it's poison that you'll be drinking
Laying on the grass my heart it flares like fire
The way you slap my face just fills me with desire
You play hard to get
'Cause you're teacher's pet
But when the boats have gone
We'll take a tumble excuse for a fumble
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
If you fancy we can buy an ice-cream cone
Your mate has gone She didn't want to be alone
I will pounce on you
Just us and the Cuckoos
You are helpless now
Over and over we flatten the clover
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
It would shock you too the things we used to do on grass
Grass, grass.
It's raining on the beach
She inches close but out of reach
The waves look painted on
Seagulls screaming
The sea is warship grey
It whispers ``Fool!'' then slides away
Black coastline slumbers on
Seagulls screaming kiss her, kiss her
And all the flags that flap on the pier
Spell why on earth do you want
The fog hides much but one thing is clear
She's nearer
Dead deck chairs under shrouds
And life belts gape like minstrel mouths
Her hair still smells of salt
Seagulls screaming kiss her, kiss her
Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her, kiss her
He who hesitates is lost
If you want her, you should tell her
Take her by the hand If you hesitate
If you wait, November wins her November will win her
She returns to sand So get ahold of the girl
I say I like your coat
Her thank-you tugs my heart afloat
I nearly didn't hear for
Seagulls screaming kiss her, kiss her
Reign of blows
Reign of blows
Reign of blows cascading down upon your shoulders
Far too many men dressed up as soldiers
The lamb is brought to the ground
Under the weight of the Crown
A crown of thorns and dark deeds
The swastika and the hammer and symbol
Are sickles that reap only weeds
Reign of blows
Reign of blows
Reign of blows precedes a storm of revolution
People have no place in their solution
So torture raises its head
Decked out in blue, white, and red
And iron maidens will slam
And by the half light of burning republics
Joe Stalin looks just like Uncle Sam
Reign of blows
Reign of blows
Reign of blows has washed away the corpse of Abel
Cain is now the king in every Babel
I just don't care who you are
When death draws up in his car
And talks in terrorist tones
Remember violence is only a vote for the
Black Queen to take back the throne
So pale and precious is the light that will shine
Out of the windows in her head
So pale and precious like the sun as it climbs
Up every morning on her bed
If all of her moments were put down in a book
Then I could read it 'til I went blind
If all of the tears she cried flowed into a brook
Well than I'm sure it would taste like wine
Don't care what the others might say
As far as I'm concerned they can all fall apart
Fade away
So pale and precious is the light that will shine
Out of her perfumed golden hair
So pale and precious are the steps that I climb
Up to her room so bright and bare
If all of the things she said were flowers and tress
Well then her garden would always be green
If all of our time together fell on one day
It would be like every Christmas there's been
Don't care what the others might say
As far as I'm concerned they can all fall apart
Fade Away
Up she rises each and every morning
She blows the stars out of the sky
And lights the sun with her bright eyes
The smell of the pinecones
And the sea in her hair
Climb up here beside me
We can ride and find a friend unfound
Put your foot upon the laughing gas
And drive your grin around
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take
Ain't nothing in the world like a white skinned girl
Make your Union Jack and make your flag unfurl
You can't say you've ridden
'Till you've given up your heart and seat
Man that lady clippie rip your ticket
Make your trip complete
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take
Ain't nothing in the world like a black skinned girl
Make your shakespeare hard and make your oyster pearl
Don't let horses pass you by
Take a run and leap on
Pull the blinkers from your eyes
Before big bus has gone
We'll be stopping off
In every shop until you find that mate
Don't waste time, go on and taste them all
Why don't you fill your plate?
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take
There's nothing in the world like a gold skinned girl
To make your bonsai weep and make your bamboo curl
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take
Omnibus, take all of us
All of us, take
Ain't nothing in the world like a green skinned girl
Hey - what you going to do now
You're standing there and wondering how
You've got to make some noise
Just like one of the girls
Or even one of the boys
When you do it
It ain't no disgrace
I can see it written all across your face
Neon Shuffle and shuffle into Outer Space
I said - is a dance for the human race
I said - is gonna pull you outta your place
You - you put your hands together
Better make up a storm
Or some electricky weather
Now that the power's stop
Can you click your heels
Can you finger pop
Neon Shuffle
Neon Shuffle it's going to do it to me
Neon Shuffle it's going to do it to you
Neon Shuffle it's going to do it with red
Neon Shuffle it's going to do it with blue
Neon Shuffle it's going to run you right through
We're only making plans for Nigel
We only want what's best for him
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
We're only making plans for Nigel
He has his future in a British steel
We're only making plans for Nigel
Nigel's whole future is as good as sealed
And if young Nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
Nigel is not outspoken
But he likes to speak
And loves to be spoken to
Nigel is happy in his work
High climbs the summer sun
High stands the corn
And tonight when my work is done
We will borrow your father's carriage
We will drink and prepare for marriage
Soon my darling, soon my darling
Shilling for the fellow who brings the sheep in
Shilling for the fellow who milks the herd
Shilling for the fellow with a wife for keeping
How can we feed love on a farmboy's wages?
Deep under winter snow
Deep lay the lambs
And tonight by the full moon's glow
Flask of wine on my feather bedding
We will drink and prepare for wedding
Soon my darling, soon my darling
People think that I'm no good
Painting pictures carving wood
be a rich man if I could
But the only job I do well is here on the farm
On the farm
And it's breaking my back
We will borrow your father's carriage
We will drink and prepare for marriage
She's a little lighthouse when she
Opens up her huge eyes
And streams of diamonds shoot out
'Til we're wading waist deep in her brilliant love
She's a little lighthouse when she
Opens up her red mouth
And gold word ribbons rope and rodeo
The dark clouds in bouquet above
For how long will this dark age last?
For how long must we wait to learn?
Across the black and fossil ocean vast
I spy love and she doth brightly burn
Love sure lives in the right house
She's a little lighthouse when she
Opens up her huge mind and
Thoughts descending spears of crystal
Build a Jacob's ladder up to love
She's a little lighthouse
When she opens up her red dress
Show skin of rubber marble
Lit by knowledge and the fireflies above
And can others see this splendid beam?
Or do they navigate in dark?
If you ever want to dock your dream
Well you'll need love to guide your fragile ark
Love sure keeps a bright house
Boom goes my heart
Dancing around your daisies
Church bells will start
Sat on you reading your ages
I drift away
In loving memory of a name
Covered in moss
You may have died for your country
Forgotten not lost
You're laid to rest where you're wanted
I stare awhile
In loving memory of a name
England can never repay you
You gave your life to be buried alongside
The place you loved
The sermons attended when you were young
Still echo round these churchyard walls
Heroes and rogues
Together surrounded by nature
Lump in my throat
Sat in the land of your maker
I drift away
Hot as golden sand in fields
We whiled away the hours
I'm thinking of the days we had
Enormous super powers
Yes I'm sleeping, my mind's on the blink
I thought a page, like it's written in ink
When I remember distant days
I remember many things, but
Most of all, I remember the sun
Squinting at the sun through eyes
Screwed up by a fireball
Tarmac on the road is soft
Chaff burns in a smokewall
Yes, I weeping, a teardrop attack
I give emotion at the drop of a hat
When I remember days at school
I remember many things, but
Most of all, I remember the sun
Sun that worked on overtime
Fuelled our bodies, kindled fire in our minds
Burning scars soon disappear
Like heat that hangs like water on the road
I am the audience
There's no doubt, no consequence
I could make the morning papers
If I use my capers
Let's be the Audience
I might lose my patience
Polite applause excepted
To the ones selected, as the audience...
Oh I ... am the audience
No doubt, no consequence
Cause I'm the Audience
Let's be the audience
I might lose my patience
Polite applause excepted
To the ones selected
I am the audience
Breakdown the pretence
No longer be silent
Let's turn to violence
Have you seen Jackie?
He's a strange strange strange little girl
Make up on his face and his hair in curls
Have you seen Jackie?
She's a strange strange strange little boy
Her long black beard is her pride and joy
And all the children follow him around
And all the grownups try to drag her down
So we sing
Hey, leave Jackie alone
Hey, his pigeons have flown
Hey, she's never at home at all these days
Leave Jackie alone
Have you seen Jackie?
He's an odd odd odd little fish
To fly around is his only wish
Have you seen Jackie?
She's a queer queer queer little bird
Shy and quiet neither scene nor herd
And all the rats will follow him around
The dogs and cats will chase her from the town
And we sing
Hey, leave Jackie alone
Hey, his mind is all blown
Hey, she's not on the phone at all these days
Leave Jackie alone
Jackie couldn't decide if he was a girl
Or if she was a boy
Crocodile
No you won't make me jealous
That she left me for him
Scene one standing
Crushed on landing
You may have walked out
But I'll swallow up my fate
Scene two sitting
Man in kitchen
Bit cold and lifeless like
The burger on my plate
But there's one emotion I'm afraid of
Hear him scratching gently to be fed
I can't stand it when he sits there smiling
I don't want him nesting in my head
Crocodile
No you won't make me jealous
That she left me for him
Get away
Crocodile
No you won't make me jealous
I'm not letting you in
Scene three lying (through his backteeth)
Speared and dying (bitten beneath)
I'll crawl the wall to hand there
Skinned and stuffed with drink
But there's one emotion I'm controlling
Green eyed monster with his jaws spread wide
(But he's your pet now
You can't run away and hide)
I can't stand it when he sits there crying
I don't want to throw myself inside
Crocodile
Getaway
(Crocodile
Never seen her glowing
all that bright she's throwing
like some aurora
from her head it's growing
reaching to the ground and all around
like a Navaho blanket
Never heard her singing
now she's gently ringing
like copper wind chimes
what on earth is bringing up this stream
the cat who got the cream is licking her lips
and smiling like her Cheshire cousin
She claims she's found a way to make her own light
all you do is smile, you banish the night
She says she's burning with optimism's flames, away away
she says she's burning up all her guilts and shames, away away
she says she's burning with optimism's flames, away away
she says she's burning up
Now you see I'm smiling
back to juvenile'ing
I learnt her lesson
in like flint and styling
all the world is neatly curled around my littlest finger
I can't stop this grinning
so assume I'm winning
threw pessimism
in the air it's spinning
crashing to the floor and nevermore
will it lure me away with sweets
and shiny things just like a magpie
Now every bird and bee just fuel the fire for me
now every closing door just fans the flames some more
(Now I'm thinking okay)
Push me off to start the fun
On a bike ride to the moon
Lots of room for everyone
On a bike ride to the moon
And we'll bring back cheese for my Auntie Jane
And some magic moon dust that'll stop the rain
On my poor Uncle Alfred's head, even though he stays in bed (silly Alfred)
Why not bring a pot of tea
On a bike ride to the moon
Angel cake for you and me
On a bike ride to the moon
And we'll pack a tent 'case it's cold at night
And I'll share your sleeping bag if I might
And might be a positive boon
To protect you from the man in the moon
(Who happens to be me, look out!)
Racing forward can't look back
On a bike ride to the moon
What did I omit to pack
On a bike ride to the moon?
With the stars all glinting in the shiny Chrome
Then I suddenly remembered what I left at home
Now I shan't be peddling any higher
B E A T O W N
I spoke to your boss this morning
He asked why you weren't home?
I said sir they left without warning
You won't even get them on the telephone
They're in, it's a capital city and all roads lead to
Beatown, beatown
I spoke to your owner this lunchtime
He asked why you weren't home?
I said they thought it was hunchtime
You won't even see them standing on their own
Beatown, it's a capital city and all roads lead to
Beatown, beatown
He says he wants his money back sir
He says you're all communists sir
I said they beat you fair and square sir
They use the head, and not the fist
Beatown, beatown
Orange and lemon
Raincoats roll and tumble
Together, just liked fruit tipped from a tray
Pineapple wet heads
Watch new hairdos crumble
As scenery sunlight shifts away
Ballet for a rainy day
Silent film of melting miracle play
Apples and cherries
Are varnished in water
Despite, striped awnings bright dismay
I push my paintbrush
To conjure a new world
While this one is slowly washed away
Ballet for a rainy day
Silent film of melting miracle play
Dancing out there through my window
To the backdrop of a slow descending grey
When it rains it rains
All the colors in my paintbox
When it rains it rains
Tickets for the front row seats
Up on the rooftops
Orange and lemon
Raincoats roll and tumble
apples and cherries
Together, dropped in diamond disarray
Ballet for a rainy day
Silent film of melting miracle play
Dancing out there through my window
Behind the curtain silver falling
Ballet for a rainy day
Silent film of melting miracle play
Dancing out there through my window
I'm heading into the atom age
My contemporary house is all the rage
My wife's getting lazy going gadget crazy
Wants a pallette shaped coffee table and a matching settee
I'm heading into the atom age
My kids have gone obscene want to marry at fourteen
Want a pallette shaped coffee table and a matching settee
I'm heading into the atom age
I flick on the video to soothe me
It's better colour than the real thing!
I relax to a three D porno movie
Hey does anyone remember what ever happened to string?
So, let's briefly summarize what we know, shall we?
The 50's
The 60's
The 70's
The 80's
Thank you, and goodnight.
Zap, pow pow zap
Zap, pap, pap, pap zap
Da da da da
Zap, pap pap zap
Pop, pop pop pop
There’s something coming
Maybe a song or two
Can’t stop from strumming
Can you feel it too?
I’m merely a man and I want
Nothing but love from you
I’m merely a man and I want
Nothing more than to do
What I want in the souls
Of the order
Love [in a write up]
[from an anything] daughter
It’s another another [prodder]
From shaking skin house
[another podder]
Generals and Majors ah ah
they're never too far
from battlefields so glorious
out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
till once again victorious
Generals and Majors always
seem so unhappy 'less they got a war
Generals and Majors ah ah
like never before are tired of being actionless.
Calling Generals and Majors
Generals and Majors everywhere
Calling Generals and Majors
your World War III is drawing near
Generals and Majors ah ah
They're never too far
away from men who made the grade
out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
until the battle's lost or made
Generals and Majors ah ah
like never before, are tired of being in the shade.
Is the airplane sweeping low?
Dropping leaflets down below.
Ho, ho, ho. what they read, what they read
[aw commation]
Is affecting you
Prince othello
[stays her glow]
Othello, the fellow, othello, othello
[down wine] pho-to, oh
[guess that’s lee]
What does this mean to me?
Well, got the airplane sweeping low
Dropping photo of othello
The fellow, othello is gonna
Make you
Glow, glow, glow.
Glow, glow. glow.
Zonked right out HA HA
Won't you bop on over little Charlie, won't you [bop]
Won't you bop on over with the move and don't you stop
It's za bees, za bows, zabaglio
That gets the feelin' makes the world go go
Zonked right out HA HA on life
I could tell you how to be a happy person
All you do is throw yourself in love
I see them offering you gum
I hear the swarming schoolkids’ hum
A tribe of polyester warriors spellbound
They bring you offerings to please
Like cigarettes or new lp’s
You’ll have them on their knees and begging
Just to play with your comb
One glance from those two eyes
Will seal your playground empire
My oh my, what a sight for sore eyes, young cleopatra
My oh my, what a wonderful prize, young cleopatra
You’ll never be a queen unless you do as you’re told
You wouldn’t understand it being fourteen years old
Don’t ever give your love for free
But then again, don’t even let it be sold
You have your teachers in a trap
There’s no age limit or no gap
To who you set alight with firebombs, .........
I’m glad your father is my friend
And now that school is at an end
He’s only an excuse for me
To wait here at your palace gates
One glance from those two eyes
Will seal your playground empire
Your school uniform looks grey on others and silver on you
Your yellow wooden rule a golden sceptre to prove it’s true
You’re at the youth club near the drums
The young guitarist buzzer strums
Anything his royal majesty wishes
Your borrowed perfume fills the air
Pale nostrils start to flare
It’s more than some can bear
But this is your court and they are your dogs
One glance from those two eyes
Will seal your playground empire
You gold dress is whirling around
Like a fan it's lifting you high
High above the ground
Never coming down
You gold dress is burning alight
Deafens me with the sound of the sun
Setting fire to the night
And everything's all right
Vibrations coming my way
When you're floating on by
In your gold dress
Vibrations coming to play
When you're filling the sky
With your gold ... dress
Your gold dress is shaming the stars
A thousand melting Dali Guitars
Make no sound
And dripping slowly down
Your gold dress is all I can see
Blind my eyes but there it will be
Beacon burning bright
And everything's all right
And every morning before I'm awake
I walk around the world to make sure she's alright
And every evening 'fore I bolt the door
I give the stars a stir to make sure they will spin all night
For I see people who will scratch and spit and kick and fight
And I see nations war about whether right is left and whether wrong is right
And I know storms inside your head can amplify the blight
But no matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful
No matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful
And every Troy with wooden horse
I take to peaceful waters but can't make him drown
And every Bastille that gets stormtroopered
"Hail to the Chief" comes rainin', rainin', rainin', rainin' down
And I've seen people conduct lightning down to a summer's day
And I've seen nations playfully hurl snowballs packed with stones and clay
And I know rain inside your head can seriously put a stop to play
But no matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful
No matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful
So let it rain
And when we see flying saucers, flying cups, and flying plates
And as we trip down lover's lane we sometimes bump into the gate
And I know thunder in your head can still reverberate
But no matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful
No matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful
No matter what the weather
Yeah
So let it rain
So let it rain
You know you still be beautiful
So let it rain
It doesn't matter what the weather you know you're beautiful
Just let it rain
You're just, you're beautiful
So let it rain
Yeah, since the clouds all part the clouds just rose
So let it rain
From your pretty little mouth to your pretty little nose you're beautiful
So let it rain
It doesn't matter if the rain wants to fail if the rain wants to fall
Just let it rain
So let it rain
So let it rain
Well I stumbled
And I fell
Like a wounded horse
When I found out
You’d been riding
Another man
Well I staggered
Round in circles
On a loser’s course
When I found out
You’d been riding
Another man
Well my friends all said
Just climb back in the saddle
And you know that everything will turn out right
Well my friends all said
You won’t sink if you paddle
But my ship drifts on into an endless night
Well I bit out
My own tongue
Like a wounded horse
When I found out
You’d been riding
Another man
Well my friends all said
Just climb back in the saddle
And you know that everything will turn out right
Well my friends all said
You won’t sink if you paddle
But my ship drifts on into a endless night
Well I bit out
My own tongue
Like a wounded horse
When I found out
You’d been riding
Another man
When I found out
You’d been riding
Another man
Keep your fingers busy
Mentally or physically
What four-letter word
D’you know like ...
Look at me smile
Look at me doing their
Work
Y’see me shuffle in the dirt
My how I sweat
But I don’t mind
Cause it’s work
You got me rolling up my shirt
There’s all my old friends
Sat by the fountain drinking beer
Their days have no starts and no ends
They drift into pub nights with no
Promise for tomorrow
All that they want is some
Work
Work
Look at me smile
Look at me polish these
Tools
Am I breaking all the rules?
A cycle like that
I don’t want to be late for school
Well it’s night school
Now all my new friends
Sit in their [site] huts drinking tea
My day has no start and no ends
Drifts into whole nights in my
Coffin by the fireside
Bugger this game
I know who’s to blame
And that’s
Work
Aw, work
Keep your fingers busy
Mentally or physically
What four-letter word
D’you know like
Oh! work, work
Oh! work, work
I’m back with my old friends
Sat by the brunel drinking beer
Don’t want this to ever end
We’re living in fear of being
Mizzled by a new myth
Work
I don’t want to go to work
Work
I don’t want to go to work
When you're near me I have difficulty respirating
When you're near me I have difficulty concentrating
When you're near me I have difficulty standing upright
When you're near me I have difficulty sleeping at night
I used to stand proud like a sphinx
In a noble immovable state
Then your heart nailed me under a jinx
Now I'm feeling like a jellyfish
Just a spineless wobbly jellyfish
And it's great, great, so great
I used to stand high like a pine
Just a piece of emotionless wood
When you put your body near mine
Now I'm feeling like a jellyfish
And it's good, good, so good
I used to be an iceman
Living in iceman town
So I'm warning all you cool cool icemen
You'd better be prepared to be melted right down
down
When we get to england
Will we know when we’ve arrived?
When we get to england
Will we know if she has died?
Does the girl with the dogs
Still live in the big house
On the corner?
Are the boys collecting frogs
Still marching away
To die in war?
Like it’s all from a dream
Like it’s all from some history book
Didn’t look too hard
Did I miss something that I should have seen?
When we get to england
Will it still be there?
When we get to england
Will we know where we’ve arrived?
When we get to england
Will a kiss bring her alive?
Once a farmer in the field
Had to grow enough
To feed his family
Now they pay him for his yield
Just to burn it down
And throw away
Like it’s all from a dream
Like it’s all in a crystal ball
Did it fall so hard?
Rest in pieces on a village green
When we get to england
Will it still be there?
When we get to england
Mother’s in the kitchen steaming up the window panes
Smell of boiling cabbage comes up from an open drain
But no amount of scrubbing could ever shift a gravy stain
Washaway washaway washerette
Washaway washaway every dirty stain you get
Streets lay deserted
No one feels exerted
Sat on their couches
With loose change in their pouches
They couldn’t spend it if they tried
In comes mr softee
Dressed up like and ice cream cone
Ringing for his supper
Heading for a stately home
But a thousand yorkshire puddings
Couldn’t make his business boom
See how they wander
To kill time in droves they squander
Money in centres
That feed on the mind, oh bother
It just gets you down
Washaway washaway washerette
Business as usual at the uptown launderette
Washaway washaway the dirt
Wash it
Washaway the dirt
Here comes my neck
And here comes the axe
Covered my ears
Scared of the facts
I never dreamt that that was the answer I'd hear
I've been clocking up the courage to ask you all year
Now I'm really punchy with success
Because her answer was yes
To every little question I could ask her
Why her answer was yes
The pessimist in me expects disaster
But her answer was yes
Here comes my hand
Here
You've learnt no lessons
all that time so cheaply spent
there's no youth culture
only masks they let you rent
Travels, travels in Nihilon
we've seen, no Jesus come and gone
Fashion, their vampire
drapes itself across your back
as you fall from style
it waits rebirth on its rack
Building your whimsy
hypnotising you to need
dance goes full circle
one step ahead of your greed
You've learnt no lessons
all those years to get it right
flashes of promise
burn out faster than strobe light
Someone's knocking in the Distance
But I'm deaf and blind
She's not expected home this evening
So I leave the world behind
for the
Yes she'd give you a twirl
But she vanishes from my world
So burn my letters and you'd better leave
Just one pint a day
The whole street's talking about my
White shirts looking so grey
People gossip on the doorstep
Think they know the score
She's giving him the runaround
The man from number four
Has a
Yes she'd give you a twirl
But she vanishes from my world
Yes the paint is peeling and my
Garden is overgrown
I got no enthusiasm to even answer the phone
When she's here it makes up for the time she's
not and it's all forgotten
But when she goes I'm putting on the pose for
The disappointed
All shuffle round in circles
Their placards look the same
With a picture and a name
Of the ones who broke their hearts
The disappointed
All congregate at my house
Their voices sob with grief
That they want to be chief
Of the tribe with broken hearts
Once, I had no sympathy
For those destroyed and thrown away by love
Seems, your ring upon my finger
Signifies that I've become the spokesman of...
The disappointed
Will bear me on their shoulders
To a secret shadow land
Where a sombre marching band
Plays a tune for broken hearts
And day grows darker now
Everywhere, everywhere
The disappointed
Are coming in their millions
They're spilling from the bus
At a monument to us
Made of bits of broken heart
The disappointed
Are growing every second
They blot the sun to black
At the bottom of the pack
I'm the king of broken hearts
Sindy's spending too much money on clothes
Ken is going back to Gay Bob
The Teddy bears swear the neighbourhood's gone
Since the moving in of Golliwog
Rag doll gets beaten up by the Action man
The one with the real life hair
He walks and he talks in a commanding voice
But sexually he's not all there
Oh dear what can the matter be, my children sweet children
What gives down in the nursery, my children sweet children
Oh dear what if the cradle falls, my children sweet children
Toys are only human after all, who killed 'em we killed 'em
If toys are quarreling amongst themselves
What hope is there now for the world?
The smell of smoke hanging thick over funland
As the older toys are pushed down a ramp
The microchip master race are melting them down
In a dolly concentration camp
The world's gone mad but in miniature
The kids can only do what they feel
See them copy what their parents have done
'Til they're old enough to do it for real
Burn!
Towers of London
when they had built you
did you watch over the men who fell
Towers of London
when they had built you
Victoria's gem found in somebody's hell
Pavements of gold leading to the underground
Grenadier Guardsmen walking pretty ladies around
fog is the sweat of the never never navvies who pound
spikes in the rails to their very own heaven
Bridges of muscles spanning so long and high
merchants from Stepney walking pretty ladies by
rain is the tears of the never never navvies who cry
for the bridge that doesn't go
in the direction of Dublin
And I've seen it in a painting
and I've seen it in engraving
and I've seen it in their faces
clear as children's chalk lines on the paving
Towers of London
la la Londinium.
There’s too many cooks in the kitchen
There’s too many minds on the job
There’s too many cooks in the kitchen
Everybody wants a piece of the action
Cooking the books and getting their fractions wrong
What we need is law and order
Everybody knows
Can’t have chiefs without the injuns
Stepping on their toes
There’s too many cooks in the kitchen
There’s too many daps in the pie
There’s too many cooks in the kitchen
Everybody needs a place in the rat race
Playing games of power, it’s only a cat chase
Too many too many too many etc.
Too many cooks in the kitchen
[by the colonel]
Gone are the days,
When hate filled my heart,
I feel now I am a happy man,
I laugh now at values that I had.
All through my youth,
I was shouting and no one would hear.
Blind to the ways,
Of the people who now I hold dear.
It’s loud and clear.
The world is full of angry young men,
Chip on the shoulder,
An ideal in their head.
The world is full of angry young men,
Who think life owes them something,
But you only get out what goes in.
There was a time,
When I fought the worldm
I see now,
It was just an actors stage.
I see clear,
The colours through the haze.
As time goes on,
Your opinion will change like the weather.
Things that you said,
Now seem small,
They just don’t seem to matter,
I learned for the better.
The world is full of angry young men,
Chip on the shoulder,
And an ideal in their head.
The world is full of angry young men,
Who think life owes them something,
But you only get out what goes in.
There was a time I was lost in the dark,
I ran a race I didn’t know where to start.
Now I’ve changed my ways,
Seeing better days,
I’m turning my world upside down.
The world is full of angry young men,
Chip on the shoulder,
And an ideal in their head.
The world is full of angry young men,
Who think life owes them something,
But you only get out what goes in.
Angry young men,
What you put in is what you get out.
Never been near a university,
Never took a paper or a learned degree,
And some of your friends think that's stupid of me,
But it's nothing that I care about.
Well I don't know how to tell the weight of the sun,
And of mathematics well I want none,
And I may be the Mayor of Simpleton,
But I know one thing,
And that's I love you.
When their logic grows cold and all thinking gets done,
You'll be warm in the arms of the Mayor of Simpleton.
I can't have been there when brains were handed round
(please be upstanding for the Mayor of Simpleton),
Or get past the cover of your books profound,
(please be upstanding for the Mayor of Simpleton),
And some of your friends thinks it's really unsound,
That you're ever seen talking to me.
Well I don't know how to write a big hit song,
And all crossword puzzles well I just shun,
And I may be the Mayor of Simpleton,
But I know one thing,
And that's I love you.
I'm not proud of the fact that I never learned much,
Just feel I should say,
what you get is all real,
I can't put on an act,
It takes brains to do that anyway. (And anyway...)
And I can't unravel riddles, problems and puns,
How the home computer has me on the run,
And I may be the Mayor of Simpleton,
But I know one thing,
And that's I love you (I love you).
If depth of feeling is a currency,
(please be upstanding for the Mayor of Simpleton),
Then I'm the man who grew the money tree,
(no Chain of Office and no hope of getting one).
Some of your friends are too brainy to see,
That they're paupers and that's how they'll stay.
Well I don't know how many pounds make up a ton,
Of all the Nobel prizes that I've never won,
And I may be the Mayor of Simpleton,
But I know one thing,
And that's I love you.
When all logic grows cold and all thinking gets done,
You'll be warm in the arms of the Mayor of Simpleton.
You'll be warm in the arms of the Mayor of Simpleton.
You'll be warm in the arms of the Mayor.
(Please be upstanding for the Mayor of Simpleton.)
I've got the plow if you've got the furrow
I've got the rabbit if you've his burrow home
I've got the pen if you've got the paper
Time is but clay and I'll see you and the wheel turn
You and the wheel turn
chorus:
And if the pot won't hold our love
If the pot won't hold our love
If the pot won't hold our love
Then we'll dash it to the ground
And if the pot won't hold our love
If the pot won't hold our love
If the pot won't hold our love
We'll build one bigger all around
goes the wheel
I've got the seed if you've got the valley
I've got the big stick if you've Aunt Sally's head
I've got the time if you've got the motion
Time is but clay and I'll see you and the wheel turn
You and the wheel turn
chorus
chorus 2:
Maypole
Maypole
Maypole you've spun me round and knocked me off my axis mundi
Maypole
Maypole
Maypole the ties that bind you will unwind to free me one day
and everything decays
Yes, everything decays
Forest tumbles down to make the soil
Planets fall apart
Just to feed the stars and stuff their larders
And what made me think we're any better
and what made me think we'd last forever
was I so naive?
of course it all unweaves
chorus 2
Pyramids and palaces to dust
Empires crumble in
Wedding cake begins to must and molder
And what made me think we're any better
and what made me think we'd last forever
was I so naive?
failing to perceive
Maypole (round goes the wheel)
Maypole (round goes the wheel)
Maypole (the ties that bind you will unwind to free me one day)
Maypole (if the pot won't hold our love)
etc.
Well hush my children don’t you cry
The troubles will soon all be over
The tears that swell in every eye
Will fall to the ground and bring clover
The soldiers are only teenage boys
The same as in durban or dover
So rein aside all your warring toys
The troubles will soon all be over
Well hush my children go to sleep
The troubles will soon all be over
Their bombs will form a rusting heap
For flowers and fern to grow over
Their leaders are only drunk with fear
They wouldn’t do this be they sober
And when they drink our friendship clear
The troubles will soon all be over
Untie the gown, float to the ground
She revolve round, making no sound
Air leaving slow
Still breathing though
Decaying through brown, diving she’s bound
Hours swum down, treasure unfound
Air leaving slow
Still breathing though
Somnambulist
Somnambulist
Somnambulist
Somnambulist
Air leaving slow
Still breathing though.
Hurry and see, hurry and see
The ship trapped in the ice
Hurry and see, hurry and see
The frost on the rigging superficially nice
The captain sold his marbles and the crew lost theirs at dice
Hurry and see, hurry and see
The ship trapped in the ice
How can we free, how can we free
The ship trapped in the ice
How can we free, how can we free
They sailed in the shallows now they’ve paid the price
The captain drank the champagne but it tasted like old spice
How can we free, how can we free
The ship trapped in the ice
And I can only see this wreck with the aid of a drink and a mirror
She may look scenic from the shore but you don’t wanna come any nearer
The captain’s box of butterflies have all hatched out as lice
Hurry and see, hurry and see
The ship trapped in the ice
And I can only see this wreck with the aid of a drink and a mirror
She may look scenic from the shore but you don’t wanna come any nearer
How can this be, how can this be
The ship trapped in the ice
How can this be, how can this be
The frozen contract has a grip like a vice
The captain dreams of flying but he’s also scared of heights
Oh how can this be, cause boy it’s me!
The ship trapped in the ice
I’m warning you
I’m warning you now
Look out people as it’s the holy cow
It’s the rotary
I told you ’bout the spinning top
And that’s a dance you gotta drop
Because the rotary is in
The rotary, the rotary
The dance you’ve got to top is the brand-new spinning top
That’s out, this is the rotary
The rotary
This is a thing that’s definitely gonna make captain beefheart
And his magic band look bad
They thought they had it with the 'blimp'
Well I’m talking to you about the rotary
People will be coming, will be twirling, twirling, twirling, twirling
The rotary
You can jump it, I can jump it
Everybody can jump it
Grab an armadillo, grab your husband, grab anybody
The rotary
The rotary, the rotary, oh, the rotary
It’s the thing that’s for me and you
Ooh, ooh, the rotary
I can see the precision
They’re lining up, falling over
They’re going crazy
They can’t get enough of the rotary
Yes, siree
The rotary
Turning, turning, turning, turning...
You’re burning, burning, burning...
With the rotary, ooh
Yes, siree
The rotary
I shouldn’t want you to get this confused with any other dance craze
Because this is the one
Oh, the rotary
You’ll be burning all your clothes
And you’ll be burning all of your jewellery
You will be the rotary
It’s nothing like anarchy
No, siree
It’s, it’s the rotary
The rotary, the rotary...
R.o.t.a.r.y.
Rotary, the rotary
You’ll want to do it, do it with me
You’ll want to do it, you can do it for free
The rotary
Go on terry, play the rotary
How do you think he got the second half of his name?
Terry is the last part of rotary
Drum it up, drum it up...
Thanks for christmas,
Thank you for the love and happiness that’s snowing down,
All around.
Thanks for christmas,
Thank you for the winter friendliness that’s snowing down,
All around the world.
It’s nearer,
Children’s eyes shine clearer now,
As they decorate the trees,
All across the seven seas.
It’s nearer,
Yule log fires burn clearer now,
In the winter’s frosty air,
Sing with us and we can share our...
Thanks for christmas,
Thank you for the love and happiness that’s snowing down,
All around.
Thanks for christmas,
Thank you for the winter friendliness that’s snowing down,
All around the world.
It’s dawning,
Santa’s reindeer yawning now,
All their festive work is done,
Filling houses up with fun.
It’s dawning,
Here is christmas morning now,
Greatest day of all the year,
Listen out and you will hear our...
Thanks for christmas,
Thank you for the love and happiness that’s snowing down,
All around.
Thanks for christmas,
Thank you for the winter friendliness that’s snowing down,
All around the world.
It’s such a shame it’s only one day every year,
Three hundred and sixty-four days full of doubts and fear
You’ve been saving your love up,
Let it out,
’cause christmas is here.
Thanks for christmas,
Thank you for the love and happiness that’s snowing down,
All around.
Thanks for christmas,
Thank you for the winter friendliness that’s snowing down,
All around the world.
Pubs and clubs and opening hours
Was all he knew
One arm bandits and Affiliated members
Women taboo
Had his own tankard
And the evening Standard
And a trophy from darts
That he kept over the bar
He'd nothing to fear
He had his beer
B-E-E-R!
Then came her
Through the blur
Then came she
Made him see
He saw the light before he'd finished his pint
She saved him from the biggest crime in life
They hated her
They said you'll never see him again
Got a mortgage 'round his neck
And eight screaming kids
I'm standing, standing in for Joe
Joe called round to ask me, Would I do a favor?
While he's gonna be out of town
He says his girl needs company, she gets so restless
Would I keep her safe and sound?
Softly, softly in the night
Why, you can guess the rest...
Now these shoes fit all too well
Standing in for Joe
Standing in for Joe
I'm standing - in for Joe
Joe said we've been friends so long
That I would be the one he would trust with his life
And now those words roll 'round my brain
As darkness falls, as I turn out his bedroom light
Who could resist her tender charms?
So the story goes...
This actor he plays all the parts
Standing in for Joe
Standing in for Joe
I'm standing - in for Joe
Love is like a river,
You cannot stop its flow... Mmm hmm
Joe called round to ask me, Would I do a favor?
While he's gonna be out of town
He says his girl needs company, she gets so restless
Would I check that she's safe and sound?
Softly, softly in the night
Why, you can guess the rest...
Now these shoes fit all too well
Standing in for Joe
I'm standing in for Joe - Oh yeah
I'm standing in for Joe - Keep his sweetheart company, yeah
Standing in for Joe - Just standing in for Joe, yeah
Standing in for Joe - Until he gets back home, yeah
Standing in for Joe - Gonna keep her insane, yeah
Standing in for Joe - Gonna keep her safe and sound, yeah
Standing in for Joe - Keep his sweetheart company, yeah
Standing in for Joe - Almost full time, which is nice, yeah
Standing in for Joe - Because she gets so restless
Standing in for Joe - Always so restless
Standing in for Joe - Keep his sweetheart company, yeah
Standing in for Joe - Gonna keep her safe and sound, yeah
Standing in for Joe - I'm standing in for Joe, yeah...
[instrumental]
In my heart, in my heart
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
I've got some lovely in my head, in my head
Where the lions, wear the right eye,
where the jems (?) roar, there be lovely
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
In my bed, in my bed
Where the ocean wears the shore down
Where's the on switch?
There be lovely laying waiting naked for you
(Chorus)
We can play every day
We can play at being lovers
We can play every day
We can play on my brown guitar
(Repeat Chorus)
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
In my yard, in my yard
There be inchworm, there be footlong
There be yardstick stir some lovely
Laying waiting naked for you
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
In my field, in my field
There be green grass, there be big sky
There be blue birds come and nest there
(Chorus X 2)
You want some lovely, I got some lovely
In my heart, in my heart for you
Hiding faces turning pages
Still they read and read
Double deckers full of smokers
Look who's gone to seed
Well the sun's getting higher
Think I'll take a flyer
The thought of it's causing me pain
Ooh! Shiny Cage
Talk a walk under the subway
See an old school chum
Window shopping for a short while
Then we'll have some fun
Well the shops closing early
Everywhere's deserted
Hello and down comes the rain
Oooh! Shiny Cage
We'll do the town tonight
I know some girls then stop off for a bite
No strings to tie my kite
Well living for the night
No way to spend a life -- Ooh!
I was following adventure, nothing mattered
And I knew best
I had a blood in my head, no one could shake it
Cause I knew best
But now I find
Remains of people that I left behind
I never took them wise
And now the skeletons tell me hit me now and then
Here come the skeletons to say I told you so again
Wish I’d done things differently
Cause skeletons don’t set you free
I’d make a life for myself, I’d be a bigshot
Cause I knew best
I had high expectations, I was headstrong
And I knew best
All of my friends knew
What I was doing to the loving few
I know it’s hard to chew
Cause now the skeletons tell me hit me now and then
Here come the skeletons to say I told you so again
Wish I’d done things differently
Cause skeletons don’t set you free
Well, all I wanted was fame to feed my ego
And I knew best
Cause when you’re high on success you get impressed
And I knew best
I knew best
Slacks, coffee trend
I could have been in the US navy
Flapping grey, coffee smoke
I could have been in another nineteen-fifty
Where the hell were you?
Rough stencil, print music
Cardboard, cardboard, cardboard, cardboard, cardboard coffee
Saxophone mention barbers, N.Y.
The cigarette was burning, the flat shoes
Stool
Bongo, coffee, don't mention that black man
The leather-coat was his
Where was she?
Could have been in the US navy
Flow beating air, table-top, shoulder slung
Shore leave, no sailors here
Cardboard, cardboard, cardboard, cardboard
Liquor slacks twisting
The cigarette was burning
The flat shoes, the flat shoes, the flat shoes
Bird, bird, bird, bird
I could have been in another nineteen-fifty
Bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird
Bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird
I could have been in another nineteen-fifty
Bird, bird, bird
Awful plastic boots that come above her ankle
Dayglo mini skirts just like a pop art spangle
Digs vanilla fudge buys lipstick by the pound
Gets that 'English' look resembles Kath McGowan
Have you seen her hair it's a style from heaven
Ah! she's nowhere she thinking this is 1967?
She's so square she's nowhere
She's so square she's nowhere
Take her to a disco and screaming Lord Sutch it!
Everyone must look but nobody must touch
what about her car? E type is the latest
How about the Yardbirds? Jeff Beck is the greatest!!
Have you seen her hair it's a style from heaven
Ah! she's nowhere she thinking this is 1967?
She's so square she's nowhere
She's so square she's nowhere
Hope you enjoyed your flight in one of our new straw aeroplanes,
you'll find things here are just like what you're used to. There's
lots of waste and razor wire and no one gives a damn about the land,
we just stand around and stare like you folks do.
For we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts, it's just
that wild old wind that tears us all apart. We're the scarecrow
people, have we got lots in common with you. And if you don't start
living well, you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
Hope you enjoyed your meal it's only gas and chemicals, we thought
that you'd prefer something not nature made. Now while you're here,
can you advise us on a war we'd like to start, against some scarecrows
over there, a different shade?
For we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts, it's just
that wild old wind that tears us all apart. We're the scarecrow
people, have we got lots in common with you. And if you don't start
living well, you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
We don't have no tears here, no one hopes or cares or fears here,
for the old, the sick, the poor and them what taint you. We thought
we'd base our civilization upon yours, 'cause you're the smartest
animals on earth, now ain't you?
We don't have no love here, there's no need to rise above here, no
one wants to write a book or try to paint thee. We thought we'd base
our civilization upon yours, 'cause we're all dead from our necks up,
now ain't we?
And we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts, it's just
that wild old wind that tears us all apart. We're the scarecrow
people, have we got lots in common with you. And if you don't start
living well, you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
And I ain't got no brains and I ain't got no heart, it's just them
other humans tear my soul apart. I'm a scarecrow person, have I got
quite some message for you. For if we don't start learning well,
we're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too!
Hope you enjoyed your flight,
In one of our new straw aeroplanes,
You'll find things here are just like what you're used to.
There's lots of waste and razor wire,
And no one gives a damn about the land,
We just stand around and stare like you folks do.
For we ain't got no brains,
And we ain't got no hearts,
It's just that wild old wind that tears us all apart.
We're the scarecrow people,
Have we got lots in common with you.
And if you don't start living well,
You're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
Hope you enjoyed your meal,
It's only gas and chemicals,
We thought that you'd prefer something not nature made.
Now while you're here can you advise us,
On a war we'd like to start,
Against some scarecrows over there, a different shade?
For we ain't got no brains,
And we ain't got no hearts,
It's just that wild old wind that tears us all apart.
We're the scarecrow people,
Have we got lots in common with you.
And if you don't start living well,
You're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
We don't have no tears here,
No one hopes or cares or fears here,
For the old, the sick, the poor and them what taint you.
We thought we'd base our civilization upon yours,
'Cause you're the smartest animals on earth, now ain't you?
We don't have no love here,
There's no need to rise above here,
No one wants to write a book or try to paint thee.
We thought we'd base our civilization upon yours,
'Cause we're all dead from our necks up, now ain't we?
And we ain't got no brains,
And we ain't got no hearts,
It's just that wild old wind that tears us all apart.
We're the scarecrow people,
Have we got lots in common with you.
And if you don't start living well,
You're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
And I ain't got no brains,
And I ain't got no heart,
It's just them other humans tear my soul apart.
I'm a scarecrow person,
Have I got quite some message for you.
For if we don't start learning well,
we're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too!
Red as a pin with a tortoise skin, and I’m only a saturn boy
I can’t explain to your minute brain that I’m only a saturn boy
All you wanna do is kiss and kiss and kiss all night (saturn)
Get down on the floor, I’ll show you how to do it right (saturn)
All my folks home in ganza one(? ) (saturn)
Sure know how to have, sure know how to have themselves some fun
And we can stare from an old grand chair, and I’m only a saturn boy
Well, baby, dig me, would you dare bring(? ) dig me, I’m only a saturn boy
All you wanna do...
Janet, janet, come home to my planet, I’m only a saturn boy
Ah, you believe anything, so here, have a ring, and I’m only a saturn boy
All you wanna do...
Birds beware, expect me up there
me and air are feeling light today
jets should hide, I'll fly alongisde
me and pride are bolted tight today
I've been set off by a pretty little girl
I'm like a rocket from a bottle shot free
I've been just explosive since you lit me
I've been up with the larks
I've been shooting off sparks
and I'm feeling in love
I'm a rocket from a bottle shot free
I've been just explosive since you kissed me
I've been up in the clouds
I've been shrugging off shrouds
and I'm feeling in love
Hate step back, my smile might just crack
can't stop grins from going wide today
hell look sharp, angels play your harp
Rook, rook
Read from your book
Who murders who and where is the treasure hid?
Crow, crow
Spill all you know
Is that my name on the bell?
Rook, rook
Gaze in the brook
If there's a secret can I be part of it?
Crow, crow
Before I'll let go, say is that my name on the bell?
Soar up high, see the semaphore from the washing lines
Break the code of the whispering chimneys and traffic signs
Where's the message that's written under the base of clouds?
Plans eternal, I know you know, so don't blurt out loud
Rook, rook
By hook or by crook
I'll make you tell me what this whole thing's about!
Crow, crow
Why can't you show
If that's my name on the bell?
On the wings of night, I fly too, above field and stream
My head bursting with knowledge 'till I wake from the dream
If I die and I find that I had a soul inside
Promise me that you'll take it up on its final ride
Rook, rook
Gaze in the brook
If there's a secret can I be part of it?
Crow, crow
Before I'll let go, say is that my name on the bell?
Hey!
I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus
I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus
Take a packet of seeds
Take yourself out to play
I want to see River of Orchids where we had a motorway
Push your car from the road
Push your car from the road
Just like a mad dog you're chasing your tail in a circle
Just like a mad dog you're chasing your tail in a circle
It's all in your back yard
You've the whole world at your feet
I said the grass is always greener when it bursts up through concrete
Push your car from the road
Push your car from the road
River of Orchids winding our way
Want to walk into London on my hands one day
River of Orchids the road overgrows
Want to walk into London smelling like a Peckham beggar rose
Just like a mad dog you're chasing your tail in a circle
Just like a mad dog you're chasing your tail in a circle
It's all in your back yard
You've the whole world at your feet
I said the grass is always greener when it bursts up through concrete
I had a dream where the car is reduced to a fossil
I had a dream where the car is reduced to a fossil
Take a packet of seeds
Get yourself out to play
I want to see River of Orchids where we had a motorway
Push your car... ¦ It's all in your back yard...
Push your car... ¦ Take a packet of seeds...
River of Orchids winding my way
Want to walk into London on my hands one day
River of Orchids the road overgrows
Want to walk into London smelling like a Peckham rose
River of Orchids... ¦ I heard the Dandelions...
River of Orchids... ¦ Just like a mad dog...
River of Orchids... ¦ I had a dream...
River of Orchids... ¦ I heard the Dandelions...
Rip van ruben
You’ve been asleep for a hundred seconds
Now the whole world has changed
There’s no home on the range
For rip van ruben
You’ve been asleep for a hundred minutes
Now you’ve woke and she’s gone
All alone in a dark new dawn
Sits rip van ruben
Don’t let it get you down
Hop on a tram and go up town
Watch a silent film
See the biplanes fly bye bye
Everything new and upside down
Pinching yourself through your dressing gown
Won’t bring her back
But your bruise is real and black
Jump into bed and dream her back where she was
Dream you’re frank l. richards and this is the great land of oz
When your alarm clock goes off
You will find that she has too!
Rip van ruben
You’ve been asleep for a hundred seconds
Now your whole world’s turned round
And the house makes an empty sound for
Rip van ruben
Don’t let it freak you out
You’ll find another girl no doubt
And someday soon
Maybe man will reach the moon
Jump into bed and dream her back where she belongs
Dream you’re fu manchu and she’s a slave to your tongs
When all the past evaporates
You will find that she has too
Rip van ruben
You’ve been asleep for a hundred seconds
Now you’ve woke and she’s gone
Instant desserts just for one
Rip van ruben
[instrumental]
Heard the neighbour slam his car door,
Don't he realise this is Respectable Street?
What d'you think he bought that car for?
'Cause he realise this is Respectable Street
Now they talk about absorption,
In cosmopolitan proportions to their daughters,
As they speak of child prevention,
And immaculate receptions on their portable,
Sony entertainment centres.
Heard the neighbour slam his car door,
Don't he realise this is Respectable Street?
What d'you think he bought that car for?
'Cause he realise this is Respectable Street
Now she speak about diseases,
And which proposition pleases best her old man,
Avon lady fills the creases,
When she manages to squeeze in past the caravans,
That never move from their front gardens.
It's in the order of their hedgerows,
It's in the way their curtains open and close,
It's in the look they give you down their nose,
All part of decency's jigsaw I suppose.
Sunday church and they look fetching,
Saturday night saw him stretching over our fence,
Bang the wall for me to turn down,
I can see them with their stern frown,
As they dispense the kind of look that says they're perfect.
Heard the neighbour slam his car door,
Don't he realise this is Respectable Street?
What d'you think he bought that car for?
'Cause he realise this is Respectable Street
There's a message up in China
That they getting in Japan
Bouncing off an ocean liner
Make em shake em in Siam
All the kids are complaining
That there's nowhere to go
All the kids are complaining
That the songs are too slow
All I'm saying is you're deaf
To the fact that there's ...
Radios in motion
Atmosphere to ocean
Radios in motion
Gets you out of your red white and blues
When we move then so do you'se
There's a message in Milwaukee
That they're getting in Moscow
Everybody walkie talkie
Everybody learning how
We can plant a seed
And watch it grow
Food enough to fill a table
Running water down an overflow
Eat as much as we are able
But would the fruit turn ripe
If the rains had never been?
Chorus: Oh Lord deliver us from the elements
We at your mercy and your reverence
Oh Lord deliver us from the elements
We've no defense we are impotent
You can travel far to distant lands
Some so hot no man could bear
You can conquer peaks with winds of sand
Where Mother Nature didn't care
Would not our world turn cold
If the sun refused to shine
Chorus
And when the world grows old
And we know more than our brains can hold
Nature will be law
Well we're as helpless now as we've ever been before
Would not our world turn cold
If the sun refused to shine
Chorus
Did you think you knew the game?
Did you think that fame and fortune’s
All that I had in my head?
Bang you’re dead
It’s not a game I’m gonna play with you
Did you think I’m high and dry?
Did you think I’d hide from the
Tentacles of the deaf dumb and blind
Their poison inks behind me
At the bottom of the sea
And your criticism doesn’t worry me
And I’ll sing
Ra ra for red rocking horse
Ride on over all remorse
Ra ra for red rocking horse
Who won the course
Despite the fact that
No one bet him
Get out
Did you think you’d tie me up
Did you think that I would
Help but dance for your piece of paper
They’ll tame you and set you
To licking all the foes
Zap! pow!
Did you think that I don’t feel
Did you think that I’d simply heal up
After each ego beating
We can’t go on meeting
This once in every year
And in the meantime if we all stand up
And cheer him up here
Ra ra for red rocking horse
Ride on over all remorse
Ra ra for red rocking horse
Who won the course
Despite the fact that
No one bet him
They all took their money out
And they laid it down, down
On the bright colored manes
They all took their money out
But they laid it down, down
On the different names to ours
Ra ra for red rocking horse
Ride on over all remorse
Ra ra for red rocking horse
Who won the course
Despite the fact that
No one bet him
Ra ra for red rocking horse
Ride on over all remorse
Ra ra for red rocking horse
Who won the course
Despite the fact
Quicksilver, headed out for the creed
Quicksilver, he’s gonna take on wheel
Quicksilver, she’s a girl for me
In a pool of mercury...
Quicksilver, she pours, you can jaw
Quicksilver, where do you go man, go
Quicksilver, count for 1, 2, 3
In a pool of mercury...
She’s a girl in a million, }
She’s a girl in a billion, } x2
She’s a girl in a trillion, }
She’s a girl in a tree... }
Quicksilver, headed out for the creed
Quicksilver, this gonna take on wheel
Quicksilver, she’s a girl for me
In a pool of mercury...
Oh, quicksilver!
Gather 'round!
Punch and Judy,
Did it truly,
And were married in a haste,
In love, maybe,
Using the baby,
as a kind of romance paste,
She's grown fatter,
Her hair cut shorter,
Looks much older than nineteen,
He's a drinker,
Not a thinker,
Baby spoiled his could-have-been.
This must be make-believe,
This must be make-believe,
This must be make-believe,
'Cos who do we know, dear, who acts like that?
Punch and Judy.
Punch and Judy,
In a semi,
On a brand new council plot,
Sunday lunchtime,
Beer-for-Punch time,
While his dinner's far from hot,
She grows tired,
Cab is hired,
She goes round to see her friend,
He comes back late,
Fool is irate,
We will see his temper bend.
This must be make-believe,
This must be make-believe,
This must be make-believe,
'Cos who do we know, dear, who acts like that?
Punch and Judy,
In a quandary,
She's walked out, and he is mad.
Now he's grown up,
Can't smash home up,
Retribution must be had.
Punch and Judy,
Had a baby,
Who brought them to married bliss.
Mr Punch,,
Has drunken hunch,
That he must punish kid for this
This must be make-believe,
This must be make-believe,
This must be make-believe,
'Cos who do we know, dear, who acts like that?
Punch and Judy
Pulsing pulsing,
There’s a beat in his arm still.
Pulsing pulsing,
Like the throb of an anthill.
Pulsing pulsing,
No death in the rain.
I’ve been washing my hands,
In the stuff I wash my brains.
I’m pulsing.
You’re pulsing.
Who’s pulsing? .
What’s pulsing? .
Pulsing pulsing,
There’s a lump in his throat still.
Pulsing pulsing,
At the site of a crash throw.
Pulsing pulsing,
No push in the vein.
I’ve been washing my hands,
In the stuff I wash my brains.
I’ve got a private eye to see if you’ve a mother
I’ve got a private eye to find out where you go
I’ve got a private eye to see if you’ve a lover
I’ve got a private eye to tell me what you know
You really should tread much more careful
Or you’re going to get a stareful from my private eye
I’ve got a private eye to search the seas and skies
I’ve got a private eye to follow you around
I’ve got a private eye to tear off your disguise
I’ve got a private eye to make you look just like a clown
You really should...
I’ve got a private eye to see if you’ve a mother...
It nearly stopped my heart from beating
When I found out you were meeting my private eye
Look at these hands
Spokes of the sun God delay you, spray you
Prince of orange, climb the ladder
Prince of orange will die.
Brass robinettes
Trumpet and drums for the taking, baking
Prince of orange, climb the ladder
Prince of orange will die.
All the food he steals is all right
Far the tall and gentle poplar
Causing fanfare to those listening
Drape ’round your head
Mischief and secrets in green kelt, all hell
Prince of orange, climb the ladder
Prince of orange will die.
Look at these lands (--- --- ---)
You’ll get no books for your dinner
Sinner
Prince of orange, climb the ladder
Prince of orange will die
My train is coming
I can see it up the line
My train is coming
And what's on it's all mine
My train is coming
I can hear it up the track
My train is coming
Bringing sugar time back
Oh little darling
Since you've gone I've been so sad and blue
Little darling
If you come home I'll be good to you
Got to get it while it's here
That's a lesson that is clear
Got to get it while it's here
And I hear
My train is coming
I can see it up the line
My train is coming
And what's on it's all mine
Little darling
Since you've gone I realized I'm wrong
Little darling
Ride that railroad back where you belong
Got to get it while it's here...
My train is coming
I can see it up the line
My train is coming
And it's right back on time
My train is coming
What I did is a crime
My train is coming
And what's on it's all mine
Anytime you rise, I'm here, and I'm crazy for you pink thing. You
make me want to laugh, you make me want to cry, when I stroke your
head I feel a hundred heartbeats high, pink thing.
I want to take you out and show you round the world, pink thing
it'll be OK. If I could only wake you from your slumber curled, pink
thing what would straight folks say? That man isn't fit to enter
heaven. That man is a sinner. Ever burning in disgrace. Pink thing,
spit in my face, I'd love you for it.
Anytime you call, I'll fall into madness for you pink thing. You
make me want to live. You make me want to die. And when I stroke
your head I feel a hundred heartbeats high, pink thing.
I want to take you out and show you to the girls, pink thing they're
a whole new tribe. If you could only see the way the way the gingham
swirls, pink thing it's a whole new vibe. That man isn't fit to be a
father. That man is a sinner. 'Fore they cast me down to die, pink
thing, spit in my eye, I'd love you for it. Yes, I'd love you for it.
Any time you rise, I'm here, and I'm crazy for you pink thing. You
make me want to laugh, you make me want to cry. And when I stroke
your head I feel a hundred heartbeats high, pink thing. Hundred
heartbeats high, pink thing. Hundred heartbeats high.
I want to introduce you, take you to the brink thing. I want to
introduce you, tell me what you think thing. I want to introduce you,
make that missing link thing. Don't you think it's time you met some
female pink thing?
You make me want to laugh, you make me want to cry, so why is it I'm
happy when there's tears down in your eye? Little pink thing.
I climb up, spending daylight
slide down drunken on the other side
Some sweet girl, playing my wife,
runs off with a boy whose bike she'll ride
Playground (it's a playground)
Marked by the masters and bruised by the bullies in the
Playground (it's a playground)
Never stop rehearsing, rehearsing for the big square world
Bells will ring, door flings open
Hare and greyhound in the old kiss chase
You've been caught, game has ended
Smack on kisser from her slap on face
Playground (it's a playground)
We're marked by the masters and bruised by the bullies in the
Playground (it's a playground)
Never stop rehearsing, rehearsing for the big square world
Watch the leaves all tear away (one by one)
Leaving you but lined like an exercise book
What did your report once say (know the one)
This boy must try harder to please
From down on his knees
Playground, playground, playground, playground, playground,
playground, playground, playground
Brain gets bent, heart gets broken
You can't jump off once the page is turned
School is out but never over
That's the only lesson you can learn
Playground (it's a playground)
We're marked by the masters and bruised by the bullies in the
Playground (it's a playground)
Never stop rehearsing, rehearsing for the big square
Playground (it's a playground)
Go for the high jump if you let 'em push you in the
Playground (it's a playground)
There's no escaping, escaping from their big square world
You may leave school, but it never leaves you
All of paris giggles with flags
Laughing lions leap up from the page
My the world looks good from where you are
My the world looks good from where you paint from
Barcelona, nuclear festive, wire women
Wriggle from life’s cage
My the world looks good from where you are
My the world looks good from where you paint from
My the world looks good from where you are
My the world looks like it’s all a party
Packed with my paint heroes
Like it’s all a party
Packed with rousseau
Miro, miro, on my wall
I love you the most of all
In port lligat, liked his gala
Waxed antenna, brushes up a storm
My the world looks good from where you are
My the world looks good from where you paint from
Catalonia’s atom caveman
Cracks his whipline tipped in purest form
My the world looks good from where you are
My the world looks good from where you paint from
My the world looks good from where you are
My the world looks like it’s all a party
Packed with my paint heroes
Like it’s all a party
Packed with dali
Miro, miro, on my wall
I love you the most of all
A musical in three acts by XTC
Cast of characters
GRAHAM, a teenager
MOTHER, a busy housewife
FATHER, a conservative husband
POLICEMAN, a young constable
SCENE: A kitchen in suburbia, one bright Saturday morning
ACT ONE
Narrator: The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the
line. Her husband burns his paper, sucks his pipe while studying
their cushion-floor, his viscous poly-paste breath comes out. Their
wall-paper world is shattered by his shout. A boy in blue is busy
banging out a headache on the kitchen door. All the while Graham
slept on, dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted
Mother and Father (in unison): No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear, we made little Graham promise us he'd be a good
boy. No thugs in our house, are there dear? We made that clear, we
made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
ACT TWO
Narrator: The young policeman who just can't grow a moustache will
open up his book, and spoil their breakfast with reports of Asians who
have been so badly kicked.
Policeman: Is this your son's wallet I've got here? He must have
dropped it after too much beer!
Mother: Oh, officer, we can't believe our little angel is the one
you've picked.
Narrator: And all the while Graham slept on, dreaming of a world
where he could do just what he wanted to.
Mother and Father (in unison): No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear, we made little Graham promise us he'd be a good
boy. No thugs in our house, are there dear? We made that clear, we
made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
Narrator: They never read those pamphlets in his bottom drawer.
Policeman: They never read that tattoo on his arm.
Narrator: They thought that was just a boys club badge he wore.
Policeman: They never thought he'd do folks any harm.
ACT THREE
Narrator: The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the
line. She's singing something stale and simple now this business has
fizzled out. Her little tune is such a happy song. Her son is
innocent, he can't do wrong, 'cos Dad's a judge and knows exactly what
the job of judging's all about. And all the while Graham slept on,
dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.
Mother and Father (in unison): No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear, we made little Graham promise us he'd be a good
boy. No thugs in our house, are there dear? We made that clear, we
made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
Mother: No thugs in our house!
Father: No thugs in our house!
Complete cast (in unison): No thugs in our house, dear!
Set Design by Andy Partridge with co-ordination by Ken Ansell.
Stage and Scenery by Art Dragon.
Officer blue,
Really love the things you do,
Even when I was just eight years.
Officer blue,
Is it true what they say?
That when you work you’re still at play
Oh officer blue,
I really love the things you do.
It’s magical,
People in a human zoo.
Officer blue,
Cast a shadow on the wall,
But by torchlight even mice look tall.
Officer blue,
In a blaze of uniform,
And your stripes and badges to conform.
Officer blue,
Really love the things you do,
Even when I was just eight years old.
Officer blue,
Is it true what they say?
That when you work you’re still at play.
Can’t you see ’em, in obscene procession?
Clad in fox fur all cocky, they’re violent and insane
Pink and wobbling with all their possessions
They live on junk food and tv and booze
And bottles of pain relief pills and all.
Don’t you love them?
They make life hell here
And think there’s heaven above ’em.
Can’t you hear ’em in obscene procession?
It’s called talking, it’s how they betray their closest friends.
Cough and wheezing, they dribble pretension,
Slimy tongues tell the truth which they love to bash and bend.
Can’t you smell ’em in obscene procession?
Stink of bacon, defoliants, [fear/beer] and [small cigars/swastikas]
Whips and semen, adulterous confessions,
Mixed with money and those little refreshments
Hung in their cars and wardrobes and all
Don’t you hate
Those full of hot air
They need their warfare
To deflate ’em.
Animals beware
Knives and forks that glare
Never trust those staring humans
Being the worst
Especially when they’re hungry.
Animals beware
Knives and forks so bare
Never trust those staring humans
Being the worst
Especially when they’re hungry
They make each other hungry
There’s no need to be hungry
Not today.
Can’t you see ’em, in obscene procession?
Fat and pompous, they crush their only children to the floor
Aren’t you glad that I told you about them?
Aren’t you glad you never evolved up any more?
Cast of characters
GRAHAM, a teenager
MOTHER, a busy housewife
FATHER, a conservative husband
POLICEMAN, a young constable
SCENE: A kitchen in suburbia, one bright Saturday morning
ACT ONE
Narrator: The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the
line. Her husband burns his paper, sucks his pipe while studying
their cushion-floor, his viscous poly-paste breath comes out. Their
wall-paper world is shattered by his shout. A boy in blue is busy
banging out a headache on the kitchen door. All the while Graham
slept on, dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted
Mother and Father (in unison): No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear, we made little Graham promise us he'd be a good
boy. No thugs in our house, are there dear? We made that clear, we
made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
ACT TWO
Narrator: The young policeman who just can't grow a moustache will
open up his book, and spoil their breakfast with reports of Asians who
have been so badly kicked.
Policeman: Is this your son's wallet I've got here? He must have
dropped it after too much beer!
Mother: Oh, officer, we can't believe our little angel is the one
you've picked.
Narrator: And all the while Graham slept on, dreaming of a world
where he could do just what he wanted to.
Mother and Father (in unison): No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear, we made little Graham promise us he'd be a good
boy. No thugs in our house, are there dear? We made that clear, we
made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
Narrator: They never read those pamphlets in his bottom drawer.
Policeman: They never read that tattoo on his arm.
Narrator: They thought that was just a boys club badge he wore.
Policeman: They never thought he'd do folks any harm.
ACT THREE
Narrator: The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the
line. She's singing something stale and simple now this business has
fizzled out. Her little tune is such a happy song. Her son is
innocent, he can't do wrong, 'cos Dad's a judge and knows exactly what
the job of judging's all about. And all the while Graham slept on,
dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.
Mother and Father (in unison): No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear, we made little Graham promise us he'd be a good
boy. No thugs in our house, are there dear? We made that clear, we
made little Graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
Mother: No thugs in our house!
Father: No thugs in our house!
Complete cast (in unison): No thugs in our house, dear!
Set Design by Andy Partridge with co-ordination by Ken Ansell.
Stage and Scenery by Art Dragon
No one here available right now
Please leave your name and your number
Leave your name and your number we’ll get back to you somehow
We’re busy workin’!
No one here available right now
Please leave your message after the tone
We need a new broom
To sweep it all clean
We need a beat boom
We need a new scheme
Break all the deadlocks
And spill all the beer
Mr ditko was right
Mr a so near
Break out the paints and the brushes
And spill out your hearts
No amount of soft soap
Can ever give you a fresh start
We are walking on a tight rope
We can slip beyond religion
The answer’s in your cranium
And not on independent television
I think my watch has bust and so is time
I borrowed all my love so nothing's mine
There's nothing decent on the TV page
Like a new town animal in a furnished cage
It's gone eleven and the bar is shut
I'm sitting waiting like a real good mutt
I watch TV with an actor's rage
On a hanging garden ------
----------- [babylon seat]
------------- [baby batters]
----------------------- [weak]
---------- [hope you be great]
And the children have said their backbones
Will hurt you if you think
For there is a doll’s arm
Floating in the scum
And it’s calling you over
While it’s calling you a bum
And it beckons you to frown
And it beckons you to brown
And it thinks it’s found a
Chance to build another real
Motorcycle landscape
The only thing that watches there
-----------[nails] are bloody red
On a -------------------------
[come to] ----------- are dead
All that we can read while
---------- are girlie magazines
For their [jest] they’re save your wrapper
Girls aren’t in their teens
[billions can sleep while hold to]
[fields of meanless wire]
Do the kids in----------------------
------------- on the fire]
[though ------ to marriage
[stabbed of broken bliss]
[shade ---------------------
[some them were] like this
For there is a doll’s arm floating in the scum
And it’s calling you over while it’s calling you a bum
Motorcycle landscape
[instrumental]
[instrumental]
I'm 12 o'clock,
All daylight hours,
I'll warm your bed,
I'll grow your flowers.
Like I'm a miniature sun.
This ball ignited when she told me I was her only one.
I'm not the same now.
I'm not that plain little boy.
I'm all aflame now.
I'm king up here like a miniature sun.
No life comes close,
I'm rising higher,
On holiday,
On ball of fire,
You made a miniature sun.
Theres no more shadows in this world she says I'm her only one.
I'm not the same now.
I'm not that plain little boy.
I'm all aflame now.
I radiate like a miniature sun.
Now everything looks right today,
A billion watts of bright today.
And I'm a blazing kite today.
I think I'll float around her house,
And tell her exactly how she makes me glow.
But then the other man leaving merely doffs his hat,
And I'm the last to know.
Now everything looks wrong today.
An out of tune sung song today.
I've grown from big King Kong today,
Right down to miniature...
Don't come too close,
I'll burn your arm,
I'll bleach your hair,
Dustbowl your farm,
I'll blind your eyes,
You blinded mine,
I'll spin with rage,
All summertime,
You made a miniature sun. Just take a look up in the nightsky, I'm not the only one.
I'm not the same now.
I'm not that vain little boy that I was.
I'm all to blame now,
Look out below here I come!
Man crashing down like a miniature sun
We’d like to wish you
Just the merriest christmas
The merriest christmas
You’ve ever seen
We’d like to wish you
Just the merriest christmas
The merriest christmas
There’s ever been
(Andy Partridge)
Programmes of violence,
As entertainment,
Brings the disease into your room.
We know the germ,
Which is man-made in metal,
Is really a key to your own tomb.
Prevention is better than cure,
Bad apples affecting the pure,
You'll gather your senses I'm sure
Then agree to,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
And never more to fire them.
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
And never more desire them.
Children will want them,
Mothers supply them,
As long as your killers are heroes.
And all the media
Will fiddle while Rome burns,
Acting like modern-time Neros.
Prevention is better than cure,
Bad apples affecting the pure,
You'll gather your senses I'm sure
Then agree to,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
And never more to fire them.
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
And never more desire them.
I'm speaking to the Justice League of America.
The U S of A,
Hey you,
Yes you in particular!
When it comes to the judgement day and you're standing at the gates with your weaponry,
You dead go down on one knee,
Clasp your hands in prayer and start quoting me,
'Cos we say...
Our father we've managed to contain the epidemic in one place, now,
Let's hope they shoot themselves instead of others,
Help to civilize the race now.
We've trapped the cause of the plague,
In the land of the free and the home of the brave.
If we listen quietly we can hear them shooting from grave to grave.
You ought to,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
And never more to fire them.
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
Melt the guns,
And never more desire them.
I want a back seat,
Because I’m dead beat,
I’m respirating,
Two [souls / soles] of the [ape here]
Gives us sleepyheads, sleepyheads,
The road ahead it takes us to our bed,
Sleepyheads, sleepyheads,
Our minds they race but our bodies are dead.
Just like looking for footprints
Looking for footprints
The lights are twisted,
Each one is misted,
To far and counting,
Head nod in twenty.
Gives us sleepyheads, sleepyheads,
The road ahead it takes us to our bed,
Sleepyheads, sleepyheads,
Our minds they race but our bodies are dead.
She's a little lighthouse when she
Opens up her huge eyes
And streams of diamonds shoot out
'Til we're wading waist deep in her brilliant love
She's a little lighthouse when she
Opens up her red mouth
And gold word ribbons rope and rodeo
The dark clouds in bouquet above
For how long will this dark age last?
For how long must we wait to learn?
Across the black and fossil ocean vast
I spy love and she doth brightly burn
Love sure lives in the right house
She's a little lighthouse when she
Opens up her huge mind and
Thoughts descending spears of crystal
Build a Jacob's ladder up to love
She's a little lighthouse
When she opens up her red dress
Show skin of rubber marble
Lit by knowledge and the fireflies above
And can others see this splendid beam?
Or do they navigate in dark?
If you ever want to dock your dream
Well you'll need love to guide your fragile ark
Love sure keeps a bright house
She's a little lighthouse
O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk me through your garden
I crave your pardon if I woke you with my thinking
Ladybird
O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk me through your meadow
You'll spread no wings to fly in fright if I'm beside you
Ladybird
All through the winter time
When wood was warm and splintered
Time seemed longer than a goods train
Now that spring is back again I'll ask your name
Your name
O ladybird
I have heard you wish to walk across my pillow
No weeping willow was ever as beautiful, sad as you are
Ladybird
And as you're walking past
I'm laying on the grass and making chains of thought
To snare you with my wit
But bit by bit you fade to gone
Gone
All through the iron season
Love was hanged and treason became
Something of a parlour game
Now sun is back in power I'll ask your name
Your name
O ladybird
I have heard you have to run to tend your children
No flood can drown nor fire blacken purest longing
For ladybird
Ladybird
Let's make a den
What shall we use?
Make it out of hay
Who will be leader?
In it we can play at both being mothers and fathers until we have
children of our own.
Let's make a den
What shall we use?
Make it out of wood
Who will be leader?
Wouldn't it be good if we could fight off rival gangs and take total
possession of the hill
For the rest of our days?
Isn't that what we can all look forward to when we grow up?
Isn't that what we can all look forward to?
Behind the door, women and men
Love and war inside of our den.
Let's make a den
What shall we use?
Make it out of bricks
Who will be leader?
In it how the sticks and stones will fly but my oh my won't we have
fun when later on we patch it up?
Let's make a den
What shall we use?
Make it from cement
Who will be leader?
In it we can pent up all of our fears but give presents each Christmas
like there was nothing ever wrong
For the rest of our days.
Isn't that what we can all look forward to when we grow up?
Isn't that what we can all look forward to?
Behind the door, women and men
Love and war inside of their den.
Well you can wear your brand new nurse's outfit,
And I can wear my brand new cowboy suit.
Everything unchanging
Just furniture arranging
Let's make a den
What shall we use?
Make it underground
Who will be leader?
Protect us from the flash and sound of the big stick they drop just
to stop us from cuddling and hanging on
For the rest of our days.
(Andy Partridge)
Leisure
They taught me how to work,
But they can't teach me how to shirk correctly.
As you see,
Science once again robs us of our jobs.
They've put a micro-chip in my place,
I hide behind screen of aggression nowadays,
It's just a way of saving some face.
So now I'm permanently drunk,
Like the rest of the race with,
Leisure.
If you think I'm clowning,
I assure you that I'm drowning here in,
Leisure
They taught me how to work,
But they can't teach me how to shirk correctly.
I spend all day,
And all my allowance on T.V. games.
Amusement heaven at the flick of a switch.
Instead of a lathe I busy my fingers nowadays,
By scoring goals with the gentlest twitch.
I've forgotten how to use my legs to invade the pitch.
Leisure
If you think I'm clowning,
I assure you that I'm drowning here in,
Leisure
They taught me how to work,
But they can't teach me how to shirk correctly.
They had retired me 'fore I left school,
(just saw no point in the standing in line)
So I spend lots of time lounging at home,
(why not come in 'cos the carpet is fine)
What a waste of breath it is,
Searching for the jobs that don't exist.
So now I'm permanently drunk,
Like the rest of the race with,
Leisure.
If you think I'm clowning,
I assure you that I'm drowning here in,
Leisure
They taught me how to work,
But they can't teach me how to shirk correctly.
Lazybones, looking through The Sun
How'd you ever expect to find your day's work ...?
Scared of love, love and swimming pools
Falling in you said was for fools
But when you're standing on the edge
You won't hear me because your blood is singing
Jump jump go ahead and jump jump
If it's what your heart is wanting to do
This is real life you're dreaming through
And there is no glue to hold you down, so go ahead and...
Go ahead and jump
Scared of love, love and aeroplanes
Falling out I said takes no brains
But if your flight is going rough
Your soul will lead you to the nearest exit
Jump, jump...
While you're waiting
Time is grinning
Clocks and watches laughing at your indecision
While you're waiting
Worlds are spinning
Find another heart and drive into collision
Knowing this can you tell me you're...
Scared of love, love and swimming pools
Stubbornness, I say is for mules
But if you're standing on the edge
You won't hear me because your blood is singing
Jump jump go ahead and jump jump
If it's what your heart is wanting to do
This is real life you're dreaming through
And there'll be no wake up
Jump jump go ahead and jump jump
If it's what your heart is wanting to say
This is really your lucky day
And there is no glue to hold you down, so go ahead and...
Go ahead and jump
Instant tunes only just been made
Instant songs never to be played
Instant tunes hanging out to dry
Let me try to introduce you to
Instant tunes
Instant tunes
Instant tunes
Instant tunes
Ever and ever will they give us pleasure
their instant, still instant
Like mother used to make it -- oh!
Instant tunes give instant cash
Make me want to start a backlash
Let me have the recipe
And make me some lovely, lovely
Instant tunes
Instant tunes
Instant tunes
Instant tunes
Ever and ever will they give us pleasure
their instant, still instant
Like mother used to make it -- oh!
Ever and ever will they give us pleasure
their instant, still instant
Like mother used to make it -- oh!
Instant tunes give instant cash
Make me want to start a backlash
Let me have the recipe
And make me some lovely, lovely
Instant tunes
Instant tunes
Instant tunes
Instant tunes
(Andy Partridge)
There may be no golden fleece,
But human riches I'll release
Oh, my head is spinning like the world and it's filled with beasts I've seen,
Let me put my bag down and I'll tell you it all right from the start,
Like the scarlet woman who would pick on the boys she thought were green,
And the two faced man who made a hobby of breaking his wife's heart.
Seems the more I travel,
From the foam to gravel,
As the nets unravel,
All exotic fish I find like Jason and the Argonauts
There may be no golden fleece,
But human riches I'll release
I was in a land where men force women to hide their facial features,
And here in the west it's just the same but they're using make-up veils.
I've seen acts of every shade of terrible crime from man-like creatures,
And I've had the breath of liars blowing me off course in my sails.
Seems the more I travel,
From the foam to gravel,
As the nets unravel,
All exotic fish I find like Jason and the Argonauts
There may be no golden fleece,
But human riches I'll release.
I have watched the manimals go by
Buying shoes, buying sweets, buying knives.
I have watched the manimals and cried
Buying time, buying ends to other peoples lives.
Jason and the Argonauts
There may be no golden fleece,
But human riches I'll release.
Jason and the Argonauts
There may be no golden fleece,
But human riches I'll release.
(Guest appearance by The Dukes of Stratosphear)
It's snowing angels, on my front porch
Take a broom and sweep one in
I'm such a lucky guy, such a lucky guy
Even though my shoes have broken
I can't deny my toes
The right to fresh air
And the joy of poking through
It's snowing angels
Hope I'll catch me one
It's snowing angels
By my window
Take a net and fish one in
I'm such a lucky guy, such a lucky guy
Even though I got no money
This bear won't be hibernating
Or I'd miss the sight of all the honey strolling by
It's snowing angels
Hope I'll catch me one
I'm such a lucky guy, such a lucky guy
Even though my shoes have broken
I can't deny my toes
The right to fresh air
And the joy of poking through
It's snowing angels
Hope I'll catch me
Hope I'll catch me
Hope I'll catch me one
Boom goes my heart
Dancing around your daisies
Church bells will start
Sat on you reading your ages
I drift away
In loving memory of a name
Covered in moss
You may have died for your country
Forgotten not lost
You're laid to rest where you're wanted
I stare awhile
In loving memory of a name
England can never repay you
You gave your life to be buried alongside
The place you loved
The sermons attended when you were young
Still echo round these churchyard walls
Heroes and rogues
Together surrounded by nature
Lump in my throat
Sat in the land of your maker
I drift away
In loving memory of a name
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
He was begging on his bended knee
For me to put him from his misery
He hadn't worked at all this century
Said I'd do a job for all humanity
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
I put a bullet in his sugar head
He thanked me kindly
then he layed down dead
Phoney roses blossomed where he bled
Then all the cheering angels shook my
hand and said
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
Oh it's the middle of the song
I'm guilty, I'm guilty, I'm guilty
And then I turned and said
There'll be no more pain
from broken hearts
And no more lovers to be torn apart
Before you throw me
in your dungeon dark
Your honour, they'll be putting statues up
In every park
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
So dear public I'm here to confess
That I'm the one who freed us from this mess
Love won't be calling at your adress
'Cause what you never had you never miss,
I guess
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
I'm the man who murdered love
Yeah, what do you think to that?
If you never, ever use it
You know you're gonna lose it
If you never, ever kiss it
How you ever gonna miss it?
I'd like That if we could cycle down some lane
I'd like that if we could ride into the rain
No macs, getting wet
I'd be your Albert if you'd be Victoria, hah hah
We'd laugh because each drop would make me grow up
Really high, really high like a really high thing
Say, a sunflower
I'd like that
I'd like that (What would you like?) if we could lay before my fire
I'd like that (What would you like?) if you could slide me from this wire
Toasting fork, I'll be done
I wouldn't hector if you'd be Helen of Troy, oh boy
We'd laugh because each flame would make me grow up
Really high, really high like a really high thing
Say, a sunflower
I'd Like that
I'd smile so much my face would crack in two
And you could fix it with your kissing glue
I'd like that
Yes, I'd like that
I'd like that (what would you like?) if we could float away in bed
I'd like that (what would you like?) if I could row your heart and head
With you laid on one arm
I'd be your Nelson if you'd be my Hamilton, what fun
We'd laugh because each stroke would make me grow up
Really high, really high like a really high thing
Say, a sunflower (repeats)
Say a sunflower I became
I'd be growing in your lane
I sit in the snow
The town lights aglow
The air is alight
We drown in the night
Oh, I need protection
Nothing is safe and,
Nothing is truly sacred,
If you want to stay alive,
Keep your body from the undertakers.
Sing out!
Oh, I need protection.
Have you ever had a threat?
Have you ever had [call / cold] [pause to make] stare?
You can see it on tv,
From the pleasing safety of your armchair.
Sing out!
Oh, I need protection.
When it slap you in the face,
Will you take [down] [far / barth] to consi? der
What will you do,
When he says to you, "stand, deliver"?
Will you take to your heels,
And fight to brazen your features?
Yeah, it won’t go away,
With just one click of your fingers.
Sing out!
Oh, I need protection
Protection
I drank a rainbow but I could not get me drunk
All I could get me was blue,
Red round the eyes where I cried bout how green I'd been
Regarding you
And all the works you do
I took a jet plane but I could not get me gone
All I could get me was here,
Stuck in the dirt ankle deep, riches crashing in our atmosphere
No parachute hangs near
And I don't want to find myself this way again
I don't want to pick the thorny rose
I don't want to let love spoil the day again
But it may again, who knows
I don't wanna be here
I smoked a forest but I could not get me lost
All I could get me was found
Gretel skips home and I rode on my hands and knees upon the ground
Our candy house melts down
And I don't want to find myself this way again
I don't want to pick the thorny rose
I don't want to let love spoil the day again
But it may again, who knows
Swallowed a mountain, but I could not get me high
All I could get me was low
Really marked down in your sale of the century
And we all know
That everything must go
And I don't want to find myself this way again (I don't wanna...)
I don't want to pick the thorny rose
I don't want to let love spoil the day again
But it may again, who knows
(repeat)
I don't wanna be here
I don't wanna be here
(where'd you wanna be, who'd you wanna be with, where'd you wanna be)
Hold me my daddy,
I never felt lower than dirt on the floor.
I say hold me my daddy,
I never felt like crying oceans before.
If this means war, why are we in it?
Might've fired off a couple of rounds, I didn't mean to begin it.
If these are the bullets that every father and son must chew,
Well then hold me my daddy, I forgot to say I love you.
Hold me my daddy,
It hurts me to see grown men fighting this way.
I say hold me my daddy,
The young and the old dog aren't having their day.
This civil war, why are we in it?
There's nobody on this flat earth, would ever want to win it.
If these are the hot coals that every father and son walks through,
Well then hold me my daddy, I forgot to say I love you.
And if you agree we can make amends.
All this squabbling I've hated.
In another time and another place where our history bends,
We could've been the best of friends and not merely related.
Well these are the right words to say,
They're difficult but still true,
Well then hold me my daddy,
I forgot to say I love you.
(Hold him. Tight. Hold him like he was a baby.)
Just take your suitcase from my wardrobe
And pack it full of guns and bombs
Then CFC's and germ-war microbes
We've been destroying stuff too long
And there's no home for us
Just you raise your voice in chorus
Goodbye humanosaurus
They'll teach at schools we were cold-blooded
And that we spoke and threw a turd
How we all drowned as litter flooded
We treated Earth like it was dirt
And so I must implore us
Don't go near that exit door-us (Doris)
Goodbye humanosaur
Be no more us
They were big with brains the size of a [burger bap]
History has got 'em down as a homo sap
All that now remains
Are the overgrown fast lanes
And junk food cartons
They'd adore us if we'd just sweep up the floor-us
Goodbye humanosaur
Clean the shore
No more war
Humanosaurus
Heaven is paved with broken glass,
Since your hammer struck my heart,
This world, a hell of trees and grass.
All is wrong like north gone south,
There’s a bad taste in my mouth.
Everything was stars,
’til you had a notion to leave,
Beauty marks turned to scars,
Bet you had a laugh up your sleeve.
Congratulations love, love, love, love.
You made a fool of me and physics.
Heaven is paved with broken glass,
Since your hammer struck my heart,
This world, a hell of trees and grass.
All is wrong like north gone south,
There’s a bad taste in my mouth.
Everything was gold,
’til you thought you were above me,
Soldier turns to rogue,
Pretty turns to pretty ugly.
Congratulations love, love, love, love,
You made a fool of me and physics.
And I’m feeling cheated,
And I’m feeling used,
And what’s even worse is,
You just look amused.
Heaven is paved with broken glass,
Since your hammer struck my heart,
This world, a hell of trees and grass.
Since your hammer struck my heart.
Heaven is paved with broken glass.
Pink confetti, shotgun wedding
Rocket secrets someone’s shredding
Nineteenth floor.
Laundry ticket that exploded
Joust with quaker pamphlet goaded
Into war.
Ankle deep we heroes amble
Ankle deep we wade
Ankle deep through someone else’s
Ticker tape parade
Softly, softly, softly
Falls papersnow...
Softly, softly, softly
All of our works blow away...
Petals fell on petaluma
Till receipt from montezuma’s
Burger hut.
Every day a billion dollars
Fall as black and white blue-collars
Plough their rut.
Softly, softly, softly
Falls papersnow...
Softly, softly, softly
All of our works blow away...
Ankle deep we heroes amble
Ankle deep we wade
Ankle deep through someone else’s
Ticker tape parade
Jets folded from wall street journal
Shoot down cartons care of colonel’s
Chicken ranch.
Kleenex where the guy’s been cryin’
Goodbye note from girl who’s flyin’
To new branch.
Softly, softly, softly
Falls papersnow...
Softly, softly, softly
All of our works blow away...
Letter that I’d meant to send you
To torpedo and up-end you
Sheet by sheet.
Tore up all the beg and bitter
Add them to the drift of litter
On your street.
Softly, softly, softly
Falls papersnow...
Softly, softly, softly
All of our works blow away...
Ankle deep we heroes amble
Ankle deep we wade
Ankle deep through someone else’s
Ticker tape parade
When we're laying in bed
And we're laying in love
You and the blackness
Fit me like a velvet glove
That's why I go crazy
When you flick on your lamp
I'm dreaming
Hang on to the night
Hang on to the night
Hang on to the night
I don't want to see
That dawn light
Burn your window
When we're feeling drunk
In a city park
Put away that torch
I'm changed in the dark
Great fire burning
You supplied the spark
Fores burning spreading through the ark
Animals are panicking
I'm animal and panicking
Your glance a match on the tinderwood
You never spoke but I understood
Bring water
Eyes bring water
Chorus: Great fire burning through
Great fire burning through my house
Great fire burning through my house and heart
Great fire burning
All because of you
Fires burning spreading through the zoo
Animals are panicking
I'm animal and panicking
No round of drinks can extinguish this
Feeling of love and engulfing bliss
Bring water
Eyes bring water
Chorus
I've been in love before
But it's never been as hot as this
Smoke curling round the door
Memories of old loves crack and blister
Mister fireman bet you couldn't put me out if you tried
Your glance a match on the tinderwood
You never spoke but I understood
Bring water
Eyes bring water
Chorus
Please to bend down for the one called
the greenman
He wants to make you his bride
Please to bend down for the one called
the greenman
Forever, to him, you're tied
And you know for a million years
he has been your lover
He'll be a million more
And you know for a million years
he has been your lover
Down through the skin
To the core
Heed the greenman, heed the greenman
Please to dance round for the one called
the greenman
He wants to make you his child
Please to dance round for the one called
the greenman
Dressed in the fruits of the wild
And you know for a million years
he has been your father
He'll be a million more
And you know for a million years
he has been your father
Run to his arms from your door
Lay your head, lay your head
Lay your head, lay your head 'pon the greenman
Lay your head... with mine
Lay your head... 'pon the greenman
Build a bed, out of oak and pine
See the greenman blow his kiss
from high church wall
An unknowing church will amplify his call
Please to bend down...
And you know for a million years...
Lay your head... 'pon the greenman
Lay your head...
Please to bend down for the one called the greenmen
Lay your head
Hey goosey goosey
I believe it's for having fun
Hey goosey goosey
I believe it's for everyone.
One red morning
With no warning
Life comes crashing in
To wake you early with its golden din.
One blue evening
Cruelly leaving
It goes breezing out
The very second that you figure it out
What it's all for.
Everybody has a magic lantern
Everybody has an inner eye
Everybody has a magic carpet
Seems a shame if you don't let it fly
Tell you why
Hey goosey goosey...
Some bright daytime
Worker's playtime
You get country-bound
Pick your girl up
So you're all pinned down
Some dark nighttime
Final frighttime
As the reaper knocks
The wisdom of the ancients in a box
But it's too late
Everybody has a magic lantern...
Hey goosey goosey...
Yes I do
Kid,
Stay and snip your cord off,
Talk and let your mind loose,
Can't all think like Chekov,
But you'll be O.K.
Kid,
Is this your first time here?
Some can't stand the beauty,
So they cut off one ear,
But you'll be O.K.
Welcome to the Garden of Earthly Delights.
Welcome to a billion Arabian nights.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
This is your life and you spend it all.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
Just don't hurt nobody,
And the big reward's here,
In the Garden of Earthly Delights.
Kid,
Pick up with another,
Some will even drop you,
But hearts are built like rubber,
So you'll be alright.
Kid,
Swallow but believe us,
You won't die of boredom,
Should you have to leave us,
It'll be alright.
Welcome to the Garden of Earthly Delights.
Welcome to a billion Arabian nights.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
This is your life and you spend it all.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
Just don't hurt nobody,
'Less of course they ask you,
In the Garden of Earthly Delights.
Welcome to the Garden of Earthly Delights.
Welcome to a billion Arabian nights.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
This is your life and you spend it all.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
Just don't hurt nobody,
Welcome to the Garden of Earthly Delights.
Welcome to a billion Arabian nights.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
This is your life and you spend it all.
This is your life and you do what you want to do,
Just don't hurt nobody,
'Less of course they ask you,
In the Garden of Earthly Delights
Let us talk about some trivial things we like
A bit of this and that
Let's chew the fat
Pour ourselves a glass of stout
And let our Rael Brook shirts hang out
Nothing makes us more content
To let us wallow in a bit of nonsense
We're all so frivolous tonight, tonight
Let's reveal our childlike nature
And leave our stocks and invoices to rot
Let's go to pot
Tell our jokes about mothers in law
But watch him jump when she comes through the door
Oh the party goes with a swing
When we talk about the trivial things
We're all so frivolous tonight
But there's always one
Who wants to talk shop
We'll drive him through the door
With a broom or a mop
Let us tell our favourite story
About some poor chap who put it on display
Hip hooray
And let the girls gather in their slacks
To talk about husbands hairy backs
Some might think we're a bit of a shower
But this could be our finest hour
We're all so frivolous tonight, tonight
We're all so ridiculous tonight.
The hunt is on to find the fox
Cross patchwork fields and spiny copse
Much to and froing
White horses showing
Their pearly teeth
He lead them up into a wood
Where he escape
I guess he should
You know he’s a late starter
But he’s much smarter
Than the rest
He lead them up a garden path
Such craftiness
You got to laugh
They got a clue, man
He’s almost human
Fox on the loose
You must see him showing if you run boy run boy
You must see him showing so be ready with your gun
You never see the going if you take the wrong side
You never see the going in the early morning sun
The hunt is on to find the fox
To find the fox
I've been praying all the week through
At home, at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Found a house that won't repair itself
With it's windows cracking
And a roof held together with holes
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I've been praying all the week through
At home at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us
So you're saying that we're going to be three
Now, a father's what I'll be
Don't get me wrong, I'm so proud
But the belt's already tight
I'll get another job at night, but honest
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the Boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
I can earn enough for us
Everything, everything, everything
We ever thought or said
Went in a box labeled "Us" on a shelf
In the back of your head
Everything, everything, everything
We ever shared or did
Stored in a jar which I swear had "True Love"
Pencilled in on the lid
Now you're saying, now you're saying, now you're saying
That you just don't love me anymore
Has there been a thief in your storehouse
Stealing away your memories?
Everything
Everything, everything, everything
We ever dreamt or planned
You tell me just blew away like
A fancy from some opened hand
Everything, everything, everything
You say you felt for me
Is it all dust and denial
As lifeless as some lunar sea?
Now you're saying, now you're saying, now you're saying
That you just don't love me anymore
Has there been a thief in your storehouse
Stealing away all our memories?
And did he latch your locks
And make your bells ring?
And did you let him in
To steal away what we had together?
Just everything
Now you're saying...
Everything
Difficult age
You’re just fourteen
And you’re not friends with your body
Painfully thin
Look at your skin
Play with yourself for a hobby
How can they love a man who does that to himself?
Difficult age
Turn on the page
Have that wee drink in the meantime
Difficult age
Now you’re eighteen
Here’s all the freedoms you wanted
All the best clothes
A looker who goes
The size of your wage packet flaunted
How can they love a man who does that to himself?
Difficult age
Turn on the page
And have that wee drink in the meantime
Difficult age
He’s twenty-nine
Thirty just lurks ’round the corner
Settled for life
Nice kids and wife
Pull out a plum like jack horner
Difficult age
Turn on the page
Have that wee drink in the meantime
Difficult age
Now thirty-eight
And you’re not friends with your body
Wish you were thin
Look at your skin
Wasting yourself for a hobby
How can they love a man who does that to himself?
[instrumental]
(Andy Partridge)
Man acting like a farmer and,
He's treated the woman like a poor cow,
We got to treat you better from now,
But man is just a baby and,
He's needing your milk of kindness.
I vow to drink as much as you will allow.
All the way through history,
Man, machine, no mystery,
All the way through history,
Girl have the brain to act like the weaker sex.
Down in the cockpit,
Man need the woman to pull him right out of it,
Down in the cockpit,
Man need the woman to pull him right out of it.
Queen wants the castle,
back from the rascal,
Queen wants the castle.
The girl tribe are growing up and,
Filling the world full with a new soul,
To get so far they payed a high toll.
Try not to make,
The same mistakes,
As man has done, or you'll fall in that hole,
And you will see us changing our role.
All the way through history,
Man, machine, no mystery,
All the way through history,
Girl have the brain to act like the weaker sex.
Down in the cockpit,
Man need the woman to pull him right out of it,
Down in the cockpit,
Man need the woman to pull him right out of it.
Queen wants the castle,
back from the rascal,
Queen wants the castle.
You took me
Down down down
Down a peg
Thank you
For taking me down a peg
Thank you
It’s true
My position had gone to my head
Thank you
Like some commissionaire who has ideas above his station
Or some jumped up councillor who think he’s lord of creation
You took me down down down down a peg
Down down down down a peg
Thank you
For bringing my feet to the floor
Thank you
It’s true
My head wouldn’t go through the door
Thank you
Sometimes this job puts you so high you forget your roots now
Only my folks see I’m getting too big for my boots now
You took me down down down down a peg
Down down down down a peg
Down down down down a peg
Thank you
For taking me down a peg
(you took me down down down down a peg)
Thank you
It’s true
My position had gone to my head
(you took me down down down down a peg)
Thank you
Don't you ever dare call me chickenhead
Don't you ever dare
Don't you ever dare call me chickenhead
Nobody has ever lived that ever did
Nobody has ever lived.
Don't lose your temper
Don't lose your temper
Don't lose your temper
'Cos I love you when you're wild
Don't lose your temper
Don't lose your temper
Don't lose your temper
'Cos I'd hate you to grow mild
Since you took that job with a company
You've changed so much you just won't recognise me
They have you dressed up like a secretary
You mustn't change the things that make you what you are
Since you've been listening to that linguaphone
You're speaking in a voice that is not your own
I'm not sure if it's you when I call home
You mustn't change the things that make you what you are
Whatever happened to my fighting, biting, lightning lioness
Little girl, little girl, little girl, little girl
I think I preferred it when your hair was in a mess
Brittle girl, brittle girl
They're not your real curls
Don't lose it
Don't lose it
Don't lose it
Don't lose it
The bar is crowded and bright
But inside I feel empty and decaying
The smoky air full of music and words
It’s our record that is playing
Disque bleu is all that I hear
Songs that we loved now make me cry
Disque bleu brings only a tear
You were singing good
But you were singing your good-byes
To me tonight
The night is warm and the pavement
Below is a river of young lovers
A radio drifting in makes me hide
With my heart beneath the covers
Disque bleu is all that I hear
Songs that we loved now make me cry
Disque bleu brings only a tear
You were singing good
But you were singing your good-byes
To me tonight
You gave no indication
This was happening to us
You showed no hesitation
As you quickly waved
From your seat on the bus
That pulled away
Disque bleu is all that I hear
Songs that we loved now make me cry
Disque bleu brings only a tear
You were singing good
But you were singing your good-byes
To me tonight
You gave no indication
This was happening to us
You showed no hesitation
As you quickly waved
From your seat on the bus
That pulled away
Do what you do what you do ... to me
The stars are out and so am I
The stars I see ain't in the sky
I'm heading for the twilight zone
Another year's gone by, the world's grown older, sometimes I heave a
sigh, people grow colder.
Every day I do my best to show, I can make it in this world I know,
but all the bad thoughts that people bring, my faith in human nature's
getting pretty thin.
Help me get through these cynical days. Help me get through my
cynical ways. You say it's just a passing phase, you've got to help
me get through, these cynical days.
Another see through scheme, people are shallow. The dark night's
closing in, my dark thoughts follow.
I try and make my world a better place (my efforts seem in vain),
but I'm competing in a human race (falling deeper down the drain) that
value things that just don't count, makes me wonder what it's all
about.
Help me get through these cynical days. Help me get through my
cynical ways. You say it's just a passing phase, you've got to help
me get through these cynical days.
Yeah, you say it's just a passing phase, you've got to help
me get through these cynical days.
Yeah, you say it's just a passing phase, yes, help me get through
these cynical days.
Yeah, you say it's just a passing phase, you've got to help me get
through these cynical days. Cynical days. Cynical days.
Another year's gone by,
The world's grown older,
Sometimes I heave a sigh,
People grow colder.
Every day I do my best to show,
I can make it in this world I know,
But all the bad thoughts that people bring,
My faith in human nature's
Getting pretty thin.
Help me get through these cynical days.
Help me get through my cynical ways.
You say it's just a passing phase,
You've got to help me get through, these cynical days.
Another see through scheme,
People are shallow.
The dark night's closing in,
My dark thoughts follow.
I try and make my world a better place,
(my efforts seem in vain),
But I'm competing in a human race,
(falling deeper down the drain),
That value things that just don't count,
Makes me wonder what it's all about.
Help me get through these cynical days.
Help me get through my cynical ways.
You say it's just a passing phase,
You've got to help me get through these cynical days.
Yeah, you say it's just a passing phase,
You've got to help me get through these cynical days.
Yeah, you say it's just a passing phase,
You've got to help me get through these cynical days.
Yeah, you say it's just a passing phase,
You've got to help me get through these cynical days.
Cynical days.
Cynical days.
Countdown,
Countdown to christmas,
Countdown to christmas party time.
We’re so happy,
We want you to be happy too.
We’re so happy,
And we want to share the secrets of happiness with you.
Grab a woman beneath the mistletoe,
Kiss her lips and make her glow.
No more fighting, no more fuss,
Ah, it’s christmas!
Countdown,
Countdown to christmas,
Countdown to christmas party time.
We’re so happy,
We want you to be happy too.
We’re so happy,
And we want to share the secrets of happiness with you.
Eat and drink and dance some more,
Invite the whole street through your door.
Sing out loud, don’t swear or cuss
Ah, it’s christmas!
Countdown,
Countdown to christmas,
Countdown to christmas party time.
Countdown,
Countdown to christmas,
Countdown to christmas party time.
We’re so happy,
We want you to be happy too.
We’re so happy,
And we want to share the secrets of happiness with you.
Countdown.
10 days.
Countdown to christmas.
9 days.
Countdown.
8 days.
Countdown to christmas.
7 days.
Countdown.
6 days.
Countdown to christmas.
5 days.
Countdown.
4 days.
Countdown to christmas.
3 days.
Countdown.
2 days.
Countdown to christmas.
1 day.
Ah, it’s christmas!
Fire sign, indicate luminous pornography
Heliograph and morse photography
Signal ad, signal ad, signal ad
Commerciality, commerciality, commerciality
Coherent, match and blazing cuneiform wide open
Sales pitch, high pitch, noise
Brakes too soft to burn, envisage this
Signal ad, signal ad, signal ad
Commerciality, commerciality, commerciality
Package, carton, package and carton, sell and package and carton
Sell and package and carton, sell and package and carton
Sell, package and sell, package
Just revitalize, revitalize, revitalize, what’s this now?
Commerciality, commerciality, commerciality, commerciality
Sell and revitali-, vitalize and home pride
From tractors to tea-bags, from here to eternity, oh god, help me
Commerciality, commerciality, commerciality, commerciality, commerciality
Commerciality, commerciality, commerciality, commerciality, commerciality
Signal ad, signal ad, signal ad
Commerciality, commerciality, commerciality
Man acting like a farmer,
And he’s treating the woman like a poor cow.
He got to treat you better from now.
But man is just a baby,
And he’s needing your milk of kindness I vow,
To drink as much as you will allow.
All the way through history,
Man machine, no mystery.
All the way through history,
Girl have the brain to act just like the weaker sex.
Down in the cockpit,
Man need the woman to pull him right out of it.
Down in the cockpit,
Man need the woman to pull him right out of it.
Queen wants the castle back from the rascal
Queen wants the castle
Now!
The girl tribe are growing up,
And filling the world full with a new soul,
To get so far they paid a high toll.
Try not to make,
The same mistakes,
As man has made or you’ll fall in that hole,
And you will see us changing our role.
Oh! look what is this creature down in that hole?
Some say they were called men.
A lie for a lie, but a truth for the truth
Church of women is made out of milk
which their love turns to butter -er -er
Church of women will have you give praise
with a laugh, bark and stutter -er -er
Like us men like us men they are nothing like us men
Men have gargoyles 'round their hearts
I'm on my knees but dancing
Want to worship at the church of women
Breathe 'em in until my head goes spinning around
Want to worship at the church
Let me worship at the church of women
Church of women is making donations of loving and giving -ing -ing
Church of women performing that miracle raising the living -ing -ing
Like us men like us men will they ever like us men?
Men have thorns around their minds
I'm on my mountain preaching
Want to worship at the church of women
Breathe 'em in until my head goes spinning around
Want to worship at the church
Let me worship at the church of women
Lie for a lie, but a truth for the truth
Give 'em back their house: the walls, the doors, the floors and roof
And stop tryin' to diet on the wafers and wine and submit we're in control
Now let's put things right
Let's multiply the loves and kisses
'Til we have enough to love and eat forever
Want to worship at the church of women
I want to worship at the church of women now
Breathe 'em in until my head goes spinning around
I'll breathe 'em in until my head goes spinning 'round
Want to worship at the church
Let me worship at the church of women
Want to worship at the church of women
(Repeat X3 and fade)
[instrumental]
Copyright 1993 emi virgin song inc. o.b.o.
Emi virgin limited
Composer: andy partridge
Andy partridge - vocals, guitar, percussion, claps
Colin moulding - bass, harmony vocals, claps
Dave gregory - good natured ghost effects
With
Brian doherty - drums
Garo yellin - cello
David yazbek - keyboards, backing vocals, claps
Sean altman - backing vocals
Produced by david yazbek
Chorus:
Cherry cherry in your tree
Jump down on the ground and make a pie with me
Cherry cherry in your tree
Jump down on the ground and make a pie with me
I got toys like the other boys
Come down from your tree now
I can set you free now
I got toys like the other boys
For baking love with you
For baking love with you
Chorus
I’m the cook who wrote the book
Pour a little soul now
Right into the bowl now
I’m the cook who wrote the book
On baking love with you
On baking love with you
Cherry in your tree now
Do you love just me now
I’m the chef of the treble clef
Roll into the flour now
Knead it for an hour now
I'm floating over strange land,
It's a soulless, sequined, showbiz moon.
I'm floating over strange land,
And then stranger still, there's no balloon.
But I'm getting higher,
Wafted up by fame's fickle fire 'til the...
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever Ermine Street.
(Even I never know where I go when my eyes are closed.)
I'm skating over thin ice,
Upon blunted blades of metal soft.
I'm skating over thin ice,
While some nonesuch net holds me aloft.
But I'm getting higher,
Lifted up on lucks' circus wire 'til the...
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever Ermine Street.
Even I never know where I go when my eyes are closed.
Even I never spied that the scenes were posed.
Even I never knew this is what I'd be.
Even eyes never mean that you're sure to see.
Still I'm getting higher,
Rolling up on three empty tyres, 'til the...
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever Ermine Street.
I'm soaring over hushed crowds,
The reluctant cannonball it seems.
I'm soaring over hushed crowds,
I'm propelled up here by long dead dreams.
Still I'm getting higher,
Icarus regrets and retires puzzled.
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Oddly complete.
(Even I never know where I go when my eyes are all closed.)
Here I go again.
Dig, dig down...
Dig, dig down...
(chorus)
Candymine, candymine, tunnelling to honey for a girl so fine
Candymine, candymine, tunnelling to honey for a girl so fine
Wake up every morning when the clock strikes six
Pick up my girlfriend and we pick up sticks
Digging for her sweet love and I can’t waste time
Working down that candymine
(chorus)
Finish every evening when the clock strikes five
Home to my queen bee and our private hive
Digging for her sweet love and I can’t waste time
Working down that candymine
(chorus)
Dig, dig, down...
(spoken)
We’ve got to get the candy out of the candy mine!
Let’s get working!
(chorus x 4)
Well, let me tell you about my girlie
She goes by the name of sleepy shirley
She become a real life wiro
Since she learned how to do the cairo
And she go
Up up down down
Up up down down
She pours out the sand on the kitchen floor
Then we start to camel through the living room door
She was cool to me, but now her heart’s afiro
Since she learned how to do the cairo
And she go
I'm stupidly happy
Everything's fine
I'm stupidly happy
My heart pumping wine
I'm stupidly happy
With idiot grin
I'm stupidly happy
You won't catch me in
All the birds of the air call your name as they land on my kitchen roof
All the fish in the sea do the same if you need extra proof
I'm stupidly happy
My vision is skewed
I'm stupidly happy
I'm coming unscrewed
And if the Devil walks up dressed in any disguise
I take him by the collars look him in the eye
I'm stupidly happy
Now you're my defense
I'm stupidly happy
It's all making sense
I'm stupidly happy
I roll like a train
I'm stupidly happy
With you in my brain
All the lights of the cars in the town form the strings of a big guitar
I'm a giant to play you a tune for wherever you are
I'm stupidly happy
Are the words to that song
I'm stupidly happy
And nothing is wrong
And should the Devil walk up with his business card out
I'll tear it to confetti with a grin and shout,
"I'm stupidly happy"
All of the time
I'm stupidly happy
Now you're mine
As you’re sweeping
Autumn leaves up
You are sweeping
My fallen heart up with ’em
As you’re sweeping
Autumn leaves up
You are sweeping
In swish-back broomstick rhythm
You’re dressed in red
Your hair [would had a] brush on fire
To make leaves dress up dead
Ordered to parade
Swayed by broomstick rhythm
Hey!
As you’re sweeping
Winter snow up
They have fallen
For you so please forgive ’em
As you’re sweeping
Winter snow up
You are sweeping
In swish-back broomstick rhythm
You’re dressed in white
There is no; why don’t we surrender
And in envy of you
Melting drips will rush
Brushed in broomstick rhythm
Hey! hey!
As you’re sweeping
Summer dust up
See a squirrel
In homage making rhythms
As you’re sweeping
Summer dust up
You are sweeping
In swish-back broomstick rhythm
You’re dressed in blue
The sky and sun a hue more paler
Than the glow in your heart
I bask in your rays
Days of broomstick rhythm
As you’re sweeping
Springtime rain up
You are sweeping
My tears up for [i live ’em / a living? ]
As you’re sweeping
Springtime rain up
You are sweeping up
What there remains
Of fears I earn
Upon giving my heart
Away to somebody
For good
Blue overall
Overall the rooftops blue birds fly apart
Blue overall
Overall the bones that cage this stupid heart
Got blues drawing crosses on my front door
Blues a’bringing buckets ’round the back
Blues trying to push me from me white fence
And tar me a darker bluey black
For all this time
I really thought you loved me
For all this time
You only rubber gloved me
Blue overall
Overall my anvil gives no further sparks
Blue overall
Overall my fears swim hammer headed sharks
Got blues drinking beer out in the kitchen
Blue dog is barking to be fed
Got blues spilling wine upon me heartrug
They’re holding a party in my head
For all this time
I really thought you loved me
For all this time
You merely went and shoved me
I tried to lose myself in labour
The more I push the mirth
I’m giving birth to a baby’s turning
Blue overall
Feeling blue overall
All over I’m turning blue
(co-written by andy partridge and tracey bryn of voice of the beehive)
Silver lining changed to grey skies
When a red-eyed angel waved goodbye
In my lifetime, I may find him once again to my surprise
I’ll wait here, patiently and you may just return to find me
Chorus:
Blue in paradise, the paint runs down
Just like my teardrops
Blue in paradise, I’ll paint the town
Until the hurt stops
Make a wish on every rainbow for the colours to reappear
Green with envy, wishing you home, red faced mad I wait alone
I’ll stay here, one day dear you may just return to find me
Chorus
And if you return, nothing will be different
And if you return, nothing really will have changed
The red of my heart is black and blue now
Broken up and dragged around
I’ll lay my dreams all down to sleep here
I’ll close my eyes to hear no sound
I’m cryin’, I’m dyin’
But I will hold my breath
’til you find me
A demo intended for 'Oranges & Lemons'. Don't ask me what
the lyrics mean, each line exists purely as a comment on the
previous one. 'Me I like to roam / wasn't built in a day'
etc.''
Life is sometimes shorter than you think
So take yourself a hike from the kitchen sink
Me, I like to roam
Wasn't built in a day
And night throws the stars in our way
Meanwhile on Planet Earth
Some people are dying for the right to say
Some people are dying 'cause the other people busy blowing them away
Well, we're all dying so we better have a ton of fun along the way
I say hats off, get your hats off, take your hats off, get your hats off
For the blue beret
Blue beret, blue beret
The wind has blown it off his head
And sent it spinning straight to nowhere
Nowhere to get ahead in this life
Life is sometimes longer than you need
Especially if it's thrown away on hate and greed
Well, me I like to think while the other fish swim
But sharks made a meal out of him
Meanwhile on bone dry land
Some people are dying for the right to say
Some people just want the right to say
Some people are dying 'cause the other people busy blowing them away
Some people are merely blown away
Well, we're all dying so we better have a ton of fun along the way
I say hats off, take your hats off, get your hats off, take your hats off
To the blue beret
Blue beret, blue beret
The wind has blown it off his head
And sent it spinning straight to nowhere
Nowhere to get ahead in this life
So just love your dog and don't kick your wife
Put down that knife, watch out the windows,
And blow your hat away
When your love’s flown out the window,
And the pain comes through the door.
Once again you’ve missed the boat,
And you’re stranded on the shore.
And you find out that what you had,
Was never yours at all,
Friends and lovers that you knew so well,
Will never take your calls.
You blame the weather,
Oh-oh,
Blame the weather,
Oh-oh,
Blame the weather,
Oh-oh
Can’t you see you’re in your prime?
You’re turning creases into lines.
If you play the game
You’ve got to be prepared to take a knock,
You get put down so many times,
But you keep on getting up.
So put your tears away,
And don’t forget to worry is a crime,
Nothing bears thinking about too much,
You’ll be old before your time.
You blame the weather,
Oh-oh,
Blame the weather,
Oh-oh,
Blame the weather,
Oh-oh
Can’t you see you’re in your prime?
You’re turning creases into lines.
The pool of tears you left to drown in,
The helping hands that never came,
The years you lost out to another,
All up in flames
You blame the weather,
Oh-oh,
Blame the weather,
Oh-oh,
Blame the weather,
Oh-oh
Can’t you see you’re in your prime?
You’re turning creases into lines.
(Colin Moulding)
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
oh yeah,
The diggers and the tower cranes,
The diggers and the tower cranes.
Don't want demolition,
Don't want your compensation,
It's not just bricks and mortar,
We are lambs to slaughter.
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
oh yeah,
The diggers and the tower cranes,
The diggers and the tower cranes.
Must we live in fear,
From those who shed no tears?
Our one and only shelter,
Your games, your helter skelter.
Motorways and office blocks,
They're standing on the spot
Where stood a home,
Crushing on the memories of people,
Who have since turned to stone.
(Ahh)
They've turned to stone,
(Ahh)
They've turned to stone.
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
oh yeah,
The diggers and the tower cranes,
The diggers and the tower cranes.
Performed by johnny japes and his jesticles. recorded for viz
Comics, written and produced by andy partridge, neville farmer,
And dave gregory, and featuring john otway.
Who’s that dragging what looks like a pink sack of spanners down the road?
His swollen folly on a supermarket trolley to alleviate the load
Testicular tomfoolery
To the rescue of humanity
It looks a lot of balls to me
Fun and japes and merry frolics
With buster gonad’s bulbous bouncing . . .
Bags of fun with buster
And his super scrotal cluster
Who’s that lad with his cobblers clad in a disguise of some form?
When the cosmic power of a meteorite shower made them swell beyond the norm
Now here he comes to save mankind
His enormous nuts not far behind
And they’re not the salted kind
He cures mutes and alcoholics
When they first see his bulbous bouncing . . .
Bags of fun with buster
And his super scrotal cluster
There’s bags of fun with buster
See them shine with evil lustre
Buster! watch out for that revolving door
Ooh buster! they look so incredibly sore
Buster! especially as you drag them through that powerful
Cleaning agent someone spilled upon the floor
Ooh buster! why do you let your sack swing so low?
"sax swing solo? " yeah!
Fun and japes and merry frolics
With buster gonad’s bulbous bouncing . . .
Bags of fun with buster
And his super scrotal cluster
Doctor who could defeat the daleks
If he had buster’s swinging space age . . .
Bags of fun with buster
And his double sputnik thruster
Bags of fun with buster
Just to stroke them would disgust her
Bags of fun with buster
If she held them would you trust her?
Bags of fun with buster
Loads more balls than general custer
Bags of fun with buster
Lots more scrots than you could muster
Am I the kind of girl who could be your boyfriend
Am I the kind of Jill who could play with jacks
Am I the kind of girl who could be your boyfriend
The kind of screw that your toolbox lacks
Put on the shoes, come let's go bend the rules
We'll kiss and make up, showing them all
They're straight-laced fools
I'm the kind of girl who could be your boyfriend
Am I the kind of woman who could be your man
Let's twist it up
Let's fix it up
Let's bend it up
C'mon now
Let's send it on up
Am I the kind of girl who could be your boyfriend
Am I the kind of belle who could be your beau
Am I the kind of girl who could be your boyfriend
The kind of buck who could spend your dough
Tear up the ticket, who needs that show tonight
Tear up the ticket, I'll be the groom
And honey you'll be the bride in white
I'm the kind of girl who could be your boyfriend
Am I the kind of girl who could be your man
Let's twist it up
Let's send it up
Let's bend it up
C'mon now
Let's fix it up
La la la la la la la
Am I the kind of girl who could be your boyfriend
Am I the kind of girl who could be your man
Am I the kind of girl who could be your boyfriend
Am I the kind of girl who could be your man
Always winter but never christmas
You won’t open your box or kiss under this
How can I let you know?
Always easter but never egg giving
Crucify me, I just don’t call this living
How can I let you know?
Can’t you hear the bells ringing out?
Can’t you hear the fishmongers shout?
That the way to live is celebrate and give
Stop it being, always winter but never christmas
Always ageing but never birthday
Told your last joke and threw your mirth away
Oh how can I let you know?
Always turkey time, never thanksgiving
Share some gold out, but don’t just sit there sieving
How can I let you know?
Can’t you read the words upon the wall?
Can’t you hear the butcher boy’s call?
That we need to share, love between each pair
Stop it being, always winter but never christmas
I’d unwrap you if you’d only step down from your tree
From your present, into some undone future with me
Always winter but never christmas
Always thatmas but never thismas
Oh how can I let you know?
Can’t you hear the bells ringing out?
Can’t you hear the fishmongers shout?
That the way to live is celebrate and give
That we need to share, love between each pair
Warm it up
Always winter but never christmas
(Andy Partridge)
What can I say?
Why do we starve a thing thats near extinction?
From day to day,
These weeds of fear,
Are choking our conviction,
Life's like a jig-saw,
you get the straight bits,
But there's something missing in the middle.
All of a sudden,
We find the cupboard's bare.
All of a sudden,
We find heaven's not there.
All of a sudden,
We find the sun's gone cold.
All of a sudden
We find we're more than old.
All of a sudden,
We find that we've lost love,
So please don't push or shove because,
It's too late,
It's too late,
In all your hurry you've accidentally locked the gate
What can we do?
Trying to stem the flow of sand is useless.
It's up to you start holding hands,
And watch the balance redress,
Life's like a firework,
You're only lit once,
And you must stand and radiate correctly.
All of a sudden,
We find the cupboard's bare.
All of a sudden,
We find heaven's not there.
All of a sudden,
We find the sun's gone cold.
All of a sudden
We find we're more than old.
All of a sudden,
We find that we've lost love,
So please don't push or shove because,
It's too late,
It's too late,
In all your hurry you've accidentally locked the gate
Love's not a product you can hoard or pack a suitcase with,
It's more a way you have to give.
All of a sudden,
We find the cupboard's bare.
All of a sudden,
We find heaven's not there.
All of a sudden,
We find the sun's gone cold.
All of a sudden
We find we're more than old.
All of a sudden,
We find that we've lost love,
So please don't push or shove because,
It's too late,
It's too late,
In all your hurry you've accidentally locked the gate your hurry you've accidentally locked the gate.
Soldiers, workers, slaves and farmers,
Nurses, queens and drones.
Wish they'd leave my head tonight,
Let me rest my bones.
(Ziggedy zig zag just look at 'em. Ziggedy zag, hey hey)
A billion feet sound just like a billion drums.
A bed is creaking as the messiah comes.
The cars are crashing and the bacon is hacked.
The coffin's lowered and the lunches get packed.
Still segregating 'cause we insects are too proud.
Doesn't matter what colour of cat you are there's no dogs allowed.
And the screaming sky won't let me sleep.
The stars are laughing at us,
As we crawl on and on across this antheap.
War planes go over but no wages go 'round.
A sign goes up to say hey we're twin towned.
The dough is rising but no bread will be baked.
The fur is genuine but the orgasm's faked.
We're spending millions to learn to speak porpoise,
When human loneliness is still a deafening noise.
And the screaming sky won't let me sleep.
The stars are laughing at us,
As we crawl on and on across this antheap.
Soldiers, workers, slaves and farmers,
Nurses, queens and drones.
Wish they'd leave my head tonight,
And let me rest my bones.
And all the world's babies are crying still.
While all the police cars harmonize with power drills.
As jets and kettles form a chord with screeching gulls.
Accompanied by truncheons keeping time on human skulls.
And the screaming sky won't let me sleep.
The stars are laughing at us,
As we crawl on and on past lovers who'll leap.
On and on past widows who'll weep.
On and on no more than skin deep.
On and on across this antheap.
See the flowers round the altar
See the peaches in tins 'neath the headmaster's chair
Harvest festival
See the two who've been chosen
See them walk hand in hand to the front of the hall
Harvest festival
Harvest festival
What was best of all was the
Longing look you gave me
That longing look
More than enough to keep me fed all year
See the children with baskets
See their hair cut like corn neatly combed in their rows
Harvest festival
Harvest festival
What was best of all was the
Longing look you gave me
That longing look
Across the hymnbooks and the canvas chairs
The longing look you gave me
That longing look
More than enough to keep me fed all year
What a year when the exams and crops all failed
Of course you passed but you were never seen again
We all grew and we got screwed and cut and nailed
Then out of nowhere invitation in gold pen
See the flowers round the altar
See that you too got married and I wish you well
Harvest festival
Harvest festival
What was best of all was the
Longing look you gave me
That longing look
Across the hymnbooks and the canvas chairs
The longing look you gave me
That longing look
More than enough to keep me fed all year
Harvest festival
Generals and Majors ah ah
they're never too far
from battlefields so glorious
out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
till once again victorious
Generals and Majors always
seem so unhappy 'less they got a war
Generals and Majors ah ah
like never before are tired of being actionless.
Calling
Generals and Majors everywhere
Calling
your World War III is drawing near
Generals and Majors ah ah
They're never too far
away from men who made the grade
out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
until the battle's lost or made
Generals and Majors ah ah
You take me to heaven from deeper than hell ever dug
And you fly me higher than a trip on a magical rug
Confessions unravel
You bang with your gavel
And here I stand guilty
In a court where you are the judge
You're the drug
You've got to come on round and pick me up
You've my drug
And I don't ever know if I can give you up
Well you bring me colour where once I had just black and white
Now I have rainbows appearing round here in the night
Our true loving is growing
And passion is flowing
Well I don't need any cigarettes or beer from a jug
You're my drug
You've got to come on round and pick me up
You're my drug
Well you can slow me down or quick me up
You're my drug
Well you can spill me down and lick me up
You're my drug
Well you're a good man Albert Brown
And you was wounded in the war
And though you shot some people down
You're still a good man Albert Brown
Well you're a good man Albert Brown
Though you are drunk upon the floor
And if you're buying the next round
Then you're a good man Albert...
Brown was the colour of the mud across the Somme
Red was the blood you spilled upon it
Pink were the fingers of the nurse who dressed your wound
White was the starch upon her bonnet
And you married that nurse
And her name was Else
And then along came dad
...I'll have another pint of...
Brown is the colour of your old walking boots
Green is the cash you'd love to squander
Gold is the colour of your wife's faithful heart
So get yourself home, no more to wander
And you married that nurse
And her name's still Else
And another child was had
Some folks see the world as a stone
Concrete daubed in dull monotone
Your heart is the big box of paints
And others, the canvas we're dealt
Your heart is the big box of paints
How coloured the flowers all smelled
As they huddled there, in petalled prayer
They told me this, as I knelt there
Awaken you dreamers
Adrift in your beds
Balloons and streamers
Decorate the inside of your heads
Please let some out
Do it today
But don't let the loveless ones sell you
A world wrapped in grey
Some folks pull this life like a weight
Drab and dragging dreams made of slate
Your heart is the big box of paints
And others, the canvas we're dealt
Your heart is the big box of paints
Just think how the old masters felt, they call...
Awaken you dreamers
Asleep at your desks
Parrots and lemurs
Populate your unconscious grotesques
Please let some out
Do it today
Don't let the loveless ones sell you
A world wrapped in grey
And in the very least you can
Stand up naked and
Can't you see
Love and affection
When it's put
In you direction
Wrapped in your mysterious wonderland
No fast car
Can make you grow up
Gentlemen
You think you've sewn up
Locked in your wonderful wonderland
No dark horse like me can cramp all of your style
Too plain and simple I am for your file
One day you will break out of your spell
And some day you will want me for your own
And I'll say welcome to reality
All this talk
Of late-night parties
Flirting with the lower gentry
Lost in your magical wonderland
Out of depth
Out of class
Phase of your life
Will come to pass
Caught in this tragical wonderland
All of the riches that shine will turn sour
Each moment you slip you will bring near the hour
Wrapped in your mysterious wonderland
Caught in your superficial
Nonexistant
Fairy-story
There's an epidemic
Stirring passions in young hearts
Even the old campaigners
Have got it really bad
Well we ain't seen nothing like it
Since coronation day
But when the street parties sound
I'm going underground
To keep the rabid hounds at bay
Oh my my this war dance
A patriotic romance
No we ain't seen nothing like it
Since coronation day
But when the tickatape flies
And blood is on the rise
You know it's got you in its sway
You got yourself a war dance
There's a cheap sensation
Keeping Fleet Street wide awake
Everyone wants a slice of
The jingoistic cake
And they're resurrecting Churchill
And bringing national service back
Fueling power and glory fever
Makes for a sicker Union Jack
Yes I'm talking about this war dance
A patriotic romance
And I know all you poets
Have seen it all before
About the stirring of those young hearts
Back in the first world war
You've learnt no lessons
all that time so cheaply spent
there's no youth culture
only masks they let you rent
Travels, travels in Nihilon
we've seen, no Jesus come and gone
Fashion, their vampire
drapes itself across your back
as you fall from style
it waits rebirth on its rack
Building your whimsy
hypnotising you to need
dance goes full circle
one step ahead of your greed
You've learnt no lessons
all those years to get it right
flashes of promise
Me train running low on soul coal
They push+pull tactics are driving me loco
They shouldn't do that no no no
They shouldn't do that
Me train running low on dream steam
They pull me whistle too hard me bound to scream
And they shouldn't do that no no no
They shouldn't do that
Think I'm going south for the winter
Think I'm going mad in this hinterland
Between young and old
I'm a thirty year old puppy doing what I'm told
And I'm told there's no more coal
For the older engines
Me train running low on soul coal
Think I'm going south for the winter
Think I'm going west and my sprinter's speed
Is reduced to a crawl
My rails went straight, but straight into the wall
It's the wall on which they dash the older engines
And all my servants are leaving
Imagination gone packing
Can't find the wound from where I'm bleeding
He's just a nut and he's cracking
Hammer goes down
Brakes all scream
Me and a couple of empty carriages
Slide down hill still
Next stop bad dreamsville
Think I'm going south for the winter
Towers of London
when they had built you
did you watch over the men who fell
Towers of London
when they had built you
Victoria's gem found in somebody's hell
Pavements of gold leading to the underground
Grenadier Guardsmen walking pretty ladies around
fog is the sweat of the never never navvies who pound
spikes in the rails to their very own heaven
Bridges of muscles spanning so long and high
merchants from Stepney walking pretty ladies by
rain is the tears of the never never navvies who cry
for the bridge that doesn't go
in the direction of Dublin
And I've seen it in a painting
and I've seen it in engraving
and I've seen it in their faces
clear as children's chalk lines on the paving
Towers of London
Ah well, that's this world over
Ah well, next one begins
Will you smile like any mother
As you bathe your brand new twins?
Will you sing about the missiles
As you dry odd numbered limbs?
Ah well, that's this world over
Ah well, next one begins
Ah well, that's this world over
You sadly grin
Will you tell them about that far off and mythical land
About their leader with the famous face?
Will you tell them that the reason nothing ever grows
In the garden anymore
Because he wanted to win the craziest race
That's this world over
Will you smile like any father
With your children on a Sunday hike?
When you get to a sea of rubble
And they ask ``What was London like?''
You tell them, ``Ah well, that's the world over''
Will you tell them about that far off and mythical land
And how a child to the virgin came?
Will you tell them that the reason why we murdered
Everything upon the surface of the world
So we can stand right up and say we did it in his name?
That's this world over
Or so it seems
That's this world over
The end of dreams
In a milk bar and feeling lost
Drinking sodas as cold as frost
Someone leans in m direction
Quizzing on my juke-box selection
What do you call that noise
That you put on?
This is pop
Yeah Yeah
This is!
On a walkway and moving fast
All I get is transistor blast
Someone leans in my direction
Quizzing on my station selection
What do you call that noise
That you put on?
This is pop
Yeah yeah
This is!
We come the wrong way
We come the long way
We play the songs much too loud
This is pop
Then she appeared, apple venus on a half open shell
Then she appeared, the first photograph on Fox Talbots gel
I was a little frightened
Flying with my senses heightened
Cherubim cheered
Then she appeared
Then she appeared, as the giggling crew of Marie Celeste
Then she appeared, pale Atlantis rising out of the west
I was a little dazzled
Catherine wheeled and senses frazzled
Know it sounds weird
Then she appeared
And the sun which formally shone
In the clearest summer sky
Suddenly just changed address
Now shines from her blue eyes
Then she appeared, brittle shooting star that dropped in my lap
Then she appeared, dressed in tricolour and phrygian cap
I was a little troubled
Hookah with my senses bubbled
All Edward leared
Then she appeared
And the moon which formally shone
On the marbled midnight mile
Suddenly just packed its bags
Now shines from her bright smile
Then she appeared
First there's the handshake
It's so warm that you could bake by it
Designed to take attention from their
Ugly Underneath
Then there's the wedding
The co-ordinated bedding
And the fairy tale shredding
Boy it's Ugly Underneath
After the pretty
There's a gluttony of pity
On a cake called nitty gritty
And it's Ugly Underneath
Did you ever try to prise away the mask
Go ahead, take a spoon and try
I can tell you it's a herculean task
Go ahead, it's okay to cry
What you're chewing on's the truth
And that's the hardest thing
To wash down with a glass of lemonade
The Ugly Underneath
The thing with politicians is
I wouldn't have suspicions
If I saw their worst positions
And their Ugly Underneath
But after all the voting
Suck away the sugar coating
Now they've had you and they're gloating
Boy it's Ugly Underneath
Did you ever try to take away the wheel
Go ahead, take a fork and try
See the unattractive things that make us real
Go ahead, it's okay to cry
What you've trodden in's the truth
And that's the hardest thing
Well man created the cardboard box to sleep in it
And man converted the newspaper to a blanket
Well you have to admit that he's come a long way
Since swinging about in the trees
We're the smartest monkeys
The smartest monkeys
The evidence is all around
Our brains are bigger
This we've found
The smartest monkeys
Well man discovered the park bench can make a transition
And the rubbish tip makes a valid form of nutrition
With discoveries like these
Civilisation agrees
To give itself a pat on the back
We're the smartest monkeys
The evolution's plain to see
We're the dominant of the species
The smartest monkeys
We brought the caveman from the stoneage
To the subways of the modern world
Quick call the Guinness Book of Records
Well you have to admit...
Ahh! Ah doomi lama deema lama doomi ahh doomi ahh-ma, doomi lama deema lama doomi ahh dooie...
It isn't even winter but I'm freezing, freezing,
This sort of feeling isn't pleasing,
And what I want to know, man,
why, oh why,
Does she treat me like a snowman?
Ahhh!
It isn't even winter but I'm freezing, freezing,
This sort of feeling isn't pleasing,
And what I want to know, man,
why, oh why,
Does she treat me like a snowman?
Ahhh!
She's been building me,
Up quite steadily,
Seems like I've been here years and years and years and years;
I wait patiently,
Froze in history,
All ice-water is tears and tears and tears and tears;
She treats me far too frosty,
This hanging on has cost me dear.
Hey!!!
Ah doomi lama deema lama doomi ahh doomi ahh-ma, doomi lama deema lama doomi ahh dooie...
It isn't even winter but I'm shivering, shivering,
Waiting for the love that's not delivering,
What I want to know, man,
Why oh why,
Does she treat me like a snowman?
Ahhh!
It isn't even winter but I'm shivering, shivering,
Waiting for the love that's not delivering,
What I want to know, man,
Why oh why,
Does she treat me like a snowman?
Ahhh!
She's been building me,
Up quite steadily,
Seems like I've been here years and years and years and years;
I wait patiently,
Froze in history,
All ice-water is tears and tears and tears and tears;
She treats me far too frosty,
This hanging on has cost me...
It seems you would say I was too soft-hearted,
If you made a dunce-cap I'd done it!
People will always be tempted to wipe their feet,
On anything with 'welcome' written on it.
Owwww!
It isn't even winter but I'm freezing, freezing,
And this sort of feeling isn't pleasing,
And what I want to know, man,
Why, oh why,
Does she treat me like a snowman?
Haaa!
It isn't even winter but I'm shivering, shivering,
Waiting for the love that's not delivering,
And what I want to know,
Why oh why,
Does she treat me like a snowman?
Haaa!
Why oh why,
Does she treat me,
Why oh why,
Does she treat me, does she treat me,
Why oh why,
Does she treat me like a snowman?
Why oh why,
Just like a snowman.
The man who sailed around his soul
From East to West, from pole to pole
With ego as his drunken captain
Greed, the mutineer, had trapped all reason in the hold
The man who walked across his heart
Who took no compass, guide or chart
To rope and tar his blood congealed
When he found his self revealed ugly and cold
And the sirens that sing
By your nose with its ring
They'll drag you in
For your sins
Now he sits all alone
And it's no place like home
It's empty skin
A bag to keep life's souvenirs in
The man who sailed around his soul
The man who sailed around his soul
The man who sailed around his soul
Came back again to find a hole
Where once he thought compassion and the truth
Had laid to warm his freezing carcass on return
The man who walked across his heart
Was doomed to journey from the start
Of every love affair he'd broken
All the lies he'd ever spoken
Tattooed on his arm
And the jellyfish stings
Even angels with wings
Who look too deep
And dare to peep
Now he sits all alone
Knowing flesh blood and bone
Is everything
He found the treasure he'd been seeking
Smalltown, snoring under blankets
Woken by the clank
It's just the milkman's dawn round
Smalltown, hiding undercovers
The lodgers and the lovers
Are asleep 'round Smalltown
Shiney grey black snake of bikes
He slithers
Bearing up the men and boys
To work
We're standing in poplar lines
Making alarm clocks that'll wake our wives up
Don't ask us, we haven't the time
We're racing the hooter that'll signal life's up
Smalltown, crouching in the valley
Woken by the sally army
Sunday marchround
Smalltown, coughing in the toilet
Who on earth would spoil it
Would they pull down Smalltown?
If it's all the same to you
Mrs Progress
Think I'll drink my Oxo up
And get away
It's not that you're repulsive to see
In your brand new catalogue nylon nightie
You're too fast for little old me
Next you'll be telling me it's 1990
I have lived here for a thousand years or maybe more
And I've sheltered all the children who have fought the wars
And as payment they make love in me
In squeaky beds
In bicycle sheds
Inside of their heads
As singles and weds
As Tories and Reds
And that's how I'm fed
And that's how I'm fed
Smalltown, snoring under blankets
Woken by the clank
It's just the milkman's dawn round
Smalltown, hiding undercovers
The lodgers and the lovers
Are asleep 'round Smalltown
Smalltown, crouching in the valley
Woken by the sally army
Sunday marchround
Smalltown, coughing in the toilet
Now who on earth would spoil it
Will you pull down Smalltown
Smalltown
The disappointed
All shuffle round in circles
Their placards look the same
With a picture and a name
Of the ones who broke their hearts
The disappointed
All congregate at my house
Their voices sob with grief
That they want to be chief
Of the tribe with broken hearts
Once, I had no sympathy
For those destroyed and thrown away by love
Seems, your ring upon my finger
Signifies that I've become the spokesman of...
The disappointed
Will bear me on their shoulders
To a secret shadow land
Where a sombre marching band
Plays a tune for broken hearts
And day grows darker now
Everywhere, everywhere
The disappointed
Are coming in their millions
They're spilling from the bus
At a monument to us
Made of bits of broken heart
The disappointed
Are growing every second
They blot the sun to black
At the bottom of the pack
Peter Pumpkinhead came to town
Spreading wisdom and cash around
Fed the starving and housed the poor
Showed the vatican what gold's for
But he made too many enemies
Of the people who would keep us on our knees
Hooray for Peter Pumpkin
Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkinhead?
Oh my!
Peter Pumpkinhead pulled them all
Emptied churches and shopping malls
Where he spoke, it would raise the roof
Peter Pumpkinhead told the truth
But he made too many enemies...
Peter Pumpkinhead put to shame
Governments who would slur his name
Plots and sex scandals failed outright
Peter merely said
Any kind of love is alright
But he made too many enemies...
Peter Pumpkinhead was too good
Had him nailed to a chunk of wood
He died grinning on live TV
Hanging there he looked a lot like you
And an awful lot like me!
But he made too many enemies...
Hooray for Peter Pumpkin
Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkin
Hooray for Peter Pumpkinhead
Oh my oh my oh!
I can't hold you down
If you want to fly
Can't you see I'm all broke up inside
Well just you use your two X Ray eyes
Hurt like Kryptonite
Put me on my knees
Now that I've found out just what you're doing
With your secret identities
That's really super Supergirl
How you saved yourself in seconds flat
And your friends are going to say
That's really super Supergirl
How you're changing all the world's weather
But you couldn't put us back together
Now I feel like I'm tethered deep
Inside your Fortress of Solitude
Don't mean to be rude
But I don't feel super
Supergirl
I won't call again
Even in a jam
Now I realise you could be on a mission
Saving some other man
That's really super Supergirl
How you saved yourself in seconds flat
And your friends are going to say
That's really super Supergirl
How you stopped the universe from dying
But you're never going to stop me crying
And I feel like you're trying hard
To sweep me like dirt underneath your cape
Well I might be an ape
But I used to feel super
Supergirl
That's really super Supergirl
How you saved yourself in seconds flat
And your friends are going to say
That's really super Supergirl
How you're changing the world's weather
But you couldn't put us back together
Super Supergirl
How you stopped the universe from dying
But you're never going to stop me crying
Super Supergirl
I'm here in your Fortress of Solitude
Don't mean to be rude
That wave
Pulled me into your eyes
Through the greeney grey pebbles
And countless cathedrals arriving
That wave
Lift me into your mouth
Turning spires and spittle of pearls
To perplex the young diver
I flew down to the bottom of the sea
Where I questioned the fishes all about it
I was in heaven
Address cloud eleven
They danced and laughed spelling all I fell into was love
That wave
Carried me through your hair
Up from suffocate seaweed
The perfumed cushions cascading
That wave
Pushed me into your skin
Where I bathed in the promises
Giddy with planets parading
I swam down to the bottom of the sky
Where I questioned the blue birds all about it
I was in heaven
Address cloud eleven
They danced and laughed spelling all I fell into was love
That wave!
That wave
Pulled me right overboard
Into permanent morgasm
Emotional action painting
I flew down to the bottom of the sea
Where I questioned the fishes all about it
I was in heaven
Address cloud eleven
The first time I saw you standing in the water
You must have been all of a thousand feet tall
Nearly naked - unashamed like Herod's daughter
Your love was so big
It made New York look small
You've been the subject of so many dreams
Since I climbed your torso
My statue of Liberty
Boo Boo
Impaled on your hair
What do you do
Do Do to me
Boo Boo
I leaned right over to kiss your stoney book
A little jealous of the ships with whom you flirt
A billion lovers with their cameras
Snap to look and in my fantasy
Hiding faces turning pages
Still they read and read
Double deckers full of smokers
Look who's gone to seed
Well the sun's getting higher
Think I'll take a flyer
The thought of it's causing me pain
Ooh!
Talk a walk under the subway
See an old school chum
Window shopping for a short while
Then we'll have some fun
Well the shops closing early
Everywhere's deserted
Hello and down comes the rain
Oooh!
We'll do the town tonight
I know some girls then stop off for a bite
No strings to tie my kite
Well living for the night
Season cycle moving round and round
Pushing life up from a cold dead ground
It's growing green
It's growing green, well
Darling don't you ever stop to wonder
About the clouds about the hail and thunder
'Bout the baby and its umbilical
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?
Summer chased by Autumn
Autumn chased by Winter
season cycle go from death to life
Winter chased by Springtime
bring a harvest or a man his wife
Springtime's turning
it's growing green
It's growing green, well
Darling, don't you ever sit and ponder
darling did you ever think
About the building of the hills a yonder
all this life stuff's closely linked
Where we're going in this verdant spiral
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?
Round and round and round and round
I really get confused on who would make all this
is there a God in Heaven
Everybody says join our religion get to Heaven
I say no thanks why bless my soul
I'm already there!
Autumn is Royal
As Spring is clown
But to repaint Summer
They're closing Winter down
Darling don't you ever stop to wonder
darling did you ever think
About the clouds about the hail and thunder
all this life stuff's closely linked
About the baby and its umbilical
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?
Season cycle
Darling, don't you ever sit and ponder
darling did you ever think
About the building of the hills a yonder
all this life stuff's closely linked
Where we're going in the verdant spiral
Snipping, snipping, snipping goes the scissor man
Putting end to evil doers games
Snipping, snipping, snipping goes the scissor man
Maybe you are in his book of names
Maybe you are in his book of names
So be kind and helpful to your mother
Just think twice before you try and steal
When he cuts with sticky silver snippers
You may find the wounds will never heal
All self made bad boys
If you refuse to believe he exist
You won't be frightened when you find out
You're on his list
You're on his list
You're on his list
So be good and never poison people
Just think twice before the deed is done
When you wake up guilty in the morning
Fire they cried
So evil must die
And yields are good
So men pull back hoods and smile
The scapegoat blood spilled
Spittled and grilled it crackled and spat
And children grew fat on the meat
Change must be earnt
Sacrificial bonfire must burn
Burn up the old
Ring in the new
Assembled on high
Silhouette against the sky
The smoke prayed and pranced
And sparks did their dance in the wind
Shadows wore thin with less and less skin
And the clothes that were draped
Was all that told man from ape
Change must be earnt
Sacrificial bonfire must reign
Reign over good
In this secret time, invading on our privacy
Unknowing we mime, we play for the ministry
The can film you in bed
Or when you take a bath
They can tape every cry
They can tape every laugh
They can turn you around so you won't know what's
Real by reel
Busy little bees recording everything you feel
On real by reel
Documented down like rats
They're catching up on every squeal
On real by reel
Real by reel by real by
In this hidden time, ignorance may help you to cope
Rehearsing for crimes, in government cinemascope
The can film you at work
Or when they let you play
They can tape what you think
They can tape what you say
They can't blur your I.D. so you won't know what's
Now I lay me down to sleep
Knowing that your lenses peep
Now I eat my daily bread
It's in the order of their hedgerows
it's in the way their curtains open and close
it's in the look they give you down their nose
all part of decency's jigsaw I suppose
Heard the neighbour slam his car door
don't he realise this is respectable street
What d'you think he bought that car for
'cos he realise this is respectable street
Now they talk about abortion
in cosmopolitan proportions to their daughters
as they speak of contraception
And immaculate receptions on their portable
Sony entertainment centres.
Now she speaks about diseases
and which sex position pleases best her old man
Avon lady fills the creases
when she manages to squeeze in past the caravans
that never move from their front gardens.
It's in the order of their hedgerows
it's in the way their curtains open and close
it's in the look they give you down their nose
all part of decency's jigsaw I suppose
Sunday church and they look fetching
Saturday night saw him retching over our fence
bang the wall for me to turn down
I can see them with their stern frown
as they dispense the kind of look that says
You better watch your tape boys
It's the tint that angers the beast
Got their sails in the sunset
they've already got the east
Red red red
Don't you let them make you
Don't let them make you see ... red
You better watch your lead boys
it's already in your veins
Did you ever see the colour
iron turns when it rains
It's not a gross infatuation
It's not a fear, it's not a crush
It's not any special nation
Paper, iron, won't buy Eden
working for paper and for iron
work for the right to keep my tie on
working for paper and for iron
work for the unicorn and lion
I pray the kids aren't starving
no chicken for the Sunday carving
I'll stay for one more farthing
I take home my notes and coins every week
I'm told I'm worth much more
but the Church says turn the other cheek
the other cheek
paper, iron, won't buy Eden.
I know the family needs me
can't moan, the factory feeds me
won't bite the hand that bleeds me
I take home my notes and coins every week
I'll inherit the earth I'm told
but the Church says to remain this meek
remain this meek
I'm still a proud man.
Won't show anybody else my wage
a blend in the crowd man
is this anybody's golden age
is this anybody's golden age
is this anybody's golden age
or am I dreaming of a golden cage
La la lo it's paper
la la lo it's iron
la la lo just paper
She has six swans singing in her sauna
So she can't hear what's going on
No she can't hear what's going on
In the outside world
In the outside world
In the outside
Bad black and white men
Standing in their pigpen
Selling guns to simpletons
To shoot 'em in the abdomen
And she's not interested in that
And she's not interested in that
She has six swans singing in her sauna
Outside - world - outside
She has eleven lions laughing at her lakeside
So she can't hear what's going on
No she can't hear what's going on
In the outside world
In the outside world
In the outside
Bad brown and yellow men
Splitting on their fellow men
Drape her in a newspaper
And stab her with a poison pen
She's not interested in that
She's not interested in that
She has eleven lions laughing at her lakeside
Outside - world - outside
You can keep your animals
All the noise and the din
Just make a little space for me
There is no language in our lungs
to tell the world just how we feel
no bridge of thought
no mental link
no letting out just what you think
there is no language in our lungs
there is no muscle in our tongues
to tell the world what's in our hearts
no we're leaving nothing
just chiselled stones
no chance to speak before we're bones
there is no muscle in our tongues
I thought I had the whole world in my mouth
I thought I could say what I wanted to say
For a second that thought became a sword in my hand
I could slay any problem that would stand in my way
I felt just like a crusader
lionheart, a holy land invader
but nobody can say what they really mean to say and
the impotency of speech came up and hit me that day and
I would have made this instrumental
but the words got in the way
there is no language in our...
there is no language in our lungs
to tell the world what's in our hearts
no we're leaving nothing behind
just chiselled stones
no chance to speak before we're bones
My love explodes all over the world for you, yeah you
My love explodes in diamonds and pearls for you, just you
When the straight plastic bowler men
Grab your soul and pull you down down down
Call my name on your dream telephone
Catch a saucer and I'll be around
Blow 'em out of town
My love explodes
My love explodes like the stars up in space for you, yeah you
My love explodes with the whole human race for you, just you
When the walls are all closing in
And your paradise goes wrong wrong wrong
Spell my name on your pillow tonight
Catch a rainbow and I'll be along
Singing coloured songs
My love explodes
I've got people billions of people
Waiting here for bliss
All it takes to free these people
Is the power of a kiss, my love explodes
My love explodes all over the world for you, yeah you
My love explodes in diamonds and pearls for you, just you
Woolworth beauty
Factory beau
Arm in arm
They must go
To the church of dance with the light on low
Meccanic dancing oh we go
Can't wait until the weekend comes
I want to be with all my chums
Alcohol is an easy key
Helps you unwind
And dance with me
To a disco trot from Germany
I'm standing in front of this girl
I'm under a flourescent light
I've had a few beers inside me
Me and the wind are celebrating your loss
Me and the wind are pulling kites and pushing tress
Me and the wind are celebrating your loss
Me and the wind are feeling freer than air should ever be
Should ever be should ever be should ever
And when you lured me into your syrup
All I could think of was what a lovely way for me to go
I never really realised that
Just like the struggling summer flies that
I was drowning no matter how sweet or how slow
Have I been such a fool
Have I been sitting on your stool
While you cracked the whip
While you cracked the whip
I danced imprisoned in your drumbeat
Your tune of spring had me whirling like a mad march
Merry hare
It never really came to mind that
The strings of your instrument were strangling me
Inside their snare
Have I been such a fool
Have I been sitting on your stool
While you held the hoop
While you held the hoop
Now that I'm out and I'm shouting in doorways
Freed from a love more like murder
I should be singing but in liberation
Feel like a ship with no rudder
Me and the wind are celebrating your loss
See the lovers all gone crazy
looking for romance it seems
many sleepless nights will follow
some may lose but some succeed
Love at first sight
what they want is...
love at first sight
Make a play of lust intention
only just one thing in mind
make a slip could be forever
wedding bells, the shotgun kind
Love at first sight
what they want is...
love at first sight
Mouse takes the bait
so soon as he leaves his seat
there's no escape, very soon their eyes will meet
Love at first sight
Take your partner to surrender
then your misdemeanour's done
sacrifice of maidenhood
but little boys must have their fun
I'm bugged you all look like insects
In your brand new sunspecs
I'm bugged I'm bugged
I drop a little note through my sympathetics door
I think I'm going ga ga I just can't take anymore
At first I see 'em swarming from a dark and midnight nest
And when I see 'em fiddling well I think you've guessed the rest!
I'm bugged you all look like insects
In your brand new sunspecs
I'm bugged I'm bugged
I wake up in a cold sweat and I run into the street
And just like in my nightmare they are jiggling at my feet
I take a dead man's lighter and I burn them to the floor
But where there was a dozen there are now a hundred more
I bought myself a liarbird
He came with free drinks just to blur
The lies falling out like rain
On an average English summer's afternoon
I bought myself a new notebook
Sharpened my guitar and went to look
If this biz was just as bongo as the liarbird made out
All he would say
Is ``I can make you famous''
All he would say
All he would say
``Just like a household name'' is
All he would say
Methinks world is for you
Made of what you believe
If it's false or if it's true
You can read it in your bible
Or on the back of this record sleeve
I bought myself a liarbird
Things got more and more absurd
It changed to a cuckoo
And expanded filling up with all I gave
I bought myself a big mistake
He grew too greedy, bough will break
And then we will find that liarbirds
Are really flightless on their own
All he would say
Is ``I can make you famous''
All he would say
All he would say
``Just like a household name'' is
All he would say
Methinks world is for you
There's no handing it back
If it's false or it's true
You can read it in your prayer book
Or on the side of a cornflake pack
I gave away a liarbird
A couple less drinks and now I've heard
The truth shining out like sun
Holly up on Poppy
Canter never stop
She has escaped from the world
Where they bake beautiful girls
Holly up on Poppy
Trotting to the top
She talks and banners unfurl
Their secrets crayoned in swirls
Everyday I
Have to pluck up
Courage to look her in the eyes
The eyes of storms
Anyway I
Love to watch her
Ride and play the alchemy
That love performed
Laughing
Holly up on Poppy...
Everytime I
Look at my watch
I'm reminded we are poor
In hours per day
Every second
Spent with her
's a bulging wallet overstuffed
With angels pay
Oh heli Oh heli
I'm crouching here with a telescope in hand
Looking across our lego land
I really think it's about time that she came down
She a laughing giggly whirlybird
She got to be obscene to be obheard
I really think its about time that she came down
And I object to all the air male that she pick up
the air male that she pick up
the air male that she pick up
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter - copter
She's landing on the town
It's about time that I stopped her - stopped her
When she's up there twirling round
Just like a helicopter - copter
Oh heli - Oh heli
Now she's away from convent she's gone wild
Grown from a nice young lady to a child
I really think its about time that she came down
She a laughing giggly whirlybird
She got to be obscene to be obheard
Great fire burning
You supplied the spark
Fores burning spreading through the ark
Animals are panicking
I'm animal and panicking
Your glance a match on the tinderwood
You never spoke but I understood
Bring water
Eyes bring water
Great fire burning through
Great fire burning through my house
Great fire burning through my house and heart
Great fire burning
All because of you
Fires burning spreading through the zoo
Animals are panicking
I'm animal and panicking
No round of drinks can extinguish this
Feeling of love and engulfing bliss
Bring water
Eyes bring water
I've been in love before
But it's never been as hot as this
Smoke curling round the door
Memories of old loves crack and blister
Mister fireman bet you couldn't put me out if you tried
Your glance a match on the tinderwood
You never spoke but I understood
Bring water
I've been praying all the week through
At home, at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Found a house that won't repair itself
With it's windows cracking
And a roof held together with holes
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I've been praying all the week through
At home at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us
So you're saying that we're going to be three
Now, a father's what I'll be
Don't get me wrong, I'm so proud
But the belt's already tight
I'll get another job at night, but honest
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the Boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
It frightens me when you come to mind
The day you dropped in the shopping line
And my heart beats faster when I think of all the signs
When they carried you out your mouth was open wide
The cat went astray and the dog did pine for days and days
And we felt so guilty when we played you up
When you were ill, so ill
What sticks in my mind is the sweet jar
On the sideboard. And your multicolored tea cosy
What sticks in my mind is the dew-drop hanging off your nose
Shrivelled up and blue
And I'm getting older, too
But I don't want to die like you
We can plant a seed
And watch it grow
Food enough to fill a table
Running water down an overflow
Eat as much as we are able
But would the fruit turn ripe
If the rains had never been?
Oh Lord deliver us from the elements
We at your mercy and your reverence
Oh Lord deliver us from the elements
We've no defense we are impotent
You can travel far to distant lands
Some so hot no man could bear
You can conquer peaks with winds of sand
Where Mother Nature didn't care
Would not our world turn cold
If the sun refused to shine
And when the world grows old
And we know more than our brains can hold
Nature will be law
Well we're as helpless now as we've ever been before
Would not our world turn cold
, hope you got the letter, and...
I pray you can make it better down here.
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer
but all the people that you made in your image, see
them starving on their feet 'cause they don't get
enough to eat from God, I can't believe in you
Dear God, sorry to disturb you, but... I feel that I should be heard
loud and clear. We all need a big reduction in amount of tears
and all the people that you made in your image, see them fighting
in the street 'cause they can't make opinions meet about God,
I can't believe in you
Did you make disease, and the diamond blue? Did you make
mankind after we made you? And the devil too!
, don't know if you noticed, but... your name is on
a lot of quotes in this book, and us crazy humans wrote it, you
should take a look, and all the people that you made in your
image still believing that junk is true. Well I know it ain't, and
so do you, dear God, I can't believe in I don't believe in
I won't believe in heaven and hell. No saints, no sinners, no
devil as well. No pearly gates, no thorny crown. You're always
letting us humans down. The wars you bring, the babes you
drown. Those lost at sea and never found, and it's the same the
whole world 'round. The hurt I see helps to compound that
Father, Son and Holy Ghost is just somebody's unholy hoax,
and if you're up there you'd perceive that my heart's here upon
my sleeve. If there's one thing I don't believe in
Across a crowded room
I first set eyes on you
My vision was impaired
Obstructed out of view
By those - faces in a crowded room
them - bodies in a crowded room
their - breathing in a crowded room
and their - pushing me out
down the fire escape
In the crowded room I won't touch too much
I felt the punch of a punch
The language was enough
I ask myself should I put my finger to the left, no
I ask myself should I put my finger to the right, no
I say it really doesn't matter where I put my finger
Someone else will come along and move it
And it's always been the same
It's just a complicated game
A little girl asked me should she part her hair upon the left, no
A little girl asked me should she part her hair upon the right, no
I said it doesn't really matter where you part your hair
Someone else will come along and move it and it's
Always been the same
It's just a complicated game
A little boy asked me should he put his vote upon the left, no
A little boy asked me should he put his vote upon the right, no
I say it really doesn't matter where you put your vote
Someone else will come along and move it
And it's always been the same
It's just a complicated game
They wanted Tom
They wanted Joe
To dress 'em up and stick 'em out on show
They were arrows in a very bad aim
It's just a complicated game
God asked me should he ought to put his world on the left, no
God asked me should he ought to put his world on the right, no
I said God, it really doesn't matter where you put your world
Someone will come along and move it
And it's always been the same
It's just a complicated
Collideascope
Careful, don't look down the wrong end
You will see ships that fall out of the sky
Who put that nail in your eye
You make me want to cry with your...
Collideascope
Everything looks smashed and broken
You will see fishes that drown in the sea
If you don't alter your mind
I'd hate you to go blind why don't you
Wakey Wakey Wakey
Little Sleeper
If you doze much longer
Then life turns to dreaming
Wakey Wakey Wakey
Little Sleeper
If you doze much longer
Then dreams turn to nightmares
Collideascope
Everything looks topsy turvy
You will see one young girl split into two
One half who's false one half true
You better get your glue ready
Wakey Wakey Wakey
Little Sleeper
Collideascope
Careful don't look down the wrong end
All the world's colours will crash into one
Monochrome living's no fun
You're staring down a gun with your
How bright are the fires of thought
In a chain of command
How bright is the medical torch
When it's put in our hand
My microbes and I
Can't wait to lay down and die
We realise that we must be spent
Like the cells that dissolve when a brainwave is sent
How bright are the fires of thought
In a chain of command
My bloodgroup and me
A body of soldiers are we
To the wound we quickly flowed
And we fought with the weapons in our
Chemical code
How bright are the fires of thought
Brainiacs Daughter
Made me a suit of bricks and mortar
And a matching stove pipe hat, oh yes
Brainiacs Daughter
Took me on a sleigh ride underwater
And I'm crazy for girls like that
Oh yes Sir, yes Sir
Three bags full Sir
All across the land the bells ring out
It's night, sun shines bright
So I reach to hold her frozen hand in flight
As we alight in the bottle city of Kandor
Brainiacs Daughter
Talks like a Daily Planet Reporter
Sitting cross legged there on the mat, oh yes
Brainiacs Daughter
Swallowed the pocket watch I bought her
And I'm crazy for girls like that
Oh yes Sir, Yes Sir
All fall down Sir
And I love the lights that blink on and off
All around her head
And I love the clothes that she tries on and off
Landing on the bed
Yes Sir, Yes Sir
Books are burning
In the main square, and I saw there
The first eating the text
Books are burning
In the still air
And you know where they burn books
People are next
I believe the printed word should be forgiven
Doesn't matter what it said
Wisdom hotline from the dead back to the living
Key to the larder for your heart and head
Books are burning
In our own town, watch us turn 'round
And cast our glances elsewhere
Books are burning
In the playground
Smell of burnt book is not unlike human hair
I believe the printed word is more than sacred
Beyond the gauge of good or bad
The human right to let your soul fly free and naked
Above the violence of the fearful and sad
The church of matches
Anoints in ignorance with gasoline
The church of matches
Grows fat by breathing in the smoke of dreams
It's quite obscene
Books are burning
More each day now, and I pray now
You boys will tire of these games
Books are burning
I hope somehow, this will allow
Ich glaube, daß die Welt sich nochmal ändern wird - Und dann Gut über
Böse siegt - Daß irgendjemand uns auf unser'n Wegen lenkt - Und unser
Schicksal in die Hände nimmt - Ja, ich glaube an die Ewigkeit - Und das
jeder jedem mal vergibt - Alle werden wieder voreinander gleich - Jeder
kriegt, was er verdient - Ich glaube daß die Menschheit mal in Frieden
lebt - Und es dann wahre Freundschaft gibt - Und der Planet der Liebe
wird die Erde sein - Und die Sonne wird sich um uns drehn
Das wird die Zeit, in der das Wünschen wieder hilft
Es wird einmal zu schön, um wahr zu sein - Habt ein letztes Mal
Vertrau'n - Das HIER und HEUTE ist dann längst vorbei - Wie ein alter
böser Traum - Es wird ein großer Sieg für die Gerechtigkeit - Für
Anstand und Moral - Es wird die Wiederauferstehung vom heiligen Geist -
Und die vom Weihnachtsmann
Es kommt die Zeit, in der das Wünschen wieder hilft
Komm und wünsch DIR was
Another day I want to see
Another place I want to be
[whispered] Another day I wanna see
Another place I wanna be
Another day I wanna see
Another place I wanna be
Another day I wanna see
Another place I wanna be
Another day I wanna see
Another place I wanna be
Find a place in my mind
where I loose myself inside your paradise
So I close my eyes
and start to rise
As your body wraps around me
...paradise
(Another place I want to be)
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
Now I come to you
Now you want me too
I'll never let you go
Nothing here can get you
Nothing can get you
Nothing can get you
Nothing can get you
Nothing can get you
Nothing can get you
See where I long to be
all the demons I have conquered to be free
Now I come to you
'Cause you want, want me too
Step into a fairy tale that has come true
(Another place I want to be)
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
Now I come to you
Now you want me too
I'll never let you go
Nothing here can get you
[whispered] Amystika
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
[whispered] Another day I wanna see
Another place I wanna be
Another day I wanna see
Another place I wanna be
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
[whispered] Amystika
[whispered] Amystika -
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
(Another day I want to see)
(Another place I want to be)
[whispered] Another day I wanna see
Another place I wanna be
Another day I wanna see
Another place I wanna be
[whispered] Another day I wanna see
Another place I wanna be
Another day I wanna see
[Verse 1]
It started with a touch but it wasn't enough for me, no
Now the damage is done cause she looks like the one for
me now
Say what you're thinkin we've been through this so many
times
I'll have what you're drinking so just say baby what's
on your mind
[Chorus]
I can't see anything and I can't even breathe
She makes me feel alive she's my XTC
You know that I'm trouble and she's got me seeing
double
She knows that I'm addicted got me hooked like a
prescription
She make me feel alive she's my XTC
She's my XTC(x2)
[Verse 2]
Is this like a nightmare or am I just stuck in a cloud
It's you that I'm taking your loves got me spinning
around
Say what you're thinkin we've been through this so many
times
I'll have what you're drinking so just say baby what's
on your mind
[Chorus]
I can't see anything and I can't even breathe
She makes me feel alive she's my XTC
You know that I'm trouble and she's got me seeing
double
She knows that I'm addicted got me hooked like a
prescription
She make me feel alive she's my XTC
She's my XTC(x2)
She's my XTC
She's my XTC
She's my XTC
She's my XTC
[Chorus]
I can't see anything and I can't even breathe
She makes me feel alive she's my XTC
You know that I'm trouble and she's got me seeing
double
She knows that I'm addicted got me hooked like a
prescription
She make me feel alive she's my XTC
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XTC | |
---|---|
XTC after a show in Toronto on 3 October 1978. From left to right: Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Terry Chambers, and Barry Andrews |
|
Background information | |
Also known as | The Dukes of Stratosphear, Terry and the Lovemen, The Three Wise Men |
Origin | Swindon, England, United Kingdom |
Genres | New Wave, alternative rock, psychedelic pop |
Years active | 1977–2005 |
Labels | Cooking Vinyl, Geffen, Idea, Virgin |
Website | www.ape.uk.net |
Past members | |
Andy Partridge Colin Moulding Dave Gregory Terry Chambers Barry Andrews |
XTC were a New Wave[1] / pop band from Swindon, England, active between 1977 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" (1979) and "Senses Working Overtime" (1982), but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical (rather than commercial) success.
Contents |
First coming together in 1972, the core duo of Andy Partridge (guitars & vocals) and Colin Moulding (bass & vocals) went through many band names (including The Helium Kidz and Star Park) over the next five years. As the Helium Kidz, they were featured in a small NME article as an up-and-coming band from Swindon. Drawing influence from the New York Dolls, particularly the "Jetboy" single,[2] and the emerging New York punk scene, they played glam rock with homemade costumes and slowly built up a following. Drummer Terry Chambers joined in 1973. Keyboard player Jonathan Perkins followed, replaced by Barry Andrews in 1976, and the band finally settled on a name: XTC.
In 1977, XTC were signed by Virgin Records. They recorded the 3D - EP that summer, and followed it up with their debut LP White Music in January 1978. These and future XTC releases would find Andy Partridge writing and singing about two-thirds of the material, while Colin Moulding would write and sing approximately one-third. (White Music also featured a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower", sung by Partridge.)
White Music received favourable reviews and entered the British top 40, but lead single "Statue of Liberty" was banned by the BBC[3] because of its supposedly "lewd" reference to the famous statue ("in my fantasy I sail beneath your skirt"). The group also picked up a cult following in Australia thanks to the support of the Sydney rock radio station 2JJ (now Triple-J) and the nationally broadcast weekly music TV show Countdown, which screened all of the band's early videos (beginning with their first Australian single release - "This Is Pop"); thanks to this interest, the group made two well-received tours there in 1979 and 1980.[citation needed]
Their second album Go 2, released later in 1978, featured a typewriter-text cover (designed by Hipgnosis) and early pressings were accompanied by a bonus disc Go +, a collection of dub mixes of songs from the album. Following its release, Barry Andrews left the group; the group initially sought a new keyboard player and Thomas Dolby was among those who auditioned[3]) but they eventually selected guitarist and keyboardist Dave Gregory. Andrews went on to form Shriekback and also worked with Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen.
Coinciding with Gregory's arrival, XTC scored their first charting single in the UK with "Life Begins at the Hop", which was also the first XTC single penned by Colin Moulding. The replacement of Andrews' keyboard playing with Gregory's 1980s-influenced guitar style steered the band on a path towards a more traditional rock sound; Gregory also contributed occasional keyboards (and later, string arrangements). Their third album Drums and Wires contained the band's first major hit single "Making Plans for Nigel" (another Moulding composition), which caused a minor controversy because of its lyrical reference to British Steel.[citation needed] Drums and Wires also marked their first sessions at London's Townhouse Studios. The studio was at the time much sought after for its highly reverberant "live" drum room, and it was greatly favoured by their producer Steve Lillywhite and his engineer Hugh Padgham, who were at that time also creating influential recordings with Peter Gabriel and Genesis[citation needed]. The Lillywhite-Padgham connection also led to Dave Gregory contributing to Gabriel's third solo album.
During this period, Partridge released a solo LP of dub in 1980 under the name 'Mr Partridge'. The album, Take Away/The Lure of Salvage, featured dub reconstructions of music from the preceding XTC albums. Later the same year Moulding and Chambers released the "Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen" single under the name "The Colonel". In March 1980 XTC released a non-album single, the reggae-styled "Wait 'Til Your Boat Goes Down", but it failed to chart. Hoping to crack the American market, they undertook a gruelling US-Canada tour which included numerous support spots with The Police. The band opened three shows for The Cars at Madison Square Garden and the Nassau Coliseum between their own headline gigs at smaller area venues.
Their fourth LP Black Sea (Sept. 1980) featured the singles "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" and "Generals and Majors", both of which made the UK Top 40, with the album reaching #1 in Australia.[3] In the film clip of 'Generals and Majors' (directed by Russell Mulcahy), Virgin Records founder and chair Richard Branson has a cameo role as one of the 'majors'.
The last major hit of XTC's touring phase was "Senses Working Overtime", the first single from their double album English Settlement (February 1982) and their first top 10 hit in the UK. At the peak of their popularity, the band embarked on a major tour, but Partridge suffered a mental breakdown on stage during one of the first concerts of the tour in Paris on 18 March 1982.
On 2 April 1982, a Friday night, XTC were scheduled to play at the Palladium in Hollywood, California, but did not appear. The audience milled about the open festival floor for a long 45 minutes/hour after opening act Oingo Boingo departed the stage, and then finally it was announced that XTC would not take the stage due to the "illness" of one of the band members (later revealed as Andy Partridge's ongoing fight with stage fright in Chris Twomey's book XTC: Chalkhills and Children). XTC never played another tour date.[4] (XTC would perform several acoustic sets for radio only in 1989.[5])
Andy Partridge's breakdown, which manifested itself as uncontrollable stage fright, was reportedly precipitated by his wife throwing away his supply of Valium. According to the band's biography, the drug was prescribed to him as a teenager during his parents' divorce but he was never withdrawn from the drug and became dependent on it. Concerned about her husband's dependence on the drug, Partridge's wife threw his tablets away—without seeking medical advice—just before the Paris concert. Partridge particularly needed the medication to cope with the grinding monotony of concert touring, which he had always hated, but had endured for the good of the band.[6] The sudden withdrawal of medication brought on anxiety attacks of such severity that he was soon forced to withdraw from performing permanently. The European and British dates were cancelled and after completing only one show in San Diego the whole US leg was also abandoned. Since then, XTC became exclusively a studio band, apart from occasional live-to-air performances from radio stations, and a handful of TV appearances.
Terry Chambers left the band shortly thereafter, during the recording of their 1983 album Mummer (his last recording on the track "Toys"). He was unhappy working in confines of the studio, and also felt the loss of income that resulted from their withdrawal from touring, since he did not write songs for the band and so received no publishing royalties. Another major factor was Chambers' relationship with his Australian girlfriend; they subsequently married, and Chambers migrated to Australia and settled in Newcastle, New South Wales. Rather than finding a replacement, XTC used a series of session drummers over the years, including Peter Phipps, Prairie Prince of The Tubes, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and Mr. Mister, Chuck Sabo, and Dave Gregory's brother Ian (as "E.I.E.I. Owen").
Mummer took the group's music in a more pastoral direction with songs like "Love on a Farmboy's Wages". Their next album, 1984's The Big Express marked a return to the harsher and more abrasive sounds of their early albums, but the combination of the group's 'no touring' status and the growing disenchantment of their label made it their poorest selling LP to date. The album was nonetheless a personal high point for Partridge, who ranks songs such as "(The Everyday Story of) Smalltown" and "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" amongst his best work.
Later in 1984, the members of XTC created their alter-ego, "The Dukes of Stratosphear" (a suggested band name that the group had considered when they first formed). With this project, they reunited with original producer John Leckie to record a series of affectionate parodies that indulged their love of classic 1960s psychedelic music. The first Dukes release was the EP 25 O'Clock, issued on April Fools' Day 1985.
In 1986, the band travelled to Todd Rundgren's rural studio in Woodstock, New York to record Skylarking. Although the pairing of XTC and Rundgren was highly anticipated by fans, the sessions were less than enjoyable for the band. Rundgren had been hired to trim the band's studio excesses and return them to commercial success. Prior to the recording sessions, Rundgren listened through demos of the songs, chose 15 for the record and worked out a sequence for the album. Being accustomed to creative independence in the studio, Partridge resisted Rundgren's decision-making role as producer. Rundgren and Partridge clashed frequently during the recording of Skylarking and when it was finished Partridge said that he was not at all happy with the resulting product. Partridge has since softened his view, describing the album as "a summer's day baked into one cake." Nevertheless, it was praised highly by both fans and critics alike.
Skylarking spawned the controversial track "Dear God", which was originally issued as the B-side of the album's first single, "Grass". Interest in the song saw the US album re-pressed with "Dear God" included and the new version of the LP sold 250,000 copies in the USA, reviving the band's commercial fortunes and earning critical accolades. "Dear God" replaced "Mermaid Smiled" on the American version of the album and the latter track was finally reinstated for the remastered reissue of Skylarking CD in 2000.
XTC released the LP Psonic Psunspot, another Dukes of Stratosphear recording, in 1987. Although it was a full-length album, it was not intended to be the follow-up to Skylarking. The tracks from this album and the 25 O'Clock EP were combined for the CD Chips from the Chocolate Fireball, which also came out in 1987.
The band released their official follow-up to Skylarking in 1989. This album, Oranges and Lemons, produced by Paul Fox, was their biggest seller yet, with the videos for "The Mayor of Simpleton" and "King for a Day" getting heavy airplay on MTV and other international music TV programs. Sonically lush and tightly produced, the album continued along the psychedelic influence of Skylarking while drawing from the energetic pop sound of their earlier work. Like it's predecessor, it was also well-received critically. It was during this period that Partridge began a relationship with an American fan, Erica Wexler, the niece of famed American record producer Jerry Wexler.[7] Although signs of the failing of Partridge's first marriage were evident as far back as English Settlement (notably on the album's closing track, "Snowman"), it was some time before the still-married Partridge felt comfortable with Wexler's advances and his mixed feelings about the situation were chronicled in the song "Another Satellite". The relationship finally came to fruition after Partridge's first wife Marianne left him.
Their 1992 album Nonsuch (named after Henry VIII's fabled palace), united them with UK producer Gus Dudgeon, known for his 1970s work with Elton John and drummer Dave Mattacks (Fairport Convention). The album featured the US and UK hit tunes "Dear Madam Barnum" and "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead", the latter bringing the band perhaps its greatest success after the early 1980s. (The video for the song drew intriguing parallels between the deaths of Jesus Christ and John F. Kennedy.) In spite of the LP's success, soon after its release a contractual dispute with their label, Virgin Records, saw XTC go "on strike" from 1992 through 1998, which finally resulted in the termination of their contract. They released no new material during this time, although Virgin did issue two compilations - the US-only greatest hits collection Upsy Daisy Assortment, and the 2-CD set 'Best Of' collection Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992, which featured remastered versions of their singles, including many tracks not previously issued on CD.
Management and contractual problems had dogged the band throughout their career, and around the time of the recording of Nonsuch they had to make a legal settlement with their former manager. Although most fans assume (and the lyrics of "I Bought Myself a Liarbird" from The Big Express imply) that there was some financial impropriety involved, the terms of the settlement imposed a "gag" on the band and have prevented them from speaking publicly about the matter.
By now, XTC's relationship with their label had almost totally broken down; the final straw was Virgin's scuttling of their 1992 single "Wrapped in Grey". Vinyl 7" singles, CD singles and a few cassette singles were pressed but the vast majority were recalled and destroyed by the label, who unilaterally decided it had no prospect of charting: the few copies that made it in to circulation are now highly prized collector's items. The band asked that Virgin either allow them to re-negotiate their contract or release them from it, but the label stalled for years until finally agreeing to release them after a change of management at the company.
After leaving Virgin, Partridge had their accounts audited and it was discovered that the company had withheld substantial royalty payments from them. The settlement of the accounts provided the group with much-needed cash flow, allowing Partridge and Moulding to install fully equipped studios and work comfortably at home.
Though able to record the majority of their work themselves, they also used major commercial studios (including Abbey Road Studios in London) for some sessions. Finally released from Virgin, they formed their own label, Idea Records, and embarked on the recording of the ambitious "Apple Venus" project, a collection of the best material written during the band's dispute with Virgin. The band's initial plan had been to record a double album, featuring one disc of acoustic and orchestral songs and one of electric songs. Financial constraints forced the band to abandon the double album plan and finish and release the first volume (released 1999) before completing the second (2000).
Dave Gregory left the band during the recording sessions for Apple Venus Volume 1 after 20 years' service. Ostensibly, this was due to "musical differences" -- Gregory was unhappy with the plan to record an album whose arrangements relied largely upon orchestral instruments and keyboards rather than guitars. What was not mentioned at the time was that the cutting back of his involvement in the new XTC recordings, (the string arrangements having been taken over by Andy Partridge), meant considerably fewer "points" in the calculation of royalties; as Gregory never wrote any songs for the band, this put a significant dent in his potential income from the album, basically reducing his payments to that of a session musician.
In the end, Gregory was credited as a session musician rather than as a band member on the finished album, as he left before it was completed. Partridge later claimed in a press interview that he and Colin were going to sack Gregory anyway because of his sullen attitude during the recordings, and that they had waited for him for six years to write the orchestral arrangements, and had finally told him that they would not let him stop the project.
Dave Gregory's contribution to the XTC sound had been immense; the technical skill of his guitar and keyboard playing, and his orchestral scoring, had facilitated a huge expansion in the group's sonic possibilities. His skills also encouraged, perhaps goaded Partridge to new heights of musicianship. It is some measure of how fond of him the XTC fanbase were that they slammed Moulding & Partridge for forcing his departure on the band's official forum—and some measure of their mutual respect for their fans and Gregory that the criticism went uncensored. The three got back together for a charity reunion of their Dukes of Stratosphear alter-egos years later, and in late 2006 Partridge revealed that he and Gregory had rekindled their friendship.
The band's next record, Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) was the guitar-heavy collection Gregory would have preferred. Partridge and Moulding then released instrumental and demo versions of the two Apple Venus albums. In October 2005, the two original albums and the demo versions of the albums were reissued together in the four-CD Apple Box collection.
Having left Virgin, relations between XTC and their former label improved and Andy Partridge released a series of albums of demos of his songs (mainly from the Virgin years) under the title of Fuzzy Warbles beginning in 2002, on a new label imprint APE. Colin Moulding declined to contribute his demos to the series. The Fuzzy Warbles series eventually included eight volumes along with a bonus CD, Hinges.
A four-CD compilation—Coat of Many Cupboards—spanning the band's time with Virgin, was also released in 2002.
The 2005 inclusion in Apple Box of the first new XTC tracks in five years ("Spiral", written by Partridge and "Say It", by Moulding), offered hope that the band might continue. These songs were available to purchasers of the box set in digital format only, with the use of a special download code. A follow-up internet-only single, Moulding's "Where Do The Ordinary People Go?", was issued in December.
However, in November 2006, Partridge told several interviewers that Moulding no longer had any interest in writing, performing or even listening to music. Partridge has said he would not continue XTC without Moulding, and that therefore he has been forced to regard XTC "in the past tense," with no likelihood of a new project unless Moulding should have a change of heart.[8]
Partridge said, in an interview on a Todd Rundgren fansite in February 2008, that Moulding had moved and changed his phone number, effectively ending all contact between the two. The only correspondence they had is through emails via their manager, discussing the division of the band's assets. Partridge also said he and Gregory—their differences now resolved—have considered working together again.[9]
On 30 July 2008, Partridge summed up the status of the band on the news website Swindon Advertiser, in his "Ask Andy" column:
Yes I believe my musical partnership with Colin Moulding has come to an end. For reasons too personal and varied to go into here, but we had a good run as they say and produced some real good work. No, I won't be working with him in the future.[10]
In a December 2008 internet radio interview on RundgrenRadio.com, Moulding resurfaced to confirm his recent disillusionment with music, but revealed that he was thinking of working on solo material. His given reasons for the break-up were financial discord, disagreement over the extent of the Fuzzy Warbles project, and a "change in mindset" on Partridge's part, but he stated that they were again communicating directly by email.[2]
Newly remastered re-issues of several XTC albums have been released or are in the works. Included are re-worked previously unreleased tracks with contributions by Moulding.[2] The first of these releases, expanded versions of 25 O'Clock and Psonic Psunspot, have been released by Partridge's APE House record label. These re-issues began in 2010, with expanded CD editions of English Settlement, Skylarking, and Oranges & Lemons making up the first wave. APE also released vinyl editions of the re-issued records.[11]
In 2009 Partridge's Ape House label reissued the Dukes of Stratosphear recordings as a limited-edition boxed set which included heavyweight vinyl pressings of the original EP and LP in gatefold sleeves, a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle, a t-shirt and the single, "Tin Toy Clockwork Train".[12] Other XTC side projects include a Viz promotional single as "Johnny Japes and his Jesticles", a Christmas-themed single as "The Three Wise Men" and a guest appearance on their own tribute album Testimonial Dinner as "Terry and the Lovemen" (named after a rejected album title for Black Sea).