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SKYCLAD LYRICS
"A Semblance of Normality" (2004)
1. Intro (Pipes Solo)
2. Do They Mean Us?
3. A Good Day to Bury Bad News
4. Anotherdrinkingsong
5. A Survival Campaign
6. The Song of No-Involvement
7. The Parliament of Fools
8. Ten Little Kingdoms
9. Like... A Ballad For the Disenchanted
10. Lightening The Load
11. NTRWB
12. Hybrid Blues
13. Outro (The Dissolution of Parliament)
1. Intro (Pipes Solo)
2. Do They Mean Us?
Dance round the maypole, rappers and mummers
Stepping in and out of time.
Cockeys, Brummies, Tykes and Geordies
Players in this pantomime.
From Notting Hill to Tyneside's Mela
Marching ghosts of colliery bands.
Farmer's markets, high tech sweatshops
Such a 'green a pleasant land.'
In an English country garden,
"Clearing the land.. exurban man.'
Puddings made with bread and butter
The lash of the whip and rhyming slang
Speakers corner, Miners' Welfare
Images all juxtaposed,
With this patchwork panorama
You have to laugh, "Do they mean us?"
Lager louts and laddish culture
St. George's cross upon your pate.
John Bull in Beau Brummel's waistcoat
Knuckles tatooed love and hate.
Schizophrenic, new age, new man
Bite your lip, don't make a fuss.
The malaise of "The English Patient"
You have to laugh, "Do they mean us?"
"Oop North" where they bathe in gravy
Sarees seen on cobbled streets
Down south it's a top coat warmer
'Kiss me quick' on Margate beech.
English blood runs mild and bitter
Adam's ale or council pop?
Refugees, asylum seekers
Multi-racial melting pot.
Such inherent contradictions
A crisis of identity
Are the smiles all disingenuous?
Quote English eccentricity.
From Lands End up to Kielder Water
All "make believe" and "just suppose."
Given the "whole sink and puddle"
In the end, "Do they mean us?"
3. A Good Day to Bury Bad News
Well "The West" wakes up to a terror attack
But they got enough muscle for to give it right back.
Now the warmongers are happy
they know that they can't lose
They picked a good day for to bury bad news.
And all the latest figures talk of rising crime
While offenders are released before they've served their time
But they're happy down in Brussels
they know that we can't choose
They picked a good day for to bury bad news.
We've got a military stand-off
While they can't agree the peace
And political solutions
Are always out of reach.
A giant asteroid passed close by last night
Well this one didn't hit us but the next one might.
But the scientists are puzzled
they're looking for the clues
They picked a good day for to bury bad news.
While all the floods and famines
And the cyclone's rage
Of Biblical proportions
Can't even make the front page.
I said, "Hold on a second, there's a late news flash."
Billions wiped off as the high-techs crash.
But the ministers are happy
they know that they can't lose
They picked a good day for to bury bad news.
They can't bury bad news, they can't bury bad news
They can't bury bad news, they can't bury bad news
4. Anotherdrinkingsong
Where they sit around and get a round in while the getting's good,
They'll make the most until the money's gone.
They're coming out to celebrate, to sing and dance and to escape
A crazy world where everything seems wrong.
Drinking to forget and to remember all the glory days,
The days we stood apart and we stood strong;
Though the beer befuddles sense it can't provide them recompense,
They settle for anotherdrinkingsong.
Where the 'busy man finds recreation' the 'idle man finds business',
The 'melancholy man finds sanctuary';
The 'stranger may have welcome' and still within these selfsame walls,
The 'citizen may find some courtesy'*.
From Rose and Crown' to 'thingy
and Bull' all history is written there,
To folklore, myth and legend we belong;
Come Masons, Plumbers Carpenters, come Cricketers and Huntsmen,
All join in with anotherdrinkingsong
Well you can keep your 'long-hours culture' and lusting for adventure,
There's life aplenty down 'The Tap 'n' Spile'
Forget your occupation down the salutation
This tragicomedy will make you smile
From quaint barstool philosophy to subtle innuendo
It's funny how the tribes all get along
Curse abstinence and temperance; and celebrate insouciance
And join us in anotherdrinkingsong
5. A Survival Campaign
So we lie awake and wait for dreaded and demanding dawn
Come wrest us from our safe and sleepy beds.
Over by the window lie the raiment and the weapons
That we need to take into this world today.
Armoured by opinion, with statistics and a schoolboy's charm
We take our place among the rank and file.
Young and proud and free, we are the 'gilded youth,' the 'chosen few,'
The vanguard of our generation here.
Marching into battle, after glory in this enterprise
Like pieces on a board, we're pushed around.
As cannons roar and missiles fly, into this melee we are thrown,
We dearly learn survival has a price.
Now Profit is a noble cause, we're honourbound to follow on
Believing "Good" and "Right" are on our side
We will be remembered in dispatches or in legends long,
Will our story be retold?
But dragons slain in PC games
just can't assuage, your anger reigns.
You struggle on in spite of all you learn.
Baffled by their industry and bold commercial wizardry,
The young crusader's beaten by the game.
Yet in the quiet shade of evening when I lay me down
And relive all the struggles we have made.
A smile creeps cross the face that bears the
scares of war time can't erase,
I loosen off my grip and fade away.
I loosen off my grip and fade away.
I loosen off my grip and fade away.
I finally close my eyes and fade away.
6. The Song of No-Involvement
We're building up to nothing
Can make it last all day,
They're handing out the pitchforks
To keep the tide at bay.
Though time and tide will never wait
We'll stand our ground and celebrate:
A song of no-involvement
A show of no-concern
A song of no-involvement
We're far too good to learn
Well indolence is blissful
Employment is the curse
Once bitten makes you work-shy
You've gone from bad to worse.
The winds of change whatever they bring
We'll turn our backs and learn to sing:
A song of no-involvement
A picture of restraint
A song of no-involvement
The world will have to wait
To those who look for answers
Or seek to rule the roost,
Go sign your 'ignoramus,'
Cos we're the living proof.
Live and let live and learn to forgive
Come Heaven and Hell, we'll join in with:
A song of no-involvement
A testament to sloth
A song of no-involvement
Sounds good upon mine oath
A song of no-involvement
This life is such a farce
A song of no-involvement
The world can kiss my arse
7. The Parliament of Fools
All the seats are taken in the house that makes the rules
All the seats are taken in the parliament of fools
The discontented winter howled, when I first came up to vote.
They swept in on a sea of change, but I'm glad I missed their boat.
As communities were taxed and torn, utilites got floated
And for eighteen years the "True Blue" cause prevailed and was promoted.
How do you cast your vote in the parliament of fools?
How do you cast your vote in the parliament of fools?
Now I took me off to college for to learn philosophy.
Studied Paine and Machiavelli, spin and sophistry.
But coming from a country that was red in tooth and claw,
For a one-horse-race some lobby-fodder-donkey was brought forth.
How do you cast your vote in the parliament of fools?
How do you cast your vote in the parliament of fools?
All the seats are taken in the house that makes the rules
All the seats are taken in the parliament of fools.
Armed with this liberal knowledge, I set off to London town.
To see the "Seat of Wisdom," and hear justice handed down.
Not a 'semblance of normality,' an assembly of insanity
I'll not become a member of this parliament most foul.
How do you cast your vote in the parliament of fools?
How do you cast your vote in the parliament of fools?
Yes, all the seats are taken and our confidence is shaken.
How do you cast your vote in the parliament of fools?
8. Ten Little Kingdoms
'One United Kingdom they fancied wouldn't do.
To please some grumbling Irishmen they split it in two.
Two little kingdoms, but then the Scots, you see, Claimed their ancient throne and rights, then there were three.
Three little kingdoms but then one more,
For Welshmen claimed a Parliament and then there were four.
Four little kingdoms wouldn't do it all!
One of them was too big; the others were too small.'
And this is the price we'll pay
Take a lesson from your history.
'Divide and conquer is the game we play.'
And this is the price we'll pay.
'All across Great Britain ancient hates revived.
Cornwall wants to rule herself, and then there were five.
Five little kingdoms, but London in a fix,
Raised the 'Southern English' flag and then there were six.
Six little kingdoms, the 'Home Rule' heaven,
Caused a stirring in the West, and then there were seven.
Seven little kingdoms, Northmen wouldn't wait,
Hailed Northumbria and then there were eight.'
And this is the price we'll pay
Take a lesson from your history.
'A house divided simply cannot stand.'
And this is the price we'll pay.
'And the towns one may visit via the Eastern Counties line,
Formed East Anglia and then there were nine.
Nine little kingdoms, the midlands people then
Called themselves a parliament, and then there were ten.
Ten little kingdoms never could agree,
How to work together and so they went free.
Ten little kingdoms to weak to stand alone,
A foreign nation conquered them and then they were gone.'
And this is the price we'll pay
Take a lesson from your history.
'Devolution is the devil's ploy.'
And this is the price we'll pay.
Adapted from 'Ten Little Kingdoms' by Miss J. E. Clarke (1889).
9. Like... A Ballad For the Disenchanted
Like the promise of a grey day dawning
Like the dreams I never had
Like I'm working like a beast of burden
Just like Sisyphus I know where I stand
Like I need another rude awakening
With all your caterwauling in my ears
Like I know where all the money comes from
Just like the man said "Here my dear."
Like I need another cute Demelza
Like I need to be a gentleman
LIke I need another sweet Lolita
Like I need another Jezebel
'Love is the flame of burning brandy'
I take a drink from your poisoned cup
Like I need another Mata Hari
Like I need to see those eyes close-up
Like I need another 'brief encounter'
Like I need another fresh start
Like I understand your indignation
Like you care about my wounded heart
Like I need another misadventure
Like I need another dead end trail
Like I need another misdirection
Like I need another fairytale
Like I bring a plague on all your houses
Just like I'm Herod or "The King of Misrule"
Like I need another stark reminder
Like I'm Jonah or the April Fool
Like I need to make another swan song
Like I need another 'sordid boon'
Like I need another born-again virgin
Cut my heart out with a wooden spoon
Like a ballad for the disenchanted
Like a sonnet for a long-lost friend
Like a requiem played on my heartstrings
Like you're the last word and this is the end.
10. Lightening The Load
Now "Man is born to trouble
Sure as sparks to Heaven fly."
So said the man sat all alone
In the corner of my eye.
I said, "Why the long face? Why so sad?
Things cannot be that bad!"
He said, "My aching bones tell of trouble on the road
And you can't make light of this load"
He said, "You can't make light of this load."
Now just don't get me started on work, trust or money,
There are not enough hours in the day.
In a land where nothing works except the answering machines
You have to watch what you say.
All the high hopes of the Thatcher's breed
Lie crushed beneath some eighties creed.
Well "Moaning Minnies" we may be just don't let us explode,
You can't make light of this load.
They say, "You can't make light of this load."
Seems that grumbling is a privilege, a pleasure and a pastime
For those approaching 'middle rage.'
"The burden fits the back" they say, and I know I've got mine,
Thank heavens for the minimum wage!
"Things only get better," they cried,
But over health and work and money they lied.
Well their patron saint is Meldew and complaining is the mode.
You can't make light of this load.
They say, "You can't make light of this load."
"Oh, don't the days seem lank and long
When all goes right and none goes wrong."
So avoid the sad old so-and-so with his sorry episode,
Who can't make light of his load, lads!
Who can't make light of his load.
11. NTRWB
Hey Mr. Auden have you heard the news?
Seems they found a cure for your Roman Wall Blues.
Says on the tablets that they sent back home
They got dates, wine and olives direct from Rome.
They got baths and medicines I've been told
To cure your lice and take care of your cold.
And if your eyes are sore from rain or mist
You can always sign up for the old sick list.
Downtown Corbridge on a Saturday night
Find a local lassie to treat you right.
So hey, Mr. Auden let me put you straight
Did a little diggin' to bring you up to date.
Well a backwater it may be
But you got to brush up on your history.
Lyric by Kevin Ridley with acknowledgement to Alan K. Bowman's "Life and Letters of the Roman Frontier" and Dr. Mike Ibeki at www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/vindolanda_1.shtml
12. Hybrid Blues
You think you've come so far?
You think you learnt along the way?
You're better off by far,
Than where you were jus' yesterday,
You say you got your scars
There's nothing left to say.
You got to look beyond,
Go make some ripples in the pond,
We are the things we sing
All wrapped up with bows and strings
You think you're everything?
Accept the sense of substance over style.
And take away the hype
Take away the sad affairs
Listen to your lies,
Can't you see it now there's no-one there?
We are the things we choose
Come walk a mile in this man's shoes
And if you're still confused
Go learn to sing some hybrid blues,
What have you got to lose
Except your sense of ignorance and pride?
And take away the hype
Take away the sad affairs
Listen to your lies,
Can't you see it now there's no-one there?
I can't tell you anymore,
I can't tell you what to think or say.
Take away the hard lines,
Can't you see it any other way?
But I still don't hear that 'inherent cry'
From 'Dear Old Stockholm" to the "My-Oh-My"
Make it, lose it, make it, lose it.
I still don't hear that plaintive call
From the Sacred Mountains to the 'Wailing Wall'
Faithless, shameless, faceless, hopeless.
Now I loved me a woman, don't mean a thing
I loved me a woman, gave her everything
'I got stones in my passway' and I railed at the moon,
There's a light in your doorway, guess who spoke too soon?
Singing, "Take me, use me, love me."
But I still don't hear that primal scream
Of a rich man's nightmare or a poor boy's dream
Have I lived too long? Have I lived at all?
If life's a journey, catch me when I fall.
And you're lying there like 'the bride stripped bare'
In the virtual madness, in my dark dispair.
Singing "Hurt me, hate me, hear me, help me."
Is this hybrid offspring just a high class whore
Of a pale young virgin and a wild old boar?
Pointless, tasteless, thoughtless
13. Outro (The Dissolution of Parliament)
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