NEWS
Alphabetic List: Click HERE to view songs in alphabetic order.
Script of the Bridge Click HERE to view lyrics for this album.
What Does Anything Mean? Basically Click HERE to view lyrics for this album.
Strange Times Click HERE to view lyrics for this album.
Why Call It Anything? Click HERE to view lyrics for this album.
Tony Fletcher EP Click HERE to view lyrics for this album.
The Fan and the Bellows Click HERE to view lyrics for this album.

lyrics

Script Of The Bridge - The Chameleons

Don't Fall (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - The Words to 'Don't Fall' were written about an hour before our first 'show-case' in London. A 'show-case' was a gig hastily promoted in order to get as many industry people there as possible to see the band. We'd be so eager to play new songs that I would often end up singing what came to be called 'yogurt' in the early stages, i.e., singing whatever felt good whether it made any sense or not. But I wasn't eager to do that on this occasion and typical me, I left it to the last minute to finish the words. They came from an experience I'd had a couple of weeks before when, due to a combination of my own stupidity and lateness I'd found myself alone at night, wandering the streets tripping on magic mushrooms. It was a long night, the details of which I won't bore you with but the result was 'Don't Fall'

Don't fall! Don't fall!

Alone in a room I've been in once before
Shapes in the hall
I'm running for the door
I'm out on the edge
But I'm not defeated yet
I hear my name above everything else
Mark! Mark!
Above everything else
Don't fall!

It's a freak out
Nothing's familiar
Nothing seems to fit into the scheme of things
Seeing faces where there shouldn't be faces
No-one's ever certain what tomorrow brings
So don't fall my friend
All nightmares have an end.

Hiding inside
A room that's running red
The place to be
Exists only in your head
And the focus of fear
In the creases of a dress
A female dress
How did I come to be drowning in this mess
This fuckin' mess
Don't fall

It's a freak out
Nothing's familiar
Nothing seems to fit into the scheme of things
Seeing faces where there shouldn't be faces
No-one's ever certain what tomorrow brings
Don't fall

I know your back's against the wall
But this roaring silence
Won't devour us all
Don't fall

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

Don't fall! Don't fall!

Alone in a room I've been in once before
Shapes in the hall
I'm running for the door
I'm out on the edge
But I'm not defeated yet
I hear my name above everything else

Mark! Mark!
Above everything else
Don't fall!

It's a freak-out
Nothing's familiar
Nothing seems to fit into the scheme of things
Seeing faces where there shouldn't be faces
No-one's ever certain what tomorrow brings

So don't fall my friend
All nightmares have an end
Hiding inside
A room that's running red
The place to be
Exists only in your head
And the focus of fear
In the creases of a dress
A female dress
How did I come to be drowning in this mess
This fucking mess
Don't fall

It's a freak-out
Nothing's familiar
Nothing seems to fit into the scheme of things
Seeing faces where there shouldn't be faces
No-one's ever certain what tomorrow brings
Don't fall

I know your back's against the wall
But this roaring silence
Won't devour us all
Don't fall

Here Today (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - This is one of the first songs we ever wrote together and it appeared on a compilation album released by Statik records very early in 1981.
Coming as they did quickly in the wake of the John Lennon murder (he had been shot dead a couple of months earlier) I'd always believed that they had stemmed from that. But it is now my belief that they are in fact snatches of my own future.

Don't know what happened
But somebody lost their mind tonight
Not sure what happened
But I don't think I got home tonight
And there's blood on my shirt

The clap of thunder
And I see my life go flashing by
The smell of sulphur
And I weep as I embrace the sky
I heard somebody scream

My chest is burning
I think someone set my soul alight
Don't know what happened
But I don't think I got home tonight
I wonder why
I wonder why

Ahhhh, there's madness here today
Ahhhh, I think I'll go away

Where is my wife?
Where is my wife?
I'm draining away
I'm draining away
(Draining away)
Here today

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

Don't know what happened
But somebody lost their mind tonight
Not sure what happened
But I don't think I got home tonight
And there's blood on my shirt

A clap of thunder
And I see my life go flashing by
The smell of sulphur
And I weep as I embrace the sky
I heard somebody scream

My chest is burning
Feels like someone set my soul alight
I don't know what happened
But I don't think I got home tonight
I wonder why

Where is my wife?
I'm draining away

Monkeyland (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - By the late seventies Middleton had become a very dull and insular place to live. Although nearby Manchester has always been a fresh and interesting place to hang out, whenever I was skint, which was most of the time, I'd feel very trapped in Middleton. The first section really refers to people I found myself surrounded by early on in the band's development, all of which served to remind me of the depth of the rut we had all seemingly fallen into. The song as a whole was inspired by what the author Colin Wilson described as "the triviality of everydayness". Ironically, several years later, Middleton's nickname with those that lived in other areas around Manchester was 'Monkeytown'.

I shake my head and shiver
They smile
And then stab my back as they shake my hand
Send out an SOS plea
Come quickly
I'm marooned in monkeyland.
Is there anyone there
Who understands me
Anyone at all

I'm idly staring at the sky
Did anybody hear me sigh
A million stars are a moving sight
To all you out there
Reading this tonight
It's just a trick of the light

I have to know what is real
And what is illusion
Tell me how does it feel
Beyond this confusion
Is there anyone there

Do I dismiss this with a sigh
Suppose I must from time to time
And let the answers pass me by
To questions set to bend the mind
Is my creator a God or a man
Does someone somewhere
Care or understand
It's just a trick of the light

I have to know what is real
And what is illusion
Tell me how does it feel
Beyond this confusion
Is there anyone there

Life's an optical illusion
Like other optical illusions
Beware
If there's anyone there

Second Skin (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - The song went through two titles before it finally became 'Second Skin.' It started it's life as 'Dreams In Celluloid' and then became 'Films' and had different lyrics, dealing with the immortality of cinema stars. It evolved after I read a book about the study of 'Near Death Experiences' and subsequently dealt with another form of immortality altogether.

One cold damp evening
The world stood still
I watched as I held my breath
A silhouette I thought I knew
Came through
And someone spoke to me
Whispered in my ear
This fantasy's for you
Fantasies are "in" this year

My whole life passed before my eyes
I thought
What they say is true
I shed my skin and my disguise
And cold, numb and naked
I emerged from my cocoon
And a half remembered tune
Played softly in my head

It's like you fail to make the connection
You know how vital it is
Or when something slips through your fingers
You know how precious it is
Well you reach the point where you know
It's only your second skin

Someone's banging on my door

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

Then he turned smiling
And said
I realise a miracle is due
I dedicate this melody to you
But is this the stuff dreams are made of?
If this is the stuff dreams are made of
No wonder I feel like I'm floating on air
Everywhere
It feels like I'm everywhere
It's like you fail to make the connection
You know how vital it is
Or when something slips through your fingers
You know how precious it is
Well you reach the point where you know
It's only your second skin
Someone's banging on my door

Up The Down Escalator (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - The title was actually Reg's suggestion for a band name before we settled on The Chameleons, I liked it so much I remembered it and it just seemed apt for this particular idea. A further inspiration came from Dave when he told me he'd seen an item about a very young child genius who written something like "Someone told me tomorrow never comes, but I've seen it end lots of times." 'Escalator' deals with helplessness in a world gone stark, raving mad.

I'm gazing at faces
Staring blankly at me
I suppose it's just a sign of the times
They tell me tomorrow will never arrive
But I've seen it end a million times

I lost my direction while dodging the flak
Oh give me a hint or something
Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
How long will they wait
No!
There must be something wrong boys

Obnoxious actions
Obnoxious results
Teachers who refuse to be taught
Distorted pictures
And dizzy, dizzy people
Rush by me at the speed of thought

Sitting at tables
And throwing the scraps
For Christ's' sake leave them something
Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
Will they hesitate
No!
There must be something wrong boys
They're dragging me down

Eden
There's no Eden, anyway.

They're dragging me down
You either swim or you drown

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

I'm gazing at faces
Staring blankly at me
I suppose it's just a sign of the times
They tell me tomorrow will never arrive
But I've seen it end a million times

I lost my direction while dodging the flak
Oh give me a hint or something
Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
How long will they wait
No!
There must be something wrong boys

Obnoxious actions
Obnoxious results
Teachers who refuse to be taught
Distorted pictures
And dizzy, dizzy people
Rush by me at the speed of thought
Sitting at tables
And throwing the scraps
For Christ's sake leave them something

Now they can erase us
At the flick of a switch
Will they hesitate
No!
There must be something wrong boys
They're dragging me down

Eden
There's no Eden anyway

They're dragging me down
You either swim or you drown

Less Than Human (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - Again this was one of the first songs we did together and we just jammed it out in a few minutes at a rehearsal. My big mouth has always got me into trouble, more so in those days and I think I must have been feeling guilty about something. The second verse came much later and stemmed from a conversation I'd had with a girl friend. Although the original was produced with Lillywhite the version on 'Script' was re-recorded for the album. The whirly pipes at the end (a child's toy that you can still buy at fairgrounds or at the sea-side) was originally Lillywhite's suggestion after we'd used them on the compilation version of 'Here Today'. We repeated it here, my favourite element in the song.

Must have died a thousand times
Must have died a thousand times
Must have died a thousand times
Feeling less than human
I surmise

I'm less than human in God's eyes

Time he's on our side she said
Time he's on our side she said
Time he's on our side she said,
But it makes no difference in the end
He's coming after you my friend

I must have cried a thousand times
I must have cried a thousand times
I must have cried a thousand times
Feeling less than human
I surmise
I'm less than human in God's eyes

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

I must have died a thousand times
Feeling less than human
I surmise
I'm less than human in God's eyes

Time he's on my side, She said
He may be on your side, I said
But it makes no difference in the end
He's coming after you my friend

I must have cried a thousand times
Feeling less than human
I surmise
I'm less than human in God's eyes

Pleasure And Pain (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - I still have no idea where this came from. All I remember is that we jammed it out with Martin Jackson after John had left temporarily to get his head together. The idea began with the intro, written by Dave on the piano.

White as a cotton cloud
Silence sea and sky
Innocent as the child
Always asking why

I can take you there
I can show you
I can take you there
I'll be there
Gently catching you as you fall
Hearing you when you call
Smiling as we climb
Smiling or crocodiling?

As certainly as the sun
Bakes a Sahara day
Ancient as the hills
Crumbling into clay

It's pleasure and pain
No loss no gain
Pleasure and pain
Again and again
Pleasure and pain

This madness
This laughter
Outward feelings I can't control
Those coloured lights are leading me
It's in you
It's in me

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

White as a cotton cloud
Silence sea and sky
Innocent as the child
Always asking why

I can take you there
I can show you
I can take you there
I'll be there
Gently catching you as you fall
Hearing you when you call
Smiling as we climb
Smiling or crocodiling?

As certainly as the sun
Bakes a Sahara day
Ancient as the hills
Crumbling into clay

It's pleasure and pain
No loss no gain
Pleasure and pain

Again and again
Pleasure and pain

This madness
This laughter
Outward feelings I can't control
Those coloured lights are leading me
It's in you
It's in me

Thursday's Child (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - The title is taken from an old poem, I can't remember it all, or it's title, but it goes "Wednesday's child is full of woe; Thursday's child has far to go." I realised that I was actually growing up and leaving my childhood behind me. I was asking myself. What kind of man would I become?

Where are we?
First and last
Bound together in our past
Much too cruel
Much too fast
And much too quick to anger

I suppose
Years ago
Years ago I might have known
I suppose
Years ago

Traps laid bare
In my face
Set to keep me in my place
Wave goodbye to the child
And life, it seems, is colder

I suppose
Years ago I might have known
I suppose

No
Please leave my mind intact
As I slowly grow older

Where are we?
Each and all
Creatures run and creatures crawl
Spinning here on this ball
Creatures run and creatures crawl

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

Where are we?
First and last
Bound together in our past
Much too cruel
Much too fast
And much too quick to anger

I suppose
Years ago

Years ago I might have known
I suppose
Years ago

Traps laid bare
In my face
Set to keep me in my place
Wave goodbye to the child
And life, it seems, is colder

I suppose
Years ago I might have known
I suppose

No
Please leave my mind intact
As I slowly grow older

Where are we?
Each and all
Creatures run and creatures crawl
Spinning here on this ball
Creatures run and creatures crawl

As High As You Can Go (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - A song about selling your soul for fame and fortune, compromising oneself for the sake of your dreams. It came in the wake of CBS. They'd dangled a dream in front of us and when we wouldn't be what they wanted they dropped us. We weren't bothered though, we had each other.

Single file boys
Signposts to the sun
As high as you can go
Lennons and Monroes
Claw their way to the stars
If they knew
And I don't care who you are
Just sign the line and away you fly

Unexpectedly rejected
Safety for the few
Same excuses resurrected
None of them are true
High as you can go
Lennons and Monroes
Claw their way to the stars
If they only knew
No I don't care who you are
Just sign the line and away you fly

Take a chance
Join the dance
Make the sound
Take a chance
Join the dance
Or go to ground.

No I don't care who you are
Sign the line and away you fly

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

Single file boys
Signposts to the sun
As high as you can go
Lennons and Monroes
Claw their way to the stars
If they knew
And I don't care who you are
Just sign the line and away you fly

Take a chance
Join the dance
Make the sound
Take a chance
Join the dance
Or go to ground

No I don't care who you are
Sign the line and away you fly

A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - I was watching some TV while the backing track was being finished, about an extremely violent individual and recounting the time five blokes had leapt from a car and attacked me with hammers and sticks as well as stories which were becoming increasingly common, of old people being beaten and robbed in their own homes by junkies. When the time came to do the take this is what came out. We knew it was a single but didn't know what to call it. We were in a cafe when Dave showed me a news paper cartoon, a funny looking guy with a speech bubble that said...

As she parts her greying hair
Voices on the stair
When she turns there's someone there

Like a nightmare from the past
To the sound of splintered glass
Dance the monsters in the masks

Men of steel
Just stood laughing in the rain

Have you killed her
Someone said
As they dragged her from her bed
Kicking in her head

What kind of times are these
No one hears, no one sees
As they drive her to her knees

Men of steel
Just stood laughing in the rain

What kind of times are these
As they drive you to your knees
They just stood laughing in the rain
The rain

How can you laugh this one away
Will you ever laugh this one away

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

As she parts her greying hair
Voices on the stair
When she turns there's someone there

Like a nightmare from the past
To the sound of splintered glass
Dance the monsters in the masks

Men of steel
Just stood laughing in the rain

Have you killed her
Someone said
As they dragged her from her bed
Kicking in her head

What kind of times are these
No one hears, no one sees
As they drive her to her knees

Men of steel
Just stood laughing in the rain

What kind of times are these
As they drive you to your knees
They just stood laughing in the rain
The rain

How can you laugh this one away
Will you ever laugh this one away

Paper Tigers (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - During our early touring, back in the days when we had 'an agent' (gasp!!) we found ourselves, courtesy of 'Wasted Talent' down to support Killing Joke in Leicester. We arrived on time ready to sound check. KJ arrived four and a half hours late and we couldn't check until they had, very boring but no problem. That is until we started our sound check. I plugged my bass in, played a few notes to make sure everything was working and the sound guy shouted "ok, good, now guitar." I started laughing and looked at Dave and he did the same thing, struck a single chord to make sure the leads were working and we got another "great, thanks" from the sound engineer. We started shouting at them that we wanted a proper sound-check, not a line check and they told us that there just wasn't time due to the lateness of Killing Joke's arrival. Things escalated and, noticing the band at the side of the stage, drawn by the commotion, Dave and I unstrapped our guitars and ran at them. Fortunately for them their crew managed to stop us before we got to them. We told them all to fuck off and blew out the gig. Later a spokesman for the band came over and apologised and hoped we'd play the rest of the gigs with them but we told them were to go. Paper Tigers came from that basically.

Too much makes me lazy
Not enough and it makes me crazy
Too much makes me crazy
Not enough and it makes me lazy

Time stops just for a moment
Then again it's only an instant
Time stops just for an instant
Then again it's only a moment

They always keep themselves clean
Know what I mean?

You have to face them sooner or later
These tigers made of paper
Don't pay now
You have to pay later
Confront your tigers made of paper

They always keep themselves clean
I can't shake this feeling
Something's going to happen

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

Too much makes me lazy
Not enough and it makes me crazy
Too much makes me crazy
Not enough and it makes me lazy

Time stops just for a moment
Then again it's only an instant
Time stops just for an instant
Then again it's only a moment

They always keep themselves clean
Know what I mean?

You have to face them sooner or later
These tigers made of paper
Don't pay now
You have to pay later
Confront your tigers made of paper

They always keep themselves clean
I can't shake this feeling
Something's going to happen

View from A Hill (The Chameleons)

Notes by Mark - A song of two halves. The second half actually came first. I'd nipped out with Martin Jackson for a sandwich and when I got back Dave and Reg had come up with the loop. Later on, we jammed out what became the first part, got to the end and didn't know where to go next "Why not go into that instrumental thing you were doing earlier?" I asked. Presto! The first part is a reflection of those very beautiful memories I have of taking acid with the others and climbing Tandle Hill to look out over the sprawling suburbs of Manchester, an experience which is the very essence of 'Script Of The Bridge' Later when it came to recording the track we'd filled all the available tracks with bits and pieces which we were just going to fade out.
As we were mixing I asked everyone there to put fingers on buttons and on my count, press them. We did and what you can still here were the tracks we didn't have any fingers left for. We all looked at each other.
"Now what?" someone asked. "Push them back in again on my count." I shouted. Reg pushed his on "3" instead of "4' which is why his guitar comes in slightly earlier than everything else, which actually works perfectly.

Feel myself falling to the ground
Solitary silence there's no sound
Open my eyes and look around
Colours and concepts that confound
All around

Pick myself up and take the air
The fragrance of children everywhere
Slowly absorbed into my square
Debating what is and isn't there
Who cares.

You wait until your time comes round again

Alternative Lyrics from Marks songbook (Dearest dead days):

Feel myself falling to the ground
Solitary silence there's no sound
Open my eyes and look around
Colours and concepts that confound
All around

Pick myself up and take the air
The fragrance of children everywhere
Slowly absorbed into my square
Debating what is and isn't there

Who cares.
You wait until your turn comes round again

Last Update: Thursday 13th October 2005