BOG ROLL BLUES 

Hanging on a convenience wall,
A roll of two-ply crepe and one-ply clear,
The silent sentinels of health,
supplied by the corporation hygiene surveyor,
Perforated, sectionalised, medicated, sterilised each layer,
Property of Birmingham City Council now please wash your hands.
But, if you think this is all that these tissues appear to be,
Then listen to the kind of thing these tissues have to be and have to see. 

They're witness to a junkie's needs, soaking up the blood spilled on the floor,
A message scribbled on a sheet, state date, time and size pushed under the door,
Rolled up to a pellet size, shoved into the hole drilled through the wall,
Streaming projectiles hurled through the air out of the trains after
 games of football.
But I don't suppose anybody really cares, there's too many nowadays just want to
 wipe their ass of the whole affair. 

  
DARKNESS IS NO FRIEND 

Shafts of sunlight stealing in my room through the window-pane,
Look like spotlight pointing out the gloom and despair that it contains,
But I would not shut out the sunlight for darkness is no friend. 

Shafts of moonlight lighting up the floor, nearly all bare boards,
Few pieces of carpet and nothing more, all I can afford,
But I would not shut out the moonlight for darkness is no friend. 

It's so easy to shut your eyes to block out the things that you despise,
Just as easy for the dark of night to blot out thedaylight things that aren't right,

Shafts of sunlight stealing in my room through the window-pane,
Look like spotlight pointing out the gloom and despair that it contains,
But I would not shut out the sunlight for darkness is no friend. 


3744 JAMES ROAD 


(one two free four)
For seven hours six miles above the ground, each trip is a year off my life 
Just longing for the minute we're down, like sitting on the edge of a knife. 

Apprehension is itching my stomach, anticipation of the things ahead. 
This coffee doesn't help the situation, just wastes two minutes instead. 

Sixteen hours after leaving my home, three thousand miles to the west. 
Feeling tired and very alone, need to take a bath and get refreshed. 

Alienation is easy to feel, cut off from the situations you know. 
Two people waiting for us to land just help to make these feelings go. 

3744 James Road you've been like a home to me, 
3744 James Road I'll come back and see you again. 3744 James Road I'll
 come back and see you again. 

3744 James Road you've been like a home to me, 
3744 James Road I'll come back and see you again. 
3744 James Road you've been like a home to me, 
3744 James Road I'll come back and see you again. 

EARTH SHANTY   

Skyward fly the Eagles as the Hawks search out their prey,
Seaward fly the seagulls.catching fish beneath the spray,
For their young amongst the shingle to feed them for the day,
Look back on this and linger seeking thoughts of yesterday.

I recall all the scenes, forgotten dreams of pastures green,
Grey, clouds all day provide a screen,
From the sun that parched the land and robbed the sea. 
Left the dried-up,burnt-out sand.

And the Moon. mirror of the Sun, night-light of the World,
Drags a blanket of cooling sea across the sand in furls,
In the night when the stars provide a reason for Man to strive, 
He reasons that's the reason He's alive.

Let the Stars in the Firmament remain as bait,
For the people whose only wish is to leave their home, let them wait,
Their impatience is only matched by a misunderstanding of their fate, 
Let them get their priorities straight. 

  
ELEVENTH HOUR 


Ain't it just like me, leavin'everything 'til the eleventh hour,
Pushing time to its limits, last minute comes and I have to cower,
Against a wall I should beat my head on but I can't change
It would just feel strange to re-arrange the way I do things now. 

I know someday it's gonna get me in trouble, I know it will,
I'm racing on the track, the track of time and I"m heading for a spill. 

Sometimes I wake up,sit up in bed in the middle of night, 
Getting scared of the things that's got to be done and the time is tight,
Then I get back to sleep, tomorrow is another day in my life,
And it could be the day when I get something done in the business of life. 


GARDEN  

My garden is all overgrown and the weeds are creeping up on my home, 
Grass has grown over two foot high and the trees are blocking out the sky. 
French windows won't open any more from the moss that's grown outside the door, 
Hundred birds are nesting in the trees, looks like a wild-life sanctuary. 

But I'm not going to cut a single blade of grass, my garden will look just like the
 distant past, 
Before the days of agricultural land, before the time when pebbles turned to sand. 
When I leave this house I'm going to stay, I'm forsaking my comforts to live 
another way, 
Get my clothes from heaps, my food from bins, my water from ponds and have
 tramps for all my friends. 

 
I LOVE MISS OGYNY   
  

The days that you're gone, I can't stand the silence,
The hours that you're here, I can't stand your presence,
The starlight that shone from your eyes in the beginning,
Now blinds me with hate for you and all women,
The ties that should bind I want to cut into pieces,
The paper I signed collects dirt in it's creases,
But while you're away I can't stand the longing,
I detest being tied down but love the belonging. 

It's strange how this change in our relations brings you nearer,
It's wierd how I fear for our position is much clearer,
I understand that it's underhanded to want to desert you,
But every time you're here then I'm filled with a need to hurt you,
It's only one thing that stops me from commiting murder,
And that's the thought of losing you and I can't go no further,
('Cos ) I love you, miss ogyny (X4) 

  
SAD IS THE HUNTER   
  

Thinking 'bout the prospects of the future,
Thinking 'bout conditions in the past.
Thinking 'bout the people in my own time,
How long their future's gonna last. 

Read about the Spanish inquisition,
Read about the witch-hunt's of those days,
Things have only changed in outward appearance, 
Cruelty is integral in man's ways. 

For we all applaud the surgeon, 
saving lives and mending limbs,
Does he use his latent sadism,
For his work is pretty grim. 

Hunting is the vehicle for some men,
To satisfy their baser needs,
Sport is the label for this depravity, 
A distortion of the need to feed. 

Innocents should never have to suffer, 
With their lives for the pleasure of the few,
An alternative is always available,
look at it from a different view. 

This decade has seen a new way, 
To curb this unfortunate trait,
Let music be the hunter,
and keep your conscience straight. 

   
SOLDIER  

Soldier, fix your bayonet before the enemy come, 
'Cos you won't have time, when they start to climb the hill, y'know. 

Soldier, when you see 8,000 climbin' up on you, 
Don't see them as men, just see them as enemies of the king, y'know. 

Soldier, Don't think of runnin', your death is just as sure. 
If you don't face it now, you'll face it anyhow in front of the squad, y'know. 

Soldier, stand firm in your trenches, don't let them break the line. 
Because these dirty Hun are all bastard whore'sons not fit to live, don't you know. 


STATUS PEOPLE
  

I closed my front door today I won't be opening it up for a while,
I left the key with friends I said "make yourself at home and live in style",
All I had was a set of clothes that would have to last for quite a long time,
I'm leaving now all the brass and silver can collect some grime.

My money in the bank I'll give most away to friends and servants who will
 lose their pay,
They can be rich for a short time, realise some ambitions and start to climb,
I''ll be glad to say goodbye to status people who are just a lie,
I left them behind when I walked out the door, I'll never see them anymore.


STRANGE TOWN   
  
This is a strange town, people here round don't have no fun. 
I've been here two years, I've been lookin' round but I ain't found none. 
It seems that all they care about is pointin' people out, 
saying stupid things like, "get the lice out your hair". 

I don't believe these people, spend all their time walkin' round lookin' so glum. 
They think that life is for workin' to secure their pension when retirement come. 
Ah, but they don't realise, it's right before their eyes,
 life is for livin', right now  before you die. 


THANK CHRIST FOR THE BOMB  
  
In 1914 a war began, a million soldiers lent a hand,
Weren't many planes to give support, hand to hand was the way they fought. 

Young men were called up for the cause, for king and country and the cross,
In their naivete they thought it was for glory, so they'd been taught. 

In 1939 once again there came the sound of marching men,
Occupying European land, all the way to North French sands, 

But, in the final year of that war, two big bangs settled the score,
Against Japan, who'd joined the fight, the rising sun didn't look so bright. 

Since that day it's been stalemate, everyone's scared to obliterate,
So it seems for peace we can thank the bomb, so I say
 thank Christ for the bomb 

  
BDD 

Then I looked up at the sun and the brightness hurt my eyes,
But I'd rather be blind than to see you with other guys. 

Then I listened to the sound of an airplane as it flies,
but I'd rather be deaf than to hear you tell those lies. 

Then I shouted and I screamed 'til my face turned shades of blue,
But I'd rather be dumb than to tell you that we're through. 

Then an airplane drowned my voice as it blotted out the sun
And I realised I'm not the only one. 


CHERRY RED   
  

All night long I loved her, morning came too soon,
I knew she'd be gone by the afternoon,
I said please don't go, still she said goodbye,
(But) As she turned around she had a crafty look in her eye.  

(And I thought it said)
When the moon rise this evening, you turn round in your bed
The warmth of my body will heat you, make your blood run
All next day I waited for her return but she didn't show,
The daylight turned to the dark of night,
I said please come soon, still there was no sign,
(But) As the dawn returned I knew that look in her eye was just a lie  

And I thought it said)
When the moon rise this evening, you turn round in your bed,
The warmth of my body will heat you, make your blood run 
  

  
EARTH IS NOT ROOM ENOUGH   
  

Locked in a room, strapped to a hollow chair,
Faint musty smell, odour of stale air,
Sealed from the outside in a cage that is six-foot square,
Eyes that are fixed in a glazed, disbelieving stare. 

Cyanide pills dropped in an acid bath,
Froth forms a cloud as deadly as death's own staff,
Lungs start to burst trying to hold your breath,
But have the last laugh 'cos Earth is just a cage seven thousand miles wide! 

  
FULFILMENT 

Going against my better judgment,
I listened to what you had to say,
Ah, you said that I was your fulfilment,
And you wouldn't do anything to drive me away,
Not to drive me away. 

I couldn't believe what I was hearing,
I couldn't believe that you'd be so bare-faced to me,

Take your life in your hands when you try to change my plans
I don't need your company, I'm just ready to be free
Take your life in your hands when you try to change my plans
I don't need your company, I'm just ready, ready to be free. 

Don't tell me that you've had a hard time,
'Cos I tell you that it's you've given me one,
Look here across my palm, across my life-line,
That's the scar of the years that you've been with me,
But it ends here now you're gone, 

Take your life in your hands when you try to change my plans
I don't need your company, I'm just ready to be free
Take your life in your hands when you try to change my plans
I don't need your company, I'm just ready, ready to be free, ready to be free,
 ready to be free. 

  
  
GROUNDHOG BLUES   
  


It's a low-down dog, 'n' dirty Groundhog been rootin' round my back door, 
Yes if I catch him there rootin' well he won't root there no more. 

Yes he leave in the morning and he hang around all day long,
I leave home in the morning and he hangs around all day long,
Yes when I leave in the morning yes he hang around all day long. 

Give me some toads 'n' frogs hips, I'm gonna mix 'em up together,
Mix 'em up good, mix 'em up together, kill that dirty Groundhog,
Then when I leave home in the mornin', yes he won't be there all day long. 

I said goodbye baby, baby got to leave you now,
I said goodbye baby, baby got to leave you now,
Yes I did what I wanted, yes I killed that dirty Groundhog. 

  
MISTREATED 

My baby just mistreats me night and day (2)
Ah, She mistreats the poor boy just to pass the time away 

Baby, what have I done that's wrong (2)
Ah, you mistreat me baby, drive me from your home. 

Now please don't mistreat me, 'cos you know I'm young and wild,
And please don't mistreat me, 'cos you know I'm young and wild,
Ah, you must always remember, one time you was a child. 

Baby, what have I done that's wrong (2)
Ah, you mistreat the poor boy, drive him from your home. 

I do all I can just to make you satisfied,
If you don't appreciate me, you can go 'cos you ain't tied,
But I know, if you leave me, I'll miss you most at night. 

Baby, what have I done that's wrong (2)
Oh, you mistreat me baby and drive me from your home. 

Baby, what have I done that's wrong (2)
Ah, you mistreat the poor boy and drive me from your home. 

 
  
SHIP ON THE OCEAN   
  

I'm like a ship on the ocean that's rolling from side to side, 
But I'm not drunk I'm just dissatisfied, 
It's not my body but my mind I can't control, 
I have everything I need but still.....I want more. 

I've done everything that I've ever set out to do, 
I become so well known that they've put me in who's who, 
But I've reached the limit and I don't know what to do, 
If I can't go no further I'll have to go back.....to being poor. 

   
S'ONE SONG  
  
My friends told me the other day your race is almost run,
I just had time to stop and say the race has just begun. 

My friends told me the other day your song is almost sung,
I just had time to stop and say the melody is young. 

My friends told me the other day your tale is almost told,
I just had time to tell them I'm just outwardly grown old. 

My friends watched me the other day they all sat by my side,
I just had time to say goodbye before I laid back and died. 

I look back on the life I've led, perhaps I should have done other things instead,
Thinking 'bout the people that I went to school with,
They're all narrow and complacent fools. 

Didn't seem to fit into their world, had no interest in what they told,
Branded as an idiot when results came around, but numbers don't tell you if
 your brain is sound. 

Used to want vengeance for what they did, suffered humiliation 
at the hands of these kids,
But it doesn't really matter, it's just out of spite,
 I only know I live the life I like. 



SPLIT part 1   
  
In the dying embers of a burnt-out day,
When morning seems a thousand hours away,
Dark prevails and the light gives up the fight to stay. 
The blackness thickens and surrounds,
Masking all but distant sounds,
I seek for thought to occupy still conscious mind. 

As calm and peace surround my bed,
I feel that sleep is not far ahead,
But in place of slumber comes a bolt of fear instead. 

   
SPLIT part 2   


I leap from bed in the middle of night,
Run up the stairs for 3 or 4 flights,
Run in a room,turn on the light,
The dark is too dark but the light's too bright. 

Reality is hard to find,
Like finding the moon if I was blind,
It?s there so stark, so undefined,
I must get help before I lose my mind. 

I try to think of things mundane,
To get this terror from out my brain,
Everything's so mad, I can't explain,
I must get help before I go insane. 

    
SPLIT part 3  
  

Exhaustion takes confusion from my brain and lets me sleep,
A dreamless sleep floating in an ocean two miles deep,
The surface is a calmness that hides turbulence beneath,
But unaware I sleep on 'til morning come.

At first I don't believe the things I thought the night before,
But now they come back like a torrent of ignorance once more,
I can't accept life isn't a dream, it doesn't seem real any more,
My mind and body are two things, not one.

Time has passed and as things work out as awareness clears the clouds of doubt,
If I was sane and knew what life was about in a world where confusion reigns.
 
  
SPLIT part 4

I get down on my knees and I pray to the sun,
I face East at the dawn and I read the Koran,
I kow-tow to a god in the shape of a man,
I confess to a priest and accept his command. 

I look for truth in the sun and the dawn and the church,
Feeling humble and servile and meek in the search,
Revelation is near but is lost in the murk 
of Man's own small attempt to explain life on Earth.