The Cribs Album

D'you think I'd have to choose?
D'you think I'd wear brown shoes?
D'you think that I'd ever have to read about this in the news?
You're gonna have a go?
Well I don't want to know
I just thought that I should try and say hello

To those who'd never exist
without being generic
You'll have to impress
Our bovine public
You'd never exist
if you wasn't generic
You'll have to impress
Our bovine public

I'll never forget how all this begun
And I will never regret a thing I have done
But you would never exist without us.

So maybe I do not have the time
Fair-weather friends of mine
A year's a long time to be doing nothing with your life
I heard you felt alert
Well I'm hoping that it hurt
You seem to spend too much time in groundwork to be ground into the dirt

By those who'd never exist
without being generic
You'll have to impress
Our bovine public
You'd never exist
if you wasn't generic
You'll have to impress
Our bovine public

I'll never forget how all this begun
And I will never regret a thing I have done
But you would never exist without us.

You say nothing
So you will always mean nothing to me
And if what you say means nothing
Then what you say will always mean nothing to me

D'you think I'd have the time
Fair-weather friends of mine
A year's a long time to be doing nothing with your life
I heard you felt alert
Well I'm hoping that it hurt
You seem to spend too much time in groundwork to be ground into the dirt

By those who'd never exist
without being generic
You'll have to impress
Our bovine public
You'd never exist
if you wasn't generic
You'll have to impress
Our bovine public

I'll never forget how all this begun
And I would never regret the one thing I've done
But you would never exist without us
So maybe I do

There’s not much to say for me
its ok you know girls like mystery
They’ll know all the things I’ve read
That’s ok don’t necessarily make it bad

Leave me alone im just your enemy
I’ve seen it all I’ve seen your jealousy

They say love me till then end
they only see me as a friend
You leave a lot to be desired
I never wanna be desired

There’s not much to say for me
that's okay you know that girls like mystery
Keep your clothes as your dignity
After all it only two years history

Leave me alone im just your enemy
I’ve seen it all I’ve seen your jealousy

They say love me till then end
they only see me as a friend
You leave a lot to be desired
I never wanna be desired

They say love me till then end
they only see me as a friend
You leave a lot to be desired
I never wanna be desired

Have you noticed i've never been impressed
by your friends from new york and london
i'll level accusations like the press
until you realise that you've dressed yourself in tatters

because the man's needs
man's needs
are full of greed
full of greed
a man's needs
man's needs
are lost on me

a man's needs
man's needs
are full of greed
full of greed
a man's needs

i'm not bothered
what you say or how you dress
i'm a mess so you've always seemed inviting
but really
this all seems quite meaningless and i remember
that you never seem to see

the fact that man's needs
man's needs
are full of greed
full of greed
a man's needs
man's needs
are lost on me

a girl's needs
girl's needs
just don't agree
don't agree
with man's needs

have you noticed i've never been impressed by your friends from new york and london?
but really this all seems quite meaningless and i remember
that you never seem to see

the excuse that man's needs
man's needs
are full of greed
full of greed
a man's needs
man's needs
are lost on me

you say your man's needs
man's needs
have lots on me
i don't agree
a man's needs
oh oh oh oh

You'll sleep tonight
Dream dreams where i would die
its alright
its alright
They did not come true
Although they will do, in time
It's alright, its alright

fakes, liars, and stars of moving pictures
whats the difference?
Like all the parts that im not into
but i see in you

Not real brown eyes look into mine
But i was so shy
It's alright
You'l sleep tonight
dream dreams where i would die
its alright, its alright

fakes, liars, and stars of moving pictures
whats the difference?
Like all the parts that im not into
but i see in you

Guarded thoughts
firing off
Parting shots
Missing lots
(x2)

fakes, liars, and stars of moving pictures
whats the difference?
Like all the parts that im not into
but i see in you

I'm a realist
I'm a romantic
I'm an indecisive piece of shit

I'm a realist
I'm a romantic
I am indecisive and that's about it

and you dream that's the same thing
that's the same life you lead
I don't agree and so you drink
don't wanna think
that's cos your mind is already made up

I'm a realist
I'm a romantic
I'm an indecisive piece of shit

I admit it
I'm up to my old tricks
did you see her eyes (oh no I tried)
she looked surprised

and you dream that's the same thing
that's the same life you lead
I don't agree and so you drink
don't wanna think
that's cos your mind is already made up

how you dream that's the same thing
that's the same life you lead
I don't agree and so you
drink don't wanna think
that's cos your mind is already made up

no

I know that it's only a matter of time
before you know it I'll be leaving town
see it in my eyes
no one will do
no one will ever do

I know that it's only a matter of time
before you know it I'll be leaving town
seen it in your eyes
no one will ever do
no one will ever do for you

I, I, I, I can't find time for her oh no
I, I, I, I can't find time for her oh no and
I, I, I, I can't find time for her oh no
I, I, I, I can't find time for her oh no ...

Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V
Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V oh no ARRGH...

I, I, I, I can't find time for her oh no
I, I, I, I can't find time for her oh no and

Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V oh no...
Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V oh no....

Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V oh no...
Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V oh no ARRGH....

I, I, I, I can't find time for her oh no
I, I, I, I can't find time for her oh no ...

Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V oh no...
Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V oh no....

Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V oh no...
Because i'm empty
Because of M.T.V oh no ARRRRRRGGGGGH!!!!

In a radius of a thousand miles
I find it strange no one makes me smile

you should understand
you still have to try
when we're all the same
I was almost right

and evening comes and I feel no different
sorry my friend I just can't do nothing
evening comes and I feel no different
sorry my friend I just can't do nothing

in a radius of a thousand miles
you find it strange no one makes me smile

you should understand
you still have to try
we're not all the same
I was almost right

and see those guys I guess they're quite clever
get you outside
women's needs - whatever
see those guys they think they're so clever
spot them outside
women's needs - whatever

and evening comes and I feel no better
it's closing time
women's needs - whatever
evening comes and I feel no better
it's closing time
women's needs - whatever

I was born in The Merrie City
I've been trying to get out of it
Nothing's changed since the 1950s
I'm surprised all the time what I find out

There must be something more

Can't figure it out
Still missing something
and I've tried everything

Love is a lie
Attraction an instinct
Believe what you like, you decide
But I still think that

There must be something more

Can't figure it out
Still missing something
And I've tried everything
Three months ago
I ran to Brighton
It didn't solve anything.. no

I thought it would not be a problem
But I found out the night we rode the Circle Line
It had to happen sometime
I thought it would not be a problem
But I found out the night we rode the Circle Line
It had to happen sometime
And though you knew nowt about it
You could pick up on signs
Like being too polite
And unassertive cos I'm
Still missing something
and I've tried everything

The wrong time, the wrong place
Your talent scouts my lonely face
Of all the things i can't replace
Your talent scouts my lonely face

Well i'm alright, although i know you lied
I don't mind
Well i'm alright, although i know you lied
I don't mind

The wrong time, the wrong place
Your talent scouts my lonely face
Of all the things i can't escape
Your talent scouts my lonely face

Well i'm alright, although i know you lied
I don't mind
If my life flashed before my eyes
Do you think I'd mind?
No...

And now, you don't need mine
You let us down
You watched us die
Now, I hang around
With people i don't even know

One of those fucking awful black days when nothing is pleasing and everything that happens is an excuse for anger. An outlet for emotions stockpiled, an arsenal, an armour. These are the days when I hate the world, hate the rich, hate the happy, hate the complacent, the TV watchers, beer drinkers, the satisfied ones. Because I know I can be all of those little hateful things and then I hate myself for realising that. There's no preventative, directive or safe approach for living. We each know our own fate. We know from our youth how to be treated, how we'll be received, how we shall end. These things don't change. You can change your clothes, change your hairstyle, your friends, cities, continents but sooner or later your own self will always catch up. Always it waits in the wings. Ideas swirl but don't stick. They appear but then run off like rain on the windshield. One of those rainy day car rides my head implodes, the atmosphere in this car a mirror of my skull. Wet, damp, windows dripping and misted with cold. Walls of grey. Nothing good on the radio. Not a thought in my head.

Lets take life and slow it down incredibly slow, frame by frame with two minutes that take ten years to live out. Yeah, lets do that.

Telephone poles like praying mantras against the sky, metal arms outstretched. So much land travelled so little sense made of it. It doesn't mean a thing all this land laid out behind us. I'd like to take off into these woods and get good and lost for a while. I'm disgusted with petty concerns; parking tickets, breakfast specials. Does someone just have to carry this weight? Abstract typography, methane inconvenience, linear gospel, Nashville sales lady, and torturous lice, mad Elizabeth. Chemotherapy bullshit.

The light within you shines like a diamond mine, like an unarmed walrus, like a dead man face down on the highway. Like a snake eating its own tail, steam turbine, frog farm, two full closets burst open in disarray, soap bubbles in the sun, hospital death bed, red convertible, shopping list, blowjob, deaths head, devils dancing, bleached white buildings, memories, movements, the movie unfeeling, unreeling, about to begin.

I've seen your hallway, you're a darn call away, I've hear your stairs creak. I can fix my mind on your yes, and on your no. I'll film you face today in the sparkling canals, all red, yellow, blue, green brilliance and silver Dutch reflection. Racing thoughts, racing thoughts. All too real, you're moving so fast now I cant hold your image. This image I have of your face by the window, me standing beside you arm on your shoulder. A catalogue of images, flashing glimpses then gone again.

Every clear afternoon now I'll picture you up in the air twisting your heel, your knees up around me, my face in your hair. You scream so well, your smile so loud it still rings in my ears.

Imitation. Distant, tired of longing. Clean white teeth. Stay the course. Hold the wheel. Steer on to freedom. Open all the boxes.

Open all the boxes.

Open all the boxes.

Open all the boxes.

Times Square midday: newspaper buildings, news headlines going around, you watch as they go, and hope that some good comes. Those tree shadows in the park they're all whistling chasing leaves. Around six pm, shadows across cobblestones, girl in front of a bathroom mirror she slowly and carefully and paints her face green and mask like. A portrait. A green stripe. Long shot through apartment window, a monologue on top but no girl in shot. The light within you shines like a diamond mine, like an unarmed walrus, like a dead man face down on the highway. Like a snake eating its own tail steam turbine, frog farm, two full closets burst open in disarray, soap bubbles in the sun, hospital death bed, red convertible, shopping list, blowjob, deaths head, devils dancing, bleached white buildings, memories, movements. The movie unreeling, about to begin.

That was great
Yeah? Mine were alright. Wasn't my best one but who cares?
That's the spirit...

Ancient History
With my cards on the table
She could see the light
My efforts went wasted
Due to falling night

And I know

By the end of the evening
I was in no doubt
Of all of the things
That you could live without
And I know...

I drag up ancient history
Hope that they'll forgive me

They had nothing but ego's
But they multiply
All the reasons that I would try
That I know...
To be making it harder to be seen but oh,
Is it too much to ask for to be left alone?
Yeah I know

I drag up ancient history
Hope that they'll forgive me
(x2)

Lay my cards on the table
So she could see the light
My efforts went wasted
Due to falling night

And I know...

I drag up ancient history
Hope that they'll forgive me
(x2)

Margaret Hammond
Haemorrhaged in the Merrie City
Margaret Hammond
Died in the merrie city
(x2)

Cut off your nose to spite your friends
Breathing holes that will never end, oh
Speak all you want or just pretend
Because you think she is a different class
So she sits all day by the looking glass, oh
It doesn't talk, it doesn't last

But it's not what I've heard you know
A picture speaks a thousand words
But baby don't feel down
I left my heart in the privacy of town, yeah

You sold your soul for magic beans
Don't believe all you read on computer screens
These things they mean nothing to me
Rimpton stain came off the track
You go there once and you don't come back, oh

Good that's what I say

But it's not what I've heard you know it
Cut your losses, shoot the poets
And one day you'll come down
To find yourself in the privacy of town

But it's not what I've heard you know
A picture speaks a thousand words
But baby don't feel down
I left my heart in the privacy of town, yeah

But it's not what I've heard you know it
Cut your losses, shoot the poets
And one day you'll come down
Oh, to find yourself in the privacy of town