smithslab

IS IT REALLY SO STRANGE ? (BBC)

     I left the North
     I travelled South
     I found a tiny house
     And I can't help the way I feel
     Oh yes, you can kick me
     And you can punch me
     And you can break my face
     But you won't change the way I feel
     'Cause I love you
     Oh ...

     And is it really so strange ?
     Oh, is it really so strange ?
     Oh, is it really so, really so strange ?
     I say NO, you say YES
     (and you will change your mind)

     I left the South
     I travelled North
     I got confused - I killed a horse
     I can't help the way I feel
     Oh yes, you can punch me
     And you can butt me
     And you can break my spine
     But you won't change the way I feel
     'Cause I love you
     Oh ...

     And is it really so strange ?
     Oh, is it really so strange ?
     Oh, is it really so, really so strange ?
     I say NO, you say YES
     (But you will change your mind)

     I left the North again
     I travelled South again
     And I got confused - I killed a nun
     I CAN'T HELP THE WAY I FEEL
     I CAN'T HELP THE WAY I FEEL
     I CAN'T HELP THE WAY I FEEL
     (I lost my bag in Newport Pagnell)

     Why is the last mile the hardest mile ?
     My throat was dry, with the sun in my eyes
     And I realised, I realised
     I could never
     I could never, never, never, go back home again

SHEILA TAKE A BOW

     Is it wrong to want to live on your own ?
     No, it's not wrong - but I must know
     How can someone so young
     Sing words so sad ?

     Sheila take a, Sheila take a bow
     Boot the grime of this world in the crotch, dear
     And don't go home tonight
     Come out and find the one that you love and who loves you
     The one that you love and who loves you
     Oh ...

     Is it wrong not to always be glad ?
     No, it's not wrong - but I must add
     How can someone so young
     Sing words so sad ?

     Take my hand and off we stride
     Oh, la ...
     You're a girl and I'm a boy
     La ...
     Take my hand and off we stride
     Oh, la ...
     I'm a girl and you're a boy
     La ...

     Sheila take a, Sheila take a bow
     La ...
     Throw your homework onto the fire
     Come out and find the one that you love
     Come out and find the one you love

SHOPLIFTERS OF THE WORLD UNITE

     Learn to love me
     Assemble the ways
     Now, today, tomorrow and always
     My only weakness is a list of crime
     My only weakness is ... well, never mind, never mind

     Oh, shoplifters of the world
     Unite and take over
     Shoplifters of the world
     Hand it over
     Hand it over
     Hand it over

     Learn to love me
     And assemble the ways
     Now, today, tomorrow, and always
     My only weakness is a listed crime
     But last night the plans of a future war
     Was all I saw on Channel Four

     Shoplifters of the world
     Unite and take over
     Shoplifters of the world
     Hand it over
     Hand it over
     Hand it over

     A heartless hand on my shoulder
     A push - and it's over
     Alabaster crashes down
     (Six months is a long time)
     Tried living in the real world
     Instead of a shell
     But before I began ...
     I was bored before I even began

     Shoplifters of the world
     Unite and take over
     Shoplifters of the world
     Unite and take over
     Shoplifters of the world
     Unite and take over
     Shoplifters of the world
     Take over

SWEET AND TENDER HOOLIGAN

     He was a sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan
     And he said that he'd never, never do it again
     And of course he won't (oh, not until the next time)

     He was a sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan
     And he swore that he'll never, never do it again
     And of course he won't (oh, not until the next time)

     Poor old man
     He had an "accident" with a three-bar fire
     But that's OK
     Because he wasn't very happy anyway
     Poor woman
     Strangled in her very own bed as she read
     But that's OK
     Because she was old and she would have died anyway
     DON'T BLAME

     The sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan
     Because he'll never, never, never, never, never, never do it again
     (not until the next time)

     Jury, you've heard every word
     So before you decide
     Would you look into those "Mother-me" eyes
     I love you for you, my love, you my love
     You my love, you my love
     Jury, you've heard every word
     But before you decide
     Would you look into those "Mother-me" eyes
     I love you for you my love, you my love
     I love you just for you, my love
     Don't blame

     The sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan
     Because he'll never, never do it again
     And ...
     "In the midst of life we are in death ETC."
     Forget the hooligan, hooligan
     Because he'll never, never do it again
     And ...
     "In the midst of life we are in debt ETC."

     ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC!
     IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH ETC!
     ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC!
     IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEBT ETC!

     ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC!
     ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC!
     IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEBT ETC!

HALF A PERSON

     Call me morbid, call me pale
     I've spent six years on your trail
     Six long years
     On your trail

     Call me morbid, call me pale
     I've spent six years on your trail
     Six full years of my life on your trail

     And if you have five seconds to spare
     Then I'll tell you the story of my life :
     Sixteen, clumsy and shy
     I went to London and I
     I booked myself in at the Y ... W.C.A.
     I said : "I like it here - can I stay ?
     I like it here - can I stay ?
     Do you have a vacancy
     For a Back-scrubber?"

     She was left behind, and sour
     And she wrote to me, equally dour
     She said : "In the days when you were
     Hopelessly poor
     I just liked you more..."

     And if you have five seconds to spare
     Then I'll tell you the story of my life :
     Sixteen, clumsy and shy
     I went to London and I
     I booked myself in at the Y ... W.C.A.
     I said : "I like it here - can I stay ?
     I like it here - can I stay ?
     And do you have a vacancy
     For a Back-scrubber ?"

     Call me morbid, call me pale
     I've spent too long on your trail
     Far too long
     Chasing your tail
     Oh ...

     And if you have five seconds to spare
     Then I'll tell you the story of my life :
     Sixteen, clumsy and shy
     That's the story of my life
     Sixteen, clumsy and shy
     The story of my life
     That's the story of my life
     That's the story of my life
     That's the story of my life
     The story of my life
     That's the story of my life
     That's the story of my life
     That's the story of my life
     That's the story of my life
     That's the story of my life
     That's the story ...

LONDON

     Smoke
     Lingers 'round your fingers
     Train
     Heave on - to Euston
     Do you think you've made
     The right decision this time ?
     Oh ...

     You left
     Your tired family grieving
     And you think they're sad because you're leaving
     But did you see Jealousy in the eyes
     Of the ones who had to stay behind ?
     And do you think you've made
     The right decision this time ?

     You left
     Your girlfriend on the platform
     With this really ragged notion that you'll return
     But she knows
     That when he goes
     He really goes
     And do you think you've made
     The right decision this time ?

PANIC

     Panic on the streets of London
     Panic on the streets of Birmingham
     I wonder to myself
     Could life ever be sane again ?
     The Leeds side-streets that you slip down
     I wonder to myself
     Hopes may rise on the Grasmere
     But Honey Pie, you're not safe here
     So you run down
     To the safety of the town
     But there's Panic on the streets of Carlisle
     Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
     I wonder to myself

     Burn down the disco
     Hang the blessed DJ
     Because the music that they constantly play
     IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT MY LIFE
     Hang the blessed DJ
     Because the music they constantly play

     On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
     Provincial towns you jog 'round
     Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
     Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
     HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
     HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
     HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
     Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
     HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
     HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
     Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
     HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
     HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
     Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
     HANG THE DJ

GIRL AFRAID

Girl afraid
Where do his intentions lay ?

Or does he even have any ?

     She says :
          "He never really looks at me
          I give him every opportunity
          In the room downstairs
          He sat and stared
          In the room downstairs
          He sat and stared
          I'll never make that mistake again !"

I'll never make that mistake again
I'll never make that mistake again

Boy afraid
Prudence never pays

And everything she wants costs money

          "But she doesn't even LIKE me !
          And I know because she said so
          In the room downstairs
          She sat and stared
          In the room downstairs
          She sat and stared
          I'll never make that mistake again !"

SHAKESPEARE'S SISTER

     Young bones groan
     And the rocks below say :
     "Throw your skinny body down, son !"

     But I'm going to meet the one I love
     So please don't stand in my way
     Because I'm going to meet the one I love
     No, Mamma, let me go !

     Young bones groan
     And the rocks below say :
     "Throw your white body down !"

     But I'm going to meet the one I love
     At last ! At last ! At last !
     I'm going to meet the one I love
     La-de-da, la-de-da
     No, Mamma, let me go !
     No ...

     I thought that if you had
     An acoustic guitar
     Then it meant that you were
     A Protest Singer
     Oh, I can smile about it now
     But at the time it was terrible
     No, Mamma, let me go
     No ...

WILLIAM, IT WAS REALLY NOTHING

     The rain falls hard on a humdrum town
     This town has dragged you down
     Oh, the rain falls hard on a humdrum town
     This town has dragged you down
     Oh, no, and everybody's got to live their life
     And God knows I've got to live mine
     God knows I've got to live mine
     William, William it was really nothing
     William, William it was really nothing
     It was your life ...

     How can you stay with a fat girl who'll say :
     "Oh ! Would you like to marry me ?
     "And if you like you can buy the ring"
     She doesn't care about anything
     Would you like to marry me ?
     And if you like you can buy the ring
     I don't dream about anyone - except myself !
     Oh, William, William it was really nothing
     William, William

YOU JUST HAVEN'T EARNED IT YET, BABY

     If you're wondering why
     All the love that you long for eludes you
     And people are rude and cruel to you
     I'll tell you why
     I'll tell you why
     I'll tell you why
     I'll tell you why

     You just haven't earned it yet, baby
     You just haven't earned it, son
     You just haven't earned it yet, baby
     You must suffer and cry for a longer time
     You just haven't earned it yet, baby
     And I'm telling you now ...

     If you're wondering why
     When all I wanted from life was to be Famous
     I have tried for so long, it's all gone wrong
     I'll tell you why
     I'll tell you why
     I'll tell you why
     I'll tell you why
     But you wouldn't believe me

     Today I am remembering the time
     When they pulled me back
     And held me down
     And looked me in the eyes and said
     You just haven't earned it yet, baby
     You just haven't earned it, my son
     You just haven't earned it yet, baby
     You must stay on your own for slightly longer
     You just haven't earned it yet baby
     And I'm telling you now ...

     You just haven't earned it yet, baby
     Oh ...
     You just haven't earned it yet, baby
     Oh ...
     Oh

HEAVEN KNOWS I'M MISERABLE NOW

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

     In my life
     Why do I give valuable time
     To people who don't care if I live or die ?

Two lovers entwined pass me by
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

     In my life
     Oh, why do I give valuable time
     To people who don't care if I live or die ?

What she asked of me at the end of the day
Caligula would have blushed

"You've been in the house too long" she said
And I (naturally) fled

     In my life
     Why do I smile
     At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye ?

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now

"You've been in the house too long" she said
And I (naturally) fled

     In my life
     Why do I give valuable time
     To people who don't care if I live or die ?

ASK

     Shyness is nice, and
     Shyness can stop you
     From doing all the things in life
     You'd like to

     So, if there's something you'd like to try
     If there's something you'd like to try
     ASK ME - I WON'T SAY "NO" - HOW COULD I ?

     Coyness is nice, and
     Coyness can stop you
     From saying all the things in
     Life you'd like to

     So, if there's something you'd like to try
     If there's something you'd like to try
     ASK ME - I WON'T SAY "NO" - HOW COULD I ?

     Spending warm Summer days indoors
     Writing frightening verse
     To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg

ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME
ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME

     Because if it's not Love
     Then it's the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb
     That will bring us together

Nature is a language - can't you read ?
Nature is a language - can't you read ?

SO ... ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME
ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME

     Because if it's not Love
     Then it's the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb
     That will bring us together

     If it's not Love
     Then it's the Bomb
     Then it's the Bomb
     That will bring us together

     SO ... ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME
     ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME
     Oh, la ...

GOLDEN LIGHTS

     Golden lights displaying your name
     Golden lights it's a terrible shame
     But oh my darling
     WHY DID YOU CHANGE ?

     Boy in a million, idol, a big star
     I didn't tell you how great you were
     I didn't grovel and scream
     And rip your brand new jacket at the seams

     You made a record, they liked your singing
     All of a sudden the phone stops ringing
     Ah ... I never thought that you would let
     The glory make you forget

     Golden lights displaying your name
     Golden lights it's a terrible shame
     But oh my darling
     WHY DID YOU CHANGE ?

     Top ten idol, king of your age
     Who do you turn to when you're backstage ?
     Don't you remember you once knew a girl
     You loved her more than the world

     Is life always like this, brother ?
     Good for one side but bad for another
     I must put you behind me tonight
     'Cause you belong to the lights

     Those golden lights displaying your name
     Golden lights it's a terrible shame
     But oh my darling
     WHY DID YOU CHANGE ?

     Oh, oh my darling
     WHY ?
     WHY DID YOU CHANGE ?

Oh ...

OSCILLATE WILDLY (instrumental)

THESE THINGS TAKE TIME

     Mine eyes have seen the glory of the sacred wunderkind
     You took me behind a dis-used railway line
     And said "I know a place where we can go
     Where we are not known"
     And then you gave me something that I won't forget too soon
     But I can't believe that you'd ever care
     And this is why you will never care
     But these things take time
     I know that I'm
     The most inept
     That ever stepped

     I'm spellbound, oh ... but a woman divides
     And the hills are alive with celibate cries
     But you know where you came from, you know where
     You're going and you know where you belong
     You said I was ill, and you were not wrong
     But I can't believe that you'd ever care
     And so, you will never care
     But these things take time
     And I know that I'm
     The most inept
     That ever stepped

     Oh, the alcoholic afternoons
     When we sat in your rooms
     They meant more to me
     Than any, than any living thing on earth
     They had more worth
     Than any living thing on earth
     On earth, on earth, oh ...

     Vivid and in your prime
     You will leave me behind
     You will leave me behind

RUBBER RING

     A sad fact widely known
     The most impassionate song
     To a lonely soul
     Is so easily outgrown
     But don't forget the songs
     That made you smile
     And the songs that made you cry
     When you lay in awe
     On the bedroom floor
     And said : "Oh, oh, smother me Mother..."
     No ...
     Rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring
     La ...

     The passing of time
     And all of its crimes
     Is making me sad again
     The passing of time
     And all of its sickening crimes
     Is making me sad again
     But don't forget the songs
     That made you cry
     And the songs that saved your life
     Yes, you're older now
     And you're a clever swine
     But they were the only ones who ever stood by you

     The passing of time leaves empty lives
     Waiting to be filled (the passing ...)
     The passing of time
     Leaves empty lives
     Waiting to be filled
     I'm here with the cause
     I'm holding the torch
     In the corner of your room
     Can you hear me ?
     And when you're dancing and laughing
     And finally living
     Hear my voice in your head
     And think of me kindly
     No ...
     Rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring
     La ...
     No ...
     Rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring

     Do you
     Love me like you used to ?
     Oh ...
     Rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring
     La ...

     You're clever
     Everybody's clever nowadays
     You're clever
     Everybody's clever nowadays

     You are sleeping
     You do not want to believe
     You are sleeping
     You do not want to believe
     You are sleeping
     You do not want to believe
     You are sleeping

BACK TO THE OLD HOUSE (BBC)

     I would rather not go
     Back to the old house
     I would rather not go
     Back to the old house
     There's too many
     Bad memories
     Too many memories
     There ...
     There ...
     There ...

     When you cycled by
     Here began all my dreams
     The saddest thing I've ever seen
     And you never knew
     How much I really liked you
     Because I never even told you
     Oh, and I meant to

     Are you still there ?
     Or ... have you moved away ?
     Or have you moved away ?
     Oh ...

     I would love to go
     Back to the old house
     But I never will
     I never will ...
     I never will ...
     I never will ...

HAND IN GLOVE

     Hand in glove
     The sun shines out of our behinds
     No, it's not like any other love
     This one is different - because it's us

     Hand in glove
     We can go wherever we please
     And everything depends upon
     How near you stand to me

     And if the people stare
     Then the people stare
     Oh, I really don't know and I really don't care

Kiss My Shades

     Hand in glove
     The Good People laugh
     Yes, we may be hidden by rags
     But we've something they'll never have

     Hand in glove
     The sun shines out of our behinds
     Yes, we may be hidden by rags
     But we've something they'll never have

     And if the people stare
     Then the people stare
     Oh, I really don't know and I really don't care

Kiss My Shades ... oh ...

So, hand in glove I stake my claim
I'll fight to the last breath

If they dare touch a hair on your head
I'll fight to the last breath

For the Good Life is out there somewhere
So stay on my arm, you little charmer

     But I know my luck too well
     Yes, I know my luck too well
     And I'll probably never see you again
     I'll probably never see you again
     I'll probably never see you again
     Oh ...

STRETCH OUT AND WAIT (VERSION 2)

     On the high-rise estate
     What's at the back of your mind ?
     Oh, a three-day debate
     On a high-rise estate
     What's at the back of your mind ?

     Two icy-cold hands conducting the way
     It's the Eskimo blood in my veins
     Amid concrete and clay
     And general decay
     Nature must still find a way
     So ignore all the codes of the day
     Let your juvenile influences sway
     This way and that way (this way)
     This way and that way (this way)
     God, how sex implores you
     To let yourself lose yourself

     Stretch out and wait
     Stretch out and wait
     Oh ... let your puny body, lie down, lie down
     As we lie, you say
     As we lie, you say
     Stretch out and ...
     Stretch out and wait
     Stretch out and wait
     Oh ... let your puny body lie down, lie down

     As we lie, you say :
     Will the world end in the night time ?
     (I really don't know)
     Or will the world end in the day time ?
     (I really don't know)
     And is there any point ever having children ?
     Oh, I don't know
     What I do know is we're Here and it's Now

     So ... stretch out and wait
     Stretch out and wait
     There is no debate, no debate, no debate
     How can you conciously contemplate
     When there's no debate, no debate ?
     Stretch out and wait
     Stretch out and wait
     Stretch out and wait
     Wait
     Wait
     Wait
     Wait

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, LET ME GET WHAT I WANT

     Good times for a change
     See, the luck I've had
     Can make a good man
     Turn bad

     So please please please
     Let me, let me, let me
     Let me get what I want
     This time

     Haven't had a dream in a long time
     See, the life I've had
     Can make a good man bad

     So for once in my life
     Let me get what I want
     Lord knows, it would be the first time
     Lord knows, it would be the first time

THIS NIGHT HAS OPENED MY EYES (BBC)

     In a river the colour of lead
     Immerse the baby's head
     Wrap her up in the News Of The World
     Dump her on a doorstep, girl
     This night has opened my eyes
     And I will never sleep again

     You kicked and cried like a bullied child
     A grown man of twenty-five
     Oh, he said he'd cure your ills
     But he didn't and he never will
     Oh, save your life
     Because you've only got one

     A shoeless child on a swing
     Reminds you of your own again
     She took away your troubles
     Oh, but then again
     She left pain
     So, please save your life
     Because you've only got one

     The dream has gone
     But the baby is real
     Oh, you did a good thing
     She could have been a poet
     Or, she could have been a fool
     Oh, you did a bad thing
     And I'm not happy
     And I'm not sad
     Oh ...
     And I'm not happy
     And I'm not sad
     Oh ...
     And I'm not happy
     And I'm not sad

UNLOVEABLE

     Oh ...
     I know I'm unloveable
     You don't have to tell me
     I don't have much in my life
     But take it - it's yours
     I don't have much in my life
     But take it - it's yours
     Oh ...

     I know I'm unloveable
     You don't have to tell me
     Oh, message received
     Loud and clear
     Loud and clear
     I don't have much in my life
     But take it - it's yours

     I know I'm unloveable
     You don't have to tell me
     For message received
     Loud and clear
     Loud and clear
     Message received
     I don't have much in my life
     But take it - it's yours

     I wear Black on the outside
     'Cause Black is how I feel on the inside
     I wear Black on the outside
     'Cause Black is how I feel on the inside

     And if I seem a little strange
     Well, that's because I am
     If I seem a little strange
     That's because I am

     But I know that you would like me
     If only you could see me
     If only you could meet me

     Oh ...
     I don't have much in my life
     But take it - it's yours
     I don't have much in my life
     But take it - it's yours
     Mmm ...
     Oh ...

ASLEEP

     Sing me to sleep
     Sing me to sleep
     I'm tired and I
     I want to go to bed

     Sing me to sleep
     Sing me to sleep
     And then leave me alone
     Don't try to wake me in the morning
     'Cause I will be gone
     Don't feel bad for me
     I want you to know
     Deep in the cell of my heart
     I will feel so glad to go

     Sing me to sleep
     Sing me to sleep
     I don't want to wake up
     On my own anymore

     Sing to me
     Sing to me
     I don't want to wake up
     On my own anymore

     Don't feel bad for me
     I want you to know
     Deep in the cell of my heart
     I really want to go

     There is another world
     There is a better world
     Well, there must be
     Well, there must be
     Well, there must be
     Well, there must be
     Well ...

     Bye bye
     Bye bye
     Bye ...