Words – Micko Westmoreland
SHADOW
I’ll tell Dad, what you’ve done
if you won’t climb that tree over there
Take your pants off and wave em in the air
I’ll tell Dad, what you’ve done
I’ll tell Dad if you won’t pee on your hand
Lick it off, what don’t you understand
I’ll tell Dad you banged my head on the wall
I’ll tell my Dad about it all
Now, when I feel a circuit blow,
I’m sitting with my shadow
laying my demons to rest,
making friends with myself at best
Now, when I feel a circuit blow,
I’m listening with my shadow
laying my demons to rest,
making friends at very best
Whack this ball through that window
I’ll aim it at your face
Won’t give a dam about the consequences
Wound up by what’s at stake
I’m doing really well here
Then caught out by brother’s mates
Hurl this wicket at your back
Spin in space, somehow landing flat
Now, when I hear a circuit blow,
I’m witnessing my shadow
laying my demons to rest,
making friends with myself at best
Chased up King Alfred’s field
Collapse in a melt down heap
Memories are so hazy now
Reflective sun in stark relief
Thinking bout past negatives
Carve hard marks over time
Letting go of all the shame of it
Try to draw a line
Now, when I hear a circuit blow,
I’m witnessing my shadow
laying my demons to rest,
making friends with myself at best
Now, when I hear a circuit blow,
Acknowledging my shadow
laying my demons to rest,
making friends with myself at best
PROPER JOB
Get yourself a proper job
When will you get yourself a proper job
Brian Eno, was inspired by culture
time on the dole, defined his role
Played quirky synth in Roxy
Lived on through various bands by proxy
Larry David, employed for a while
Worked the circuit, perfecting his style
Made up routines, try and get hired
Took Crappy jobs, look to get fired
They said knuckle down
Or you’ll end up with the worst job in town
Picked up plastic in a disused factory
Clear the decks, corroded batteries
Hard work, maximum pain
Hearts not in it for minimum gain
So Think your cool, a job at HMV
We’re the M&S of the record industry
So here’s a brush, l’ll comb you’re hair
Coz you always look a scruff, on the floor out there
WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT
Lights off, pack the torch,
Received the message, days til dawn
Journey to the heart of it all
Attempt a problem, unsecured
Roasted circuits binary wires
Lines down, power expires
pylons shake, battery fail
Final chance deep exhale
CHORUS
Journey to the heart of it
Journey through the heart of it all
Journey to the heart of it
Journey through the heart of it all
Time has run it’s natural course
Technical details reinforce
unlikely he’ll survive the day
Intervention taken away
Life fades, ebb and flow
Watch the breath from all you know.
Do what you can to make it ok
Find a peace prepare the way
Would you believe it
He said to me before he died
Would you believe it
Thought to myself when you arrived
Lights on, take that call
Acting fast, a million thoughts
Lead toward, total change
You better come right now
Without further delay
Piercing scream break the tide
Pass the forceps, sterilise
First moments clarify
What we’re put here for I realise
THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
A spot in town where the bohos live
Joss sticks, Dylan on wax
70’s embroidered roach burned cushion
Herbal tea with jazz
There’s a freedom in this liberty
Stretched upon a tapestry
So we all got down in a flash
An orgy of flesh on en mass
CHORUS
That’s what they’re are all going on about
that’s what it’s all about
Now I see it everywhere
So that’s what it’s all about
Thoughts came to mind, another time,
As rush hour preoccupied
Friday night, after school
parents out, break a rule
The couch was all so velvety
as I worked out how to kiss
Avoid the metal dentistry
behind those ruby lips
Matters in hand, shut up shop
Worlds of protection needed.
Proof of ID would be required
They wouldn’t have it, so I conceded
Out of luck to break new ground
My cocky eye caught a local ad
If you fancy a lick and a dam good time
Call this number, stop round at mine
CHORUS
So that’s what they’re are all going on about
that’s what it’s all about
Now I see it everywhere
So that’s what it’s all about
There’s a feeling inside that’s so intense
shakes right through my bones
a feeling inside, now it all makes sense
I’ve felt it on my own/all alone
MISERY GUTS
We met on the information highway
Dial up connect the line.
Didn’t see much up there I like
Data crackle annoyed at the time
It’s actually quite nice to see you again
Have you done something with your hair?
Thought on balance what you did there was OK
You gave it a shot, I’ll give you that, what do I care
Chorus
Misery guts meets Naysayer
Misery guts greets Naysayer
Misery guts loves Naysayer
Misery guts hates Naysayer
These windows are meant for looking out, not looking in
Coz the writings on the wall (spelt wrong)
We can’t work it out when the truth comes to call
it’s more than we can bear, to face up to it all
When there’s grumpy this, scrintise that
Why do we play this game?
Roll our eyes in irritation
Gaze into space, (armed) with right to complain
The world’s done me wrong simple as that
Gonna correct this pernicious crime
They say I take a twisted, entitled position
(But I’m none the wiser, most of the time.
Chorus
Perfecting exquisite torture to measure.
Plain mean provides enormous pleasure
Ganging (all) the humiliations together
No tolerance for you whatever the weather
PARKED CAR
If we take his car. Let’s be careful
He keeps a keen eye on the clock.
Drive over Leeds Bradford airport
Do what we will whilst the planes take off
Now Cinderella, Rockerfellas,
There’s parking round the back I bet
If you can’t get away til 10.30
I’ll kill time, in that pub where we met
CHORUS
Diary of a Parker car
Make sure I haven’t been seen
Diary of a Parker car
Cover all tracks where I’ve been
Daydream through the windows at Marleans
Had three cancelations today
Should be able to slip away early
I’ll head down Headingley way
Do you think it’s ok to leave the kids in the car
Whilst we slip inside
Can’t see how they’ll discovered us here
That spill won’t stain once dried
BRIDGE
But I know he’ll always punish me,
never forgive, cast in shame
Can’t escape/mistake a father,
Condemning guilt, placing blame.
Drives me so very far away
From what I know as good
(But) I’ll live through it all the same, in vain
Drag my name through the mud
NOW I’M DEAD
There are certain things that get on my nerves
For particular reasons
Worked it all out, no overlaps
Concrete information fill any gaps
Inner circle, validated by colleagues
Days are down before my eyes
Was I critical because I’m unhappy
Unhappy coz I’m critical of things
CHORUS
Now I’m dead I’m hovering above you
Watching a documentary of the time
Small wonder I didn’t notice what I was becoming
Those petty things don’t matter down the line
Wish misfortune (so you) feel like I do,
Index a mess, retain, at best
See open minds with suspicion
Little here, goes on trust
Brain configured to own design
Didn’t see that, coming at the time
Couldn’t let go & rise to the surface
But the change happened really quick
Fireworks in the mind
But the change happened real quick
Ran out of time
CHORUS
Now I’m dead I’m hovering above you
Watching a documentary of the time
Small wonder I didn’t notice what I was becoming
Those petty things don’t matter down the line
Drifting out of time & space
Drifting through time & space
GUILTY
Apparently she works in a gentleman’s club
A hostess who meets and greets
Somethings not right about the way she talks
An accent too forced when she speaks
A son born out of wed lock
An escort subject to divorce
Platinum hair, that little Knightsbridge club
Playing all the men of course
Chorus
Guilty, little confused.
Led to terrible sin
The accused appeared removed
Call the police to the scene
Guilty, little confused.
Led to terrible sin
The accused remained removed
Call the police to the scene
It was a special day at the races,
Held your nerve, played with a twist.
But you served a miscarriage of justice
On my stomach with your fist
I believed another who promised help
Trusted, when said they’d share
This burden I have to live with
distraught throughout the affair.
Bridge
Who led me to that gun
And how it worked
Drove to the location
Show you where it hurt
Verse
Powder burns on dainty gloves
An outfit unfit for trial
The medieval savagery of the law
20 minutes of denial
A Famous author wrote
Of how a civilised people could
place a rope round the neck
Of that working class girl
ALL AT SEA
Been trying to get to the bottom of it, terminal list, which to lose
Looking to circumsbulate, results, far and few
Trying to get closer, effort’s are in vain
Different methods used, outcomes just the same
Tied up in knots, threads have all gone affray
Worked so very hard, forever broken braid
There’s a big picture out there, had a part of it on my mind
After a lost weekend I’m submerged by the times
CHORUS
Floating along too tired to fight the tide
Clinging to the drift wood, biding my time
The Sun will soon be up, I’ll no longer romance the moon
There’s a risk of complications, long overdue
Now the books are spying over me
With their information at the ready,
Looking to oversee
Whilst I try and hold it steady.
Pupils are dilating
Magnets going haywire
Is this some kind of breakthrough
I’ll look later to admire
While starting to perspire
Guess what? The waves are riding higher
There’s no time left to enquire
Bout the whereabouts of my desire
What I’ve been looking to sort out now eludes me
This endless, fruitless battle has abused and confused
This bang on the head/ship, has seriously loosened my thinking.
This drift wood I’m attached to I now see is sinking
VIVA LA UNDERDOG
Way back when we didn’t have a lot
Grandma’s kitchen was a betting shop.
Lowly origin, wish list to buy
Big aspiration, dishes to dry
We made it, in the nick of time.
All Gods against us, forced to confide
In Old Mother Shipton, petrifying well
Stone cold remnants, going to hell
Viva la underdog
Time has been unkind
Viva la underdog
Now the tide is high
Viva la underdog
Sing the refrain
Viva la underdog
it’s all in the game
Now there’s someone on that screen
Oh Is it you or is it me?
Birds have flown since now and then
Another self, know not when
Was a time had something to say
Now I’m old and in the way
Reminisce a story, prophecy in mind
Grant permission, you’ll later criticise
Everyone’s a winner baby
The stakes are rising high
Take that slim chance of success
Against a clear blue sky
Things can work out in the end
Come and find me calcifying friend.
Hard on judgement, truth satisfies
Those that dare to dream, you’ll later realise
Viva la underdog
time is on your side
Viva la underdog
Now the tide is high
Viva la underdog
Sing the refrain
Viva la underdog
it’s all in the game
THIN LINE
I spend too much time waltzing on the thin line
Waiting for opportunity, to wing it and make it mine
I spend too much time waxing on the thin line
This waste paper basket spills with discarded porky pies.
I’m sussing out what you’ll do, that’s key
Perfect a duplicity
Let’s wait and see how it plays for me
that’s just my vibe
Moral compass would cramp my style
Scant virtue, it’s not my line
Coz it gets in the way every time.
You pick up the pieces, I’m next in line
CHORUS
Took her from you
With my toothless grin
In front of your face
Kind of rubbed it in
Jump in a cab
I Saw you cry
Tainted Rainbow Back to mine
Too many chances taken over time
Bunch of geezers magnify
Uneven action, seen to unravel
Pushed into a van
Made to travel
Into the dark woods
Bearing down
Gravel greets face
Kicked to the ground.
Into the dark woods
Left in the dark woods
MYSTERY OF THE NIGHT
Sometimes the darkness weights upon me
Restless nights, like a drawn out stare
Peace makes me afraid, maybe I distrust it most
the shape of things, conceals (my) despair
I think of the world my kid will inherit
It’s supposed to be so wonderful
But a message from a madman could spell the end
Yes, a single call could end it all
CHORUS
The mystery of the night becomes me
turning through the night churning through the night
I can’t define, the overall numbness
Things I can’t communicate, forced to confide
In the ghosts of old lovers, they taunt me
Can I trust, where the spirits reside?
CHORUS
Slip in the gap between here & now,
As I watch the clock collapse
I feel the nub unravel,
I find I’ve really lost my grasp..
Give myself cover, the majesty of colour
Let go of passions like a great work of art
Witnessing this change overflowing
Part with all the stress in a complete world apart
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