The Stranglers : Aural Sculpture

Punk-Rock / United-Kingdom
(1984 - CBS Records / Epic Records)
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Lyrics


1. ICE QUEEN

I was never sure of the accurate score
When I sat in for a hand with the Ice Queen
It was just a game with a noble name
When I sat in for a hand with the Ice Queen
I didn't have time The aces weren't mine
I knew the stakes were high
She started melting when I was dealt in
I thought I'd just go along for the ride

I was never sure of the accurate score
When I sat in for a hand with the Ice Queen
Cards were laid and the hand was played
When I sat in for a hand with the Ice Queen
I didn't play fair I was beyond care
The stakes were getting high
She started melting when I was dealt in
I thought I'd just go along for the ride
I thought I'd just go along for the ride

I knew the Ice Queen
I knew the Ice Queen

I was never sure of the accurate score
When I sat in for a hand with the Ice Queen
One day I'd win and the next I'd lose
When I sat in for the blues with the Ice Queen
I didn't play fair I was beyond care
The stakes were getting high
She started melting when I was dealt in
I thought I'd just go along for the ride

I knew the Ice Queen
I knew the Ice Queen


2. SKIN DEEP

Many people
Tell you that they're your friend
You believe them
You need them
For what's round the river bend

Make sure that you're
Receiving the signals they send
'Cause, brother
You've only got two hands to lend

Maybe
There's someone who makes you weep
And some nights
Loom up ahead
When you're asleep

Some days
There's things on your mind you should keep
Sometimes
It's tougher to look than to leap

(Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
Better watch out for the skin deep
(Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
Better watch out for the skin deep

(Brother, watch out)
Watch out for the skin deep
(Brother, watch out)
watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep

One day
The track that you're climbing gets steep
Your emotions are frayed
And your nerves
Are starting to creep

Just remember the days
As long as the time that you keep
Brother, you'd better watch out for the skin deep

(Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
Better watch out for the skin deep
(Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
Better watch out for the skin deep

(Brother, watch out)
Watch out for the skin deep
(Brother, watch out)
Watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep

(Brother, watch out)
Watch out for the skin deep
(Brother, watch out)
Watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep

(Oooh)
(Repeat to fade)


3. LET ME DOWN EASY

Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy

When I rest my weary head
After all my words are said
When my eyelids close with the weight of a hundred years
Please Let Me Down Easy Let Me Down Easy
My boat can slip away into a calmer sea
Let Me Down Easy
I know there'll be nothing to fear

Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy

My body slips away out into weightlessness
Let Me Down Easy
Now I know that there's nothing to fear

Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy

When I rest my aching heart
After it's been torn apart
When my tears have flowed on the tide of a hundred seas
Please Let Me Down Easy Let Me Down Easy
Affection slips away into my memory
Let Me Down Easy
There's a better time waiting for me

Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy
Let Me Down Easy


4. NO METCY

Every day you're working like a slave
Sweating buckets hoping that you get it right
Will it be as tough tomorrow
Have to wait and see
Life shows no mercy

Every day your love is getting warmer
Just look at her and love her did you get it right
Will she soothe your brow with kisses
Only meant for thee
She'll show no mercy
She'll show no mercy

And when you hold her close to you
Just when you're feeling good it's true
Life shows no mercy
Life shows no mercy
Life shows no mercy
Life shows no mercy

Everybody has some secret wishes
Just keep your fingers crossed, maybe they'll all come true
But don't worry if they just remain a fantasy
Life shows no mercy

Everybody seems the same all over
The search is on for love and comfort constantly
If it comes your way tomorrow, count yourself lucky
Life shows no mercy
Life shows no mercy

And when you hold her close to you
Just when you're feeling good it's true
Life shows no mercy
Life shows no mercy
Life shows no mercy


5. NORTH WINDS

I saw an orange robe burning
I saw youth on fire
I saw metal machine that were turning
On a generation that hadn't yet tired

I heard of two generations being murdered
In a Europe that was shrouded in black
I witnessed the birth pains of new nations
When the chosen people finally went back

North winds blowing
I wish it would blow all away
North winds blowing
I wish they would blow all away
I wish they would blow all away

I saw freedom in the shape of disease
And mainly men had to quench their desire
And while a few could do just as they pleased
I saw kids whose bellies were all on fire

When all is dead and war is over
When hollow victory has been won
Who will joing in the celebration
Or the evil that just can't be undone

North winds blowing
I wish it would blow all away
North winds blowing
I wish they would blow all away
I wish they would blow all away

I used to dream about destruction
But now that I feel it getting near
I spend my time watching the ocean
And waves are all I want to hear

I wish I was a believer
I'd spend less time in being sad
So may laws against disbelieving
Don't know who's good or who's bad

North winds blowing
Let them blow away
Blow all away
Blow all away
Blow all away
Blow all away


6. UPTOWN

Gonna grab my crop gonna grab my hat
Gotta change my situation
I'm gonna pick a steed who's been built for speed
Who's a flat-racing sensation
I'm racing Uptown gotta saddle up
So I take my seat I'm off to the meet
Don't know when I'm getting back
I don't care who wins as the race begins
It's a pleasure at the track

I'm racing Uptown gotta saddle up
I'm racing Uptown gotta win that cup

We're all meeting at the track uptown
We're all meeting at the track uptown

I'm racing Uptown gotta saddle up
I'm racing Uptown gotta win that cup

You gotta rein in strong if the race is long
You'll be hoping for a place
Can you believe your luck
You're uptown and stuck
But every jockey won the racE

I'm racing Uptown gotta saddle up
I'm racing Uptown gotta win that cup
I'm racing Uptown gotta saddle up
I'm racing Uptown gotta win that cup


7. PUNCH AND JUDY

Punch is keeping big his nose clean
Judy's polishing the stairs
Punch remembers where he has been
Judy knows he's being fair
Punch has always hugged her tightly
Judy's waited on his touch
Punch has dreamed about her every night
And Judy's never had that much

Punch always had a sense of humour
And Judy must've realised that
He always cut a famous figure
With his truncheon and his hat
Judy's always been his bright flag
Shows the audience a smile
Cos she knows when they've all gone home
She can lick him clean in style

See such soul and beauty
In Punch And Judy

Punch has played the famous villian
Wants to rest his aching feet
Judy says she's more than willing
Wants to lay back in the heat
There's a few more shows to pack in
Cos his loyalty is strong
The way he's hitting on her tonight
She won't have to wait that long

See such soul and beauty
In Punch And Judy

See such soul and beauty
In Punch And Judy


8. SPAIN

Found a place in the southern reaches
A day or two in a saddle ride
If you're looking for leather breeches
They've got some damn good hides
If you're looking for the wild country
And you can live without John Wayne
There's a place that is down in history
Under the name of Spain
Under the name of Spain

If you want to leave the clouds behind you
Take a walk into sunshine
Plenty of it in the southern reaches
Where they're making future wine
Looks a little like California
Prickly pears and rolling plains
It's a place I could fly my flag today
Under the name of Spain
Under the name of Spain

We knew that it was love at first sight

Watch them move into the future
Got a lot of catching up to do
Hope they take a lesson from their neighbours
That'll show 'em what not to do
Should've happened for them in the 30's
But the pleasure got caught in pain
Ended up like the bull in the china shop
Under the name of Spain
Under the name of Spain

We knew that it was love at first sight
We knew that it was love at first sight


9. LAUGHING

You could have wasted yourself in a plane in the air
But lead poisoning from your daddy to me just didn't seem fair
Committing the crime
Of taking your time
You're laughing
We're carving
Your name in a tree
For the kids to see
We hear ya, we fear your ecstasy
You paid the penalty

You could have wasted away on the floor of a hotel room
With the hand of a working girl to lead you into your tomb
Committing the crime
Of taking your time
You're laughing
We're carving
Your name in a tree
For the kids to see
We hear ya, we fear your ecstasy
You paid the penalty

You could have hung your hat on a pretender's lust for fame
But you refused to lay it down it took your old man to live in shame
For committing the crime
Of taking your time
You're laughing
We're carving
Your name in a tree
For the kids to see
We hear ya, we fear your ecstasy
You paid the penalty


10. SOULS

Just like an Indian I climb
Offering sacrifice
Up to the temple on the hill
Can human heart suffice?

Can I survive the world alone
Without a well within my home
Without the one idol's love
Shining down upon me?

She eats Souls
She eats Souls

All that I'm offering's the heart
That's all I have to give
With all this heat surrounding me
My deity forgives

And if she needs it every day
I'll climb the steps my savage way
Uttering incantations up up above me

She eats Souls
She eats Souls
Souls

Can I survive the world alone
Without a well within my home
Without the one idol's love
Shining down upon one?

She eats Souls
She eats Souls


11. MAD HATTER

He's mad he's mad he's mad
He's mad he's mad he's mad

You may have read the book
You might have seen the film
But I've seen it with my eyes
Was it tweedle-dum?
Was it tweedle-dee?
But Isaw through his disguise
There was a Cheshire cat
Next to a water rat
And a JuJu awful wise
We were sat to eat
Now was it trick or treat?
We were in for a surprise

Here comes the Mad Hatter
Here comes the Mad Hatter
Here comes the Mad Hatter

He doesn't need a hat
He's got crazy eyes
And he rolls them round the group
He's got stories tall and a winning smile
As he then surveys his troups
Then he'll about a lot of things
In a song you've never heard
But it sounds so sweet
He gets up on his feet
And he's looking for the word

Here comes the Mad Hatter
Here comes the Mad Hatter
Here comes the Mad Hatter

Mad as the Mad Hatter
Mad as the Mad Hatter
Mad as the Mad Hatter

It went on oh quite late
As I went through the gate
And I began my journey back
I was glad to know
That I'd seen the show
That I'd found a happy jack
Because they're getting rare,
We never get our share
Seem to be a dying breed
But they're so much fun
Laughter's on the run
As the Hatter plants the seed

Here comes the Mad Hatter
Here comes the Mad Hatter
Here comes the Mad Hatter

Mad as the Mad Hatter
Mad as the Mad Hatter
Mad as the Mad Hatter

He's mad he's mad he's mad

It went on oh quite late
As I went through the gate
And I began my journey back
I was glad to know
That I'd seen the show
That I'd found a happy jack

Here comes the Mad Hatter
Here comes the Mad Hatter
Here comes the Mad Hatter

Mad as the Mad Hatter
Mad as the Mad Hatter
Mad as the Mad Hatter



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