1. |
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SUNRISE, NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY
BIG DAY OF FAMILIAR SURPRISE
AND I WALK AND I TALK IN THE USUAL WAY, THAT’S ALL
AND I THINK TO MYSELF WHAT A GOOD DAY FOR THE SLAVES
WATER JUST COMES FROM THE TAP
AND A FORTUNE OF MIRACLES LANDS IN MY LAP
AND I PRAY THAT’S HOW IT STAYS
AND I THINK TO MYSELF WHAT A GOOD DAY FOR THE SLAVES
THE ROOF LEAKS A LITTLE THAT’S ALL
WE THINK THERE’S SOME DAMP IN THE PARTY WALL
IT’LL WAIT FOR ANOTHER DAY
AND I THINK TO MYSELF WHAT A GOOD DAY FOR THE SLAVES
I STARE AT THE PAGE IN MY HANDS
AND TRY TO AGREE WITH SOME OF ITS DEMANDS
I CAN READ, I CAN WRITE, I CAN THINK FOR MYSELF
HEY-HEY
AND I THINK TO MYSELF WHAT A GOOD DAY FOR THE SLAVES
I’M A SLAVE MYSELF AND IT’S A GOOD DAY FOR SLAVES
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2. |
23
02:36
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I KNEW A GIRL, SHE CAME TO TEA
SHE WAS AN AWFUL LOT LIKE ME
I LET HER DOWN EVENTUALLY
BECAUSE I WAS TWENTY-THREE
I KEELED HER HO BOYS
AND I LET HER GO
'CAUSE I WAS TWENTY-THREE
THE MORE YOU TAKE, THE MORE YOU NEED
THE MORE YOU NEED, THE MORE YOU NEED
I MET A MAN WHO SHARED MY STYLE
WE DROVE AROUND FOR QUITE A WHILE
I MUGGED HIM OFF AND STOLE HIS KEYS
BECAUSE I WAS TWENTY-THREE
I KEELED HIS HO BOYS
I LET HIM GO
'CAUSE I WAS TWENTY-THREE
THE MORE YOU TAKE, THE MORE YOU NEED
THE MORE YOU NEED, THE MORE YOU’RE GONNA NEED
THERE’S EGOS HERE TO FEED
AND HEARTS THAT NEVER BLEED
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3. |
Falling
03:48
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Falling is the easy part, at least that's what I've found
The trick is knowing what to do when you hit the ground
Spread your arms and arch your back or curl into a ball
Either way you have to take the impact of it all
All those years you wait there, on the safety of the ledge
Never realising you're right on the edge
One shove is all it takes to send you plunging down
You clutch the air, you fight for breath and the world just spins around
And you can learn your lines, and you can make your plans
But the truth comes battle-scarred
It takes a long while to fall a long way
And it's bound to hurt when you fall this hard
So forgive me if I took too long to find where I should be
The way the light got brighter made it hard to see
'Cos you can learn your lines, and you can make your plans
But the truth comes battle-scarred
It takes a long while to fall a long way
And it's bound to hurt when you fall this hard
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4. |
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I’VE SEEN THE SUN RISE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
I’VE SEEN IT SET FROM SAINT NAZAIRE
I’VE SEEN IT BURNING IN THE SKIES OVER AFRICA
BUT I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE AS BEAUTIFUL
AS THE GIRL WITH THE SCRAMBLED YELLOW HAIR
THEY SAY THE MISTS ON THE MOUNTAINS OF MOURNE
CAN DRIVE AWAY YOUR DEEPEST CARE
WELL I DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS OF MOURNE
BUT I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE AS BEAUTIFUL
AS THE GIRL WITH THE SCRAMBLED YELLOW HAIR
OH I FIND HER MOST ATTRACTIVE
AND I FIND HER QUITE SINCERE
AND I FIND HER SO DISTRACTING EVERY TIME SHE’S NEAR
OH I FIND HER SO SEDUCTIVE
AND I FIND HER QUITE SUBLIME
AND I FIND HER EVERY MOMENT PREYING ON MY MIND
AND THEY SAY THE MOON ON THE TAJ MAHAL
CAN TAKE YOUR BREATH IN THE WARM NIGHT AIR
WELL I DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE TAJ MAHAL
BUT I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING QUITE AS BEAUTIFUL
AS THE GIRL WITH THE SCRAMBLED YELLOW HAIR
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5. |
Rolling & Tumbling
03:30
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Rolling and tumbling down on The Strand
You held my heart in the palm of your hand
You kissed me at midnight and bid me adieu
I didn't know I'd been waiting for you
I was cut off, but I'm back and dancing on strings
Lost in the moment and breathlessly lifted by wings
Breakfast on Central, the neon possessed
We danced on the street like the brutally blessed
The scarf that you wore as we walked in the rain
Ice skating, frozen, you kissed me again
I tend to treasure all my mistakes
The clumsy farewell that embarrassment makes
Lost in departures and breaking the bank
Looking for someone or something to thank
Rolling and tumbling out into the night
Blissfully broken but now it's all right
Breaking the news to the rest of the crew
And calling your name just for something to do
Rolling and tumbling
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6. |
Raise Your Flag
03:55
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If you go looking for truth in this life
Well I hope that you get it
If you like well I’ll lend you some of mine
For whatever you can get from it
Raise up your flag; let’s see your colours now
Raise up your flag; let’s see just what you’re made of
If your heart’s on your sleeve when you puff out your chest
Then we know what to expect from you
No veneer, no disguise, when we look in your eyes
There’s a chance that what you say is true
Raise up your flag; let’s see your colours now
Raise up your flag; let’s see just what you’re made of
'Cos I don’t buy just anything.
Raise up your flag; let’s see just what you’re made of
Dear prudent, won't you come out and pay?
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7. |
My Boy
03:21
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I took my boy into my arms, not sure what I ought to say. What wisdom from the old boy's lips will bless that young heart today?
There'll be the dogs of dirty scoundrels snapping at your heels, and dead-head boys with sunken eyes trying to make a deal. They'll be pissing in the streets, discarded wrappers at their feet; in the temples where they worship they'll be queuing twenty deep. Where every Friday night's a brain-dead battle for the right to implacable stupidity and a choice of who to fight. The future of the country, our disaffected youth, they can handle twenty shots but they don't care about the truth. Your ignorance keeps knocking, encouraged by the lame who want you down where they are - divided, dead and tame. They'll be dancing in the gutters when the order comes to move; when there's nothing left to fight for, well there's nothing left to prove. And your parliament will rob you and then barely pay you back; give your corn to lazy lifers who never get the sack. You can fill in your own pot-holes and lock up your own thieves, 'cos we're all in this together, so we're led to believe. A cross-examined nation looks for loopholes in the law, while Magna Carta's authors spin - what'd they bother for? If the most important question is which lonely voice to gag, let's keep the guys all flying high with the Red Bull and the flag. So it's a curse upon their houses with their kicked and splintered frames, while inside on the flat screen, it's all guns and panel games. And if they're offering to save you with their perfume, gold and lies, there's nothing to be scared of if you only use your eyes, because you know your generation could bring some healing to the land; it's too late for your Daddy, he's already shown his hand. If you can greet two strangers like everybody thinks they can, you won't be king of everything but you will be a man.
Not sure what I ought to say.
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8. |
Sunset
04:41
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Close your eyes with the other guardians of the past
Maybe if you sleep for a while, he'll come for you at last
And will he need you still; will he call that name?
Do you think he's grown? Will he still look the same?
All those years when you'd sell your soul to slow the days
Now each empty hour finds a million time-defying ways
Is this how it ends? Did you do it right?
Did you push too soon? Did you hold too tight?
Though he never asked for a sacrifice
It was your life, too; and you gave it twice
Is this what they mean when they talk about your pride and joy?
But like everyone always said… he's such a lovely boy
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9. |
A Land Of Make Believe
06:40
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THIS PAUSE FOR BREATH GIVES ME PAUSE FOR THOUGHT, AND MORE
IF THE LAWS WE USE NO LONGER HAVE A USE, NO MORE
IT’S CHANGE, JUST NOT THE CHANGE YOU CHANGED FOR
SUCH A BRILLIANT DISGUISE
LEAVE YOUR AMBITION, YOUR DOGMA AND MISSION AT THE DOOR
LET’S ALL FACE IN AND WE MAY BEGIN
TO BELIEVE AND BUILD A LAND OF MAKE-BELIEVE
AH BUT HOLD, NOT EVERYONE’S BEEN SOLD
AND IF NOW BY DEGREES WE LEAVE NO-ONE ON THEIR KNEES PLEASE
SEE THE HATE OF THE UNENLIGHTENED
IT’S ONLY BECAUSE THEY’RE FRIGHTENED
LEAVE YOUR AMBITION, YOUR DOGMA AND MISSION AT THE DOOR
LET’S ALL FACE IN AND WE MAY BEGIN
TO BELIEVE AND BUILD A LAND OF MAKE-BELIEVE
IT’S CHANGE, JUST NOT THE CHANGE YOU CHANGED FOR
NOT SUCH A BRILLIANT DISGUISE
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