With a calm and strategic no I'm back and I'm solo This is the Oliver Twist manifesto
For the age I was born, for Victoriana This is Oliver Twist pissing over Britannia 50 years of Tin Pan Alley I learned good from a king thief mentor 200 years of teenage anarchy Papist threats and no popery Revenge ???? the cold in Soho This is the Oliver Twist manifesto Totality for the kids Oliver Twist
This is Oliver Twist
There was this gang who I used to run with Swindlers, knaves, urchins scum, spivs Looking good comes in handy When you're dipping from the pockets of a dandy And there's murder in the air at the Connelli room And there's treason in the air at the Groucho If there's a TV pop in the Soho house It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to tell you That it's Oliver Twist Doing it for the kids
Keep the boy on gruel There's a young British artist in the room This is Oliver Twist
What if all of the village idiots And all the raspberry ripples Are just putting it on And they're the brightest of all of the cripples? Oliver Twist I cartarista Disappear into a pea souper Swooping down like the Hun Over the gas-lit streets of London Into a pea souper A Cartarista
Unto you my children I bestow this gift It's a ballroom blitz This is Oliver Twist This is Oliver Twist
A cartarista Into a pea souper Totality for the kids Oliver Twist Swooping down like the Hun Swooping down over Soho It's the Oliver Twist manifesto Oliver twist
This is the death of Sarah Lucas As painted by the mouth of Verona Sarah Lucas and the Turin Shroud Jesus Christ on a tea-towel Take the cigarette Sarah Put it in your mouth, smoke the fucker Light it, suck it, don't blow it Don't make a big deal about it
I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas
She's playing with morality She's using ambiguity She's using humour to question our preconceptions Wish I could be like her but I am not a girl "The Car's The Star" to glue the cigarettes on
I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas
There are things that I don't understand Maybe I'm an average man But Sarah, I'm sorry But I have to kill you I traced her to a member's bar She's holding court, she's talking art Doesn't fruit look funny in a gallery?
It could be death by cigarette Or one true blow to the head Just plug Aunt Sally in the belly
I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas I shot Sarah Lucas
They're having sex to 'The Kids In America' This is the story of Discomania Keep me up all night with your own private language This is the story of Pepsi Cola addicts
Which one of us killed us? Which one of us am I? Which one of us killed us? Which one of us am I?
It's all Discomania It's all Discomania It's all Discomania
I'm anti-everything And it's all Discomania We are the kids from the base We're not the kids in America Kim Wilde is sex I'm Tallula Bankhead Carrot cabbage winters Is gonna die from stamp death
Which one of us killed us? Which one of us am I? Which one of us killed us? Which one of us am I?
It's all Discomania It's all Discomania It's all Discomania
Totality for the kids Totality for the government I like people when they keep their mouth shut I like them when they're silent Cos Kim Wilde is sex I'm Tallula Bankhead Carrot cabbage winters Is gonna die from stamp death
Which one of us killed us? Which one of us am I? Which one of us killed us? Which one of us am I?
Which one of us killed us? Which one of us am I? Which one of us killed us? Which one of us am I?
It's all Discomania It's all Discomania It's all Discomania
It's all Discomania (It's all Discomania) It's all Discomania (It's all Discomania) It's all Discomania (It's all Discomania) It's all Discomania (It's all Discomania) (mania)
Talking to a girl crying down the phone Now listen to me and try and catch your breath She said do you see the fear when you look in my eyes I'd really like to know what happens when we die
Loving couples together for years Torn apart by their grieving We can hardly cope with this level of emotion Two people cannot mourn for years
A doctor from the north, a friend of the family Is comforting your mother drinking in the front room I couldn't make the funeral I know it really hurt you Right now it just seems to me everybody's dying (When we die, When we die, When we die, When we die...)
When I remember your father as a ghost Not an old man diagnosed with cancer Ten weeks later, lying in a hospice bed Surrounded by loved ones, learning how to die
Talking to a stone, wailing at a grave Maybe when a year has past, go and see a medium Bury him with children, blame a suicide I'd really like to know what happens when we die
Will the dead outnumber the living? The silent majority, spare parts for surgery We're not bespoke, we're not best fitted I'd really like to know what happens when we die
When we die, When we die, When we die, I still miss you I know I really miss you
At the age of 33 and a third, the time that Christ spent on earth I decided to cut all ties with showbiz As the awards piled up in the bath, well I started to laugh At all those who died in the name of light entertainment
Camp Christ, Kitsch Christ, some escapologist Christ fella There's an unfunny Christ comedian tied up in my cellar Fly tipping Christ in a lay-by, All try to catch my attention
At the age of 33 and a third, the time that Christ spent on earth I decided to establish a manifesto Until we destroy we'll only have ruins No more masterpieces. No more pseudonyms Speak in tongues change my identity Become invisible
I deal in absolutes, no second chances I'm the Holy Grail of poisoned stanzas Do I have to end it all like Billy Mackenzie To get out of the contract?
Arse-licking Christ, false Christ, little self-hatred Christ Sex Christ, Death, dumb and blind Christ, Hanging in a garden shed Christ Anorexic Christ, Idiot Christ, All try to catch my attention
At the age of 33 and a third, the time that Christ spent on earth I decided to cut all ties with showbiz
For Casanova, sex was quite impossible When he first met Saint Germain Some people call me General Weldon, Prince Rakovsky You can call me Doctor Strange
Rebecca, Rebecca, put me on the other line now Ah, Lucy I won't tell you again Spend your money, drink your wine, smoke a cigarette I've been listening to spooks again Spooked again
Spooked again (Spooked, Spooked, Spooked...)
Now if anybody needs to find me I'm in the pre-chemical age I can be anywhere at anytime now I'm the Count de Saint Germain
Rebecca, Rebecca, put me on the other line now Lucy, I've got a message for Doctor Strange This is the Angel of Death looking over your shoulder I've been listening to spooks again Spooked again
Spooked again
He's got one eye, one eye on a Victorian family bible And he's starring at the tattoos on my face Don't underestimate the power of denial Don't underestimate Saint Germain
Rebecca, Rebecca, put me on the other line now Lucy, I won't tell you again Tell Doctor Strange, it's the Angel of Death looking over his shoulder Come to spook that loser Haines Spooked again
Workhouse? Yeah? What do you want? Information Who the fuck do you think you are? You never fucking stop. Always wanting something for nothing.. OK. I'll give you want you want. I'll give you information
All these songs about Christ, spooks and personal vendettas Organ donations, there's a mini operetta Are people gonna say you've gone off your rocker Well, I'm the brightest thing on the roster And I sleep well when I turn out the light I'm like an off-duty comedian at the end of a bad night Easy to like admire, difficult to love You've gotta believe me when I say I never wanted to be liked And I defy the curfew A sense of humour is the most overrated virtue
Get off your knees you grovelling bastards This is Oliver twist pissing over Britannia 200 years of Tin Pan Alley I learned good from a king thief mentor Newgate, Broadstreet, Langdales Distillery Papist threats and no popery It's a beautiful night again So paint the wall white again Brutality for the kids Oliver Twist
There was this gang who I used to run with Ragamuffins, urchin scum, spivs Looking good comes in handy When you're dipping in the pockets of a dandy And there's treason in the air, it's just a leap of faith There's murder in the air at Rillington Place A Christie lives in Soho This is the Oliver Twist Manifesto Totality for the kids Oliver Twist
I'm operating now under four different names I can use anyone of them, anytime again And I've never been one to hold a grudge Twists has turned vicious
What if all the malevolent cripples The Raspberry ripples Are just putting it on? And they're the brightest of all of the people Oliver Twist, vaudeville Spook mentalist Disappear into a pea souper Swooping down on your back Coming out of a cold snap Into a pea souper A cartarista
It was meant to be great But it's gone wrong again It's a beautiful night So paint the wall white again Get of your knees 'Cos Christie lives It's a beautiful night for Treason Oliver Twist Oliver Twist
You're quite precautious I know which button should be pressed Let's go out driving I'll wait until you pass the test We can get a hood down Throw away those learner plates You got the hang of steering Now try stepping on the brakes
You've been driving way too fast You've been pushing way too hard You've been taking things too far Who do you think you are?
La la la, la la la la la La la la, la la la la la
Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you believe in fate? I believe the good things Only come to those who wait We've got to plan the journey Eliminate all mistakes Take the safe route It's called the art of driving
Maybe wait until the summertime Maybe wait until December Because a heartfelt seduction Lasts a life time
You've been driving way too fast You've been pushing way too hard You've been taking things too far Who do you think you are?
It's called the art of driving The art of driving It's just the art of driving
La la la, la la la la la La la la, la la la la la
I wish you'd learn to slow down You might get there at the end Don't think the accelerating pedal Is the man's best friend You don't have to break the speed limit You don't have to break your neck Another dead boy-racer Cut out from the wreak
You've been driving way too fast You've been pushing way too hard You've been taking things too far Who do you think you are?
Maybe wait until the summertime Maybe wait until December Because a heartfelt seduction Lasts a life time
It's called the art of driving It's called the art of driving It's called the art of driving The art of driving It's called the art of driving It's called the art of driving Just the art of driving It's just the art of driving The art of driving The art of driving It's called the art of driving It's called the art of driving The art of driving The art of driving The art of driving It's called the art of driving It's called the art of driving
The English motorway system is beautiful and strange It's been there forever, it's never going to change It eliminates all diversions, it eliminates all emotions (All you got to do to stay alive is drive)
There are things we need to talk about There are things I cannot do without
If you think the journey's over Let me know, don't make me wait
(Driving with no aim or intention) On the English motorway
The English motorway system can be quite hypnotising You achieve a Zen like state, as someone else's driving It becomes detached observing, colours and straight lights Distant town and exit signs (Do you really want to break up?)
There are things we need to talk about There are things I cannot do without
Is this the end of the rainbow? Am I just colour-blind?
(Leave the north, visit friend's at south) On the English motorway
The English motorway system, is an accident waiting to happen On the black ice, a lorry jack knives, on there's freezing fog in November And you wonder if there's someone who really does decide I thought I saw you in a distance (Do you really want to break up?)
There are things we need to talk about There are things I cannot do without
When you think the journey's over Let me know Don't make me wait
(Driving with no aim or intention) On the English motorway
The English motorway system is beautiful and strange The English motorway system is beautiful and strange The English motorway system is beautiful and strange The English motorway system is beautiful and stra
Meet me in the playground after school When everybody has gone home Promise not to breathe a word of this Don't even look at me till we're alone Or tongues will start to wag Stories will go round They'll talk behind our backs We'll never relive it down Write my name in blood across your shirt (May Queen) Prove to me that I'm the only one (May Queen) And cross your heart and hope to die (May Queen) May God strike you dead if it's a lie (May Queen) Meet me after school Meet me by the fields Away from prying eyes Kids can be so cruel Out in the fields, out in the hay We've come this far, at days and date But if we've heard, but if we've seen Then you might forfeit your first kiss This whole thing no-one else's business (May Queen) This is just a personal affair (May Queen) A one-off test-run for the future (May Queen) Wonder if I'll feel the same tomorrow (May Queen) Tongues will start to wag Stories will go round They'll talk behind our backs We'll never relive it down Now it's the time, now it's the place We've come this far, at days and date But if we've heard, but if we've seen Then you might forfeit your first kiss May Queen
Girl on girl, in your dreams Girls on top, in between Girls together, girls alone In your dreams, in your dreams
Boy on boy, boys on top Boys together, boys don't stop Being boys, in your dreams In your dreams, in your dreams
I've been thinking about you (Thinking about you) Always thinking about you Can't stop thinking about you (Thinking about you) In your dreams, in your dreams
Girl on bus, girl on Tube Brush against you, look at you Catch your eye, conversation In your dreams, in your dreams
I've been thinking about you (Thinking about you) Always thinking about you Can't stop thinking about you (Thinking about you) In your dreams, in your dreams
In your dreams In your dreams In your dreams In your dreams
I've been thinking about you (Thinking about you) Always thinking about you Can't stop thinking about you (Thinking about you) In your dreams, in your dreams
Late at night, in your dream You're not shy, it's so easy All the colours of the rainbow In your dreams, in your dreams
I've been thinking about you (Thinking about you) Always thinking about you Can't stop thinking about you (Thinking about you) In your dreams I've been thinking about you (Thinking about you) Always thinking about you Can't stop thinking about you (Thinking about you) In your dreams, in your dreams
When boys are just eleven They begin to grow in height at a fast rate than they have done before They develop curiosity and start to fantasise About the things they have never thought of doing before These dreams are no more harmful than The usual thoughts that boys have of becoming football stars or millionaires As long as the distinction between fantasy and fiction remains It's just a nature walk
It's just the facts of life There's no master plan Walk me home from school I'll let you hold my hand You're getting ideas And when you sleep at night They develop into sweet dreams It's just the facts of life
A boy sits by the telephone, wanting to call a girl But not daring to because she might say no At last he summons up the courage phones And discovers someone else has asked her first and she's said yes Now's time to deal with the fear of being rejected No-one gets through life without being hurt At this point the boy who's listening to this song Is probably saying it's easier said than done and it's true
It's just the facts of life There's no master plan Walk me home from school I'll let you hold my hand You're getting ideas And when you sleep at night They develop into sweet dreams It's just the facts of life
Do do do, do do do Do do do, do do do
Small-town dating differs from more urban situations In particular if there's few places to go Adolescents normally gather in a cafe or an arcade If they have to almost anywhere will do A family car, a disused coalmine A rowing boat or a shed Experimentation, familiarisation It's all a nature walk
It's just the facts of life There's no master plan Walk me home from school I'll let you hold my hand You're getting ideas And when you sleep at night They develop into sweet dreams It's just the facts of life
It's just the facts of life (Sweet dreams develop into ideas) There's no master plan (Ideas develop into sweet dreams) Walk me home from school (Sweet dreams develop into ideas) I'll let you hold my hand (Let you hold my hand) You're getting ideas (Sweet dreams develop into ideas) And when you sleep at night (Ideas develop into sweet dreams) They develop into sweet dreams (Sweet dreams develop into ideas) It's just the facts of life
It's just the facts of life (Sweet dreams develop into ideas) There's no master plan (Ideas develop into sweet dreams) Walk me home from school (Sweet dreams develop into ideas) I'll let you hold my hand (Let you hold my hand)
(Dream home) It's a beautiful morning (It's a beautiful morning) (Dream home) It's a beautiful day (It's a beautiful day) (Dream home) It's a beautiful morning (It's a beautiful morning) (In our) Dream home (In our) Dream home Straight life Away from alternative culture Transient people (Straight life) Coming in and out of our lives Straight life Painting our walls, and wiring the circuit Gradate advisement (Straight life) Building it up by the sweat of our bows Home improvements In our dream home Home improvements We're not moving Straight life Visiting sites of local interest Walking the hillsides (Straight life) Playing games, bringing back souvenirs Straight life Secret signs, our own signed language Misunderstandings (Straight life) Have now become a thing of the past Home improvements In our dream home Home improvements We're never moving (Dream home) It's a beautiful morning (It's a beautiful morning) (Dream home) It's a beautiful day (It's a beautiful day) (Dream home) It's a beautiful morning (It's a beautiful morning) (In our) Dream home (In our) Dream home Straight life Lives in a tin on top of the wardrobe Personal photos (Straight life) Holiday snaps, caravan sites Straight life Keep your mouth shut, say hello to the neighbours Straight life Look at our straight life Home improvements In our dream home Home improvements We're not moving (Dream home) It's a beautiful morning (It's a beautiful morning) (Dream home) It's a beautiful day (It's a beautiful day) (Dream home) It's a beautiful morning (It's a beautiful morning) (In our) Dream home (In our) Dream home (Dream home) It's a beautiful morning (It's a beautiful morning) (Dream home) It's a beautiful day (It's a beautiful day) (Dream home) It's a beautiful morning (It's a beautiful morning) (In our) Dream home (In our) Dream home Straight life Look at a straight life Straight life This is our straight life Straight life