Wha’ppen

so underwater deaf and blind
under such pressures you might find
a secret right before the end
that makes you want to breathe again
“Drowning”

Lyrics

too nice to talk to (*fn)

it’s too late now
it’s twenty past two
i spent the night just watchin’ you
i watched you dance
i watched you move
can’t breath and still i watched you move away

now i think quite a lot as i stare at my shoes
about all these things that i put myself through
now there’s nothing to say
and there’s nothing to do
you’re just too nice to talk to
too nice to talk to
you’re too nice to talk to
you’re too nice to talk to

the right lines wouldn’t come out for you
i glance but you just stared me through
felt such a fool i felt you knew
but you might tell me to go away

now i think quite a lot of my own point of view
is that all i have that’s in common with you
your emotions so guarded
my heart is retarded
you’re too nice to talk to
too nice to talk to
you’re too nice to talk to
you’re too nice to talk to

this evening hasn’t gone like i planned
should i take the situation in hand
can’t go on but i can’t seem to dance
you chain my feet
i stamp and stamp and stamp
because nothing i do ever seems to be right
the same line to mind every saturday night
out the window
you might say I’m out of of my mind
but you’re too nice to talk to
too nice to talk to
you’re too nice to talk to
too nice to talk to
you’re too nice to talk to
too nice!

 

the doors of your heart

Every story has to be
about something, i suppose
this one says i lose my head
as the feeling starts to grow you know?
i can feel love thumping
at the doors of my heart

feel love thump as it tears me apart
feel love pump as the worrying starts
i can feel love thumping
at the doors of my heart again
at the doors of my heart again
i can feel love thump
bom-bom be bom-bom.

everybody needs someone they can cling to
now and then,
no more defense, no more pretense
no reasons to explain it

you can feel love thumping
at the doors of your heart
feel love thump as it tears you apart
feel blood pump as the worrying starts
you can feel love thumping
at the doors of your heart again
at the doors of your heart again
you can feel love thump
bom-bom be bom-bom.

this one your unity rocker, lord
stick him in your living room
and turn off the light eh
bet you wouldn’t know if he was black or white
boy!
say what’s the use in fighting?
man say, i say you shouldn’t really fight
tek him to a disco tek
tek him to a pub eh!
tek him to a blues and then
you play him rub a dub eh
say you shouldn’t really fight, man say
say you shouldn’t really fight
each and every day i walk through the streets
and I see man and man war and kill each other
because you are black or you are white
so what’s the use in fighting?
war alright
because it’s strictly love and unity
we a deal in today
and that we will never throw away
we will never throw away
war alright
i say just because you’re brown
you no fe g’wan like a clown
just because you’re white
you no fe broke a likkle fight eh
say what’s the use in fighting boy
i say you shouldn’t really fight

everytime it happens,
seem to act a little touched
in this at least, you’re just like me
i think we think too much
why can’t we just

feel love thumping
at the doors of our heart
feel love thump as it tears us apart
feel blood pump as the worrying starts
i can feel love thumping
at the doors of my heart again
at the doors of my heart again
i can feel love thump
bom-bom be bom-bom
bom-bom be bom-bom
i can feel love thump
bom-bom be bom-bom
at the doors of my heart again.

 

all out to get you

Don’t attempt to explain
this incredible strain
now confusion’s become far
too simple a word for it
is what you make
that’s the usual mistake
if you’re happy with pain
you can take it from me

that they’re all out to get you
they’re painting your life
in a permanent grey
they’re all out to get you
it takes more than tears
to get rid of the stains
sometimes

you’re scared you might slip
when you’re holding a knife
lose your fingers or more
in a lathe on the nightshift
you’re scared that your babies
get born with no legs
you’re so scared of death
you don’t know what life is

so they’re. . .
all out to get you, all over nothing
they’re painting your life
in a permanent way
they’re all out to get you,
but all out forgetting
it takes more than tears
to get rid of the stains
sometimes

until you accept
that you’re just like the others
you’re a boy or a girl
then a man or a woman
and your clothes never fit
and your skin’s the wrong colour
so you make do with fear
you get more than you need.

yes they’re all out to get you,
all over nothing
they’re painting your life
in a permanent grey
they’re all out to get you,
but all out for getting
it takes more than tears
to get rid of the stains
sometimes

it takes more than tears
it takes more than tears
it takes more than tears
to get rid of the stains.

 

monkey murders

At the center, no one warns you
when that moment might turn the corner
stand the test of your position
remember monkey murders
always love ambition

collect black marks when you try too hard
not to treat her like another toy
it makes you mad, you sleep so badly
cos you’re out every saturday night
for what you can’t get, boy
is it a problem boy?

let’s be kind to one another
share your sister,
you could eat your brother
who cares when it’s only fashion
remember monkey murders
always come with passion

remember that night when you tried too hard
not to treat her like another toy
it made you mad, you slept so badly
now you’re out every saturday night
for what you can’t get,
boy, is it a problem boy?

so obsessive, drinking in the spotlight
he’s standing still but of course
he’s taking all night
says “there is no love and there is no trust”
said “bite your lip or keep your mouth shut
keep your mouth shut keep your mouth shut
keep your mouth shut”
boy?
is it a problem boy?
is it a problem boy?
yes, is it a problem.

 

i am your flag

Yes i’ll be down your street again quite soon
and don’t ignore me when i wave at you
for although i’m looking rather sad
i’m all you’ve ever really had
and when you’re desperate, you will hold me
hold me to that.

took your hat off in Wisconsin
took your head in Vietnam
just dying to become a man
well i am your flag

spend all of my time just looking
for the big hit
so long getting there,
there’s no time left to use it
so lets raise a smile of victory
impressed in dental surgery
when you need cover, you can use me
buried at sea

“freedom’s” just a new deodorant
the money’s spent and you’ve been had
you don’t believe me? ask your dad
i am your flag

so as i fly so proudly you will see
that you won’t dare break up this family
see the happy children on parade
with wooden guns that mother made
and see me dancing in the breeze
that blows them away

i ran into Northern Ireland
i ran into Afghanistan
dying to become a man?
i am your flag

 
drowning

Compromise around the corner
can you hear the accountants call?
could you refuse another dollar?
could you stop yourself from falling?

so in between the sleepless nights
you dream that you are winning fights
but then it happens, dreadful thing
a wave appears too big to swim
you’re drowning, you’re drowning.

buy a beach before next summer?
how do you feel in the morning?
if the light’s an awful bother
i could always close the curtains.
just close your eyes and count to ten
see if you still remember when
your life seemed easy, you had friends
but that was different than that was then
you’re drowning, you’re drowning
round and round and round
you’re drowning
in a frenzy now
you’re drowning

you want fe go in a de ocean, a so me say
i saw you drowning in slow motion,
and now me learn
far too late to make a commotion
too late for you to show easy motion
a say you go down to the bottom
say you can’t reach the top
get stuck on the bottom

say you can’t reach the top
two days later
say they find you ‘pon the rocks
say ha ha ha ha ha bad luck!
eh? so …

tell yourself until you’re certain
can you hear the accountants call?
you’ll buy a beach before next summer
swim away and leave it all.

so underwater deaf and blind
under such pressures you might find
a secret right before the end
that makes you want to breathe again
you’re drowning, you’re drowning
round and round and round
you’re drowning
inner frenzy now you’re drowning
round and round and round and round
you’re drowning, drowning

you said you’re unhappy
and you’ve taken all these tablets
just turn on the television

a dream home in new zealand

it’s a must, it’s compulsive
it is family entertainment
play americans and russians
find a place to hide your poison
beat the others round the head
beat the others round the table
be the first to take the money
past the point of desperation

living on pins but i will try it all the same, eh
be extra careful
when you’re answering the questions
living on promises of fortune and fame
you could win a car or a dream home in N.Z.

ill be over in a minute
try and wait if you can
to catch a brand new program
“americans and russians”
find a place to hide your poison

prize of a lifetime never get this chance again.
you mind your words
when you’re answering their questions
save precious moments carina-ing the fast lane
seven extra minutes in your dream home in N.Z.

it’s a must, it’s compulsive family entertainment
everybody’s in the bunker,
everybody’s getting pushy
beat the others round the table
be the first to the button
feel your habit of obedience
must surely count for something.

terible risk but i will take it all the same
you mind your manners
when you’re answering their questions
now could you tell me
what’s the most i stand to gain?
seven hours of heaven
n your dream home in N.Z.
New Zealand.

 

walk away

Then she said…
…”if you ever try to lean on me, too heavily,
i’ll step aside and watch you fall
we’ll make each other look so small
let’s either find another way, or bang our
heads into the wall, and walk away

do you have to get this close before it hits?
you’ve always known just how much
people are a part of why
we’ve now not got the heart to say
i’ll leave it, if you will,
let’s walk away.”

thought it was different but it all
turned out the same so so
promised myself i’d never go through it again
now that every love song beards the same
familiar strain of…
walk away before i do something stupid
walk away before these threats turn into
one of us could do it

walk away before i say
it’s getting too much
walk away walk away
before one of us cracks up.

did you have to get that close before it hit?
you’d always known just how much
people are a part of why
we’ve now not got the heart to say
i’ll leave it if you will
let’s walk away.”

thought it was different but it all
turned out the same so so
promised myself i’d never go through this again
now that every love song beards the same
familiar strain of…

walk away before i do something stupid
walk away before these threats turn into
one of us could do it
it’s getting too much
walk away walk away
before both of us cracks up.
walk away walk away
oooh don’t walk away.

 

over and over

promise your secrecy into the microphone
into the megaphone, into the cell
questioning decency under the microscope
over and over then over and out
organise my life over the telephone
over my dead body, over my head
tread a fine line between you
and your memories
between you and me
things are best left unsaid

the honouring of violence
is a security number
always so quiet it slips under your guard
pushes your dead body,
under the microscope

over and over it’s over say over and out

another incident, another accident
dangerous emptiness, people in shock
you pelt them with rocks
and the old innuendo
“no that was no mishap
that brake line was cut”

lie on the pavement, wait for an ambulance
say to yourself nothing is what it seems
never meaning to say
you never say what you mean
you get caught by the sirens
on your t.v. screen

the honouring of violence
is a security number
always so quiet it slips under your guard
pushes your dead body,
under the microscope
over and over and over
then over and out
over and out out
over and out out
over and out

 

cheated

a valentine from a politician
three pages of your dog’s ambitions
the stabbed lover and the furious bunny
stare too long and your eyes go funny
yes i agree we’re reading tissue paper but
we can talk about real things later
cheated cheated
win a greenhouse to warm your sex life
cheated cheated
i read about the victims crying all night

news…
blurred photos of the latest plane crash;
news,
girl shivers as she heards the car door slam;
news,
t.v. guides you through uncomfortable questions
doctor advises it’s the communist problem
to change the truth until
it’s worth money
it’s a joke, but it’s not that funny
cheated.

our correspondent made to wait in the lobby
torn to pieces by three have a go bobbies
young swimmers in these sun dialling times
sweeping the nation
with a dance called the breadline
it’s in our water, and our education
we are oppressed into association
cheated cheated
it’s a joke, but it’s not that funny
cheated cheated
change the truth until it’s worth
money

cheated cheated
win a greenhouse to warm your sex life
cheated cheated
read about the victims crying all night
cheated cheated
it’s a joke but it’s not funny
cheated cheated
change the truth until it’s worth money
cheated cheated
drawing level means overtaking
cheated cheated
missed the point because you were too
busy faking it

 

get-a-job

There’s a training course
boys and girls of real ambition
start a new job in a factory
where they’re making ammunition
but it makes them think of stealing
when they read between the lines
through the owners of this funfair
you won’t find a ride you like
just get-a-job, get-a-job

manufacture rubbish
although no one can afford it
you could make a profit
more than anyone deserves
so you find you’re left with poison
so you dump it in our water
and so create the kind of problems
only radiation cures
through get-a-job, get-a-job

oh you young people are revolting
8 to 5 should give the jolt needed
in a few years you won’t feel quite the same
you’ll be playing their get-a-job games

there’s a training camp when
you come from from saving nations
get a new job and a new leg
social rehabilitation
every time you thing of leaving
you get caught between the lines
it’s the training for the funfair
you get taken for a ride
you!
just get-a-job, get-a-job
just get-a-job, get-a-job

 

the limits we set

The only limits we set
what can we get away with?
in that at least we’re the same
the only way we find of hiding the hurt we feel
is more unnecessary pain
each time you
draw in like a breath
it comes out like a knife
you feel like offering yourself out
tonight
on what a fight

the little you can expect to get
to get from anyone else
makes you look after number one
the only helping hand
you’ll ever be offered
is the one at the end of your own arm

draw in like a breath
it goes tight like a wire
you’re trying to shout
but your lungs are on fire

draw in like a breath
it comes out like a knife
you feel like offering yourself

shoplifting my little brother
shoplifting my little sister
said all you got to do is
just a forward through the door
but when they come fe check you out
you no come back for more
shoplifting my little brederen
shoplifting my little sister
tell me which one would you prefer
one hundred pound fine
or three months in prison
me old cock sparra?
shoplifting shoplifting
shoplifting, but a shoplifting

fn: “Too Nice To Talk To” was a non-album track released as a 7″ Single, and on the “What Is Beat?” compilation album. It was subsequently added to the US/UK 1999 re-mastered version of “Wha’ppen” in the track position noted above.