All American Alien Boy

(ian hunter)

I packed my bags - in the land of rags
'cos i don't believe in them dimmo drags
Don't wanna vote for the left wing - don't wanna vote for the right
I gotta have both-to make me fly

Just a whitey from blighty - heading out west
Got my little green card 'n my bulletproof vest
Goin' to old tube city - where the buzz is the best
On down the line (down the line) down the line (down the line)

Well i was born (on the line) 'n i was raised (on the line)
I was schooled (on the line) 'n i was fazed (on the line)
'n i was used (on the line) 'n i was dazed (on the line)
Just had to split (off the line) 'cos i was crazed (off the line)

'n i remember all the good times - me 'n miller enjoyed
Up and down the m1 in some luminous yo-yo toy
But the future has to change - and to change i've got to destroy
Oh look out lennon here i come - land ahoy-hoy-hoy

All american alien boy all american alien boy

Don't look down put your feet on the ground don't drown in the big aquarium
Don't walk slow - put on a big show - shove your meat down vegetarians
Don't get slugged, get mugged, get bugged, or they'll sling you in the jug
Shove you under some rug, give you some drug - pull out the plug and then...


And they're telling me this hamburger's cheaper than the other
'n this television's cheaper than the other
And they're selling me hotdogs cheaper than the other
'n these pizzas cheaper than the other
And i don't understand all this - i'm just an all american alien boy

'n they're telling me rifles are shot in connecticut
They're telling me pistols are shot in westchester
You can get a saturday night special on flatbush, on the bowery, or the bronx

Or on 42nd street - and i don't understand all this - being an all american alien boy

I've got sodium nitrate rotting in my guts
My head's full of ulcers i got lungs full of butts
My heart wants a transplant - it thinks that i'm nuts
My logic won't open - my eyes won't shut
'n i'm beginning to dig all this - being an all american alien boy

And your women are always right (alright)
They always know so much more
'cos the women came from heaven
'n the men came outta some store
'n they don't know who they are and they don't know what they're for

I'm an all american alien boy - look out mary tyler moore - all american
Alien boy - etc.

Chorus

Ten bears, two bears, standing bear, plenty bear,
Old bear, brave bear, hollow horn bear
Silver knife, spotted tail, yellow hand, red cloud,
Red fox, red horse, black kettle,
White ghost, white bull, white thunder, white hog,
Hold on a minute gotta frog in my throat
Cochise, alchise, roman nose, geronimo - hold on a minute - more to go
Sitting bull, tall bull, crazy horse and short bull,
Low dog, red dog, yellow wolf, low wolf
Loco, victorio, chato, little crow, dead eyes, jak, taza 'n colorow
My mouth's exploiting that's enough of this noise
I guess we're all - all american alien boys.

(ian hunter)

Poor britannia - drowning in your waves
With the body of the unknown soldier and the best of the brave
I have known you ever since i was a child
How come you don't salute me - now - when i smile

You was always so young and on all o' that money
How come new mourners pass you by and think it's so funny
I'd be there with you but i'm chained unto this stake
For i am loyalty but my mast i cannot forsake

I looked down on a bunch of amusements, i looked down walls
I've looked on hangings 'n parades 'n city halls
And i've seen love in so many living rooms
And i've seen rich men slowly die inside their tombs

I know we're just two charms but it's heavy on my mind
Have faith in me i said, now, look at time
I know you're just a victim of your history but
Have faith in me, i said and you would be free....

You pull me up and you pull me down
And when the queen's in residence i hang around
I don't wave madly 'cos the climate's civilised
Just flutter sadly 'cos i'm old 'n i'm wise

And you-you been up, and you - you been down
You been through many things i know you been around
I have fought armies for you in the conflicts of the past
Britannia, i implore you, do not lower me by half.

(ian hunter)

When i was just sixteen - i stood waiting for a dream -
At barker street bus station every night
When i tried to get it on - she just looked at me with scorn - my courage
Turned to dust and i took flight

For those looks they seemed to say
You ain't nuthin' - go away
You're just a face in the crowd so i went home and i vowed
I'm gonna be somebody - someday

Her name was irene wilde - oh such beauty for a child
When she started dating boys - i nearly died
For i could not barely stand to see someone hold her hand
I felt i had to crawl away and hide
In my mother's living room i composed so many tunes
All the same - just a frame - for her name, and just to say
Gonna be somebody - someday

Wild as your name i soon left that country town
I been around, seen some fame, seen some ups and seen some downs
Smile through your shock when you hear your name aloud
It's that face in the crowd - didn't dig it - much too proud...

When i was just sixteen i stood waiting for a dream
A barker street bus station non affair
At the time it seemed so sad, but it did not turn out bad
If you hadn't messed me up i'd still be there
And i think most folks agree, a little put-down makes them see
They ain't no chain - just a link and that's why you made me think
Gonna be somebody - be somebody - be somebody - someday

(ian hunter)

God said to me "gonna kick your ass - 'cos all you do is ask ask ask
All that energy looking for me when i'm sitting here inside you - plain to see
How i built you cell for cell gave you sights to see - gave you tales to tell
Even let you help yourself for a while - to take some weight off this busy child"

I said to god "i found you out - i know what this world is all about!"
God said "stop - don't scramble your brain - my opponent's been messing you around again
See him and me are enemies and we play little games for galaxies
And he's inside you - 'n i am too - so here we are - just the three of you"

"oh we made mistakes - too many cards - but making human beings can be hard
A god gets tired of playing so much chess - he wishes his god would get him out of his mess"
I said to god "what's it like to die" he said "it's as plain as the sea and sky
Conception was him and me and you - when your batteries fade we all just move on"

I said to god "who's winning this game - is the devil in front" he said "is that his name
You know i've been so busy i never asked - i never looked up from this awesome task"
I said to god "what's good 'n bad" he said "it's just something you've got to have
It don't mean nothing to us up here - but your primitive people - you gotta have fear"

I said to god "do i think for myself" he said i told you once you just help yourself
Don't forget you're composed of three, your thinking comes from him and me"
I said to god "how big are you, is there a religion - is it true
How big's the universe - is time - the same for you as my life is to mine"


God said "if all the things that made worlds float - were all to part - then you would note
The size of him and the size of me - and that's how big we both shall be"

He said "the universe is small - just like some fortune-teller's ball
And we both sit down - and we play the game - when somebody wins it all starts again"

"there's no religion - you did that - it helps to keep your little leaders fat
Like faith 'n superstition stay - to help you pass the time away
But when you talk of time and life - it makes me think of circles, heights
Expansion is the clue - your dreams - are nearer than you've ever been"

"you see my little toy to think - is from two bowls of wine to drink
Don't take too much or you may drown - behave yourself - see you around..."