Do Or Die

SCREAM EUREKA

A call to arms for everyone who is vaguely scared of doing something a bit different from everyone else. Give it a try. What’s the worst that could happen? Well, you could be a genius and prove everyone else wrong; or you could take a couple of goes… or you could turn over and see what’s going on in the Rovers.

Wasting time, inconsequential needs to meet
Watching someone else’s street.
You hold repeat, and then delete
You’ve gotta get out of your seat.

You know you’ve got the gift,
‘Cos you’ve seen it since you’ve lived.
Surprising is the difference,
I’ve seen your spirits lift

Through all the grey and your dismay at witless gains.

We are here, ‘cos tomorrow’s never near,
Select a feeling or a fear.
I’ll kick you in the rear,
‘Cos there’s nothing left in here.

It’s time to try again.
Muster up all our old friends.
We’ve got a new agenda,
We don’t have to make amends

For all the past mistakes. Let’s try and make some sense.

Don’t ignore us. People bore us.
Open wide and sing the chorus.
Are you with us? Brothers, sisters?
Time to break those ties that bind you, terrorise you, realise your dream and scream Eureka.

BEING GOOD

This song used to be called Being Good Is Okay But Being Bad Is Better until a mate of mine misheard it and gave it this far better title, which I actually agree with way more now than when I wrote the original in about 2003. So yeah, cheers for that, Owen. It’s basically about doing your best. It’s a positive message for the kidz (with a z). Or something. It’s dead easy to piss about, but you only get one shot at life, so make the most of it.

Being good is okay, but being better’s better,
Yeah, perspiration’s fun cos there’s no sweet without sweat
And if you never cut loose, hey, we’re doing it together.
‘Cos being good is okay, but being better’s better.

He sits and rots and watches other people’s lives pass him by.
Watching clocks, upon the negativity thrives. What a guy.

Make some time for a different direction.
Open your mind for a limited selection.
Try to unwind or you’re gonna get sectioned.
We got it right here, we got it right now.

She looks just like the princess on a birthday cake. What’s her name?
The tears are real, but oh my God, the tits are fake. What a shame.

Make some time for a different solution.
Don’t have to find an inhuman self-pollution.
Try to unwind or convulsive ‘lectrocution.
We got it right here, we got it right now.

THE STORY OF MY LIFE

This is the story of my life. I have always been average to quite good at stuff. Never made any front pages (apart from Sandman magazine – cheers), never copped off with a supermodel, only ever been cited in the one divorce settlement. Anyway, I’ve grown to be quite happy with that. What can money (and its friend tabloid notoriety) buy you? I mean, really buy you? I’d sooner be able to go to the corner shop in my slippers.

This is the story of my life.
You can ignore me if you like.
No film stars, no beauty, new styles or inventions.
No faux pas, no glory, and no tabloid mentions.
The bullets ran away with the guns.

This is the story. The story of, the story of my fucking life.
You applaud me, then ignore me. The story of my fucking life.
Well it won’t get any better, and it can’t get any worse.
Save this verse and lose my curse tonight.

Never first and never last.
Never future, never past.
No wonder that lately’s a little like the Stone Age.
Just breathing can give me a middle of the road rage,
‘Cos everything is turning to beige.

Well it won’t get any better, and it can’t get any worse.
Save this verse and lose my curse tonight.
Save this verse and lose my curse tonight.
Save this verse and lose my curse tonight.

RED WINE SMILE

I knew a girl who basically used to be a pain in the arse when she was drunk. This isn’t just about her, it’s about anyone who is annoying when they’re drunk… that’ll be you then. And me.

The moon was in Aquarius.
The night had been hilarious.
And would she like another drink?
Demeanour seemed gregarious.
Intentions not nefarious.
A final glance met with a wink.

And when she smiles, she really shines,
And when she laughs, she redefines the meaning of beautiful.
And love lifts over disarray
And all the people say her red wine smile it brightens up their day.

The feline wiles so curious,
The feelings got more glorious.
I think she’s had too much to think.
And excuses got more studious
Intentions got more spurious
And yes, she’d like another drink.

And when she smiles, she really sighs.
And when she laughs, she wants to cry.
But she was beautiful… yeah.
And hope lifts over disarray
And all the people say her red wine smile it brightens up their day.
Her red wine smile is getting in the way…

Yeah she was beautiful.
Her pride lies dead in disarray and all the people say her red wine smile it brightens up their day.
Her red wine smile is ruining her ways.

EVERYONE LOVES YOU

Another one about people who are annoying. This time in clubs. It’s a really dumb boy-meets-girl song about two people far too pretty for their own good. I think it’s fairly self-explanatory. Oh yeah, and it does give a tip of a wink and a nod of a hat to The Buzzcocks… there’s far worse bands we could be ‘borrowing’ from.

Twisting bodies, heaving dancefloor,
Another room, another midnight bore.
Whole nation in emancipation,
Fuelled by designer lubrication.

‘Cos everyone in there can see that I want you and you want me.
My feet give way and so do yours… I don’t wanna be in here anymore.

Everyone loves you, ‘cos you’ve got the poise.
Let’s get out of here, ‘cos this noise it annoys.
We’re leaving together, leave the others behind.
You’ve got thirty seconds, now to make up your mind…

All their heads are nearly cavities,
Hiding behind masks of depravity.
I’m feeling dirty and I’m feeling sick.
I don’t know what makes you people tick.

‘Cos everyone in there can see that I want you and you want me.
My feet give way and so do yours… I don’t wanna be in here anymore.

Everyone loves you.
Everyone loves you.
Everyone loves you.
Everyone loves you.

GOING DOWN

This was the fusing of two songs, one about a guy who I didn’t used to like, and one about some things I used get up to. I came to realise that they were essentially the same person and something had to change to make it all better. Which was basically, without going into too much detail, calming down a bit.

This morning, 4.50, I woke up all shifty in a dream.
No colours, no pictures, just blindness… and lowered self-esteem.
No fire, desire, it’s twisting my wrists not to achieve.
Desire, perspire, acquire, is all that I believe.

I’m cutting loose and I’m starting now.
Cannot wait, cannot wait for tomorrow.
I’ve opened my eyes and I’m looking round.
Cannot wait, cannot wait for tomorrow.
I’m breathing in and I’m shouting out.
Cannot wait, cannot wait for tomorrow.
Cos I’m going up and you’re going down.
You’re going down. You’re going down.

This morning, 6.20, I woke, all sweaty on myself.
No colours, no pictures, just blindness… affects my mental health.
Abusing my body is boring and so is the whole scene.
If honest, I think it’s just nature trying to intervene.

You’re going down on to the floor.
You’re going down and around some more.
You’re going down on the left side and down on the right side of me.

SHE SINGS TO ME

Strangely, this song is about an amazing female singer who I think sounds like she is dying when I hear her sing. (In a good way.) I’m not telling you who, though.

She sings to me her suicide.
Her words a minor fall.
A melody melancholy.
This sound might save us all.

She sings to me her suicide.
Her words a minor fall.
A melody melancholy.
This sound will save us all.

THE ONE WHO WOULDN’T CHANGE YOU

A love song, and just about the only one I’ve ever written. Like most of my words, it’s not very specific, but there are odd lines in there that are, and not necessarily about girls. Oooh, controversial!! Really it’s just about spending time with people you look up to, and I think you should probably look up to your girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife/whatever.

Tomorrow’s catching up, but someone up there has a system.
I’m hating growing up… but age doesn’t choose its own victims.

Oh, going grey,
Let’s grow old together
Oh, going grey,
We’ll stay young forever
Oh, make my day,
And say you’ll go grey with me.

It’s all that I want, and all I ever do.

I gave up long in the past, but you’re always out there achieving.
You reach for the stars while I sit on my arse, you hold up the nights I believe in.

Oh, going grey,
Let’s grow old together
Oh, going grey,
We’ll stay young forever
Oh, make my day,
And say you’ll go grey with me.

It’s all that I want, and all I ever do.
It’s all that I need, me and you know who.
Say that you’ll stay, and we’ll grow young and grey.

Oh, going grey,
Let’s grow old together
Oh, going grey,
We’ll stay young forever
Oh, stay, don’t go away, yeah, yeah.

It’s all that I want, and all I ever do.
It’s all that I need, me and you know who.
Say that you’ll stay, and we’ll grow young and grey.

Oh, going grey,
Let’s grow old together
Oh, going grey,
We’ll stay young forever
Oh, make my day,
And say you’ll go grey… with me.

I’d be the one who wouldn’t change you.

It’s all that I want, and all I ever do.
It’s all that I need, me and you know who.
Say that you’ll stay, and we’ll grow young and grey.

DO OR DIE

Another one about getting off your arse and doing something. We all have off days and down days, but when they start to overtake the others, it’s a good idea to try to get out of it, because otherwise you’ll find yourself on a downward spiral of lack of motivation, dullness of spirit and Jeremy Frigging Kyle. What was it that they used to say in Why Don’t You? Turn off your TV and go do something less boring instead? Well get off the internet and do something less boring instead, then.

The nights are long and boring,
The days are short and dirty grey.
You’re feeling sorry for yourself.
The spirit ebbs and flows, determination fuels itself.

And when your heart’s on fire,
And when your head is in a freeze.
You feel the pinch across your belt.
It’s time to make some changes and maybe step off from the shelf.

And when the trials they won’t relent,
And your get up and go just got up and went,
Add life to your years instead of years to your life.

All this time spent on rewind, it makes me wonder why.
When your mind works overtime, you’ve got to do or die.

And when you’re feeling lonely,
And when you’re feeling like a freak,
Still feeling sorry for yourself.
You know that you are unique… just like everybody else.

Cos if you do what you’ve always done,
Then you’ll only win what you’ve always won,
Add life to your years instead of years to your life.

All this time spent on rewind, it makes me wonder why.
When your mind works overtime, you’ve got to do or die.

YEAH, I FEEL LUCKY

Yeah, Jon.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

This is about the tragic but occasionally funny duality of life being a laugh and everything but still being a ballache. If it wasn’t so much of a ballache, though, the fun bits wouldn’t be anywhere near as much fun. Although the whole album is in some way about growing up, how to grow up, when to grow up and not really wanting to grow up, I don’t think I ever really will. Can’t be arsed.

Life.
It turns me upside down,
And it spins me round and round,
But I don’t mind, it makes me real.

Life.
It sometimes makes me smile.
It make me run a mile.
But I don’t mind, it makes me real.
Oh life, I don’t mind, it makes me feel alright.

‘Cos when you think it’s all over,
And sunshine’s forcing out the rain.
You’re holding a four-leaf clover,
And pulling cogs out of the chain.
The sky it seems brighter and bluer,
But nothing’s changed, it all just stays the same.
Because the light at the end of the tunnel
Is the light of an oncoming train.

Life.
It hits me where it hurts,
It leaves me in the dirt,
But I don’t mind, it makes me real.

Life.
It teaches me I’m proud,
It makes me laugh out loud,
But I don’t mind, it makes me real.
Oh life, I don’t mind, it makes me feel alright.

I’m waiting. Frustrated. I’m hating this waiting.
So hard when should be so easy.
This situation is so very frustrating, it’s all too much for me.

‘Cos when you think it’s all over,
And sunshine’s forcing out the rain.
You’re holding a four-leaf clover,
And pulling cogs out of the chain.
The sky it seems brighter and bluer,
But nothing’s changed, it all just stays the same.
‘Cos the light at the end of the tunnel
Is the light of an oncoming train.

‘Cos when you think it’s all over,
And sunshine forces out the rain.
You’re holding a four-leaf clover,
And pulling cogs out of the chain.
The sky it seems brighter and bluer,
But nothing’s changed, it all just stays the same.
Oh yeah, the light at the end of the tunnel
Is the light of an oncoming train.
Oh it’s the light of an oncoming train.
Oh yeah the light of an oncoming train.