1. |
We Have Lost
04:26
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We Have Lost
It looks like we've lost
All we thought of as forever won
Now appears to be gone
And the sun only hardens the frost
Yes, it looks like we've lost
Just the thought someone from somewhere else
Counts as much as yourself
Now seems perfectly preposterous
Oh it looks like we're lost
Now if you were around in the 1980s
The kind who would shine at the school debates
It was obvious to see
If their kind ever got to get their way
Then oh what a world that would be
And where have you been?
After all hopes and dreams
It all turned out exactly as you had foreseen
It seems we have lost
Admit it we've lost
All the stuff we thought we'd put to bed
That didn't need to be said
Is now flying in shreds round our heads
Yes it's true we have lost
But if you cast your mind back to the 1990s
Remember the kind
Who were ever so pleased with themselves
You'd have known
That golden future of which they kept talking
Wouldn't be anyone's but their own
So what could you do
There was a new world to win
And you tried to fit in
But they had no room for you
Oh, you knew you had lost
Now everyone's torn
Even that boy over there
With the Hitler youth hair
That's not how he was born
Yes, he may look like he's lost
But just you wait till the 2020s
Ah, what's that coming round the bend?
Yes as much as it wasn't forever we'd won
After all's said and done
We will see that it won't be forever we've lost
Not forever lost
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2. |
The Knot
03:03
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The Knot
You're feeling it too now, are you?
That knot in your chest
Since they did that thing I've not been at my best
I'm smelling the damp of springtime
Weeds growing in the drains
I take a deep breath, but that knot still remains
At night when I go out to get some wine
Headlines yelling at me
Stupidity, hate and hypocrisy
I see them in every window
Hear them behind every door
When one of them coughs and another one snores
I feel it again at 4am
It's growing in the night
You say, 'What is it now?'
'I've got something to write
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3. |
Westgate Towers
02:09
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Westgate Towers
I want to do something that won't make a difference
Not feeling guilty for a whole afternoon
Just lying around looking into the distance
A day of no consequence I'd share with you
But I'm off to the station on my way to the Smoke
And the wind just hit me like a stick in the spokes
As I'm riding my bike past the walls and the flowers
Round the Westgate Towers
The Westgate Towers
On the train I'll read a book from the last century
Where they sit round for ages just shooting the breeze
Page after page of nothing much happening
Set out in detail from starters to cheese
As I'm stepping out into the St Pancras air
I'll be asking myself what I'm doing up there
When I could have been lying with you for an hour
In the Westgate Gardens by the Westgate Towers
It was only a daydream in those last few moments
Before that big green bus came hurtling round the bend
While over there in the shadows the destitute cowered
On the dark other side of the Westgate Towers
I want to do something that won't make a difference
Not feeling guilty for a whole afternoon
Just lying around looking into the distance
A day of no consequence I'd share with you
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4. |
Mistakes
02:40
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Mistakes
These are mistakes that you can't keep yourself from making
Those eggs you're eating you had no intent of breaking
You thought the omelette of your dreams
Would always justify the means
And that a home's the place where you will bring the bacon
Such are mistakes that you were brought up to be making
These are mistakes you just can't stop yourself from making
Your garden gate is a disgrace the paint is flaking
You'd think the neighbours sympathise
But they are all so organised
You slipped on leaves that you could not be bothered raking
You laugh it off but your own kids can see you're faking
Then there's mistakes you'd rather not remember making
You ran the lights because you didn't feel like braking
And once again you got away
You thought you'd always be okay
They always told you that the world was for the taking
That's one mistake you shouldn't blame yourself for making
One more mistake you couldn't keep yourself from making
The signs were there, and there was really no mistaking
You weren't really that naive
But it felt better to believe
Now every time you watch the news your brain is aching
That's one mistake we won't forgive ourselves for making
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5. |
About us
02:42
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About us
And when everyone had gone
I said to you, 'All our friends are insane, dear
What's that tell you about us?'
That was 25 years ago
Our little living room in our old town of birth
Where the yapping of the dogs was all you heard
When we went home at night we tiptoed through the turds
And when our new life began
I remember then it felt like some kind of mania
All the women were full and round
That was over 20 years ago
A Victorian hospital up in Pound-chasing town
Through the leaking roof the rain came dripping down
A brand new human drinking to the world he found
And when it all was done
It was clear as the sun
There was no more feigning
No complaining
No campaigning
No explaining
We'd left the world to the truly insane and
What's that tell you about us?
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6. |
The Moon
02:43
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The Moon
My eyes are open wide
And in the sky outside there's nothing but the moon
Every now and then I hear a passing car
And it sounds almost like a tune
I might switch on my silver box because America's awake
And you never know what happens till the next commercial break
But tonight I can't be bothered
Cause outside there's nothing other than the moon
In my head my thoughts are racing
And my legs are crossed just like a Jesus pose
I must have rolled over at least a hundred times
That's when I didn't blow my nose
I could get up and go outside see if the bunnies are alright
Stand in slippers and my dressing gown until the morning light
But tonight it's much too cold
And so I'll stay inside and just behold the moon
My eyes are open wide
And in the sky outside still nothing but the moon
Every now and then the screaming of a fox
Will have me quake in my cocoon
I might switch on my silver box because America's awake
You know he can't resist a button and that's all that it'll take
But tonight I can't be fussed
Because outside there's only just another moon
Yes tonight it's very cold
And so I'll stay inside and just behold the moon
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7. |
All the Flags
03:01
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All the Flags
I heard you say that a man of the world
Is just a man of nowhere to you
Now if that's so
Then I should be happy
To rip up my papers
And disappear into the blue
Because you know
I'm a man of my word
And I really have no words for you
You can't find me if I'm nowhere
And if you can't find me
What's the worst you can do?
Now there's a man I can remember
He was from another time
And he held all the keys
But he dropped them too soon
He said, 'The colours and the crescents
The eagles and the lions
I want all the flags waving when I walk into the room'
Because you know
I'm a man of my word
And I really have no words for you
You can't find me if I'm nowhere
And if you can't find me
What's the worst you can do?
Now there's a man I can remember
He was from another time
And he held all the keys
But he dropped them too soon
He said, 'The stripes and the stars
The eagles and the lions
I want all the flags waving when I walk into the room'
I heard you say that a man of the world
Is just a man of nowhere to you
Now if that's so
Then I should be happy
To rip up my papers
And disappear into the blue
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8. |
||||
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Only the 1st idea
That's all that really counts
You may have 2nd thoughts
About being a 3rd country
But time is marching 4th
La5the truth offends you
The mu6that which holds
Our 7thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
The music's that which holds
Our seven thoughts together
And now it's over
I'm making peace with the facts
We had a good time
But there you go
It's your decision
To pull the rug from under me
Was nice to know you
21 years
That's three times seven
And all it boils down to
Is these seven lines
Or let's have seven more
And then we're done
It's done
As I walked out in the ups and downs
My shoes sank into the muddy ground
I saw the trees tied to the wires
The stencilled words on the stacks of crates
The secret village behind the gates
Half hidden road, half buried tyres
Red brick farmhouse like an English dream
The clouds were floating clotted cream
That dotted shadows on the land
Children's swings, a bench, a barbecue
Beyond the hedge just out of view
The empty static caravans
Those barren branches will carry fruit
Along they'll come on their long commute
And they will spill out of their vans
They'll work the orchards and fill the crates
They'll fill the silence behind the gates
With words that we don't understand
Red brick farmhouse English dream
A gravel drive that fits two BMWs
A vintage watering can
The hedge was not in leaf yet
You could see the sun set through the windows
Of the empty static caravans
A question hangs in the silent air
What if they don't come again this year?
Driving and driving and driving and driving
From Canterbury down to the sea
Keep going east we are driving and driving
Down the A2 from Canterbury
Late for the ferry we're driving and driving
From Canterbury down to the sea
Past all the lorries the hills and the valleys
Down to the sea from Canterbury
Driving and driving and driving and driving
Down to the sea from Canterbury
Driving and driving and driving and driving
Down to the sea
I feel England fade as I'm driving and driving
Down to the sea
We're driving to the sea
Driving to the sea
Driving to the sea
We're driving to the sea
We're driving
Driving
Driving
Driving
Drive into the sea
Over time you felt your feelings change
As the realisation came through
And the way that your friends simply brushed it aside
Was an option not open to you
You know they'd want you to put another record on
But your needle's stuck on the same track
All the places you loved where you felt so at home
Well, it turns out they don't love you back
Yeah, it turns out they don't love you back
You've done anger and grief, denial, disbelief
And you cracked some dark jokes on it too
But what you really saw was the underside of a bus
As the nightmare turned out to be true
You know you really shouldn't take yourself too seriously
And you don't want them to see you crack
But all those places you loved
All the streets where you strolled
All those cute little shops
And the grass where you rolled
All those shiny new buildings and houses of old
All the rebels and those who just do what they're told
Those who follow their pride
Those who follow the gold
Well, it turns out they don't love you back
Yes, it turns out they don't love you back
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Above a sunny Irish beach
The ferry soon was out of reach
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Cause over night the grass turns wet
Slide down the slope you'll end up dead
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
It's not as harmless as it seems
You'll hit the ocean while you dream
Don't you sleep through the tide
Won't you sleep through the tide
So I woke up on sandy ground
My bag lay up there where I'd lain down
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
We travelled half the continent
And this could nearly have been the end
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Time is slipping by and I just wanted you to know
That while we're both around
I'm glad I got to warm your toes
And by the way
I'd really like to stay
Yes if I may
I'd really like to stay the day
Time is slipping by and I just wanted you to know
The things you know already
Wouldn't hurt to say them though
And by the way
I'd really like to stay
Yes if I may
I'd really like to stay the day
Only the 1st idea
That's all that really counts
You may have 2nd thoughts
About being a 3rd country
But time is marching 4th
La5the truth offends you
The mu6that which holds
Our 7thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
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9. |
||||
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Only the 1st idea
That's all that really counts
You may have 2nd thoughts
About being a 3rd country
But time is marching 4th
La5the truth offends you
The mu6that which holds
Our 7thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
The music's that which holds
Our seven thoughts together
- Eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben
Eins zwei drei vier fünf sechs sieben
Wooh ooh wooh ooh
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10. |
||||
|
And now it's over
I'm making peace with the facts
We had a good time
But there you go
It's your decision
To pull the rug from under me
Was nice to know you
21 years
That's three times seven
And all it boils down to
Is these seven lines
Or let's have seven more
And then we're done
It's done
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11. |
||||
12. |
||||
|
As I walked out in the ups and downs
My shoes sank into the muddy ground
I saw the trees tied to the wires
The stencilled words on the stacks of crates
The secret village behind the gates
Half hidden road, half buried tyres
Red brick farmhouse like an English dream
The clouds were floating clotted cream
That dotted shadows on the land
Children's swings, a bench, a barbecue
Beyond the hedge just out of view
The empty static caravans
Those barren branches will carry fruit
Along they'll come on their long commute
And they will spill out of their vans
They'll work the orchards and fill the crates
They'll fill the silence behind the gates
With words that we don't understand
Red brick farmhouse English dream
A gravel drive that fits two BMWs
A vintage watering can
The hedge was not in leaf yet
You could see the sun set through the windows
Of the empty static caravans
A question hangs in the silent air
What if they don't come again this year?
|
||||
13. |
||||
|
Driving and driving and driving and driving
From Canterbury down to the sea
Keep going east we are driving and driving
Down the A2 from Canterbury
Late for the ferry we're driving and driving
From Canterbury down to the sea
Past all the lorries the hills and the valleys
Down to the sea from Canterbury
Driving and driving and driving and driving
Down to the sea from Canterbury
Driving and driving and driving and driving
Down to the sea
I feel England fade as I'm driving and driving
Down to the sea
We're driving to the sea
Driving to the sea
Driving to the sea
We're driving to the sea
We're driving
Driving
Driving
Driving
Drive into the sea
|
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14. |
||||
|
Only the first idea
That's all that really counts
You may have second thoughts
About being a third country
But time is marching forth
Laugh if the truth offends you
The music's that which holds
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Holds our seven thoughts together
Ooh the music's that which holds
Our seven thoughts together
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15. |
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16. |
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17. |
||||
|
His name was John
He wore check shirts
He lived in Baron's Court
I never saw him driving
He preferred public transport
He could have built himself an igloo
From all the records he had bought
And in the round of humankind
He was the most lovely sort
Yes in the round of humankind
He was the most lovely sort
You could see him at the concert
See him at the record fair
If the music was worth hearing
You would know that John was there
And then one day the hand of God
Appeared out of thin air
And a voice said
“Have this ticket, John
For you I have a spare”
Yes a voice said
“Have this ticket, John
For you I always have a spare”
His name was John
He wore check shirts
He lived in Baron's court
He never dropped what you have got
He preferred a drop of Port
He liked to count in sevens
And he didn't care for sports
And in the round of humankind
He was the most lovely sort
Yes in the round of humankind
He was the most lovely sort
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18. |
||||
|
Over time you felt your feelings change
As the realisation came through
And the way that your friends simply brushed it aside
Was an option not open to you
You know they'd want you to put another record on
But your needle's stuck on the same track
All the places you loved where you felt so at home
Well, it turns out they don't love you back
Yeah, it turns out they don't love you back
You've done anger and grief, denial, disbelief
And you cracked some dark jokes on it too
But what you really saw was the underside of a bus
As the nightmare turned out to be true
You know you really shouldn't take yourself too seriously
And you don't want them to see you crack
But all those places you loved
All the streets where you strolled
All those cute little shops
And the grass where you rolled
All those shiny new buildings and houses of old
All the rebels and those who just do what they're told
Those who follow their pride
Those who follow the gold
Well, it turns out they don't love you back
Yes, it turns out they don't love you back
|
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19. |
||||
|
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Above a sunny Irish beach
The ferry soon was out of reach
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Cause over night the grass turns wet
Slide down the slope you'll end up dead
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
It's not as harmless as it seems
You'll hit the ocean while you dream
Don't you sleep through the tide
Won't you sleep through the tide
So I woke up on sandy ground
My bag lay up there where I'd lain down
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
We travelled half the continent
And this could nearly have been the end
Don't you sleep through the tide
Don't you sleep through the tide
|
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20. |
||||
21. |
||||
|
Time is slipping by and I just wanted you to know
That while we're both around
I'm glad I got to warm your toes
And by the way
I'd really like to stay
Yes if I may
I'd really like to stay the day
Time is slipping by and I just wanted you to know
The things you know already
Wouldn't hurt to say them though
And by the way
I'd really like to stay
Yes if I may
I'd really like to stay the day
The weight is coming down
The weight is coming down
The weight is coming down
The weight is coming
Down to the ground
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22. |
||||
|
And by the way
I'd really like to stay
Yes if I may
I'd really like to stay the day
|
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23. |
||||
|
As I walked out in the ups and downs
My shoes sank into the muddy ground
I saw the trees tied to the wires
The stencilled words on wooden crates
A secret village behind the gates
Half hidden road, half buried tyres
Red brick farmhouse like an English dream
The clouds were floating clotted cream
And dotted shadows on the land
Children's swings, a bench, a barbecue
Beyond the hedge, just out of view
The empty static caravans
A question hangs in the silent air
What if they don't come again this year?
|
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24. |
||||
|
Only the 1st idea
That's all that really counts
You may have 2nd thoughts
About being a 3rd country
But time is marching 4th
La5the truth offends you
The mu6that which holds
Our 7thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
Our seven thoughts together
|
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Robert Rotifer Canterbury, UK
Robert Rotifer is a musician, writer, sometime artist, singer (of sorts), born in Vienna deep in the last century, He moved
to the UK just before it ended (the century, that is), has made some 11 or 12 albums and has been lucky enough to play in bands he rates with people who also turned up on his records over the years.
Also check out: rotifer.bandcamp.com
... more
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