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Mott The Hoople and Ian Hunter

Too Much

(Ian Hunter)

All I ever wanted was to lose myself in you
All I ever needed was you to need me too
You're all I ever think about
I hunger for your touch
'n all I ever wanted
Was you - is that too much?

I hate the pain of loving you
It happens all the time
I never needed anything or anybody
Until your eyes met mine
I'm waiting for your answer babe
What's gonna become of us?
'Cos all I ever wanted
Was you - is that too much?

It is too much to ask
That this man with a past
Could be happy at last
With a future like you
It is too much to ask
Is it too much of a task
Am I going to fast - for you?

Maybe you don't want me
I'm so scared of losing you
I never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity
Watch me screw up this one too
It's so hard to talk about love
I'm leaving now, oh it's just
'n all I ever wanted
Was you - is that too much?

Now Is The Time

(Ian Hunter)

I can smile
On a warm summer day
I can laugh
I can listen to the children play
But I'm going to miss
The killer with the kiss
He was a friend of mine
Now is the time
Now is the time

It's going to rain
Hope it don't rain on you
There's going to be a lot of pain
Before this thing is through
If Jesus was alive
He'd be standing on the M5
Holding up a neon sign
Screaming now is the time
Now is the time

Now is the time
So many people can't see
They think that love is blind
But it ain't free
There's a line
So many people have crossed
And now their love is lost
Say goodbye
My funny valentine
Now is the time
Now is the time

Now is the time
Now is the time

I can run
Just as far as my eyes can see
And I'm free, yeah,
Just as free as I want to be
But I won't ever forget
That crazy little planet
He was a friend of mine

Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time
Now is the time

Something To Believe In

(Ian Hunter)

Well I lay underneath an ageless sky
I watched the universe breathing
There's more going on up there than meets the eye
Give me something to believe in

Which way's in and which way's out
Every step is misleading
Well which way is up which way is down
You gotta have something to believe in

Oh, let me dream, let me dream
I spend my whole life dreaming
I've been lucky but I'm still mean
You gotta have something to believe in

I didn't mean to hurt the people I hurt
I was full of fear and loathing
I wasn't up to much, but I was all I had to go on
Couldn't find nothing to believe in

I don't like all them man-made religions
They all need a little spiritual healing
They don't cut across race, they don't cut across culture
But we all need something to believe in

So you believe what you want to believe
Just stay true to your feelings
'Cause one man's god's just as good as another now
Gotta have something to believe in

Well I lay underneath a royal throne
The gaudy paint was peeling
Half an inch deep and twice as cheap
Oh give me something to believe in

Fat Fred always packing lead
On the corner dealing
Makes more in a night than I can make in forty days
Give me something to believe in

Now people worship what they see
Looks can be deceiving
Violence rages in abandoned hearts
'Cause they ain't got nothing to believe in

The chill chill is a bitter pill
When it comes to leaving
'Cause there ain't no easy way outta here
When you ain't got nothing to believe in

Just woke up in Sarajevo city
I watched all those mothers screaming
Kids getting shot and for what, and for what?
Give me something to believe in

Now there's fire outside, mud that slides
Earthquakes shake the region
Willy and the Poorboys lost in America
They ain't got nothing to believe in

For every seed of knowledge found
For every grain of reason
For every shred of decency
There's something to believe in

Now I lay me down to rest
In the silence of the evening
And the moon road shines from here to eternity
I've got something to believe in

You believe what you want to believe
Just stay true to your feelings
'Cause one man's god's just as good as another
I've got something to believe in.

Resurrection Mary

(Ian Hunter)

(Studio version)

In 1935 I was living in paradise, I had a friend up in Cicero.
We used to go out to the track, we'd knock a few whiskeys back.
I'd lose my shirt and then I would lose my way home

I was driving my Stutz Black Hawk through Justice in the dark,
when suddenly the blood froze in my veins.
She was standing by the road in an incandescent glow,
My heart stood still, my foot slammed on the brakes.

She said "Please, please would you dignify my wish?
I'm trying to get to Heaven, could you tell me where that is?"

On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white,
I caught my first sign of Resurrection Mary.

I was trembling like a leaf, I was scared beyond belief,
after all my conscience ain't that clear.
I used to work for Mickey Finn, I did the numbers for Big Jim
Perhaps my day of reckoning lies here?

I said "Please, please, I would dignify your wish.
But when it comes to Heaven, I'm just a little bit amateurish."

On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
I cheated time with Resurrection Mary.

And I felt tears form in my eyes,
for the first time I felt something deep inside,
and the first time I saw angels high in the air,
for the first time in my life,
and I said "Mary, go to the light, it's gonna be alright."

I got down on my knees, I said "Sweet Mary, please,
dignify these wishes before you run.
Will you tell him I've reformed, will you tell him I'm reborn?"
She closed her eyes and then she spoke in tongues

I said "Please, please, tell me what he said."
She said "You must die
the day before the devil knows you're dead."

On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
I waved goodbye.

On a wild Chicago night, oh with a wind howling white
I lost sight
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
with the naked eye
with the naked eye
with the naked eye
with the naked eye

There are a number of differences to the lyrics in the live version as performed at the Mick Ronson Memorial Concert at London's Hammersmith Apollo, 29th April 1994.

In 1935 I was living in paradise, I had a friend up in Cicero.
We used to go out to the track and knock a few whiskeys back.
I'd lose my shirt and then I'd lose my way home

I was driving my Stutz back home through Justice in the dark,
when suddenly the blood froze in my veins.
She was standing by the road in an incandescent glow.
My heart said 'run' but my foot slammed on the brakes.

She said "Please, please would you justify my wish?
I'm trying to get to Heaven, will you tell me where that is?"

On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white,
I caught my first sign of Resurrection Mary, RM, RM, RM.

I was trembling like a leaf, I was scared beyond belief,
after all my conscience is not clear.
I used to work with Mickey Finn, I did the numbers for Big Jim
Perhaps my day of reckoning was here?

I said "Please, please, I'd love to dignify your wish.
But when it comes to Heaven, I'm just a little bit amateurish."

On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
I cheated time with Resurrection Mary, RM, RM, RM.

Yeah the tears were forming in my eyes,
for the first time, I felt something deep inside,
and for the first time I saw angels high in the air,
for the first time in my life.
I said "Mary, go to the light, it's gonna be alright."

I got down on my knees and I said "Sweet Mary, please,
justify the wishes before you run.
Will you tell him I've reformed, will you tell him I'm reborn?"
She closed her eyes and then she spoke in tongues

I said "Please, please, will you tell me what he said?"
She said "You must die
the day before the devil knows you're dead."

On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
well I waved goodbye to Ressurection Mary, RM, RM, RM.

On a wild Chicago night, with a wind howling white
I lost sight
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
of Resurrection Mary
with the naked eye
with the naked eye
with the naked eye
with the naked eye.

Walk On Water

(Ian Hunter/McNasty)

Little flame tormented soul
tried to get lost in all that rock and roll
Came crashing through here like some hurricane
too much too soon for you little flame

[chorus]
You can't walk on water
you can't walk on water, don't try
like a lamb to the slaughter
oh! but for the grace of God go I

Little flame caught that savage sound
he liked to turn it upside down
well I think I know what you were talking about
I'm just so sorry that your flame went out

Fun with no conscience, tracks with no tears
the rich get richer and the devil's got no fears
Sounds his call, political lies
there ain't no virtue without sacrifice

You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water

You can't walk on
[repeat and fade]

23A, Swan Hill

(Ian Hunter)

Wrote this poem
called "the floods roll on"
he said this ain't yours, where'd you get it from?
you must have stole it from a book,
oh yeah
you must have stole it from a book.
'cause you ain't frail
you ain't beautiful,
and I don't fancy you at all.

You'd be a ruin
if looks could kill
23 A, Swan Hill

Stiff with rage
screaming at the sky
innocence breaks
says she wants to die
I'm assuming I'm alive
oh yeah
I'm assuming I'm alive
she pushes and she pulls
my legs go weak
in fascinating terror

The whole world moves and I'm standing still
in 23A Swan Hill
and it's always raining
and you never ask why
you never give yourself a shot
you just sit and watch your life go by

Kicking stones at a still life
want to pull it down slash it slash it
there must be some way out here
there must be some way out here
this ain't right
there must be more to life
than breaking and entering
doing people's heads in
alcohol, nicotine
thinking what I might have been

You would be a ruin if looks could kill 23 A, Swan Hill
And the whole world moves and I'm standing still in 23 A, Swan Hill

and I will
and I will
and I will
and I will in 23 A, Swan Hill
(repeat and fade)

Michael Picasso

(Ian Hunter)

Once upon a time
not so long ago
people used to stand and stare
at the Spider with the platinum hair
they thought you were immortal

We had our ups and downs
like brothers often do
but I was there for him
he was always there for me
and we were there for you

How can I put into words
what my heart feels?
it's the deepest thing
when somebody you love dies

I just wanted
to give something back to you gift to gift
Michael, Michael Picasso good night

You used to love our house
you said it was relaxing
now I walk in the places you walk
I talk in all the spaces you talk
it still hasn't sunk in

Are the words real
that come into my head
on a morning walk?
Do the shadows
play tricks with my mind?

For it feels like
nothing has changed
but I know it has
Michael, Michael Picasso
good night

Heal me
won't you
heal me?
nothing lasts forever
set me free

Heal me
won't you
heal me?
I'm the one who's left here
heal me
heal me
heal me

You turned into a ghost
surrounded by your pain
and the thing that I liked the least
was sitting 'round Hasker Street
lying about the future

And we all sit
in a room full of tears
on a windy day
and I looked out
but none of these words seem right

I just wanted
to give something back to you gift to gift
Michael, Michael Picasso
good night

Open My Eyes

(Ian Hunter/Darrel Bath)

On the Avenue of dead umbrellas
In a place where nothin' sleeps
No one's pickin' up the pieces - no one speaks
Snow falls down - God dusts funky town
For once this place looks pure
Tell that to the people who live in the wind - they ain't so sure

In the middle of a violent night - in the glare of a naked light
In the middle of a nightmare
At the bottom of the deepest well - in the middle of a private hell
Shit scared - out there - nowhere

Then I open my eyes - ice on the window - the sun is tryin' to break through

Then I open my eyes - in the land of the livin' - and it's all right
Seen a man rattle in a battle that no one could win
I had to turn my soul away
Shit's gonna happen - whether you like it or not
S' just the way it is

Then I open my eyes - boats on the river - headin' down the east side
Then I open my eyes - and the trash(?) slips away
Soft and supple - like some alibi
You been walkin in her sleep - there ain't no cure for the secrets you hide

In the middle of my wildest dream - in a place where nothin's what it seems
At the time of a great loss
From the hoods and the broken homes - this danger's got a smell of it's own
In the middle of c-c-chaos
In the valley of the shadow of death - the Bellevue boys out kickin' ass
In the middle of fire
Inside the belly of the beast - in a place where wonders never cease
You go higher, higher, higher

Then I open my eyes - life in a nutshell - it's over 'fore you know it
Then I open my eyes

And the city wakes up - puts coffee in cups - when I open my eyes
And the kids go to school - Imus rules - when I open my eyes
I love you n' you love me
N' it rains so I buy an umbrella from the guy on 23rd and Second Avenue

The Artful Dodger

(Ian Hunter)

How ya doin' - all right?

I-I-I spy with my little eye
Something beginning with you
Drool drool drool nearly fell off me stool
I hope you fancy me too
Now I don't wanna set the world on fire
Any old iron, any old iron will do (all right)

Smirk smirk smirk the G 'n T's work
She can knock 'em back like a fish
Smarm smarm smarm I turned up me charm
I think I'm on a promise (he thinks he's on a promise)
Some say yes 'n some say no
And my old man says 'Mind how you go'
A little bit o' this, a little bit o' that
If you can't take a joke well sod ya
(Oh) I'm a dysfunctional chap
'n they call me the Artful Dodger

Chat chat chat it's back to the flat
I strum me little Spanish guitar
Gloat gloat gloat she said 'n I'll quote
'You can take down my particulars' (take down her particulars)
It's a funny old life if you weaken, innit?
You gonna have a laugh, yeah you've gotta give it
A little bit o' this, a little bit o' that
Look out for PC Plodger
If a job's worth doin' it's worth doin' well
'n they call me the Artful Dodger

(Get on yer bike!)
I said yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
If you can't take a joke well sod ya
(Oh) I'm a bit of a lad
'n they call me the Artful Dodger
(Now) a little bit o' this, a little bit o' that
Hoist up the Jolly Roger
That's the way to do it!
Call me the Artful Dodger
'n I'm doin' all right
Yes I'm doin' all right, yes I'm doin' all right
Yes I'm doing very well, thank you
How ya doin' all right (We're doin' all right)
How ya doin' all right (We're doin' all right)
How ya doin' all right (Yeah we're doin' all right)
How ya doin' all right (We're doin' all right)
They call me the Artful Dodger
They call me the Artful Dodger
They call me the Artful Dodger
... (repeat and fade)

Skeletons (In Your Closet)

(Ian Hunter/Darrel Bath/Honest John Plain)

Bimbo, flirts, sluts in skirts - muscles brightly glisten
Conversation's full of filth - let's all have a listen
Oh dear oh dear we live in fear
Media bulbs a poppin'
If you're bent, they're on your scent
There can be no stoppin'

Peroxide blondes, vagabonds, into 'eavy metal
Your hair looks like its been done by a dyke with a score to settle
Mud needs raking, photos taken of your murky past
Haunts you, taunts you, love it don't you

Hey hey the gang's all here
Pimps 'n' pervs, straights 'n' queers
Enquiring minds want to sneer at the skeletons in your closet
Sunday morning in the park,
Down the pub or in the bath
We'll all have a good old laugh
At the skeletons in your closet

Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet
Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet

It's bloody marvellous - innit?
It's bloody marvellous - innit?

Juicy bits, saucy snips, there's gold in them there gutters
Blue rinse mob on the job, curtains all a-flutter
It's cheapo culture, bleeding ulcers, burnt out by the score
Lurid tales never fails to shock you to the core
Kinky boots 'n' rubbber suits,
It's all going on next door!
Caught you, taught you, love it don't you

If you've had your face re-done
If you spank your girlfriend's bum
We can all join in the fun
At the skeletons in your closet
What's the world coming to?
Ain't we got nothin' better to do?
To spend all day sifting through
The skeletons in your closet

Hey hey the gang's all here
Pimps 'n' pervs, straights 'n' queers
Enquiring minds want to sneer
At the skeletons in your closet

Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet
Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet
Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet
Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet
Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet
Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet
Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet
Skeletons in your, skeletons in your, skeletons in your closet

Still The Same

(Ian Hunter)

They say that some people never grow up
Lost in time shackled to the past for ever, stung by love
Still weaving, still believing yesterday's dreams
If life is real then so is my imagination
All I feel is who I am, who I am, who I am
'n if I wished so hard I bled, would you come true
All I need's a bottle 'n' the memories come flooding back
'n I see you though the rain, through the rain, through the rain
They say you can never go back
What if my love's
Still the same, still the same, still the same
Still the same, still the same, still the same

When love goes right it's the ultimate high you can be on
Oh baby I've lost count of the times when things went wrong
Bit I pick myself up 'n' I carry on
On and on and on and on and on and on it goes
I can't pretend imaginary friends are better
All I know is people change, people change, people change
They say I'm supposed to forget 'n' go on
What if my love's
Still the same, still the same, still the same
Still the same, still the same, still the same
Still the same, still the same
Still the same, still the same, still the same
(Oh baby now)
What if your love, what if your love is still the same
What if your love, what if your love is still the same
What if your love, what if your love is still the same
What if your love, what if your love is still the same
What if your love, what if your love is still the same