Liberation

An ordinary day down on Festive Road
The children will play and never will know
That when Mr Benn of No.52
Walks in through that door peculiar events will ensue

The shopkeeper peers through spectacles round
As Benn wanders in and shuts out the town
The shopkeeper wears his customary grin
'Cause he knows when they go to try on his clothes
Each fantasy chosen begins...

"My father says there's only one perfect view, and that's the view of the sky over our heads"
"I expect your father has been reading Dante"

See my solitude, where once was truth now only doubt
Touch my tortured skin torn from within and from without
Kiss my blistered lips, my fingertips frost-bitten and grey
Heal my wound within and watch the dead skin fall away

See what can't be seen between the table and the chair
Touch what can't be touched, The National Trust don't own the air
Kiss what can't be kissed, this is the risk we have to take
Heal what can't be healed and feel the dead skin fall away

Only you and I know exactly how it feels
To unblinker a narrow mind
And by doing so reveal the obscurity of life
The intensity of dreams
Only you and I have realised exactly what it means

See the infant sun whose time has come to climb the mist
Touch the autumn sky burned by the supernaturalist
Kiss the purest lips, the morning slips into the day
Rising from the bed we feel our dead skin fall away

Bernice bobs her hair in the barber's in the square
All her new-found friends are there to see it done
Bernice bobs her hair she's been driven to despair
'Cause her cousin doesn't care about anyone

Her hair was long, her hair was dark
Her hair fell down her back
And now it lies upon the floor
Bernice runs out the door

Marjorie had told her what to wear to the parties
Marjorie had told her what to say to the boys
Now Marjorie was jealous of her social advances
And presented her with this choice

"Bernice, bob your hair
You've persistently declared this intention
Do you dare to disagree?"
So Bernice bobs her hair and is instantly ensnared
In a trap so well prepared by Marjorie

Her hair was long, her hair was dark
Her hair fell down her back
The mirror tells of her mistake
Her heart is fit to break
So when it's dark and her cousin sleeps
Into the room she creeps
Marjorie's curls come down like rain
Bernice runs for her train

Bernice bobs her hair

I, I was born yesterday
And I believe all that you say
I have no choice, I must obey you
Is this the first or the second day of the rest of my life
Well hey
Why should I care either way if what you say is true?

Saturday morning, 18th of December
I cannot remember the last time that I saw such a young ballerina
In love with the loveless
In tune with a tuneless old upright piano
Standing en pointe
Going through each position with gentle precision
She measures each movement
Her classical features and elegant waistline
Are going to waste while she pleases her parents

I, I was born yesterday
And I believe all that you say
I have no choice, I must obey you
(I have a question)
Is this the first or the second day of the rest of my life
Well hey
Why should I care either way if what you say is true?

What if they died on the road to Rathmines?
Where a dog in two minds times his run to perfection
An orphan at last
She'd be sick in the loo-bowl
Then go to the funeral and cry by the graveside

Then she would sleep with the first man she sees
And she'd catch some disease which she would give to her doctor
She'd cook her own breakfast
And she'd cook his as well
And both get on swell even though he was married

You are a part of me
I am a part of you
Why should I let you walk all over me?
All over me

We took your Daddy's car and drove it to the sea
We fooled around for hours
And then when we got tired and it got dark
We found a place to park
And we watched the sun set fire to the sea

Can you feel the sadness in our love?
It's the only kind we're worthy of
Can you feel the madness in our hearts
As the key turns and the engine starts?

We took your Daddy's car and drove it into town
We steamed into a bar
And we bought the biggest bottle of champagne
And driving through the rain we sang
'God bless this car, and all who sail in her!'

Can you feel the sadness in our love?
Well, it's the only kind we're worthy of
And can you feel the madness in our hearts
As the key turns and the engine starts?
Engine starts

We took your Daddy's car and wrapped it round a tree
We didn't know what for
We didn't feel like driving any more
It was so good we got bored
And we are driving from the day we are born

Can you feel the sadness in our love?
well, it's the only kind we're worthy of
And can you feel the madness in our hearts
As the key turns and the engine starts?

Hello
What would you like to know?
What would you like to hear?
What if I just disappear inside myself?
Hello
What would you like to know?
Who would you like to see?
Who would you like me to be if not myself?

And the Europop-pop makes me dizzy
And I just can't stop-stop till it's finished
And I don't know what-what you find funny
'Bout the Europop and the love of money

Hello
Where is it cool to go?
When is it cool to leave?
What is it cool to breathe inside myself?
Hello
Don't tell me what I already know
Don't show me what I've already seen
Don't take me where I've already been inside myself

And the Europop-pop makes me dizzy
And I just can't stop-stop till it's finished
And I don't know what-what you find funny
'Bout the Europop and the love of money

Financial gain is a very pleasant thing
The transitory pleasure that it brings counts for nothing

So
What is there left to know?
What is there left to say?
Nothing

And the Europop-pop makes me dizzy
And I just can't stop-stop till it's finished
And I don't know what-what you find funny
'Bout the Europop and the love of money

And I thank God that you're aware
Oh thank God that you're aware
Of the earth and of the air
And of the girls making like they don't care
But they are blessed and you are cursed
With the conscience of a universe
Of the mind and of the soul
And reduction science digging itself a hole
And I thank God that you're aware
Thank your God that you're aware
It's taken time but I'll think you'll find
That everything is all right

When I fall asleep it could be forever
So I'll never fall asleep again
When I fall apart put me back together
And my life will be complete

Maybe it's tonight
Maybe tomorrow night
Next week, next month, next year
We've only time to fear

When I fall behind in the quest for pleasure
I shall treasure this short time with you
We shall not be chained
We shall not be tethered
And we'll never be unkind

Maybe it's tonight
Maybe tomorrow night
Next week, next month, next year
We've only time to fear

If I fall in love it could be forever
So I'll never fall in love
But the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I might fall in love with you, fall in love with you

Are you ready?
OK let's do it 1, 2, 3, 4

Laugh at the tears you're crying
Smile while your head explodes
You don't have to take this lying down
So blow your nose baby
And just get your fingers clicking
To the rhythm and the rhyme
Otherwise you'll just be kicking around
And that's a crime

How can you talk that way on such a lovely day?
When sunshine comes your way it's time to make some hay

I fall for this season every time
When it's hot and everybody smiles
I can't help myself, I'm in love with the summertime
Even when I get hay-fever I find
I may sneeze but I don't really mind
As long as I'm in love with the summertime

Oh, stop your belly-aching
We all know what it's like
There ain't a pill I haven't taken I guess
But that's alright baby
'Cause your Daddy's car is waiting
To take us to the sea
She feels like celebrating life and so should we

How can you talk that way on such a lovely day?
When sunshine comes your way it's time to make some hay

I fall for this season every time
When it's hot and everybody smiles
I can't help myself, I'm in love with the summertime
Even when I get hay-fever I find
I may sneeze but I don't really mind
As long as I'm in love with the summertime
CLAP YOUR HANDS!

I fall for this season every time
When it's hot and everybody smiles
I can't help myself, I'm in love with the summertime
Even when I get hay-fever I find
I may sneeze but I don't really mind
As long as I'm in love with the summertime
Summertime!

Please don't look at me that way
You'll only make me want to say
Something I will regret
You are April, you are May
What a stupid thing to say
Just forgive me and forget

That I ever opened my mouth
And let it all come out
Let it all flood out

I am worried for your health
Put something warm around yourself
Don't let your feet get wet
I'm in love and I'm in pain
If I say something stupid again
Oh just forgive me and forget

That I ever opened my mouth
And let it all come out
Let it all flood out
Queen of the South
She has opened my mouth
And let it all come out
Let it all flood out

Something is getting in the way
What it is I cannot say
I wish we had never met

You are April, you are May
What a stupid thing to say
Just forgive me and forget

That I ever opened my mouth
And let it all come out
Let it all flood out
Queen of the South
She has opened my mouth
And let it all come out
Let it all flood out

I don't know where I am

Who's that boy you're leaning on
(Victoria ceases to care)
You're not the only one
(Virginia creeps through her hair)
Summer evening, summer sun
(Virago will publish her diaries when she's dead)
To the world
(Unlocking the dreams in her head)
And the world is blind
(Unstable unhinged and unfed)
She'll wed the summertime
(Unable to answer the questions of her life)

I don't believe you, I don't really need to
I won't let Victoria fall

When the night has come and gone
(His ghostly perfection remains)
Melting in the morning sun
(His pale saint complexion unchanged)
Lovers go and lovers come
(And some stay for longer but never long enough)
His shadow lingers on
(Victoria ceases to care)
His shadow fades like a pop song
(Virginia creeps through her hair)
Death to the supernatural one
(Virago will publish the story of her life)
Queen of the South

I don't believe you, I don't really need to
I won't let Victoria fall
I don't defend you, I don't recommend you but
I won't let Victoria fall away

This Autumn breeze shall strip the trees
And freeze me to the bone
Why must these three sisters tease
Their lonely brother so?

Knowledge is a curse
But ignorance is worse I fear
Would you agree my dear?
I have watched you grow
From the same seed as my own shall grow
And they will never know

How this autumn breeze can strip the trees
And freeze me to the bone
Why must these three sisters tease
Their lonely brother so?
I don't know I don't know

Pleasure is a sin
And abstinence shall win this day
And that's the way it's gonna stay
Black Parisian lace
Your salvation, my disgrace
My God where did you go wrong?

This autumn breeze shall strip the trees
And freeze me to the bone
Why must these three sisters tease
Their lonely brother so?
I don't know

I don't know if I can stop my eyes
From drifting slowly over holy temples of the soul
No self control

That Autumn chill is with me still

Instrumental.

I travelled among unknown men
In lands beyond the sea;
Nor, England did I know till then
What love I bore to thee.

'Tis past, that melancholy dream!
Nor will I quit thy shore
A second time; for I still seem
To love thee more and more.
Love thee more and more.

Among thy mountains did I feel
The joy of my desire;
And she I cherished turned her wheel
Beside an English fire.

By mornings showed, by nights concealed
The bowers where Lucy played;
And thine too is the last green field
That Lucy's eye surveyed.
Lucy's eye surveyed.

She dwelt among the untrodden ways
Beside the springs of Dove,
A Maid whom there were none to praise
And very few to love:

A violet by a mossy stone
Half hidden from the eye
Fair as a star, when only one
Is shining in the sky.
Shining in the sky.

She lived unknown, and few could know
When Lucy ceased to be;
But she is in her grave and, oh
The difference to me!

A slumber did my spirit seal;
I had no human fears.
She seemed a thing that could not feel
The touch of earthly years.

No motion has she now, no force;
She neither hears nor sees;
Rolled round in earth's diurnal course,
With rocks, and stones, and trees.