Big Black Cloud

Hey hey, today's another day
Gonna ride the lawn mower down to Tampa Bay
Let's go – Come on let's go

Sun's out, I wanna wear a fez
Wanna do a dance but the Weatherman says
No go – you can't go

Save us from the big black cloud
(Save us from the big black cloud)
Shout it out, not too loud
(Shout it out, shout it out, shout it out)

Wind's up, you wanna fly a kite
Who they gonna sue if you hit a satellite
So no – Better not go

Sunday, beer and sauerkraut
Take it to the park, but the Weatherman shouts
No, no – Just no

Save us from the big black cloud
(Save us from the big black cloud)
Shout it out, not too loud
(Shout it out, shout it out, shout it out)

No luck no money no sex no fun
Get on the treadmill and run run
Run run run

Dawn breaks, Daddy's in the gym
Nobody can tell what the hell is wrong with him
Don't know – We don't know

All day, Mama wears a frown
Worn it every day
Since they tore the tower down
Oh no – Say it ain't so

Save us from the big black cloud
(Save us from the big black cloud)
Shout it out, not too loud
(Shout it out, shout it out, shout it out)

No luck no money no sex no fun
Get on the treadmill and run run
Run run run

Lyrics written by Joe Jackson
Published by Pokazuka LLC / Administered by Kobalt Music
Reproduced by permission

Fabulously Absolute

Go on and shove it in my face
How I should join the human race
Or maybe whisper in my ear
Whatever I should wanna hear

Like I'm a fascist or a fool
Who didn't go to snooty school
I get it wrong on the remote
And even wronger when I vote

All for one and one for all
And all and all and all in all
Tell me what I want
Tell me what I feel
(You're so fabulously absolute) [1]
Tell me what I want
Tell me what I feel
(You're so fabulously absolute)

I'm just somebody to deplore
Someone who doesn't know the score
Or maybe blinded by the light
Cause I'm a filthy troglodyte

If I was right and you were wrong
Then I could sing another song
But I am wrong and you are right
And I don't want another fight

All for one and one for all...

I'm a bigot and a boob
I'm a racist and a rube
I'm a hater and a hick
I'm a sinner and I'm sick

I'm a dummy and a dupe
I'm a liar on a loop
I'm a sexist and a slob
I'm a jerk, I want a job!

All for one and one for all...

Lyrics written by Joe Jackson
Published by Pokazuka LLC / Administered by Kobalt Music
Reproduced by permission

Dave

Dave – lives in a cave
Under a hill
A little way from the sea
Two cups of tea
And rashers for breakfast, well done
Works until one
No need to run
Just what he needs to live
Head like a sieve
Still you can't call him a slave

And you and me just keep on
Rushing round the world
To chase the perfect crime
Could it be that while we're
Rushing round the world
We're wasting all our time

Dave – watches the waves
They come and go, so he don't have to
Why – reach for the sky
He got a job once in Spain, away from the rain
Got on a train
Turned around, came right back, on the same track
Why doesn't he just behave

And you and me just keep on
Rushing round the world
To chase the perfect crime
Could it be that while we're
Rushing round the world
We're wasting all our time

Dave – lies in his grave
Under the hill, somebody took his place
With the same face
Whistles the same tone-deaf tune
Works until noon, howls at the moon
Maybe he'll call in sick
Head like a brick
Says you can just
Call him Dave

And you and me just keep on
Rushing round the world
To chase the perfect crime
Could it be that while we're
Rushing round the world
We're wasting all our time

Wasting all our time
Wasting all our time
Wasting all our time
Wasting all our time

Lyrics written by Joe Jackson
Published by Pokazuka LLC / Administered by Kobalt Music
Reproduced by permission

Strange Land

Thought there was a right turn here
Turns out to be wrong
Thought there was a short cut there
Seems to be so long
I study the lines on the map
And the lines on my face
Am I out of time or out of place?

Is this a brave stand
Or am I in danger
How are we supposed to know
When to stay or go
Is this a strange land
Or am I the stranger

Rainy Sunday afternoon
Looking for a toast
All the whisky's Japanese
The bars are full of ghosts
Here in the City of Light
I'm looking for a cave
Am I a soul who can be saved

Is this a brave stand
Or am I in danger
How are we supposed to know
When to stay or go
Is this a strange land
Or am I the stranger

Is this a brave stand
Or am I in danger
How are we supposed to know
When to stay or go
Is this a strange land
Or am I the stranger

Lyrics written by Joe Jackson
Published by Pokazuka LLC / Administered by Kobalt Music
Reproduced by permission

Friend Better

Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me
I can read what you need 'cause it's clear to see
So you tried and you tried and you made a mess
Got your pride, let it slide, 'cause I'm not impressed

If you were to use your head
Then you would – just forget her
Listen what what the wise man said
Lover good – friend better
Lover good – friend better

I could swear I was there when you hit the ground
Don't you care, don't you care, that I'm still around
It's a fact that I lack certain kinds of charm
Come on strong, get it wrong, but I mean no harm

If you were to use your head
Then you would – just forget her
Listen what what the wise man said
Lover good – friend better
Lover good – friend better

Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink on me
Pick a card, any card, it's your destiny
Took a trip on a ship but you ran aground
I declare sorrow shared is a sorrow drowned

If you were to use your head
Then you would – just forget her
Listen what what the wise man said
Lover good – friend better
Lover good – friend better
Lover good – friend better
Lover good – friend better

Lyrics written by Joe Jackson
Published by Pokazuka LLC / Administered by Kobalt Music
Reproduced by permission

Fool

Tougher than Superman, smarter than Batman
Could be a thin man, could be a fat man
Got more lives than a motherfuckin' cat, man
Go! Follow that man! Go! Follow that man!

When that I was an a little tiny boy [2]
(Heigh, ho, the wind and the rain)
A foolish thing was nothing but a toy
(Rain, rain, every day
Rain, rain, go away
Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain)

Fool – kicks off the carnival
Wise man goes to church
Fool – fucks up the funeral
No respect – well what do you expect

He's the man who don't follow orders
Stands on one leg and plays the recorder
Gets out of jail and laughs at the warder
Break for the border! Break for the border!

He that has an a little tiny wit [2]
(Heigh, ho, the wind and the rain)
Better make sure that he uses it
(Rain, rain, every day
Rain, rain, go away
Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain)

Fool – kicks off the carnival
Wise man goes to church
Fool – fucks up the funeral
No respect – well what do you expect
No remorse – oh well of course

Hail the Prince in pink polyester
Burn the Priests and bomb the Protesters
Kill the King, but you can't kill Feste [3]
Long live the Jester! Long live the Jester!

Fool – kicks off the carnival
Wise man goes to church
Fool – fucks up the funeral
No respect – well what do you expect

Lyrics written by Joe Jackson
Published by Pokazuka LLC / Administered by Kobalt Music
Reproduced by permission

32 Kisses

Another day
Another year
Another miracle
Another tear
Another birthday
Another card
Another memory
From so near, so far

I saw you grow
I saw it all
From the head of your class
To the queen of the stage
Strange I know
What I recall
Is the 32 kisses at the foot of the page

You had a dream
You had a plan
I had a girl
I guess you had almost a man
We had a time
A year or five
We had an ending, but
We got to be alive

I saw you grow
I saw it all
From the head of your class
To the queen of the stage
Strange I know
What I recall
Is the 32 kisses at the foot of the page

So strange, so true
So old, so new
From kids, to man and wife
The lucky few
Who get to have a life

Another day
Another year
Another miracle
Another tear
Another birthday
Another card
Another memory
From so near, so far

I saw you grow
I saw it all
From the head of your class
To the queen of the stage
Strange I know
What I recall
Is the 32 kisses at the foot of the page

Lyrics written by Joe Jackson
Published by Pokazuka LLC / Administered by Kobalt Music
Reproduced by permission

Alchemy

Red velvet curtains
Open noiselessly
Lovers and children
Strain their necks to see
A figure in the dark
Now almost revealed
A swirl of velvet cloak
And now he's disappeared
Alchemy

Close-up on the lips
Shiny shiny red
Whispering
What was that she said?
A lightning flash
A sudden silhouette
'Who's there?' – 'A friend'
A glowing cigarette
Alchemy

Thrill – to secrets never told
Taste – the bitter turned to sweet
See – the dross turned into gold
Hear – a B sharp turned to C

Beautiful dancers
Fly into the air
Enchanted by a melody
That isn't really there
A savage beast
Has turned into a man
The curtains close
To open on command
Alchemy
Alchemy

Lyrics written by Joe Jackson
Published by Pokazuka LLC / Administered by Kobalt Music
Reproduced by permission

Footnotes:

[1] Probably partly a reference to the UK TV series 'Absolutely Fabulous'

[2] Compare Shakespeare's tragedy 'King Lear' where in act 3, scene 2, the Fool sings the following lines:

He that has and a little tiny wit,
With heigh-ho, the wind and the rain,
Must make content with his fortunes fit,
Though the rain it raineth every day.

[3] Feste is a fool in the Shakespeare comedy 'Twelfth Night'.