Performance is a 1968 British crime drama film directed by Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg, written by Cammell and starring James Fox and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, in his film acting debut. The film was produced in 1968 but not released until 1970.
Chas (James Fox) is a soldier in an East London gang led by Harry Flowers (Johnny Shannon); his specialty is intimidation through violence as he collects pay-offs for Flowers. He is very good at his job, and has a reputation for liking it. His sexual liaisons are casual and rough. When Flowers decides to take over a betting shop, owned by Joey Maddocks (Anthony Valentine), he forbids Chas to get involved, as he feels Chas' conflicted history with Maddocks may lead to trouble. Chas is angry about this and later humiliates Maddocks, who retaliates by wrecking Chas' apartment and attacking Chas. Chas shoots him, packs a suitcase, and runs from the scene. When Flowers makes it clear that he has no intention of offering protection to Chas but instead wants him eliminated, Chas decides to head for the countryside to hide, but instead winds up hiding out in London, requesting a trusted friend help him get out of the country.
A branch of cold flames
Hangs over your head
The one thing you could never burn
Its shadow's hanging over you
The shadow's never there
Explodes all over again
Shakes, we take control today
Shakes, give all your secrets away
Shakes, give us your soul today
Shakes, give it all away
To crush this foolish pride
I'm standing under glass
Trying to break through all the time
But deception never fails
Can't discover what's seen
What's seen behind these cold eyes
Shakes, give us your soul today
Shakes, give all your secrets away
Shakes, we take control today
Shakes, give it all away
Shadows over masses
Faces gun charge
It was too much fun all the time
She said your death must come first
To make this dream more real
You'll never be free again
Shakes, give us your soul today
Shakes, give all your secrets away
Shakes, we take control today
Shakes, give it all away
Shakes, shakes, shakes
Shakes, shakes, shakes
Shakes, shakes, shakes
One day he was admiring his reflection
In his favorite mirror when he realized all too clearly
What a freakin' old beasty man he was
Who is? You is, you is now, son
I took to hiding, I took to hiding
I took to hiding, hiding strange things
I took to dribbling, we took to dribbling down my front
I starting running, I starting running on the spot
Picture, picture, now I'm gonna eat your
Picture, picture, now I'm gonna eat ya
We're all food, your cake
We're all the food, your weirdos' cream
Quick, quick, fast, fast, quick, quick, fast, fast
I took to dribbling, I took to dribbling down my front
You took to hiding, you took to hiding strange things
One day she was touching her reflection
In her favorite mirror when she realized all too clearly
What a freakin' old weirdo she was
Who was? She was, she is
Fast, fast, quick, quick, quick, quick, fast, fast
She took to hiding, she took to hiding strange things
Some say happiness is a burden
As I lie here trying to attain
Inside/Outside Im nothing
But the more I see through the more I have to gain
If at first you dont succeed its normal.
But the second time youre expected to perform.
We perform,
Stand up, listen, Ill tell you where we went wrong.
Give me a reason to stop asking
I know that some things cant be mine
Inside/Outside Im nothing
And the layers crumble one piece at a time.
If you expect me to go out there and shine every night
You know theres something about that that just isnt right
We perform
Take it easy check me out
I move from the car wash
Your hands are not clean
From your fascist graffitti
I'm getting kind of tired
Descending escalators
To the heart of the subway
But you are not the only one, baby
Check me out
Oh well it's getting kind of silly
Inadequate bodies are waging a war
But you'd better check the situation
Your mouth is open wide
But your body is too sore
But you are not the only one baby
Check me out
But my performance is good
My performance is good
For your love for your love
My performance is good
As I perform for you
Another nervous breakdown
Well nobody has to suffer
The camera ejects from another location
Take refuge in the city
Then move on down the line
Between the cradle of stations
But you are not the only one
Your performance is almost over
When you're through I will take you home
To a place where the water's always fresh and cool
I will lay you down, take off your shoes
Yes, the curtain is about to take your place
There's that sad, almost grin upon your face
'Cause you know you've done your best
Now honey leave the rest to me and I'll take care of you
As they watch you fall down to your knees
They don't know that you're praying to please
They don't see the little angel at your back with a star
The only one who knows exactly who you are
You're a thing that makes music they don't understand
And they cheer as you carry out your endless plan
You are weary but you must, it's the only thing you trust
As you live you've got to give
Your performance is almost over
When you're through I will take you home
You're a ghost that I can see, you're the other part of me
Now honey I will take care of you
'Cause you know you've done your best
Clouded stars that the future will send
And the broken nights that only time will mend
Eternity cannot fade the truth
That nothing is what this hunger's feasting on
Clouded stars that the future will send
And the broken nights that only time will mend
Eternity cannot fade the truth
They caught me dead with you in the morning,
so now it's clear that you've been calling.
And they attached me to their equipment,
I realise my time is spent.
This is the sound of lost youth.
The sky looks like a futuristic metal,
it makes the world look rather dated.
And after all the scores of youth are settled,
I fear the whole thing's overrated.
This is the sound of lost youth. Lost youth.
Perhaps we should just take off all our clothes.
Self-consciously run for our lives.
This is the sound of lost youth. (x2)
Lost.
Don't hold me to your words,
I swear I never heard.
It's foolish to belong,
you knew it all along. (x2)
You knew it all along. (x12)
Only I can make it right,
you can only make believe.
I was careless in the fight,
cos only you can make me bleed. (x2)
Only you can make me bleed. (x8)