lyrics


Ten Shades of Grey

Times we spent cheating and lying
Wondering when we would be back by your side again
Hoping and praying to get through the day
I need your attention to see through the fray
It’s night again all the time
Shadows are lurking but I can’t find mine
People look at me as they flood through the door
I need your attention not theirs anymore
And the light from the candle goes dim
as I slip deeper down from the brim
The people are fading away
As I slip into colours then ten shades of grey
If I don’t last this one tell them when I’ve gone
That playing with you was incredible fun

Terrorvision- Ten Shades of Grey, from How To Make Friends And Influence People

Against my better judgement, I read a little bit more of Fifty Shades of Grey last night. Still no characters or sex and I’m 13% in.


And God Created Brixton 2

Far too much of what I know of London comes from Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine lyrics. It’s been odd listening to them and flicking over to Twitter to read of riots in the capital. I don’t know where all these places are, absolutely or in relation to each other, and, apart from Croydon, I haven’t been to any of them. So I don’t know how big the riots are and how dangerous they are.

Anyone I know in London- hell, anyone in London- I hope you’re safe.

I walked from my baby’s Brixton flat
Into a riot
I thought of maybe turning back
Till things were quiet
When all the buildings to be burned
Had been burned
And all the cars to overturn
Were overturned

Outside the prison they were screen testing the free
Open auditions for closed circuit T.V.
Your baby brother would be there outside the jail
Throwing bottles as the police sirens wailed
And a love song might not be suitable
But you look beautiful tonight

Death and disaster only make me love you more
The morning after the night that went before
When the brains of Brixton with conflicting points of views
Are outside The Ritzy on the local TV news

A love song might not be suitable
But you look beautiful tonight
And if you feel the same way as I feel
Everything will be alright

I was thinking,
Let’s forget about the car
And do some late night drinking
In a late night drinking bar
It isn’t far, well it’s my local anyway
I know the barman
And there’s a small vocal P.A.

Now the insurance man has left you with the news
That your third party fire and theft would be no use
And I know a love song isn’t suitable or right
But you look beautiful, beautiful tonight

And if you feel the same was as I feel
Everything will be alright

Tonight, Big Brother is watching you
And I am watching too
I will watch over you
Like a thunderbolt out of the blue
Something told me it was true
God created me and you
And God created Brixton too
Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!
Tonight you can rest assured
The Father, Son, The Holy Ghost and I
Will love you more than most
Tonight


Trying to get up that great big hill of hope

25 years of my life and still
I’m trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination
I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this
Brotherhood of man
For whatever that means
So I cry somethimes when I’m lying in bed
To get it all out what’s in my head
Then I start feeling a little peculiar
So I wake in the morning and I step
Outside I take deep breath
I get real high
Then I scream from the top of my lungs
What’s goin’ on
And I say hey…
And I say hey what’s goin’ on
And I say hey…
I said hey what’s goin’ on
And I try, oh my God do I try
I try all the time
In this institution
And I pray, oh my God do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution
So I cry sometimes when I’m lying in my bed
To get it all out what’s in my head
Then I start feeling a little peculiar
So I wake in the morning and I step outside
I take a deep breaththen I get real high
Then I scream from the top of my lungs
What’s goin’ on
And I say hey…
And I say hey what’s goin’ on
And I say hey…
I said hey what’s goin’ on
And I say hey…
And I say hey what’s goin’ on
And I say hey…
I said hey what’s goin’ on
25 years of my life and still
I’m trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

What’s Up? – 4 Non Blondes


She said she said, “You don’t know shit, because you’ve never been there.”



She said she said, "You don’t know shit, because you’ve never been there.", originally uploaded by spinneyhead.

Turned around and took him by the hair. Throwing him about, laughing out, sat down for a drink in her father’s favourite chair.

Kill.

Your.

Television.


All you good, good people

I feel like I meant something you always say you need more time
Well I’ll stay right here and I’ll wait for good until I find a love worth mine
Someday you’ve got it coming it hurts me when I read the signs
So loud and clear that I’ll make you glad if I’m leaving first and crying
All you good good people listen to me
You’re just about done with the way that you feel
When nothing rings home enough to dig your heels in
You don’t have to leave me to see what I mean
All you good good people listen to me

And all I wanna do is find my name upon the line
Before I have to lose this I want time

All you good good people listen to me
You’re just about done with the way that you feel
Nothing rings home enough to dig your heels in
You don’t have to leave me to see what I mean
Lose all your fears
They are keeping you down
You won’t have to fake it while I’m around
All you good good people listen to me

Listen to me..
Listen to me..

All You Good Good People- Embrace

This was my getting the fuck out of Cardiff song in 2001. On The Good Will Out it’s preceded by an intro of an orchestra tuning up. Almost every time, by the drum rolling start of the song I was accelerating up the bridge over the bay and on my way back to Surrey. Because I’m on a mid ’90s-early 00’s nostalgia trip, listening to songs from the Shine albums, Songbird has thrown this song at me twice this afternoon.

[I would like to say that Cardiff is quite a nice place. It’s just that some of the days of work I did there, it was nice to get out again. I was in Cardiff on September 11th 2001. That was an odd journey home.]


Objects of Desire- the Morris Minors of Didsbury 2

I went for another architecture wander this morning, but as well as the buildings I also found a few Morris Minors. No other classic cars today, just three rather nice examples of Sir Alec Issigonis’ second greatest design.

Morris Minor Morris Minor

Morris Minor Morris Minor

Morris Minor Morris Minor

I’d love to have a Minor, though I’d want to make a few minor tweaks- disc brakes, improved suspension and a newer engine. Nothing too silly, I reckon it should be easy to find something that’s both more powerful and more economical than the old block that would come with a vintage Moggy. It’s not like I’d try to emulate Nic Mann’s creation, which was the fastest street legal car in the country for a few years-

And how could I possibly pass up a chance to play this-

I’ve been driving in my car, it’s not quite a jaguar
I bought it in primrose hill from a bloke from brazil
It was made in fifty-nine in a factory by the tyne
It says morris on the door, the g.p.o. owned it before
I drive in it for my job, the governor calls me a slob
But I don’t really care, give me some gas and the open air

It’s a bit old but it’s mine, I mend it in my spare time
Just last week I changed the oil, the rocker valves and the coil
Just last week I changed the oil
Last week it went round the clock, I also had a little knock
I dented somebody’s fender, he learnt not to park on a bender, ha ha ha

I’ve been driving in my car, it don’t look much but I’ve been far
I drive up to muswell hill, I’ve even been to selsey bill
I drove along the a45, I had her up to 58
This copper stopped me the other day, you’re mistaken what could I say
The tyres were a little worn, they were o.k., I could have sworn
I like driving in my car, I’m satisfied I’ve got this far

I like driving in my car, it don’t look much but I’ve been far
I like driving in my car, even with a flat tyre
I like driving in my car, it’s not quite a jaguar
I like driving in my car, I’m satisfied I’ve got this far

MAdness- Driving in my Car (Available, along with a load of others, on Total Madness)


There’s a lot more people better off than you

I saw you sitting on the pavement
Watching the goose-step of the crowd
You were a picture of rebellion
A kleptomaniac and proud

Well I should’ve seen it coming
from miles away
kiss the pavement goodbye
and say hello to the ice age

Queen Jane
You’ve got everything to fight for
Queen Jane
You’ve got everything to lose
Queen Jane
You’ve got everything to live for
And there’s a lot more people worse off than you

Well let’s just pretend we’re human beings
for a while
Chronic Shyness
Can drive us to a smile

Queen Jane
You’ve got everything to cry for
Queen Jane
You’ve got everything to win
Queen Jane
You’ve got everything to die for
And there’s a lot more people better off than you

The say your vacant face
Helps the tourist trade
If they could see you in your leisure time… well

A funny thing happened on the way to here
The headlines read like the end was near
For Queen Jane

The say your vacant face
Helps the tourist trade
If they could see you in your leisure time…

Queen Jane
You’ve got everything to fight for
Queen Jane
You’ve got everything to lose
Queen Jane
You’ve got everything to die for
And there’s a lot more people worse off than you

Queen Jane

It wouldn’t happen in another world
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer planet
It would’ve happened in another world
So don’t pretend to care when you don’t care

Ten years asleep
In the queue for the late night bus
With all of us

Breakfast television
Is the biggest decision I’ve made
In the last decade

It wouldn’t happen in another world
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer planet
It would’ve happened in another world
So don’t pretend to care when you don’t care

Ten years asleep
It’ll be far too late
To call 0898

Ten years asleep
Every mind is UXB
So don’t pretend that…

It wouldn’t happen in another world
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer planet
It would’ve happened in another world
So don’t pretend to care when you don’t care

All the punks are pushing thrity years
And are hardly feared
All the young dudes
Work for all the old brutes
In expensive suits

Ten years asleep
’cause your grave is empty
But already dug

Ten years of sleeping knees
Instead of news
So don’t complain that…

It wouldn’t happen in another world
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer planet
It would’ve happened in another world
So don’t pretend to care when you don’t care

There, there, there


RIP Oasis

The Burnage Beatles wannabes have split. I have loaded all of the Oasis back catalogue into Winamp in their honour.

Who wants to start a pool on when zombie Oasis will shamble forward for a special reunion. Alan McGee reckons five years. I’ll aim a little lower and say four.

Take the time to make some sense
Of what you want to say
And cast your words away upon the waves
Bring them back with Acquiesce
On a ship of hope today
And as they fall upon the shore
Tell them not to fear no more
Say it loud and sing it proud
And they…

Will dance if they want to dance
Please brother take a chance
You know they’re gonna go
Which way they wanna go
All we know is that we don’t know
What is gonna be
Please brother let it be
Life on the other hand won’t let you understand
Why we’re all part of the masterplan

I’m not saying right is wrong
It’s up to us to make
The best of all things that come our way
And all the things that came have past
The answer’s in the looking glass
There’s four and twenty million doors
Down life’s endless corridor
Say it loud and sing it proud
And they…

Will dance if they want to dance
Please brother take a chance
You know they’re gonna go
Which way they wanna go
All we know is that we don’t know
What is gonna be
Please brother let it be
Life on the other hand won’t let you understand
Why we’re all part of the masterplan

The Masterplan


I’ve kissed mermaids, rode the el nino

cease to resist, giving my goodbye
drive my car into the ocean
you’ll think i’m dead, but i sail away
on a wave of mutilation
a wave
wave

I’ve kissed mermaids, rode the el nino
walked the sand with the crustaceans
could find my way to mariana
on a wave of mutilation,
wave of mutilation
wave of mutilation
wave

wave of mutilation
wave

Pixies – Wave Of Mutilation


The next time I cycle I’m gonna bring a gun!

Who’s that wanker in your rear view mirror
Who’s that tosser in the Carter shirt
Who’s that loser in the ford granada
Who’s that bleeder with his face in the dirt

Where’s that copper when you need him badly
Where’s Homer Simpson where is Bart
Where’s your sense of right and justice
Where’s my knowledge of the martial arts

Fish Face you’re a fish face you’re a disgrace
And am sick and tired sick and tired
Fish Face waste of road space off of your face
And am sick and tired sick and tired

I’m that bloke with the broken racer
I’m that bloke with the fractured arm
You’re that bloke with no insurance
And I’m that bloke who’s not keeping calm

I don’t suppose you have ever read the highway code
You know that you shouldn’t be allowed on the road

(Chorus)

I remember when the bicycle was safe and it was fun
The next time I cycle I’m gonna bring a gun!

That’s right Fish Face
Just for you

Abdoujaparov – Fish Face


Just can’t be chained to a life where nothing’s gained

She would never say where she came from
Yesterday don’t matter if it’s gone
While the sun is bright
Or in the darkest night
No one knows
She comes and goes

Goodbye, ruby tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you…

Don’t question why she needs to be so free
She’ll tell you it’s the only way to be
She just can’t be chained
To a life where nothing’s gained
And nothing’s lost
At such a cost

There’s no time to lose, I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away
Dying all the time
Lose your dreams
And you will lose your mind.
Ain’t life unkind?

Goodbye, ruby tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you…

Ruby TuesdayRolling Stones


The Taking of Peckham 123

It’s like Saint Valentine’s Day
at the sugar candy store
where the barman lays
on the bloodstained floor
with all the wines
and the cocktails
he won’t be serving anymore
to the swingers
and the roustabouts
and the carnivore queen
who’s looking for the 3 scrooges
who are nowhere to be seen
and life’s just a bowl of cherries
for the fruit machine
THE TAKING OF PECKHAM
1 . . 2 . . 3 . . 1 . . 2 . . 3 . .
Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest
they robbed him blind,
then dumb.
and then deaf
and they left him there bleeding
on the pavement to die
and he went to that
great high-rise block in the sky
And the hands that do the dishes
feel as soft as your face
then they rob you of your pension
and they ransack your place
still, you try to forgive
like the Babby Jesus did
though it’s so hard to be a saint
in the flats where you live
And you’ll live there forever
and the day that you die
when you’ll go to that
great high-rise block in the sky
and you’ll meet the Babby Jesus
so you ll know you’re in Heaven
and you’ll get back the years
that you gave
in the taking of Peckham

The Taking of Peckham 123 by Carter USM from 101 Damnations


I know you little libertine

Check check check
One two

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell crash
I’m the last splash

I know you little libertine
I know you’re a real coocoo

Want you coocoo cannonball
Want you coocoo cannonball
In the shade, in the shade
In the shade, in the shade

I know you little libertine
I know you’re a cannonball

I’ll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song

In the shade, in the shade
Want you coocoo cannonball
Want you coocoo cannonball

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell
Crash
I’m the last splash

I’ll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song

Want you coocoo cannonball
Want you coocoo cannonball
In the shade, in the shade

Breeders – Cannonball


Let me go on big hands I know you’re the one 1

When I’m out walking I strut my stuff yeah I’m so strung out
I’m high as a kite I just might stop to check you out
Let me go on like I blister in the sun
Let me go on big hands I know you’re the one
Body and beats I stain my sheets I don’t even know why
My girlfriend she’s at the end she is starting to cry
Let me go on like I blister in the sun
Let me go on big hands I know you’re the one…

Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun


Because the music that they constantly play, it says nothing to me about my life

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

Panic – The Smiths

But I was listening to the Carter USM cover version


If you can’t say it with flowers then don’t say anything

This is the song that donated the title for Sounds of Soldiers. There are too many books that aren’t very good that take their titles from the Bible or works of great literature. I’ve always wanted to write something better than a Tom Clancy (I’d say better than Dan Brown, but that would be aiming low) then take the title from something supposedly low brow like the indie music I love.

The Christmas cards and greetings are arriving
Across the shifty sands to the war
by the time I get to read them she’ll be rising
To a 50/50 chance and nothing more
Through the sleet and drizzle
You can hear the sounds of soldiers
The Kalashnikov and splutter
On a sunny day
From the east of the middle
To the north and south of nowhere
People earn their bread and butter
In some funny ways

CHORUS
Meanwhile…
In the corridors of power
Where the talks are in full swing
If you can’t say it with flowers
Then don’t say anything

Because I want to see my children
Grow up into healthy human beings
I want to see them walking, running
Playing, laughing and singing

CHORUS

I’m just outside the home
of Christmas now
And I’m dying
All across the shifty sands there’s blood and guts
By the time I get to Jesus she’ll still be crying
I guess a 50/50 chance wasn’t good enough

Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine – Say It With Flowers

Also- This Is The Sound Of An Eclectic Guitar – A Collection of Other People’s Songs


Lump lingered last in line for brains, and the ones she got were sorta rotten and insane

Lump sat alone in a boggy marsh
Totally motionless except for her heart
Mud flowed up into lumps pyjammas
She totally confused all the passing piranhas
Shes lump shes lump
Shes in my head
Shes lump shes lump shes lump
She might be dead
Lump lingered last in line for brains
And the ones she got were sorta rotten and insane
Small things so sad that birds could land
Is lump fast asleep or rockin out with the band

Shes lump shes lump
Shes in my head
Shes lump shes lump shes lump
She might be dead

Lump was limp and lonely and needed a shove
Lump slipped on a kiss and tumbled into love
She spent her twenties between the sheets
Life limped along at subsonic speeds

Shes lump shes lump
Shes in my head
Shes lump shes lump shes lump
She might be dead

Is this lump out of my head I think so
Is this lump out of my head I think so
Is this lump out of my head I think so
Is this lump out of my head

Lump – Presidents of the USA


It’s so hard it’s leading me astray

It’s my direction
It’s my proposal
It’s so hard
It’s leading me astray

My obsession
It”s my creation
You’ll understand
Its not important now

********in conversation
********in combination
********i tell the truth
********my feelings still remain

All I need is
Co-ordination
I can’t imagine
My destination
My intention
Ask my opinion
But no excuse
My feelings still remain

My feelings still remain

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Souvenir


But I know I’m on a losing streak ‘Cause I passed down my old street

All this talk of getting old
It’s getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I’m comin’ down

And I hope you’re thinking of me
As you lay down on your side
Now the drugs don’t work
They just make you worse
But I know I’ll see your face again

Now the drugs don’t work
They just make you worse
But I know I’ll see your face again

But I know I’m on a losing streak
‘Cause I passed down my old street
And if you wanna show, then just let me know
And I’ll sing in your ear again

Now the drugs don’t work
They just make you worse
But I know I’ll see your face again

‘Cause baby, ooh, if heaven calls, I’m coming, too
Just like you said, you leave my life, I’m better off dead

All this talk of getting old
It’s getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I’m comin’ down

Now the drugs don’t work
They just make you worse
But I know I’ll see your face again

‘Cause baby, ooh, if heaven calls, I’m coming, too
Just like you said, you leave my life, I’m better off dead

But if you wanna show, just let me know
And I’ll sing in your ear again

Now the drugs don’t work
They just make you worse
But I know I’ll see your face again

Yeah, I know I’ll see your face again
Yeah, I know I’ll see your face again
Yeah, I know I’ll see your face again
Yeah, I know I’ll see your face again

I’m never going down, I’m never coming down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
I’m never coming down, I’m never going down
No more, no more, no more, no more, no more
(Repeat and Fade Out)

The Drugs Don’t Work – The Verve