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1. |
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come join my club
i will make you listen to dub
come join my group
i'll make you listen to bad music on a loop
come join my clique
i'll make you listen to uk garage all week
come join my team
i'll make you listen to lil wayne and the dream
its the community centre song
its the community centre song
come join the boys
i'll make you listen to merzbow's noise
come join my program
i'll make you listen to early pram
come join my society
i'll make you listen to scritti politti
come join my revolution
i'll make you listen to james chance and the contortions
its the community centre song
its the community centre song
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2. |
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if i can do it i will
if i can do it i will
i can build a shelf built to spill
but i'd rather lean up against the windowsill
if i can solve it i can
if i can solve it i can
i can plot the blueprints on the plan
but i'd rather scan my eyes across the land
if i could bring it i would
if i could bring it i would
i can build a tower strong and good
but i wont even though i know i should
if i had done it i'd be
if i had done it i'd be
i'd be swinging from the rafters tree to tree
but i'd rather be safe than wild and free
if its alright i'll go
if its alright i'll go
safe in the knowledge i'll never know
i'd rather stay inside and watch the houseplants grow
if i can build it i will
if i can build it i will
i know doing it will bring such a thrill
but i'd rather watch the world go still
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3. |
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put the laser jet in place
block your eyes when you see its face
put the cartridge in the correct compartment
take the old one back to your apartment
make sure the paper feeds correctly
if it runs out change it directly
and if the ink does too you knows who's to blame
the printers are named after birds of prey
birds of prey
birds of prey
birds of prey
promptly join the queue
note who is in front of you
notice the size of the documents ahead
when you see a huge one turn from black to red
never change the format
don't let them treat you like a doormat
and when there's nothing else to say
the printers are named after birds of prey
birds of prey
birds of prey
birds of prey
plot the life line of the toner
don't let them call you a moaner
its checks and balances you're interested in here
as we reach the end of the financial year
and as the evening draws in
someone pops your mood with a safety pin
as they waste the ink away
the printers are named after birds of prey
birds of prey
birds of prey
birds of prey
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4. |
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as we pulled into the shopping centre
i waited for the penny to drop
as we got out the car
i felt like a star
and i hoped the day would never stop
as we walked through the entrance
away from the sun's brutal beams
i looked up and down the aisles
for miles and miles
and saw the answer to my dreams
as we reached the atm
i took way too much money out
i could see with my eyes
the route to the prize
and my heart began to melt
as we got to your favourite store
i watched you go inside
shopped for hours and hours
i spent all the money on flowers
felt so happy i could have died
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5. |
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stood on the emerald road
stood on the crystal groves
stood on the top of rock edge
stood on the edge of the ledge
life without buildings
life without life without buildings
stood on the top of the mound
stood near the lost and found
stood where I could see the spires gleaming
stood where I could see the fires cleansing
life without buildings
life without life without buildings
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6. |
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don't spread your love too thin
it might not reach anything
don't spread your love too wide
you might not find what's inside
don't spread your love too big
you might forget where to dig
don't spread your love thin
it might not cover everything
don't keep your love too small
it might consume us all
don't keep your love hidden away
it might destroy you one day
don't keep your love aloof
you gotta shout it from the roof
don't keep your love too small
it might spell the end for us all
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7. |
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I was reading the bible ezra chapter 4
when someone came and knocked my window
so I went to see what they wanted me for
they said they'd come to help and to let me know
sadness prevails
sadness prevails
sadness prevails
I didn't believe them
I was reading 1 corinthians 1:25
but I heard something shifting on the evening air
I was feasting on a meal and trying to stay alive
and voices came and tangled up my hair
madness abounds
madness abounds
madness abounds
I didn't believe them
I was reading romans 2 verse 3 and 4
when an email popped up in my inbox
and I wondered what they were contacting me for
it read quiet as a mouse sly as a fox
badness prevails
badness prevails
badness prevails
I didn't believe them
hold on to what you know
hold on to what you know
hold on to what you know
hold on
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8. |
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a billion red roses at your door
a billion red roses at your door
a billion red roses at your door
well i have no idea what they're there for
a mile long daisy chain
a mile long daisy chain
a mile long daisy chain
you say speak up but i wont explain
our initials written in haystacks
our initials written in haystacks
our initials written in haystacks
i don't know a thing and that's a fact
your portrait in vapour trails
your portrait in vapour trails
your portrait in vapour trails
you say i know something but you're telling tales
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9. |
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what did i do to deserve this
you'll never know how this feels
remember how on the mound
we buried underground
all that stuff we found
then we dug up your wheels
i wonder what you're up to now
if you're still living alone
thinking back to the day
you and your wicked ways
weeks spent in a daze
yearning for the vomit stained streets of home
you placated the situation
i turned my gaze towards the sun
i hear you're doing well
so many stories to tell
what should i do now
now i know what's done is done
i walked the streets last night
trying to get back in the zone
gave your phone a call
no one answered at all
its hard to stand tall when you're small
down on the vomit stained streets of home
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10. |
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never speak out of turn
but i'll wear my jeans if I want to
watching brand new fires burn
then fighting them because I've got to
learn the tools of the trade
and i'll try to do my best
stand back and watch the parade
for the italian rebel princess
italian rebel princess
italian rebel princess
two o'clock the graveyard shift
drink in those unsociable hours
try and get my spirits to lift
with the last of my remaining powers
have a break go for a walk
stand out near the lobby
with the receptionist have a talk
and share some italian premium coffee
italian premium coffee
italian premium coffee
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11. |
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i've been trying to track down
the elusive mayor of summertown
headed down the marston ferry road
whilst the sky was the colour of my neighbour's hair
but through the clouds a dim light glowed
and I got there with time to spare
I traversed the entire distance
from summertown to barton
and i decided there at once
I'm never setting foot in that place again
the next morning I went the bypass way
and I got back by half past one
and for this I knew I'd be the one to pay
and I hoped I'd find out where it had gone
from barton to summertown
I planned on staying til half past ten
but instead I was homeward bound
and I'm never setting foot in that place again
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12. |
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I opened up your letter and here's what it said
I opened up your letter and here's what it said
by "your letter" I mean it was addressed to you
it began "dear" and then it had your name here
it began "dear" and then it had your name here
that's interesting I wonder who it is you're "dear" to
there was a second class stamp on the envelope
there was a second class stamp on the envelope
second class? I'd say that was a bit harsh
in the second paragraph they suggest going for a drink
in the second paragraph they suggest going for a drink
well thanks I'd love to my mouth is parched
yeah yeah yeah
yeah yeah yeah
yeah yeah yeah
yeah yeah yeah
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13. |
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my friends were having some problems
so I felt bad
so I made them some tapes to listen to
and they should have been glad
but they said jeremy
why are you trying to get me to quit smoking
jeremy
why are you trying to improve my public speaking
so i put on my gloves and my hat
and i zipped up my coat
and when i noticed their disapproving glances
i felt the muscles closing round my throat
and they said jeremy
I don't even have obsessive compulsive disorder
jeremy
my life is in perfect order
after some interesting feedback
i started off my self employed business
i may or may not have become a millionaire
but I'll never regret the day I did this
they said jeremy
you're living in some backwards dream land
jeremy why don't you keep a steady hand
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14. |
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when I knew I wasn't wanted here
I didn't shed a single tear
and I conjugated the verbs
and on the way home I tried not to swerve
je t'aime x6
when the traffic lights turned red
I started to fiddle with the tape deck
words came out the speakers I didn't understand
but I held them in my heart and the steering wheel in my hand
je t'aime x6
when I got home I thought about you
and your words came out clear and true
something about the negative imperative
how the ice is thin where I tread
je t'aime x6
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15. |
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with every step i take
with every decision i make
when i try to talk to you
when you don't talk back
it's excruciating to describe it
like a birthday candle that stays lit
confusing constructive criticism
for personal attack
you burst into tears
while i burst into flames
with every single thing i say
with every passing day
as the calenders fall off the wall
as the clocks slide back
like a pack of hounds
like an army of clowns
like an escaped convict
tied to the track
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16. |
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guard your heart
there are wolves about
and if you lie down before them
they will devour you
guard your heart
there are lions on the prowl
and if you lie down before them
they will eat you whole
guard your heart
there are wolves in the yugoslavian hills
and if you lie down before them
they will devour you
guard your heart
there are lions escaped from Belgrade zoo
and if you lie down before them
they will eat you whole
guard your heart
there are wolves at the door to our small house
and if you lie down before them
they will devour you
guard your heart
there are lions roaming around the fields around our village
and if you lie down before them
they will eat you whole
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17. |
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girls these days
always carrying trays
going to watch plays
constantly in a daze
girls these days
boys these days
elbows always grazed
lost in a maze
idolizing the krays
boys these days
girls these days
nearly never fazed
living in a haze
often found in praise
girls these days
boys these days
trying not to get tazed
watching the blue jays
watching fires blaze
boys these days
girls these days
genuinely amazed
knowing what pays
visiting the bays
girls these days
boys these days
with their unflinching gaze
beginning news phases
learning new phrases
boys these days
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18. |
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you say our house never gets cold
where I'm going the streets are paved with gold
you say its lovely and temperate here
where I'm going you'll never shed a tear
you say there's an unending electricity supply
where I'm going the wells never run dry
you say look at the horizon
I say I can't see the horizon
you say all hail east oxford
you say all hail east oxford
you say all hail east oxford
I say don't say that
I'm going to wallingford right now
you say we're in the capital of publishing
but can you find a nice place for a drink
you say there's green fields stretching far and wide
but the grass looks greener on the other side
you say there's everyone here we could possibly know
but there's no one I know here of note
you say all our friends are here
where I'm going you'll never shed a single tear
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19. |
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for no rhyme or reason
they tried me for treason
i was innocent i swear
i swore i'd never go back there
cross the road
cross the road
cross the road
cross over to the other side
with no kind of train of thought
they took me to court
they said i did this
but they had no witness
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20. |
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went out the door
into the cold winter sunshine
to see what the day held in store
and to see what was and wasn't mine
saw a message in the clouds
I'm pretty sure it came from you
and I made my way through the crowds
but I didn't know what to do
no no no
I sat on a park bench
soaking in the cold winter sunshine
but then I dug myself a trench
when I knew you'd never be mine
i worked out the message's core
and its message I did touch
it was either I love you no more
or I love you so much
no no no
I heard the ducks quacking
I saw the ducks eating bread
I felt my heart cracking
and I was consumed by dread
and I sent out a cry
to a nearby road sign
and I said oh me oh my
and I felt the cold winter sunshine
no no no
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21. |
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after great pain
a formal feeling comes
I missed my train
and heard the banging of drums
stood on the platform
like a survivor from a nuclear war
the train disappeared like a receding storm
I wanted to know what the future held in store
after great pain
you count back your steps
to where you left the crane
and you first slept
you wet your finger
and held it high in the air
and daydreamed about a singer
and shook about your shoulder length hair
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22. |
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california skies
they say I wont believe my eyes
expansive lands
I'l pick up the sand and let it run through my hands
let it run through my hands
california skies
they say I wont believe your lies
government bells
well I've been believing them up until now
believing them up until now
california skies
a word to the wise
don't forget where you put your passport
or you'll end back in court
back in court
california skies
oh how time flies
trick your brain to forget the time
and come back into these arms of mine
come back into these arms of mine
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23. |
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my ex-girlfriend's boyfriend
is such a nice guy
I put the flag up the flagpole
and I started to cry
the british embassy said
I had no right putting it up there
and I fiddled with my shirt collar
and put a comb through my hair
my ex-girlfriend's boyfriend
tells such funny jokes
and he offered me a reasonable loan
when he found out I was broke
although the thing I like best about him
is his girlfriend
he's happy to hear
that I'm finally on the mend
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24. |
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split your ear on a fence
or in a fight
I guess it could have been
either one of these
walk about with a limp
was it the gulf or vietnam
that you fought in
I forget now
hold your head high
hold your head high
fight for your life
and hold your head high
a circle of fur
scattered all about
and blood splattered on the driveway
is it your own or someone else's
guarding the territory
like a long lost warrior
a drunken sailor
we're safe as houses here
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25. |
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stubbed my toe on the doorstep
howled in pain and hopped around for a bit
words dry and riderless
words dry and riderless
words dry and riderless
words dry and riderless
I tripped over and I fell back
hit my head on the ikea shoe rack
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26. |
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yo yo ma's cello set it off
you started at the bottom and came out on top
with christmas just around the corner
your blood got a little warmer
but when you thought it was over
when you had buried deep the supernova
remember when the crowd applaud
that it was yo yo ma's cello that set it off
yo yo ma's cello set it off
yo yo ma's cello set it off
it all started with the bag pipe band
you thought you had everything in hand
it reminded you of something you forgot
when thought you had your lot
something switched on in your brain
the light in the tunnel of an oncoming train
that allowed you to break the glass with your hand
it all started with the bag pipe band
it all started with the bag pipe band
it all started with the bag pipe band
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27. |
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irresistible force meets immovable object
our eyes first met across a crowded room
it was love at first sight but I've got a heart to protect
and an overwhelming sense of impending doom
immovable object meets irresistible force
I felt light headed when we first met
and it was true love of course
but its a moment I've been trying hard to forget
irresistible force meets immovable object
I've searched all over for eyes like yours
over mountain, tundra and desert I've trekked
but now I'm looking for the exit doors
immovable object meets irresistible force
I followed the river down stream
and when I finally reached the water source
I realized this had all been a dream
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28. |
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the sun shone on the snow
and the snow got in my eyes
so I knew it was time to go
so I began to scrutinize
the horizon for signs of your flight
I thought I saw a rainbow's arc
I'd rather lie down in the light
than stand tall in the dark
the sun shone on the chalet
I saw your silhouette through the kitchen window
in my top pocket sat tickets to calais
so I knew it was time to go
I felt that the last year had been alright
I felt like I had made my mark
but I'd rather crawl in the light
than walk in the dark
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released February 1, 2011
