1.Ball And Chain
(colin moulding)
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
Oh yeah,
The diggers and the tower cranes,
The diggers and the tower cranes.
Don't want demolition,
Don't want your compensation,
It's not just bricks and mortar,
We are lambs to slaughter.
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
Oh yeah,
The diggers and the tower cranes,
The diggers and the tower cranes.
Must we live in fear,
From those who shed no tears？
Our one and only shelter,
Your games, your helter skelter.
Motorways and office blocks,
They're standing on the spot
Where stood a home,
Crushing on the memories of people,
Who have since turned to stone.
(ahh)
They've turned to stone,
(ahh)
They've turned to stone.
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
Save us from the ball and chain,
Oh yeah,
The diggers and the tower cranes,
The diggers and the tower cranes.
2.Chalkhills And Children
I'm floating over strange land,
It's a soulless, sequined, showbiz moon.
I'm floating over strange land,
And then stranger still, there's no balloon.
But i'm getting higher,
Wafted up by fame's fickle fire 'til the...
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever ermine street.
(even i never know where i go when my eyes are closed.)
I'm skating over thin ice,
Upon blunted blades of metal soft.
I'm skating over thin ice,
While some nonesuch net holds me aloft.
But i'm getting higher,
Lifted up on lucks' circus wire 'til the...
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever ermine street.
Even i never know where i go when my eyes are closed.
Even i never spied that the scenes were posed.
Even i never knew this is what i'd be.
Even eyes never mean that you're sure to see.
Still i'm getting higher,
Rolling up on three empty tyres, 'til the...
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Bringing me back to earth,
Eternally and ever ermine street.
I'm soaring over hushed crowds,
The reluctant cannonball it seems.
I'm soaring over hushed crowds,
I'm propelled up here by long dead dreams.
Still i'm getting higher,
Icarus regrets and retires puzzled.
Chalkhills and children,
Anchor my feet.
Chalkhills and children,
Oddly complete.
(even i never know where i go when my eyes are all closed.)
Here i go again.
3.Dear God
Dear god,
Hope you got the letter,
And i pray you can make it better down here.
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer,
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them starving on their feet,
'cause they don't get enough to eat
From god,
I can't believe in you.
Dear god,
Sorry to disturb you,
But i feel that i should be heard loud and clear.
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears,
And all the people that you made in your image,
See them fighting in the street,
'cause they can't make opinions meet,
About god,
I can't believe in you.
Did you make disease, and the diamond blue？
Did you make mankind after we made you？
And the devil too!
Dear god,
Don't know if you noticed,
But your name is on a lot of quotes in this book.
Us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look,
And all the people that you made in your image,
Still believing that junk is true.
Well i know it ain't and so do you,
Dear god,
I can't believe in,
I don't believe in,
I won't believe in heaven and hell.
No saints, no sinners,
No devil as well.
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
You're always letting us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown.
Those lost at sea and never found,
And it's the same the whole world 'round.
The hurt i see helps to compound,
That the father, son and holy ghost,
Is just somebody's unholy hoax,
And if you're up there you'll perceive,
That my heart's here upon my sleeve.
If there's one thing i don't believe in...
It's you,
Dear god.
4.Earn Enough For Us
I've been praying all the week through
At home, at work and on the bus
I've been praying i can keep you
And to earn enough for us
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Found a house that won't repair itself
With it's windows cracking
And a roof held together with holes
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I've been praying all the week through
At home at work and on the bus
I've been praying i can keep you
And to earn enough for us
So you're saying that we're going to be three
Now, a father's what i'll be
Don't get me wrong, i'm so proud
But the belt's already tight
I'll get another job at night, but honest
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
I can earn enough for us
5.Funk Pop A Roll
Funk pop a roll beats up my soul
Oozing like napalm from the speakers and grill
Of your radio
Into the mouths of babes
And across the backs of its willing slaves
Funk pop a roll consumes you whole
Gulping in your opium so copiously from a disco
Everything you eat is waste
But swallowing is easy when it has no taste
They can fix you rabbits up
With your musical feed
They can fix you rabbits up
Big money selling you stuff that you do not need
Funk pop a roll for fish in shoals
Music by the yard for the children they keep
Like poseable dolls
The young to them are mistakes
Who only want bread but they're force-fed cake
Funk pop a roll the only goal
The music business is a hammer to keep
You pegs in your holes
But please don't listen to me
I've already been poisoned by this industry!
Funk pop a roll beats up my soul
6.Generals And Majors
Generals and majors ah ah
They're never too far
From battlefields so glorious
Out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
Till once again victorious
Generals and majors always
Seem so unhappy 'less they got a war
Generals and majors ah ah
Like never before are tired of being actionless.
Calling generals and majors
Generals and majors everywhere
Calling generals and majors
Your world war iii is drawing near
Generals and majors ah ah
They're never too far
Away from men who made the grade
Out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
Until the battle's lost or made
Generals and majors ah ah
Like never before, are tired of being in the shade
7.Grass
Laying on the grass my heart it flares like fire
The way you slap my face just fills me with desire
You play hard to get
'cause you're teacher's pet
But when the boats have gone
We'll take a tumble excuse for a fumble
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
If you fancy we can buy an ice-cream cone
Your mate has gone she didn't want to be alone
I will pounce on you
Just us and the cuckoos
You are helpless now
Over and over we flatten the clover
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
It would shock you too the things we used to do on grass
Grass, grass.
Things we did on grass
8.King For A Day
Everyone's creeping up to the money god,
Putting tongues where they didn't ought to be.
On stepping stones of human hearts and souls,
Into the land of 'nothing for free.'
Well the way that we're living,
Is all take and no giving,
There's nothing to believe in,
The loudest mouth will hail the new found way,
To be king for a day.
Everyone's licking up to the new king pin,
Trying to get way up with a smile.
Sing for your supper boy and jump to a finger click,
Ain't my way of living in style.
'cause the ladder gets longer,
And ambition gets stronger,
I can't satisfy the hunger,
That bad old moon has got you in its sway,
To be king for a day.
You're only here once so you got to get it right.
(no time to fuss and fight.)
'cause life don't mean much if measured out with someone else's
plight.
(in time you'll see the light.)
'cause the way that we're living,
Is all take and no giving,
There's nothing to believe in,
The loudest mouth will hail the new found way,
To be king for a day.
9.Life Begins At The Hop
I have learnt there's a magical spot at the hop
Come with me to the church on the corner the hop
There's nuts and crisps and ccc cola on tap
A good time had by the boys and girls at the hop
Tell me what do you say
Tell me what do you say
Life begins at the hop, boys and girls
Prepare yourself for the boys in the band at the hop
The cheap guitars, too young for the bars at the hop
We'll jive around, make fools of ourselves then stop
Back next week with another ridiculous tie knot
Tell me what do you say
Tell me what do you say
Life begins at the hop, boys and girls
10.Love On A Farmboy's Wages
High climbs the summer sun
High stands the corn
And tonight when my work is done
We will borrow your father's carriage
We will drink and prepare for marriage
Soon my darling, soon my darling
Chorus： shilling for the fellow who brings the sheep in
Shilling for the fellow who milks the herd
Shilling for the fellow with a wife for keeping
How can we feed love on a farmboy's wages？
Deep under winter snow
Deep lay the lambs
And tonight by the full moon's glow
Flask of wine on my feather bedding
We will drink and prepare for wedding
Soon my darling, soon my darling
Chorus
People think that i'm no good
Painting pictures carving wood
Be a rich man if i could
But the only job i do well is here on the farm
On the farm
And it's breaking my back
We will borrow your father's carriage
We will drink and prepare for marriage
Soon my darling, soon my darling
Chorus
11.Making Plans For Nigel
We're only making plans for nigel
We only want what's best for him
We're only making plans for nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
We're only making plans for nigel
He has his future in a british steel
We're only making plans for nigel
Nigel's whole future is as good as sealed
And if young nigel says he's happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
Nigel is not outspoken
But he likes to speak
And loves to be spoken to
Nigel is happy in his work
We're only making plans for nigel
12.No Thugs In Our House
(andy partridge)
The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the line;
The husband burns his paper, sucks his pipe while studying their
cushion-floor;
His viscous poly-paste breath comes out,
Their wall-paper world is shattered by his shout,
A boy in blue is busy banging out a headache on the kitchen
door.
And all the while graham slept on,
Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.
No thugs in our house, are there dear？
We made that clear,
We made little graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
No thugs in our house, are there dear？
We made that clear,
We made little graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
The young policeman who just can't grow a moustache will open up
his book,
And spoil their breakfast with reports of asians who have been
so badly kicked,
Is this your son's wallet i've got here？
He must have dropped it after too much beer.
Oh, officer, we can't believe our little angel is the one you've
picked. and
And all the while graham slept on,
Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.
No thugs in our house, are there dear？
We made that clear,
We made little graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
No thugs in our house, are there dear？
We made that clear,
We made little graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
They never read those pamphlets in his bottom drawer,
They never readthat tattoo on his arm.
They thought that was just a boys club badge he wore,
They never thought he'd do folks any harm.
The insect-headed worker wife will hang her waspies on the line;
She's singing something stale and simple now this business has
fizzled out;
Her little tune is such a happy song
Her son is innocent,
He can't do wrong,
'cos dads a judge and knows exactly what the job of judging's
all about.
And all the while graham slept on,
Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.
No thugs in our house, are there dear？
We made that clear,
We made little graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
No thugs in our house, are there dear？
We made that clear,
We made little graham promise us he'd be a good boy.
13.Respectable Street
It's in the order of their hedgerows
It's in the way their curtains open and close
It's in the look they give you down their nose
All part of decency's jigsaw i suppose
Heard the neighbour slam his car door
Don't he realise this is respectable street
What d'you think he bought that car for
'cos he realise this is respectable street
Now they talk about abortion
In cosmopolitan proportions to their daughters
As they speak of contraception
And immaculate receptions on their portable
Sony entertainment centres.
Now she speaks about diseases
And which sex position pleases best her old man
Avon lady fills the creases
When she manages to squeeze in past the caravans
That never move from their front gardens.
It's in the order of their hedgerows
It's in the way their curtains open and close
It's in the look they give you down their nose
All part of decency's jigsaw i suppose
Sunday church and they look fetching
Saturday night saw him retching over our fence
Bang the wall for me to turn down
I can see them with their stern frown
As they dispense the kind of look that says
They're perfect.
14.Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her
It's raining on the beach
She inches close but out of reach
The waves look painted on
Seagulls screaming
The sea is warship grey
It whispers ''fool!'' then slides away
Black coastline slumbers on
Seagulls screaming kiss her, kiss her
And all the flags that flap on the pier
Spell why on earth do you want
The fog hides much but one thing is clear
She's nearer
Dead deck chairs under shrouds
And life belts gape like minstrel mouths
Her hair still smells of salt
Seagulls screaming kiss her, kiss her
Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her, kiss her
He who hesitates is lost
If you want her, you should tell her
Take her by the hand if you hesitate
If you wait, november wins her november will win her
She returns to sand so get ahold of the girl
I say i like your coat
Her thank-you tugs my heart afloat
I nearly didn't hear for
Seagulls screaming kiss her, kiss her
He who hesitates is lost
15.Senses Working Overtime
hey, hey,
The clouds are whey.
There's straw for the donkeys,
And the innocents can all sleep safely,
All sleep safely.
My, my,
Sun is pie.
There's fodder for the cannons,
And the guilty ones can all sleep safely,
All sleep safely.
And all the world is football-shaped
It's just for me to kick in space
And i can see, hear, smell, touch, taste
And i've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in.
I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference
'tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and the pleasure
And the church bells softly chime.
Hey hey,
Night fights day.
There's food for the thinkers,
And the innocents can all live slowly,
All live slowly.
My, my,
The sky will cry
Jewels for the thirsty,
And the guilty one's can all die slowly ,
All die slowly.
And all the world is biscuit-shaped,
It's just for me to feed my face,
And i can see, hear, smell, touch, taste,
And i've got one, two, three, four, five,
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in.
I've got one, two, three, four, five,
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference,
'tween a lemon and a lime,
Pain and the pleasure,
And the church bells softly chime,
And birds might fall from black skies,
And bullies might give you black eyes,
But to me it's very, very beautiful
(england's glory!)
Beautiful
(a striking beauty!)
And all the world is football-shaped,
It's just for me to kick in space,
And i can see, hear, smell, touch, taste,
And i've got one, two, three, four, five,
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to tell the difference
'tween the goods and grime
Turds and treasure
And there's one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in
I've got one, two, three, four, five
Senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference
'tween a lemon and a lime
Pain and the pleasure,
And the church bells softly chime.
16.The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead
Peter pumpkinhead came to town
Spreading wisdom and cash around
Fed the starving and housed the poor
Showed the vatican what gold's for
But he made too many enemies
Of the people who would keep us on our knees
Hooray for peter pumpkin
Who'll pray for peter pumpkinhead？
Oh my!
Peter pumpkinhead pulled them all
Emptied churches and shopping malls
Where he spoke, it would raise the roof
Peter pumpkinhead told the truth
But he made too many enemies...
Peter pumpkinhead put to shame
Governments who would slur his name
Plots and sex scandals failed outright
Peter merely said
Any kind of love is alright
But he made too many enemies...
Peter pumpkinhead was too good
Had him nailed to a chunk of wood
He died grinning on live tv
Hanging there he looked a lot like you
And an awful lot like me!
But he made too many enemies...
Hooray for peter pumpkin
Who'll pray for peter pumpkin
Hooray for peter pumpkinhead
Oh my oh my oh!
Doesn't it make you want to cry oh？
17.The Disappointed
The disappointed
All shuffle round in circles
Their placards look the same
With a picture and a name
Of the ones who broke their hearts
The disappointed
All congregate at my house
Their voices sob with grief
That they want to be chief
Of the tribe with broken hearts
Once, i had no sympathy
For those destroyed and thrown away by love
Seems, your ring upon my finger
Signifies that i've become the spokesman of...
The disappointed
Will bear me on their shoulders
To a secret shadow land
Where a sombre marching band
Plays a tune for broken hearts
And day grows darker now
Everywhere, everywhere
The disappointed
Are coming in their millions
They're spilling from the bus
At a monument to us
Made of bits of broken heart
The disappointed
Are growing every second
They blot the sun to black
At the bottom of the pack
I'm the king of broken hearts
18.The Mayor Of Simpleton
Never been near a university,
Never took a paper or a learned degree,
And some of your friends think that's stupid of me,
But it's nothing that i care about.
Well i don't know how to tell the weight of the sun,
And of mathematics well i want none,
And i may be the mayor of simpleton,
But i know one thing,
And that's i love you.
When their logic grows cold and all thinking gets done,
You'll be warm in the arms of the mayor of simpleton.
I can't have been there when brains were handed round
(please be upstanding for the mayor of simpleton),
Or get past the cover of your books profound,
(please be upstanding for the mayor of simpleton),
And some of your friends thinks it's really unsound,
That you're ever seen talking to me.
Well i don't know how to write a big hit song,
And all crossword puzzles well i just shun,
And i may be the mayor of simpleton,
But i know one thing,
And that's i love you.
I'm not proud of the fact that i never learned much,
Just feel i should say,
What you get is all real,
I can't put on an act,
It takes brains to do that anyway. (and anyway...)
And i can't unravel riddles, problems and puns,
How the home computer has me on the run,
And i may be the mayor of simpleton,
But i know one thing,
And that's i love you (i love you).
If depth of feeling is a currency,
(please be upstanding for the mayor of simpleton),
Then i'm the man who grew the money tree,
(no chain of office and no hope of getting one).
Some of your friends are too brainy to see,
That they're paupers and that's how they'll stay.
Well i don't know how many pounds make up a ton,
Of all the nobel prizes that i've never won,
And i may be the mayor of simpleton,
But i know one thing,
And that's i love you.
When all logic grows cold and all thinking gets done,
You'll be warm in the arms of the mayor of simpleton.
You'll be warm in the arms of the mayor of simpleton.
You'll be warm in the arms of the mayor.
(please be upstanding for the mayor of simpleton.)
19.This World Over
Ah well, that's this world over
Ah well, next one begins
Will you smile like any mother
As you bathe your brand new twins？
Will you sing about the missiles
As you dry odd numbered limbs？
Ah well, that's this world over
Ah well, next one begins
Ah well, that's this world over
You sadly grin
Will you tell them about that far off and mythical land
About their leader with the famous face？
Will you tell them that the reason nothing ever grows
In the garden anymore
Because he wanted to win the craziest race
That's this world over
Will you smile like any father
With your children on a sunday hike？
When you get to a sea of rubble
And they ask ''what was london like？''
You tell them, ''ah well, that's the world over''
Will you tell them about that far off and mythical land
And how a child to the virgin came？
Will you tell them that the reason why we murdered
Everything upon the surface of the world
So we can stand right up and say we did it in his name？
That's this world over
Or so it seems
That's this world over
The end of dreams
That's this world over, over, over and out.
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