Favorite XTC songs ???? ....

[Trajan]

HOT Damn ! ... I am declaring today XTC APPRECIATION DAY ! ... ( I really have no idea why ...)

Link to the XTC Website

There are so many XTC songs that I love ...

But THIS one is appropo, given the times ...

Link to XTC Song Samples ... (just the beginning 30 seconds or so of that and other XTC songs ) ...

Generals and Majors

Lyric by: Colin Moulding, XTC


Generals and Majors ah ah
they're never too far
from battlefields so glorious
out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
till once again victorious

Generals and Majors always
seem so unhappy 'less they got a war

Generals and Majors ah ah
like never before
are tired of being actionless.

Calling Generals and Majors
Generals and Majors everywhere
Calling Generals and Majors
your World War III is drawing near

Generals and Majors ah ah
They're never too far
away from men who made the grade
out in a world of their own
They'll never come down
until the battle's lost or made

Generals and Majors ah ah
like never before,
are tired of being in the shade.


--------------------------------------

Have you a favorite XTC song too ? ...

<edit: GRRRR to the Link command ..>

[BurtWorm]

1. Living Though Another Cuba

, also from Black Sea, has long been my favorite XTC song. :thumbsup:

[AlCzervik]

2. senses working over time

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Dear God, of course

[Trajan]

9. But, of Course ....

As an atheist I especially appreciate that song ...

One of my favorite XTC arrangements was this one ... It should be noted that Todd Rundgren produced Skylarking ...

1000 Umbrellas

Lyric by: Andy Partridge


One thousand umbrellas
Upturned couldn't catch all the rain
That drained out of my head
When you said we were
Over and over I cried
'Til I floated downstream
To a town they call
Misery oh oh misery
Misery oh oh misery

And one million teacups
I bet couldn't hold all the wet
That fell out of my eyes
When you fell out with me
Now I'm crawling the wallpaper
That's looking more like a roadmap
To misery oh oh misery

How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
And you'll soon forget her
If you let the sunshine come through
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
If you never let a girl rain all over you
And just when I thought that my vista was golden in hue
One thousand umbrellas opened to spoil the view

One million salt seas
Recalled from school atlas
Alas would be filled to the brim
Sunny Jim couldn't jump it
How can I be pleased
When I'm handed the keys
To a town they call Misery
Oh oh Misery

So with a mop and a bucket
I'll just say forget her
And carry on sweeping up
Where I've been weeping
The Jesters will creep in
To strike down the newly crowned Monarch
Of Misery oh oh Misery

How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
And you'll soon forget her
If you let the sunshine come through
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
If you never let a girl rain all over you
Just when I thought that my skies were a June July blue
One thousand umbrellas opened
Two thousand umbrellas opened
Ten thousand umbrellas opened to spoil the view

--------------------------

THAT song has such a powerful string arrangement and such a melancholy vocal .... One of the best ....

Nice to see you NSMA: I hope you are keeping MY california tidy while Im gone ...

[gmoney]

4. All of "English Settlement" and "Dear God"

I know "Dear God" is the obvious one since it was nearly a hit, but it's ringing truer than ever:

Dear god, Hope you got the letter,
And I pray you can make it better down here.
I don’t mean a big reduction in the price of beer,
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them starving on their feet,
’cause they don’t get enough to eat

From god,
I can’t believe in you.

Dear god,
Sorry to disturb you,
But I feel that I should be heard loud and clear.
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears,
And all the people that you made in your image,
See them fighting in the street,
’cause they can’t make opinions meet,
About god,
I can’t believe in you.

Did you make disease, and the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind after we made you?
And the devil too!

Dear god,
Don’t know if you noticed,
But your name is on a lot of quotes in this book.
Us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look,
And all the people that you made in your image,
Still believing that junk is true.
Well I know it ain’t and so do you,
Dear god,
I can’t believe in,
I don’t believe in,

I won’t believe in heaven and hell.
No saints, no sinners,
No devil as well.
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
You’re always letting us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown.
Those lost at sea and never found,
And it’s the same the whole world ’round.
The hurt I see helps to compound,
That the father, son and holy ghost,
Is just somebody’s unholy hoax,
And if you’re up there you’ll perceive,
That my heart’s here upon my sleeve.
If there’s one thing I don’t believe in...

It’s you,
Dear god.

[Trajan]

8. Love English Settlement Too ...

'No Thugs' and 'Senses' especially ...

I nearly forgot about this one ...

Melt the Guns

Lyric by: Andy Partridge

m e l t t h e g u n s

programmes of violence as entertainment
brings the disease into your room
we know the germ which is man-made in metal
is really a key to your own tomb
prevention is better than cure
bad apples affecting the pure
you'll gather your senses I'm sure, then agree to
melt the guns melt the guns
melt the guns and never more to fire them
melt the guns melt the guns
melt the guns and never more desire them
children will want them mothers supply them
as long as your killers are heroes.
and all the media will fiddle while Rome burns
acting like modern-time Neros.
prevention is better than cure
bad apples affecting the pure
you'll gather your senses I'm sure then agree to
melt the guns melt the guns
melt the guns and never more to fire them
melt the guns melt the guns
melt the guns and never more to desire them.

I'm speaking to the justice league of America
the U.S of A, hey you, yes you in particular!
when it comes to - the judgement day
and you're stood at the gates with your weaponry
you dare clasp your hands in prayer
and start quoting me’ cos we say....
our father we've managed to contain the epidemic
in one place now
let's hope they shoot themselves instead of others
help to sterilize the race now.
we've trapped the cause of the plague
in the land of the free and the home of the brave
if we listen quietly we can hear them shooting
from grave to grave.
you ought to melt the guns melt the guns
melt the guns and never more to fire them
melt the guns melt the guns
melt the guns and never more desire them.

[gmoney]

12. Kick... Andy really nailed it.

Yeah, this and "Leisure" and "All of A Sudden" ...wow!

Nearly Orwellian accuracy!

[rawtribe]

5. Scissor Man

Snipping, snipping, snipping goes the scissor man
Putting end to evil doers games
Snipping, snipping, snipping goes the scissor man
Maybe you are in his book of names
Maybe you are in his book of names

So be kind and helpful to your mother
Just think twice before you try and steal
When he cuts with sticky silver snippers
You may find the wounds will never heal

All self made bad boys
If you refuse to believe he exist
You won't be frightened when you find out
You're on his list
You're on his list
You're on his list

So be good and never poison people
Just think twice before the deed is done
When you wake up guilty in the morning
You may find important pieces gone

[Trajan]

6. ANOTHER appropriate XTC lyric for the times ...

Here Comes President Kill Again

Lyric by: Andy Partridge


Here comes President Kill again, surrounded by all of his killing
men. Telling us who, why, where and when, President Kill wants
killing again.
Hooray, ring out the bells, King Conscience is dead. Hooray, now
back in your cells, we've President Kill instead.
Here comes President Kill again. Broadcasting from his killing den.
Dressed in pounds and dollars and yen, President Kill wants killing
again.
Hooray, hang out the flags, Queen Caring is dead. Hooray, we'll
stack body bags, for President Kill instead.
Ain't democracy wonderful, them Russians can't win! Ain't democracy
wonderful? Lets us vote someone like that in.
Here comes President Kill again, from pure White House to Number 10.
Taking lives with a smoking pen, President Kill wants killing again.
Hooray, everything's great, now President Kill is dead. Hooray,
I'll bet you can't wait, to vote for President Kill instead...

[surfermaw]

7. Some One New In The Country Music Field

jesseleecampbell.com
This girl is now getting her masters and is tryiing to break into the field... She has a new CD out

[Wat_Tyler]

10. Great Fire, The Loving, Towers of London or Braniac's Daughter.

[Trajan]

11. Last One for Me ....

I have the deepest respect for Andy Partridge .... Songs like this one show he is keen on the dangers of theocracy and fascism ...

Books Are Burning

Lyric by: Andy Partridge


Books are burning
In the main square, and I saw there
The first eating the text
Books are burning
In the still air
And you know where they burn books
People are next
I believe the printed word should be forgiven
Doesn't matter what it said
Wisdom hotline from the dead back to the living
Key to the larder for your heart and head
Books are burning
In our own town, watch us turn 'round
And cast our glances elsewhere
Books are burning
In the playground
Smell of burnt book is not unlike human hair
I believe the printed word is more than sacred
Beyond the gauge of good or bad
The human right to let your soul fly free and naked
Above the violence of the fearful and sad
The church of matches
Anoints in ignorance with gasoline
The church of matches
Grows fat by breathing in the smoke of dreams
It's quite obscene
Books are burning
More each day now, and I pray now
You boys will tire of these games
Books are burning
I hope somehow, this will allow
A phoenix up from the flames

----------------------


Rarely will anyone speak up like this ....

Three Cheers for Andy Partridge ...

[Coventina]

13. Mayor of Simpleton

I also really like "Grass" "Respectable Street" and all of the others mentioned EXCEPT "Dear God" which I NEVER liked.
Sorry.

[ikojo]

14. Dear God of course....song was banned in parts

of the US because it dared to question the existence of a diety.

My other faves include

Mayor of Simpleton
Here comes president kill again (hard to believe the song was probably written when Bush was still snorting coke and before he found Jesus)

[Cush]

15. who?

:shrug:

[Norbert]

16. All of Skylarking, Life Begins at the Hop, Senses Working Overtime

About Skylarking, the only thing better than an XTC album is an XTC album produced by Todd Rundgren. :toast:

[meganmonkey]

17. Making plans for Nigel

One of the first XTC songs I ever heard, I thought it was creepy and somehow intriguing, that's how I got into them

We’re only making plans for nigel
We only want what’s best for him
We’re only making plans for nigel
Nigel just needs this helping hand
And if young nigel says he’s happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
We’re only making plans for nigel
He has his future in a british steel
We’re only making plans for nigel
Nigel’s whole future is as good as sealed
And if young nigel says he’s happy
He must be happy
He must be happy in his work
Nigel is not outspoken
But he likes to speak
And loves to be spoken to
Nigel is happy in his work
We’re only making plans for nigel

[progressoid]

20. My 14 yr old daughter gave me one of those 'teen' looks when she first

heard that one! But it's starting to grow on her.

[unblock]

18. surprise no one's mentioned "no thugs in our house" yet

wasn't that a hit for them? in the uk anyway?

"'cause dad's a judge and knows exactly what the job of judging's all abouuuuuut"

[warrens]

24. I was about to

Great interactive picture sleeve, too. A great song.

"They never saw the pamphlets in his bottom drawer, they never saw the tattoos on his arm. They thought that was just a boy scout badge he wore. They never thought he'd cause folks any harm."

[progressoid]

19. "Smartest Monkeys", no wait, "Paper and Iron" how about "War Dance"

And of course "Dear God" There are too many.

I remember playing "Mummer" in college and this moran who was a Styx fan says something like, "jeez, they need to practice a little more."

sigh.

[Trajan]

21. Toss in one more ...

Another Satellite

Lyric by: Andy Partridge, XTC


My heart is taken it's not lost in space
And I don't want to see your mooney mooney face
I say why on earth do you revolve around me ?
Aren't you aware of the gravity ?

Don't need another satellite

I'm happy standing on my feet of clay
I have no wish to swim your milky milky way
I say why on earth do you send your letters 'round here ?
Only to gum up the atmosphere

Don't need another satellite

So circling we'll orbit another year
Two worlds that won't collide
So circling we'll orbit another year
Moon still tries to steal the tide away

Don't need another satellite
Don't need another satellite

Abort your mission let's just say you tried
Before you glimpse I have a darker darker side
I say why in Heaven's name do you come on these trips ?
Only to freeze in a total eclipse

Don't need another satellite

So circling we'll orbit another year
Two worlds that won't collide
So circling we'll orbit another year
Moon still tries to steal the tide away

Don't need another satellite
Don't need another satellite

[XNASA]

22. "River of Orchids", "Merely a Man", "You're the Wish You Are I Had"

I could go on and on and on. I truly love them all.

[RandomKoolzip]

23. FAR too many to mention, but here goes:

The Rhythm
No Thugs in Our House
Battery Brides
Helicopter
Burning With Optimism's Flames (worse comes to worst, that's my hands down favorite)
You're the Wish You Are I Had
My Bird Performs
Pink Thing
Making Plans For Nigel
Respectable Street
Melt the Guns
Train Running Low on Slow Coal
Leisure
Meccanik Dancing