Hugh Cornwell Album

The other night I chanced upon an irate caterpillar
He was irate he had a darting face
Crinkled with old forms
Appendage arms spread out fanlike glancing
His string noise boxes
The rest were a howling wolf
Afraid to be left upright against sleeping forte
Calling to the caterpillar
Throughout the time span
Wanting to be fed wanting attention
Wanting waiting full of tension
They don't crowd the spiderlike object
They didn't object at least not many
Just waiting for the next creak
From his aching limbs to reach their brains through
Cup-like objects stuck on the sides of their heads
No-one joked no-one spoke
They became embarrassed and planted contempt
Under their haunches
When the caterpillar rested
His appendages ummed
His appendages arred
But not connecting with
The string noise boxes
And...
They...all just gazed

In the middle of the day
When things don't go your way
And when life starts to bite
And it don't turn out right
And your top is spinning round
Far along the open ground
Then you have to hang on tight
Or you'll be blown from sight
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel
It takes nerves of steel

In the middle of the night
If the stars ain't bright
And you wonder till the dawn
Why you feel so forlorn
And you know that you are lost
You never count the cost
Of all the mistakes you made
And all the games you played
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel
It takes nerves of steel

In the middle of your life
When you're staring at the knife
And you're near the cutting edge
Close enough to make a wedge
But you know it ain't enough
Even though you hate the stuff
It's a sweet and bitter pill
But after all it's only real
How does it feel
How does it feel
How does it feel

Another missing person another mystery
Another marriage on the rocks that's ending in misery
Another strike and another plague
Another mad dog held at bay
It comes as no surprise when I hear all the victims say
Black hair black eyes black suit
Black hair black eyes black suit

I'll take you out to the garden of eden
It was all those years ago
The same thing still happens today
As you all surely know
A poor girl consoles herself with thoughts of better days
And if you ask her why she looks so sad this is what she'll say
Black hair black eyes black suit
Black hair black eyes black suit

You'll find they're all blind when it gets to the lineup
Don't care if they stare when it gets to the lineup

I'll meet you out in the modern world
We got modern ideas too
So glad just to be around but I don't see nothing new
Its still the same struggle in the end
No matter who or where you be
Its still you on top and me down below and I'm trying to get free
Black hair black eyes black suit

One step forwards two steps backwards
That's the dance I want to learn
if I could master it and put a little style in it
I'll have some fun when it's my turn

Gable and Monroe in the garden
In the desert getting well
Eli and Thelma in the DC
It wasn't easy you can tell

It's just a step away
Please will you show us how to live
It's just a step away
When you got nothing left to give

Seven horses not enough to
Even fill the tank with gas
Monty's outside he wasn't inside
But he knows all things must pass
Bucking broncos we're all cowboys
Hanging from another age
Getting sauced that's just how the film goes
It's gotta be better than a wage

It's just a step away
Please will you show us how to live
It's just a step away

If I could have just one more wish
It would be for a fillet of fish
You wouldn't have to take out the bones
You could even serve it up on it's own
I call it snapper
I call it snapper

It doesn't come in just one size
The taste you just don't realise
I prefer it to wellhung game
Cos game always ends up smelling the same
I call it snapper
I call it snapper

Take me all over the world
Cafes bars restaurants the dishes unfurl
If I could be tempted by one sweet little thing
I'd have to admit that snapper is king snapper is king or queen

So my friend just eat your fill
Cos eating can turn into a thrill
You know meat can go off so fast
That's why I maintain right up to the last
Just give me snapper just give me snapper

Take me all over the world
Cafes bars restaurants the dishes unfurl
If I could be tempted by one sweet little thing

Point your suit at me and take my breath away
Better in black and white and chrome I have to say Now the big sleep
You play the hero and the villain every day
Equally charming in an unassuming way
See the girls weep
And now you've said goodbye a million hearts are sad
We were there with you Bob so were my mum and dad
Now the big sleep

Suits and swimming trunks and clergy you don't care
Every one of them is scary we beware
I like Cape Fear
You're out of place in some but you lift them from the mire
Better in the heat to watch your pecs perspire
Then there was Angel Face
And when you leave a scene a thousand footsteps fall
Can't wait to see you back and walking very tall
Before the big sleep

Now sleep ...

No-one around like you and Jimmy stuart anymore
I'd like to don my suit and even up the score
And try to take over
Painted ladies ain't so glamorous today
Please take me back to 1941 today
Before Pearl Harbour
You've had some trials and tribulations just the same
You have to laugh a lot to stay ahead of the game
Before the big sleep

Wired antisocial beast
Wired not put out in the least
Someone's got up my nose
Bothering me who knows
The whys and the wherefores
Speaking in semaphores
Wired everything moves in slow motion
Wired some sort of a computer
The tapes running backwards
Keep up your step on the moving pavement
So what are you on? x4
An escalator taking you underground
That's what it is it is

A dirty broom an empty room you'll never find a better tomb
The passing of a lasting chill a night a day and time stands still
The walls just stand their stories cold they watch a history unfold
The sink is dry the fat don't fry and still the reasons pass you by
When will the troubled soul descend and make amends?
When will some laughter come alive?
And walk inside walk inside walk inside
A house of sorrow is a halfway house
A house of sorrow is a halfway house

The doors don't shut the pipes just froze the roof is cracked without a cause
You feel the sadness everywhere you hear a creaking on the stair
And just to liven up your day the spirit walks decides to stay
She wakes inside your living room and suffocates you with her gloom
When will the troubled soul descend and make amends?
When will some laughter come alive
And walk inside
A house of sorrow is a halfway house

Keeping out of trouble
Moving on the double
Got a feeling that this tunnels got an ending soon
Feel like I've been hanging on a lead balloon

Standing to attention
Sitting by the engine
Got to get a uniform to go with the good news
Better even buy some brand new shoes
I just got off a long gone dead train

I've been seeing double
Slipping in the rubble
Got a ticket left to use and I'm not wasting it
I like life and I like tasting it
I just got off a long gone dead train
I just got off a long gone dead train

Sometimes you're gonna have to get lost
Sometimes the dice are already tossed
Don't worry there's no hurry
Somedays there's some love to be found
Some nights you gotta sleep on the ground
Don't worry there's no hurry
I just got off a long gone dead train
I just got off a long gone dead train
I just got off a long gone dead train

Find a little lady
Someone who says maybe
Get some loving for yourself and get it right away
Just make sure you suffer no delay