Uncollected songs - Part 1

(sung by Nik Kershaw / Lead vocals or duets)

 

Lyrics

 

C03.01 Old Friend

 

Written by Nik Kershaw

 

 

I wanna be good, I wanna be strong

But I treated him bad, I’ve done him wrong

I’ve taken his money, I’ve given him hell

And he takes it all ‘cause he knows me well

We can say what we mean and mean what we say

We don’t like to mess around

But we’re there to hold each other up

When we're falling down

Just like an old friend, putting me on my feet again

Giving me back my pride then letting me go

Just like an old friend, putting me in my place again

Giving me back my hope then letting me know

That he’s an old friend

I don’t suffer no fools I testify (I’ve testified)

But he must be one for being by my side

I’ve broken his heart, I’ve shaken his tree

But still he doesn’t want anything from a fool like me

We won’t talk for a year or two

Maybe when we do we won’t say much

Even so, we know that out of mind is never out of touch

Just like an old friend, putting me in my place again

Giving me back my hope then letting me know

That he’s an old friend

We’re having a man-to-man, don’t wanna get sentimental

But both of us understand

We’ll never have to say “goodbye”, just “see you later”

Just like an old friend, putting me on my feet again

Giving me back my pride then letting me go

Just like an old friend, putting me in my place again

Giving me back my hope then letting me know

Just like an old friend, putting me on my feet again

Giving me back my pride then letting me know

Just like an old friend, putting me in my place again

Giving me back my hope then letting me know...

 

 

C03.02 Sometimes

 

Written by Nik Kershaw

 

 

* [Remix version]

 

I’m stood on the tip of my own tongue

I’m caught in the space between

The concept and the execution

I’m stuck in the back of my own throats

I’m lost in the void between the instinct and the institution

It’s more than vocabulary

It takes more than a dictionary

 

Sometimes when I wake at night

I feel that nothing on earth could ever hurt me

Sometimes when I’m on my mind

I feel that nothing I say could ever deserve me

I’m stood on the tip of my own tongue

I’m caught in the space between

The concept and the execution

I’m stuck in the back of my own throats

I’m lost in the void between the instinct and the institution

It’s more than vocabulary

It takes more than a dictionary

Sometimes when I wake at night

I feel that nothing on earth could ever hurt me

Sometimes when I’m on my mind

I feel that nothing I say could ever deserve me

I’m stood on the tip of my own tongue

I’m caught in the space between

The concept and the execution

I’m stuck in the back of my own throats

I’m lost in the void between the instinct and the institution

It’s more than vocabulary

It takes more than a dictionary

Sometimes when I wake at night

I feel that nothing on earth could ever hurt me

Sometimes when I’m on my mind

I feel that nothing I say could ever deserve me

Sometimes when I wake at night

I feel that nothing on earth could ever hurt me

Sometimes when I lose my mind

I feel that nothing I say could ever deserve me

Sometimes

 

 

C03.03 The One And Only

 

Written by Nik Kershaw

 

 

I am the one and only, oh yeah

Call me, call by my name

Call me by my number

Put me through it

I'll still doing it the way I do it

And yet you try to make me forget who I really am

Don't tell me I know best

I'm not the same as all the rest

I am the One and Only

Nobody I'd rather be

I am the One and Only

You can't take that away from me

I've been a player in the crowd scene

A flicker on the big screen

My soul embraces one more in a million faces

High hopes and aspirations

Ideas above my station maybe (*)

But all this time I've tried to walk with dignity and pride

I am the One and Only

Nobody I'd rather be

I am the One and Only

You can't take that away from me

I can't wear this uniform without some compromises

Because you'll find out that we come

In different shapes and sizes

No one can be myself like I can

For this job I'm the best man

And while this may be true

You are the one and only you!

I am the One and Only

Nobody I'd rather be

I am the One and Only

You can't take that away from me

 

 (*) Some cover versions show different lyrics for that sentence:

"And years above my station maybe" instead of "Ideas above my station maybe".

Note that both Demo and Live At The O2 versions, recorded by Nik Kershaw, have the "Ideas above my station maybe" line.

 

 

C03.04 I Wanna Change The Score

 

Co-written by Nik Kershaw and Tony Banks

 

 

I wanna be in another place

Some other body and someone else's face

Don't wanna be in here

I need a space I can disappear

I wanna play me a different part

Another feeling in someone else's heart

Don't wanna cry out loud

Don't wanna show you I'm too damn proud

You can change the words you say

Stop the things you do, throw away your yesterdays

You'll still be stuck with you

But don't be sad

Get a hold upon yourself before you get too far

No matter what you have to learn to live with who you are

I wanna live in a different time

Another reason in someone else's mind

I wanna change the score

I don't wanna to be me no more

I wanna play in a different game

Another player with someone else's name

Don't wanna be the fool

Don't wanna show you I can lose my cool

You can stop the world you're on

Change the song you sing, choose defection, wrong direction

That won't change a thing, but that's so good

No time to wish your life away, follow your star

Be glad of what you have, be glad of who you are

I wanna be a different man, I wanna set me free if I can

 

 

C03.05 Red Day On Blue Street

 

Co-written by Nik Kershaw and Tony Banks

 

 

They're kissing babies and telling me lies They're taking over my television They're making noises that sound so wise Trying to influence my decision Rituals old fashioned With speeches so proud and passionate Hope reigns, fears rule I may be crazy but I'm not such a fool No such fool
Red day on blue street And this world promises everything Old shoes on new feet again Nothing changes Red day on blue street
Here comes a man with a face so sincere Here comes another with power on his mind Both with a want for a word in my ear Both with a message of hope for my kind Heads of this nation Fight lies with misinformation and This gives, that takes One or the other for the difference it makes None at all
Red day on blue street And this world promises everything Old shoes on new feet again Nothing changes Red day on blue street
We are the chosen ones You have asked us to serve you We deserve you It's going the way that we said it would We say that you never had it so good No one's a loser who plays our game The difference is clear, we just changed our name Nobody knows that it's just the same Red day on blue street Or how about Blue day on red street It doesn't matter, it really doesn't It doesn't matter, it really doesn't
Somebody showing me the magical way Somebody waving the key to my chains They must believe I was born yesterday They must believe I've got sand for my brains Members historical Woo me with words rhetorical Blood runs, mud flies Can't see a thing for the wool in my eyes In my eyes
Red day on blue street And this world promises everything Old shoes on new feet again Nothing changes Red day on blue street This world promises everything Old shoes on new feet again Nothing changes Red day on blue street

 

 

C03.06 The Final Curtain

 

Written by Tony Banks

 

 

It's been fun but the time has come to bring down

The final curtain move along

Time to face what you know in your heart

That the world keeps on turning you've lost your part

It's never ending, take a look

If you're not sure at the millions gone before

It's been hard when the going is though

Or you're many thousand miles away from home

To believe that it's all worthwhile

That it makes the slightest difference in the end

And it gets harder

Will you stay until you're pushed or will the day dawn

When you're on your own, you look around

There's only empty rows of chairs

Where once your fairweather friends

Hung on every word that you said

It's been fun but the moment is near to write down

The final chapter turn the page

To be free from the power and the lure

That has pushed from behind and led you on

It's never ending

Take a look if you're not sure at the millions gone before

 

 

C03.07 What Is

 

Co-written by Nik Kershaw and Les Barker

 

 

They say inertia doesn't move the way it did

These days inertia doesn't move at all, but kid

Maybe it moved and then it stopped, well, who can tell?

But somehow stillness seems to suit it very well

The good old days grow one day older everyday

Yet, somehow yesterday would stay one day away

To me, nostalgia's not the way it used to be

I find amnesia's just a fading memory

They tell me nothing's how it was before it changed

Somehow, I don't find it all that strange

The way things were is not the way they are

Because

What is is not the way what is once was

Folks, don't forget they said things once and say the same

They'll say amnesia's just a fading... what's his name?

As time goes by and brain cells die, we all agree

Because amnesia's just a... bl!*/#*e*edy [gibberish word]

I've changed the world at last the truth can be revealed

I've had the laws of relativity repealed

For Mrs Smith from down the road seems quite perplexed

E doesn't equal M C squared, whatever next

Whatever next...

They tell me nothing's how it was before it changed

Somehow, I don't find it all that strange

The way things were is not the way they are

Because

What is is not the way what is once was

Nothing's how it was before it changed

Somehow, I don't find it all that strange

The way things were is not the way they are

Because

What is is not the way what is once was

What is is not the way what is once was

Meeeooow

 

 

C03.08 If It Gets Much Better Than This

 

Co-written by Nik Kershaw, Ash Alexander and Tony Hawks

 

 

Hey

What do you say

Nothing I do's going wrong

What's going on?

I can't explain

Where is the rain?

Only the sun in the sky

I don't know why

Then you walk on by

Where have I been all of your life?

If it gets much better than this

I may need some medication

To get me through the day

If it gets much better than this

I may need some strong sedation

Or I might just flow away

Hey

What do you say

On top of the world

Looking down

Head spinning round

I'm on a roll

Out of control

Not feeling the pain anymore

Shame anymore

Then you feel like ever

You're not a ten

More like eleven

If it gets much better than this

I may need some medication

To get me through the day

If it gets much better than this

I may need some strong sedation

Or I might just flow away

It feels like I could walk on water

So kiss those water winds goodbye

If it gets much better than this

If it gets much better than this

If it gets much better than this

I may need some medication

To get me through the day

If it gets much better than this

I may need some strong sedation

Or I might just flow away

If it gets much better than this

 

 

C03.09 Men United

 

Written by Nik Kershaw

 

 

I've got a mate called Stevie
I'd trust him with my life
But never with my secrets
My money or my wife
We'd sing until we're sung out
We'd laugh until we cry
And we're united 'till we die
Jasper's worth a packet
He really is quite posh
He wears a Houndstooth jacket
Plays badminton and squash
We meet up for a Bevvy
And a cheeky Rogan Yosh
And we are united 'till we die
Yeah we're men united
Undivided
Men united
Them and I
Oh we're men united
That's what I said
Men united 'till we die
Not to mention Waldo
He's ever such a nerd
Can talk the biggest (???)
Balls you've ever heard
We can hang for hours
Without a single word
'Cause we're united 'till we die
Then there's mental Mickey
As crazy as he sounds
He's difficult and tricky
The king of all the clowns
We've had our little issues
With further ups and downs
But we are united 'till we die
Yeah
Yeah we're men united
Undivided
Men united
Them and I
Oh we're men united
That's what I said
Men united 'till we die
Ohhhhh-Woooh
And none of us are perfect
None of us pretend
Oh, it would be so easy
To find a new old friend
Although we never say
We'd be there at the end
'Cause we're men united
And we're men united
Undivided
Men united
Them and I
Oh we're men united
That's what I said
Men united 'till we die
Yeah we're men united
Undivided
Men united
Them and I
Oh we're men united
That's what I said
Men united 'till we die

 

 

C03.10 Memo

 

Written by Andy Ditchfield

 

 

Bring back yesterday tomorrow
Take the present tense away
Move last week into the not too distant future
Make tomorrow today
Memo, memo
Pay no attention while
Your mind is teasing with denial
Forefront, a subtle smile
Mirrored souls across the miles
Pen a memo to myself
Three hours morph into eternity
Minutes perpetuate to days
The emptiness inside
Like seconds are a lifetime
Make tomorrow today
Memo, memo
Pay no attention while
Your heart runs circles round your mind
Forefront, a soul divides
A tortured heart that bleeds you dry

I write myself a ghost reminder
To ask you to
Illuminate a bleak December through
A season new and try
Some redesign and fly
Me back to your time
Lead me home
Bring me yesterday
Make tomorrow today
Bring me yesterday
Invisible in bright white shade
Make tomorrow today
Sing to me in the fine warm rain
Take the present tense away
Black on white in whispered greys
Make tomorrow today
Take me back,

Take me back home again
Bring me yesterday
In bright white shade, in fine warm rain
Make tomorrow today
And sing to me, in whispered grey
Bring me yesterday

Wohhhh
Tomorrow today

 

 

C03.11 The Lamia

 

Co-written by Mike Rutheford, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett and Tony Banks

 

 

The scent grows richer

He knows he must be nearHe finds a long passageway lit by chandelierEach step he takes, the perfumes change From familiar fragrance to flavors strangeA magnificent chamber meets his eye

Inside, a long rose-water pool is shrouded by fine mist

Stepping in the moist silence

With a warm breeze he's gently kissed

Thinking he is quite alone,He enters the room as if it were his ownBut ripples on the sweet pink waterReveal some company unthought of -

Rael stands astonished doubting his sight Struck by beauty, gripped in frightThree vermilion snakes of female faceThe smallest motion, filled with graceMuted melodies fill the echoing hallBut there is no sign of warning in the siren's call:'Rael welcome, we are the Lamia of the poolWe have been waiting for our waters to bring you cool'
Putting fear beside him, he trusts in beauty blindHe slips into the nectar, leaving his shredded clothes behind"With their tongues, they test, taste and judge all that is mineThey move in a series of caresses That glide up and down my spine
As they nibble the fruit of my flesh, I feel no painOnly a magic that a name would stainWith the first drop of my blood in their veins Their faces are convulsed in mortal painsThe fairest cries, 'We all have loved you Rael' "
Each empty snakelike body floats Silent sorrow in empty boatsA sickly sourness fills the roomThe bitter harvest of a dying bloom Looking for motion I know I will not findI stroke the curls now turning pale, in which I'd lain entwined'O Lamia, your flesh that remains I will take as my food'It is the scent of garlic that lingers on my chocolate fingers
Looking behind me, the water turns icy blueThe lights are dimmed and once again the stage is set for you

 

 

C03.12 If I Let You Get Away

 

Co-written by Nik Kershaw, Chesney Lee Hawkes, Michael Jay and Johnny Jam Pedersen

 

 

They say

What a perfect fool I'd be

If I let you get away

I don't believe it

What I'm about to say

I try to fight it

But the truth gets in the way

I can't explain this

Why are we sleeping back to back?

When did that happen?

You might have noticed that I haven't got a clue

And we all know that

You are the perfect one for me

Everyone keeps telling me everyday

They say

What a perfect fool I'd be

If I let you get away

If I let you get away

How come we don't have all the dreams we had before?

How come we don't laugh?

It's just not funny anymore

How did we get here?

When did we come undone?

And I've been thinking

It must be me

It must be something that I do

'cos we all know that

You are the perfect one for me

Everyone keeps telling me everyday

They say

What a perfect fool I'd be

If I let you get away

Those are the days I think about

Try as I might

They're fading out

If there's a way to save us now

I don't know how

Do you?

Wo oh oh

You are the perfect one for me

Everyone keeps telling me everyday

They say

What a perfect fool I'd be

If I let you get away

If I let you get away

If I let you get away

 

 

C03.13 Let It Rain

 

Co-written by Nik Kershaw and Kilmer

 

 

You gotta stop

Listen

Listen to the tear in my heart

'cause I Walk the line

It's faded

It's faded by the way of the world

You gotta stop

Consider

Consider that we're falling apart

I wonder why it happened

Look at how broken we are

And how did we make it so far?

Let it rain

Let it rain

Let it rain on me

Let it blow

Let it blow

Let it blow this old house down

This old house down

Let it go

Let it go

Let it fall apart

Bring it on

Bring it on

Let's get this over now

This over now

We've gotta stop pretending

Before we start hating each other

That would be such sad ending

For something that started with love

I gotta stop

Listen

Forgive me for speaking for you

But baby I know in my heart

You know in your heart that it's true

Yeah I know you're feeling it too

Let it rain

Let it rain

Let it rain on me

Let it blow

Let it blow

Let it blow this old house down

This old house down

We could look back and regret it

Or look forward and forget it

Let it rain

Let it rain

Let it rain on me

Let it blow

Let it blow

Let it blow this old house down

This old house down

Let it go

Let it go

Let it fall apart

Bring it on

Bring it on

Let's get this over now

This over now

 

 

C03.14 Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

 

Written by Johnny Marks

 

 

(The next station is Potters bar)

Yeah, yeah

Rockin' around the Christmas tree

At the Christmas party hopMistletoe hung where you can seeEvery couple tries to stopRockin' around the Christmas treeLet the Christmas spirit ringLater we'll have some pumpkin pie

And we'll do some caroling

You will get a sentimental feeling when you hearVoices singing, let's be jollyDeck the halls with boughs of hollyRockin' around the Christmas treeHave a happy holidayEveryone dancin' merrilyIn the new old-fashioned way

Wooo

You will get a sentimental feeling when you hearVoices singing, let's be jollyDeck the halls with boughs of holly

La la la la la la la la la

Rockin' around the Christmas treeHave a happy holidayEveryone dancin' merrilyIn the new old-fashioned way

Rockin' around the Christmas treeHave a happy holidayEveryone dancin' merrilyIn the new old-fashioned way

Happy Chribo Kimbo

 

 

C03.15 Paranoïd

 

Co-written by Nik Kershaw and Izzy Kershaw

 

 

Feels like I've got amnesia Brain fog like anesthesia You're stuck between a rock and routine Can't stop I got to feel

I'm up at 4am and second wind comes round again Stop asking for my time can I just use my phone a friend

Just a cog in the wind Just a stone whistling I'm lonely and I'm a little paranoid There a thought I could sing Just a moment to bring A heart on a string it makes me paranoid

Deep stink like halitosis On the brink cash me out of this Just give me a diagnosis If that's your decree then maybe I agree
I'm up at 4am knowing you're just round the bend I'm asking for your time can I just use my phone a friend
Just a cog in the wind Just a stone whistling I'm lonely and I'm a little paranoid There a thought I could sing Just a moment to bring A heart on a string it makes me paranoid
Give me the voice to make it all turn around Give the breath to blow this old house down
Give me the breath Give me a voice Give me some rest Give me the choice Let me feel blessed Let me feel joy Lend me the strength to hold this down
I'm lonely and I'm a little paranoid There a thought I could sing Just a moment to bring A heart on a string it makes me paranoid
Just a cog in the wind Just a stone whistling I'm lonely and I'm a little paranoid There a thought I could sing Just a moment to bring A heart on a string it makes me paranoid

 

 

C03.16 That's How Much

 

Written by Nik Kershaw

 

 

There you go again

Playing games the way you do

If you have to ask the question

You clearly haven't got a clue

You haven't got a clue

More than all the world

More than all the trees and plants

More than all the rain in England

More than all the wine in France

All the wine in France

Look in my eye

And feel my touch

It fills my heart

That's how much

That's how much

More than I can sing

Singing chorus with the birds

Messrs Byron, Blake or Shakespeare

Wouldn't ever find the words

They'd never find the words

More and more each day

To the blue horizon, then...

To the the moon in all its glory...

To the stars and back again

The stars and back again

Look in my eye

And feel my touch

It fills my heart

That's how much

That's how much

 

 

C03.17 Fools and Lovers

 

Written by Nik Kershaw

 

 

(* text changes from one live performance to another)

 

Who blunders in?

(They blunder in)

Who stumbles on?

(They stumble on)

With both eyes closed and both arms open

Who lives in hope when hope is gone

Forever bruised and broken

The question's all the sense they had

The question's not to trust in others

Who thinks it good to hurt so bad

(Who thinks it good it hurts so bad)

Only fools and lovers

They carry on

They don't know why

As long as there's a yearning

No matter that their tears won't dry

Their fingers won't stop burning

Who has it all or so it seems

Who has it all but then discovers

That all they had

(That all they have)

Is smoke and dreams

(Is hope and dreams)

Only fools and lovers

But back they come

(They carry on)

For one more try

(They don't know why)

They're living but not learning

No matter that their tears won't dry

Their fingers won't stop burning

So he who dares and she who dares

Those with the nerve deserve each other

We could be them

We could be theirs

Only fools and lovers

So are we fools or are we lovers?

 

 

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