Catatonia
Catatonia : Equally cursed and blessed (1999)

1. Dead from the waist down
The sun is shining
We should be making hay
But we're dead from the waist down
Like in Californ-i-a
Victory is empty
There are lessons in defeat
But we're dead from the waist down
We are sleeping on our feet
We stole the songs from birds in trees
Bought us time on easy street
Now our paths they never meet
We chose to court and flatter greed
Ego disposability
I caught a glimpse and it's not me
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Or else we're done for
When we're D from the W down
There's no contracts binding
No bad scene beyond repair
But when you're dead from the waist down
You're too far gone to even care
We stole the songs from birds in trees
Bought us time on easy street
Now our paths they never meet
We chose to court and flatter greed
Ego disposability
I caught a glimpse and it's not me
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Or else we're done for
When we're D from the W down
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Or else we're done for
When we're D from the W down
When we're D from the W down
When we're D from the W down
D from the W down
D from the W down
We should be making hay
But we're dead from the waist down
Like in Californ-i-a
Victory is empty
There are lessons in defeat
But we're dead from the waist down
We are sleeping on our feet
We stole the songs from birds in trees
Bought us time on easy street
Now our paths they never meet
We chose to court and flatter greed
Ego disposability
I caught a glimpse and it's not me
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Or else we're done for
When we're D from the W down
There's no contracts binding
No bad scene beyond repair
But when you're dead from the waist down
You're too far gone to even care
We stole the songs from birds in trees
Bought us time on easy street
Now our paths they never meet
We chose to court and flatter greed
Ego disposability
I caught a glimpse and it's not me
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Or else we're done for
When we're D from the W down
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Make hay not war
Or else we're done for
When we're D from the W down
When we're D from the W down
When we're D from the W down
D from the W down
D from the W down
2. Londinium
London never sleeps
It just sucks...
...the life out of me
And the money from my pocket
London always creeps
Showbiz hugs...
...the life out of me
Have some dignity, honey
Oh, Euston, Paddington
Train station please
Make the red lights turn green
Endlessly
My black cab rolls through
The neon disease
Endlessly, endlessly
London never sleeps
It just sucks...
...the life out of me
Show some dignity honey
Sushi bars, wet fish
It just sucks...
...the life out of me
And the money from my pocket
Oh, Euston, Paddington
Train station please
Make the red lights turn green
Endlessly
My black cab rolls through
The neon disease
Endlessly, endlessly
I come alive
Outside the M25
I won't drink the poison Thames
I'll chase the sun out west
Euston, Paddington
Train station please
Make the red lights turn green
Endlessly
My black cab rolls through
The neon disease
Endlessly, endlessly
I come alive
I come alive
Euston, Paddington
Train station please
Make the red lights turn green
Endlessly
My black cab rolls through
The neon disease
Endlessly, endlessly
It just sucks...
...the life out of me
And the money from my pocket
London always creeps
Showbiz hugs...
...the life out of me
Have some dignity, honey
Oh, Euston, Paddington
Train station please
Make the red lights turn green
Endlessly
My black cab rolls through
The neon disease
Endlessly, endlessly
London never sleeps
It just sucks...
...the life out of me
Show some dignity honey
Sushi bars, wet fish
It just sucks...
...the life out of me
And the money from my pocket
Oh, Euston, Paddington
Train station please
Make the red lights turn green
Endlessly
My black cab rolls through
The neon disease
Endlessly, endlessly
I come alive
Outside the M25
I won't drink the poison Thames
I'll chase the sun out west
Euston, Paddington
Train station please
Make the red lights turn green
Endlessly
My black cab rolls through
The neon disease
Endlessly, endlessly
I come alive
I come alive
Euston, Paddington
Train station please
Make the red lights turn green
Endlessly
My black cab rolls through
The neon disease
Endlessly, endlessly
3. Postscript
He came on ecclesiastically
His sermon loud and bold
And I got hold of spiritual healing
His eloquence, magnificence
I didn't stand for long
And there I learnt how prayer can be misguiding
But I'm a good girl
Oh I'm a good girl
I'm a good girl
They recommended counselling
But I don't need to talk
I don't get off on communal changing
I'm better bred much better led
Leave my keys at home
But brace yourselves for industrial cleavage
Cause I'm a good girl
Oh I'm a good girl
I'm a good girl
Oh if you live a lie you'll die a liar
If you live a lie you'll die a liar
Pants on fire
And Joan of Arc come kiss my art
Leave a charcoal mark
There's so much more to solitary refinement
Cause I'm a good girl
Oh I'm a good girl
I'm a good girl
Oh if you live a lie you'll die a liar
If you live a lie you'll die a liar
If you live a lie you'll die a liar
If you live a lie you'll die a liar
Pants on fire
His sermon loud and bold
And I got hold of spiritual healing
His eloquence, magnificence
I didn't stand for long
And there I learnt how prayer can be misguiding
But I'm a good girl
Oh I'm a good girl
I'm a good girl
They recommended counselling
But I don't need to talk
I don't get off on communal changing
I'm better bred much better led
Leave my keys at home
But brace yourselves for industrial cleavage
Cause I'm a good girl
Oh I'm a good girl
I'm a good girl
Oh if you live a lie you'll die a liar
If you live a lie you'll die a liar
Pants on fire
And Joan of Arc come kiss my art
Leave a charcoal mark
There's so much more to solitary refinement
Cause I'm a good girl
Oh I'm a good girl
I'm a good girl
Oh if you live a lie you'll die a liar
If you live a lie you'll die a liar
If you live a lie you'll die a liar
If you live a lie you'll die a liar
Pants on fire
4. She's a millionaire
Her treasure chest was sunken
Equally cursed and blessed
In her Versace dress
Too eager to impress
A vision filled her soap sud hell
Twin tub on spin
Lets all her daydreams in
And hope she wants away from him
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
High street, pram, chariot scene from Ben Hur
Push chair rage
A customised roll bar cage
Will help baby come of age
So what's in the pram is it teen death?
Bazooka the check-out queue
There's no need to argue
About who was in front of who
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
The ad begs: "Buy bottled water"
But we know that it tastes of piss
Should be getting our tampons free
DIY gynaecology
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
Equally cursed and blessed
In her Versace dress
Too eager to impress
A vision filled her soap sud hell
Twin tub on spin
Lets all her daydreams in
And hope she wants away from him
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
High street, pram, chariot scene from Ben Hur
Push chair rage
A customised roll bar cage
Will help baby come of age
So what's in the pram is it teen death?
Bazooka the check-out queue
There's no need to argue
About who was in front of who
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
The ad begs: "Buy bottled water"
But we know that it tastes of piss
Should be getting our tampons free
DIY gynaecology
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
She's on it, she got it
She's on it, she's on it
She's on it, she's on it
She's a millionaire
5. Storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
She goes:
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Turn it into a bar, make 'em work at Spar
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Turn it into flats, make 'em all ex-pats
Cause tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Stick on an OBE, I'll turn your bad Feng Shui
Cause tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
She goes:
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Turn it into a bar, make 'em work at Spar
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Turn it into flats, make 'em all ex-pats
Cause tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Stick on an OBE, I'll turn your bad Feng Shui
Cause tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Tourism is congestion
Storm the palace, storm the palace
Storm the palace, storm the palace
6. Karaoke queen
Ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
Tedium is overcome
From obscurity
Through melody
And when I'm blind
It helps me see through your key
No one can touch
No need to rush
Presented by
My alibi
And when I'm down
It brings me round so easy
At eight 'o clock I'll take my leave
And when I'm done and dusted tonight I'm gonna be
I'll be your karaoke queen
It's not me you see
I'm gonna take you down to a place I know you'd rather be
It's just a three-minute song
It doesn't last very long
But it'll take you to a place I know you'd rather be
And you can dance
Ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
Common sense has excuses
Recklessness its uses
But don't go fusing silence
With charisma
At nine 'o clock you can count on me
But when I'm up, I'm ready tonight I'm gonna be
I'll be your karaoke queen
It's not me you see
I'm gonna take you down to a place I know you'd rather be
It's just a three-minute song
It doesn't last very long
But it'll take you to a place I know you'd rather be
Where you can dance
Ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
I'm doomed to fail
The stage gives way
It's an apostrophe
To my legacy
But though I'm bruised I'll happily do it all again
At ten 'o clock don't wait up for me
Cause when I'm up, I'm ready tonight I'm gonna be
Matthew!
I'll be your karaoke queen
It's not me you see
I'm gonna take you down to a place I know you'd rather be
It's just a three-minute song
It doesn't last very long
But it'll take you to a place I know you'd rather be
And you can dance if you wanna show appreciation
But step up to the mike for the full sensation
And you can dance
And you can dance
And you can
Ooh lalala, ooh shalalalalalala
Yeah you can
Ooh lalala, ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
Tedium is overcome
From obscurity
Through melody
And when I'm blind
It helps me see through your key
No one can touch
No need to rush
Presented by
My alibi
And when I'm down
It brings me round so easy
At eight 'o clock I'll take my leave
And when I'm done and dusted tonight I'm gonna be
I'll be your karaoke queen
It's not me you see
I'm gonna take you down to a place I know you'd rather be
It's just a three-minute song
It doesn't last very long
But it'll take you to a place I know you'd rather be
And you can dance
Ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
Common sense has excuses
Recklessness its uses
But don't go fusing silence
With charisma
At nine 'o clock you can count on me
But when I'm up, I'm ready tonight I'm gonna be
I'll be your karaoke queen
It's not me you see
I'm gonna take you down to a place I know you'd rather be
It's just a three-minute song
It doesn't last very long
But it'll take you to a place I know you'd rather be
Where you can dance
Ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
Ooh shalalalalalala
I'm doomed to fail
The stage gives way
It's an apostrophe
To my legacy
But though I'm bruised I'll happily do it all again
At ten 'o clock don't wait up for me
Cause when I'm up, I'm ready tonight I'm gonna be
Matthew!
I'll be your karaoke queen
It's not me you see
I'm gonna take you down to a place I know you'd rather be
It's just a three-minute song
It doesn't last very long
But it'll take you to a place I know you'd rather be
And you can dance if you wanna show appreciation
But step up to the mike for the full sensation
And you can dance
And you can dance
And you can
Ooh lalala, ooh shalalalalalala
Yeah you can
Ooh lalala, ooh shalalalalalala
7. Bulimic beats
I thought we'd escape
I packed a fishing-line and counted on it
I thought we'd escape
I packed a fishing-line and counted on it
But dreaming is for moonrise
And moonlight ails these tired eyes
I treat him like a lady
I treat him as I would he unto me
Give Rose rose-seller a run for her money
With silicone and poetry
But it's the end of me
I thought it could change
I'd wake up one morning and find nothing to rearrange
I couldn't get there
Behind his wall of Sunday papers
I thought it could change
I'd wake up one morning and find nothing to rearrange
But dreaming is for moonrise
And moonlight ails these tired eyes
I treat him like a lady
I treat him as I would he unto me
Give Rose rose-seller a run for her money
With silicone and poetry
And it's the end of me
And here I am
Here I am
Here I stand
Here in my kitchen where I'm familiar with every brand
Here I am
A front line of labels where I witness custard's last stand
Here I am
I packed a fishing-line and counted on it
I thought we'd escape
I packed a fishing-line and counted on it
But dreaming is for moonrise
And moonlight ails these tired eyes
I treat him like a lady
I treat him as I would he unto me
Give Rose rose-seller a run for her money
With silicone and poetry
But it's the end of me
I thought it could change
I'd wake up one morning and find nothing to rearrange
I couldn't get there
Behind his wall of Sunday papers
I thought it could change
I'd wake up one morning and find nothing to rearrange
But dreaming is for moonrise
And moonlight ails these tired eyes
I treat him like a lady
I treat him as I would he unto me
Give Rose rose-seller a run for her money
With silicone and poetry
And it's the end of me
And here I am
Here I am
Here I stand
Here in my kitchen where I'm familiar with every brand
Here I am
A front line of labels where I witness custard's last stand
Here I am
8. Valerian
Never meant you no harm,
Never meant you no harm
Yeah, yeah...
Never spun you no yarns,
Never spun you no yarn
Yeah, yeah...
And she'll go yeah
Where he goes yeah
We all go where nobody knows our name
If I step out of line,
I'll step out of line
Yeah, yeah
Over land over sea
One step two to Ynys free
And she'll go yeah
Where he goes yeah
We all go where nobody knows our name
And don't cry if crying means you're sorry
Whatever the case I always felt out of place
As a matter of fact, I always felt like that around you
I'm disinclined to toe the line
Under your thumb where I've become unwanted
So pick your way down to the sea
Pick your way to the sea
Yeah, yeah
It's not the tide you gotta watch it's me
Not the tide you've got it's me
Yeah, yeah
And she'll go yeah
Where he'll go yeah
We all go where nobody knows our name
And she'll go yeah
Where he'll go yeah
We all go where nobody knows our name
Where nobody knows our name
Where nobody knows our name
Where nobody knows our name
Where nobody knows our name
Never meant you no harm
Yeah, yeah...
Never spun you no yarns,
Never spun you no yarn
Yeah, yeah...
And she'll go yeah
Where he goes yeah
We all go where nobody knows our name
If I step out of line,
I'll step out of line
Yeah, yeah
Over land over sea
One step two to Ynys free
And she'll go yeah
Where he goes yeah
We all go where nobody knows our name
And don't cry if crying means you're sorry
Whatever the case I always felt out of place
As a matter of fact, I always felt like that around you
I'm disinclined to toe the line
Under your thumb where I've become unwanted
So pick your way down to the sea
Pick your way to the sea
Yeah, yeah
It's not the tide you gotta watch it's me
Not the tide you've got it's me
Yeah, yeah
And she'll go yeah
Where he'll go yeah
We all go where nobody knows our name
And she'll go yeah
Where he'll go yeah
We all go where nobody knows our name
Where nobody knows our name
Where nobody knows our name
Where nobody knows our name
Where nobody knows our name
9. Shoot the messenger
Somebody told me you'd found new bonhomie
Going places
You'd never go with me
I felt myself become a bitter old shrew
Oh I'd have bitten you in two
If you would let me
I look deadly as a nun
Martyrdom does not become me
I'll find love in vanity
Somebody told me you'd found places to go
And new people to know
And new ladies and so
I felt myself become a bitter old shrew
I'd have bitten her too
If you would let me
If I don't laugh what do I do?
If I don't laugh and see this through
I shouldn't even think of you
Allow me one extravagance
Before they come and ban me
And let me shoot the messenger
So help me God you talk so much
This knowledge ain't my business
But I hang on his every word
God speed his journey back to hell
I might retreat singing
But all I hear is you
Just give me one more shot of gin
I'll scream along to anything
Just let me shoot the messenger
So help me god you talk so much
This tart, this whore, my weakness
I'm gonna shoot the messenger
Oh let me shoot the messenger
I'm gonna shoot the messenger
Going places
You'd never go with me
I felt myself become a bitter old shrew
Oh I'd have bitten you in two
If you would let me
I look deadly as a nun
Martyrdom does not become me
I'll find love in vanity
Somebody told me you'd found places to go
And new people to know
And new ladies and so
I felt myself become a bitter old shrew
I'd have bitten her too
If you would let me
If I don't laugh what do I do?
If I don't laugh and see this through
I shouldn't even think of you
Allow me one extravagance
Before they come and ban me
And let me shoot the messenger
So help me God you talk so much
This knowledge ain't my business
But I hang on his every word
God speed his journey back to hell
I might retreat singing
But all I hear is you
Just give me one more shot of gin
I'll scream along to anything
Just let me shoot the messenger
So help me god you talk so much
This tart, this whore, my weakness
I'm gonna shoot the messenger
Oh let me shoot the messenger
I'm gonna shoot the messenger
10. Nothing hurts
Everything is beautiful
And nothing hurts
You at all
You at all
Everything is beautiful
And nothing hurts
In your world
In your world
Words plain with lullaby refrain
So sweet sleep
Enjoy the time you keep
All around is wonderful
And nothing harms
Me at all
Me at all
All around is wonderful
And nothing harms
In my world
In my world
Words plain
With lullaby refrain
So sweet sleep
Enjoy the time you keep
And if you come
I'll follow after all
So sweet calm
Will keep us safe from harm
Everything is beautiful
Everything is beautiful
And nothing hurts
And nothing hurts
You at all
You at all
Everything is beautiful
And nothing hurts
In your world
In your world
Words plain with lullaby refrain
So sweet sleep
Enjoy the time you keep
All around is wonderful
And nothing harms
Me at all
Me at all
All around is wonderful
And nothing harms
In my world
In my world
Words plain
With lullaby refrain
So sweet sleep
Enjoy the time you keep
And if you come
I'll follow after all
So sweet calm
Will keep us safe from harm
Everything is beautiful
Everything is beautiful
And nothing hurts
11. Dazed, beautiful and bruised
I've got my work cut out with you
You tore bits out of me
Your carpet burns and bruises blue
Are there for all to see
But I can tell, you've been through hell
Finally you wear it well
It's an accessory
It's time to change your uniform
And hand it on to me
To me
And I dream one day I'll find
The one who lives inside my mind
And they'll feel the same way too
We've all been used
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
And blame is not a one way street
The widest avenue
But cause me grief, and my belief
Is harm will come to you
Between the lines I'll think you'll find
Lessons learned from value's eyes
Beauty can turn sour
So recognise through all the lies
The hero of the hour
The hour
And I dream one day I'll find
The one who lives inside my mind
They'll feel the same way too
We've all been used
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
When there's nothing, nothing left to lose
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Oh dazed, dazed...
You tore bits out of me
Your carpet burns and bruises blue
Are there for all to see
But I can tell, you've been through hell
Finally you wear it well
It's an accessory
It's time to change your uniform
And hand it on to me
To me
And I dream one day I'll find
The one who lives inside my mind
And they'll feel the same way too
We've all been used
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
And blame is not a one way street
The widest avenue
But cause me grief, and my belief
Is harm will come to you
Between the lines I'll think you'll find
Lessons learned from value's eyes
Beauty can turn sour
So recognise through all the lies
The hero of the hour
The hour
And I dream one day I'll find
The one who lives inside my mind
They'll feel the same way too
We've all been used
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
When there's nothing, nothing left to lose
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Dazed, beautiful and bruised
Oh dazed, dazed...