The House of Blue Light

well there must have been a reason for the
smile that you had upon your face last night
are you the cat that got the cream did you
lick your lips did you close your eyes
can you imagine how it feels it's so hard to reveal
oh i can't get through and i'm falling
i'm getting out i'm losing ground
the spanish archer's gonna bring you down

is there someone somewhere waiting in the wings to take my place
let's not drag it out like a cagney death scene
in this season of change it's not hard to explain
like the leaves on the trees i'm falling
and as you turn don't look away
the spanish archer's gonna make you pay

do you remember when the sky was blue we used to talk for miles
and now we drive along in this thundering silence
it's such an obvious lie with that easy smile of yours
i'm letting go and i'm falling
i'm getting out losing ground
the spanish archer's gonna bring you down

well is there something i can say as
we stumble to the edge have we gone too far
why don't we call it a day before we call it a nightmare darlin'
if we made a mistake then all that it takes to be free
is the wave of a hand and you're falling
and as you turn don't look away
the spanish archer's gonna make you pay

strange
strange
i was born into
confusion
my mother said to me when you
become a man you'll understand
but it's still a mystery
and if you want to get ahead
get some decent clothes
the only way to make it
dress the part
that gets right up my nose

and it think to myself in this river of doubt
this is something i can do without
but strangeways is what i got

the indians are coming
i saw it on tv
they're 20,000 strong
but they always get depleted by the cavalry
salvation is at hand it's guaranteed
just send a donation straight to god 1-800 toll free

and i think to myself in this academy of fear
where am i going what am i doing here
but strangeways is all i got

have you seen the headlines
princess engaged
3 million out of work
but that's on the 2nd page
the alien has landed
finger in his ear
can't hear a word i am saying
but that ain't such a bad idea

and i think to myself in this cradle of lust
ashes to ashes and dust to dust
but strangeways is all you get

take a look at
these dirty hands
take a look at this face these blazing eyes
do you see me as a broken man
tell me
are you really that blind

you got yourself a load of trouble now
you got yourself a bad deal
you say i've got a bad attitude
how d'you think i feel

you got me locked in a paper cage
you think i'm chained up but i'm just tied down
step aside get out of my way
i won't hurt you i had enough being pushed around

you got yourself a load of trouble now
you got yourself a bad deal
you say i've got a bad attitude
how d'you think i feel

don't want a number
i got a name
take a look at my face
talk about a bad attitude
things have got to change

don't turn off the light
you might draw the queen of spades
don't shut the door
you don't need to be alone
i won't bring you no food
there might be some poison in your meat
i've got to know are you dead or alive
don't shut the door are you dead or alive
dead or alive
pick your window you're leaving

don't look in the mirror
with a dollar up your face
you've got money to burn
you're cheap at half the price
oh don't powder your nose
don't blow your brains just for the the
crack
i've got to know are you dead or alive
just for the crack are you dead or alive
dead or alive
pick your window you're leaving

you're running so fast
but you know you're standing still
i'm afraid of your shadow
and the knife in it's hand
you're dancing with death
to the tune of the dealer
and he don't care
don't give a toss
don't want to know if you're dead or alive
don't want to know if you're dead or alive
dead or alive
pick your window you're leaving

read all about it tell me
have you heard the news
captain bob he don't pay no dues
you know he's looking in my window
he's stepping on my toes
don't want the truth and it goes to show

i got a joker up my sleeve
i know what to believe
it ain't right just because it's in black and white

find yourself a hero
treat him like a friend
you build him up and tear him down again
it don't hold a candle hold it to the light
check it out is it wrong or right
is this the news of the world
it's just a pretty girl
she's all the news that's fit to print in black and white

inside information taken down note by note
a silent footstep that's all she wrote
shit that's all she wrote
no need to worry the baby's gone to bed
dreaming dirty dreams in black and white and read
now i got nothing to fear
is this the scoop of the year
headlines on my bathroom wall in black and white