Travelogue

Human League Travelogue Lyrics
1.The Black Hit Of Space

Been out all night, i needed a bite, i thought i'd put a record
on
I reached for the one with the ultra-modern label, and wondered
where the light had gone
It had a futuristic cover, lifted straight from buck rogers
The record was so black it had to be a con
The autochanger switched as i filled my sandwich
And futuristic sounds warbled off and on

The black hit of space
It's the one without a face
It's the one that doesn't fit
You can only see the flip
The black hit of space
Sucking in the human race
How can it stay at the top
When it's swallowed all the shops

As the song climbed the charts, the others disappeared
Til there was nothing but it left to buy
It got to number one, then into minus figures
Though nobody could understand why

The black hit of space
It's the one without a face
It's the one that doesn't fit
You can only see the flip
The black hit of space
Sucking in the human race
How can it stay at the top
When it's swallowed all the shops

I couldn't stand this bland sound any more so i walked towards
my deck to turn it off
All i could see was the b-side of the disc which had assumed a
doughnut shape with the label on the outside rim
I reached for the arm which was less than one micron long but
weighed more than saturn and time stood still
I knew i had to escape but every time i tried to flee, the
record was in front of me

The black hit of space
Get james burke on the case
It's the hit that's never gone


2.Only After Dark

I feel my spirit fly
Only after dark - ahh
I kiss the world goodbye
Only after dark - ahh

Fight with the city lights
Only after dark - ahh
Run, i'd like to run away
Only after dark - ahh

Won't you disappear into midnight with me
Why don't you come, why don't you come, why don't you fly, fly,
fly with
Sweet elusive fate ,will be our company

Bring out the vamp in me
Only after dark - ahh
Moon, sinful as can be
Only after dark - ahh

It's wrong to feel so free (!)
Only after dark - ahh
Only you know it can be
Only after dark - ahh

Won't you disappear into midnight with me
Why don't you come, why don't you come, why don't you fly, fly,
fly with
Sweet elusive in fade , will be our company

Personal note from john von ahlen :
I give up. anybody who knows what the words are in the chorus -
please - email me!
I just can't figure it out :


3.Life Kills

When you fall into your seat, you know you feel you might be
dying
As the breath rasps in and out, of your burning throat
You can't control your lungs because you're so tired
You're half awake with one arm in your coat
Well thank god that there is someone there to drive you
You know you couldn't make it on your own
He helps you through the door
You sit down on the floor
And you're asleep before you are alone

Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills
Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills

For a while it seems exhaustion has subsided
The day is over and the moon is high
But your period of work is predecided
Funny how the hours of freedom seem to fly
Well thank god that there is someone there to drive you
You know you couldn't make it on your own
He helps you in the door
You sit down as before
Another shift to pay another loan

Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills
Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills
Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills
Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills


4.Dreams Of Leaving

Someone stopped the clock when we should have started early
If we miss the morning meeting our lives will be in danger
Someone's trying to stop us, there is someone in our party
It is someone with a grudge and they won't let us reach the
border

Our lives are in his hands, we pay with krugerands
The currency of pain to help us leaving
While back in our homeland the ones who make a stand
Are taken from their homes and no one hears of them again

I felt i had to come here, i thought things would be better
The situation's changed but i find i'm still resented
Someone wants my job it is someone in this building
Someone's spreading rumours and i don't feel i can stay here

I think i'm going north and now's the time to leave
The people there they say are good to strangers
And if i do my best and try to settle in
I'm sure i can be just like someone's neighbour

I'm sure i can be just like someone's neighbour


5.Toyota City

Instrumental


6.Crow And A Baby

A crow and a baby
Had an affair
The result was a landslide
The result was a dare
The result was a baby
Who wanted it all
Moved out of the doll's house
Moved out of the hall

With one wing on the town and a gleam in an eye of red
Said 'my father was a crow, now i want all fathers dead
Find the fathers of this world, treat them as a fatal foe
Put them in the deepest hole, then cover the pit with snow'

With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red

I'm just trying to tell you what you'll come up against
If you venture from my side, if you think you're so mature
You will end up in a field, you will be someone's manure
Mushrooms growing from your back
Feeding some damn carrion bird
Do you want to contribute
To the corruption of the world?

With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red

A crow and a baby
Had an affair
My dream was the baby
The crow was your hair
Parts of me love parts of you
That at least is obvious
Give my baby back to me
You must see it's only just

With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red
With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red
With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red


7.The Touchables

Speaking of which, what is your choice
Your conversation will suffice
I feel the need that's known to all
Better use it up before the levels fall
You can take me back to the primal drive
You can carry on until we arrive
Hypnotised inside
Now i'm not young and you're not old
I'd rather purchase than be sold
Crazed friends so bold

It's not easy to conceal
When you're so touchable
People will hide indifference
Just to be touchable
They still emit split second screams
When they are touchable
Under the surface just for kicks
Sincerely touchable

You say it's okay, but what do i feel
Guilt, compassion, or achilles heel
Little feet march down grey matter hill
Then panic occurs, no seeds to spill
What's the matter now
Please look up and speak
Your spirit's wilting and your flesh is weak
Eight days a week
I can't imagine what'll happen now
I wonder when and i wonder how
The end will come

It's not easy to conceal
When you're so touchable
People will hide indifference
Just to be touchable

It's not easy to conceal
When you're so touchable
People will hide indifference
Just to be touchable
They still emit split second screams
When they are touchable
Under the surface just for kicks
Sincerely touchable

The final answer to all our fears
Abrupt conclusion to all our years
Still touchable but no one hears
They carry on hypnotised inside


8.Gordon's Gin

Instrumental


9.Being Boiled

Listen to the voice of buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
Little people like your offspring
Boiled alive for some gods stocking
Buddha's watching, buddha's waiting

Just because the kid's an orphan
Is no excuse for thoughtless slaying
People don't forget this torture
Just because you call her mother
Doesn't mean that she's your better

Once more with the voice of buddha
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim

Listen to the voice of buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim

Listen to the voice of buddha
Listen to the voice of buddha
Listen to the voice of buddha


10.Wxjl Tonight

The way it was in the past
A long, long time ago
Before staff levels dropped
They used to listen to the radio
And listen to the dj's talk
About the songs they didn't know
As if it really mattered

Hit-pick or phone-in show
I don't want you to go tonight
Ten thousand watts of power
News headlines on the hour tonight
Our music beats the best
You just don't need the rest tonight
Once i couldn't care at all
But i can feel the ratings fall tonight

And 20 years ago
No-one seemed to care
The people must have known
The dj's role was only there
To fill in space between the songs
That talk of love and other things
As if they didn't matter

Automatic stations came
And sent them all away
And now i'm left alone
I haven't got a word to say
And you're the one who makes the choice
To turn me on or turn me off
But now it really matters

Hit-pick or phone-in show
I don't want you to go tonight
Ten thousand watts of power
News headlines on the hour tonight
Our music beats the best
You just don't need the rest tonight
Once i couldn't care at all
But i can feel the ratings fall tonight

Hit-pick or phone-in show
I don't want you to go tonight
Ten thousand watts of power
News headlines on the hour tonight
Our music beats the best
You just don't need the rest tonight
Ten thousand watts of power
News headlines on the hour tonight


11.Marianne

(as interpreted by virgin records japan)
(accuracy is not guaranteed)

I take one look at you
It leaves me breathless
I see your dream's come true
You're not so restless
Or light, or bright
Marianne

One day i might not care
What happens to me
Your lack of sympathy fails to disturb me
I've got a life of my own

I remember the day
I thought we couldn't lose
Running round the garden in your mother's shoes
Playing silly sisters
And drinking green tea
On a cold autumn day
Someone's car had broken down
The best of summer ends
When you give a celebration
We can leave but we can't really go on
It would spoil the celebration

Anita, all that's left is us facing a life
That goes on as before

One day i might not care
What happens to me
Your lack of sympathy
Fails to disturb me
I've got a life of my own

Anita, all that's left is us facing a life
That goes on as before
Marianne
Anita, all that's left is us facing a life
That goes on as before
Marianne
Anita, all that's left is us facing a life
That goes on as before
Marianne
Anita, all that's left is us facing a life
At the end of the world
Marianne


12.Dancevision

Instrumental


13.Rock'n'roll / Nightclubbing

Lyrics reproduced from holiday 80 - japanese 12'
(as interpreted by virgin records japan)
(accuracy is not guaranteed)

Rock'n'roll, rock, rock'n'roll
Rock'n'roll, rock, rock'n'roll

Do you still recall in the juke box hall when the music played
And the world span around to a brand new sound of those far off
days
In their blue suede shoes they would scream and shout
And they'd sing the blues, let it all hang out

Rock'n'roll - hey! - rock'n'roll
A rock'n'roll - hey! - rock'n'roll
Rock'n'roll - hey! - rock'n'roll
Rock'n'roll, rock, rock'n'roll
A rock'n'roll, rock

Took the queen of bop to the high school hop, dancing to the
beat
With a u.s. male and her pony tail, well she looked so sweet
Times are changing fast but we won't forget, though that age is
past, we'll be rockin' yet

Rock'n'roll - hey! - rock'n'roll
A rock'n'roll - hey! - rock'n'roll
Rock'n'roll - hey! - rock'n'roll
Rock'n'roll, rock, rock'n'roll
A rock'n'roll, rock

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
hey, hey, hey, hey
(repeat again and again and again and again and again and again)

Do you still recall in the juke box hall when the music played
And the world span around to a brand new sound of those far off
days
Times are changing fast but we won't forget
Though that age is past, we'll be rockin' yet

Rock'n'roll - hey! - rock'n'roll
A rock'n'roll - hey! - rock'n'roll
Rock'n'roll - hey! - rock'n'roll
Rock'n'roll, rock, rock'n'roll
A rock'n'roll, rock

Night clubbing, we're night clubbing
We're what's happening
Night clubbing, we're night clubbing
We're on this machine
We meet people, brand new people
They're something to see when you're
Night clubbing, we're night clubbing
Oh, we'll soon make love

Night clubbing, we're night clubbing
We're walking through town
Night clubbing, we're night clubbing
We rock like a ghost
We learn dances, brand new dances
Like the nuclear bomb, when we're
Night clubbing, the right, white clubbing
Oh, we'll soon make love


14.Tom Baker

Instrumental


15.Boys And Girls

Boys and girls come out to play, playing till they're old and
grey
Time to leave the old school suit, grown ups can be real cute
Do you think they're wiser than in the past
How long do you think it's gonna last
I don't have to prove to you adults can be kidding too

Boys and girls i love you dearly
But i hate to have you near me
Boys and girls - ahh
Boys and girls - ahh
Boys and girls - ahh

Boys and girls stay home today
Think they're more mature that way
Secret friends can soon be found
Indiscretions underground
Maybe growing up can seem more graceful
If they make their style become more tasteful
With your looks you could go far
But better watch the calendar-iahhh

(the sound of a church wedding)

Boys and girls i love you dearly
But i hate to have you near me
Boys and girls - ahh
Boys and girls - ahh
Boys and girls - ahh

Boys and girls i love you dearly
But i hate to have you near me

Boys and girls i love you dearly
But i hate to have you near me
Boys and girls - ahh
Boys and girls - ahh
Boys and girls - ahh


16.I Don't Depend On You

The night
So young
You could lose
You could gain
Your temperature's rising
Better pull into the outside lane
You always say you're not the jealous kind
Then you tell all your friends that i've got one thing on my
mind

I've played this scene before, you had one foot in the door
But there's always plenty more, don't try to use me
I don't depend on you, i've got my own friends too
I'll never be your wife, don't try to use me
I've played this scene before, you had one foot in the door
But there's always plenty more, don't try to use me

It's cruel but it's true, i don't depend on you
It's cruel but it's true, go back to the end of the queue

I've played this scene before, you had one foot in the door
But there's always plenty more, don't try to use me
I don't depend on you, i've got my own friends too
I'll never be your wife, don't try to use me
I've played this scene before, you had one foot in the door
But there's always plenty more, don't try to use me

The night, so young
You could lose, you could gain
Your temperature's rising
Better pull into the outside lane
You always say you're not the jealous kind
Then you tell all your friends that i've got one thing on my
mind

I've played this scene before, you had one foot in the door
But there's always plenty more, don't try to use me
I don't depend on you, i've got my own friends too
I'll never be your wife, don't try to use me
I've played this scene before, you had one foot in the door
But there's always plenty more, don't try to use me

It's cruel but it's true, i don't depend on you
It's cruel but it's true, go back to the end of the queue

It's cruel but it's true, i don't depend on you
It's cruel but it's true, go back to the end of the queue


17.Cruel

Instrumental