Unreleased Songs

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists Unreleased Songs Lyrics
1.Criminal Piece

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

There's no more bad weather underground
Yeah, it's time to settle down
That's for all of the kiddies' sakes
Yeah, you'll wanna be around

And who could have seen
And where everyone would go
And what did it mean?
Not everyone can know

I grew up with no gasoline
On the darkest edge of town
An' I became quite the changeling
Yeah, there was just so much around

So much to be seen
And no one to stop you seeing
Oh, the things that I've been
An' all of the things I'm being still

Now I hold on to some dreams
Though the years seem to move so slow
The years have been mean
But that's how we've stayed so gold

So, so long to you 'Moderates'
Yeah, it's time for gettin' down
Peace and quiet, it is criminal
While there's injustice in the town

So, go on with your dreams
It's silly to let them go
And say what you mean
Not everyone can know
No, no, no


2.Bleeding Powers

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

All the time you were keeping me straight
I was bleeding powers
In my mind it was never too late
And the days were hours
Sure the waves still make spray
At the old sea wall

And the road leads somewhere
But it's not yet to your door
Yeah, the road leads somewhere
But it's not yet to your door

Let's go down to the old South End
Where we used to meet
Take me back to the basements and alleys
On Walbridge Street
Ah, but it'll only make me sadder
When I can't conjure ghosts no more

And the road leads somewhere
But it's not yet to your door
Yeah, the road leads somewhere
But it's not yet to your door

All the time you've spent working away
Well, you've done more than your part
All the times you only wanted your say
Not their slings and darts
And still you couldn't let them drown
In their own hate no more

And the road leads somewhere
But it's not yet to your door
Yeah, the road leads somewhere
But it's not yet to your door

And you still see people waiting
For the next excuse for war

And the road leads somewhere
But it's not yet to your door
Yeah, the road leads somewhere
But it's not yet to your door


3.Colleen

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Colleen, never to be crowned queen
Never an evergreen
Floating above the scene
As still as a figurine

Expressionless, so serene
But I know what makes you scream
So don't you run out of steam
I know you, Colleen

It's been all messed up since the very beginning
You act so tough, people think that you're winning
Everyone wants something from Colleen

Colleen, perpetually between
What is and what could have been
Floating through your routine
Every day since you were fifteen

And as rosy as you make it seem
I know life for you ain't been a dream
To have to deal with the things you've seen
While they work you like your

Machines break down, but you can't break with them
It's too late now, so don't break the rhythm
Everyone wants something from Colleen

Colleen, if ever you walk into
A dead-end street, come clean
Don't say that it's all, all in your mind
Because I know what you mean, Colleen

Hey, it's been all messed up since the very beginning
It's too late now, 'cause we're already in it
Everyone wants something from Colleen
And no one gets 'cause she's no one's Colleen, Colleen


4.Better Dead Than Lead

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

I had a golden ring and I kept it with golden things
In the Bank of a Million Dreams that was bursting at all the
seams
I had a golden ring, it was such an important thing
That I kept it beneath my bed and I carried it in my head

I had a golden dream and the way it down came to me
Was through Captains of Alchemy, who came up from a steely sea
And I dreamed through the rainy night and I managed to sleep
alright
And my body became so light that I managed to give it flight

'Cause I know, gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together

I had a golden dream and they took it away from me
And they pulled it out of my head and they showed me that it was
lead

But I know, gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together

And that's the way it's gonna be

And if you wanna know why
And I knew all time

But gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together

Gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together

And that's the way it's gonna be
That's the way it's gonna be


5.Army Bound

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Some modest dreams, they just don't pay out
Some modest means don't leave much way out
In every cradle there's a grave now
In every owner there's a slave now

Heard somewhere that there is a place now
Someone who'll catch you on your way down
But in every captain there's a kid now
In every chaplain there's an ID now

So make sure you keep your bunk beds made
One day you'll see your bunker walls degrade
And in every garden there's a snake now
In every pardon there's mistake now

When you fall on the ground, not a sound, army bound
When you're all no account, no amount, army bound
When your vests
(Or your gowns)
Hand me downs, army bound

When what's next looks unsound, shaky ground, army bound
Workin' hard for a round to the crown, army bound
While you march from your town to renown, army bound


6.C.I.A.

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Sometimes the rain upon the sea
Can make the gray look green to me
And when I'm into all that gray
I'll make the morning last all day

And when I've been down to New South Wales
And both my brothers've been in jail
Ah, but my sister, she got free
Now she's across that great gray sea

Now I've been hard, too hard to find
But there's no paranoia in my mind
There've been no comrades dropping dimes
It's just I'm working overtime

And I know that in the end
I'll come clean to all my friends
'Cause we all know we all have sinned
And we all know we're going to again

And when I was late in checking in
And I couldn't say where I'd been
Well, I bet you knew
'Cause you sometimes do
And here we go 'round again

See, Molly always knows just what to bring
When Reb's in town, she always rings
You wanna know what Tommy has to say?
Is Terre feeling better these days?

You can ask, take a look
We're all pretty open books
What I stand for, I mostly stand behind
And what I am, I mostly can't hide

And when we were late in getting in
We couldn't say where we'd been
But maybe you knew
Like you sometimes do
I've got no need to pretend

But C.I.A.
Only you know what you've done

My father works from 6 to 8
And he ain't given up his faith
And so I haven't given up myself
Though I sure could use a little help

Now it don't take the writing of a song
To tell you what I was doing in '01
Buy what I fear that I might never see
Is where you were back in '73

And why Mal, he ain't around
Or if Everardo was ever found
Or why Frankie says
That history's race is run
When we all know it's just erased
By those who've won

And when I was late in weighing in
And I couldn't say where I'd been
Well, you thought you knew
Like you sometimes do
But you got it wrong again

But C.I.A.
Only you know what you've done
C.I.A.
Only you know what you've done


7.The Toro And The Toreador

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Howling in remembrance, an animal has died
I'm hollowed out but resonant, a void is amplified
And abandoned shy
My animus was lost I found, when I looked back in time
I can see the where and how, but I don't know the why
Or if it's right to try

The best advice I ever had was leave what was behind
But did I see some value there, or am I going blind?
Is it all in my mind?
Like when you want it easy and you've got an uphill climb
Why would you give power to the ones who robbed you blind
Yet another time?

You've got a choice, it's the toro or the toreador
Your brides are not all as weak as what you take them for
This mean arena is all the things it seems and more
Well, that final day will come, it comes to everyone
The accidents of birth can make it hard to speak one's mind
But I believe there's power here, just not that I can find
And I'm not aimed on dying

You're in a dance and you must maintain unil it's done
You've got a chance to retake a bit of innocence
You didn't choose to commit, but you're committed
So put some passion in the play, because we all go anyway
Trying to find a fact to frame, a fully righteous fire
Everyone wants body counts, and not just want to cry
Is it alright?


8.La Costa Brava

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

I've been seeing the same old things
And I've been hearing you saying
Some things that you don't mean
Everyone needs a Sunday some days

Everyone needs to take some time away
So come on home from the front lines, baby
You know you've done more than your time
There was supposed to have been

A little time out could turn your head 'round
A little time out could lift us our of the mess we're in
And down by the beach there's a small cafe
Where we'll hang on for Joan and drink Monet all day

So come on over to St. Feliu 'cause it's somewhere I've been
And I want to take you there
You know that waking up to the daily blues
From waking up to the daily news ain't nothing strange

Everyone gets to feeling weak
But if everyone gets to take a week and change their pace
You travel west 'til you hit Girona, I'll travel east out of
Barcelona
And I'll meet you halfway

One day and night on La Costa Brava, we'll forget the fright
And remember why we want to be brave
(And that there's something to save)
Like down by the beach there's a veg cafe
Where we'll meet Lolo and Pablo and drink Moritz all day

So come on over to St. Feliu
'Cause it's somewhere I've been and I want to take you there
We'll meet Berta and Daniel and Remy Celine
And Mike Adriana, Padi and Aziz and Maurix, Maria and Laura
Tule and Sherry and Pau, Jodie and Paul

I hope Neil is okay


9.Suspect Device

Lyricist:Jake Burns, Gordon Archer Ogilvie

Inflammable material planted in my head
It's a suspect device that's left 2000 dead
Their solution is our problem they put up a wall
On each side time and prime us
And make sure we get fuck all

They play their games of power
They mark and cut the pack
They deal us to the bottom
But what do they put back?

Don't believe them, don't believe them
Tell you, don't be bitten twice
You gotta suss, suss, suss, suss, suss out
Suss, suspect device

They take away our freedom
In the name of liberty
Why can't they all just clear off?
Why can't they let us be?

They make us feel indebted
For saving us from hell
And then they put us through it
It's time those bastards fell

Don't believe them, don't believe them
Tell you, don't be bitten twice
You gotta suss, suss, suss, suss, suss out
Suss, suspect device

Don't believe us, don't believe us
Tell you, question everything you're told
Just take a look around you
At the bitterness and spite
Why can't we take over?
Why can't we make it right?

Don't believe them, don't believe them
Tell you, don't be bitten twice
You gotta suss, suss, suss, suss, suss out
Suss, suspect device

You're a suspect device if you do what you are told
But a suspect device can score an own goal
I'm a suspect device the army can't defuse
You're a suspect device, you, they know they can't refuse
We're gonna blow up in their face


10.Six Months In A Leaky Boat

Lyricist:Noel Crombie, Neil Mullane Finn, Tim Finn, Nigel Griggs,
Anthony Edward Rayner

When I was a young boy
I wanted to sail around the world
That's the life for me, living on the sea
Spirit of a sailor, circumnavigates the globe
The lust of a pioneer, will acknowledge

No frontier
I remember you by, thunderclap in the sky
Lightning flash, tempers flare
'Round the horn if you dare
I just spent six months in a leaky boat
Lucky just to keep afloat

Aotearoa, rugged individual
Glisten like a pearl
At the bottom of the world
The tyranny of distance
Didn't stop the cavalier

So why should it stop me
I'll conquer and stay free
Ah c'mon all you lads
Let's forget and forgive
There's a world to explore

Tales to tell back on shore
I just spent six months in a leaky boat
Six months in a leaky boat

Ship-wrecked love can be cruel
Don't be fooled by her kind
There's a wind in my sails
Will protect and prevail
I just spent six months in a leaky boat
Nothing to it leaky boat


11.The World Stops Turning

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Let me tell you about my morning
I checked my mail and I received a warning
Ooh, nothing new
And though it held an accusation
All I smelled was abnegation with ooh, not a clue

And the noise in my town
And the voice that's getting me down
It'll all float off when the world stops turning around

And all the little people ruined
By all the little poison, little minds are brewing
They're out and living in doubt
Breathing in the hate and rumor
The end comes soon, well, let's make it sooner
Ow, let's make it now

And the boys in our town
And the malls they're building around
It'll all float off when the world stops turning around

Lazy biters ignore what they lack
And lazy fighters will overreact
And if the tricks of the pricks and the hacks distract
Don't look back

And the noise in my house
Is a noise I've got to get out
It'll all float off when the world stops turning around

And the choice in our town
Is a choice that's getting me down
But it'll all float off when the world stops turning around

There'll be no more walls now
No voice pushing you around
It'll all float off when the world stops turning around

It'll all float off, it'll all keep spinning
But the spot that's not, well, you want to be in it
And it'll all float off when the world stops turning around


12.A Bottle Of Buckie

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Nine years down the road and I remember it still
Standing on the corner back in Govanhill
Nine days out from home, feeling no pain
That northern city sun breaking through the rain
That warmth less sun barely shining on
Me and you and a bottle of Buckie

Nine years come and gone since I left you at home
And this restless soul of mine had me starting to roam
But the first time I stood by the banks of the Clyde
I was so glad to have you standing back by my side
I was so proud of what we were doing
Me and you and a bottle of Buckie

Well, I knew by the dew in your starry eyes
It was the day we both had studied for for all of our lives
Whether bold missionaries or a children's crusade
No fear, pioneers, we were on our way
And there never were nothin' that could get in our way

Then the Neds, with their knuckles and their Burberry scarves
They said, 'How'd ye Jersey boys ever make it this far?'
But you jumped in between and said, 'Listen, my son'
You said, 'You don't know nothin' 'bout where we're from
And you don't know nothin' 'bout why it's now
Me and you and a bottle of Buckie'

Three times I've been back in my wandering ways
Last time it was July during Marching Days
When someone said to run from that bitter parade
But I knew what you would do and I decided to stay
And I knew no one ever got the better of me and you


13.The Sons Of Cain

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Old, lonely, and endless light
Cold morning rises from the night
No smile smiles back through the glare
No voice calls back from the stairs
Oh, those wounds on your blistered feet?

That march you on along that dusted street
Oh, that dust gathers 'round your head as
Clean, I rise form my lonely bed
All the talking this and that none
Taking me to where you're at

Oh, as fine as the day is long
Oh, my fineness, where have you gone?
And I know I'm not to sing of fights I've missed
But, alone, I've got to sing just to exist
And to resist

So you're gone now, and who's to blame?
Left down here among the sons of Cain
Have you gone on to their heavenly fame
Leaving me here among the sons of Cain?

So, you're gone now, and who's to blame?
Left down here among the sons of Cain
Oh, you're gone now, and who's to blame?
All alone among the sons of Cain


14.The Unwanted Things

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Crying for the hungry friends
And you're crying for the struggling friends
And I'm crying over you

Crying over a mother's debt
And you're crying over some other's head
While I'm crying over you

You're working so hard to guard against the weather
You'd shelter the world if you could
But remember we swore that we'd stop each other never
From doing what we've got to, well, it's still understood

And so you're crying for the haunted things
And you're crying for the unwanted things
While I'm crying over you

Crying 'cause somebody cries
And you're crying 'cause everybody dies
And I'm crying over you

I see you working so hard to be a part of something better
It's not some big thing, it's just what you do
But remember the yard when we gardened together?
I can't think of anything better than you

Now I know it's late and I know you're trying
But your time I wouldn't take and I'd never stop you crying
You're crying for the living things
And you're crying for the forgiven things
And I'm crying over you

And now you're crying for depriving things
And you're crying for surviving things
And I'm crying over you

Now, you know my ways and you know that I'm
Also set ablaze by that same fire that makes you cry
And so I'm crying for the war and the dread
And I'm crying 'cause there's more ahead
And I'm crying over you

I'll go on crying for our animal friends
And I'll be crying 'til their suffering ends
While I'm crying over you


15.The Lost Brigade

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Welcome to the lost brigade, lost, but pursuing
Fragments to protect the day from badness and ruin
And this one's for the makers who have made, only to be made
By the takers who delayed, later to declaim

Who will be beatified and who sees a line and files along?
Who won't let tomorrow die, and who keeps the vision moving on?
In this land of grand decay, we resist here
13,040 days, I have been here

Walking sticks and screaming bricks might leave you winded
But when you vindicate the last, the next is defended
So, reckless and direction less, just get in line and file along
Resolutions live and die, but every memory of mine's a song

So when my mind begins to turn, turn in confusion
Will I find that I have earned your absolution?
Yes, when my mind begins to turn and returns in confusion
There are gifts I'm to discern here, in profusion
Because every little memory has a song


16.Who Do You Love?

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Well, the day dawned and dried the grass on the ground
Someone up and died without a sound
And though we looked for you, well, you couldn't be found
You were already on your way, dear

And I saw them call as you walked down the street
But tall through it all, you'd admit no defeat
Despite the grief that you get from everyone you meet
But open up and let things change, dear

Now we don't ask for medals, we don't ask for praise
We work hard instead, and then we walk away
But when the question still pends at the end of every day
Oh, open up to what it's saying

So the weight of the world, it won't get you down
You make what you wear and you don't wait around
You give 'em what they want
(Or as much as you can)
Like you've done all along, and you'll do again

But who do you love? Who do you love? Who do you love?
So the weight of your will will stave off decline
And you won't stop that war, but that don't stop you trying
You say all the words that move all our friends
And you work 'til the clock has gone 'round again

But who do you love? Who do you love? Who do you love?
And so goes the most of our freedom of speech
We live for the city, we work for the beach
And when the weekend seems to be just out of reach
Just make the most of what you're paid, dear
Your love's a ghost, and that's why we're delayed here


17.Bartomelo & The Buzzing Of Bees

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

I know I've been distant
But I feel the change coming on
I know I've been resistant
But I feel the change, way too strong

You've fought all their wars
And you've worked for every boss
You've traveled over country
And you've been home and you've been lost

I know I've been missing
But I feel the change we've been waiting on
I know I've been resistant
But I feel the change, way too strong

You've paid and you've been paid
But at what pains, just to belong?
You've played but have you been played by
This game all along?

I know I've been distant
But I feel the change coming on
I know I've been resistant
But I feel the change, way too strong

Arguments, question
Our struggles and lessons
But do you feel smiled on
By your past and present?

I still believe in the futures unwritten
Living and dying like a damned human being
Believe in the buzzing of bees around me
We'll get on

What pain has been nagging on our brains
And turning us wrong?
What weight had been dragging on
Our train for oh so long?

See, I've broken down the doors
And found naught but dust and stones for our graves
We've spoken 'round it all
But now I trust we can carry the day

'Cause I know I've been missing
But I feel the change coming on
I know I've been resistant
But I feel the change, we've been waiting on

I know I've been distant
But I feel the change coming on
I know I've been resistant
But I feel the change, we've been waiting on

And I feel the change, we've been waiting on
And I feel the change, we've been waiting on


18.Where Was My Brain

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

I saw a future, I saw me a way
Equal work, I thought demands equal pay
I heard new music on the radio
I thought that gradual dissolution
Would be the way to go

Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?

Modern agriculture gave me a thrill
Until I saw the things it brutally killed
The modern architecture gave me a kick
Until I lived among the brutalist bricks

Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?

With me all the time, getting it wrong again

All the suffering evened out in the end
The stars and scriptures had some things to portend
Thought I could speak my mind but avoid a fight
I'd do it all and make sure everybody's doing alright

And we had the best in an imperfect world
We had the best of an imperfect world
We had the best, the best, the best

Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?

Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?
Where was my brain?

Where was my brain?


19.Bartolomeo And The Buzzing Of Bees

I know I've been distant, but I feel a change coming on*
I know I've been resistant, but I feel a change, way too strong

You've fought all the wars, and you've worked for every boss
You've travelled over country, and you've been home and you've
been lost

I know I've been missing, but I feel the change we've been
waiting on
I know I've been resistant, but I feel the change - it's way too
strong

You've paid and you've been paid, but at what pains, just to
belong?
You've played, but have you been played by this game all along?

I know I've been distant, but I feel a change coming on
I know I've been resistant, but I feel a change, way too strong

Arguments, question, our struggles and lessons
But do you feel smiled on by your past and present?

I still believe in the futures unwritten
Living and dying like a damned human being
Believe in the buzzing of bees around me and we'll get on

What pain has been nagging in our brains and turning us wrong?
What weight had been dragging on our train for oh, so long?
See, I've broken down the doors and found nought but dust and
Stones for our graves
See, we've spoken around it all, but now I trust we can carry
the day

'Cause I know I've been missing but I feel the change we've been
waiting on
And I know I've been resistant, but I feel the change - it's way
too strong.


20.Gimme The Wire

Lyricist:Theodore Leo

Oh, temple darling
You have made my life so neat
But a dirty old death
Still waits in the bridle suite

And oh, oh, I can't see around that bend
Whoa, oh, in the end they put my head in a box
And then they give me the wire

They're gonna give me the wire
They're gonna give me the wire
They're gonna give me the wire

Oh, temple dear
I don't mean to be a thankless boor
Ah, but as bad as its been
I think I'd still rather have taken more

So, oh, as you've eased my way, my friend
Whoa, oh, won't you watch them put my head in a box
And watch them give me the wire?
Watch them give me the wire

So, oh, as you've eased my way my friend
Whoa, oh, won't you watch them put my head in a box
And watch them give me the wire?

Watch them give me the wire
They're gonna give me the wire
They're gonna give me the wire