I Testi di Gavin Friday

Ecco i testi delle canzoni, o meglio... delle poesie. Mi rifiuto di tradurle in italiano perché perderebbero tutto il loro ritmo e la loro melodia. Se proprio volete avere una traduzione però mi potete scrivere

SHAG TOBACCO

shag tobacco
i have ordinary addictions
i've outgrown the ways of the street and the nightshade
hey! goodnight ladies... ladies bye bye.
iwork odd hours, get home late most nights
she's upstairs, I'm downstairs,
drinking coffee in the kitchen
spoon in the sugar, knife in the butter... i want you.

do you love me? say you do, i'd like to see you undress
let the light shimmer down, I've ordinary addictions
whisper soft into my ear, secret words heaven sent ....
so you can read my mind
hush dear....the night is always young
there's no day here, tomorrow never comes
let colours fly, we're safe from harm
see orange glow, let our love flow

no romeo no juliet,
what we got is deeper than that
lets stay in bed, watch t.v. and shag tobacco
i want you, i want you....
you're my amphetamine you're my lover....
and there's no other.... ....there's no other.... there's no other

caruso
no, i'm not myself today.
je suis salome.... i am romantic
je suis apollo.... i am gigantic
hey! stronzo,
i'm standing next to you in the supermarket
yeah! you are obvious. i am oblivious

salome, apollo, in technicolour
i walked on the moon to touch the stars,
a legend in my lifetime.
oh momma! my rosa! from an early age
i was used and abused, no more those bad reviews
take me back to '72 my coo ca choo,
oh! ignorance was bliss,
spunk-a-flow, to the joy of my first kiss

i'm not me.... i'm not me.... i'm not me.... not me....
non sono io!

oh mi lord, i'm so bored, what's on the t.v.?
do we really need these pissy pop stars
when there's not enough of me!
oh dada, my dali, un chen de lou lou....
i am the art in your party,
not a twist cap sniffing bore.
it's tough in the queue, it's as unto a platform shoe,
oh! trampled underfoot,
i'm fred astaire, i face the music and dance.

i'm not me.... i'm not me.... i'm not me.... not me....
no i'm not myself....today

oh glorioso deliver us not into frustration

salome, apollo, in technicolour,
i walked on the moon to touch the stars.
hey stronzo.... ancora!

i'm not me.... i'm not me.... i'm not me.... not me....
non sono io!
heave ho.... heave ho....

leonardo! marlon brando! machiavelli!
and bertolt's belly!
a millionaire with curly hair, i'm your burning empire.

greta garbo! andy warhol! and his jam-roll!
nero plays his violin, seezer his accordian

i'm sitting in the bathtub watching the dirty water
swirl down the plughole.... and on my stereo....
....is caruso.

angel
angel.... hold on to me, love is all around me
angel.... hold on to me
oh come.... closer to me.... don't go, don't leave me
angel.... hold on to me, love is all around me
so silent your love, like the stars above
so silent your love.... hold on.... hold on.... to me
angel.... hold on to me, i call, call out to you
its paradise, you take me to
'cause my love for you love will always be

little black dress
here she comes like a child with a gun
she makes you feel like you're the only one
she smiles and it's dangerous.... in a little black dress
superman and the filthy rich
get in the queue to scratch her itch
sticky fingers pulling at the hem
of her little black dress

baby don't mind
she can leave it behind.
she don't want anything
baby's a star, she's got to keep on shining

she moves like an animal
the women sigh "it's political"
you could get arrested around here
for that little black dress
not so simple, it's complicated....
all this being loved and hated
i wanna know what else she's hiding
in that little black dress

baby don't mind
she can leave it behind.
she don't want anything
baby's a star, she's got to keep on shining

don't pay no mind, you're gonna leave me behind
i don't want anything, baby you're a star
i wanna hear you sing

the slider
i could never understand
the wind at all
was like a ball of love

i could never never see
the cosmic sea
was like a bumble bee

and when i'm sad...
i slide

i have never kissed
a car before
it's like a door

i have always always
grown my own before
all schools are strange

and when i'm sad...
i slide

i have never never
nailed a nose before
that's how the garden grows

i could never understand
the wind at all
was like a ball of love

and when i'm sad...
i slide

watch now
i'm gonna slide
i slide....

have you ever seen a woman coming out of
new york city with a frog in her hand?

dolls
on the darkest of streets, at around eleven
the lights shine brightest, on avenue seven
from 'noho' to 'soho' they congregate
gladrags and handbags we anticipate
boom! boom! cha-cha! and cock becomes vagina

no guys here - dolls! no guys here - just dolls!

mother fisting friends, say romance is cheap
so it's time for eve to put adam to sleep
lovely, lovely, love me
with dreams with drugs, with lipstick and la rouge

no guys here - dolls! no guys here - just dolls!

with feather boa, like lotte lenya,
high heels and a vicious tongue,
jesus, 'fantasia' tu est tres fantastique
so kinky gerlinky, so much fun

no guys here - dolls! no guys here - just dolls!

cock incognito! vag incognita!

knock, knock, who's there?
oh! here they come, the belligerent scum,
as your immorality would say "all men are queer"
how civilised that you're despised
knock, knock, who's there?
dorothy that's who, she'll make a man of you!
a man of you! a man of you!

ich bin eine puppe, eine puppe mit scheide!
ich bin ein mann, ein mann mit schwanz
geweg! geweg! lab mich allein! lab mich allein!
das kleine ja! ja! das grobe nein! nein! das kleine ja! ja!
sie macht einen mann aus dir,
eine puppe mit schwanz!, ein mann mit mose!

mr. pussy
in '67, his debut year, a pussy cat did appear
in soho bars rather shady,
a most discerning, misleading lady

he knew marlene, judy was a friend
hey! johnny ray, all those that bend

a legend born, on a london stage
when ginger beers, were outrage!

mr. pussy. mr. pussy.

nante! no nante! nante parlare
vada omi! you silly cow!

come see a star shine,
come see him laughing through a mask of tears
he should have been in the movies....
you know those movies that make you cry

"oh! immortalise me! oh! immortalise me!
write a song, write a sad song,
make it 25 years a long.... oh!"
....says mr. pussy.... mmmh.... mr. pussy.

you, me and world war three
throw your arms around me,
there's no time to be blue,
it's the end of the world,
let's talk deep and meaningful things,
it's up to you and down to me.... what's going on?
it's you, me and world war three.

you and me, me and you,
we hurt each other 'cause we gotta get through

we're 'a to b' and back again,
a sort of funky electrocution,
trigger happy and shoot to kill,
what a honeymoon in hell!
our world is spinning helplessly.... what's going on?
it's you, me and world war three

you and me, me and you,
we hurt each other 'cause we gotta get through
we hurt each other.... we gotta get through
we're out there orbiting the planet blue....

i shout you scream, it's all so illogical
you bite my tongue.... i blow up in your face
in hateful times.... it's time for loving
let's start to dance.... it's 'true romance'

you me and world war three
you me and world war three

put on that dress you know your
throwing yourself out the window dress,
i'll wear my suit, my wedding ring
and together we will sing, "la la la la la la...."

you and me, me and you,
we hurt each other 'cause we gotta get through,
you and me, me and you,
we're out there orbiting the planet blue....
....orbiting the planet blue

kitchen sink drama
good morning america, you're my favorite t. v. show
slow down now, i've a headache,
sometimes it's hard to think,
the phone rings how are you? oh! i'm not up to much
you don't say, oh really! it'll end.... end in tears

here i go again,
all i have is what i might have been
where's my long lost friends?
somewhere over the rainbow

when the dark clouds come,
the angel valium will call
to take me far away,
to a place where i don't have to feel

i'm happy as i hoover, it's one o'clock, time for lunch
marshmallows with coffee,
can't forget my slimfast drink,
the garden's depressing, i think i need a hair-do
a gin and a tonic, ah! that should do the trick

here i go again,
all i have is what i might have been
where's my long lost friends?
somewhere over the rainbow

when the dark clouds come,
the angel valium will call
to take me far away,
to a place where i don't have to feel

it's monday afternoon, the kids are off at school
sunset boulevard, the channel four matinee
sit down, relax with a nice cup of tea....
.... oh! the sweet smell of butane.... and humdrum.
.... gloria swanson.... from here to eternity....

my twentieth century
i woke up this morning,
dreading the thoughts of another, dull and boring day
hey! woe is me.
i go out on the streets, northside of the city
i see the steel, the fading rust
and the fields i used to play in....
my friends are famous and all my foes live happy
loved by lycra, fooled by velcro
and fucked by what they need....

but who am i to criticise? my pointing finger backfires
i hang my head down low.

i once believed in jesus,
now i can't believe in rock 'n' roll
from baptism to alcohol, in a land suffocatingly green
hey! the myth is magic, do you know what i mean?
the politics of sin and of sex
suffer the fools, pawn our jewels, will it ever change?

but who am i to criticise? i've made my bed, i lie on it
and hold my head up high

my disbelief. my fake redemption.
my twentieth century.
my holy war. my self indulgence.
my twentieth century.
my human flesh. my sad dependence.
my twentieth century.
my apathy. my big decision.
my twentieth century.

the last song i'll ever sing
i'm inviting you to my vaudeville
"oui encore" you say, "and on with the show"
ladies, gentlemen, before i sing to you
the light that shines twice as bright,
burns half as long.

come let me entertain you all
leave all your troubles big and small
life's a ball, life's a ball.
hitch a ride on my crooked merry-go-round
hear the clinking-clanking sound
of the song that i bring

take my song, take my hand, never let me down,
like love let me down, like love pushed me around

so long, goodbye, i lost, did try
this is the last song i'll ever sing
the last song i'll sing

i played in the cabaret of love
i wore heart, fist and glove.
push and shove, push and shove....
and all for love

take my song, take my hand, never let me down,
like love let me down, like love pushed me around

so long, goodbye, i lost, did try
this is the last song i'll ever sing
the last song i'll sing
this is the last song i'll ever sing
the last song i'll sing

here, with words that can't be said
we take songs to our bed
sing - a - long, sing - a - long.... to my last song.

Tutte le canzoni sono scritte ed arrangiate da Gavin Friday & Maurice Seezer eccetto 'The slider', scritta da Marc Bolan. Tutte le canzoni sono state registrate dalla Blue Mountain Music eccetto 'The Slider', registrata dalla Wizard (Bahamas) Ltd.

EACH MAN
Each man kills the thing he loves

Each man kills the thing he loves, by each let this be heard. Some do it with a bitter look, some with a flattering word. The coward does it with a kiss, the brave man with a sword. Some kill their love when they are young, some when they are old. Some strangle with the hands of lust, some with the hands of gold. The kindest use a knife because, the dead so soon grow cold. Some love too little, some too long, some buy and other sell. Some do the deed with so many tears, and some without a sigh. For each man kills the thing he loves, yet each man does not die.

Tell tale heart

Torn between the light and the dark. The heathen smiles, the tell tale heart. He hides away, it is his home. His saving grace, he lives alone. The silence cuts so deep within. For all is lost he can never win. Secrets come and secrets go, that only his heart ever knows. And outside is the real world, the weird and the wonderful. He is afraid to be alone, he is alone. He wants to touch the feeling of her loneliness, to watch her cry is to watch him die. The heart it was the main thing to see and believe, it will do you no harm to call and try for love, for love, for love. He placed a piece of velvet upon the shame, the ultimate cover up the hidden lie. To die with ones mouth full of ashes, ooh, it will do you no harm to call and try for love, for love, for love. Tattle tell, tattle tell, tell tale heart.

Apologia

Just a penny for the poor I ask. For a love that was strong and fast. Oh! This Judas betrayal was with more than a kiss. Things are not always what they seem. Lover, liar ... friend or foe? To beg, steal and borrow then throw it away. "I've no regrets, nothing lost or gained". Easy words for the brave to say. Now sorrow, it digs away at its own grave. To have or to have not, is all that I have got. I see no hope in those eyes as they close. So sing a song for this bleeding love, for a life that we'll never know. Streets paved with silver, dreams made in gold, and as these icy stars, they sing, who will know what this night will bring. The envy eats nothing but its own. To have or to have not, is all that I have got. I see no hope in those eyes as they close. Just a penny for the poor I ask. For a love that was strong and fast. Oh! This Judas betrayal was with more than a kiss.

Dazzle and Delight

She had a head like a God and when she spoke, it was as if gold fell from her mouth. You can watch, watch me crawl; up and down, down the wall. I feel icy, I feel cold. See me change like a venom snake, it's no-one's fault, my mistake. I know the reason, I know why. Here comes, here comes, here comes that sinking feeling. Tear me apart, pull me down. Here comes, here comes, here comes that sinking feeling. Pay your cash for a new disease, kiss the beast, fall in love with the greatest of ease. No! No! This pig goes to slaughter, she does evil, turns wine into water. I'd do anything, I lose control. My only friend the one desire, to feed the pain, the burning fire. I hate my hands, my shaking hands, shaking hands. So you watched, watched me crawl, you saw me sink, sink and fall. I feel icy, so alone, so alone. You saw me change like a venom snake, that's no one's fault, my mistake, I know the reason, I know why, I know why. Here comes, here comes, here comes that sinking feeling. Tear me apart, pull me down. Here comes, here comes, here comes that sinking feeling. Pay your cash for a new disease, kiss this beast, fall in love with the greatest of these.

Next

Naked as sin an army towel covers my body. Some of us blush, somehow knees turn to jelly - Next! Next! I was still just a kid there were a hundred others like me. I follow the naked body, the naked body follows me - Next! Next! I was still just a kid when my innocence was lost, in a mobile-army whore house, gift of the army, free of cost! Next! You're next! Me? I really would have liked, just a little touch of tenderness, maybe a word or smile, some happiness, but oh! No! Next! Next! Well it wasn't so tragic the high heavens didn't fall, but most of that time I hated being there at all ... Next! Next! I always recall those flying flags, the army tanks, those queer lieutenants who slapped our asses as if we were fags ... Next! You're next! I swear on the head of my first case of the pox! It's that ugly voice that I forever hear ... Next! Next! The voice that stinks of corpses of whiskey and mud. It's the voice of the nations, the thick, thick, voice of blood ... Next! Next! And each time I'm with a woman and I take her to my bed, she whispers and laughs through my head ... Next! ... You're next! All the naked and the dead should hold each others hands as I scream out loud each night in a dream no-one understands ... Next! ... Next! And when I'm not screaming in a voice cold, dry and hollow... I stand on endless, naked lines of the following and the followed ... Next! Next! One day I'll cut my legs off, I'll burn myself alive, I'd do anything, anything, just to keep out of line, just to stay out of line and never to be next! No, never to be next! No! Na! Na! Na! Next!

You take away the sun

You take away the sun for me. Every time you walk away from me. You take away ... I'm alone ... Come Home ... You've taken everything from me. There's nothing left, can't you see. I'm alone ... There was a time when life, it was a bed of roses. And now time ... Time has taken ... You walk into the fire, that keeps burning ... The fire ... Oh! my yearning, to be holding hands with the one I love as the sky turns black there is no above. You take away the sun for me. Every time you walk away from me. You take away ... I'm alone ... Come Home ... You've taken everything from me. There's nothing left, can't you see. I'm alone ... You've taken everything from me. There's nothing left, can't you see. I'm alone ... There was a time when yesterdays were just tomorrows and now time ... Time has taken. You walk into the fire that keeps burning ... The fire oh! My yearning to be holding hands with the one I love as the sky turns black. There is no above ... Don't speak of broken down angels. I've no need for foolish things. Who spoke of heavenly salvation? My heart bleeds as you pull the strings. Who spoke of broken down angels. I've no need for foolish things. Don't speak of heavenly salvation. My heart bleeds as you pull the strings. Don't speak of broken down angels. Don't speak of broken down angels. We don't need wings to fly. We don't need wings to fly ... You take away the sun. You take away the sun.

Death is not the end

When you're sad and when you're lonely and you haven't got a friend. Just remember that death is not the end. And all that you've held sacred, falls down and does not mend. Just remember that death is not the end. Not the end . . . not the end. Just remember that death is not the end. When you're standing on the crossroads that you cannot comprehend. Just remember that death is not the end. And all your dreams have vanished and you don't know what's around the bend. Just remember that death is not the end. Not the end . . . not the end. Just remember that death is not the end. When the storm clouds gather 'round you, and heavy rains descend. Just remember that death is not the end. And there's no one there to comfort you, with a helpin' hand to lend. Just remember that death is not the end. Not the end . . . not the end. Just remember that death is not the end. Oh, the tree of life is growing, where the spirit never dies and the bright light of salvation shines in dark and empty skies. When the cities are on fire with the burning flesh of men. Just remember that death is not the end. And you search in vain to find just on law abiding citizen. Just remember that death is not the end. Not the end . . . not the end. Just remember that death is not the end.

He got what he wanted

When I wake up in the morning, there's no sun. There ain't no sunshine. "Time heals the hurt" they say. Ah! Don't talk worn out, worn out words. I touched the sky to feed all my hunger. Nothing I could wait for, nothing but my want. A fist filled with furied desire . . . clutched all that's real, catch as catch can. To put your trust in a craving . . . Never are you sure, who'll let you down. I was a king just for one day, like a fool now I know . . . my kingdom grew cold. I followed all my dreams and illusions. I got what I wanted . . . not sure what I have. So the day begins without faith . . . and the day it ends without joy. He got what he wanted . . . lost what he had. He got what he wanted . . . lost what he had. To get what you want, to lose what you have. To cut up and bleed just for the need. Come now, lay your head on my shoulder, and I'll tell you why, why I am sad. For all I've seen and heard . . . still I wonder in all of these years I'd no time for tears. I followed all my dreams and illusions. I got what I what I wanted . . . not sure what I have.So the day begins without faith . . . and the day it ends without joy. He got what he wanted . . . lost what he had. He got what he wanted . . . lost what he had. To get what you want, to lose what you have. . . to cut up and bleed just for the need. He got what he wanted . . . lost what he had. He got what he wanted . . . lost what he had. Don't lose, lose, lose what you have. Don't lose, lose, lose what you have. Don't lose, lose, lose what you have. He got what he wanted . . . lost what he had.

Man of Misfortune

See that man - I carry the world upon my back.
Talk to that man - there is no hope, I never talk back.
Sold my soul for a cheap ideal.
The price I paid? The spice of life.
Now I'm in a real dilemma,
I must keep myself alive ... alive ... alive.

Look at that man - What am I doing in a place like this?
Pity that man - I live my life like it's a crime!
The sun goes dim, the moon turns black.
What I gave away, I never got back.
Now I'm in a real dilemma.
I must keep myself alive ... alive ... alive.

I see junk to my left! Freaks to my right!
Ain't no one laughin' - Ain't nothing funny.
Ain't nothing happening. 'Cause we ain't got no money!
Hey! Hey! Hey! ... Misfortune!
Woe! Woe! Woe! .... Misfortune!
Watch that man! Everything I see goes into a book.
I said, watch that man! I live my life with a filthy look!

Sold my soul for a cheap ideal.
The price I paid? The spice of life.
Now I'm in a real dilemma,
I must keep myself alive.

The angels they came to visit me.
Some divine intervention ... they said
"Are you the boy with the stars in your eyes?
Are you the boy that fooled the world?"
Flappin' their wings, tellin' me things.
Flappin' their wings, tellin' me things...
I said "I know what I like. I know what I want!
But I never seem to know, I never seem to know.
How to get that thing boy. How d'ya get that thing boy?
Can you tell me how you got, how you got that thing?
How d'ya get that thing boy?"

See that man! Talk to that man!
Look at that man but don't ya pity that man!
I'm a man of misfortune! I'm a man of misfortune!
Look at that man! Watch that man!
But Na! Na! No! don't talk to that man!
I'm a man of misfortune. I'm a man of misfortune.
I must keep myself alive. I must keep myself alive.

Rags to Riches

From rags to riches and back again. I throw my pearls at you swine. Kiss and tell, kiss and tell. I do that all the time. "I'm a man in a million...Ya! Ya! Ya! Yo! Very pleased to meet me? I'll tell you what to do! Put some money in my pocket, your hand on my heart. And I'll hold my head up high!" Here she comes now... My queen of desire... Tip my hat to this Oooh indulgence. Come're baby! Keep me warm! Come're baby! Keep me warm! "Sad are my dreams but sweet are the tears. Tears of true love. Tears of regret. So... we all must cry! We all must cry!" "The world's forgiven! The world's forgot! The world's just singin' 'Ba da bop bop bow!' No! The world won't listen 'cause the world don't know that... 'That's life baby, ba da bop bop bow!' 'That's life baby! Ba da bop bop bow. That's life' " My heart is broken, little pieces all over the floor. "Come on! Come're, pick me up, put me in your pocket". You win some and you lose some but that's life baby - ba da bop bop bow! I say - "Buy me a drink and I'll be just like you. Where do ya come from? What do you do? Buy me a drink, I'll be just like you. Where do you come from? What do you do? Buy me a drink, I'll be just like you. Where do you come from? What do you do?" With your hearts handmade in heaven. Lots of faith, hope and charity... No need to feed the poor. I got my dignity! I'm no beggar. I'm the man! Set them up, I'll knock 'em down! A man in a million I've seen it all. You people rise, I just fall. From rags to riches and back again. I throw my pearls at you swine. Kiss and tell, kiss and tell. Oh! I do that all the time... Put some money in my pocket your hand on my heart and I'll hold my head up high..."The world's forgiven. The world's forgot. The world's just singin' 'Ba da bop bop bow!' No! The world won't listen 'cause the world don't know that 'That's life baby, ba da bop bop bow!' 'That's life baby! Ba da bop bop bow. That's life' so let's, so let's, so let's dance! That's life baby! Ooh that's... Life baby! Life baby! Buy me a drink and I'll be just like you. Where do you come from? What do you do?" Oh! my heart is broken, little pieces all over the floor. "Pick me up, put me in your pocket, take me home, keep me warm... " Ya! Ya! ... Yo!

The next thing to murder

Welcome to the happy end... your feelings they don't count boy! Oh no! You've got no friends! ... sunset over hell... The worst is yet to come now... You can crawl, you can walk, you can run... for he who is, who was, is now to come... The next thing to murder. With voodoo tattooed in your head! Your world is fake! All lost and sad. The greatest story ever told, the love of money, the want for gold! Another day, another dollar. The price you pay is what they tell you. Welcome... Come on... To the happy end. Your feelings they don't count boy. Oh no! You've got no friends... Sunset over hell. The worst is yet to come now. You can crawl, you can walk, you can run. For he who is, who was, is now to come... So this is where we turn to friends because this is where it all ends. The bible is the book! Jesus the friend! All the king's horses kill all the king's men. The next thing to murder. The next thing to murder... prepare ye... prepare ye...

Love is just a word
Roses are roses. Blue is blue. "God knows I'm good but does he care? ... I'm sure somebody down there hates me..." She says as she... she says as she picks up a flower, for love is like a flower. It grows, blossoms and blooms... But love is just a word and words disobey... and roses are roses.

Another Blow on the Bruise
Twenty years ago I was just a boy... time goes so slow when you're havin' fun... my favourite stars are out tonight. So I feel somewhat justified, another excuse to confuse, abuse and forget myself. Here I go... now I know... show me the river to drown all my sorrows... Another blow on the bruise. Another blow on the bruise. One touch of darkness and you know where you are. For this is my, my old true friend... And you know old friends are the best friends 'cause they know just who you are... they take you to a place where you can hide your disgrace and leave you all alone... swing low... swing high... My friends I never cry. Way down... Deep low... To the place where we must go... Another blow on the bruise. Another blow on the bruise... I'm just the once upon a time man, inviting you to a dream of mine. So welcome, won't you come now? but just take your time and when you go back with those stories you gotta tell, just remember my heaven is another man's hell... the door is always open, the door is never closed... and the story is never told... so... show me the river to drown all my sorrows... another blow on the bruise, another blow on the bruise. You can take me in, throw me out, cut me up, shut me out... Nothing you do or say will change my ways. I've been there before and I've come back for more... So ya all gotta sing... singalong now! ... Swing low! Swing high! My friends I never cry. Way down! Deep low! To the place where you must go... To the place where you must go... Another blow on the bruise. Another blow on the bruise.

Tutte le canzoni sono scritte e arrangiate da Gavin Friday & Maurice Seezer eccetto 'Each man kills the thing he loves', parole di Oscar Wilde e 'Next', parole e musica di Jacques Brel, testo in inglese di Shuman/Blau, e 'Death is not the End', parole e musica di Bob Dylan. Tutte le canzoni sono pubblicate dalla Blue Mountain Music eccetto 'Next', Carlin Music Corp e 'Death is not the End' dalla Warner Chappel Music