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Rating: I can't speak badly of the Wall Of Voodoo.
They've been family friends for as long as I can remember.
I've seen them grow up and kick the ball during the childhood of "The Index Masters."
And when they grew up, around the time of "Call Of The West," I was happy for them, without any envy.
The surprise was strong when Stan Ridgway left the house, slamming the door.
The pain of the separation was immediately swept away by the joy for "The Big Heat," but the feeling remained that certain decisions are too private to be judged.
Therefore, don't criticize me if I'll turn a blind eye to a restless adolescence like that of "Dark Continent", composed, as for everyone, of epic and pathetic moments, false certainties, and imaginary insecurities.
The first thing anyone who doesn't know Wall Of Voodoo notices is Ridgway's duck-like voice, the second are the keyboards of Grey & Moreland, both vintage and modern at the same time.
Wall Of Voodoo are the Depeche Mode catapulted into a Sergio Leone film, with a Morricone soundtrack, of course.
Wall Of Voodoo are D.A.F. dirty with sand. Johnny Cash acting in "Terminator." The Suicide, if they had only been human.
Their charisma is proverbial, making them loved by punks, wavers, dark fans with a sense of humor, and even some Dire Straits fans looking for intense sensations.
"Red Light", "Animal Day", "Call Box (1-2-3)", and "Good Times" are the evidence of the perfection that was soon to come, "Full Of Tension" is simply a classic.
The other songs can be simply listened to but sound as familiar to my ears as "White Christmas" does to yours.
I know, I'm biased, but you don't be shy: give Wall Of Voodoo a chance if you want to know what it feels like to be survivors after the apocalypse.
End credits: Wall Of Voodoo, "Dark Continent", 1981, IRS, produced by Jim Hill, Paul McKenna & Wall Of Voodoo.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Red Light (03:08)
If it's the rough stuff ya want
You can point yer finger at me
'Cause I can dish it out good
But I don't give it away for free
There's a price for my vice
And I want it in cash
In a plain brown bag
You can put it out by the trash
Chorus:
There'll be a red light by the window
And a blue light by the car
He'll be running
But he won't get far
There'll be a red light by the window
And a blue light by the car
He'll be running
But he won't get far
This modern world deserves a
Modern attitude
You've gotta stick it to them
Before they stick it to you
I want the money
And I want it in cash
In a plain brown bag
You can put it out, put it out, put it out by the trash
Chorus repeat
Red light
Blue light
Red light
Blue light
This modern world deserves a modern attitude
05 Me and My Dad (03:18)
Me and my dad
We've got a good thing going
Fishing trips, the hard way's the best
Man-to-man talks, when the going gets tough
The tough get going
Follow me, son
I'll guide you the right way
Fix my car when the engine falls apart
Show me where the piston goes
Can you get this thing to start?
Father talks big business with authority
He's the big boss, he knows the levels of consistency
Father knows how to read his morning paper
Tellin' me how he died to live, workin' hard labor
Chorus:
Me and my dad
Me and my dad
Me and my dad
We've got a good thing going
Father talks big business with authority
He's the big boss, he knows the levels of consistency
Father knows how to read his morning paper
He's tellin' me how he died to live, workin' hard labor
Chorus repeat until fade
06 Back in Flesh (03:41)
Someone smashed my alarm
It's got me on the edge
You know it's so sharp
(Aaaaaaaa...)
And you know I won't go
You know I won't go
I don't wanna go
(He won't go)
The corporation's boiling over
Everybody's taking over
Chorus:
And I'm back in flesh
Back in flesh
Back in flesh
Back in flesh
Back in flesh
You better sign your time card now
They don't care about you anyhow
Sign in, your minimum cut
You're late again, your salary's cut!
Someone smashed my alarm
It's got me on the edge
You know it's so sharp
(Aaaaaaaa...)
And you know I won't go
You know I won't go
I don't wanna go
(He won't go)
The corporation's boiling over
Everybody's taking over
Chorus repeat
I won't go
(He won't go.)
I don't wanna go
(You must go!)
Is it time to go?
(The orders are in!)
Well, I'd rather go bowling!
(The lanes are closed!)
Maybe a little tennis?
(Your racket's got a hole.)
How about some baseball?
(Field's rained out.)
Maybe a little fishing?
(The fish are on vacation.)
Well, how about some golfing?
(The greens are overgrown.)
Well, what about some swimming?
(I don't think so!)
Well, what about this--and that--
(No, no, no, no, no!)
Well, you can't tell me what to do!
Well, you can't tell me what to do!
(Hey, f**k you!)
07 Tse Tse Fly (03:55)
I was walking through the jungle, and I
Was looking for good business
Something to take away the risk
Break or bust or call it quits
See an object in the air
See an object touch my hair
I was walking through the jungle, and I
Was looking for good business
My energy is draining
Touching down on my arm
I'm feeling kinda sleepy now
Chorus:
I was bitten by a tse-tse fly
I was bitten by a tse-tse fly
I was walking through the jungle, and I
Was looking for good business
Gotta invest in insect bombs
No-pest strips and firearms
On the tickertape came the note
"Tse-tse fly: no antidote"
I was walking through the jungle, and I
Was looking for good business
My energy is draining
Touching down on my arm
I'm feeling kinda sleepy now
Chorus repeat x2
Swat that fly!
11 Crack the Bell (03:33)
{spoken:} Thanks a lot, thanks a whole lot.
Lulu sends her friends
They cover the mouths with one hand
Well, I keep waiting here
Drifting around in a dark land
Envelope unturned
« I push the stamp and stick it »
Chorus:
And I know there's a bell to crack
And I know there's a bell to crack
Well, I hear crosstalk now
Coming through the wire
One voice tells me yes
The other is a liar
Chorus:
And I know there's a bell to crack
I know there's gotta be one more bell to crack
« Click-clack, joint, » this thing is on my sleeve
All this mess around and I gotta clean it up
Okay, Mister Questions, you tell me, when are we gonna leave?
And can you design a heart--a heart that doesn't bleed?
Chorus:
I know there's gotta be one more bell to crack
I know there's gotta be one more bell to crack
See the bell, so I crack it
You just can't find good bells anymore!
Yah! Yah! Sure!
Tom Shane's a friend of mine!
I really like him--he's in the industry!
I know there's gotta be one more bell to crack
I know there's gotta be one more bell to crack
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