XTC
XTC was a rock band from Swindon, England led by Andy Partridge (guitars, v… Read Full Bio ↴XTC was a rock band from Swindon, England led by Andy Partridge (guitars, vocals) and Colin Moulding (bass, vocals). Active between the late 1970s and the mid 2000s, XTC's music ranged from jerky new wave/punk riffs to lushly-arranged progressive pop. They also drew heavily from vintage pop rock and psychedelia from the 1960s, genres which they began to explore more deeply after creating The Dukes of Stratosphear side-project. While XTC failed to maintain significant commercial success after the 1980s, they have earned a devoted cult following, influencing many alternative and indie musicians.
First coming together in 1972, the core duo of Partridge and Moulding went through numerous band names (including The Helium Kidz and Star Park) over the next five years. Drawing influence from the New York Dolls and the emerging New York punk scene, they played glam rock with homemade costumes and slowly built up a following. Drummer Terry Chambers joined in 1973. Keyboard player Barry Andrews followed in 1976, and the band finally settled on a name: XTC. By this time, the punk rock movement was in full swing, and XTC had found their style, a unique brand of hyperactive pop mixed with funk, punk, ska, reggae, and art rock.
The touring years, 1977–82
In 1977 XTC was signed by Virgin Records. They recorded the 3D EP that summer, and followed it up with their debut LP White Music in January 1978. White Music received favorable reviews and entered the British top 30, but lead single "Statue of Liberty" was banned by the BBC for making supposedly lewd references to the famous statue. An early TV appearance to play "Science Friction" on children's show "Magpie" caused additional stir with the graffiti banner on Andrew's Hammond organ saying "Petra's Dead" - a reference to the much loved pet dog on rival show "Blue Peter"
After their second effort, Go 2, and its accompanying Go+ EP (a collection of dub mixes of songs from the album), Andrews left and was replaced by guitarist and keyboardist Dave Gregory. Andrews went on to form Shriekback and also worked with Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen. With Gregory's arrival, the band scored their first charting single, Moulding's "Life Begins at the Hop".
The loss of Andrews' distinctive keyboard playing started the band on a path towards a more traditional rock sound, although Gregory also contributed occasional keyboards (and later, string arrangements). The resulting album, Drums and Wires, contained the band's first big hit, "Making Plans for Nigel", which caused a minor controversy because of its lyrical reference to British Steel. The album found the band branching out into more overtly political topics, culminating in the unhinged ranting of Complicated Game, which became one of the band's most well-known non-hits. Drums and Wires also marked their first sessions at London's Townhouse Studios. The studio was at the time much sought after for its highly reverberant "live" drum room, and it was greatly favoured by their producer of the time, Steve Lillywhite and his engineer Hugh Padgham.
During this period, Partridge also further indulged his love of dub, releasing a solo LP under the name 'Mr Partridge'. The album, Take Away/The Lure of Salvage, featured radical dub deconstructions of music from the preceding XTC albums.
Their 1980 LP, Black Sea spawned the hit singles "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" and "Generals and Majors." The song "Sgt Rock" namechecks a cartoon character of the same name and reflects Partridge's lifelong obsession with American comics, particularly the work of Steve Ditko.
The last major hit of XTC's touring phase was "Senses Working Overtime," the first single from their double album English Settlement and a top 10 hit in 1982. At the peak of their popularity, the band embarked on a major tour, but Partridge suffered a breakdown on stage during one of the first concerts of the tour in Paris on March 18, 1982.
The studio years, 1982–1992
Andy Partridge's breakdown, which manifested itself as uncontrollable stage fright, was reportedly precipitated by his wife throwing away his supply of Valium. According to the band's biography, Andy had become dependent upon the drug after it was prescribed to him as a teenager during his parents' divorce. He reportedly was never withdrawn from the drug and became dependent on it, although many fans were surprised that the group's frenetic early output was produced by a man who was addicted to tranquilisers.
Concerned about her husband's dependence on the drug, Partridge's wife ill-advisedly threw his tablets away—without seeking medical advice—just before the Paris concert. Not surprisingly, Partridge suffered anxiety attacks of such severity that he was soon forced to withdraw from touring permanently. The European and British dates were cancelled and after one show in San Diego the whole U.S. leg was also abandoned. Since then, XTC has been exclusively a studio band, although they have given occasional live-to-air performances from radio stations, and have made a handful of TV appearances as well.
Chambers left the band shortly thereafter, during the recording of their 1983 album Mummer. He was unhappy with the confines of the studio, and also felt the loss of income that resulted from their withdrawal from touring—he did not write, and so received no publishing royalties. Another major factor was his relationship with his Australian girlfriend—they subsequently married, and Chambers migrated to Australia and settled in Newcastle, New South Wales. Rather than finding a replacement, XTC has used a series of session drummers over the years, including Peter Phipps, Prairie Prince of The Tubes, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Pat Mastelotto of Mr. Mister, Chuck Sabo, and Dave Gregory's brother, Ian Gregory (as "E.I.E.I. Owen").
If Mummer saw Partridge cooling his heels with pastoral gems like "Love on a Farmboy's Wages", the band's next album took a noisy left turn. 1984's The Big Express, surprised both their record company and fans alike with its abrasive sound and became XTC's poorest seller to date. The album nonetheless was a personal high point for Partridge, who considers songs such as "The Everyday Story of Smalltown" and "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" amongst the best he's ever written.
In 1986, the band traveled to Todd Rundgren's studio-in-the-woods in Woodstock, New York to record what many consider to be the best album of their career, Skylarking. Although the pairing of XTC and Rundgren was highly anticipated by fans, the sessions were less than enjoyable for the band. Rundgren had insisted that the band send him, in advance, demos of all the songs that they thought they might tackle for the record. When the band got to Woodstock, Rundgren had already worked out a running order for both the recording and sequence of the album itself. True to his "hands-on" studio production style, Rundgren insisted that everyone adhere to his scheme. This did not sit well with the band, Partridge in particular. The two egos of Rundgren and Partridge clashed frequently during the recording of Skylarking and when it was finished Partridge said that he was not at all happy with the result. Partridge has since softened his view, describing the album as "a summer's day baked into one cake."
Skylarking revived the band's commercial fortunes, earning critical accolades and spawning the controversial hit "Dear God", which was originally issued as the B-side of the album's first single, "Grass." Interest in the song saw the album re-pressed with "Dear God" included and the new version of the LP sold 250,000 copies in the USA. ("Dear God" replaced "Mermaid Smiled", which was absent from the album until it was finally reinstated for the remastered "Skylarking" CD in 2000.)
The band's follow up, Oranges and Lemons, produced by Paul Fox, was their biggest seller yet, with "Mayor of Simpleton" and "King for a Day" getting heavy airplay on MTV. It was during this period that Partridge began a relationship with an American fan, Erica Wexler, the niece of famed American record producer Jerry Wexler. Although signs of the failing of Partridge's first marriage were evident as far back as English Settlement (notably on the album's closing track, "Snowman"), it was some time before the still-married Partridge felt comfortable with Wexler's advances; this awkward situation is chronicled in the song "Another Satellite". However, the relationship finally came to fruition after Partridge's first wife Marianne left him, and Wexler and Partridge are now in a long term relationship.
During their long career, XTC have also released material under a variety of pseudonyms, including two albums of psychedelic parodies as "The Dukes of Stratosphear" (ultimately released on a single CD, Chips from the Chocolate Fireball, simultaneous with the second album's vinyl release), a Viz comics promotional single as "Johnny Japes and his Jesticles," a Christmas-themed single as "The Three Wise Men" and a guest appearance on their own tribute album Testimonial Dinner as "Terry and the Lovemen."
Their 1992 album, Nonsuch (named after Henry VIII's fabled palace), united them with famed UK producer Gus Dudgeon and drummer Dave Mattacks. The album featured the US and UK hit tune, "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead", which brought the band perhaps its greatest success after the early eighties. (The video for "Peter Pumpkinhead" made an unusual comparison between Jesus and John F. Kennedy.) Despite its success, soon after its release, a contractual dispute with their label, Virgin Records, saw XTC go "on strike" from 1992 through 1998, finally resulting in the termination of their contract. They issued no new material during this time, although two compilations were released: Upsy Daisy Assortment and the 2-CD set Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles Collection, which featured remastered versions of their singles, including many tracks not issued on CD before.
Management and contractual problems had dogged the band throughout their career, and around the time of the recording of Nonsuch they had to make a legal settlement with their former manager; although most fans assume (and the lyrics of "I Bought Myself a Liarbird" from The Big Express imply) that there was some financial impropriety involved, the terms of the settlement imposed a "gag" on the band and have prevented them from speaking publicly about the matter.
The final straw for the band was Virgin's scuttling of their 1992 single "Wrapped in Grey", which was pressed up in the tens of thousands, and then recalled and destroyed by the label. The band asked that Virgin either allow them to re-negotiate their contract or release them, but the label stalled for years until finally agreeing to release them after a change of management at the company.
Going independent, 1992–2006
After leaving Virgin, Partridge had their accounts audited and it was discovered that the company had withheld substantial royalty payments from them. The settlement of the accounts provided the group with much-needed cash flow, allowing Partridge and Moulding to install fully-equipped studios and work comfortably at home. They are now able to record the majority of their work themselves, although they have used major commercial studios (including Abbey Road Studios in London) for some sessions. Finally released from Virgin, they formed their own label, Idea Records.
Dave Gregory quit the band during the recording of the 1999 album Apple Venus Volume 1 after 20 years' service. His contribution to the mature XTC sound had been immense: the technical skill of his guitar and keyboard playing, and his orchestral scoring, had facilitated a huge expansion in the group's sonic possibilities. His skills also encouraged, perhaps goaded Partridge to new heights of musicianship.
However, without him, Partridge and Moulding delivered Apple Venus Volume 1. Its successor, Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2), though favorably reviewed, was considered less strong. The two volumes were originally envisioned as the two discs of a double album, and in October 2005 they were reissued together in the 4 CD Apple Box collection.
Now in control of their own work and with their own small studio, Partridge and Moulding have released instrumental and demo versions of their first two albums on Idea, Apple Venus and Wasp Star. Having left Virgin, relations have improved and Andy Partridge has since released a series of albums of demos of his songs (mainly from the Virgin years) under the title of Fuzzy Warbles in 2002, on a new label imprint APE, which could stand for Andy Partridge Experiments or Andy Partridge Editions or any one of a thousand connotations of the letter E. Colin Moulding declined to contribute his demos to the series. As of January 2006, the Fuzzy Warbles series has run to fully six volumes; volumes seven and eight are slated to appear by mid-2006.
A boxed 4 CD compilation, Coat of Many Cupboards spanning the band's time with Virgin, was also released in 2002.
Though the immediate and medium-term future for XTC still remains uncertain, the inclusion of the first new tracks for five years, "Spiral", penned by Partridge, and "Say It", written by Moulding, on the Apple Box release offers some hope of the band's continuance.
In November 2006, Partridge told several interviewers that Moulding no longer had any interest in writing, performing or even listening to music. Partridge has said he would not continue XTC without Moulding, and that therefore he has been forced to regard XTC "in the past tense," with no likelihood of a new project unless Moulding should have a change of heart.
As of December 2018, five XTC albums (Nonsuch, Drums and Wires, Oranges and Lemons, Skylarking and Black Sea) have been given expanded reissues on APE featuring 5.1 Surround mixes and new stereo mixes by renowned remixer Steven Wilson, with a yet-unnamed sixth in the works as confirmed on Andy Partridge's Twitter. Further vinyl and CD reissues have been released of English Settlement, Apple Venus Volume 1 and Wasp Star, with more planned for 2019 and 2020 according to sleeve notes on the Apple Venus/Wasp Star vinyl.
First coming together in 1972, the core duo of Partridge and Moulding went through numerous band names (including The Helium Kidz and Star Park) over the next five years. Drawing influence from the New York Dolls and the emerging New York punk scene, they played glam rock with homemade costumes and slowly built up a following. Drummer Terry Chambers joined in 1973. Keyboard player Barry Andrews followed in 1976, and the band finally settled on a name: XTC. By this time, the punk rock movement was in full swing, and XTC had found their style, a unique brand of hyperactive pop mixed with funk, punk, ska, reggae, and art rock.
The touring years, 1977–82
In 1977 XTC was signed by Virgin Records. They recorded the 3D EP that summer, and followed it up with their debut LP White Music in January 1978. White Music received favorable reviews and entered the British top 30, but lead single "Statue of Liberty" was banned by the BBC for making supposedly lewd references to the famous statue. An early TV appearance to play "Science Friction" on children's show "Magpie" caused additional stir with the graffiti banner on Andrew's Hammond organ saying "Petra's Dead" - a reference to the much loved pet dog on rival show "Blue Peter"
After their second effort, Go 2, and its accompanying Go+ EP (a collection of dub mixes of songs from the album), Andrews left and was replaced by guitarist and keyboardist Dave Gregory. Andrews went on to form Shriekback and also worked with Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen. With Gregory's arrival, the band scored their first charting single, Moulding's "Life Begins at the Hop".
The loss of Andrews' distinctive keyboard playing started the band on a path towards a more traditional rock sound, although Gregory also contributed occasional keyboards (and later, string arrangements). The resulting album, Drums and Wires, contained the band's first big hit, "Making Plans for Nigel", which caused a minor controversy because of its lyrical reference to British Steel. The album found the band branching out into more overtly political topics, culminating in the unhinged ranting of Complicated Game, which became one of the band's most well-known non-hits. Drums and Wires also marked their first sessions at London's Townhouse Studios. The studio was at the time much sought after for its highly reverberant "live" drum room, and it was greatly favoured by their producer of the time, Steve Lillywhite and his engineer Hugh Padgham.
During this period, Partridge also further indulged his love of dub, releasing a solo LP under the name 'Mr Partridge'. The album, Take Away/The Lure of Salvage, featured radical dub deconstructions of music from the preceding XTC albums.
Their 1980 LP, Black Sea spawned the hit singles "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" and "Generals and Majors." The song "Sgt Rock" namechecks a cartoon character of the same name and reflects Partridge's lifelong obsession with American comics, particularly the work of Steve Ditko.
The last major hit of XTC's touring phase was "Senses Working Overtime," the first single from their double album English Settlement and a top 10 hit in 1982. At the peak of their popularity, the band embarked on a major tour, but Partridge suffered a breakdown on stage during one of the first concerts of the tour in Paris on March 18, 1982.
The studio years, 1982–1992
Andy Partridge's breakdown, which manifested itself as uncontrollable stage fright, was reportedly precipitated by his wife throwing away his supply of Valium. According to the band's biography, Andy had become dependent upon the drug after it was prescribed to him as a teenager during his parents' divorce. He reportedly was never withdrawn from the drug and became dependent on it, although many fans were surprised that the group's frenetic early output was produced by a man who was addicted to tranquilisers.
Concerned about her husband's dependence on the drug, Partridge's wife ill-advisedly threw his tablets away—without seeking medical advice—just before the Paris concert. Not surprisingly, Partridge suffered anxiety attacks of such severity that he was soon forced to withdraw from touring permanently. The European and British dates were cancelled and after one show in San Diego the whole U.S. leg was also abandoned. Since then, XTC has been exclusively a studio band, although they have given occasional live-to-air performances from radio stations, and have made a handful of TV appearances as well.
Chambers left the band shortly thereafter, during the recording of their 1983 album Mummer. He was unhappy with the confines of the studio, and also felt the loss of income that resulted from their withdrawal from touring—he did not write, and so received no publishing royalties. Another major factor was his relationship with his Australian girlfriend—they subsequently married, and Chambers migrated to Australia and settled in Newcastle, New South Wales. Rather than finding a replacement, XTC has used a series of session drummers over the years, including Peter Phipps, Prairie Prince of The Tubes, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Pat Mastelotto of Mr. Mister, Chuck Sabo, and Dave Gregory's brother, Ian Gregory (as "E.I.E.I. Owen").
If Mummer saw Partridge cooling his heels with pastoral gems like "Love on a Farmboy's Wages", the band's next album took a noisy left turn. 1984's The Big Express, surprised both their record company and fans alike with its abrasive sound and became XTC's poorest seller to date. The album nonetheless was a personal high point for Partridge, who considers songs such as "The Everyday Story of Smalltown" and "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" amongst the best he's ever written.
In 1986, the band traveled to Todd Rundgren's studio-in-the-woods in Woodstock, New York to record what many consider to be the best album of their career, Skylarking. Although the pairing of XTC and Rundgren was highly anticipated by fans, the sessions were less than enjoyable for the band. Rundgren had insisted that the band send him, in advance, demos of all the songs that they thought they might tackle for the record. When the band got to Woodstock, Rundgren had already worked out a running order for both the recording and sequence of the album itself. True to his "hands-on" studio production style, Rundgren insisted that everyone adhere to his scheme. This did not sit well with the band, Partridge in particular. The two egos of Rundgren and Partridge clashed frequently during the recording of Skylarking and when it was finished Partridge said that he was not at all happy with the result. Partridge has since softened his view, describing the album as "a summer's day baked into one cake."
Skylarking revived the band's commercial fortunes, earning critical accolades and spawning the controversial hit "Dear God", which was originally issued as the B-side of the album's first single, "Grass." Interest in the song saw the album re-pressed with "Dear God" included and the new version of the LP sold 250,000 copies in the USA. ("Dear God" replaced "Mermaid Smiled", which was absent from the album until it was finally reinstated for the remastered "Skylarking" CD in 2000.)
The band's follow up, Oranges and Lemons, produced by Paul Fox, was their biggest seller yet, with "Mayor of Simpleton" and "King for a Day" getting heavy airplay on MTV. It was during this period that Partridge began a relationship with an American fan, Erica Wexler, the niece of famed American record producer Jerry Wexler. Although signs of the failing of Partridge's first marriage were evident as far back as English Settlement (notably on the album's closing track, "Snowman"), it was some time before the still-married Partridge felt comfortable with Wexler's advances; this awkward situation is chronicled in the song "Another Satellite". However, the relationship finally came to fruition after Partridge's first wife Marianne left him, and Wexler and Partridge are now in a long term relationship.
During their long career, XTC have also released material under a variety of pseudonyms, including two albums of psychedelic parodies as "The Dukes of Stratosphear" (ultimately released on a single CD, Chips from the Chocolate Fireball, simultaneous with the second album's vinyl release), a Viz comics promotional single as "Johnny Japes and his Jesticles," a Christmas-themed single as "The Three Wise Men" and a guest appearance on their own tribute album Testimonial Dinner as "Terry and the Lovemen."
Their 1992 album, Nonsuch (named after Henry VIII's fabled palace), united them with famed UK producer Gus Dudgeon and drummer Dave Mattacks. The album featured the US and UK hit tune, "The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead", which brought the band perhaps its greatest success after the early eighties. (The video for "Peter Pumpkinhead" made an unusual comparison between Jesus and John F. Kennedy.) Despite its success, soon after its release, a contractual dispute with their label, Virgin Records, saw XTC go "on strike" from 1992 through 1998, finally resulting in the termination of their contract. They issued no new material during this time, although two compilations were released: Upsy Daisy Assortment and the 2-CD set Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles Collection, which featured remastered versions of their singles, including many tracks not issued on CD before.
Management and contractual problems had dogged the band throughout their career, and around the time of the recording of Nonsuch they had to make a legal settlement with their former manager; although most fans assume (and the lyrics of "I Bought Myself a Liarbird" from The Big Express imply) that there was some financial impropriety involved, the terms of the settlement imposed a "gag" on the band and have prevented them from speaking publicly about the matter.
The final straw for the band was Virgin's scuttling of their 1992 single "Wrapped in Grey", which was pressed up in the tens of thousands, and then recalled and destroyed by the label. The band asked that Virgin either allow them to re-negotiate their contract or release them, but the label stalled for years until finally agreeing to release them after a change of management at the company.
Going independent, 1992–2006
After leaving Virgin, Partridge had their accounts audited and it was discovered that the company had withheld substantial royalty payments from them. The settlement of the accounts provided the group with much-needed cash flow, allowing Partridge and Moulding to install fully-equipped studios and work comfortably at home. They are now able to record the majority of their work themselves, although they have used major commercial studios (including Abbey Road Studios in London) for some sessions. Finally released from Virgin, they formed their own label, Idea Records.
Dave Gregory quit the band during the recording of the 1999 album Apple Venus Volume 1 after 20 years' service. His contribution to the mature XTC sound had been immense: the technical skill of his guitar and keyboard playing, and his orchestral scoring, had facilitated a huge expansion in the group's sonic possibilities. His skills also encouraged, perhaps goaded Partridge to new heights of musicianship.
However, without him, Partridge and Moulding delivered Apple Venus Volume 1. Its successor, Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2), though favorably reviewed, was considered less strong. The two volumes were originally envisioned as the two discs of a double album, and in October 2005 they were reissued together in the 4 CD Apple Box collection.
Now in control of their own work and with their own small studio, Partridge and Moulding have released instrumental and demo versions of their first two albums on Idea, Apple Venus and Wasp Star. Having left Virgin, relations have improved and Andy Partridge has since released a series of albums of demos of his songs (mainly from the Virgin years) under the title of Fuzzy Warbles in 2002, on a new label imprint APE, which could stand for Andy Partridge Experiments or Andy Partridge Editions or any one of a thousand connotations of the letter E. Colin Moulding declined to contribute his demos to the series. As of January 2006, the Fuzzy Warbles series has run to fully six volumes; volumes seven and eight are slated to appear by mid-2006.
A boxed 4 CD compilation, Coat of Many Cupboards spanning the band's time with Virgin, was also released in 2002.
Though the immediate and medium-term future for XTC still remains uncertain, the inclusion of the first new tracks for five years, "Spiral", penned by Partridge, and "Say It", written by Moulding, on the Apple Box release offers some hope of the band's continuance.
In November 2006, Partridge told several interviewers that Moulding no longer had any interest in writing, performing or even listening to music. Partridge has said he would not continue XTC without Moulding, and that therefore he has been forced to regard XTC "in the past tense," with no likelihood of a new project unless Moulding should have a change of heart.
As of December 2018, five XTC albums (Nonsuch, Drums and Wires, Oranges and Lemons, Skylarking and Black Sea) have been given expanded reissues on APE featuring 5.1 Surround mixes and new stereo mixes by renowned remixer Steven Wilson, with a yet-unnamed sixth in the works as confirmed on Andy Partridge's Twitter. Further vinyl and CD reissues have been released of English Settlement, Apple Venus Volume 1 and Wasp Star, with more planned for 2019 and 2020 according to sleeve notes on the Apple Venus/Wasp Star vinyl.
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XTC Lyrics
06- All Along The Watchtower "There must be some way out of here," said the…
1000 Umbrellas One thousand umbrellas Upturned couldn't catch all the rain …
25 O'Clock The urge to take you grows more strong For time had…
Across This Antheap Soldiers, workers, slaves and farmers, Nurses, queens and d…
All Along the Watchtower "There must be some way out of here," said the…
All of a Sudden What can I say? Why do we starve a thing…
All You Pretty Girls Do something for me, boys If I should die at…
Always Winter Never Christmas Always winter but never Christmas You won't open your box o…
Another Satellite My heart is taken it's not lost in space And I…
Are You Receiving Me Are you receiving me? You are deceiving me I know,…
Bags of fun with buster Performed by Johnny Japes and His Jesticles. Recorded for Vi…
Ball And Chain Save us from the ball and chain, Save us from the…
Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead Let's begin Peter Pumpkinhead came to town Spreading wisdom…
Ballet for a Rainy Day Orange and lemon Raincoats roll and tumble Together, just li…
Battery Brides Battery brides, ha ha have you ever tried To break…
Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian) Battery brides, ha ha have you ever tried To break out…
Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian) - 2001 - Remaster Battery brides, have you ever tried To break out of your…
Beating of Hearts Do you know what noise awakes you Every morning from…
Beatown Beatown I spoke to your boss this morning He asked…
Big Day It's your big day, your big day So you want to…
Bike Ride To The Moon Push me off to start the funOn a bike ride…
Blame the Weather When your love's flown out the window, And the pain…
Blue Beret Life is sometimes shorter than you think So take yourself a…
Blue Overall Blue overall Overall the rooftops blue birds fly apart B…
Boarded Up Boarded up Yeah, we're boarded up Nailed up shut Yeah, we're…
Books Are Burning Books are burning in the main square And I saw there,…
Brainiac Brainiacs Daughter Made me a suit of bricks and mortar And a…
Broomstick Rhythm As you're sweeping Autumn leaves up You are sweeping My fall…
Bungalow Bungalow Bungalow By the sea Bungalow In the sea a…
Burning With Optimism Never seen her glowing All that bright she's throwing Like…
Buzzcity Talking What makes you wander far Don't know who you are…
Buzzcity Talking - 2001 - Remaster What makes you wander far Don't know who you are Now if…
Cairo Well, let me tell you about my girlie She goes by…
Chain Of Command How bright are the fires of thought In a chain…
Chalkhills and Children I'm floating over strange land, It's a soulless, sequined, …
Cherry in your tree [Chorus] Cherry cherry in your tree Jump down on the groun…
Church of Women A lie for a lie, but a truth for the…
Cockpit Dance Mixture Man acting like a farmer, And he's treating the woman…
Collideascope Collideascope Careful, don't look down the wrong end You wil…
Commerciality Fire sign, indicate luminous pornography Heliograph and mor…
Complicated Game I ask myself, "should I put my finger to the…
Countdown to Christmas Party Time Countdown Countdown to Christmas Countdown to Christmas part…
Crocodile Crocodile No you won't make me jealous That she left…
Cross Wires It's the airwaves of the world Not the hairwaves on your…
Crosswires It's the airwaves of the world Not the hairwaves on your…
Crowded Room Across a crowded room I first set eyes on you…
Cynical Days Another year's gone by, The world's grown older, Sometimes…
Dance Band Watch them go one two three I'm so happy and so…
Day in Day Out Clock in my head Clock on the wall And the…
Dear God Dear God, hope you got the letter and I pray you…
Dear Madam Barnum I put on a fake smile And start the evening show The…
Deliver Us From the Elements We can plant a seed And watch it grow Food…
Desert Island Cast away on a desert island Me and poor Crusoe are…
difficult age Difficult age You're just fourteen And you're not friends wi…
Do What You Do Do what you do what you do...to me The stars…
Don't Lose Your Temper Don't lose your temper Don't lose your temper Don't lose y…
Down a Peg You took me Down down down Down a peg Thank you For taking …
Down in the Cockpit Man acting like a farmer and, He's treated the woman…
Dying It frightens me when you come to mind The day you…
Earn Enough for Us I've been praying all the week through At home, at work…
Easter Theatre Gold sun rolls around Chocolate nipple brown Tumble from y…
English Roundabout People rushing round with no time to spare. I'm so…
Everything Everything, everything, everything We ever thought or said W…
Extrovert Yes, it's true I want that apple, just like William Tell No…
Find the Fox The hunt is on to find the fox Cross patchwork fields…
Fly on the Wall I am the fly on the wall, My prying eyes…
Frivolous Tonight Let us talk about some trivial things we like A bit…
Fruit Nut Tending my fruit, tending my fruit Ah you've got to have…
Funk Pop A Roll Funk pop a roll beats up my soul Oozing like…
Garden of Earthly Delights Kid, Stay and snip your cord off, Talk and let…
Generals & Majors Generals and Majors ah ah They're never too far From…
Generals And Major Generals and Majors ah ah They're never too far From…
Glow Is the airplane sweeping low? Dropping leaflets down below. …
Gold Looks as if you're dropping mirrors by the gross Looks as…
Goodnight sucker Goodnight, sucker...…
Goosey Goosey Hey goosey goosey I believe it's for having fun Hey goosey g…
Grass Laying on the grass my heart it flares like fire The…
Great Fire Great fire burning, you supplied the spark Fires burning spr…
Green Man Please to bend down for the one called the Greenman…
Hang on to the Night When We're laying in bed And We're laying in love You and…
Happy Families Have you got Miss Fortune, she's the daughter of rich…
Harvest Festival See the flowers round the altar See the peaches in…
Have You Seen Jackie? Have you seen Jackie? He's a strange strange strange little …
Heatwave She likes it hot She likes a tan She steals my infra…
Heatwave Mark 2 Deluxe She likes it hot She likes a tan She steals my infrared W…
Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass Heaven is paved with broken glass, Since your hammer struck…
Helicopter Oh heli, oh heli I'm crouching here with a telescope…
Here Comes President Kill Again Here comes President Kill again, Surrounded by all of his…
History Of Rock 'n' Roll So, let's briefly summarize what we know, shall we? The…
History of Rock'n' Roll So, let's briefly summarize what we know Shall we? The 5…
Hold Me My Daddy Hold me my daddy, I never felt lower than dirt…
Holly Up On Poppy Holly up on Poppy Canter never stop She has escaped from t…
Human Alchemy An alchemy, human alchemy We stole them from their freedom…
Humble Daisy Humble Daisy Form a chain to hold all battleships in check H…
I I'm the man who murdered love Yeah! What do you think…
I Am The Audience I am the audience There's no doubt, no consequence I…
I Bought Myself A Liarbird I bought myself a liarbird He came with free drinks…
I Can't Own Her And I may as well wish for the moon in…
I Need Protection Oh, I need protection Nothing is safe and, Nothing is truly …
I Remember the Sun Hot as golden sand in fields We whiled away the…
I Sit in the Snow I sit in the snow The town lights aglow The…
I'd Like That I'd like That if we could cycle down some lane…
I'll Set Myself On Fire Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho Now you see it Now you don't Has…
I'm Bugged I'm bugged you all look like insects In your brand…
I'm the Man Who Murdered Love I'm the man who murdered love Yeah! What do you think…
Im The Man Who Murdered Love [Chorus] I'm the man who murdered love Yeah! What do you t…
In Another Life Well, would you want me, in your afternoons If I seduced…
In Loving Memory of a Name Boom goes my heart Dancing around your daisies Church bell…
Instant Tunes Instant tunes only just been made Instant songs never to be…
Into The Atom Age I'm heading into the atom age My contemporary house is all…
Intro Yo wassup wassup wassup so here This like right here is…
It's Nearly Africa Chant your spirit free; Rush to greet truth like a…
It's Snowing Angels It's snowing angels, on my front porch Take a broom and…
It’s Nearly Africa Chant your spirit free; Rush to greet truth like a…
Jason And The Argonauts There may be no golden fleece, But human riches I'll…
Jump Scared of love, love and swimming pools Falling in you said…
Jumping In Gomorrah J.U.M.P.I.N.G. jumping in Gomorrah, I'm religion free J.U.M…
King For A Day Everyone's creeping up to the money god, Putting tongues wh…
Knights in Shining Karma Knights in shining karma Tend your flame And with love…
Knuckle Down Knuckle down, Love his skin, It doesn't matter what colour…
Ladybird O ladybird I have heard you wish to walk me…
Last Balloon The last balloon is leaving, the last balloon from fear The…
Leisure Leisure They taught me how to work, But they can't…
Let's Make a Den Let's make a den What shall we use? Make it out…
Let’s Make a Den Let's make a den What shall we use? Make it out of…
Life Begins At the Hop I have learnt there's a magical spot at the hop Come…
Life Is Good In The Greenhouse Everybody lives somewhere Mud hut or igloo But what I…
Limelight I'm in the limelight No time for sun ray We…
Little Lighthouse She's a little lighthouse when she Opens up her huge eyes An…
Living Through Another Cuba Living through another Cuba It's 1961 again and we are…
Looking for Footprints I want a back seat Because I'm dead beat I'm respirating To …
Love At First Sight See the lovers all gone crazy Looking for romance it…
Love On A Farmboy's Wages High climbs the summer sun High stands the corn And…
Love on a Farmboy’s Wages High climbs the summer sun High stands the corn And…
Making Plans for Nigel We're only making plans for Nigel We only want what's…
Making Plans For Nigels We're only making plans for Nigel We only want what's…
Mayor of Simpleton Never been near a university, Never took a paper or a…
Me And The Wind Me and the wind are celebrating your loss Me and…
Meccanic Dancing Woolworth beauty Factory beau Arm in arm They must go…
Meccanik Dancing Woolworth beauty Factory beau Arm in arm They must go To…
Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!) Woolworth beauty Factory beau Arm in arm They must go To the…
Melt the Guns Programmes of violence, As entertainment, Brings the disea…
Merely A Man Higher. I'm a king, yes, I'm a head of state.…
Mermaid Smiled From pools of xylophone clear From caves of memory I…
Millions We smelled your soup on the fire cooking We saw…
Miniature Sun I'm twelve o'clock, All daylight hours, I'll warm your bed…
My Bird Performs Fine art never moved my soul No vintage wine and designer…
My Brown Guitar In my heart, in my heart You want some lovely, I…
My Love Explodes My love explodes all over the world for you, yeah…
My Weapon I dunno wot she got I dunno wot she got…
Neon Shuffle Hey - what you going to do now You're standing…
New Broom We need a new broom To sweep it all clean…
New Town Animal In A Furnished Cage I think my watch has bust and so is time…
No Language in Our Lungs There is no language in our lungs To tell the…
No one here available No one here available right now Please leave your name…
No Thugs In Our House The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the l…
Obscene Procession Can't you see 'em, in obscene procession? Clad in fox…
Officer Blue Officer Blue Really love the things you do Even when I was…
Omnibus Hey yeah Hey yeah, yeah Climb up here beside me We can ride…
One of the Millions I got so much to say But I'm afraid it'll…
Outside World She has six swans singing in her sauna So she…
Pale and Precious So pale and precious is the light that will shine Out…
Paper and Iron Paper, iron, won't buy Eden Working for paper and for…
Pink Thing Anytime you rise, I'm here, And I'm crazy for you…
Playground I climb up, spending daylight Slide down drunken on the…
Poor Skeleton Steps Out Poor skeleton steps out, Dressed up in bad blood, Bad…
Procession Towards Learning Land Funk pop a roll beats up my soul Oozing like napalm…
Pulsing Pulsing Pulsing pulsing, There's a beat in his arm still. Pulsin…
Punch and Judy Gather 'round! Punch and Judy, Did it truly, And were…
Ra Ra For Red Rockinghorse Did you think you knew the game? Did you think that…
Radio's In Motion There's a message up in China That they getting in…
Real by Reel In this secret time, invading on our privacy Unknowing we…
Red You better watch your tape boys It's the tint that…
Red Brick Dream Red brick dream Windows scream As the rusting north star shi…
Reel By Reel In this secret time, invading on our privacy Unknowing we…
Reign Of Blows Reign of blows Reign of blows Reign of blows cascading…
Respectable Street Heard the neighbor slam his car door Don't he realize…
River of Orchids Hey! I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus I…
Roads Girdle the Globe Am I asleep Or am I fast Your every race…
Rocket Cape Canaveral Florida, ready for takeoff stages Zoom destin…
Rocket From A Bottle Birds beware, expect me up there Me and air are…
Rook Rook, rook, read from your book Who murders who and where…
Runaways Oh run-a, oh run-a, oh runaways, (Please come home) Oh…
Sacrificial Bonfire Fire they cried So evil must die And yields are good So men…
Scarecrow People Hope you enjoyed your flight, In one of our new straw…
Science Friction I look out of my window at night I see the…
Scissor Man Snipping, snipping, snipping goes the scissor man Putting en…
Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her It's raining on the beach She inches close but out…
Season Cycle Season cycle moving round and round Pushing life up from a…
Senses Working Overtime Hey, hey, the clouds are away There's straw for the donkeys …
Set Myself on Fire Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho Now you see it…
Sgt Rock I'm enlisting, overseas aid Need assisting, help with a mai…
Shake You Donkey Up Here he come again Dress in all that skin Like…
Shake You Donkey Up - 2001 - Remaster Here he come again Dress in all that skin Like he was…
Shaking Skin House Zap, pow pow zap Zap, pap, pap, pap zap Da da da…
She's So Square Awful plastic boots that come above her ankle Dayglo mini s…
She’s So Square Awful plastic boots that come above her ankle Dayglo mini sk…
Shiny Cage Hiding faces turning pages Still they read and read Double d…
Shore Leave Ornithology Slacks, coffee trend I could have been in the us navy Flap…
Sleepyheads I want a back seat Because I'm dead beat I'm respirating …
Smokeless Zone I'm living in my smokeless zone My house is not…
Snowman It isn't even winter and I'm freezing, freezing, This sort…
Some Lovely In my heart, in my heart You want some lovely, I…
Spinning Top I'm like a spinning top Going round and around Well…
Standing In For Joe I'm standing, standing in for Joe Joe called round to ask…
Statue Of Liberty The first time I saw you standing in the water…
Strange Tales Strange Tails Strange tales Scribbled on a uniform Strange tails Scribbled…
Stupidly Happy I'm stupidly happy Everything's fine I'm stupidly happy M…
Summer Drowning here in summer's cauldron Under mats of flower lava…
Super-Tuff In the car park In the lamplight Go for a…
Take This Town Living in a rabbit tunnel Keep the doggy in her kennel Mustn…
Ten Feet Tall Happy I'm floating Around on my feet now You make…
Terrorism Terrorism You're writing your diary in innocents' blood Yo…
Thanks For Christmas Thanks for Christmas Thank you for the love and happiness th…
That I can't hold you down If you want to fly Can't you…
That Is the Way Do this, do that, do this, do that Go and speak (Do…
That Wave That wave pulled me into your eyes Through the greeny gray…
That's Really Super Supergirl I can't hold you down If you want to fly Can't you…
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkin Head Let's begin Peter Pumpkinhead came to town Spreading wis…
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead Let's begin Peter Pumpkinhead came to town Spreading wisdom…
The Disappointed The disappointed All shuffle round in circles Their placards…
The Everyday Story of Smalltown Smalltown, snoring under blankets Woken by the clank It'…
The Forgotten Language of Light Busg inda na sai nai nai-upp ohna stup Sherdderp nusay-nai-n…
The good things Demo version, from Mayor of Simpleton single. Released in …
The Last Balloon The last balloon is leaving, the last balloon from fear The…
The Loving All around the world, every boy and every girl Need the…
The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul The man who sailed around his soul From East to West,…
The Mayor Of Simpleton Never been near a university, Never took a paper or a…
The Meeting Place Meet you in the secret place Scuffling in the dirt I…
The Mole From The Ministry If you think there's something wrong Holes appearing on your…
The Rhythm He makes a beeline for the place Where he gets…
The Rotary Thanks to Erich Sellheim I'm …
The Smartest Monkeys Well man created the cardboard box to sleep in it And…
The Somnambulist Untie the gown, float to the ground She revolve round,…
The Troubles Well hush my children don't you cry The troubles will soon…
The Ugly Underneath First there's the handshake It's so warm that you could bake…
The Wheel and the Maypole I've got the plow if you've got the furrow I've got…
The World Is Full of Angry Young Men Gone are the days When hate filled my heart I feel now…
Then She Appeared Then she appeared Apple Venus on a half open shell Then she…
This Is P5op In a milk bar and feeling lost Drinking sodas as…
This World Over Oh well, that's this world over Oh well, next one…
Tissue Tigers I shout this, You shout that, The clouds are coming over loo…
Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen There's too many cooks in the kitchen There's too many mind…
Tower Of London Towers of London When they had built you Did you…
Toys Sindy's spending too much money on clothes Ken is going back…
Traffic Light Rock I'm out and I'm driving Got my eyes set on romance She…
Train Running Low on Soul Coal Me train running low on soul coal They push and…
Travels In Nihilon You've learnt no lessons All that time so cheaply spent…
Us Being Us I've been praying all the week through At home, at work…
Vanishing Girl Someone's knocking in the Distance But I'm deaf and blind Sh…
Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down Wait till your boat goes down That's when you'll need me…
Wake Up You put your cleanest dirty shirt on Then you stagger down…
War Dance There's an epidemic Stirring passions in young hearts Even t…
Wash Away Mother's in the kitchen steaming up the window panes Smell…
Washaway Mother's in the kitchen steaming up the window panes Smell…
We're All Light And I won't take from you Don't you know 'Bout…
What In The World 2032 Housewives shock in blue What in the world is it coming…
When We Get to England When we get to england Will we know when we've arrived?…
When You're Near Me When you're near me I have difficulty respirating When you'…
Wonderland Can't you see Love and affection When it's put In…
Work Keep your fingers busy Mentally or physically What four-le…
Wounded Horse Well, I stumbled and I fell Like a wounded horse When I…
Wrapped In Grey Some folks see the world as a stone Concrete daubed in…
yacht dance We, we will dance like tiny boats with cotton sails…
You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful And every morning before I'm awake I walk around the world…
You're a Good Man Albert Brown Well you're a good man Albert Brown And you was wounded…
You're My Drug You take me to heaven from deeper than hell ever…
You're the Wish I Had What was I supposed to do? I turned around with…
You're the Wish (You Are) I Had What was I supposed to do? I turned around with the…
You're the Wish You Are I Had What was I supposed to do? I turned around with…
Young Cleopatra I see them offering you gum I hear the swarming…
Your Dictionary H-A-T-E Is that how you spell love in your dictionary…
Your Gold Dress You gold dress is whirling around Like a fan it's lifting…