Compus Mentus (1992)

Little Johnny's painting in his picture book
Pinning all his hopes on toy balloons
But no one taught him how to sing "Jerusalem" at school
Someone's always dicking with the tunes

It's a beautiful day for the children to play
(Isn't that what this should be?)
It's a beautiful world and you're free as a bird
(Ain't no bad thing to believe)
It's a beautiful game and the rules never change
(Isn't that what it should be?)

Isn't this the garden of Gethsemane?
Isn't this where all the children play?
Little Johnny's painting pictures no one else will see
Who are we to rain on his parade?

It's a beautiful day for the children to play
(Isn't that what this should be?)
It's a beautiful world and you're free as a bird
(Ain't no bad thing to believe)
It's a beautiful game and the rules never change
(Isn't that what this should be?)

You don't have to suffer

Happiness in bundles hanging from tall trees
Ladders on the lawn for you and me, (Ain't no bad thing)
Curtains drawn on windows of uncertain certainties
We don't get these premises for free

It's a beautiful day for the children to play
(Isn't that what this should be?)
It's a beautiful world and you're free as a bird
(Ain't no bad thing to believe)
It's a beautiful game and the rules never change
(Isn't that what this should be?)
 
Mother nature's gift to you and me,
(Ain't no bad thing)

There's a million of us at it
And it's hard to break the habit
But it doesn't mean much to me
Got a million bucks of credit
And they're beggin' us to spend it
But it doesn't mean much to me

I'm planning a secret trip
I'll meet you on the way

It's just another one of my big ideas
It's just another one of my big ideas

(But it's not that I wanted to be that alone)

I got a new technique when I get between the sheets
But it doesn't do much for me
Got a little bag of stuff from a man called John
But it never did much for me

I've hit on a secret cure
To wash away my blues

It's just another one of my big ideas
I took another step in my non-career
It's just another one of my big ideas

Maybe I'll find someone
To share my milky way
But I always seem to wake up
Feelin' sick and bruised inside again

It's just another one of my big ideas
It's just another one of my vintage years
I took another swing from the chandelier
It's just another one of my big ideas

Be yourself and don't be shy
I said I like you in the daylight, didn't I?
Found you in the rushes, found you screaming
Can't you see love is everything, everything

I didn't care if we flew to hell
Not everyone you see with wings is an angel
Share a halo, hope the lightning misses
But now it strikes, love is...

As wrong as the map that led us to this
As blind as the bat that watched our first kiss
As tame as the moon you held in your hand
As wild as me, and as frigid as England

I was your tramp and your trampoline
I was your plaster, I was your plasticine
Remodel me and dynamite my bridges
I'm a new boy now, love is...

As wrong as the map that led us to this
As blind as the bat that watched our first kiss
As tame as the moon you held in your hand
As wild as me, and as frigid as England
 
How many letters will you send?
You know I never want to see your face again
Return to the rushes, can't you see love is...

As wrong as the map that led us to this
As blind as the bat that watched our first kiss
As tame as the moon you held in your hand
As wild as me, and as frigid as England

Makes her entrance through the door
Everybody knows the score
And you can feel her body move
You've been here once before
You got burned once too often

There's a hole in Daddy's nose
That's where all your money goes
You think nobody can see
When everybody else goes home
You're coming back for more

Julie don't dance for the money
Julie don't dance for the rock and roll
Julie don't dance for the money
Julie don't keep no body score
Julie don't dance for the money
She dances 'til her daddy takes her home
Julie don't need nobody
She can take anybody that she needs
Fakin' up all that honey
Huh -then watch 'em bleed
Julie don't dance for the money
She dances 'til her daddy takes her home

Trick or treat your game is lost
Everytime a stranger knocks
But still the piper's never paid
The hollow dreams of night
Have suckered you again

Daddy's found his sacred cow
Julie's your religion now
You're such a willing sacrifice
And in your fantasy she's everything
And everything is Julie

Julie don't dance for the money
Julie don't dance for the rock and roll
Julie don't dance for the money
Julie don't keep no body score
Julie don't dance for the money
She dances 'til her daddy takes her home
Julie don't need nobody
She can take anybody that she needs
Fakin' up all that honey
Huh -then watch 'em bleed
Julie don't dance for the money
She dances 'til her daddy takes her home

You can stab my back, you can steal my flag
But it's alright
Little sticks and stones, break my brittle bones
But I'm alright
Every single day is a little step closer to my new heaven

If that's the way you want it
That's the way you'll get it
If that's what you're thinking
Don't think you won't regret it
If that's the way you see it
Just reach out and touch it
But you better beware it don't burn your hands
So step back and step back
Don't cry, don't cry

I am strong enough, I'm made of serious stuff
Yes I'm alright
You can sling your mud, yeah even draw a little blood
But I'm still alive
Every single word, you're serving up as hot air for my big balloon

If that's the way you want it
That's the way you'll get it
If that's what you're thinking
Don't think you won't regret it
If that's the way you see it
Just reach out and touch it
But you better beware it don't burn your hands
So step back and step back
Don't cry, don't cry
 
So you bought your new dream
But you're payin' with your dignity so dearly
Don't cry, don't cry

You say you feel all alone tonight
Just pick up the phone and call
You say that you don't need anybody
So there's nobody takin' you home

Whenever you need someone
Whenever the time feels right
Whenever you need someone
You call on me, you call on me
('cos I ain't going nowhere)

You got so much to give out to the world
But you're keepin' it all inside
You got more money than you got sense
So you gamble away your life

You've been out to the end of the line
There's not enough love in your world

Whenever you need someone
Whenever the time feels right
Whenever you need someone
You call on me, just call on me
Whenever you need someone
Remember the tide can turn
And you're gonna need someone
So call on me, call on me, let it be me, call on me

You've been out to the end of the line
There's not enough love in your world

What colour is your army, is it red or is it green?
Is it full of fundamentalists with loaded magazines?
Or are you preaching charity from fancy limousines?
I've lost the plot...

What colour is your flag today? it changes every year
Does it stand for cornucopia or politics of fear?
'Cos I'm gun shy, gun shy, gun shy 
And I've lost the plot...

What's a Holy War? And who's keepin' score?
Isn't God your own invention
My mind's made up, I'm gonna keep my head down
Buried in the sand
Your guess is as good as mine

What colour is your party, is it black or is it blue?
I've bought your manifestoes but I'm still without a clue
You're asking me to cast a vote of confidence in you-
I've lost the plot...

There's a party on the left, there's a party on the right
And I've got my invitation
But the food's all cold and the band's too old
They're just not playin' my kind of music!
Play on...
Your guess is as good as mine

It's so hard, there's no words
When I think about you baby
No moves can undo, what I think bout you baby
You're shooting high and reached your sky
And nothing can bring you down

You bought a ticket, now you're on your way
But you don't worry 'bout the price you paid
A lover and a fighter but you blew your aim
And I got caught by the ricochet
Yeah I got caught by the ricochet

I'm mixed up, gotta pick myself up
And look straight ahead
It's no use, gotta stick to my roots and give as I get
But I can't fight, she's shooting blind
And nothing can stop her now

You bought a ticket, now you're on your way
But you don't worry 'bout the price you paid
A lover and a fighter but you blew your aim
And I got caught by the ricochet
Yeah I got caught by the ricochet

Run Sweet Auburn find your face
Anotheer crowd another place, you ain't changed a thing
'Cos you're the girl who used to smile
Stayed up all night on the crooked mile, that's how it used to be
But even the sweetest auburn fades like colous do

How many roads do I have to take
Before I catch up with you baby?
How much love do I have to waste
Before you believe what I say?

Go on take the horseshoe from your glove
'Cos I've got balls to call your bluff, no I ain't dead yet
Being everybody's darlin' ain't easy
You can keep your sugar and sympathy
'Cause even the sweetest auburn fades like colous do

How many roads do I have to take
Before I catch up with you baby?
How much love do I have to waste
Before you believe what I say?
How many hearts do you have to break
To get what you needed?
There's not enough time for us to waste
If only you'd hear what I say

In the middle of the night
I could swear I heard her calling
In the middle of the day
How many roads?

How many roads do I have to take
Before I catch up with you baby?
How much love do I have to waste
Before you believe what I say?
How many hearts do you have to break
To get what you needed?
There's not enough time for us to waste
If only you'd hear what I say
 
In the middle of the night (How many roads?)
Swear I heard you calling  (How many hearts?)
In the middle of the day   (How much love/How many words?)

Anyone can see what a long way home it's been
Nothing comes for free
Money talks and buys your dreams

It's a merry go
You gotta go around until you make your name
Do you wanna go
Have another go and do it all again?

Just pick your feet up
(You got to walk that crooked mile)
Don't mess your beat up
(When you talk that crooked style)
Just pick your feet up
(Got to walk that crooked mile)
It's all talk, it's all talk
So just walk

Find a silver coin
Save it for your rainy day
But when it comes to spend
It's pissing down on your parade

Need a job
Gotta find a job but you might as well go
Sell a fridge
Try to sell a fridge to an Eskimo

Well just pick your feet up
(You got to walk that crooked mile)
Don't mess your beat up
(When you talk that crooked style)
Just pick your feet up
(Got to walk that crooked mile)
It's all talk, it's all talk
So just walk...
Mary Mary quite contraire
Silver bells and golden hair
What would make your garden grow?
Cash bags in a row!!!

Make me a promise you can't keep 
Tell a joke that's not too deep
'Cos I'm out of double meanings

Throw me a rope that I can't reach
As you lay back on your beach
I'm not waving, only drowning
But don't let it bring you down
Don't let it bring you down

Who asked you for your advice?
Who asked you to interfere?
All my life you kept the lights out
Now it seems so clear
Who asked you to criticise?
I don't need no volunteer
So when they come to put the fires out
I might not be here

Don't let it bring you down
Don't let it bring you down

Buy me a beer that I can taste
Like the kisses that you waste
'Cos I'm out of legal tender

Big deal, there's a little rust in my piano
A few more lines upon my face
There's corrosion in my fingers
But don't let it bring you down
Don't let it bring you down
 
Who asked you for your advice?
Who asked you to interfere?
All my life you kept the fire on
It still gets cold in here
Who asked you to sympathise?
I don't need your volant tears
So when they come to turn the lights out
I might not be here

Don't let it bring you down
Don't let it bring you down

Put it all the way in, don't go half way
No need to play it safe, go get it all the way in
Shed off those old tattoos, stop reading yesterday's news
Put a match to the fuse, get it all the way in

Bury those bones in the sand, get hung for a sheep as a lamb 
I'll still be your biggest fan
'Cos I'll believe, if you believe
Go on take your applause, until old Niagara Falls
'til it's too late to call
Get it all the way in.