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Versions Of A Life (Recordings 1979​-​81)

by Ski Patrol

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1.
Everybody looks the same, everybody sounds the same Turn up the bass and listen, turn up the bass and listen How do you measure pain? The things we do to hurt each other Might as well talk to myself, everybody wants to be somebody Turn up the bass and listen, turn up the bass and listen Everything is temporary, so there’s no need to worry Build yourself an ideal home, a shelter from the cold Always keep the illusion intact, invisible, a perfect match Turn up the bass and listen, turn up the bass and listen Everything is temporary, so there’s no need to worry Throw away yesterday’s dream, nobody wants used items You could be gone in a second, the blink of a tired eye Turn up the bass and listen, turn up the bass and listen Everything is temporary, so there’s no need to worry You shouldn’t worry, you shouldn’t worry Turn up the bass, turn up the bass Give me some bass, give me some bass Roll off the reproduction line, a new model bright and clean The years will eat you away, wind you down to the death Turn up the bass and listen, turn up the bass and listen Everything is temporary, so there’s no need to worry You shouldn’t worry, you shouldn’t worry about a thing, You shouldn’t worry about a thing Nobody listens to anything, nobody listens to anything You never listen at all at all, you never listen do you? you never listen do you?
2.
I was trapped by circumstance, I was fingered by random chance I admit I witnessed it all, can’t confess to total recall Now they want to re-arrange, and every road I tread looks strange, strange Doors are shut and the lights don’t work, I only laughed, my hands are clean No key now fits the lock, I die a little with every knock Punishment befits the crime, can’t it wait till another time? I remember when I heard, eyes dilate and teeth are bared I’ve used up all my last reserves, everybody gets (so they tell me) what he deserves Punishment befits the crime, can’t it wait till another time? Can’t it wait? Can’t it wait? Can’t it wait? Can’t it wait? Did she bleed? I never saw it, leather shone when she wore it Skin flashed white in the darkness, after it all, I wasn’t impressed Now they want to re-arrange, and every road I tread looks strange, strange So strange, except the same, so strange, except the same So strange, except the same, so strange, so strange Heads down….
3.
Agent Orange 04:18
Agent orange, I’m on fire I’ll be tall like a soldier I will burn for the camera Gasp of horror in an armchair Across the world in a moment There’s no time for sentiment Cue expression, outraged Declamation, upstaged Agent orange, I’m on fire No-one knows, it’s like magic Ask me why, it’s a living Count of heads, it’s so easy Napalm dawn, I’ll be busy It’s a game, we’re all children It’s a game, we’re all children Agent orange, I’m on fire
4.
Driving 02:15
Press my forehead against the glass Evaporated breath that chills me Lights blur and fade, I can almost touch them I can almost touch them I feel high on fear I could live with danger I could live forever Will you be my driver? I can almost touch them Someone falls down, but we don’t slow down Past the lonely people, past the frightened people I can almost touch them Ricochet off a satellite Ricochet off a traffic light Bulletin off a satellite Driving through the city at night Driving through the city at night At night
5.
6.
Always making the wrong move Always trapped in the same scheme Distracted, creating problems Seem to grow when my back’s turned Exactly where the fault lies Has yet to be revealed Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat Repeated failure, chances Attitudes cover dances Blaming everyone else Don’t point that thing at me! I was somewhere else Imagine the scene for free Cut, cut, cut, cut Cut to next location Blinded by observation Figures unwind and replay Expressions are so real I could almost succeed But I never will Cut, cut, cut, cut Cut down on me Cut into my heart Cut through the shadows Cut like a light Cut off my face Cut away the surplus Cut off relations Cut after cut after cut…….
7.
Shoes do the talking, mouths do the walking Dance with your head and think with your feet Dark hearts pumping on a new off-beat Spotlight hits, strip music for the soul To lose it you gotta have it, I’m talking ‘bout control A long way to stumble, short distance affair A weekend of failure stretched into a lifetime Towers are crashing, families are falling Passing thoroughfares, deserted plazas Faith in transition Having lost touch, how do you feel? Don’t look for angles, don’t blur the appeal In this day and age it’s unwise to plan ahead A future superstition, get yourself some fun instead I’m talking ‘bout desperate fun, I’m talking ‘bout desperate fun Indifference is the fashionable disease I observe, I can fake it with ease Almost clean, wet and shining Dull gleam, almost blinding Faith in transition Bleed my brother, lying in a cot Grown neighbour, finger in the slot Return to dust, return to dust Signs appear and are left unheeded What we forget will be repeated Lights out all over Europe May I have the last dance? Excuse me, may I have the last dance? Excuse me, may I have the last dance? Excuse me, may I have the last dance? Faith in transition Tap dance, Morse code, one needs a home, the other needs a rope Faith
8.
Voice on the telephone breaks the news Lines down, channels dead or confused I put my fingers in the socket My energy must be conserved No sound, no interruption Frozen silence is preserved What’s happening beyond my range? Does everybody feel the same as me? Will normal service ever be resumed? Can we take solace in the company? Of deader land that blazes through the night The sound and comfort of a flashing green light Every appliance grinds to a halt How long till they correct the fault? No-one to turn to now Maybe the city has burnt itself out I guess I’d be the last to know Everyone’s awaiting information, waiting for the late, late show Someone said ‘let there be darkness’, a Saturday night breakdown They’re running on full alertness They’re living it up downtown I see no light at the end of the tunnel, no warm breath thaws my fear I wish someone would call for help, even though there’s no comfort here I cross to the memory of a window Scattered, deserted bars and stores Grip the frame as the truth hits me The world outside your door isn’t turning any more The world outside your door isn’t turning
9.
Turn off the light, there’s no-one there It’s just your friends, they’ve come to stare Ask your friends what they need, they need to drain and bleed That’s what friends are for, that’s what friends are for We meet on an empty street, eyes flicker recognition, don’t meet If I was you I’d rather not I’ll pass to go, you are full stop You pick up a rumour, malignant vocal tumour Pass the poison round Live it up and live it down Pass the poison round Live it up and live it down A cloud bursts over the river, the bills still need paying Don’t look to me for tears, I’ve cried myself dry I’ve cried myself dry, I’ve cried myself dry A version of a life is what you live you know If you lose any more face, you’ll disappear without a trace Without a trace A version of a life is what you live you know Someone gave me the whisper, a shiver ran through the industry Every word sticks in my throat, like a needle, herring-bone coat I’ve been around, I’ve been around, I’ve been around and round and round and round and round and round Around and round It’s time to wind down now It’s time to wind down…..
10.
5.30 and the shrine is closed Confession cancelled indefinitely A cross to bear, a shoulder aches A baby cries and heads are turned There is no limit, steps are cold A walk-through dream, a sleeping scream Black breath from an iron lung A metal soundtrack switched to play A green and grey combination There is no background, no depth at all A flapping poster, a silent scar Stage set for a slow death A tight smile, the ghost of a grin Bulletin from a distant star The drones we speak, the code oblique Who can recode, who can rebuild? Christ it must be cold out there A dirty night, a life indoors Ignoble profile, a modern outlook Rushed prayer to casual heaven Concrete Eternal
11.
Voice on the telephone breaks the news Lines down, channels dead or confused I put my fingers in the socket My energy must be conserved No sound, no interruption Frozen silence is preserved What’s happening beyond my range? Does everybody feel the same as me? Will normal service ever be resumed? Can we take solace in the company? Of deader land that blazes through the night The sound and comfort of a flashing green light Every appliance grinds to a halt How long till they correct the fault? No-one to turn to now Maybe the city has burnt itself out I guess I’d be the last to know Everyone’s awaiting information, waiting for the late, late show Someone said ‘let there be darkness’, a Saturday night breakdown They’re running on full alertness They’re living it up downtown I see no light at the end of the tunnel, no warm breath thaws my fear I wish someone would call for help, even though there’s no comfort here I cross to the memory of a window Scattered, deserted bars and stores Grip the frame as the truth hits me The world outside your door isn’t turning any more The world outside your door isn’t turning
12.
Always making the wrong move Always trapped in the same scheme Distracted, creating problems Seem to grow when my back’s turned Exactly where the fault lies Has yet to be revealed Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat Repeated failure, chances Attitudes cover dances Blaming everyone else Don’t point that thing at me! I was somewhere else Imagine the scene for free Cut, cut, cut, cut Cut to next location Blinded by observation Figures unwind and replay Expressions are so real I could almost succeed But I never will Cut, cut, cut, cut Cut down on me Cut into my heart Cut through the shadows Cut like a light Cut off my face Cut away the surplus Cut off relations Cut after cut after cut…….
13.
Pregnant mother filled with dread Absent lover caught it in the head A telegram on a welcome mat Solitary coat, unfamiliar hat Boots by the fire, shining as new Brown smokestacks obscure the view Ghosts looking for a permanent home Wander forever where the buffalo roam New skin doesn’t fit too well Soundless mouths just can’t tell Got to be strong, children’s eyes aglow Slow motion shot down the hero’s last show Lives on forever, in another land With interference on every band Script requires that he dies alone Posted to where the buffalo roam Hush children, your father is sleeping You’re much too young for professional weeping Go and pick some flowers from the garden or park Make sure that you’re home before it gets dark Halls of marble, priest’s peppermint breath An air of dignity, that’s all that’s left A transformation with powder and comb Sunday’s best where the buffalo roam A mad parade of sound and colour Strange company awaits another Foot falls on a polished stair Breath catches an expectant air Dreams of leaving a paradise lost Thoughts of getting by spare us the cost Smell of wax and shining chrome Driver’s arrived where the buffalo roam Where the buffalo roam
14.
Voice on the telephone breaks the news Lines down, channels dead or confused I put my fingers in the socket My energy must be conserved No sound, no interruption Frozen silence is preserved What’s happening beyond my range? Does everybody feel the same as me? Will normal service ever be resumed? Can we take solace in the company? Of deader land that blazes through the night The sound and comfort of a flashing green light Every appliance grinds to a halt How long till they correct the fault? No-one to turn to now Maybe the city has burnt itself out I guess I’d be the last to know Everyone’s awaiting information, waiting for the late, late show Someone said ‘let there be darkness’, a Saturday night breakdown They’re running on full alertness They’re living it up downtown I see no light at the end of the tunnel, no warm breath thaws my fear I wish someone would call for help, even though there’s no comfort here I cross to the memory of a window Scattered, deserted bars and stores Grip the frame as the truth hits me The world outside your door isn’t turning any more The world outside your door isn’t turning

credits

released April 15, 2014

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Ski Patrol London, UK

This set includes the band's first two singles, one of which is the 1980 indie-chart hit 'Agent Orange', previously unreleased mixes of their third single, their BBC Radio 1 John Peel radio session, three unreleased songs from their last studio session, and a brand new 2014 mix of 'Extinguish' by the original engineer Mark Lusardi. All music has been digitally transferred, restored and re-mastered ... more

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