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Recorded February-March 1985, released April 1985.
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1. This Disco
Used To Be A Cute Cathedral
2. On The Fritz
3. It's A Personal Thing
4. To Forgive
5. You've Been Bought
6. You Don't Owe Me Nothing
7. I Manipulate
8. Lifeboat
9. Drive, He Said
10. I Just Wanna Know
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1. This Disco (Used To Be A Cute Cathedral)
Sunday needs a pick-me-up?
here's your chance
do you get tired of the same old square dance?
allemande right now
all join hands
do-si-do to the promised boogieland
got no need for altar calls
sold the altar for the mirror balls
do you shuffle? do you twist?
'cause with a hot hits playlist, now we say
chorus 1:
This disco used to be a cute cathedral
where the chosen cha-cha every day of the year
this disco used to be a cute cathedral
where we only play the stuff you're wanting to hear
Mickey does the two-step
One, Two, Swing
all the little church mice doing their thing
boppin' in the belltower
rumba to the right
knock, knock
who's there?
get me outta this limelight
so, you want to defect?
officer, what did you expect?
got no rhythm, got no dough
he said, "Listen, Bozo, don't you know"
chorus 2:
This disco used to be a cute cathedral
where the chosen cha-cha every day of the week
this disco used to be a cute cathedral
but we got no room if you ain't gonna be chic
Sell your holy habitats
this ship's been deserted by sinking rats
the exclusive place to go
it's where the pious pogo
don't you know
(chorus 1)
(chorus 2)
Back to the Top
2. On The Fritz
He wished to right the wrongs
he sang religious songs
he kept the private he
under a lock and key
heat keeps rising in an age of passion
shakes a conscience to the core
stopgap, hand-slap, take a tongue-lashing
my poor soul can't take any more
chorus:
On the fritz
on the fritz
there he sits
on the fritz
He kept his ego there
it was a sad affair...on the fritz
the inner circle knows
and so the story goes...on the fritz
airborne rumors chip away the image
but you knew the stakes were high
first they get you thinking you're a prophet
now they've got you living a lie
(chorus)
So the crowds grew, and their praise did too
and a mailing list sent you money
so they love Jerry Lewis in France
does that make him funny?
it's too late for apologies when trust has been betrayed
now victims of your double life are naming names
He kept his ego there
it was a sad affair...on the fritz
the public's had enough
they've come to call your bluff...on the fritz
small talk breeds where kingdoms come crashing
rumor conquers where it wills
no one hears you, go ahead and cash in
if you don't die to yourself
pride kills
(chorus)
Back to the Top
The press conference
It's a personal thing, and I find it odd
you would question my believing in a personal God
I'm devout, I'm sincere, ask my mother if you doubt it
I'm religious, but I'd rather not get radical about it
the old-time believers had timidity and grace
but this new generation doesn't know its place
you're entitled to believe, but the latest Gallup Poll
says you mustn't interfere--that's the government's role
chorus:
'Cause when you throw your hat in the
bullring
before you know it's a personal thing
and when he comes to the day of reckoning
he's gonna tell 'em, "uh, uh, uh, it's a personal thing"
The nomination speech
It's a personal thing, and I boldly state
that my views on morality will have to wait
'til my personal life's out of the public eye
and the limitations statue can protect my alibi
I'm devout, I'm sincere, and I'm proud to say
that it's had exactly no effect on who I am today
I believe for the benefit for all mankind
in the total separation of church and mind
(chorus)
The victory night
It's a personal thing, and I plainly speak
(from the same code of ethics that I held last week)
as I promised if elected this election day
with the help of God almighty...I'll do it my way
(chorus)
Back to the Top
4. To Forgive
I saw a man
he was holding the hand
that had fired a gun at his heart
oh, will we live
to forgive?
I saw the eyes
and the look of surprise
as he left an indelible mark
oh, will we live?
to forgive?
Come...find release
go...make your peace
Follow his lead
let the madness recede
when we shatter the cycle of pain
oh, we will live
to forgive
Come...find release
go...make your peace
I saw a man
with a hole in His hand
who could offer the miracle cure
oh, He said live
I forgive
(repeat)
Oh, He said live
to forgive
oh, He said live
to forgive
Back to the Top
So the suburbs were jungle...
did you mama make you eat it?
you were barely out of high school
when your daddy told you "beat it"
and repression was a buzzword
so you called yourself a victim
a victim of repression?
this court is now in session
With a growl and a guitar you made yourself a
name
but the fire left the grooves when the first check came
chorus 1:
You've been bought
interests are conflicting
you've been bought
that chemical's addicting
you've been bought
what goes around comes around
you'll get caught
get it while you're hot, 'cause you know
you've been bought
Sold your bad reputation
for a deal in tinseltown
then the video rolls
then the whip comes down
did you slap around the ladies for the camera?
do you slap them when the camera isn't there?
those are lawyers telling you to look rebellious
pulling strings when your fist goes in the air
This year's rock and roll messiah come to
settle some old score
you can save that bad boy posturing, I've seen that sneer before
chorus 2: You've been bought
a real heavy sweater?
you've been bought
Elvis did it better
you've been bought
what goes around comes around
you'll get caught
get it while you're hot, 'cause you know
you've been bought
South African promoters call
and you wonder if you should
but ideals fall like dominoes
when the money looks good
we don't need another manufactured rebel
we don't want your twisted doctrines of despair
if your music's saying nothing save it for the dentist chair
(chorus 1)
You've been bought
you've been bought
you'll get caught
get it while you're hot, 'cause you know
you've been bought
Back to the Top
There was a time in Christendom
the road to God was hard to tread
'til charlatans in leisure suits
saw dollars dancing in their heads
chorus:
You don't owe me nothing
you don't owe me nothing
you don't owe me nothing
you don't owe me nothing
I heard her say she struck a deal
her faith will bring in money bags
I'm heading for the mercy seat
my goodness looks like dirty rags
(chorus)
Need I even say
you don't owe me nothing
why did you give it anyway?
I know you'll give me what I need
they say I need a shopping mall
I claim the victory over greed
Lord Jesus, I surrender all
(chorus)
Back to the Top
7. I Manipulate
Does your soul crave center stage?
have you heard about the latest rage?
read your Bible by lightning flash
get ordained at the thunder crash
build a kingdom with a cattle prod
tell the masses it's a message from God
where the innocent congregate
I manipulate
Take your notebooks, turn with me
to the chapter on authority
do you top the chain of command
rule your family with an iron hand
I dispense little pills of power
from my hideaway ivory tower
from the cover of heaven's gate
I manipulate
Now it's time to fill in the space
where we talk about the woman's place
do you want to build a happy home?
have you sacrificed a mind of your own?
'cause a good wife learns to cower
underneath the umbrella of power
from the cover of heaven's gate
I manipulate
Yes, I know that parable
that's the story of the prodigal
if you question what I'm teaching you
you rebel against the Father too
if he loved him why'd he let him go?
well, I guess I don't really know
but I see it's getting late...
Back to the Top
8. Lifeboat
Teacher: Good morning, class!
Class: Good morning, Mrs. Aryan.
Teacher: Today we're going to play a game!
Class: Yeah!
Teacher: This game is called Lifeboat. All together...
Class: Lifeboat!
Teacher: Good! Lifeboat is a lesson in values clarification. Can you
say values clarification?
Class: No.
Teacher: Values clarification is where your little minds decide which
lives are worth living and which lives are worth...ahem...
not living. Now here's how we play. A big ship just sank.
There are five people on the lifeboat. But the lifeboat is
only made for two. I'll list the five people on the
chalkboard, and you, class, will decide which three will be
thrown overboard. Are we ready?
Class: Yes, Mrs. Aryan.
Teacher: Good! First, there's an old, old crippled grandfather.
Second, there's a mentally handicapped person in a wheelchair.
Alison: What's mentally handicapped?
Teacher: It means they can never be a productive members of society.
Third, there's an overweight woman on welfare, with a
sniffling, whimpering baby.
Max: Is the baby on welfare, too?
Teacher: Let's not push Mrs. Aryan...
Sydney: Who else is in the boat?
Teacher: A young, white doctor with blue eyes and perfect teeth, and
Joan Collins. Now, class, take five minutes to make your
decision. ... Times up! Well class?
Class: Throw over grandpa 'cause he's getting pretty old
throw out the baby or we'll all be catching it's cold
throw over fatty and we'll see if she can float
throw out the retard, and they won't be rockin' the boat
Teacher: Very good! That was fun, wasn't it?
Class: Yes, Mrs. Aryan.
Teacher: For our next lesson, we're going to do an experiment!
Class: Yeah!
Teacher: We're going to test the law of gravity, just like Galileo, by
dropping two objects out the window--one heavy and one light--
to see which one hits the sidewalk first. Now what shall we
use for the lighter object? I'm thinking of something small
and square...
Class: An eraser?
Teacher: Good! And what shall we use for the heavy object? I'm
thinking of something round and bouncy... Tommy, I haven't
given you permission to leave your sea...class, the bell has
not rung. What are you... oohh! Class...put me down!
Put me down this instant! Ooohhh! Ooohhh!
Class: Throw over teacher and we'll see if she can bounce
we've learned our lesson--teacher says perfection's what counts
she's getting old and gray and wears an ugly coat
throw over teacher and we'll play another game of lifeboat
throw over grandpa 'cause he's getting pretty old
throw out the baby, or we'll all be catching it's cold
throw over fatty and we'll see if she can float
throw out the retard, and they won't be rockin' the boat
Yeah!
Back to the Top
On a desert road that steamed the sky
with the windows up and the air on high
I was off the stage, I was on the mend
with a solo drive to a holiday weekend
my thirsty car came to a stop at the Reptile Gardens Curio Shop
when a wind came hissing through the vents,
and I felt my sneakers growing tense
my forehead broke in a cold, cold sweat--
in the rearview mirror was a silhouette
then I heard the door-locks take a dive
and a whisper screamed "Don't turn around, just drive"
Scratch! Dressed in red--pointy tail and horn-rimmed head
and a widow's peak like Eddie Munster
I sat frozen in my seat--"We haven't had the chance to meet...
are you a singing telegram or something?"
he just flashed a hellish smile--"Let's go driving for a while"
he held something in his hand I'd never seen before
it was my Chevrolet's pink slip
Scratch! Evil eye
"Step on it, boy, if you want to stay alive" he said
"Don't look surprised, you know what I want
I've lived for years inside your trunk, so drive" he said
"Let's get talking business, son--you ain't fooling anyone
I know just what you want to be--now it's time to work for me, so drive"
If this is a nasty dream
I'd prefer to wake up here
I believe the point is clear...
Scratch! Out of my car!
He said "Ha! I've come too far...
besides, I kinda like the velour seat-covers"
God, help me! What do I do?
"Shut up boy, it's too late for you...now drive!
all you phonies get it wrong--double lives take half us long
should have kept your windows clean--now I'm part of this machine
you've got a good 80,000 miles left
before the recall..."
If this is a nasty dream
I believe the point's quite clear
I'd prefer to wake up here
I started humming Amazing Grace
he said "Come on, boy, give me a break"
so I hit the brakes with both my feet
and sent two horns through the bucket seat
then the locks shut up as the grace came down
I said "Here's the keys--I'll be walking back to town..."
Back to the Top
Life's too short for small talk
so don't be talking trivia now
excess baggage fills this plane
there's more than we should ever allow
there's engines stalling and good men falling
but I ain't crawling away
chorus:
I just wanna know--
am I pulling people closer?
I just wanna be pulling them to You
I just wanna stay angry at the evil
just wanna be hungry for the true
Folks play follow the leader
but who's the leader gonna obey?
will his head get big when the toes get tapping?
I just wanna know are they catching what I say?
I'm a little too young to introspect
and I surely haven't paid all my dues
but there's bear trap lying in those woods
most of 'em already been used
(chorus)
Search me, Father, and know my heart
try me and know my mind
and if there be any wicked way in me
pull me to the rock that is higher than I
(chorus)
Back to the Top
