Lyrics
FIX THE KITCHEN!
AMERICA THE MONSTER
I’M HIP! I’M VAIN!
CRANKING UP RELIGION
SPELL SURVIVAL
OSTRICH CITY OSTRICH TOWN
STAY DEAD!
‘SITTING ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN’ MOOD
FIX THE KITCHEN! (Nicholls/McGrath)
It’s not even safe in the castle no more
The apple is rotting right down to the core
It’s the law of the jungle set up by the beasts
They live in the pop-shows and the studios ‘sleep
I don’t venture out I’m attached to my bed
But the sounds get in and break into my head
And I saw them crooks and what they did to Bowie
Well it made me wanna puke and bring back the gallows
I got sick of hearing ‘I love you’
And telling the press how many girls they screw
Making words rhyme with ‘heart’ and ‘blue’
So I kicked out the eggs and one cuckoo flew
Once in a while comes a rebel with a brain
Once in a lifetime a guy with a claim
Try to understand me. Try to grasp
You could be smart. A real smart ass!
When Iggy sang about being bored
I looked him the eye and thought is he scared?
And it kept coming back about needing a cause
There was no time to stop. No time to pause
And all around me people jumped on fashions back
People keeping up or people dead to the facts
Everybody told them they could do no wrong
Every song you make is the prefect song!
Well they handed their heads to Radio One:
‘Music For Morons’ they keep it on
Well I left my room just after that
Cause my mind needed washing and my body got fat
Motivation is what I got and I’m gonna blow the lid right of the top
So if you’re like me and you’ been feeling ill
Gimme the lead and we’ll conquer that hill
Once in a while comes a rebel with a brain
Once in a lifetime a guy with a claim
Try to understand me try to grasp
You could be smart. A real smart ass!
It’s this terrible quicksand
You don’t notice you’re sinking
You struggle around till they notice your missing!
But if you can’t stand the heat you better FIX THE KITCHEN!
Gather your thoughts and follow that vision………
^top
AMERICA THE MONSTER (Nicholls/McGrath)
Your films make me feel so good. One shot, a thousand problems fall
Stupid natives never learn. I feel I can face the world again…BUT
I got you – Under my roof
I had you – Mugging my dog
I have you – Raping my car
America the Monster!
I cannot lie. It was me.
Who went and chopped down your cherry tree (chopchopchop)
Poor gook came, down on his knees, and he pleaded with me to set him free
He said ‘Well, what’s it to be, the five year plan or the American
dream…
Cuddle
up with Mickey Mouse or the Russian war machine’?
He got sick – Too much apple pie
Take a tip – Try to not defy
Here cook this – The American recipe
Wait a sec’ – Gimme your hearts and minds mmmmmmmmmmm
I’ve had you – Killing my language
I’ve had you – Invading my practises
I’ve had you – Till you’ve gone too far
America the Monster!
Campaign trail, he did his rounds. Into his tepee I sat down
We smoked the peace pipe. He just coughed all night.
He sold me the peace pipe. But he kept the copyright!
There’s smile, we shake hands, our eyes do not meet.
There’s a kid, a kiss and a wave, then he’s on his way
Yeah I saw him wave, wave’ buy buy’
That smiling face, that waving hand
Would that smiling face give back the beads, give back the beads?
Would that smiling face give back the beads, give back the beads?
He got sick – Too much apple pie
Take a tip – Try to not defy
Here cook this – The American recipe
Wait a sec’ – Gimme your hearts and minds
Your films make me feel so good. One shot!
^top
I’M HIP! I’M VAIN! (Nicholls/McGrath)
Forget the Human League and ABC.
They are nothing compared to me
I appear too much. I’m never taken for granted
See me people. I just wanna be pampered
I get mentioned in the gossip pages
I guy like me becomes contagious
I am the greatest guy you’ve ever seen
I get a kick from my ego trip
I’m so conceited and I never get sick
You call my name. I’m hip! I’m vain!
You can call me God. You can call me the best
I win all the races. Miles pass the rest!
I’m your self-opinioned hero. You just love to hate!
I’m your self-appointed leader. I just take the cake!
I get pleasure from displaying my talents
You get pleasure just from being present!
I am the greatest guy you’ve ever seen
I get a kick from my ego trip
I’m so conceited and I never get sick
You call my name. I’m hip! I’m vain!
I’ve been where you’ve never been before
When I walk in the room, women shout out ’cor’!
I’m ala mode, I’m never out of fashion
It’s a full time job. I’m just trying to cash in!
I’m evil. I’m angry. I’m happy and bliss.
You give me all your money to get drugged up and pissed!
You like my swagger. You love my show.
You’ve created a monster. I’ve just got to go!
I am the greatest guy who ever lived
I get a kick from my ego trip
I’m so conceited and I never get sick
You call my name. I’m hip! I’m vain!
You call my name. I’m hip! I’m vain!
^top
CRANKING UP RELIGION (Nicholls/McGrath)
We. We are sucked in. By the myths and their legends
Cancer. Eats away at your insides
An addiction. No, no, no. You never realise
That the preacher is your fixer
Feeds you when you feel low
Leading you to the altar
Like a lamb to slaughter
Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up (God from God)
Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up (Light from Light)
Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up (True God from True God)
Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up (begotten not made)
Cheat. Hypnosis. No more lies, lies, lies, lies…He doesn’t exist!
You gotta listen to me before its too late. Tell the truth. Re-educate!
Why? Because! Why? Because! Why? Because! Because! Because!
Why? Because! Why? Because! Why? Because! Because! Because!
Why? Because! Why? Because! Why? Because! Because! Because!
Why? Because! Why? Because! Why? Because! There’s no God! No God!
I don’t need no promised land. I don’t need no wishful thinking
(Cold Turkey!)
Gotta resist. We’ve got to fight. Believe in man. For there’s more
might!
You’ve got rid yourselves of these parasites.
Burn your prayer books and de-baptise!
No more worship. No kowtow!
Yeah, you are thru’ Gods. Finished now!
Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up (There’s no evidence)
Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up (He was ever seen as God)
Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up (As God)
Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up (As God)
Sheeeeep! Hypocrisy! No more lies, lies, lies, lies…He doesn’t
exist!
You gotta listen to logic. Think common sense! This is the end for dependence!
Why? Because! Why? Because! Why? Because! Because! Because!
Why? Because! Why? Because! Why? Because! Because! Because!
Why? Because! Why? Because! Why? Because! There’s no God! No God!
Why? Because! Why? Because! Why? Because! There’s no God! No God!
Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking up. Cranking
up!
^top
SPELL SURVIVAL (Nicholls/McGrath)
It was about 5:25 when the nurse walked into the waiting room and apologised.
She said, I’m sorry but the ward is closing now. Closing for good!
But don’t you worry, because the kid will be well fed.
You know ‘Harry’? That special kid?
Your food squeezed in between that silver spoon and…
What am I saying? Canteen of silver cutlery
Hey. You can’t fight it! Hey. You can’t flee!
But I will not, repeat, ‘not’, go with the flow
The rich white man came on the screen…apologised,
He said ‘sorry but’/ He said ‘sorry but’/ He said ‘sorry
but’/ He said ‘sorry but’…
Phil shouted ‘Ogy, the fridge is empty!’
I gave my stomach a long look, and tried to explain about the food bypass /
No intake / Deserts / Ethiopia / The Embankment / India / Torquay!
He just rumbled back, you know the way they do? Rumba, rumba, rumba…
Meanwhile I took a page out of my mothers’ book and began to write out
the word…
S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L!
I spell survival! I spell survival! We spell survival!
It’s called survival! It’s called survival!
Rain came Tuesday we sat around spelling out erm… Hey you know what?
The miner hit his kid ‘No, get it right! Get it right! Survival! The kid
cried…
He’d had a hard day at school spelling out erm ‘Scab. Blackleg.
Closure. Economic.’
Tomorrow he learns ‘Un-employment.’ Big word, remember every last
syable…
Meanwhile come on down with the Mirror, Maxwell and the Millionaires club…
Hey check the card! Hey check the card! Hey check the card!
I looked outside and Maltby was still burning. I wrote on the condensation
the word…
S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L!
I spell survival! I spell survival! We spell survival!
It’s called survival! It’s called survival!
I’m not corrupt, no it’s the system, which is corrupting. The
people downtown come and clean the pools of the people uptown, now that’s
not equality hey? Am I right?
God you know I am. Listen, I live in a city that’s got too many contenders,
maybe that should read … C-O-L-L-A-B-O-R-A-T-E-R-S ?
The girl spat out the bread and went out looking for her piece of the cake…
‘Easy meat ‘ was her last words. She got stopped just outside the
kitchen
Afghanistan / Iraq / Iran / El Salvador / Ireland was frying that night
Hmmm. I just love it when they cook dear.
Hey look! They got Peterloo on the menu.
I tuned in to some talking head promising ‘Gravy Train Land’
Just as soon as we…just soon as we…just as soon as we…
Well, he never actually answered the question but I think you know what I mean?
Peter Scott will narrate while I change my wallpaper, change my company,
Change my ego, change my shadow, change my politics, change my woman,
Change my socks, change my ethos, change my ethics, change my life,
Change my system, change, change, chains, change, chains, chains, chains…
Meanwhile I’ll find some toilet wall somewhere and scratch out the word…
S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L ! !
I spell survival! I spell survival! We spell survival!
It’s called survival! It’s called survival!
^top
OSTRICH CITY OSTRICH TOWN (Nicholls/McGrath)
I’d just become immune to the latest TV war
I mean, there wasn’t any jackboot knocking down my front door!
There were ‘bangs’ and ‘bombs’ and ‘shouts’ and ‘shots’…
And God that baby crying! SHADDAPPP!!
I hit the highway. I hit the highway. I hit the highway.
But everyday my ears burned. They talk about me, don’t they, don’t
they?
But everyday my ears burned. They talk about me. What are they saying?
Only the brave, the brave move on. They get out in the world, get really dirty
Get out in the world, get really filthy. They guarantee a clean feeling
No street-cred or sub-way sects. Gettaway! Gettaway!
Your eyes get better with every sec’ of the day! Everyday!
C’mon, catch that train. What’s the matter? You tired?
You’re running like Tony Curtis or Von Ryan!
You’re not gonna make it. You’re looking old.
Here take my hand. C’mon. Grab. Stretch. Catch hold! And…
Getaway From Ostrich City! Gettaway From Ostrich Town!
Getaway From Ostrich City! Gettaway From Ostrich Town!
My brain, my brain sleeps in a cave. My bodies got to activate.
My name, my name is not ’slave’. My life can escape!
Aah Damascus, here I come! Cue; Blue flash and overacting.
Aah King Midas shake my hand. Pleased to meet ya! Pleased to feel ya!
Aah kick the cripple and trip the blind guy.
They can’t come. They never said ‘May I’?
Where I go, I go alone. Where I go, sheep can’t go! (BAAAAAA)
I heard a laugh, I turned around. It was the ghost of Eric Blair…
He was stood there looking back, and laughing, laughing I swear!
He was the peak they all tried to reach
Well that’s one mountain’ never came to me…
You know, down and out in Paris and London and the Road to Wigan Pier? (No fear!)
I turned my back on the Fritz Lang prophecy. Goodbye to pigs and poverty!
But memories still hang on me. Cue; Hines / Loach philosophy…
About stupid little kids from Drowning Town
Who can’t survive cause of their vowel sounds
Who are top of the food chain, but still they starve…
You gotta kill the cliché! Kill the cliché!
And
Getaway From Ostrich City! Gettaway From Ostrich Town!
Getaway From Ostrich City! Gettaway From Ostrich Town!
My brain, my brain sleeps in a cave. My bodies got to activate.
My name, my name is not ’slave’. My life went thataway!
^top
STAY DEAD! (Nicholls/McGrath)
God used to come around my place, trying to tell me how to live and think.
I’d spit in his face and I’d slam the door, and get back to the original
sin!
(See) I was living with the con trick. That would always pull me thru’…
Sticking to my toilet humour and laughing at all the New Poor!
You had no desire for social intercourse – I was strictly for sex!
They’d need ya. They’d feed ya. Go down on you – Go down on
me till I fetched!
God that was the war that was – But what I war that I lost!
You didn’t talk business at the table – I played my cards underneath!
You were like the Captain who hates the sea – I just couldn’t stop
messing with the fleet!
And I missed the last bus on many a time – But the walk always seemed
to do you good!
I know I never did a good job – But the job just wasn’t worth doing!
Never had envy (…and jealousy) was a dog I was never screwing!
It was always Double-Talk! It was always Newspeak!
It was always Counter-Bluff! And it was always my Cheek!
What a Creature. But what a Creature that I was.
With the courage of my convictions – What a Creature that I lost!
Hmmm don’t give me Estimates – I want a Quote!
Hmmm don’t give me focus – Give me some Scope!
The Threat of Life – The Life of Threat!
Ever the Mean – Mean you Bet!
I need more arguments – I get upset!
Aaah go the feelings – I try to forget!
(Like) Why do my Hero’s always end up Dead?
Can I surpass them? Become them instead?
But Hanratty’s feet keep banging against my Brain!
Again – and again – and again – and again!
Stay Dead! (Never) Stay Dead! (Never) Stay Dead! (Never) Stay Dead! (Never)
It was the guys on the corner – Who tried to tell me I was deaf.
Trouble is you walked right passed ‘em. – Didn’t hear a word they
said!
It was the girls outside the shop – Who made me see that I was blind
I never realised ‘ honesty was so easy – And mine to find!
It got to the point, I’d knock at the door – They would never
be at home!
It got to the stage I’d give ‘em a ring – They would never
pick up that phone!
No it didn’t take me long – Before I was on the slide.
Yes that ‘con trick’ that I mentioned – wasn’t all that ‘sure
fire’.
I became friendly with the subways and great pals with all the parks
Big Buddies with the dustbins and real chummy with the dustcarts!
Aaah but never mind you see, the wealth was still inside my head
Mine to command. Mine to tell. Untouched by Human hands
It was always Double-Talk! It was always Newspeak!
It was always Counter-Bluff! And it was always my Cheek!
What a Creature. But what a Creature that I was.
With the courage of my convictions – What a Creature that I lost!
Stay Dead! (Never) Stay Dead! (Never) Stay Dead! (Never) Stay Dead! (Never)
^top
‘SITTING ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN’ MOOD (Nicholls/McGrath)
Even though I’m here / I don’t feel free
There’s a fence going round and round and round…
I look in the water / What do I see?
There’s a moat going round restricting me!
I’m in one of my – ‘Sitting On Top Of a Mountain’ Mood
I’m in one of my – ‘Sitting On Top Of a Mountain’ Mood
Depression coming over / Swallowing effect.
No one to touch me / No one direct.
Walking, I see the soil tumbling down
Behind me lies a life / Drown, drown, drown…
I’m in one of my – ‘Sitting On Top Of a Mountain’ Mood
I’m in one of my – ‘Sitting On Top Of a Mountain’ Mood
Girl doesn’t look at me / Even though I stare (what you looking at?)
People all ignore me / I don’t think they care (They care, they care)
Get to the top / Climb, climb, climb, climb…
Sit on a Mountain Top / Count the time!
I’m in one of my – ‘Sitting On Top Of a Mountain’ Mood
I’m in one of my – ‘Sitting On Top Of a Mountain’ Mood
No more verses / Leave me alone
I just wanna lay down / And call it my home
Sod all the people like ants down there (Adam you can keep it!)
All I’m gonna do now is breath some air.
I’m in one of my – ‘Sitting On Top Of a Mountain’ Mood
I’m in one of my – ‘Sitting On Top Of a Mountain’ Mood