Songs Without Music

So Watch

 

So watch 

my flesh decay

and see 

how beautifully it goes;

like something 

asking to be loved;

like you, 

too shy to ask me

to your room;

marks that will survive 

are marks on skin and mind:

not you with me,

not face to face;

and only this,

a last decay

pitching to hide itself

when each 

has gone their way.

 

 

Cause

 

Under empty skies

air finds no flags;

people march 

but the banners

are burnt;

 

the world

is bleeding into  hell,

and into hell

the world

betrayed.

 

My fist is flat,

the truth is traded;

there is nothing left 

to kill for

or to honour.

 

the world

is bleeding into  hell,

and into hell

the world

betrayed.

 

Angel

 

I bought a glass palace in Paradise

with a pool and fifty rooms;

and off its slender flagstaff

I can fly to the moon.

 

I’m god in the city, god in the town,

I came from hell but I’m here;

from nighttime to nightfall

my parties do not end.

 

I’m alive and free so look at me

I dream at the top of the sky;

my fingertips are strips of jade -

there’s no way I can die.

 

I’m god in the city, god in the town,

I came from hell but I’m here;

from nighttime to nightfall

my parties do not end.

 

Welcome, roll up, welcome,

watch kings and princes sigh;

they beg to use my golden wings.

they beg to learn to fly.

 

I’m god in the city, god in the town,

I came from hell but I’m here;

from nighttime to nightfall

my parties do not end.

 

 

City of Fear

 

Last night I flew over the city of fear;

dark coated people came down the streets;

they had angel eyes and shrank from light;

they looked at me and wished to fly -

but they couldn’t grow wings.

 

And in the end

it’s the end that living’ about;

they do not know how to go

they can escape no more

they have turned to salt

inside the doorways

of this city of fear.

 

Moon high, my rocket feathers carry me free

I see the late night-clubs open up,

the curtains of private room drift apart;

the battle’s over, but in coloured light,

the battle starts again.

 

And in the end

it’s the end that living’ about;

they do not know how to go

they can escape no more

they have turned to salt

inside the doorways

of this city of fear.

 

People wait with wet wide eyes 

but the gods have gone,

the night goes on;

coins rattle in their mouths

the gates have closed.

 

And in the end

it’s the end that living’ about;

they do not know how to go

they can escape no more

they have turned to salt

inside the doorways

of this city of fear.

 

 

Heros

 

Come kill the heroes,

tear the faces from the walls;

there’s no misleading

leads us closer

to Hell.

 

In every street, in every room

their faces stare, they take the air,

they grin and cheat and stir us;

they’ll do anything for us;

live our lives the way we want,

the heroes.

 

Pictures in magazines

blow up their public lives;

the roles they play

kill for us

and lie.

 

In every street, in every room

their faces stare, they take the air,

they grin and cheat and stir us;

they’ll do anything for us;

live our lives the way we want,

the heroes.

 

Wars won in cinemas

are all we never were;

and all we ever are

just turns 

to dust.

 

In every street, in every room

their faces stare, they take the air,

they grin and cheat and stir us;

they’ll do anything for us;

live our lives the way we want,

the heroes.

 

 

River

 

Night-time holds me down and empty

open to the flood;

nothing stops the river breaking in,

stops the river

breaking me.

 

Not sleeping, not waking,

I’m trapped in the dark –

cold shadows surround me

closing around me;

it’s the dream world

of a lost world

of a world that never was.

 

Faces, and the colours tasted

turn the years I have not lived;

take the lost road back,

take the road

unsaid.

 

Not sleeping, not waking,

I’m trapped in the dark –

cold shadows surround me

closing around me;

it’s the dream world

of a lost world

of a world that never was.

 

 

 

Cold City

 

In rooms and bars the city through

I see you face the same;

every word and touch we make

recalls our needs again.

 

There’s no time for holding back

no time enough for fear,

and if you wait forever

there’ll just be nothing there.

 

Yet when love moves and speaks

its eyes are flat and closed;

and every time we want to give

it suddenly lets go.

 

There’s no time for holding back

no time enough for fear,

and if you wait forever

there’ll just be nothing there.

 

We scare of loving, loosing dreams

with this love that must not say

with this love that cannot ever

declare itself again.

 

There’s no time for holding back

no time enough for fear,

and if you wait forever

there’ll just be nothing there.

 

So hold me on your fingertips,

so come and cut me free

let’s break away from waiting

let’s fly, let’s just break free.

 

There’s no time for holding back

no time enough for fear,

and if you wait forever

there’ll just be nothing there.

 

End

 

On the nine o'clock news

the country is falling apart;

and the Minister warned

“I’ll call the army out.”

 

What does it matter

When there’s nothing left;

What does it matter

When all belief has gone

 

Live footage shows the crowds

looting in the shops

stealing from the wasted years

every rock and crown.

 

What does it matter

When there’s nothing left;

What does it matter

When all belief has gone

 

Just Go On

 

Now that the dark returns

you have no place to go,

the girl cries in the wood

but she does not call to you;

you will leave unseen.

 

Old people pray in churches

cold and hard as knives

they cannot lose the habit

or this endless sacrifice.

 

Out on roads the armies bleed

the battle is lost both sides,

but you cannot die with them

you must watch the end.

 

Old people pray in churches

cold and hard as knives

they cannot lose the habit

or this endless sacrifice.

 

Men kill men in cities

where men have killed men before

but their anger does not reach you

you cannot weep.

 

Old people pray in churches

cold and hard as knives

they cannot lose the habit

or this endless sacrifice.

 

Bridget

 

Dreams of dreams

are in her eyes

your dreams, my dreams

her dreams, all dreams

going home at last.

 

Behind the door

lost faces find their way

they seem to say, come in,

come home,

come in,

come home to me.

 

She slips the line

the colours shine,

all the places 

where she played

return again, at last.

 

Behind the door

lost faces find their way

they seem to say, come in,

come home,

come in,

come home to me.

 

Now no shadows ever cast

for in her heart

the day gives way

to all that’s gone away

to all that’s gone at last.

 

Behind the door

lost faces find their way

they seem to say, come in,

come home,

come in,

come home to me.

 

Us, Again

 

Time is like knives;

the air divides

and so do we,

alone, alone

together.

 

No innocence returns;

it’s been turned aside,

each waiting world 

waits out,

waits out 

the lonely ride.

 

Things that were done

will carry on

remembered

we cannot -

cannot forget

 

No innocence returns;

it’s been turned aside,

each waiting world 

waits out,

waits out 

the lonely ride.

 

we will never get away -

the life between us

cannot fade,

cannot fade

like scars.

 

No innocence returns;

it’s been turned aside,

each waiting world 

waits out,

waits out 

the lonely ride.

 

 

 

Star

 

Sit by the pool,

don’t let the beast 

pick pick the rose;

you don’t need a prince 

that bad.

 

Do not believe in her;

she can’t believe in you;

she will outlive you all,

a photo to adore.

 

See the mannequin

how silent it waits.

Slip slip into bikinis

you do not need

to wait.

 

Do not believe in her;

she can’t believe in you;

she will outlive you all,

a photo to adore.

 

City voices all strike out

all sell and sing, 

as never never you do not;

you cannot fade

or spoil.

 

Do not believe in her;

she can’t believe in you;

she will outlive you all,

a photo to adore.

 

 

You

 

You look so far

but you don’t see me

standing here

standing on the road.

 

Stones shake your heart

and faces claim

your whippled heart 

your crippled soul.

 

You break the barrier

but you don’t break me

I’m not the one

you must free.

 

Stones shake your heart

and faces claim

your whippled heart 

your crippled soul.

 

I am not 

yours to break

not the space

yours to take

 

Stones shake your heart

and faces claim

your whippled heart 

your crippled soul.

 

You’re the shadow

locked in the light

I am not the one

caught in sights

 

Stones shake your heart

and faces claim

your whippled heart 

your crippled soul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Archeologies from The Ceylon Press?

From disco to disappearance.

Songs Without Music
These songs were written in London in 1985 – the year of the Miners’ Strike, Live Aid, the Handsworth Riots, and the Bradford disaster - and released by William Buchanan with his own music.

To Willie, driving from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch down Oxford Street, with no red lights at 3am one Wednesday morning.

So Watch

So watch
my flesh decay
and see
how beautifully it goes;
like something
asking to be loved;
like you,
too shy to ask me
to your room;
marks that will survive
are marks on skin and mind:
not you with me,
not face to face;
and only this,
a last decay
pitching to hide itself
when each
has gone their way.

Cause

Under empty skies
air finds no flags;
people march
but the banners
are burnt;

the world
is bleeding into hell,
and into hell
the world
betrayed.

My fist is flat,
the truth is traded;
there is nothing left
to kill for
or to honour.

the world
is bleeding into hell,
and into hell
the world
betrayed.

Angel

I bought a glass palace in Paradise
with a pool and fifty rooms;
and off its slender flagstaff
I can fly to the moon.

I’m god in the city, god in the town,
I came from hell but I’m here;
from nighttime to nightfall
my parties do not end.

I’m alive and free so look at me
I dream at the top of the sky;
my fingertips are strips of jade -
there’s no way I can die.

I’m god in the city, god in the town,
I came from hell but I’m here;
from nighttime to nightfall
my parties do not end.

Welcome, roll up, welcome,
watch kings and princes sigh;
they beg to use my golden wings.
they beg to learn to fly.

I’m god in the city, god in the town,
I came from hell but I’m here;
from nighttime to nightfall
my parties do not end.

City of Fear

Last night I flew over the city of fear;
dark coated people came down the streets;
they had angel eyes and shrank from light;
they looked at me and wished to fly -
but they couldn’t grow wings.

And in the end
it’s the end that living’ about;
they do not know how to go
they can escape no more
they have turned to salt
inside the doorways
of this city of fear.

Moon high, my rocket feathers carry me free
I see the late night-clubs open up,
the curtains of private room drift apart;
the battle’s over, but in coloured light,
the battle starts again.

And in the end
it’s the end that living’ about;
they do not know how to go
they can escape no more
they have turned to salt
inside the doorways
of this city of fear.

People wait with wet wide eyes
but the gods have gone,
the night goes on;
coins rattle in their mouths
the gates have closed.

And in the end
it’s the end that living’ about;
they do not know how to go
they can escape no more
they have turned to salt
inside the doorways
of this city of fear.

Heros

Come kill the heroes,
tear the faces from the walls;
there’s no misleading
leads us closer
to Hell.

In every street, in every room
their faces stare, they take the air,
they grin and cheat and stir us;
they’ll do anything for us;
live our lives the way we want,
the heroes.

Pictures in magazines
blow up their public lives;
the roles they play
kill for us
and lie.

In every street, in every room
their faces stare, they take the air,
they grin and cheat and stir us;
they’ll do anything for us;
live our lives the way we want,
the heroes.

Wars won in cinemas
are all we never were;
and all we ever are
just turns
to dust.

In every street, in every room
their faces stare, they take the air,
they grin and cheat and stir us;
they’ll do anything for us;
live our lives the way we want,
the heroes.

River

Night-time holds me down and empty
open to the flood;
nothing stops the river breaking in,
stops the river
breaking me.

Not sleeping, not waking,
I’m trapped in the dark –
cold shadows surround me
closing around me;
it’s the dream world
of a lost world
of a world that never was.

Faces, and the colours tasted
turn the years I have not lived;
take the lost road back,
take the road
unsaid.

Not sleeping, not waking,
I’m trapped in the dark –
cold shadows surround me
closing around me;
it’s the dream world
of a lost world
of a world that never was.

Cold City

In rooms and bars the city through
I see you face the same;
every word and touch we make
recalls our needs again.

There’s no time for holding back
no time enough for fear,
and if you wait forever
there’ll just be nothing there.

Yet when love moves and speaks
its eyes are flat and closed;
and every time we want to give
it suddenly lets go.

There’s no time for holding back
no time enough for fear,
and if you wait forever
there’ll just be nothing there.

We scare of loving, loosing dreams
with this love that must not say
with this love that cannot ever
declare itself again.

There’s no time for holding back
no time enough for fear,
and if you wait forever
there’ll just be nothing there.

So hold me on your fingertips,
so come and cut me free
let’s break away from waiting
let’s fly, let’s just break free.

There’s no time for holding back
no time enough for fear,
and if you wait forever
there’ll just be nothing there.

End

On the nine o'clock news
the country is falling apart;
and the Minister warned
“I’ll call the army out.”

What does it matter
When there’s nothing left;
What does it matter
When all belief has gone

Live footage shows the crowds
looting in the shops
stealing from the wasted years
every rock and crown.

What does it matter
When there’s nothing left;
What does it matter
When all belief has gone

Just Go On

Now that the dark returns
you have no place to go,
the girl cries in the wood
but she does not call to you;
you will leave unseen.

Old people pray in churches
cold and hard as knives
they cannot lose the habit
or this endless sacrifice.

Out on roads the armies bleed
the battle is lost both sides,
but you cannot die with them
you must watch the end.

Old people pray in churches
cold and hard as knives
they cannot lose the habit
or this endless sacrifice.

Men kill men in cities
where men have killed men before
but their anger does not reach you
you cannot weep.

Old people pray in churches
cold and hard as knives
they cannot lose the habit
or this endless sacrifice.

Bridget

Dreams of dreams
are in her eyes
your dreams, my dreams
her dreams, all dreams
going home at last.

Behind the door
lost faces find their way
they seem to say, come in,
come home,
come in,
come home to me.

She slips the line
the colours shine,
all the places
where she played
return again, at last.

Behind the door
lost faces find their way
they seem to say, come in,
come home,
come in,
come home to me.

Now no shadows ever cast
for in her heart
the day gives way
to all that’s gone away
to all that’s gone at last.

Behind the door
lost faces find their way
they seem to say, come in,
come home,
come in,
come home to me.

Us, Again

Time is like knives;
the air divides
and so do we,
alone, alone
together.

No innocence returns;
it’s been turned aside,
each waiting world
waits out,
waits out
the lonely ride.

Things that were done
will carry on
remembered
we cannot -
cannot forget

No innocence returns;
it’s been turned aside,
each waiting world
waits out,
waits out
the lonely ride.

we will never get away -
the life between us
cannot fade,
cannot fade
like scars.

No innocence returns;
it’s been turned aside,
each waiting world
waits out,
waits out
the lonely ride.

Star

Sit by the pool,
don’t let the beast
pick pick the rose;
you don’t need a prince
that bad.

Do not believe in her;
she can’t believe in you;
she will outlive you all,
a photo to adore.

See the mannequin
how silent it waits.
Slip slip into bikinis
you do not need
to wait.

Do not believe in her;
she can’t believe in you;
she will outlive you all,
a photo to adore.

City voices all strike out
all sell and sing,
as never never you do not;
you cannot fade
or spoil.

Do not believe in her;
she can’t believe in you;
she will outlive you all,
a photo to adore.

You

You look so far
but you don’t see me
standing here
standing on the road.

Stones shake your heart
and faces claim
your whippled heart
your crippled soul.

You break the barrier
but you don’t break me
I’m not the one
you must free.

Stones shake your heart
and faces claim
your whippled heart
your crippled soul.

I am not
yours to break
not the space
yours to take

Stones shake your heart
and faces claim
your whippled heart
your crippled soul.

You’re the shadow
locked in the light
I am not the one
caught in sights

Stones shake your heart
and faces claim
your whippled heart
your crippled soul.