We Love You was the first Psychedelic Furs song I really liked–well, really it was only the second one I’d heard. But I liked it!
I think what makes the song for me is Richard Butler’s sardonic vocals. He delivers each line with a feeling of boredom and ennui, not to mention shedloads of sarcasm. Given that the song targets trend-o-philes, I think he does a great job of skewering them right where they live.
Additionally, the song has a great pulsing beat, and Duncan Kilburn’s saxaphone really fits in well too. A really great song.
And of course, the lyrics:
I’m in love with Catholics
I’m in love with your blue cars
I’m in love with the words that scream
We are so stupid, we all dream
I’m in love with Frank Sinatra
Fly me to the moon
I’m in love with fools like you
I’m in love with doing the twist
I’m in love with the bodies that scream
They fall so far, they fall so far
I’m in love with the Supremes
Oh baby love
I’m in love with Sophia Loren
I’m in love with Bridget Bardot
I’m in love with the whole dumb scene
I’m so in love, you know what I mean
I’m in love with Anthea and Donna
All that shit that goes
Uptown top ranking
I’m in love with the factory
I’m in love with the BBC
I’m in love with your TV
They’re so in love with you and me
I’m in love with a nuclear bomb it falls
I’m in love with shopping city dreams
I’m in love with real men
They go through the
Air for oxygen
Love is just a car like you
That turns so blue and turns so blue
No blue cars will run my world
No playboys will black my word
I would walk a million smiles
For one of your miles Bob
Stop stop stop stop stop stop stop
We love you we love you we love you
We love you we love you we love you
We love you
—————-
Now playing: BOOTSY COLLINS - Wind me up
via FoxyTunes
Fun. Fun with a capital ‘F’. Fun. That’s Punk Rock Girl for you.
A satirical love song about the relationship of two ‘anarchists’, this song is just plain fun. It’s a great song to sing badly, great fun for karaoke (I suppose for some people that’s one and the same), great fun to dance to, great fun to listen to.
Did I mention that it’s fun?
And of course, the lyrics:
One Saturday I took a walk to Zipperhead
I met a girl there and she almost knocked me dead
Punk rock girl
Please look at me
Punk rock girl
What do you see?
Let’s travel round the world
Just you and me punk rock girl
I tapped her on the shoulder
And said do you have a beau?
She looked at me and smiled and said she did not know
Punk rock girl
Give me a chance
Punk rock girl
Let’s go slam dance
We’ll dress like Minnie Pearl
Just you and me punk rock girl
We went to the Philly Pizza Company
And ordered some hot tea
The waitress said well no, we only have it iced
So we jumped up on the table and shouted anarchy
And someone played a Beach Boys song on the jukebox
It it was “California Dreamin”
So we started screamin
On such a winter’s day
She took me to her parents for a Sunday meal
Her father took one look at me and he began to squeal
Punk rock girl
It makes no sense
Punk rock girl
Your dad is vice president
Just like the Duke of Earl
Yeah you’re for me punk rock girl
We went to a shopping mall
And laughed at all the shoppers
And security guards trailed us to a record shop
We asked for Mojo Nixon
They said he don’t work here
We said if you don’t got Mojo Nixon then your store could use some fixin
We got into her car away we started rollin
I said how much you pay for this
Said nothin man it’s stolen
Punk rock girl
You look so wild
Punk rock girl
Let’s have a child
We’ll name her Minnie Pearl
Just you and me
Eat fudge banana swirl
Just you and me
We’ll travel round the world
Just you and me
Punk rock girl
This song has one of those melodies that sort of worms it’s way into your brain sideways and lurks just under the surface, surfacing every now and then to remind you, “this is a kick-ass song.”
It does have a great guitar melody, and better than average lyrics as well. Despite the metaphors, the song’s meaning is fairly easy to discern, most likely about someone who has been burned by a fickle partner. Plus, it’s a fun rocking song. There’s not much going wrong with this one.
And of course, the lyrics:
Got a set of wings that I couldn’t use
Bought them in a store on the avenue
Didn’t mean to spend all the cash I had
The second that I saw them, I wanted them bad
When I got home and I tried them on
I noticed that the wingspan was way too long
Couldn’t take them back, there was no return
I should have gotten more, I was feeling burned
Gee angel, won’t you take these back?
Gee angel, gee angel, I need some slack
There’s nothing in this world that I’d rather do
Than buy a set of wings and fly away with you
Climbed up the mountain, observed the view
But angel wouldn’t say what I had to do
Then angel flew away and left me standing there
I knew I couldn’t fly, but I didn’t care
—————-
Now playing: Cypress Hill - When the Shit Goes Down
via FoxyTunes
Could You Be The One? is a great pop song. A fairly simple chord progression, a simple vocal, a subject that pretty much anyone can sympathize with (the fear of falling in love), and it just plain sounds good. It’s a really nice, really catchy song, which sneaks in a nice melody under it’s veneer of punk.
And of course, the lyrics:
Could you be the one they talk about?
Hiding inside, behind another door?
Is it only happiness you want?
Does wanting a feeling matter any more?
It doesn’t mean that much to me
Sometimes I don’t mean that much to you
And I don’t even know what I’m hiding for
And I don’t even know what I’m crying for
Don’t even know what I’m hiding for
Could you be the one they talk about?
Life is a game that only you can make
Maybe I’m about to throw it out
I’ve given it all, that’s all I can take
Could you be the one
Could you be the one
Could you be the one that’s hanging all around
Don’t even know what I’m hiding for
Don’t even know what I’m crying for
Don’t even know, could you be the only
Broken hearted one
—————-
Now playing: Atari Teenage Riot - No Success
via FoxyTunes
I can always enjoy a self-deprecating tongue-in-cheek punk rock song, and that’s exactly what Punch in the Face happens to be, as the singer affirms that the best thing to happen would be an assault.
The bass kicks it off, followed by some fun staccato drums, and the vocals and the chorus are particularly fun. Just cool.
And of course, the lyrics:
Middle class white boys trying hard to annoy
All we really needed is a ticket to ride
Fighting with no-one at all that’s ok
We’ve got no balls
Someone needs to sort us out
And make benny cry
All we need is a punch in the face
Lary Emdur is ok compared to us
He makes the grade
Self-depreciation is important for some
We deserve a beating can someone teach a lesson
All that they’d be doing is just having some fun
All we need is a punch in the face
And they go bam ba ba bam etc…
The first time I heard this song, I thought it would be the perfect backing music for the mutant gang from The Dark Knight Returns. It’s loud–very loud–angry, energetic and over the top. Plus there’s really nothing else that sounds like it, at least not that I’ve heard.
The song’s meaning is pretty self-explanatory–it’s about rejecting the system and creating something better. Well, maybe not better, but something different. Either way, I find the song and it’s sound compelling.
And of course, the lyrics:
ACTION!!!!!!!!!
It’s time to live and it’s time to die!
It’s time to live and it’s time to die!
It’s time to live and it’s time to die!
It’s time to live: REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
What we gonna go for?
What we gonna go for?
What we gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
What we gonna go for? What we gonna go for?
What we gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
Welcome to step one - I can’t wait no longer -
Let’s make it happen!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another investigation of our generation!
Sublime information!
The collapse of a century!!!!!
I’m targeted at the Whitehouse
Like a bullet from a gun! Waste my life from scratch…
But at least we will leave a bad taste in your mouth!!!!
Dope - Fly - Fly - don’t take it
Take it out too far and I won’t fake it!
A blank promise - your words -
Nothing else than another hell ride
We got to!!!!!
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!! What we gonna go for????
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!! What we gonna go for????
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What we gonna go for???? What we gonna go for????
Revolution!!!!!! Action!!!!!
Revolution - Action - Revolution - Action!!!!!!
We got to….
Are you ready???????
A shoot - a pain - with the knife between my teeth
And then I leave you in cold blood!!!! I’m comin’ at ya!!!
I’m comin’ at ya!!!!!!!! Carl Crack like a flamin’ arrow -
Burning the regime of terror!!!!
With a gun pointing at my head
I realise what I could get instead!!!
What you gonna go for????? What you gonna go for?????
What you gonna go for?????????? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!
What you gonna go for?
What you gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
What you gonna go for? What you gonna go for?
What you gonna go for? REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!
Many people are in power but none of them is one of us -
Press and media any hour - NOW TELL ME:
WHAT’S WRONG WITH US????????????????
In the lion’s throat I stand and wanna know!!!!!!!!
surrounded by me and my gang… your life just blows!!!
BREAK INTO THE CENTER WHERE YOUR HEART GOES!!!!!!!!!
You hold the cigarette like you’re trying to understand
But what if the next person near you
IS TAKING THE TRUTH OUT OF YOUR HANDS????????
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What we gonna go for????? ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT AIN’T SELF-DESTRUCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT AIN’T SELF-DESTRUCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REVOLUTION ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—————-
Now playing: Jethro Tull - Bungle In The Jungle
via FoxyTunes
Very Ape is likely not the first song you think of when you think of Nirvana (likely not second, third, forth, fifth, etc.), but it’s one of my favorite Nirvana songs. A raw condemnation of stupidity and ignorance and selfishness and the recognition of those qualities within himself, Kurt Cobain delivers a sardonic vocal while the guitars and drums just rage forward. A great song, albeit a short one.
And of course, the lyrics:
I am buried up to my neck in
Contradictionary flies
I take pride as the king of illiterature
I’m very ape and very nice
If you ever need anything please don’t
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I’m too busy acting like I’m not naive
I’ve seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
If you ever need anything please don’t
Hesitate to ask someone else first
I’m too busy acting like I’m not naive
I’ve seen it all, I was here first
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the ground
Out of the ground
Into the sky
Out of the sky
Into the dirt
—————-
Now playing: Elvis Costello and The Attractions - Complicated Shadows
via FoxyTunes
I am in love with that song.
Alex Chilton is one of those songs that tends to elevate my mood whenever I hear it. It’s an exceptionally well-crafted song for all of its seeming rough edges.
The song is, of course, a tribute to former Box Tops member and power pop pioneer Alex Chilton. Some of the lyrics refer to Paul Westerberg’s meetings with Chilton, and Chilton was at one time going to produce one of their records.
Anyway, it’s just a gorgeous song.
And of course, the lyrics:
If he was from Venus, would he feed us with a spoon?
If he was from Mars, wouldn’t that be cool?
Standing right on campus, would he stamp us in a file?
Hangin’ down in Memphis all the while.
(chorus:)
Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes ’round
They sing “I’m in love. What’s that song?
I’m in love with that song.”
Cerebral rape and pillage in a village of his choice.
Invisible man who can sing in a visible voice.
Feeling like a hundred bucks, exchanging good lucks face to face.
Checkin’ his stash by the trash at St. Mark’s place.
(chorus)
I never travel far, without a little Big Star
Runnin’ ’round the house, Mickey Mouse and the Tarot cards.
Falling asleep with a flop pop video on.
If he was from Venus, would he meet us on the moon?
If he died in Memphis, then that’d be cool, babe.
(chorus)
Darts. I cannot necessarily call it a great song, but it is most certainly a fun song. I don’t know if it’s about any one thing in particular, but it’s quite fun. It’s one of those songs the band can have fun with, the audience can have fun with, everyone can
Here is a link to a live performance
And of course, the lyrics:
May I please remain in this space,
For darts screech by my desires,
May I please remain in this space,
For darts screech by my desires,
Art thou not human man (x 8)
Not human man art thou
Life threatening lifestyles,
A hitman, a nun, lovers,
Life threatening lifestyles,
A hitman, a nun, lovers,
Arise as did the gods Ninti,
Arise as did the gods Ninti,
Arise as did the gods Ninti, and Ishkur
Clock men for they will fail,
Fear not the gods that come from the sky,
Long not for the one who’s lost their way,
Arise as did the gods Ninti,
can you tell me? I don’t know.
Five Foot One is one of those truly iconic songs in many ways, a song about the frustrations of being different, moreso than just of being short. The singer complains of working in an amusement park as a freak as the only thing he can do, and wishes life could be “Swedish Magazines” (for a long time, I wasn’t sure if he was saying “Swedish Magazines” or “Sweetest Majesty”), presumably for the perks of being a small person in certain types of pornographic entertainment. However, what really comes out is the sense of frustration at simply lying outside the norms of society.
Oh, and it rocks too. Great song.
And of course, the lyrics:
Yeah, I like it
Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!
I’m only five foot one
I got a pain in my neck
I’m looking up in the city
What the hell what the heck
I stare at the concrete
The girders eye high
The steel’s above me
There’s love in my eyes
And I’m doing the things
A five foot one man can do
I’m only five foot one
I got a pain in my heart
All the night I’m working
In the amusement park
With a bottle of aspirin
A sack full of jokes
I wish I could go home
With all the big folks
And I wish life could be
Swedish magazines
I wish life could be
Swedish magazines
I wish life could be
Anything
Ugh! Aie! Aie! Aie!
Ugh!
I’m only five foot one
Unless the time has come
I won’t grow anymore
Anymore, anymore, anymore
‘Till I’m losing my head
I’m checkin’ it twice
I’m gonna find out who’s naughty and nice
And I’m doing the things a five foot one man can do
I wish life could be Swedish magazines (x3)
I wish life could be
Yeah, I wish life could be
Oooooooooohhh
I wish life could be
I wish life could be Swedish magazines
I wish life could be Swedish magazines
I wish life could be
I won’t grow anymore (x3)
Anymore, anymore, anymore, anymore, anymore
I’m only five foot one (x3)
I’m five foot one