Lyrics to the "The Absolute Game" LP
|
Mission is a gambler The Wager, the one card to play Priest has the burden He thinks, the right thing, to say Amid all the honour He sees, the wrong one, to share Since child is an angel The duty, the one card prepare Jury is a gabler The wager, the one card, to play Judge has the burden He tells, the wrong one, to pay Amid all the honour He puts, the wrong one, to trial Since child is an angel No jury, but one card, so vile Come and play circus games Come and play at circus games Come and play circus games Come and play at circus games Mother is a gambler The wager, the one card, to play Birth has the burden She says no children today Midst all dishonour She sees a heavenly noose Since child is an angel The mother, one child, set loose Come and play circus games Come and play at circus games Come and play circus games Come and play at circus games
Weeping by the river, now watch how it blends But listen to the ripples, now watch how it descends Nobody stands by craving, now watch how it ends Nobody stands by craving, now watch how it ends Need to run, need to hide 'Cause I'm out of town, out of town, out of town Out of town, out of town Reflections on the river, the mirror of my choice While throwing up delusions, another image without a voice Oh standing by awaiting, the gripping of the vice Oh standing by awaiting when nothing is suffice Need to run, need to hide 'Cause I'm out of town, out of town, out of town Out of town, out of town Preparing next fixation, now watch how it blends Overflow with desperation, now watch how it descends Nobody stands by craving, now watch how it ends Nobody stands by craving, now watch how it ends Need to run, need to hide 'Cause I'm out of town, out of town, out of town Out of town, out of town
Never been inside My passage is close Boys in the river Are dying from blows Say hello to civilian Say hello to the sail Always been outside The reason is here Boys in the river The tide's drawing near Say hello to civilian Say hello to the sail Goodbye to the order Goodbye to the shame Boys in the river The absolute game Who is my mother Your sweetheart's inside Boys in the river Caught in the tide Say hello to civilian (repeat) Say hello to the sail Goodbye to the order Goodbye to the shame Boys in the river The absolute game Goodbye civilian, civilian (repeat) Goodbye my friend Never been living, never been living As orderlies come, as orderlies come Boys in the river, boys in the river Have nowhere to run, nowhere to run (Chorus)
The master held on edge And dogs are held at bay The climax on its verge As mother's taken away The master looks for land And preachers meet in fire The master meets his land And mother meets her choir Oh tragedian, tragedian of my shame But the children saw the shame But the children saw the shame The master cried aloud The children can go home The change is in the crowd Our embassy is thrown The master cried in shame As mother joins her choir The preachers all aflame As mothers in the fire Oh tragedian, tragedian of my shame Forward go the children Playground full of sadness Forward go the children Mother knew the answer Forward go the children Tragedian of my shame But the children saw the shame But the children saw the shame
The sailor shot the dice straight through As woman cried with birth And doctors ran from town to town Resolving every myth The ones who stayed afire in ice Cried in winds of change But winter it just fell some more And nothing felt so strange (Oh, oh, oh, oh) The camps and fires lay empty there Children had flown home The ones who crossed still were there As wind re-read each moan The birthday boys cried out for sun But no sons reappeared But winter it just fell some more Just as they had feared (Oh, oh, oh, oh) I saw this lonely boy In this other world With a marble girl In another face In another world (Oh, oh, oh, oh) Somewhere said she waits for me It ran out from my mind So I sat and watched the winter fall Pretending to be blind I watched you darken Kipling's lights You saw me by his thrown But winter it just fell some more And I was still alone (Oh, oh, oh, oh) I saw this lonely boy. In this other world With a marble girl. In another face. In another world. I saw this lonely boy. With a marble girl. In another face. In another world. (Oh, oh, oh, oh) Is anybody looking for a woman in winter Is anybody looking for a woman in winter Is anybody looking for a woman in winter
Hurry on boys, the show's for free (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) Hurry on boys, so we can see (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) Hurry on boys, while daddy's gone (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) Hurry on boys, 'cause boys are strong (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) The clown is here, please make way (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) The clown is here, come in to play (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) The clown is here, to make nights long (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) The clown is here, while daddy's gone (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) The boys are fed The child has ran Daddy's dead Can't understand Oh, lucky man Oh, lucky man Your child has ran Your child has ran Oh, oh, oh Mum asked you, boys ask me (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) Mum asked you, is the show for free (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) Mum asked you, is something wrong (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) Mum asked you, your boys are strong (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) The boys are fed The child has ran Daddy's dead Can't understand Oh, lucky man Oh, lucky man Your child has ran Your child has ran Oh, oh, oh Hurry on boys, the show's for free (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) Hurry on boys, so we can see (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) Hurry on boys, while daddy's gone (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) Hurry on boys, 'cause boys are strong (hurry on boys, hurry on boys) The boys are fed The child has ran Daddy's dead Can't understand Oh, lucky man Oh, lucky man Your child has ran Your child has ran Oh, oh, oh
We missed the boat for home So scream we can defy We missed the boat for home Astute we could not die Oh this pain inside me now It throws me to the floor Oh that pain's outside me now This is heaven can't you tell We're so happy to be with you We're so happy to be here Yes we're happy to be with you Yes we're happy to be here We play the patron's game And run it through our hair We play the patron's game And watch the patron stare Oh this game we're playing now Parades around our fun Oh this game we're playing now I'm happy to be one We're so happy to be with you We're so happy to be here Yes we're happy to be with you Yes we're happy to be here Oh this pain inside me now It throws me to the floor Oh that pain's outside me now This is heaven can't you tell Oh this game we're playing now Parades around our fun Oh this game we're playing now I'm happy to be one We're happy that we came today Could heaven be so near Oh we're happy to be with you We're happy to be here Yes we're happy to be with you We're happy to be here
I never seen December Look this bad before The paper mill is closing Death is on our shore Mines are slowly turning Brothers don't come home Father lies still coughing Releasing us a moan Oh mother of mine Release us from evil, oh show us a sign Oh mother of mine Your children are bleeding, please show us a sign We stood by our union Holding up the flag The union stood by watching While we buried dad Mother doesn't talk now Only to her soul Children hungry children Let the people know Oh mother of mine Release us from evil, oh show us a sign Oh mother of mine Your children are bleeding, please show us a sign Oh mother of mine Release us from evil, oh show us a sign La, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la Christmas was upon us Everyone was there Christmas was upon us We've nothing left to share The church was holding sermon Ringing out a bell We all prayed for mercy Take us from this hell Oh mother of mine Release us from evil, oh show us a sign Oh mother of mine Your children are bleeding, please show us a sign Oh mother of mine Release us from evil, oh show us a sign La, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Onwards pray the angels Forward we set sail Onward through the darkness Standfast do not fail Stood by Moses' mantle He held a new decree We all heard We all heard We all heard, but could not see Onward praised the godly Forward forget true Onward missed the glory Stoodfast none but few Sailing was Moses' mantle he held an old decree We all seen We all seen We all seen, but could not see Save me!! from disciples Save me!! without sin Save me!! from the cluster Where I've already been Hurrah no more falling Hurrah we set sail Hurrah for the glory Hurrah we can't fail Stood by our own decision We held our own decree We all held We all held We all held the one decree Save me!! from disciples Save me!! without sin Save me!! from the cluster Where I've already been
It's gross this loss of jaded sanity Days are found recalling vanity The guise the poise serving solitude Days are found plating gratitude Arena, I seen her misdemeanour, in the corner Mural watching children screaming Running running running running running run The face, the grace of this atttitude Make mistakes onto platitudes The race, the case the boys are innocent These mistakes buy new testaments Arena, I seen her misdemeanour, in the corner Mural watching children screaming Noble watchmen guard the children Mural watching children screaming Running running running running running run All the boys are innocent, lonely, oh, oh All the boys are innocent, lonely, oh, oh All the boys are innocent, lonely, oh, oh
| Stuart Adamson: | Lead + Rhythm Guitars, Synthesizers, Vocals + Percussion. |
| Russell Webb: | Bass Guitars, Synthesizers, Vocals, Percussion. |
| Mike Baillie: | Drum-Kit, Percussion, Xylophone + Vocals. |
| Richard Jobson: | Lead Vocals + Guitars. |
| Additional Vocals | |
| The Children: | Jude, Nettleton, Julius Newell, Andrew Sigsworth, John Sigsworth, Alison Pipkin, David Pipkin, Hannah Yeadon, Esther Marshall, Chloe Dymott |
| The Adults: | Marlis Dunklau, Gracie Benson, Sally Nettleton, Harriet Bakewell, Mary Volke |
| Produced and Engineered by: |
Mick Glossop for Dukeslodge Enterprises Ltd. |
| Assistant Engineers: | Marlis Dunklau, Brett Kennedy |
| Enter the Roadie Management: | Paul Bailey for Nearly Normal Music Ltd. |
| Sleeve Concept: | Skids |
| Thanks to: | Derek Wadsworth (Didgeridoo) |
| Recorded at The Manor and Audio International, Spring 1980 | |
| Dedicated to the big boys who did it and ran away Three down five to go |
|
| © 1980 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd./Arnakata Music Ltd. | |
Back to the Skids Lyrics page
Back to the "Into The Valley..." mainpage.