Back To Front

Gilbert O'sullivan Back To Front Lyrics
1.Intro(Back To Front)

For those of you leaving to join a hunt
The name of this album is 'back to front'
And those of you staying the whole way through
The name of this song is...


2.I Hope You'll Stay

I hope you'll stay and have a cup of tea
Oh i hope you'll play my monopoly
And i hope you'll do what the others do
You say you'd love me to
Make that cup of tea like i said i would
Make that cup of tea like i know i should
And not to think what the others think
So that when you say you like me
I'll be so overjoyed
I'll take the unemployed
I'll give them all a job
They sure could use one, my god!
Isn't it funny, no
A million out of work is really so good for nothin'
When you think that there should be jobs by the dozen
But as often is the case
Nothing ever seems to take place
And not to think what the others think
So that when i say i like you
You'll say you like me too
You'll say you like me too
That's all


3.In My Hole

Everytime a bell rings
I go berserk
I climb into my hole
And sit there like a mole
Playing with the dirt
Contradicting people who think of me as being
So soft and gentle
Very clean
I used to have a daisy
A purple one called maisy
Stuck on my bed
It didn't bother me
Yet when the landlord, freestone saw it he said
Take it out at once or evicted you must go
So here i am in my hole
Watching people pass me by
Each of them in their own world and me in mine
I've never bitten off any more than i can chew
Never wanted too-
Every time a bird sings
Every time a bell rings
I go berserk
And as i've said before
I sit there like a mole
Playing with the dirt
Call it what you like
And by all means tell a soul
I'm very happy in my hole
Running round from time to time
Stopping only to unwind
Everything i have is mine
In my hole-
Length about the width of a pole
Width about the length of a bowl
Hollywood style!


4.Clair

Clair, the moment i met you i swear
I felt as if something somewhere
Had happened to me
Which i couldn't see

And then
The moment i met you again
I knew in my heart we were friends
It had to be so
It couldn't be no

But try as hard as i might do i don't know why
You get to me in a way i can't describe
Words mean so little when you look up and smile
I don't care what people say,
To me you're more than a child
Oh! clair, clair

Clair, if ever a moment so rare
Was captured for all to compare
That moment is you
It's all that you do

But why in spite of our age difference do i cry
Each time i leave you i feel i could die
Nothing means more to me than hearing you say
I'm going to marry you
Will you marry me uncle ray?
Oh! clair, clair

Clair, i've told you before
Don't you dare
Get back into bed
Can't you see that it's late
No you can't have a drink
Oh! all right then but wait just a bit
While i, in an effort to baby sit,
Catch of my breath what there is left of it.
You can be murder at this hour of the day
But in the morning this hour
Will seem a lifetime away
Oh! clair, clair


5.That's Love

Once in a while, out of the blue
I might appear somewhat rude
But don't be alarmed or get upset
Just say to yourself this i'll forget
And when i come home after being away
It might do me good just to hear you say
Darlin' don't move an inch, keep perfectly still
Now do with me what you will.
Sometime ago before we met
I vowed to myself that i'd never let
No-one at all ever tie me down
Never dreaming that i'd see you around
Now isn't it strange wherever you go
It's always the same with whoever you know
Which just goes to prove what i've been trying to say
Looking at you the way i do (that's love)
Promising always to be true (that's love)
Giving each other a helping hand (that's love)
Sharing each other's every plan, that's love
And in love you do
And isn't it strange wherever you go
It's always the same with whoever you know
Which just goes to prove what i've been dying to say
Holding you now the way i do (that's love)
Knowing full well you want me to (that's love)
Telling each other how we feel (that's love)
Knowing inside it must be real, that's love
And in love it's true


6.Can I Go With You

The day you came my way
I was such a fool to say
All the things i said about you just to make you jealous
But i've learnt my lesson then
Now i'm prepared to start again
If i promise to be true
Can i go with you
Whenever you're around
All the boys i know are found
Trying to be the one to hold you by the hand
But i feel if it's o.k.
Only one thing i can say
If i promise to be true
Can i go with you
Can i take you by the hand
Can i love you
Please tell me
Please tell me
Can i go with you
If you think i'm a fool
Let me tell you there's no rule
That can stop me wanting you
And i do, so help me
I won't feel like having fun
Till you say that i'm the one
So if i promise to be true
Can i go with you
If i promise to be true
Can i go with you


7.But I'm Not

Don't you ever change your mind
Don't you ever be unkind
To me some say that (you're a fool)
Well i'm not
You might think that i'm a fool
But i'm not
If i take you to a dance
Don't let me catch you holding hands
With other boys
They think i'm cruel
But i'm not
It's worth a little thought to think
Of how i fought for you
Even so you know i caught for you
Every bad dream you had and threw them away
There'll come a day
When i know you will say
All the things i said to you
Were the best things too
So don't you ever change your mind
And don't you ever be unkind
To me some say that (you're a fool)
Well i'm not
You might think that i'm a fool
But i'm not
It's worth a little thought to think
Of how i fought for you
Even so you know i caught for you
Every bad dream you had and threw them away
There'll come a day
When i know you will say
All the things i said to you
Were the best things too
So don't you ever change your mind
And don't you ever be unkind
To me some say that (you're a fool)
Well i'm not
You might think that i'm a fool
But i'm not


8.Outro(Back To Front)

I'm not quite finished yet
I'm not quite finished yet
I nearly am you understand
But i'm not quite finished yet
There's another side to go before i go
Thought i'd let you know
Thought i'd let you know


9.I'm In Love(With You)

Did you ever tell somebody you're in love
Like the way i'm telling you i'm in love
With you
Baby baby with you
I'm in love
I'm in love
I'm in love
I'm in love
Love
Love
With you
You can tell me how it feels to be loved
Only i can tell you how it feels to be loved
By you
Believe me baby baby by you
To be loved
To be loved
To be loved
To be loved
Loved
Loved
By you
Oh i life can be short
Of that there's no doubt
However i'm not pushed for time
If you can't come out till
Round about nine
When that sun don't shine for me i won't care
Only sunshine that i'll need is waiting there
With you
Believe me baby, baby with you
Waiting there
Waiting there
Waiting there
Waiting there
There
There
With you


10.Who Was It

Who was it that caught you falling
And put you back on your feet
Who was it that tripped you any way
(in order that the two of us would meet)
It was me and i'll tell you why
Oh! i did it because of my
Pure unabashed devotion to loving you
Who was it that tried to kiss you
Despite a very definite no
And who was it that managed to succeed
(in getting it with your fist down below)
It was me and i'll tell you why
Oh! i did it because of my
Pure unabashed devotion to loving
You and me both feel the same
We even look alike
And like it's a bloomin' shame
That because we do
People think we're you
Know what i mean
Who was it that came to see you
When there was no-one else in sight
And who was it that stayed over an hour
(and not as i'd expected over night)
It was me and i'll tell you why
Oh! i did it because of my
Pure unabashed devotion to loving
Pure unabashed devotion to loving
You, you, you, you
Who was it that caught you falling


11.What Could Be Nicer

Mum, the kettle's boiling
Daddy what's the time
Sis, look what you're doing
Can't you see the baby's crying
Tell your uncle tony
Helen wants to know
Did he get the letter
That she sent a week ago
All in all what could be nicer
Than two people young at heart
Looking forward to the future
That together they will start
When you think of all those people
Who are left out in the cold
All because they never dreamed
That they'd be written off as old
Mum, the kettle's boiling
Dad, 'ere what's the time
Sis, look what you're doing
Can't you see the baby's crying
Can't you see the baby's crying


12.Out Of The Question

One minute you say you will
And the next you won't
One minute you want me
And the next you don't
You're turning me upside down
Giving me the run around
Don't think that i don't know
I do
Don't think that i won't go
You watch me
It isn't out of the question

One minute you're kissing me
And the next you're not
One minute you remember
And the next you've forgot
I don't like it one little bit
You're giving me the slip
Don't think that i don't know i do
Don't think that i won't go
If you want me
It's really out of the question

Between us we could have conquered everest
Sailed empty handed around the world
But no you couldn't wait
You had to go make the fatal mistake
Of leading me on
You silly girl, that was wrong-

Don't think that i don't know
I do
Don't think that i won't go
You watch me
It isn't out of the question

One minute you're full of life
And the next you're sad
One minute you're marvelous
And the next you're bad
I don't like it one little bit
You keep giving me the slip
Don't think that i don't know
I do
Don't think that i won't go
If you want me
It's really out of the question

I'm doing my best and i don't know why
I'm giving her a call and there's no reply
She's getting me down till i can't get up
She's giving me hell and if that's not enough
She's breaking my heart nearly every day
Not only in pieces but every way
I'm sorry of course but the fault is hers

I'm doing my best and i don't know why...


13.The Golden Rule

I wouldn't be glad wouldn't be sad
I wouldn't be good if i knew what i could
And i hate to go
But i must you know
Duty calls
Niagara falls
See it go down
As it falls on the ground
And gets up again
At the count of ten
I would like everyone here to repeat after me
Something of which i know nothing about
Namely that which i will tell you
(that which i will tell you)
I'm going to school breaking a rule
I'm going around in a pityful frown
'coz i didn't pass (came)
Bottom of the class (oh! what a shame)
Teacher was mad
So was me dad
Took off his belt
And without any help
Really hit me hard
Where i'd stuck a card
Thick i may be but a fool i am certainly not
Always remember the golden rule
When in no doubt get a car out
And while you're there how about...
Fetching me one of those pneumatic drills
Boy! i really love the sound that they make
So good for the pains and aches of life in general
Don't be such a miser
At the most a fiver's all you pay
Many's the time
I have wondered about what it is
I want you all to repeat after me
Something i know you know i know
(something i know you know i know)
I wouldn't behold wouldn't be cold
I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my
Dear old mum and dad
And the fun they had
Early one night
Dad put out the light
Got hold of me mum
Said he wanted a son
And as you can see
The result was me
Somebody told me once money does not grow on trees
Well if that's true then how do you explain
Apples oranges and lemons
Not forgetting melons


14.I'm Leaving

Living in a town that's on the brink of being a city
Won't satisfy my soul though the women may be pretty
My mind is made up
I have had enough
I'm leaving here today
Shops, walls, pavements, streets
Is all that i could find
From head to foot and toe to eye
I looked till i was blind
No matter what turns up
I'm leaving here
This place ain't good enough
You might think that i'm being funny
Just 'coz i won't spend my money here
Well let me tell you i have no obection
Except that i can find correction
Everywhere i go
Jump high in the sky unless you're feeling bitter
About walking down an empty street
With gutters full of litter
My mind is made up
I have had enough
I'm leaving here today, hey, hey
I'm going away
You might think that i'm being funny
Just 'coz i won't spend my money here
Well let me tell you i have no objection
Except that i can find correction
Everywhere i go
Jump high in the sky unless you're feeling bitter
About walking down an empty street
With gutters full of litter
My mind is made up
I have had enough
I'm leaving here today, hey, hey
My mind is made up
I have had enough
I'm leaving right away, hey, hey
I'm going away
Getting out of this place
I know i've said it before
But this time i mean it
I'm leaving
Packing my bags and going away
Getting out of this place


15.Outtro(Back To Front)

I'm almost finished now
I'm almost finished now
As i start fading
You'll hear me saying
I'm almost finished now
I'm almost finished now