Louder Than Bombs

Is It Really So Strange?

I left the North
I travelled South
I found a tiny house
I can't help the way I feel
Oh yes you can kick me
and you can punch me
and you break my face
but you can't change the way that I feel
'Cause I love you
And is it really so strange?
Is it really so, really so strange?
I say No, you say Yes
(but you will change your mind)
I left the Sout
I travelled North
I got confused-I killed a horse
I can't help the way I feel
Oh yes you can kick me
and you can butt me
and you can break my spine
but you won't change the way that I feel
'cause I love you
And is it really so strange ?
Is it realy so strange?
Is it really so, really so strange?
I say No, you say Yes
(but you will change your mind)
I left the North agin
I travelled South again
I got confused-I killed a nun
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
That I could never
I could 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 in the crotch, dear
And don't go home tonight
Come out and find the one that you love and who loves you
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?
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
Take my hand and off we stride
You're a girl and I'm a boy
Take my hand and off we stride
I'm a girl and you're a boy
Sheila take a, Sheila take a bow
Throw your homework on to the fire
Come out and find the one that you love
Come out and find the one that 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 crimes
My only weakness is...well, never mind
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
Assemble th e 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 )
I tried living in the real world
Instead of a shell
But I was bored before I even 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
take over

Sweet and Tender Hooligan

He was a sweet and tender hooligan
and he swore that he'd never, never do it again
and of course he won't (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
DONT BLAME
this sweet and tender hooligan
because he'll never, never do it again
(at least not until the next time)
So jury you've heard every world
but before you decide
would you look into those Mother-me eyes
I love life for you my love, you my love
you my love, you my love
So jury you've heard ever 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, you my love
don't blame
the sweet and tender hooligan
who claims that
In the midst of life we are in debt 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?
And, do you have a vacancy
For a Back-scrubber?
She was left behind, and sour
And she wrote to me on the hour
She said: In the days when you were
hopelessly poor
I just liked you more...
So 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 tail
Far too long
Chasing your tail
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

London

Smoke
Lingers 'round your fingers
Train
Heave on - to Euston
Do you think you've made
The right decision this time?
You left
Your tired family grieving
And you think they're sad because you're leaving
But didn't you see the Jealousy in the eyes
Of the ones who had to stay behind?
And do you think you've made
The right decision thins time?
You left
Your girlfriend on the platform
With thei really ragged notion that you'll return
But she knows
That when he goes
He really goes
So 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
on the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise on the Grasmeres
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 D.J.
Because the music that they constantly play
IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT MY LIFE
Hang the blessed D.J.
Because the music they constantly play
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
On the provincial towns that you jog 'round
Hang the D.J.,. Hang the D.J.,.Hang the D.J..
Hang the D.J., Hang the D.J., Hang the D.J..
HANG THE D.J., HANG THE D.J., HANG THE D.J.
HANG THE D.J., HANG THE D.J., HANG THE D.J.

Girl Afraid

Girl afraid
where does 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 in stared
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 am 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 you white bidy down
But I am going to meet the one I love
At last! At last ! At last !
I am going to meet the one I love
La-de-da, la-de-da
No, Mamma, let me go !
I thought that if you had
An acoustic guitar
Then it meant that you were
A Protest Singerr
Oh I can smile about it now
But at the time it was terrible
No, Mamma. let me go

William, It Was Really Nothing

The rain falls hard on the humdrum town
this town has dragged you down
oh, the rain falls hard on the humdum town
this town has dragged you down
and everybody's got to live their own 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

How can you stay with a fat girls who'll say:
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 anything
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
You just haven't earned it yet, baby
You just haven't earned it yet, 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 is to be Famous
I have tried so long, it's all gone wrong
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 yet, 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
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 yet, 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.

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

I was happy on 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 heavens know 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 passed me by
and heavens knows I'm miserable now

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
and heavens know I'm miserable now

In my life
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 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 on the haze of a drunken hour
but heaven knows I'm miserable now

You've been 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, but
Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life
That you'd like to
So, if there's something you'd
like to try
ASK ME-I WON'T SAY NO-HOW COULD I?
Coyness is nice, but ,
Coyness can stop you
from saying all the things in
life that you want to
If there's something that you'd
like to try
ASK ME-I WON'TSAYNO-HOW COULD I?
Spending warm, Summer days indoors
Writing fringhtening 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
That will bring us together
Nature is a language-can't you read?
Nature is a language-can't you read?
ASK ME, ASK ME ,ASK ME
ASK ME, ASK ME ,ASK ME
Because if it's not Love
Then it's the Bomb
That will bring us together

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 or scream
Or rip your brand new jacket at the seams
You made a record, they liked your singing
All of a sudden the phone stop ringing
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
but who do you turn to when you're backstage?
Don't you remember you once knew a girl
Who loved you more than the world
Is life always like this, brother
Good for some but bad for the other
I must put you behind me tonight
'Cause you belong to the lights
Golden lights displaying your name
golden lights it's a terrible shame
but oh my darling
WHY DID YOU CHANGE?

 

These Things Take Time

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the scared wunderknid
you took me behind a dis-used railway line
and you said I know a place 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'll never care
but these things take time
and I know that I'm the most inept
that ever stepped

I'm spellbound, 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 never cared
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 room
they meant more to me
than any living thing on earth
they had more worth
than any living thing on earth

vivid and in your prime
you will leave me behind
you will leave me behind

Rubber Ring

A sad factor widely known
How 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, smother me, Mother...
The passing of time
And of all 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 cleaver swine
But they were the only ones that stood by you
The passing of time leaves empty lives
Waiting to be filled
The passing of time
Leaves empty lives
Waiting to be filled
I'm here with a cause
I'm holding a 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

Do you
Love me like you used to ?

Back to the Old House

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

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, but I meant to

Are you still there?
or have you moved away?

I would love to go
back to the old house
but I never will

Stretch Out and Wait

Off the high-rise estate
What's at the back of your mind
Your face I can see
And it's desperately kind
But 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 away
So ignore all; the codes of the day
Let your juvenile impulses sway
This way and that way
This way and that way
God, how sex implores you
To let yourself lose yourself
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Let you puny body lie down, lie down
As we lie, you say
As we lie, you say
Strectch out and wait
Strectch out and wait
Let you puny body lie down, lie down
As we lie, you say:
Will the world end in the day time?
(I really don't know )
Or will the world end in the night time?
(I really don't know)
And is there any point ever having children ?
I really don't klnow
All I do know is that we're Here and it's Know
So stretch out and wait
Strectch out and wait
There is no debate, no debate, no debate
How can you consciously contempplate
When there's no debate, no debate
Stretch out and wait

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

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

So please please please
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
would 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

In a river the colour of lead
emerse a 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
he said he'd cure your ills
but he didn't and he never will
so, save your life
because you've only got one

The dream is 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
am I'm not happy
and I'm not sad

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, save your life
because you've only got one

The dream is 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
am I'm not happy
and I'm not sad

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
Bye bye