Žilina ( pronunciation (help·info); German: Sillein, Hungarian: Zsolna, names in other languages) is a city in north-western Slovakia, around 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the capital Bratislava, close to both the Czech and Polish borders. It is the fourth largest city of Slovakia with a population of approximately 85,000, an important industrial center, the largest city on the Váh river, and the seat of a kraj (Žilina Region) and of an okres (Žilina District). It belongs to Upper Váh region of tourism.
The area around today's Žilina was inhabited in the late Stone Age (about 20,000 BC). In the 5th century Slavs started to move into the area. However, the first written reference to Žilina was in 1208 as terra de Selinan. From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary.
In the middle of the 13th century terra Sylna was the property of the Cseszneky de Milvány family. The city started to develop around year 1300, and according to records in 1312 it was already a town. In 1321, King Charles I made Žilina a free royal town. On 7 May 1381 King Louis I issued Privilegium pro Slavis which made the Slav inhabitants equal to the Germans by allocating half of the seats at the city council to Slavs. The town was burned in 1431 by the Hussites.
you spent the night
in a steel hotel
where the birds whistled
where the birds whistled
you have to wonder
what's goin' on
and maybe this time
you're overdrawn
this time around
the pressure's on
you hope for happiness
your hand are scarred
i've seen your girl
you think she's cute
don't make her crazy
don't make her sad
the sky is painted
deep shade of blue
i hope for happiness
this time around
the pressure's on
you hope for happiness
in hollywood i hear they have a discoteque for dogs
and summer camp where you can send your cabbage patch dolls
if you would point up at the skyline
others will look too
you could walk on down the street smilin' to yourself
it's hard to get things done
with everybody playin' dumb
it's hard to get along
to get along with you
my nextdoor neighbor paints all night
and sleeps the day away
he visits funerals when he can
and crashes parties too
my upstairs neighbor drinks too much
he's stinking up the stairwell
he cleans his gun
it's down the hatch
heres to all of us
it's hard to get things done
with everybody playin' dumb
it's hard to get along
to get along with you
???????? is all day long
and sitting eating popcorn
the pictures splash into your eyes
and you don't understand
your expression never changes
as if that could protect you
your sitting in the darkness now
waiting for the end
it's hard to get things done
with everybody playin' dumb
it's hard to get along
rollercoaster, bumper car
ghosts down at the wax museum
stinking drunk just like a bum
rollercoaster (give me um)?
cyclone at the house of freaks
(neighbors) hotdogs on the boardwalk?
rollercoaster, bumper car
twinkle twinkle little star
rollercoaster, bumper car
ghosts down at the wax museum
stinking drunk just like a bum
rollercoaster (get me up)?
sweet obscenity
bring her back to me
lost in her perfume
think i'm gonna sue
sweet obscenity
didn't i know it
didn't i call her name
stale cigarettes
crumble in your fingers
caught with a drink in my hand
edging to the door
sweet obscenity
didn't i know it
didn't i call her name
tiger lily girl
standin' cross-eyed in the corner
tiger lily girl
standin toungue tied in the corner
somethin' in her eye
tells that i should try
somethin' she might say
tells right away
somethin' in her eye
didn't i know it
didn't i call her name
tiger lily girl
standin' cross-eyed in the corner
tiger lily girl
i went to your street
at seven in the mornin'
and while you were asleep
i read your newspaper
i saw you out walkin'
out walkin' with your father
pretendin' not to see me
pretendin' to be a family
i know you tried, baby
i know you tried
i know you tried to go on
saw a metal object
lyin' in the street
and when we turned away
it stood itself up
you circled the island
in a chevy caprice
you stuck out your tongue
and your nose began to bleed
i know you tried, baby
i know you tried
i know you tried to go on
i know you tried, baby
i know you tried
It's no fun, it's no fun
Reading fortune cookies to yourself
Are you a fox or a hedgehog?
Do you care anymore?
Wastin' time, wastin' time
Wastin' time all the while
I don't know what you're sayin'
But I hate it anyway
A celebrity friendship
And another fashion victim
He's annoying, she's a liar
I don't know how she picked him
Wastin' time, wastin' time
Wastin' time all the while
I don't know what you're sayin'
But I hate it anyway
Can you make time for me
Would you make time for me?
I will wait patiently
All kinds of crazy people
Police and senators too
All the crazy people
Couldn't hold a candle to you
Say goodbye
I can't satisfy
All your dreams
All my nasty habits
Are walkin further away
All my nasty habits
I'm feelin better each day
Say goodbye
I can't satisfy
No point in screamin
Cause I'm only dreamin
That you came to pieces
And I came in peace
You're always loaded
Your life has imploded
Nine weeks of hell, man
But I'm feelin swell
And in my dreams I slash your tires
And in my dreams I set these fires
And all your fears, it's nothing new
And all your tears, they won't help you
You're always posin
And I was imposin
But I turned the tables
And I'm feeling fine
You're always loaded
Your life has imploded
Nine weeks of hell, man
But I'm feelin swell
And in my dreams I slash your tires
And in my dreams I set these fires
And all your fears, it's nothing new
And all your tears, they won't help you
And all your fears, it's nothing new
Lookin for another chance
For someone else to be
Lookin for another place
To ride into the sun
Ride into the sun
Ride into the sun
Ride into the sun
Ride into the sun
Waitin for the ships to sail
Looking for an end
Ridin for another time
To ride into the sun
Ride into the sun
Ride into the sun
Ride into the sun
(oh oh oh, yeah yeah yeah)
It's gettin warm already
We're goin for a ride
I love the Motel 6's
I'm feelin pacified
Forget about your parents
They never cared a bit
Leave the doctors behind you
cover my face with roses
cover me head to toe
i had to be drunk
just to look at your face
that was all right by me
how long will this go....
how long will this go....
how long will this go on
cover my face with roses
cover me head to toe
you wanted to give me
some friendly advice
that was alright by me
how long will this go....
how long will this go....
how long will this go on
cover my face with roses
cover me head to toe
they're throwin' a party
and you're not invited
that was alright by me
how long will this go....
how long will this go....
Souvenirs, soft and sweet
Clap your hands and tap your feet
Ring your bells and paint your toes
Rainbow babe
Aquavit, in plastic cups
Feathered drums and lipstick butts
RIng your bells and paint your toes
Rainbow babe
Midnight fell, at 12 o'clock
And your lips, said ticker tock
Two and two, makes twenty two
She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything
Was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I'd stare too long
I'd probably break down and cry
Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by
Sweet child o' mine
Sweet love of mine
Where do we go
Where do we go now
Where do we go
Hey sister, hey sister
Things move all alone
You know that I
Can't stand what you do
And it won't be too long
Hey soldier, hey soldier
Things die on their own
You know that I
Can't stand what you do
And it won't be too long
And I'm sure that it won't be too long
give me an answer
wrap it up
up to the top and back
freakin' and peakin'
loosin' touch
can't tell the wrong from wright
out on the streets
sugar in the streets
thinkin' we'd talk without speakin'
she was pointing at me
but i was pointing at you
can't tell the wrong from wright
gotta keep movin'
movin' on
before it gets too much
she was pointing at me
but i was pointing at you
I wanna help you understand
I wanna see you if I can
I'm loaded up and weighted down
and I'm surrounded by demons
it's fantastic
because your eyes make me weak
and your lips make me dizzy
and i want you to see
just how good it can be
in ancient Greece there was a man
lived in a barrel, he had a plan
my life is small, and getting smaller
and I'm surrounded by demons
In the tiny tiny hours
Between the evening and the day
We have placed our final bets
We have come out to play
Fancy drinks and a lucky toasts
I like this time the most
You're out all night, chasin' girlies
You're late to work and you go home earlies
Lookin' lost in Chinatown
Why are we hidin' from our friends?
Rushing 'round in taxi cabs
Is it time to make amends?
You'll get yours and I'll get mine
You can't be lucky all the time
You're out all night chasin' girlies
Well according to the shadows
We should be getting home
And according to the shadows
We should be getting on
With your lucky lucky fingers
And your caterpillar eyes
I promise to be gentle
And I promise to be nice
Some love is short, some love is long
Sing to the ghosts of a dream gone wrong
A new style hit the city
A nueva bossa craze
Dance into the future
In the old fashioned ways
Perfect your dimensions
Teeth as white as mice
I promise to be gentle
And I promise to be nice
Some love is short, some love is long
Sing to the ghosts of a dream gone wrong
Some love is short, some love is long
Sing to the ghosts of a dream gone wrong
Some love is short, some love is long
Sing to the ghosts of a dream gone wrong
Some love is short, some love is long
1000 (Hiljadu) na cas
Ima jedno srce koje stanu je
Tu, tu samo tuguje
Ima jedna duša koja bolu je
Tu, tu sama stanuje
Hiljadu na cas, lazeš kao pas
Gledaš me k'o zver
Stvarno nije fer (2x)
Ne, ne, ne voliš me, ne voliš me
o Babe, ne kao pre (2x)
Niko tako lepo ne zna lagati
Ne, ne , Niko kao ti
Ali srce moje voli laganja
Da, da s'tvojih usana
1000 na cas....
Ne, ne, ne voliš me....
Hiljadu
1000 na cas....
well he fell from the skies
with a sense he devised
and he dropped out of school
with his evil sunglasses
and the desert he crossed
was a picture to see
roll in the sand
he had it all in his hand
(chorus)
you're gonna live forever
we can see you roll in the sand
he was a bungling thief
turning fiction to fact
and back at the hill
they want him to act
Things I did
Haunt me still
Follow me around
Like they know the way
Things she said
Linger on
Hanging in the air
And they will not go away
I thought I knew her game
I miss her just the same
Thought I knew
What to do
She broke my window pane
But she said I couldn't prove
I look at my dog
We're both confused
I love September best
And I feel like I should move
I thought I knew her game
no blind spots in the leopard's eyes
could ever hope to jeopardize
the lives of lambs
the shepherd cries
an afterlife for a silverfish
eternal dust, less ticklish
than a clean room
a houseguest's wish
he lies on his side
is he trying to hide
in fact it's the earth
which he's known since birth
face worker, a serpentine miner
a roof falls, an underliner
of leaf structure
Goodbye baby
Bye bye honey
Goodbye baby
Bye bye
Three years in this town
And I want to leave town
The clubs have all shut down
And I have been dressed down
Goodbye baby
Bye bye honey
Goodbye baby
Bye bye
I'm leavin tonight
And I'm drivin all night
You know I been thinkin
i've seen her face
in those scented magazines
all is forgivin'
i love her still
and we're home, home
goin' home
the chrysler building
was talkin' to the empire state
the twin towers
were talkin' to each other
sayin' all is forgivin'
i love you still
and we're home, home
goin' home
what she saw in him
nobody knew
it's a mystery
what she saw in him
nobody could tell
now it's history
all is forgivin'
i love her still
and we're home, home
goin' home
and we're home, home
goin' home
and we're home, home
Dog day romance, key lime pie
Valium sunset, hazy sky
Motel Bambi
Where has all the sunshine gone?
Mystic rattlers, 8 eyed spy
Hong Kong garden, Spanish fly
Motel Bambi
Where has all the sunshine gone?
We don't belong here
We can't compete
We don't belong, anymore
I like flowers, I like sex
Cover all the mirrors
I think I'm gonna cry
It's Tuesday morning
Where have all the good times gone?
Taxi drivers, yellow hands
Cosmic dancers, on golden sands
Motel Bambi
Tell me where the good times have gone
We don't belong here
We can't complete
Loose joints, loose joints
Symphonic Vaseline
Loose joints, loose joints
Say esactly what you mean
Daddy run through the forest
See the goblins all around
Daddy run through the forest
Daddy doesn't make a sound
Sexy long sweater dresses
Choclate knee-high leather boots
Maybe tonight will be the night
I can see your Fuzzy Wuzzy
Say goodbye to the frogs
Say goodbye to the lake
Say goodbye to the chit-chat
I saw that girl again today
Reading silly magazines
I saw that girl again today
Singing songs of bubblegum
I had my eyes peeled wide
Up and down the dirty side
I had my eyes peeled wide
I think about her all the time
And then you blew my mind
Always on my mind
You made an educated guess
You are an educated girl
It was a palace on wheels
And I was just a drunken fool
I had my eyes peeled wide
Up and down the dirty side
I got a head just like a beehive
I think about her all the time
Why must you be
He's a softly spoken tiger
In a sea of pussycats
A softly spoken tiger
Getting on the groove
Betty and veronica
Lord i miss them so
Forgot to mail those postcards
It was a long time ago
In a city of this size
We'll never meet again
No, no. no
Well the mind is a monkey
And honey so am i
Befuddled and befiddled
In the corner of your eye
And the rustler's getting loopy
On xycoline and booze
He's gonna meet you at the airport
This is who we are (x2)
We are the unexpected
We .. free
We are the snow that falls in April
We are the seeds that no one thought would grow
We are visible for those who feel
We are that ingredient, that makes 'em addicted
We create our own patterns till you see them
This is who we are (x4)
We are the tunnels to other worlds
We are forever!
We are the long words
When everything is abbreviated
We are ears when nobody listens
The little girl, the black fields
Never had a way to deal with her old man
Now you need her, you could try it
You could burst up through the floorboards
And maybe then....
I got a cold master and she's gonna tell you
She's gonna break my back with a bit of
amusement, oh man
We're holding hands
So, if the words get in the way
Hold the silence but just don't stay there
You're in the sand
When everything comes crying to you
Way bye bye, goodbye to holding hands
You've got to sell it over and I'm gonna buy you
I got a television with so many lines to bet on
She hasn't come home
Bobby, I'm still at home
I've got a cold master and she's gonna tell you
She's goona break my back with a bit of
amusement, oh man
Can we make amends?
Selepas kau pergi
Tinggallah disini ku sendiri
Kumerasakan sesuatu
Yang t’lah hilang di dalam hidupku
Dalam lubuk hatimu
Ku yakin kaupun sebenarnya tak
Inginkan lepas dariku
Tahukah kau kini ku terluka
Bantu aku membencimu
Ku terlalu mencintaimu
Dirimu begitu…
Berati untukku…
Kau telah mencinta
Dan dicintai kekasihmu
Ini tak adil bagiku
Hilanglah damba tinggallah hampa
Lupakanku dalam tidurmu
Yang pernah mencintaimu
Kau memang tercipta
Bukanlah untukku
Selepas kau pergi
Tinggallah disini ku sendiri
Kumerasakan sesuatu
Yang t’lah hilang di dalam hidupku
When I look out my window,
Many sights to see.
And when I look in my window,
So many different people to be
That it's strange, so strange.
You've got to pick up every stitch,
You've got to pick up every stitch,
You've got to pick up every stitch,
Mm, must be the season of the witch,
Must be the season of the witch, yeah,
Must be the season of the witch.
When I look over my shoulder,
What do you think I see ?
Some other cat looking over
His shoulder at me
And he's strange, sure he's strange.
You've got to pick up every stitch,
You've got to pick up every stitch,
Beatniks are out to make it rich,
Oh no, must be the season of the witch,
Must be the season of the witch, yeah,
Must be the season of the witch.
You've got to pick up every stitch,
The rabbits running in the ditch,
Beatniks are out to make it rich,
Oh no, must be the season of the witch,
Must be the season of the witch,
Must be the season of the witch.
When I look.
When I look out my window,
What do you think I see ?
And when I look in my window,
So many different people to be
It's strange, sure it's strange.
You've got to pick up every stitch,
You've got to pick up every stitch,
The rabbits running in the ditch,
Oh no, must be the season of the witch,
Must be the season of the witch, yeah,
Must be the season of the witch.
High speed train
French cocaine
Comfort Station
Show and tell
Tell me something good
Striped ties
Denim suit
Dirty windshield
Snakeskin boot
Tell me somthing nice
You are a Star-Sprangled Man
You are a Star-Sprangled Man
Steven Sprouse
Chairman mouse
Chow yun fat
Geronimo pratt
Tell me something good
Unknown treasures
Unknown tricks
Unknown pleasures
I feel six
Tell me something nice
You are a Star-Sprangled Man
We were brown and we were down
We were black and we were slack
We are digging us a hole
There is nothing in this bowl
On the way, to Kansas C.
Who are we supposed to be?
It's raining rain, it's raining snow
Tell me where you wanna go
I don't want to take your call
I refuse to climb your wall
I don't want to ride your bus
I am tired of all of us
On the way, to Kansas C.
Who are we supposed to be?
It's raining rain, It's raining snow
When candles light themselves
And the air turns creamy
Why not take a photograph?
You look so dreamy
Then stand in the blackness
Smile at the tinkling
Blinded by lovedust
What did I see?
A million, a billion, a trillion stars
A million, a billion star
I’m bad with faces
And worse with names
But the last glove is happy
Its all the same
I set a trap for you
But I’m the one who’s all caught up
Blinded by lovedust
This is what I saw
A million, a billion, a trillion stars
A million a billion stars
A million, a billion, a trillion stars
It's true you're lazy
You're tired and crazy
And you know there's something more
But you can't give it a name
Someone's selling all your heroes
And they seem so tame
You heard it all before
And said your case was tragic
You heard it all before
And now they say it's magic
You need time off
For good behavior
And you know there's something else
But you can't give a name
Someone's selling all your heroes
And it seems such a shame
You heard it all before
And said your case was tragic
You heard it all before
And now they say it's magic
You heard it all before
And said your case was tragic
You heard it all before
Well the week is to short
But the days is so long
Livin' with sick people
Makes me feel so strong
And as the sun peaks in
On an afternoon drunk
All the green green bottles
But it won't last forever
Nim-nee nim-nee nim-nee ah
Nim-nee nim-nee nim-nee hey, oh
Nim-nee nim-nee nim-nee ah
Nim-nee nim-nee nim-nee hey
Well if the war is over
And the monsters have won
If the war is over
I'm gonna have some fun
And as the sun peaks in
On an afternoon drunk
All the green green bottles
But it won't last forever
Nim-nee nim-nee nim-nee ah
Nim-nee nim-nee nim-nee he, oh
Nim-nee nim-nee nim-nee ah
Is there a doctor in the house
In the house of pancakes
You got a banana split
Personality
Lately it's been happy hour
All day long
Sip it slowly and leave the olive
She is very fond of you
You stand accused
Of smoking English cigarettes
That's a provocation
If ever one was
Brother number one
Brother number two
Why are you fighting
What are you gonna do
And at the weekly meeting
Of anonymous cads
You shuffle your feet
And whistle out aloud
Listen to what they're saying
What a load of crap
You ain't no Cary Grant
Maybe I was bad as the ones I hate
Maybe I was dumb but I can't wait
Maybe what you said is not so cool
Maybe what you did is just too cruel
I can't tell what it takes
I can't wait for today
Scary lookin' guys, walk down my street
Scary lookin' suits, I don't wanna meet
Maybe I was bad as the ones I hate
Maybe I was dumb but I can't wait
I can't tell what it takes
I can't wait for today
I can't tell what it takes
I can't tell what it takes
Where is he going?
What has he done?
What's to become of him
I wrote a speech to my dad
Twenty-one pages long
He twisted my jokes and swallowed their meanings
I lay awake counting one, two and three,
It's alright, it's alright
I fell asleep
Counting eight, ten and four
it's okay
A twelve year old math wiz
Came to me in my sleep
He knew all the answers
Which he kept to himself
He said I'd hate to be you
When the big day comes
The look on your face
Honey, bunny, come on
it's time to put the diamonds on
in the bathroom on the plane, on the bus and
on the train
I'll write your name
in Malibu
inside Italian magazines
in my wishes and my dreams
on the walls and on the streets,
in the sand and on the beach
I'll write your name
in Malibu
you will call me Robespierre
put the powder in your hair
moonman light, this crooked sky
I told lies to your family concerning your whereabouts
They feel so sorry for me
I invented jealous stories, my imagination ran wild
I made myself so angry
The night that you insulted me I lay awake thinkin'
Clever things I could have said
My thoughts kept turning to Bobby Peru
How would he handle this one?
'S' is for sorry for all that I did
Now is the time to turn it all around
I know what's the matter, so why can't I fix it?
Forgive me please
I had lunch with an old girlfriend who knows all my faults
And pretends to want to help
She said I really don't mind your keeping secrets from me
But please don't keep them from yourself
Murder is bad, and suicide is sad
Why would a girl like that put her head in the oven?
You have your theories and I have one too
It's such a waste
'S' is for sorry for all that I did
Now is the time to turn it all around
I know what's matter, so why can't I fix it?
This feeling is eternal, for as long as it lasts
Now is the time to turn it all around
I know what's matter, I'm trying to fix it?
Forgive me please
'S' is for sorry for all that I did
Now is the time to turn it all around
I really don't mind you keeping secrets from me
Woman made of paper, understand me now
This time they got you by the ears
You might be nothin' or just a footprint
They've been watchin' you for years
It's a strange fascination
It's a bliss
It's a beggar's bliss
A double dance for twenty dollars
You may be crooked but not cheap
Go ahead and make a mistake
That's what you're made of
They've been watchin' you for years
It's a strange fascination
It's a bliss
It's a beggar's bliss
In the shadow of a candlestick your face appears
Quickly, now is the time, why are we waitin'?
Uptown, downtown I could care less
I've been watchin' you for years
It's a strange fascination
It's a bliss
I wanna plug you in
I wanna get you things
Send you a pentagram
Feed you diazepam
I wanna play the game
I wanna live again
I wanna bend your spoons and make your
Silver shine
I'll wear a stylin' mustache
You'll wear a frozen smile
We'll run like Tamil Tigers
We'll drink the poison vial
I'm not the Jack of diamonds
I'm not the six of spades
I don't know what you thought
I'm not your astronaut
Because our surly stare
Is so revealing
Because your feet are bare
My eyes are peeling
Because your mistletoe
Because I gamble
Because I told you so
Left my hotel in the city
Everythin' was clear and set
You were on your way and sittin' pretty
That was just a bait and switch
Say a prayer for you and me
Say a prayer tell me do you miss me
23 minutes in Brussels
Why can't they just leave us alone
Are we gonna to get into a tussle
Cannot take an airplane home
Say a prayer for you and me
Say a prayer tell me do you miss me
Say a prayer for you and me
Say a prayer tell me do you miss me
Say a prayer for you and me
Say a prayer tell me do you miss me
Say a prayer for you and me
Well she looked real cute
In her buffalo boots
She has a rosy future
In her juicy couture
Ladybug red
And strawberry pink
Made me stop and wonder
Made me have to think
There's a girl in Nolita
I really wanna snuckle
At the supermarket
I have to bite my knuckle
Mother of pearl
Thrilling my thrill
Mother of girl
I thought about it every day
While I was wondering in and out of the pink
You had to make another go
You were drowning in your wonderful drink
There's so much of madness here
So much that sinks
Act like you are, we're all in a terrible fable
What do you see
I'm running so fast
Gotta go where I need
Out on the road there
The devil knows what I see
Sometimes you gotta know
You gotta make it with a lot of the sane
Had to be another Joe
Drifting in and out of the way
So much I used to let by
Was so much like a kick in the head
Better be off and I better be able to see what's ahead
It's beautiful now
I tell myself I'm braver
Sorry somehow
Alison Andrews came up to see me
In a beautiful pea green coat
She took my pulse, she brought me pills
Wrapped up in a 5-dollar note
And hand in hand on the edge of the sand
we danced by the light of the moon
We drove away for a year and a day
To the land, where the bong tree grows
There in the wood a piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose
Hand in hand on the edge of the sand
I got pills that make me cranky
I got pills that make me cry
I have crooked information
Tiny nightmares in the sky
Rest your head upon my pillow
Put my hand inside your bed
You can have it if you want it
If you'd like to take a chance
I can hypnotize a pancake
I can levitate the Pope
I can make your teacher crazy
'Cause it's all within my scope
Rest your head upon my pillow
Put my hand inside the bed
You can have it if you want it
If you'd like to take a chance
Teenage lightning in the basement
Teenage lightning in the night
Teenage lightning on my window
oh, oh, oh
oh baby you can walk
you can talk just like me
you can walk/talk just like me
you can look
tell me what you see
you can look
you won't see nothin' like me
oh, oh, oh
oh baby you can walk
you can talk just like me
little girl you can walk/talk just like me
if that's what's you wan't to do
and you can look
you walk in circles around me
but first, i'll walk in circles around you
round we go
round the world we go
aye aye aye aye......
you can walk girl
you walk in circles around me
but first...