I Just Can’t Stop It

i just found out the name of your best friend,
you been talkin’ about yourself again,
and no one seems to share your views.
why doesn’t anybody listen to you kid?
how come you never really seem to get through,
is it you?
“Best Friend”

Lyrics


mirror in the bathroom

Mirror in the bathroom
please talk free
The door is locked
just you and me.
Can I take you to a restaurant
that’s got glass tables
You can watch yourself
while you are eating.

Mirror in the bathroom
I just can’t stop it,
Every Saturday you see me
window shopping.
Find no interest
in the racks and shelves
Just ten thousand reflections
of my own sweet self, self, self…

Mirror in the bathroom
You’re my mirror in the bathroom
You’re my mirror in the bathroom
You’re my mirror in the bathroom…

Mirror in the bathroom
Recompense
For all my crimes
of self defense.
Cures you whisper
make no sense
Drift gently into
mental illness.

Mirror in the bathroom
please talk free
The door is locked
just you and me.
Can I take you to a restaurant
that’s got glass tables
You can watch yourself
while you are eating.

Mirror in the bathroom
Mirror in the bathroom…

 

hands off she’s mine

I told my friend I’d check for you
He told me that he liked you too
But then I saw him kissing you
I could’ve died when he said,
hands off she’s mine
Said hands off she’s mine
Hands off she’s mine
Hands off she’s mine,
I want her all the time
Hands off she’s mine,
hands off she’s mine.

I knew that this was real although
It usually comes mixed up with fear.
I knew that I could wait
Although it just might take
a thousand years.
Said hands off she’s mine
Hands off she’s mine
Hands off she’s mine,
until the end of time
Hands off she’s mine,
hands off she’s mine.

La, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la.

Now we’re going steady,
been together several weeks
I check out all the other guys
who we see on the streets
When I say, hands off she’s mine
Hands off she’s mine
Hands off she’s mine,
it takes up all my time
Hands off she’s mine,
hands off she’s mine.

I said hands off me darta
I tell ya get yer hands off me darta,
C’mon mek me said don’t mess around on ya,
C’mek mek me tell ya don’t want ta get ya.

La, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la,
La, la, la, la.

Funny how the best things
only last for every day
I thought she was my girlfriend
‘Till I heard that someone else was saying,
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.
Hands off she’s mine.

 

two swords

I’ve never been one for the punch-ups
But look I really hate them nazis
A certain something starts to wind me up
How could I hate them oh so violently

When two swords slashing at each other
Only sharpen one another
And in the long run even he’s your brudda’
Said even though that kid’s a nazi
Even though that kid’s a nazi

Always attack those things in someone else,
Reflections that you can’t face in yourself,
To make precious fascistic feeling gone
It makes you turn into a bigger one
Bigger…

When two swords slashing at each other
Only sharpen one another
And in the long run even he’s your brudda’
Said even though that kid’s a nazi
Even though that kid’s a nazi

Are you fighting the Front,
or just fronting a fight
Sometimes it’s hard to see
the left from the right
Are we angry, are we looking for peace
Or just tryin’ to win the war…
…by killing all the enemy off
Just to kill all the enemy off
Kill the enemy off
Kill the enemy off

I’ve never been one for the punch-ups
But look I really hate them nazis
A certain something starts to wind me up
How could I hate them of so violently

When two swords slashing at each other
Only sharpen one another
And in the long run even he’s your brudda’
Even though that kid’s a nazi
Even though that kid’s a nazi
Said even though that kid’s a nazi

 

twist and crawl

something shows in your face
aren’t you forgetting yourself
merely let your mouth stand
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl

emotion packed in every tear
emotion mirrors your fears
smile and say hello dear
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl

walk into a niteclub
see you standing in there
both your eyes are on me
wonder what makes you care
wonder what makes you stare

walk into a niteclub
all your friends are in there
is that really blond hair?
why don’t you play fair,
you could be in Mayfair?

you broke my heart in several pieces
not supposed to be that easy
have to read the books again
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl

but you can’t hurt me anymore
i haven’t got a heart no more
no feelings get in my way
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl

did you think that i’d return
emotions all i need to learn
some day you’re gonna feel the same
vice-a-versa love affair
vice-a-versa love affair

did you think that i’d return
emotions all i need to learn
some day you’re gonna feel the same
vice-a-versa love affair
vice-a-versa love affair

now i’ve made a new way
now my mind is rearranged
now i can’t be sure again
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl

are we really happy or maybe just pretending
i can’t tell the difference
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl

i can have a new face
i can have a new body
i can have a new boy
i can have a new girl
i can have a new world

i can have a new face
i can have a new body
i can have a new boy
i can have a new girl
i can have a new world

i can have a twist and crawl
i can have a twist and crawl
twist and crawl, twist and crawl, twist and crawl

 

tears of a clown (*fn)

Say oh yeah baby baby
Now if there’s a smile on my face
It’s only there tryin’ to fool the public
But when it comes down to foolin’ you
Now honey that’s quite a different subject

So don’t let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
‘Cause really I’m sad
(so sad sad)
Oh I’m sadder than sad
(so sad sad)
Well I’m hurt and I want you so bad
(so sad sad)
Like a clown I appear to be glad

Ooh yeah
There’s some sad things known to man
But ain’t too much sadder than
The tears of a clown
When there’s no one around

Say oh yeah baby baby baby
Oh yeah baby baby baby

Now if I appear to be carefree
It’s only to camouflage my sadness
And honey to shield my pride I try
To cover this hurt
with a show of gladness
So don’t let my show convince you
That I’ve been happy since you
decided to go
Oh I need you so
Look I’m hurt and I want you to know
Just for others I put on a show

Ooh yeah
There’s some sad things known to man
But ain’t too much sadder than
The tears of a clown

Just like Pagliacci did
I’m gonna keep my surface hid
Hiding in my room I try
But in this lonely room I cry
The tears of a clown
When there’s no one around

Now if there’s a smile on my face
Don’t let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
Don’t let this smile I wear
Make you feel that I don’t care
The tears of a clown
Tears of a clown
The tears of a clown
I’m going down de town
I’m going downtown
Tears of a clown

 

rough rider

This songs called the rough rider,
yeah, ya’know
I say gwarn like a spider
Tell ya say gwarn like a tiger, ya know

She was a rough rider
A strong winer
Who start to winey, winey
Dem had a hard night
Last night

Lord he feel so broke up today
Lord he feel so broke up today
Lord she feels so mash up today

He was a rough rider
A cool stroker
A strong whiner

Him want de bush
She chops de wood
They had a hard night
Last night

Yeah all right
They was a rough rider
a rough rider
Your body saw’n and then jink up besider her
Me take off me jeans
and she starting to scream
Take off me peep
and then she says, “Good grief!”
What a bly release, awar
Say what a bly release, Lord
A say me take in me bed
and she gwarn like she red
Show up an take ah some me beer, brrrrrr, awar
Till your body son and you got to come around
as I would say, yeah
‘Cause there’s a whole in the bucket,
Dear Liza, Dear Liza
‘Cause there’s a whole in the bucket,
Dear Liza, Dear Liza

[toasting]

Well I don’t know what you’d say
if you seen me yesterday
And I don’t know what you’d say
if you speak to me today
She was a rough rider
Rough rider
A solid winer
Ah she solid like dis,
she come ah she come ah
She winey bush
I say you wine and you grind,
say you feel alright
Dem hard a hard night
Aye she had a hard night
Last night

Last night is a fine night
for I-Ranking Roger, yeah
Last night
I say fe him some love and unity,
him want it fe humanity
Tonight
Last night I had sugar and spice
Tonight
As I would tell ya
Brrrrr….

 

click click

it’s a one shot magazine , give it a spin
open your mouth slide the barrel in
if you don’t like it just don’t do it again

itchy finger, finger, trigger, trigger
click click
click click click

one in thirty-five is saying sorry
through a bottle
say it’s your job to scrape a living up,
that’s all it does
well think it back over it,
hurts twice as much as living
itchy finger, finger, trigger, trigger
faster faster faster faster

one shot this is it
did you delay
you call it a nightmare now i call it a day
you hold yourself steady
at the edge of the bed
as you say finger, finger, trigger, trigger
click click click click click
click click click

faster faster faster
faster faster faster
faster faster faster
stop


ranking full stop (*fn)

Rankin’ come forward.
Full Stop, say Ranking Full Stop.
Full Stop, say Ranking Full Stop.
My name is Ranking Full Stop
So all you really got to do
is just-a move you little feet
And just-a rock-a to the beat,
as I would say, yeah, alright
And when you hear the signal
you must stop, I said rock
I said you rock it
and you shock it and you, ooh, say so, oh lord.

Now hold on down there.
Take it easy, yeah, alright
Said are you ready,
said are you ready to stop,
Said are you ready,
said are you ready to stop,
I said stop.

Ready, said are you ready to go,
Said are you ready, said are you ready to go.
Full Stop, me, stop, Full Stop,
Ranking Full Stop,
Now that’s the name I would really, really say,
Full Stop. Ranking Full Stop.
Said Ranking Full Stop. Brr-yeah.

You move your little feet,
you rock-a to the beat,
You hear this song and you gotta come around,
I see you upon the street, you look so sweet,
I see you with your dancin’ feet, yeah.
Said are you ready, said are you ready to stop,
Said are you ready, said are you ready to stop,
I said stop.

Ready, said are you ready to go,
Said are you ready, said are you ready to go.
Full Stop, me, stop, Full Stop
Say Ranking Full Stop.
As I would tell ya ’bout this song, so c’mon.
Full Stop.
Ranking Full Stop.
Say Ranking Full Stop.
Brr-yeah.

Your dancing took it over y’know
I say you come from Dover y’know
And I would really, really tell ya and show you all
To do the Ranking Full Stop.

I said you move to your left
and then you move to you right,
Tell you ’bout this song and you got to unite.
You move to your left
and then you move to your right
And then you do it ’till midnight y’know
All singing are you ready,
said are you ready to stop,
Said are you ready,
said are you ready to stop,
I said stop.

I’m dead.

 

big shot

Yes, I’ve seen you go to work in your big car
Yes, your fat and can afford to be tasteless
You’re a big shot.
You want the whole lot
And if I like it or not
You still control me,
You tell me what to think and what to be.

I like it best in the freezing winter, boy
I like to sneer as I sail past your bus stop
I watch you struggle and it gets me red hot,
I wander round in my empty office block
Big shot.
I want the whole lot
And if you like it or not
I still control you,
I tell you what to think and what to do.

So you listen to smoking industry,
You listen to the guys in the factories,
You listen to the wealth and the misery,
You listen to the power of money.
For a big shot
Who wants a whole lot
And if you like it or not
He’ll probably get it,
He’ll tell you when to beg and when to sit.

You look like a government minister
Or a high ranking military officer,
I don’t think you care
You’re just a big shot, yeah.

Yes, I’ve seen you go to work in your big car
Yes, your fat and can afford to be tasteless
You’re a big shot
Who wants a whole lot
And if I like it or not,
You still control me
You tell me what to think and what to be.

 

whine & grind/stand down Margaret

come whether you whine or grind
i say whether you whine or grind
can you shake it up right on time
i say shake it up right on time

well, the first thing she ask is you havea ya brush
you have’a ya brush, you can avoid the rush

come whether you whine or grind
i say whether you whine or grind
then you shake it up right on time
i say shake it up right on time

she want a ruff ruff rider
he want a cool cool stroker
come whether you whine or grind
i say whether you whine or grind
can ya shake it up right on time
i say shake it up right on time

whoa, bwoy come watch i-man

because he son a lead da way
he son a lead da way
ya gotta understand as i will tell ya from the top
my body uptown sound, ya rankin sound
you gotta come around
awar

i say you rub it uptown and ya rub it downtown
you body sonna lead the way
lord
i say you rub it all around,
but you are gwarn like a clown
you body sonna lead the way

i tell you body uptown sound, yeah
ow, ow
i tel you body unity sound yah
brrrr, ah
love and unity, love and unity
love and unity, awar

say so, oh lord
good god

i said i see no joy
i see only sorry
i see no chance of your bright new tomorrow

so stand down Margaret
stand down please
stand down Margaret

i say stand down Margaret
stand down please
stand down Margaret

you tell me how can it work in this all white law
what a short sharp lesson,
what a third world war

oh stand down Margaret
stand down please
stand down Margaret

i say stand down Margaret
stand down please
stand down Margaret

say too much war in the city yeah
say too much war in the city, whoa
i sing i said a love and unity, the only way
and unity, the only way
yeah ya know,
you know what!

 

noise in this world

I’m looking for a girlfriend, I want everything
Noise in this world
Someone to lie next to
I want
Wherever I want
Whatever jacknife feels right
Tearing at the blankets
I want
Wherever I want

I’m just the crossed out names
in your addressbook
Sticks in wet tar
Sticks in my mouth
Make me feel as false as you look

You’re so graceful, you’re so hateful,
I feel clumbsy when I’m near you
I want
wherever I want
Whatever jacknife feels right
Staring at my own face
I want
Wherever I like

I’m just the crossed out names
in your address book
Sticks in wet tar
Sticks in my mouth
Make me feel as false as you look

I’m looking for a girlfriend, I want everything
Noise in this world
Someone to lie next to
I want
Wherever I want
Whatever jacknife feels right
Tearing at my own face
I want
Wherever I want

I’m just the crossed out names
in your address book
Sticks in wet tar
Sticks in my mouth
Make me feel as false as you look

 

can’t get used to losing you

Guess there’s no use in hangin’ ’round
Guess I’ll get dressed and do the town
I’ll find a crowded avenue
Though it will seem empty without you

I can’t get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

Don’t love some girl I used to know
After I heard her say, “Hello.”
Couldn’t think of anything to say
Since you’re gone it happens every day

I can’t get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

(Saxaphone solo)

I can’t get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

Can’t get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

I’ll find some party wait and see
Who am I kidding, only me
Cuz no one else could take your place
Guess that I am just a hopeless case

I can’t get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

Can’t get used to losing you
No matter what I try to do
Gonna spend my whole life through
Loving you

 

best friend

i just found out the name of your best friend,
you been talkin’ about yourself again,
and no one seems to share your views.
why doesn’t everybody listen to you kid?
how come you never really seem to get through,
is it you?
talk about yourself again, you.
talk about yourself,
always you, you, you.
talk about yourself again.

she’s on a holiday,
she’s got her summer frock on.
suck on an ice cream,
it’s meltin’ in the hot sun.
first date’s made you pray for more.
i wanted you, wanted.
everybody knows the score,
i wanted you, wanted.
what are we pretendin’ for?
let’s talk about ourselves on the floor.
let’s talk about yourselves,
nothing more i promise.
talk about ourselves again.

i just found out the name of your best friend.
talk, talk, talk about yourself again.
yes i just found out the name of your best friend.

i just found out the name of your best friend,
you been talkin’ about yourself again,
and no one seems to share your views.
why doesn’t anybody listen to you kid?
how come you never really seem to get through,
is it you?

talk about yourself again, you.
talk about yourself,
always you, you, you.
talk about yourself again.
again, again, again, again.

i just found out the name of your best friend,
just found out the name of your best friend,
i just found out the name of your best friend,
i just found out the name of your best friend,
just found out the name of your best friend,
i just found out the name of your best friend,
just found out the name of your best friend,
i just found out the name of your best friend.

 

jackpot

This song’s called the jackpot,
well look at that

Say hip, hip horray, yeah, yeah
Hip, hip horray, yeah, yeah

You got your jackpot,
You got your jackpot when you hit the top
You got your jackpot,
You got your jackpot when you call the shots

Say what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joyful sound

Say what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joyful sound

A woman’s touch,
A woman’s touch is here tonight, aha
A woman’s touch,
A woman’s touch for me tonight

Say what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joyful sound.
say so, oh lord

Say what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joyful sound.
Good God!

Say hip, hip horray, yeah, yeah
Hip, hip horray, yeah, yeah
Hip, hip horray, yeah
Hip, hip horray, yeah

Say I was walking down the road
with my heavy, heavy load
Try to keep it secret,
but now everybody knows
Darling won’t you stay
please don’t stand in love’s way
Darling won’t you stay
I just can’t stand another day
‘Cause you’re a pretty young lady
Don’t come a’ tease
you’re a pretty young lady
you’re a pretty young lady, lord
‘Cause you’re a pretty young lady, whoa

If you’re getting hot,
you gotta enter the spot
‘Cause this one’s called jack pot!
Boy!

Say do you feel alright
Did the Beat come all over you tonight?
Say did we make it right,
did the Beat come all over you tonight?

Say what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joyful sound.

Say what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joy,
what a joyful sound.

Say hip, hip horray, yeah, yeah
Hip, hip horray, yeah, yeah
Hip, hip horray, yeah
Hip, hip horray, yeah

[toasting]

I’m sorry to say
but I’m on my way
I won’t be back for many a day
Say goodbye everybody
goodbye everybody
goodbye everybody
Say goodbye everybody
Say it’s a love and unity song
Goodbye everybody
Say goodbye everybody
goodbye everybody, yeah

I say I’m sorry to say
but I’m on my way
I won’t be back for many a day

fn: “Tears Of A Clown” was originally released as a 7″ Single on the “2Tone” Record label in December 1979, and thus it did not appear on the 1980 UK version of “I Just Can’t Stop It”, nor on the UK/US 1999 re-mastered editions. “Ranking Full Stop” did not appear on the 1999 re-master for the same reasons. The songs appeared on the 1980 US version of the album in the track positions shown above.