솔로 데뷔 앨범 [Ian Hunter] 이후 발표한 76년의 두번째 솔로 앨범 30주년 기념 에디션. Ian Hunter에게는 없어선 안되는 존재인 Mick Ronson 측과의 불화로 인해 그가 앨범 작업에 참여하지 못하게 되자 그 대안으로 다방면의 걸출한 뮤지션들을 섭외하게 되는데, 그 이름도 쟁쟁한 쟈코 파스토리우스, 그룹 Queen의 멤버 프레디 머큐리, 로져 테일러, 브라이언 메이 그리고 색소폰주자 데이빗 샌본 등이 이 작품에 모습을 드러내고 있다. 결과적으로 Mott the Hoople 사운드와 약간은 재즈적인 사운드가 묘하게 어우러진 작품으로 오랫동안 사랑받고 있다. 특히 오리지널 버전의 마지막 트랙에서 쟈코 파스토리우스의 기타 실력을 접할 수 있으며, 최초로 공개되는 6곡의 보너스 트랙을 함께 수록하고 있다. .... ....
Poor britannia - drowning in your waves With the body of the unknown soldier and the best of the brave I have known you ever since I was a child How come you don't salute me - now - when I smile
You was always so young and on all o' that money How come new mourners pass you by and think it's so funny I'd be there with you but I'm chained unto this stake For I am loyalty but my mast I cannot forsake
I looked down on a bunch of amusements, I looked down walls I've looked on hangings 'n parades 'n city halls And I've seen love in so many living rooms And I've seen rich men slowly die inside their tombs
I know we're just two charms but it's heavy on my mind Have faith in me I said, now, look at time I know you're just a victim of your history but Have faith in me, I said and you would be free....
You pull me up and you pull me down And when the queen's in residence I hang around I don't wave madly 'cos the climate's civilised Just flutter sadly 'cos I'm old 'n I'm wise
And you-you been up, and you - you been down You been through many things I know you been around I have fought armies for you in the conflicts of the past Britannia, I implore you, do not lower me by half.
I packed my bags - in the land of rags 'Cos I don't believe in them dimmo drags Don't wanna vote for the left wing - don't wanna vote for the right I gotta have both-to make me fly
Just a whitey from Blighty - heading out west Got my little green card 'n my bulletproof vest Goin' to old tube city - where the buzz is the best On down the line (down the line) down the line (down the line)
Well I was born (on the line) 'n I was raised (on the line) I was schooled (on the line) 'n I was fazed (on the line) 'N I was used (on the line) 'n I was dazed (on the line) Just had to split (off the line) 'cos I was crazed (off the line)
'N I remember all the good times - me 'n Miller enjoyed Up and down the M1 in some luminous yo-yo toy But the future has to change - and to change I've got to destroy Oh look out Lennon here I come - land ahoy-hoy-hoy
All American Alien Boy All American Alien Boy
Don't look down put your feet on the ground don't drown in the big aquarium Don't walk slow - put on a big show - shove your meat down vegetarians Don't get slugged, get mugged, get bugged, or they'll sling you in the jug Shove you under some rug, give you some drug - pull out the plug and then...
And they're telling me this hamburger's cheaper than the other 'N this television's cheaper than the other And they're selling me hotdogs cheaper than the other 'N these pizzas cheaper than the other And I don't understand all this - I'm just an All American Alien Boy
'N they're telling me rifles are shot in Connecticut They're telling me pistols are shot in Westchester You can get a Saturday Night Special on Flatbush, on the Bowery, or the Bronx
Or on 42nd Street - And I don't understand all this - being an All American Alien Boy
I've got sodium nitrate rotting in my guts My head's full of ulcers I got lungs full of butts My heart wants a transplant - it thinks that I'm nuts My logic won't open - my eyes won't shut 'N I'm beginning to dig all this - being an All American Alien Boy
And your women are always right (alright) They always know so much more 'Cos the women came from heaven 'N the men came outta some store 'N they don't know who they are and they don't know what they're for
I'm an All American Alien Boy - look out Mary Tyler Moore - All American Alien Boy - etc.
CHORUS
Ten Bears, Two Bears, Standing Bear, Plenty Bear, Old Bear, Brave Bear, Hollow Horn Bear Silver Knife, Spotted Tail, Yellow Hand, Red Cloud, Red Fox, Red Horse, Black Kettle, White Ghost, White Bull, White Thunder, White Hog, hold on a minute gotta frog in my throat Cochise, Alchise, Roman Nose, Geronimo - hold on a minute - more to go Sitting Bull, Tall Bull, Crazy Horse and Short Bull, Low Dog, Red Dog, Yellow Wolf, Low Wolf Loco, Victorio, Chato, Little Crow, Dead Eyes, Jak, Taza 'n Colorow My mouth's exploiting that's enough of this noise I guess we're all - All American Alien Boys.
When I was just sixteen - I stood waiting for a dream - at Barker Street bus station every night When I tried to get it on - she just looked at me with scorn - my courage turned to dust and I took flight
For those looks they seemed to say You ain't nuthin' - Go away You're just a face in the crowd so I went home and I vowed I'm gonna be somebody - someday
Her name was Irene Wilde - Oh such beauty for a child When she started dating boys - I nearly died For I could not barely stand to see someone hold her hand I felt I had to crawl away and hide In my mother's living room I composed so many tunes All the same - just a frame - for her name, and just to say Gonna be somebody - someday
Wild as your name I soon left that country town I been around, seen some fame, seen some ups and seen some downs Smile through your shock when you hear your name aloud It's that face in the crowd - didn't dig it - much too proud...
When I was just sixteen I stood waiting for a dream A Barker Street bus station non affair At the time it seemed so sad, but it did not turn out bad If you hadn't messed me up I'd still be there And I think most folks agree, a little put-down makes them see They ain't no chain - just a link and that's why you made me think Gonna be somebody - be somebody - be somebody - someday
He's much the same as anyone - He don't do what he's told He got hostile on his school report - and he leaves his mother cold His father owned a bakery - one day they found him hanged It ain't good to be free in Little Italy - his son's the leader of the gang
He soon found out he could not work - the money was no good This child of the city hit the welfare kitty - did some runnin' for the hoods
And the logic of the street was such - that everything was bent There's a lot of white collars - stealing government dollars - wouldn't notice such a little percent.
CHORUS
Now I went to his graduation - in some Brooklyn overnight jail He said he was a member of the rock'n roll nation - but his face was drawn 'n pale They gave him a suspended sentence - 'n he got straight on the phone Called a big, big, man with a Miami tan 'n said "Hi I'm Al Capone - the 2nd Restless Youth"
CHORUS
Now his first hit came at seventeen - his second was his last Some dealer ran screaming from the scene - as the bullets whistled past 'N the cop that killed him shook his head 'n said "I swear the truth When I know it was some old, old man 'n not a restless youth."
CHORUS
Now the moral of this story is that all he saw was greed Legal, illegalities 'n all them politician thieves Good people of the U.S.A. if you want your kids to grow Then check your harvest carefully - Don't reap; before you sow
He searched through his love like a thief on the run He searched through his face - to see the guilt water run But he's fresh out of tears and nobody has come And justice has got to be done
Oh moon in the city stay open and clear For his vision ain't good and his mind's disappeared "Get along mother nature" they spat at your son So justice has got to be done
And beauty is lying alone in the park Her friend has gone bowling in the alleys so dark Where's her knight in white armour who rides a chrome Ford Justice would seem to be bored Justice would seem to be bored
A knife full of life penetrated the bait While he thinks 'o the sister and the mother that he hates And he thinks he'll get off 'cos he's sick, rich, and stoned And justice was made to be honed And justice was made to be honed
And his lawyer is smiling one hell of a smile 'N he's lying all the lies - of the lies in exile While she's dying of grief he's defending his brief And justice would seem to be cheap And justice would seem to be cheap
Well I've searched through the falling, and I searched through the failed I've searched through the jury - the judge and the jailed But sleeping beauty is dead no use pricking her thumb And justice has got to be done
Justice just is - justice just is - justice just is - Not!
See lonely shadows - silver needles Abandoned in the evening war Lost children of the night - come catch the candle bright I hear a hollow sound - falling to the ground - she's lost before she's found
Sad broken angels takin' rainbows Out on the street for all to see If we are the chosen few - what ever happened to All those things we knew, if this is being free - I'd rather search for me
CHORUS
You nearly did, you nearly did, you nearly did You nearly did me in, you nearly did me in And I need some place to hide - my weary anger down
Out on some misty distant highway Feel like I though a million miles Is my search nearly done - I think I see someone I get the urge to run on blindly through the rain, and I fool myself again
CHORUS
What ever happened to dignity What ever happened to integrity What ever happened to honesty Well I'll tell you something baby - I feel the pain just like the sea
God said to me "gonna kick your ass - 'cos all you do is ask ask ask All that energy looking for me when I'm sitting here inside you - plain to see How I built you cell for cell gave you sights to see - gave you tales to tell Even let you help yourself for a while - to take some weight off this busy child"
I said to God "i found you out - I know what this world is all about!" God said "stop - don't scramble your brain - my opponent's been messing you around again See him and me are enemies and we play little games for galaxies And he's inside you - 'n I am too - so here we are - just the three of you"
"oh we made mistakes - too many cards - but making human beings can be hard A God gets tired of playing so much chess - he wishes his God would get him out of his mess" I said to God "what's it like to die" he said "it's as plain as the sea and sky Conception was him and me and you - when your batteries fade we all just move on"
I said to God "who's winning this game - is the devil in front" he said "is that his name You know I've been so busy I never asked - I never looked up from this awesome task" I said to God "what's good 'n bad" he said "it's just something you've got to have It don't mean nothing to us up here - but your primitive people - you gotta have fear"
I said to God "do I think for myself" he said I told you once you just help yourself Don't forget you're composed of three, your thinking comes from him and me" I said to God "how big are you, is there a religion - is it true How big's the universe - is time - the same for you as my life is to mine"
God said "if all the things that made worlds float - were all to part - then you would note The size of him and the size of me - and that's how big we both shall be"
He said "the universe is small - just like some fortune-teller's ball And we both sit down - and we play the game - when somebody wins it all starts again"
"there's no religion - you did that - it helps to keep your little leaders fat Like faith 'n superstition stay - to help you pass the time away But when you talk of time and life - it makes me think of circles, heights Expansion is the clue - your dreams - are nearer than you've ever been"
"you see my little toy to think - is from two bowls of wine to drink Don't take too much or you may drown - behave yourself - see you around..."
I packed my bags - in the land of rags 'Cos I don't believe in them dimmo drags Don't wanna vote for the left wing - don't wanna vote for the right I gotta have both-to make me fly
Just a whitey from Blighty - heading out west Got my little green card 'n my bulletproof vest Goin' to old tube city - where the buzz is the best On down the line (down the line) down the line (down the line)
Well I was born (on the line) 'n I was raised (on the line) I was schooled (on the line) 'n I was fazed (on the line) 'N I was used (on the line) 'n I was dazed (on the line) Just had to split (off the line) 'cos I was crazed (off the line)
'N I remember all the good times - me 'n Miller enjoyed Up and down the M1 in some luminous yo-yo toy But the future has to change - and to change I've got to destroy Oh look out Lennon here I come - land ahoy-hoy-hoy
All American Alien Boy All American Alien Boy
Don't look down put your feet on the ground don't drown in the big aquarium Don't walk slow - put on a big show - shove your meat down vegetarians Don't get slugged, get mugged, get bugged, or they'll sling you in the jug Shove you under some rug, give you some drug - pull out the plug and then...
And they're telling me this hamburger's cheaper than the other 'N this television's cheaper than the other And they're selling me hotdogs cheaper than the other 'N these pizzas cheaper than the other And I don't understand all this - I'm just an All American Alien Boy
'N they're telling me rifles are shot in Connecticut They're telling me pistols are shot in Westchester You can get a Saturday Night Special on Flatbush, on the Bowery, or the Bronx
Or on 42nd Street - And I don't understand all this - being an All American Alien Boy
I've got sodium nitrate rotting in my guts My head's full of ulcers I got lungs full of butts My heart wants a transplant - it thinks that I'm nuts My logic won't open - my eyes won't shut 'N I'm beginning to dig all this - being an All American Alien Boy
And your women are always right (alright) They always know so much more 'Cos the women came from heaven 'N the men came outta some store 'N they don't know who they are and they don't know what they're for
I'm an All American Alien Boy - look out Mary Tyler Moore - All American Alien Boy - etc.
CHORUS
Ten Bears, Two Bears, Standing Bear, Plenty Bear, Old Bear, Brave Bear, Hollow Horn Bear Silver Knife, Spotted Tail, Yellow Hand, Red Cloud, Red Fox, Red Horse, Black Kettle, White Ghost, White Bull, White Thunder, White Hog, hold on a minute gotta frog in my throat Cochise, Alchise, Roman Nose, Geronimo - hold on a minute - more to go Sitting Bull, Tall Bull, Crazy Horse and Short Bull, Low Dog, Red Dog, Yellow Wolf, Low Wolf Loco, Victorio, Chato, Little Crow, Dead Eyes, Jak, Taza 'n Colorow My mouth's exploiting that's enough of this noise I guess we're all - All American Alien Boys.
When I was just sixteen - I stood waiting for a dream - at Barker Street bus station every night When I tried to get it on - she just looked at me with scorn - my courage turned to dust and I took flight
For those looks they seemed to say You ain't nuthin' - Go away You're just a face in the crowd so I went home and I vowed I'm gonna be somebody - someday
Her name was Irene Wilde - Oh such beauty for a child When she started dating boys - I nearly died For I could not barely stand to see someone hold her hand I felt I had to crawl away and hide In my mother's living room I composed so many tunes All the same - just a frame - for her name, and just to say Gonna be somebody - someday
Wild as your name I soon left that country town I been around, seen some fame, seen some ups and seen some downs Smile through your shock when you hear your name aloud It's that face in the crowd - didn't dig it - much too proud...
When I was just sixteen I stood waiting for a dream A Barker Street bus station non affair At the time it seemed so sad, but it did not turn out bad If you hadn't messed me up I'd still be there And I think most folks agree, a little put-down makes them see They ain't no chain - just a link and that's why you made me think Gonna be somebody - be somebody - be somebody - someday