1.Overture
Overture - a) a tourist - b) a contact - c) a prisoner
Excuse me, excuse me! can you show me the way out of here？
Of course. this way. just pass the headless horsemen, the
caf？shabu.
And how far is that？
Not far. you're the tourist here, you should take it easy. if
you can trust a stranger, follow me.
I don't mind if i do. i'm a stranger here with a sense of regret
that i'd like to forget that i drank from a paranoid glass. i
come from a paranoid base. sure, i spent time in prison. a
prison o
Own devices, haven't we all？ i'm a foreigner here and i'm
feeling just a little worn. i'm looking for points of importance
and historical interest, trapped by the same rate of exchange of
that i
Nning away from. and as we all know, we hate to change. but
change is a virtue, my friend. if you want to escape, all you
have to do is make up your mind.
But you're not a prisoner here, and i'm made to work with my
hands, part of my sentence for taking the licence to think of
impossible plans. working my fingers to the bone, keeping my
hands on t
Ngs of that ladder, that leads us out of the gutter to the
light.
It's all been a big mistake. i've done nothing wrong. i'm just
an innocent here. i'm just an innocent here. i'm just an
innocent here. i'm just an innocent here. i'm just an innocent
here. i'm j
N innocent ...
2.Cafe Shabu
Welcome to the caf？shabu. permit me to introduce you to some of
our regulars. starting on my immediate left, ladies and
gentlemen, here in caf？shabu, you'll note a poet, a man of words
by tr
And yes, that's a refugee from an unnamed political philosophy,
come here to spread his message of joy and peace amongst us.
thank you very much sir. over here, next to him we see a lady
who has
Ed-in a lifestyle of the rich and famous for work with
underprivileged and exceptional children which i am sure makes
her very pleased with herself, ladies and gentlemen. sitting
next to her a m
Letters and words and moods. a man who spent most of his life
deceiving himself and now finds himself facing six years in
rehabilitation prison and a death sentence on the outside.
sitting next
Im on a banquette, a ballerina. she's had two grapes, a raisin,
and a chicklet, and she's full. in fact, she's been stuffed for
years. next to her are two spinsters knitting their way in and
out
Arious predicaments coloure
D by the excesses of their ancestors. and close by them, some
surreal painter's brooding over the very over-emphasis of
colour-violence. violence on the blue end of the scale. next to
them, two
Uty detectives checking each other out. next door to the
sugarholics, see them shivering, see them staring into the
distance, see them growing, oh, see them go comatose. insulin
please, maitre d
My immediate right several politicians smiling lizard-like, see
them assure themselves that their status is indeed quo.
Rip up the cheques said the maitre d'. see if i care. i do this
for the company. i've got no-one to trust any secrets to but
myself. in the basement, in the vault, in the attic on the walls
are
Ictures i take in part-payment for my time. and the waitress
reminds you that in the backroom bathed in red, glowing with the
speed of light that reflects the demands of the living for the
dead,
Our angels, a host at your service to meet your every need. so
order up, the waitress said. our great caf？serves everything.
3.Pastoral Angst
Welcome to the goldrush, ladies and gentlemen, where california
begins and maybe ends.
California is the last stop on the great hitchhike west and now
it's getting a little full. too many thumbs. well, when you get
too many people in one place, you get intolerance and contempt
and
Dity and tension and sarcasm, distrust, anxiety, envy, hate,
cynicism, discontent, self-pity, malice, suspicion, jealousy and
snobbishness. and this leads right into poetry, painting,
sculpture,
E, music and literature, photography. these are known as the
arts. and art will break your heart. so what？ so will a good
meal. art is not the spiritual side of business-as-usual.
And art is not for everyone. never has been and it never will
be. now me, i don't know much about art, but i do like what i
know. you know in these days when everybody is mistaking
celebrity for
Nt, ambition for genius, self-pity for humility, style for
content and loathing for love, they spend a lot of time getting
in touch with themself. and then they find self-justification,
self-rig
Sness, self-obsession, self-pity, self-loathing, self-concern,
self-centredness, self-reliance, and self-serving gratification.
4.Who's In Charge？
Who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's in
charge？
Is it the army？ is it the money？ are you responsible？ i'm not
responsible. you wanna die now？ why not, it's a good day to die.
Who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's in
charge？ who's in charge？ who's in charge？
It's not the pope. it's not the president. it's not the rabbi.
it's not the buddha. it's not the natureman. it's not the
priest. it's not the artists. it's not the geniuses. it's not
the audienc
's not the critics. cain and abel. not romulus and remus.
Who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's in
charge？
It's not the doctors. it's not the teachers. it's not the
detectives. it's not the scientists. it's not the socialists.
the comedian
's the outlaws. it's not the artists. it's the futurists. it's
not the dadaists. it's the soloists. it's not the audience. it's
a mountain. it's not mohammed.
Who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's in
charge？ who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's in charge？ who's
in charge？
5.Short Of Time
Wasting time, we wait for answers, every time we throw the dice.
breaking down all delusions, wasting time.
Finding time, we take no chances. treating time, and pulling
punches. losing time ruins the dance. wasting time, wasting
time.
Real time gives no comfort. space and time, planets turn. crying
time, we make the moments. take their time.
Time is always on the menue. killing time, there is no choice.
wasting time is like old helpless keeping time.
6.Angel Of Death
Sushi for shabu. you keep calling me. you keep calling me.
Angel of death. i have thought i heard you singing. angel of
death. i have held
The flutter of your seductive wings. angel of death. i have seen
you counting on
Shadows. angel of death. i have watched you patiently waiting.
angel of death.
Angel of death. i have felt the heat and the power. angel of
death. emerging
From your deadly silver tune. angel of death. reflections of
disaster the morning
After. angel of death. the stories everyone sees through. angel
of death.
7.Paradise Nevada
God knows how long she was waiting on the mountain, staring at
the river, watching all her dreams go by. every single morning
she sang of crystal fountains, counting the days until she
spread he
Gs and fly. she had her eye on a man, the hero of the valley.
born in an alley wearing felony-shoes. when it came to the
ladies, that man became a legend, famous for his freedom, freed
to pick a
Oose. lay your money, lay your money down. lay your money, lay
your money down.
It was a marriage made in heaven, meant for each other, natural
born lovers want to sing each other's song. it was too good to
be true, too good not to try, too soon to tell, it was too late
to
to be hidden, they were too much to care. it was lipstick for
breakfast, and fine wine in a glass, resentments in the mirror,
ther
No way you can last. lay your money, lay your money down. lay
your money, lay your money down.
There was static on the juke box and murder on their minds,
across the water, and fireworks in the sky, paradise nevada on
the fifth
Of july. twisting like a dancer she took everything he had. this
side of whiskey nothing cut in half is bad. there are losses,
there are debts, there are winners to be found, there are
wagers,
Are bets, there are losers in the crowd. lay your money, lay
your money down. lay your money, lay your money down.
8.Old China
Sitting 'round, talking 'bout old china and how the ladies hair
will go to grey, paying for a speedy revolution, hoping those
fine lines will go away. someone screams about abuse of power,
so lo
There was nothing left to say, hoping for a speaking revolution,
and wishing that the crimes would go away.
Cross your heart and hope to die, it'll happen in the blinking
of an eye.
Cross your heart and hope to die, it'll happen in the blinking
of an eye.
Dealing with the mask of your deception, i threw that other
chance away today.
I'd been asking for a speedy resolution, hoping other signs
would go away. since
Sitting here, talking 'bout old china, and how old ladies hair
will go to grey, i'd
Been praying for a speedy resolution, expecting that the time
will slip away.
Cross your heart and hope to die, it'll happen in the blinking
of an eye.
Cross your heart and hope to die, it'll happen in the blinking
of an eye.
9.Ocean Life
The sky's full of dirty, aching air, that's burning a greasy
yellow and zooming
not be fulfilled.
The noise on her eyes is still there, even when the retina
yields in the strain of
The dull, sacreligious commandment of an eye for an eye or a
tooth for a truth.
Even the ocean is ghettoized now, another dirty alleyway that
leads nobody home.
When you're so young and full of expectations, you're looking
for that perfect wave
And when you'd like to ride them all／on. so i ask you from the
bottom of my heart,
Is that any way to treat your mother？ red, red, red river,
bloody ocean of
Sorrowful memories carry me to the deep blue sea. i hear you.
call me.
Is it true that virtue fell by the wayside？ not even a mark. and
who will lift
avoid the
Undertow of sentimental drift？ who can live long on poetry and
rats？ i don't have
The patience, but what does it cost on the open market？ and who
can afford that？
I wanna be buried in the bottom of the ocean, like shelly
winters in 'the
Night of the hunter'. my hair abillowing, being kissed by the
fishes, sushi
For shabu. if fishes were wishes i'd have you. i'd have you.
ahh, i've never
pride.
10.Instrumental
11.Modern World
In the shadows of the night come the friends of fantasy dancing
forward toward
The dawn, wrapped in coats of vanity. in the closets in the home
hang the toasts
Of days gone by, breaking every haunted scheme confusing
thoughts with fantasy.
This is the modern world, this is the modern world, this is the
modern world.
In the backrooms where they wait, keeping time so patiently,
playing cards and
confusion to deceive,
They miss the point so handily, filling every secret need. they
succeed perfectly.
This is the modern world, this is the modern world, this is the
modern world.
12.Streets Come Alive
Desparation sets the clock, buried treasure, call the shots,
family jewels in the vault, sleep safe at any cost.
When the life begins to fade, snakes rattle in the cage, nasty
creatures on the crawl, nothing dead as much at all.
Streets come alive after midnight.
Streets come alive after midnight.
Spot targets, pick and choose. rage and pain are on the move.
fears, that's to play a part, sending daggers to the heart.
dream scenes, forgotten lives, nightmare noise and blinded eyes,
crude s
And kerosene, broken glass and strangled dreams.
Streets come alive after midnight.
Streets come alive after midnight.
toes, day-break will bring you back, bright lights will make you
crack. streets come alive after midnight. there are no
guaranties
Midnight. eyes in the skies after midnight. fire in the skies
after midnight.
13.Secrets
What do you think is going on here the old man said from his
chair？ d'you think this is anything new？ now look here son. this
is just like it was back in the old days before the last war？
then t
Litics changed, the scene rearranged and became how we know now
is quo. oh yeah, there were times when everyone smiled and the
greed of the good times would roll, but a heartbeat away was the
cr
Hat did pay - the shot that was heard around the world. if you
go to sleep, the old man explained, you're just going to miss on
your turn. but if you stay awake the path that you take may in
fac
Ome a bridge to be burned.
And the old man turned away (secrets) wiping his tears from his
eyes.
It's already too late, he whispered, but that's certainly no
reason to cry.
(dirty little secrets)
You see the last pioneer is waving his flag, framing the organ
bone by bone, burning in sections, twisting his flag and walking
on glass as he is clearing his tomb.
Yeah, nevertheless, there's no money, said the kid. 'eh well,
half-price hookers are watching the mast, the old man said,
prepared to face the music and laugh. bring the shadows down on
the
S of the soft ladies that lie on their mechanical beds. and
nevertheless, there ain't no money, the kid said. well so call
up a future and rewrite the past, said the old man. raise the
hammer an
Fle the news, polish the armour and dust off the grass. there's
more dead-end options here than we'll ever use.
But nevertheless, there's no money, said the kid. well, hell,
there's glitter galore to tell you of gold.
(secrets)
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the kid.
(secrets)
With second hand hardware all over the world？
Dirty little secrets)
Nevertheless there ain't no money.
Well listen, times are hard but the crowd's flooding in.
Yeah, nevertheless there ain't no money.
Hey kid, second class will sell to the valley again don't worry.
But nevertheless there ain't no money, said the kid.
Well, what do you want me to do about it？ said the old man. i've
come up with every argument i can for the fact that the lawyers
are leeching the marrow out of the bone of anyone who's got an
or
L idea in this country.
Well what country are you talking about？ said the kid.
I'm talking about the country where my nephew makes honey out of
old orange peels and plastic out of old bandaids. i'm talking
about a country where the sun never sets, i'm talking about a
count
Ere fish are the bricks that build the edifices from which you
can throw yourself in a veritable syndrome of court reverence.
ahaha, greed and gun and invests.
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the kid.
Marks and pounds and pieces of flesh？ said the old man.
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the kid.
Hey, no protection is worth a damn, said the old man.
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the kid.
They're sending the waters off helega lamps.
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the kid.
They're carving the marble shape of the urn.
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the kid.
A goateed image in turkish stone？
Nevertheless there ain't no money. oh god, said the kid, what am
i going to do with my life now？
The woman settled for anomalous clothes and socks some place in
vermont.
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the old man.
The young man is evidently not worth suing.
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the old man.
State of vermont is in america？ said the kid.
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the old man.
They're doing it again and again and again.
Nevertheless there ain't no money, said the old man.
14.Maps Of The World
May i help you, sir？
Yes, i'd like to buy a map, please.
What kind of map？
As up-to-date as possible, i'm thinking of doing a bit of
travelling and i need the latest world atlas.
I'm sorry but we may be in a bit of trouble there. all the maps
are changing so rapidly it's difficult to follow these days
since the east has returned to the dance floor.
Yes, i sense a loss of asimuth here, a falling off the edge of
the world as we know it, a scattering of temples, a wish for a
sun
A bluer sky, tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
I'm leaving for home, leaving for home tonight. gabon, zaire,
congo, rwanda. i'm leaving for home, leaving for home tonight.
zimbabwe, botswana, lesotho, tansania.
The world changes partners to dance. poor libya, so
misunderstood. the mighty zambezi, the windblown kalahari, a
wish for a more electronic mailbox, a more african nightmare, a
more vigorous bur
Mozambique electronique, the armies of namibia. angola, who is
your cuba now？ changed partners, the world wants to dance.
I'm leaving for home, leaving for home tonight. somalia,
equatorial guinea, cameroon, togo. i'm leaving for home, leaving
for home tonight.
Tothigua, sierra leone, senegal, western sahara.
The maidens of morocco, burkina faso the riches of liberia, a
stranger symbolism, a sand-storm of antiquities, a more
beautiful sunset, a sparser continent, a bluer sky, a more
disturbing rhythm
Angrier drum-beat.
I'm leaving for home, leaving for home tonight. estonia, latvia,
kazakhstan, nashville. changed partners again, changed partners
just for the night.
Ankara, enseno and madrid, twin cities, reno.
I'm leaving for home, leaving for home tonight. inuit, rome,
vancouver.
Changed partners again, changed partners just for the night.
afghanistan, sardinia, peru. changed partners again, changed
partners just for the night.
Columbia, argentina, france, syria, catalan, oslo.
15.Broken Hearts
Consternation on the dance-floor i can't take it anymore.
My ugly girl-friend has these big eyes, she's running out the
door.
Get her back, the regulars cry.
All the bar-flies are going dry.
We need some business says the man reaching out with the greasy
hand.
We need some business says the man with the broken heart.
Broken hearts are good for business these days, broken hearts
are good for business always.
Mass confusion on the turnpike, which way did the lady go？
Rumour has it she was flying through the toll-booth down the
road.
Get her back, the troopers cry, all the judges need a boost, bad
reviews in the daily news, and the
Chickens come home to roost.
Broken hearts are good for business these days, broken hearts
are good for business always.
16.The High And Mighty Road
Before the end of the beginning, before the finish credits role,
there is a brief but brutal truth along the high and mighty
road. faces tend to run together, names be lost and legends
told, of
Ays to be forgiven on that high and mighty road.
There is a will to test the power, there is the struggle for
control of the basic rights of passage along the high and mighty
road.
It is a journey for the taking, it is a choice that can be made.
It is the soul that may be shaken, it is the spirit to be sane.
There is hypocrisy and wonder, when fortunes pale and empires
home to an ancient way of magic along a high and mighty road.
Money changers seeking payments for the priviledged to be so
bold, to say the train is not too crowded for a high and mighty
road.
And the courage may be tested, by judgement harsh and cold, from
the monitors of progress along that high and mighty road.
There are the words that have been spoken, there is the life
that's been portayed, it is a promise to be broken, it is the
joy that dies in vain.
Pale treasure, fragile beauty, or the messages set in coal, we
delivered as nostalgic on that high and mighty road.
Sacrifice and deprivation are spiteful paradoxes sold as
begrudging restitutions along that high and mighty road.
And yet the faces, oh god the faces, they seldom change from
young to old, they only seem to grow more brazen along the high
and mighty road.
It is the future we are trading, it is the prices that we pay,
it is the mind that is mistaken, it is the heart we give away.
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