The Riddle
Lyrics
Written by Nik Kershaw
Your mind can play tricks
Makes you what you want to be
Just like super heroes
You saw them on tv
Coast to coast, wall to wall
Got to go, duty calls
Here I am
Here I am
Superman, Lois Lane
Saved the world, back again
Here I am
In my old, red saloon
I'm a knight in shining armour
If I were asleep, man
I couldn't be much calmer
Hit the road, on the run
Faster than anyone
Here I am
One for all, all for one
Shake the fist, shoot the gun
Here I am
Don Quixote
What do you say?
Are we proud? Are we brave?
Or just crazy?
Don Quixote
What do you say?
Are we shooting at windmills like you?
Common sense, is as good
As a café on the moon
When man and machinery come to their high noon
Radio on the blink
Kick the cat, hit the drink
Here I am
Beat the clock, punch the wall
Fixed in no time at all
Here I am
Don Quixote
What do you say?
Are we proud? Are we brave?
Or just crazy?
Don Quixote
What do you say?
Are we shooting at windmills like you?
Here I am
Don Quixote
We're all men of La Mancha
Written by Nik Kershaw
Got a badge upon my chest
I'm a cut above the rest
So I can tell you what to do
Got my regimental hat
Got my « by the good book » chat
So I can tell you where to go
I've got a job to do and I'm telling you
I intend to do it well
It's easy when you know how
It's easy when you know how
Got my smart uniform
And my duty to perform
So I don't care you who you are
I'm the only one who can spoil your fun
With one shake of the head
It's easy when you
Know how, know way
Know where and know today
Know mercy, know time
Know reason, know rhyme
Know how, know way
Know where and know today
Know mercy, know time
Know reason, know rhyme
Know how
I don’t care who you say you are
I can’t let you in here
I can tell you I'm the law
With my medals from the war
So don't tell me what to do
With my narrow point of view
Though I know you're probably right, I guess
It's still not easy saying yes
It's easy when you know how, know way
Know where and know today
Know mercy, know time
Know reason, know rhyme
Know how, know way
Know where and know today
Know mercy, know time
Know reason, know rhyme
Know how
Written by Nik Kershaw
Off to face the world again
Past the bathroom mirror
Ignorance is bliss, they say
Couldn't be much clearer
Imaging what might have been
Thinking it could still be
All the lost years in between
Still a sucker for a dream
You might be an oil tycoon
You might be a Cobb cartoon
You might be a Gershwin tune
You might be but you're not
You might be an eagles call
You might be a nations fall
You might be the Albert Hall
You might be but you're not
Play the fool and act the clown
Impress your friends and neighbours
Not so good when you come down
With nothing for your labours
You could have been a movie star
You could have been a hero
You could have won a bridge too far
The best you get is no cigar
You might be an eagles call
You might be a nations fall
You might be the Albert Hall
You might be but you're not
You are what you are
You are what you are
You might be an oil tycoon
You might be a Cobb cartoon
You might be a Gershwin tune
You might be but you're not
You might be an eagles call
You might be a nations fall
You might be the Albert Hall
You might be but you're not
No, no
You might be an eagles call
You might be a nations fall
You might be the Albert Hall
You might be but you're not
Written by Nik Kershaw
On the top of an office block
Sits a man of business, a man of means
He's got intrays and ashtrays
He is up to his neck in computers and tragedy queens
Undermining his overdraft with lunches with the president
He’s got indecision and indigestion
And he wonders where the last ten million went
But what do I get when I say to his face?
Let me take you to a better place
Wild horses wouldn't drag me there
Wild horses wouldn't make me care
I know where I belong
And I’ve been here too long
Wild horses wouldn't drag me there
Wild horses wouldn't make me care
I know where I belong
And I've been here too long
On the side of a mountain
Lives a man of nature, a man of peace
He’s got no food and no money
And he's waiting for his merciful release
Works his fingers to the bone
Just to make it through the winter snows
He's got nothing to do and no one to do it to
And he wonders where the buffalo goes
But what do I get when I say to his face?
Let me take you to a better place
Wild horses wouldn't drag me there
Wild horses wouldn't make me care
I know where I belong
And I've been here too long
Wild horses wouldn't drag me there
Wild horses wouldn't make me care
I know where I belong
And I've been here too long
Wild horses wouldn't drag me there
Wild horses wouldn't make me care
I know where I belong
And I've been here too long
Wild horses wouldn't drag me there
Wild horses wouldn't make me care
I know where I belong
And I've been here too long
Written by Nik Kershaw
Hold me up, I’m falling over
Got the jackal at my door
Got a chip upon my shoulder
But I still come back for more
Phone me up, I’m feeling lonely
Got the radio up loud
With my comfortable position
And my cottage in the clouds
Easy we come, easy we go
Little we learn, little we know
No place to be, no space to grow
Easy we come, easy we go
Wind me up, I'm boxing shadows
Got a pocket full of fluff
Got a sturdy constitution
But I don't think that’s enough
Easy we come, easy we go
Little we learn, little we know
No place to be, no space to grow
Easy we come, easy we go
Easy we go
Wake me up I'm fast asleep
And I've forgotten who I am
Got a trivial ideal
And a temporary plan
Easy we come, easy we go
Little we learn, little we know
No place to be, no space to grow
Easy we come, easy we go
Easy we come, easy we go
Little we learn, little we know
No place to be, no space to grow
Easy we come, easy we go
Written by Nik Kershaw
I got two strong arms,
Blessings of Babylon
With time to carry on,
And try
For sins and alarms,
So to America the brave
Wise men save,
Near a tree by a river
There's a hole in the ground,
Where an old man of Aran
Goes around and around,
And his mind is a beacon
In the veil of the night,
For a strange kind of fashion
There's a wrong and a right
But he'll never, never fight over you
I got plans for us,
Nights in the scullery
And days instead of me,
I only know what to discuss
Oh for anything but light,
Wise men fighting over you
It's not me you see,
Pieces of valentine
With just a song of mine,
To keep from burning history
Seasons of gasoline and gold,
Wise men fold
Near a tree by a river,
There's a hole in the ground
Where an old man of Aran,
Goes around and around
And his mind is a beacon,
In the veil of the night
For a strange kind of fashion,
There's a wrong and a right
But he'll never, never fight over you,
I got time to kill
Sly looks in corridors,
Without a plan of yours
A blackbird sings on bluebird hill
Thanks to the calling of the wild
Wise men's child,
Near a tree by a river
There's a hole in the ground,
Where an old man of Aran
Goes around and around,
And his mind is a beacon
In the veil of the night,
For a strange kind of fashion
There's a wrong and a right,
But he'll never, never fight
Near a tree by a river,
There's a hole in the ground
Where an old man of Aran,
Goes around and around
And his mind is a beacon,
In the veil of the night
For a strange kind of fashion,
There's a wrong and a right
But he'll never, never fight over you
No he’ll never, never fight over you
Written by Nik Kershaw
Gone fishing for compliments
On Hollywood and Vine
I'd come to your party
But I haven't finished mine
Talk to the doctor
He turns acid into wine, 'cause
I am an angel
In the city of angels
Nothing cuts too deep
Yes I am an angel
In the city of angels
And I live the biggest sleep
Oh oh oh
I'm off to chew the fat
Where all the in crowd chew
Hang loose at the Oscar show
And at the yacht club too
Don't mess with me
‘Cause I've a bigger hose than you. 'cause
I am an angel
In the city of angels
Nothing cuts too deep
Yes I am an angel
In the city of angels
And I live the biggest sleep
I am an angel
Nothing here is real
I am an angel
In the city of angels
It only matters what you feel
I am an angel
In the city of angels
And everything is cool
I am an angel
It's me I'm trying to fool
I am an angel
In the city of angels
Nothing’s as it seems
Oh, I am an angel
In the city of angels
So come and live your dreams
I am an angel
In the city of angels
Nothing cuts too deep
I am an angel
In the city of angels
And I live the biggest sleep
Written by Nik Kershaw
Gone fishing for compliments
Make it plastic make it pay
Use it up and throw away
Make another just the same, more or less
Burn our time down to size
Send it up into the skies
Hide the evidence with lies, what a mess
But we've just come from a meeting
And we're sure you'd like to know
There'll be deep blue skies and clear blue waters
Everywhere you go
‘Cause everything's coming up roses
Or so they tell you
Coming up smelling of roses
Or so they say
Yes everything's coming up roses
Or so they tell you
Coming up smelling of roses
Or so they say
In the name of energy
We give our problems to the sea
But they'll be back for you and me
In or haste, we forget
Leaving our mistakes behind
Out of sight is out of mind
Our disposable mankind
What a waste
But we've talked to the experts
And they know a thing or two
They say it's all hunky dory
There's nothing for you to do
And everything's coming up roses
Or so they tell you
Coming up smelling of roses
Or so they say
Yes everything's coming up roses
Or so they tell you
Coming up smelling of roses
Or so they say
But it's an awful price to pay
Believing everything they say
Here tomorrow gone today
So take me home to the red red skies and the
Brown, brown grass and the black, black seas
And the broken glass and the dead, dead trees
But everything's coming up roses
Or that's what they tell you
‘Cause everything's coming up
Roses
Or so they tell you
Coming up smelling of roses
Or so they say
And everything's coming up roses
Or so they tell you
Coming up smelling of roses
Or so they say
Written by Nik Kershaw
He made a record
It made him famous
Yes it made him a star
The life and soul of the party
He rocks, he shocks
You never know where you are with him
He got no sense but he got money
He got no sense but he got overnight success
Exceed excess, exceed excess
He no big deal, he just a wide boy
He no big deal he's just an ordinary guy
Oh me, oh my, oh me, oh my
He made a movie
He played the driver of a big yellow car
He is super fab and groovy
He struts he crows
You never know where you are with him
He got no sense but he got money
He got no sense but he got overnight success
Exceed excess, exceed excess
He no big deal, he just a wide boy
He no big deal he's just an ordinary guy
Oh me, oh my, oh me, oh my
With your symmetry teeth in your Californian town
I’m here to tell you that you ain’t no Superman
You’re just a wide boy
A wide boy
Written by Nik Kershaw
* [Live version]
Monster they call you...
Whilst pillaging the deep,
Withhold, Leviathan,
The innocence you keep
In the turquoise inner space
The giants live with grace
At peace with peace
At peace with god and men
Their spirits rise and fall
Much greater than us all
They trust too much
To see their bitter end
Never in a million years, they say
It could never come to this, no way
You should never trust man, my friends
So as I stare to sea
The salt winds call to me
And as they call
I hang my head in shame
Any other would could call their bluff
But any other world would scream enough
The ocean cries louder to me
Save the whale… Save the whale…Save the whale…
Save the whale… Save the whale…Save the whale…
Conservare, conservare, conservare Baleinum
Conservare, conservare, conservare Baleinum
Conservare, conservare, conservare Baleinum
Conservare, conservare, conservare Baleinum
Conservare, conservare, conservare Baleinum
Conservare, conservare, conservare Baleinum
To never kiss and tell
Their factory ship farewell
With every scream
A piece of conscience dies
Lying in a crimson resting place
Crying with a smile upon his face
The giant dies trusting in me
Any other world would call their bluff
But any other world would scream enough
The ocean cries louder to me
Save the whale… Save the whale…Save the whale…
And Jesus Christ Almighty
Save the whale… Save the whale…Save the whale…
For all our sakes
Save the whale
Written by Nik Kershaw
* [Demo version]
Do you see that metal man building you car?
That’s progress!
But you don’t know who the real ones are
(When you don’t know who the real ones are)
That’s progress!
I’d like to watch TV tonight
(The crazy level goes up one notch)
But I’ve got to paint my windows white
(The American dream and Japanese Scotch)
If the blues don’t get you then the valium might
(When you’re beaten at chess by your digital watch)
That’s progress! That’s progress!
That’s Progress!
They tell you, they tell you that’s progress!
If that’s progress… If that’s progress…
If that’s progress... I’d rather have no gress than progress!
Don’t follow us, we’re walking side...
Got my excess button for the excess strain, that’s progress!
Got my lead umbrella for the acid rain, that’s progress!
The crazy level goes up one notch
(I’d like to watch TV tonight)
The American dream and Japanese Scotch
(But I’ve got to paint my windows white)
When you’re beaten at chess by your digital watch
(If the blues don’t get you then the valium might)
That’s progress! That’s progress!
That’s Progress!
They tell you, they tell you that’s progress!
If that’s progress… If that’s progress…
If that’s progress... I’d rather have no gress than progress!
Don’t follow us, we’re walking sideways...
Don’t follow us, we’re walking sideways...
Don’t follow us, we’re walking sideways...
TV dinner-date monosodium glutamate... Progress!
That’s progress! That’s progress!
That’s Progress!
They tell you, they tell you that’s progress!
If that’s progress… If that’s progress…
If that’s progress... I’d rather have no gress than progress!
That’s progress! That’s progress!
That’s Progress!
They tell you, they tell you that’s progress!
If that’s progress… If that’s progress…
If that’s progress... I’d rather have no gress than progress!
Don’t follow us, we’re walking sideways...
Written by Nik Kershaw
I thought I heard a sigh
As you waved the world goodbye
While the snow lies on meadows like a shroud
And it’s so quiet, so quiet,
And even the silence is too loud
So different yesterday
When you laughed the night away
When you knew that all the time you were too proud
And it’s so quiet, so quiet,
And even the silence is too loud
So crusading, much too true
Not a cause that was too small for you
So romantic, too naive
And not a kind enough breath to breathe
So when I think of you,
I think of violet and blue
And all the things that makes you stand out in a crowd
And it’s so quiet, so quiet,
And even the silence is too loud
Your pleasure and delight
Was a never-ending fight
Just to find the silver lining in the clouds
And it’s so quiet, so quiet,
And even the silence is too loud,
Yes, it’s so quiet, so quiet,
And even the silence is too loud
Written by Nik Kershaw
Make me laugh and make me sing
Make me do most anything
But it may seem a better fake
Oh, if you can exaggerate
If you think we don’t know better
Just write yourself a Dear-John letter
Face to face and eye to eye
Oh, we all know that pigs don’t fly
Baby, don’t lie, baby, don’t lie no more
Baby, don’t lie no more (lie no more)
Baby, don’t lie, baby, don’t lie no more
Baby, don’t lie no more
Hide behind your shallow smile
With fabrication by the mile
Imagination gone too far
You can’t tell what the real things are
Don’t give me that sincere look
‘Cause I can read you like a book
Page by page and line by line
Let’s hear that story one more time
Baby, don’t lie, baby, don’t lie no more
Baby, don’t lie no more (lie no more)
Baby, don’t lie, baby, don’t lie no more,
Baby, don’t lie no more
Tell lies for light relief
Designed to bring express belief
But one day without a doubt
The Boogey-man will find you out
Baby, don’t lie, baby, don’t lie no more
Baby, don’t lie no more (lie no more)
Baby, don’t lie, baby, don’t lie no more
Baby, don’t lie no more