l-r Brian Foley, Paul Cleary, Conor Brady and Jake Reilly. From The Blades official FB page. Photographer – Conor Horgan (www.conorhorgan.com)
As I continue to transcribe the interview that I did with Paul Cleary of The Blades the other week, I thought it would be worth collating the band’s lyrics in the run up to next weekend’s two gigs in the Olympia Theatre.
Friday is completely sold out but there’s a few tickets left for the Saturday night via Ticketmaster. Copies of both albums are available on CD via Reekus or via Itunes.
The lyrics to the 15 songs from Raytown Revisited weren’t included in the sleeve notes to the LP so I spent a couple of enjoyable hours listening to the album and trying to make out the words. Thankfully I got a lot of help from other members of The Blades fan group on Facebook.
The lyrics to the 11 songs from ‘The Last Man In Europe’ were included with the sleeve notes so it was just a case of writing them up.
If you see any mistakes, please leave a comment.
Lyrics from Raytown Revisited 1980-85 – LP – Reekus Records, 1985
1. Ghost of a Chance
Long weekend
When boredom takes a grip
I’m in Dublin
She’s on a working trip
Cause she send me postcards
Every now and then
Yes, she send me postcards
To put the blame on education
Call it separation
Ghost of a Chance
We never had
Ghost of a Chance
We never had
United Nations
They sit with headphones on
Hearing speeches
Protect the Lebanon
To hear her talking (talking)
Sweet sincere
To her her talking (talking)
This situation
Doesn’t need interpretation
Ghost of a Chance
We never had
Ghost of a Chance
We never had x 2
2. Animation
I dreamed I had a dream
And in that dream
I turned to stone
I woke up in the park
Under a statue in the dark
Then the statue walked away
Full buses, busy streets
No-one lost and no-one found
Can’t tell if my heart beats
I never hear a sound
Though it’s funny how I go into
Animation, when I see that girl walking by
Animation, with the single blink of an eye
Animation, though I’m usually so shy
Long nights and longer days
And all that trouble that they bring
Stare through a coloured haze
I never seen a thing
Though it’s funny how I go into
Animation, when I see that girl walking by
Animation, with the single blink of an eye
Animation, though I’m usually so shy
Animation, when I see that girl walking by
Animation, with the single blink of an eye
Animation, though I’m usually so shy
3. Muscle Men
What a compliment, they say he’s got chiseled features
A face like granite would be fair
Wrestled with the thought, he may be one of God’s creatures
I’d rather wrestle with a bear
Muscle Men
Go and do your duty
And if anyone complains
Muscle Men
Make them understand
That muscle men have got no brains
I had to pinch myself just to see if I was dreaming
Woke up in hospital today
What a poor excuse when they asked him for the reason
“He wasn’t dancing the right way”
Keep the place in order
Shirt and suit and black bow tie
Muscle Men
Say it’s provocation
Muscle Men don’t ever lie
Muscle Men x3
Keep the place in order
shirt and suit and black bow tie
Muscle Men don’t ever lie
MUSCLE MEN!
4. Stranger Things Have Happened
Don’t…… try to hide
Your feelings
The way that I do
Please…. open your mind
And let…. me in it with you
Waking up together
Imagine it it this way
We could both swap memories
And stay in bed all day
Stranger things have happened x2
If… you go away
I won’t cry
And I won’t grieve
Faith… is a word
It means nothing
If you refuse to believe
We could say I made you and stop these silly games
In a foreign country, where no-one knew our names
Stranger things have happened x2
This is self-inflicted
Why must our hearts be blue?
Sometimes when out drinking I fool myself that…
I’ll forget you
Stranger things have happened x5
5. Rules of Love
Too many rights and wrongs
That just can’t be explained away
So full of bitterness
This empty feeling is here to stay
Your life comes tumbling down
And you wait for the phone to ring
Don’t be so miserable
Self-pity won’t change a thing
Rule one, don’t walk with someone new
Rule two, don’t ever disagree
Rule three, don’t let the other person know how much you need them
These are the rules of love
They’re broken and abused
These are the rules of love
Though I remain confused
These are the rules of love
Don’t break the rules of…
You should have been prepared
You should have known it could never last
No turning back the clock
There’s no time to retrace the past
Rule one, don’t walk with someone new
Rule two, don’t ever disagree
Rule three, don’t let the other person know how much you need them
These are the rules of love
They’re broken and abused
These are the rules of love
Though I remain confused
These are the rules of love
Don’t break the rules of love
Rules of love x2
Don’t break the rules of love
6. Hot For You
The days are really getting longer now
The rain is gone
The sun is stronger now
So cast aside your inhibitions
And your raincoats too
The pretty gals are lying on the sand
They’re trying their best to get their bodies tanned
I don’t know why but when it’s summer all I think is you
So… come outside baby
Now the time is right
With your brand new shades
And your jeans so tight
Well the sun is burning and I’m getting hot for you
And never mind what other people say
They’re only praying for the rainy day
Make up your mind to have some fun and we’ll go out tonight (?)
That’s right
And when we’re dancing nothing can go wrong
The DJs playing all our favourite songs
And all my worries drift away when you hold me tight (So tight)
So, come outside baby
the time is right
with your brand new shades
and your jeans so tight
Well the sun is burning and I’m getting hot for you
x3
7. Some People Smile
We’ve wasted time as well as tears
All in the name of fun
Now as the weeks they turn to years
Slow motion as we run
Who would have thought?
We’ve come to this
It’s kissing time
But we don’t kiss
We just wonder
Some people smile
We just wonder
Some people smile
And when you’re lying in your bed
Eyes closed but still awake
The little things you should have said
Hands touch but by mistake
Who would have thought?
We’ve come to this
It’s kissing time
But we don’t kiss
We just wonder
Some people smile
We just wonder
Some people smile
Some people smile x 4
8. The Bride Wore White
There are a lot of things, a lot of us are scared to mention
Of pain and breaking down and silly rules we call to measure
The open secret quickly turn to an ugly rumour
Another scandal
Living in a world that makes me sad
I’m living in a world that makes me dream
I’m living in a world that makes me mad
This world makes me scream
He hopes, she thinks
There’s no danger
Turn out the light
Happy…
XXX who’s that stranger?
The bride wore white
Donations handed out, somebody else’s poor relations
Try to be absent when they’re giving out the invitations
In sickness and in health, in poverty or deep depression
What could be better?
Living in a world that makes me sad
I’m living in a world that makes me dream
I’m living in a world that makes me mad
This world makes me scream
He hopes, she thinks
There’s no danger
Turn out the light
Happy…
X who’s that stranger?
The bride wore white
He drinks, she shows no resistance
It’s cold tonight
Girl, boy
Who cares? What’s the difference?
The bride wore white x3
9. Revelations of Heartbreak
Whose undergone a transformation?
Now that you’re twisted and you’re bitter
You must have had every indication
There was going to be a bitter twist
Now that it’s time for big decisions
Now that your friends are all advising
Throw the ring back into his face or
Leave it on the long finger
Face the fact
Don’t be scared
To look back
In time
The revelations of heartbreak
The revelations of soul
Find out when it’s too late
The revelations of heartbreak x2
The revelations of soul
Find out when it’s too late
The revelations of heartbreak
Trying to make a bad impression
You hear your name but you don’t answer
You’d rather wallow in depression
Cause somebody whispers in your ear
It hasn’t turned out like you expected
Now you’re free
You’re becoming a public exhibition
That no-one wants to see
Face the fact
Don’t be scared
To look back
In time
The revelations of heartbreak
The revelations of soul
Find out when it’s too late
Revelations of heartbreak x2
Revelations of soul
Find out when it’s too late
The revelations of heartbreak
The revelations of heartbreak (“Hey Hey Hey”)
The revelations of soul (“Revelations of soul”)
Find out when it’s too late
The revelations of, the revelations
The revelations of heartbreak (“Hey Hey Hey”)
The revelations of soul (“Revelations of soul”)
Find out when it’s too late
The revelations of heartbreak
10. Those Were The Days
There’s a teacher in the class
With a tight grip on my ear
And I know he won’t let go
Until I can force a tear
So I cry the best I can
To eliminate the pain
Now I forget what I did wrong
All I remember is the shame
Still they’re saying
Those were the days
So simple and so clear
Those were the days
With only God to fear
Those were the days
When people weren’t afraid
Those were the days of hoping
Father Father, I confess
In my ignorance and haste
I was caught out with this girl
Now I am no longer chaste
Human instinct is a flaw
In this theory you have built
Though it’s a blessing in disguise
Now I know it to be guilt
Still they’re saying
Those were the days
So simple and so clear
Those were the days
With only God to fear
Those were the days
When people weren’t afraid
Those were the days of hoping
Those were the days
When everything was right
Those were the days
When people used to fight
Those were the days
When people weren’t afraid
Those were the days
(Listen to me)
Those were the days
So simple and so clear
Those were the days
With only God to fear
Those were the days
When we weren’t afraid
(Those were the days)
Those were the days
So simple and so clear
Those were the days
11. You Never Ask
Everything’s right now, so it seems
Saturday shopping, save and share
Your smile of contentment how it beams
Into the the warm suburban air
You… forget the past
But you… don’t want to know
You… never ask me
How I feel
(About her)
How I feel
(Without her)
The party was over much too soon
We may as well finish off the punch
All this rushing to consume
It used to be dinner, now it’s lunch
You… forget the past
You… don’t want to know
You… never ask me
How I feel
(About her)
How I feel
(Without her)
You… forget the past
You… don’t want to know
You… never ask
12. Too Late
Misery will be my fate
To say I’m not a happy man
Is to understate
What I understand
The heavy steps I never took
The feel of crushing
Always shared
So I overlooked
What I overheard
I found out when it was too late
I found out too late x2
(Too late x2)
Out of mind is out sight
Someday maybe a friendly call
Did you cry that night?
Do you cry at all?
Another long and painful day
With midnight colours
Blue and black
Would you help me say?
Would you help me pack?
I found out when it was too late
I found out too late x2
(Too late x2)
13. The Reunion
I stand on the corne almost every day
Hoping she looks in my direction
In front of the mirror, before I go out
Combing my hair to perfection
I got tired of love telling me what to do
I had to stay clear but sneak out of you
So, I thought that I was free
When will it be the reunion?
I was wrong x2
Will this be the reunion?
It’s been too long x2
I talk to her sister whenever I can
Trying to make a connection
I used to write letters but threw them away
Cause I’m afraid of rejection
I wonder if she ever thinks of me now
I try to forget but I just don’t know how
So… I thought that I was free
When will it be the reunion?
I was wrong x2
Will this be the reunion?
It’s been too long x2
The reunion x4
14. Tell Me Lies
XXX
Asking us to play
Mass excitement is the order of the day
We could all be happy
If only we could find out where or when
If XXX mantra
Over and over… again
When the day comes
Heaven help us all
Staring at the paintings on the wall
Some make sacrifices
Others try to live from day to day
Excommunicate these evil vices
Sweep them all away
Why can’t you see?
I’m looking for
Something I can feel
Why can’t you see?
That I don’t know
What is or isn’t real
Why can’t you see?
That I have doubts about XXX
If you see me with someone else
Try to act surprised
Tell me, Tell me, Tell me lies
XXX
Asking us to play
Mass excitement is the order of the day
We could all be happy
If only we could find out where or when
If XXX mantra
Over and over again
Why can’t you see?
I’m looking for
Something I can feel
Why can’t you see?
That I don’t know
What is or isn’t real
Why can’t you see?
That I have doubts about XXX
If you see me with someone else
Try to look surprised
Tell me, Tell me, Tell me lies
15. Fool Me
I used to think
Now I have stopped
Shoes badly shined
Hair neatly cropped
I know the score
I’m up to date (yeah)
What’s that you said?
Twelve years too late (yeah yeah yeah)
But you can never fool me
(fool me, no no)
But you can never fool me (no)
He’s got a wife
Six kids at home
Drinks in the bar
All on his own
Looks forward to
Ten days in Spain
Works very hard
Never complains
But you can never fool me
(fool me, no no)
But you can never fool me (no) x3
Lyrics from The Last Man In Europe – LP – Reekus Records, 1985.
1. The Last Man In Europe
Now I’m expecting you to track me down
And yes I think I know what you’ll say
This place was dark but now it’s bright again
Oh no, don’t tell me it’s a new day
Need your tales of doom and gloom
So it can all be over soon
I wish that I could be The Last Man In Europe
Then would you fall for me, the last man in Europe
Don’t poison me with fear and jealousy
And all the secrets that I’ll never know
Deception hurts my brain like acid rain
So tell the truth and let the venom flow
Hurry up and block the sun
And maybe then I’ll be the only one
I wish that I could be The Last Man In Europe
Then would you fall for me, the last man in Europe
2. Downmarket
In an unfamilar bed
In an unfamiliar room
There’s a throbbing in my head
I’ve succeeded I presume
Everything’s black and white and grey
Living from day to day to day
I suppose I can’t be choosy, when there’s not too many choices
With the problems of the nation
I’m not waiting at an airport
I’m not waiting at a station
I’m standing at a bus stop. Downmarket. Downmarket.
On a rainy afternoon
On a gambling machine
Same old jukebox, same old tune
It’s hard to break this old routine
Everything’s black and white and grey
Living from day to day to day
It’s a fatal resignation, when there’s nothing left to hope for
In a hopeless situation
I’m not waiting at an airport
I’m not waiting at a station
I’m standing at a bus stop. Downmarket. Downmarket.
3. That’s Not Love
If only you would talk to me the way you do
If only you would walk with me out in the midnight blue
I’m absent minded window gazing in the pouring rain
I look at my reflection I can see it’s pretty plain
For all the young romantic fools
Who like to feel the pain
Self pity is your only friend, helps you to complain
That’s not love
And if it’s time for vengeance well I think that it’s my turn
But I haven’t even got a photograph of you to burn
I sit here drinking wine and whiskey from a plastic cup
I phone up the Samaritans but even they hang up
4. Talk About Listening
Five long days for a night on the town
Can’t speak up when you’re not kept down
No one smiles in a warehouse
Counting tiles in a warehouse
Always talk about listening
And you never hear a word
Always talk about listening
Five long days…
Under pressure with overtime
Steal away it’s a reasonable crime
Mental block in a warehouse
Taking stock in a warehouse
5. Got Soul
Give me a sign prove to me you’re pure
Hearts on the line waiting for a cure
Your train of thoughts going off the rail
Slogans for sale
Got soul (if you got soul, where is it?)
Nothing’s being said just a lot of noise
Trying to fool working girls and boys
Now there’s a way of making career
Ruling by fear
Got soul (if you got soul, where is it?)
We’re on our knees bowing to a flag
They’re whipping it up in the daily rag
Take me away to another age
From this plastic rage
Got soul (if you got soul, where is it?)
6. Chance To Stop
A million housewives every day
Pick up a magazine and say
I could have been, I could have been
I could have had, I could have had
But I got married too soon
Though not exactly Mills and Boon
A million husbands every day
Look through an empty glass and say
Everyone I see is much better off than me
Just to make ends meet
I’ve to work until I drop
Never really had a chance to
A million children day
Pick up the magazine and say
I want to be, I want to be
I want to have, I want to have
I’ll take my chances wait and see
Have all my friends look up to me
A million husbands every day
Look through an empty glass and say
Everyone I see is much better off than me
Just to make ends meet
I’ve to work until I drop
Never really had a chance to… stop
7. Don’t Break The Silence
I never had a worry
I never had a care
As long as you were with me
As long as you were there
The bills are piling up
And money’s all been spent
Holding hands together
Will never pay the rent
There were some things
We could have said
Ah but some how
Time slipped away
But that’s okay
Don’t break the silence now
A two up, two down daydream
I wonder if it’s so
And now I know what they mean
By running hot and cold
We thought we climbed a mountain
It was just a slope
Say goodbye to wisdom
Say hello to hope
8. These Were The Days
(See above)
9. Pride
I’d like to break down and say that I’m lonely
But something prevents me
That something can only be
When you know you’re giving way
Heavy is the weight, endless is the wait
Hopeless!
And you want somewhere to run
Need somewhere to hide
If you never cried
Whisper!
I’d like to break down and say that I’m lonely
But something prevents me
That something can only be
So when bitterness comes ’round
No one is exempt
Try and look your best
A vain attempt!
After all is said and done
Someone else’s name
Coming from her lips
Screaming!
10. Boy One
Boy one wants to know
If you still want him
Then tell him so
If not then don’t delay
In sending this boy on his away
No point in hanging on
No point in talking tough
It’s time for honesty
This girl is calling this boy’s bluff
I’m losing the feeling
Without your teach
11. Waiting
I think it’s genuinely sad
I never thought I’d have to learn to crawl
You know you mean the world to me
I’m waiting for you call
I hope that you don’t think I’m mad
Now that I’m barricaded here at home
You know you mean the world to me
I’m waiting for you to call
Even now an optimistic notion
Save my skin by floating in an ocean
Do you agree or disagree?
That fear of death will be
The death of me
I don’t believe them anymore
Waiting for World War
Waiting for World War
Waiting for World War 4
