Wake Up!
You put your cleanest dirty shirt on
Then you stagger down to meet the dawn
You take a ride upon a bus, it's just a fuss
You know it keeps you born
You get to know a morning face
You get to join the human race
You get to know the world
Has passed you by
Who cares? You might be dead
Who cares? You stayed in bed
Who cares? You wrote the note
Who cares? You might have spoke
Wake up!
You take a snack to fill the gap
And then you're ready for another shift
Your attention was diverted
By the girl who smiled and made the lift
The radio is blaring out
It's in one ear and then it's out
You didn't notice that the record's over
Who cares? You might be dead
Who cares? You stayed in bed
Who cares? You wrote the note
Who cares? You might have spoke
Wake up!
In the road a crowd had gathered
And a man was close to dead
The blood is running down the gutter
While you're yawning, nothing's said
His body's wriggling like an eel
They got no sense, no touch, no feel
Somebody better go and get a blanket
Who cares? You might be dead
Who cares? You stayed in bed
Who cares? You wrote the note
Who cares? You might have spoke
Wake up, wake up!
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Svegliati
Ti metti la più pulita delle tue
camicie luride
Poi scendi barcollando incontro all'alba
Prendi un autobus che passa, è solo il casino,
Lo sai, che ti tiene a balia
Cerchi di riconoscere un volto mattutino
Cerchi di riunirti al consorzio umano
Cerchi di riconoscere il mondo
Che ti ha oltrepassato
Chi se ne frega se tu sei morto?
Chi se ne frega se resti a letto?
Chi se ne frega se hai fatto la nota?
Chi se ne frega se hai parlato?
Svègliati, svègliati
Fai uno spuntino per riempire il vuoto
E ora sei pronto per un altro turno
Ti sei lasciato distrarre
Dalla ragazza che ha sorriso e ti ha fregato
La radio blatera
Entra da un orecchio, esce dall'altro
Neanche ti accorgi che il disco è finito
Chi se ne frega se tu sei morto?
Chi se ne frega se resti a letto?
Chi se ne frega se hai fatto la nota?
Chi se ne frega se hai parlato?
Svègliati, svègliati
Per strada s'è riunita una folla
E un uomo è quasi morto
Sangue che gli esce dalle budella
E tu sbadigli, tu non dici niente
Il corpo gli si contorce come un'anguilla
Non hanno senso ne presa ne sentimento
Converrebbe cercare una coperta
Chi se ne frega se tu sei morto?
Chi se ne frega se resti a letto?
Chi se ne frega se hai fatto la nota?
Chi se ne frega se hai parlato?
Svègliati, svègliati
(dal volume "XTC"
traduzione di Paolo Bertrando)
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All You Pretty Girls
Do something for me, boys
If I should die at sea, boys
Write a little note, boys
Set it off afloat, saying
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
I think about your pale arms waving
When I see the caps upon the green
And the rocking roller-coaster ocean
Think about you every night when I'm fathoms asleep
And in my dreams
We are rocking in a similar motion
I think about the salt sea rolling
Down in pearly tears upon your cheeks
Just like the day the harbour pulled away
I think about your warm white sheets unfolding
The more I have to drink
The more that I can think to say
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Tutte Voi Belle Ragazze
Fate qualcosa per me, ragazzi
Sse dovessi morire in mare, ragazzi
Scrivete un breve messaggio, ragazzi Lanciatelo in mare, che
dice
Dio vi benedica, Dio vi benedica, tutte
voi belle ragazze
Ragazze di paese e di città vicino al molo
Dio vi benedica, Dio vi benedica, tutte voi belle ragazze
Che guardate ed aspettate in riva al mare
Dio vi benedica, Dio vi benedica, tutte
voi belle ragazze
Ragazze tranquille o spiritose vicino al molo
Dio vi benedica, Dio vi benedica, tutte voi belle ragazze
Che guardate ed aspettate in riva al mare
Penso alle vostre pallide
braccia che salutano
Mentre guardo i berretti sopra il verde
E l'oceano dondolante come le montagne russe
Vi penso tutte le notti quando sono Profondamente addormentato
E nei miei sogni
noi dondoliamo in un movimento simile
Penso al mare salato cadere
In lacrime perlate sulle vostre guance
Come il giorno in cui il porto si allontanò
Penso alle vostre bianche e calde lenzuola che si aprono
Più bevo
Più riesco a parlare
(traduzione di
Paola Di Giorgio)
|
Shake You Donkey Up
Here he come again
Dress in all that skin
Like he was still human being
Look at he long ears
And he big brown eyes
And with them truth he is seeing
Isn't it a shame you kicked that girl
Isn't it a shame she kicked you back, jackass
She really shake you donkey up
She really make you donkey up
She really shake you donkey up, quite a packet
How she carry you
Over thick and thin ice
You still dug you spurs in
Now you forced to walk
Laden down with shame
It's not just you back that's hurting
Now children saddle him for riding
Pick a fight with love and she will
Tan your hide in
She really shake you donkey up
She really shake you donkey up
Shake you donkey!
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|
Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her,
Kiss Her
It's raining on the beach
She inches close but out of reach
The waves look painted on
Seagulls screaming
The sea is warship grey
It whispers ``Fool!'' then slides away
Black coastline slumbers on
Seagulls screaming kiss her, kiss her
And all the flags that flap on the pier
Spell why on earth do you want
The fog hides much but one thing is clear
She's nearer
Dead deck chairs under shrouds
And life belts gape like minstrel mouths
Her hair still smells of salt
Seagulls screaming kiss her, kiss her
Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her, kiss her
He who hesitates is lost
If you want her, you should tell her
Take her by the hand If you hesitate
If you wait, November wins her November will win her
She returns to sand So get ahold of the girl
I say I like your coat
Her thank-you tugs my heart afloat
I nearly didn't hear for
Seagulls screaming kiss her, kiss her
He who hesitates is lost
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Gabbiani Gridano
Baciala, Baciala
Piove sulla spiaggia
Lei è vicinissima e fuori portata
Le onde sembrano dipinte
Gabbiani gridano
Il mare è grigio militare
"Sciocco" ti sibila, poi scivola via
La costa scura è appisolata
Gabbiani gridano: "Baciala, baciala"
E tutte le bandiere che sventolano sul molo
Segnalano "Che diavolo aspetti?"
La nebbia è avvolgente ma una cosa è chiara
Lei è più vicina
Morte sedie a sdraio sotto i teli
E salvagenti spalancati come bocche di poeti
I capelli ancora le sanno di sale
Gabbiani gridano: "Baciala, baciala
Baciala, baciala, baciala, baciala"
Chi esita è perduto
Se la desideri dovresti dirglielo
Prendila per mano
Se esiti
Se aspetti novembre l'avrà vinta
Novembre l'avrà vinta
E lei ritornerà alla sabbia
E allora prendila
Le dico hai un bel cappotto
Il suo grazie mi dà uno strappo al cuore
Quasi non ho sentito
Gabbiani gridare: "Baciala, baciala,
Chi esita è perduto
(dal volume "XTC"
traduzione di Paolo Bertrando)
|
This World Over
Ah well, that's this world over
Ah well, next one begins
Will you smile like any mother
As you bathe your brand new twins?
Will you sing about the missiles
As you dry odd numbered limbs?
Ah well, that's this world over
Ah well, next one begins
Ah well, that's this world over
You sadly grin
Will you tell them about that far off and mythical land
About their leader with the famous face?
Will you tell them that the reason nothing ever grows
In the garden anymore
Because he wanted to win the craziest race
That's this world over
Will you smile like any father
With your children on a Sunday hike?
When you get to a sea of rubble
And they ask ``What was London like?''
You tell them, ``Ah well, that's the world over''
Will you tell them about that far off and mythical land
And how a child to the virgin came?
Will you tell them that the reason why we murdered
Everything upon the surface of the world
So we can stand right up and say we did it in his name?
That's this world over
Or so it seems
That's this world over
The end of dreams
That's this world over, over, over and out
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Questo Mondo
Finito
Ah, be', questo è quel mondo
finito
Ah, be', incomincia quello nuovo
Sorriderai come ogni madre
Che fa il bagnetto ai suoi gemelli neonati?
Canterai la canzone dei missili
Mentre asciughi quelle troppe braccia e gambe?
Ah, be', questo è quel mondo finito
Ah, be', incomincia quello nuovo
Ah, be', questo è quel mondo finito
Sorridi triste
Parlerai loro di quella mitica terra lontana
E di quel grande uomo famoso?
E dirai loro che il motivo per cui
Nulla cresce più in giardino
È stata la sua voglia di vincere la corsa più folle?
È quel mondo finito
Sorriderai come ogni padre
A passeggio la domenica con i bambini?
Quando arriverai a quel mare di detriti
E ti chiederanno com 'era Londra?
E tu dirai, ah, be', è quel mondo finito
Parlerai loro di quella mitica terra lontana
E di come un bimbo era nato a una vergine?
Dirai loro i motivi per cui abbiamo
Assassinato tutto quanto era sulla faccia del mondo
Così da ergerci e dire: l'abbiamo fatto nel Suo nome?
È quel mondo finito
Almeno così pare
È quel mondo finito
La fine dei sogni
Quel mondo finito, finito, terminato e andato
(dal volume "XTC"
traduzione di Paolo Bertrando)
|
The Everyday Story of
Smalltown
Smalltown, snoring under blankets
Woken by the clank
It's just the milkman's dawn round
Smalltown, hiding undercovers
The lodgers and the lovers
Are asleep 'round Smalltown
Shiney grey black snake of bikes
He slithers
Bearing up the men and boys
To work
We're standing in poplar lines
Making alarm clocks that'll wake our wives up
Don't ask us, we haven't the time
We're racing the hooter that'll signal life's up
Smalltown, crouching in the valley
Woken by the sally army
Sunday marchround
Smalltown, coughing in the toilet
Who on earth would spoil it
Would they pull down Smalltown?
If it's all the same to you
Mrs Progress
Think I'll drink my Oxo up
And get away
It's not that you're repulsive to see
In your brand new catalogue nylon nightie
You're too fast for little old me
Next you'll be telling me it's 1990
I have lived here for a thousand years or maybe more
And I've sheltered all the children who have fought the wars
And as payment they make love in me
In squeaky beds
In bicycle sheds
Inside of their heads
As singles and weds
As Tories and Reds
And that's how I'm fed
And that's how I'm fed
Smalltown, snoring under blankets
Woken by the clank
It's just the milkman's dawn round
Smalltown, hiding undercovers
The lodgers and the lovers
Are asleep 'round Smalltown
Smalltown, crouching in the valley
Woken by the sally army
Sunday marchround
Smalltown, coughing in the toilet
Now who on earth would spoil it
Will you pull down Smalltown
Smalltown
Smalltown
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La Storia Quotidiana di
Smalltown
Smalltown, che russa sotto le coperte
Svegliata dal clangore
E' solo il lattaio che arriva
Smalltown, nascosta sotto le lenzuola
Affittuari e amanti
Sono addormentati qui a Smalltown
Serpente grigionero lucente di biciclette
Si snoda, scivola
Portando uomini e ragazzi
Al lavoro
Stiamo qui tra filati di pioppi
Fabbrichiamo sveglie per svegliare le mogli
Non chiedeteci, non abbiamo tempo
Inseguiamo la sirena che suonerà la fine della vita
Smalltown accoccolata nella valle
Svegliata dall'Esercito della Salvezza
Con la sua marcia domenicale
Smalltown che tossisce in bagno
Chi mai potrebbe rovinarla
Chi mai potrebbe abbattere Smalltown?
Se per te fa lo stesso
Signora Progresso
Penso che mi berrò la mia bibita
E me ne andrò
Non è che tu sia repellente da vedere
Con la tua nuova vestaglia da catalogo
Ma sei un po' troppo veloce per me
Tra poco mi dirai che è il 1990
Ho vissuto qui per mille anni o forse più
Ombra per tutti i bimbi, poi combattenti in guerra
Per ripagarmi fanno l'amore in me
In vecchi letti cigolanti
In biciclette rollanti
Nelle loro teste pensanti
Come sposi e amanti
Comunisti e benestanti
E così mi saziano
Così mi saziano
Smalltown, che russa sotto le coperte
Svegliata dal clangore
E' solo il lattaio che arriva
Smalltown, nascosta sotto le lenzuola
Affittuari e amanti
Sono addormentati qui a Smalltown
Smalltown accoccolata nella valle
Svegliata dall'Esercito della Salvezza
Con la sua marcia domenicale
Smalltown che tossisce in bagno
Chi mai potrebbe rovinarla
Vorreste abbattere Smalltown?
Smalltown
Smalltown
(dal volume "XTC"
traduzione di Paolo Bertrando)
|
I Bought Myself a Liarbird
I bought myself a liarbird
He came with free drinks just to blur
The lies falling out like rain
On an average English summer's afternoon
I bought myself a new notebook
Sharpened my guitar and went to look
If this biz was just as bongo as the liarbird made out
All he would say
Is "I can make you famous''
All he would say
All he would say
"Just like a household name'' is
All he would say
Methinks world is for you
Made of what you believe
If it's false or if it's true
You can read it in your bible
Or on the back of this record sleeve
I bought myself a liarbird
Things got more and more absurd
It changed to a cuckoo
And expanded filling up with all I gave
I bought myself a big mistake
He grew too greedy, bough will break
And then we will find that liarbirds
Are really flightless on their own
All he would say
Is "I can make you famous''
All he would say
All he would say
"Just like a household name'' is
All he would say
Methinks world is for you
There's no handing it back
If it's false or it's true
You can read it in your prayer book
Or on the side of a cornflake pack
I gave away a liarbird
A couple less drinks and now I've heard
The truth shining out like sun
On an average English winter's afternoon
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Reign of Blows
(Vote
No Violence)
Reign of blows
Reign of blows
Reign of blows cascading down upon your shoulders
Far too many men dressed up as soldiers
The lamb is brought to the ground
Under the weight of the Crown
A crown of thorns and dark deeds
The swastika and the hammer and symbol
Are sickles that reap only weeds
Reign of blows
Reign of blows
Reign of blows precedes a storm of revolution
People have no place in their solution
So torture raises its head
Decked out in blue, white, and red
And iron maidens will slam
And by the half light of burning republics
Joe Stalin looks just like Uncle Sam
Reign of blows
Reign of blows
Reign of blows has washed away the corpse of Abel
Cain is now the king in every Babel
I just don't care who you are
When death draws up in his car
And talks in terrorist tones
Remember violence is only a vote for the
Black Queen to take back the throne
Reign of blows
|
Regno dei Venti (Vota "No" alla
violenza)
... Il regno dei venti si sta
abbattendo sulle vostre spalle
Troppi uomini vestiti da soldati
L 'agnello è rinvenuto a terra
Sotto il peso della corona
Una corona di spine e difatti oscuri
La svastica e il martello e altri simboli
Sono falci che mietono solo malerbe
Il regno dei venti precede una bufera di rivoluzioni
La gente non trova spazio alle proprie soluzioni
Cosi la tortura solleva la sua testa
Addobbata di blu, rosso e bianco
E le vergini di Norimberga sbatteranno violentemente
E attraverso le mezze luci di scottanti Repubbliche
Joe Stalin assomiglia proprio allo Zio Sam...
(dal volume "XTC"
traduzione di Vittorio Azzoni)
|
You're the Wish You Are I Had
What was I supposed to do?
I turned around with the world and she simply was there
My blood ran like ice right through
She had your face and your lips
And your eyes and your hair
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish that I had
I wonder if she knows that when I made her up
I made her eat an apple
And I made her drink a cup or two
Wish wish wish wish wish
Wish wish wish wish wish for you
Who'd believe me if I said
I brought an angel to earth by the power of mind
Think I'm going off my head
She caught the same bus as me and she sat down behind
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish that I had
Little did I know that on a rainy day
All the little wishes I had put away
Would bring you
Wish wish wish wish wish
Wish wish wish wish wish for you
Well if wishing is bad bad bad
Then send me to hell hell hell
But If you take my wish away
Then this cold world would burn as well
You're the wish you are I had
|
Sei il Desiderio, Sei Cio'
Che Ho Avuto*
Cosa avrei dovuto fare?
Ho girato attorno assieme al mondo e lei era semplicemente lì
Il sangue mi si raggelò all’istante
I tuoi occhi ed i tuoi capelli
Lei aveva il tuo volto e le tue labbra
Sei il desiderio, sei ciò che io ho avuto
Sei il desiderio, sei ciò che io ho avuto
Sei il desiderio che io ho avuto
Mi chiedo se lei sapesse che quando la creai
Le feci mangiare una mela
E le feci bere un bicchiere o due
Desiderio desiderio desiderio desiderio desiderio
Desiderio desiderio desiderio desiderio per te
Chi mi crederebbe se dicessi
Che ho portato un angelo sulla Terra col potere della mente
Penserebbe che mi sto bevendo il cervello
Lei prese lo stesso mio bus e si sedette giù alle mie spalle
Sei il desiderio, sei ciò che ho avuto
Sei il desiderio, sei ciò che ho avuto
Sei il desiderio che ho avuto
Non potevo sapere che in un giorno di pioggia
tutti i desideri che avevo messo da parte
Avrebbero portato te
Desiderio desiderio desiderio desiderio desiderio
Desiderio desiderio desiderio desiderio desiderio per te
Bene, se desiderare è male male male
Mi sbattono all’Inferno Inferno Inferno
Ma se mi togliete il mio desiderio
Anche questo gelido mondo comincerebbe a bruciare
Sei il desiderio, sei ciò che ho avuto
*ndt: Letteralmente si dovrebbe tradurre
"Sei il desiderio che tu sei che ho avuto",
nel gergo volutamente sgrammaticato di Partridge.
In modo del tutto arbitrario, per conferire un senso più fluido,
sarebbe utile inserire una virgola nel corpo del titolo,
così da tradurre "Sei il desiderio, sei ciò che ho avuto".
(traduzione di Francesco Carbonara e Maurizio
Villotta)
|
I Remember the Sun
Hot as golden sand in fields
We whiled away the hours
I'm thinking of the days we had
Enormous super powers
Yes I'm sleeping, my mind's on the blink
I thought a page, like it's written in ink
When I remember distant days
I remember many things, but
Most of all, I remember the sun
Squinting at the sun through eyes
Screwed up by a fireball
Tarmac on the road is soft
Chaff burns in a smokewall
Yes, I weeping, a teardrop attack
I give emotion at the drop of a hat
When I remember days at school
I remember many things, but
Most of all, I remember the sun
Sun that worked on overtime
Fuelled our bodies, kindled fire in our minds
Burning scars soon disappear
Like heat that hangs like water on the road
But most of all, I remember the sun.
|
|
Train Running Low on Soul
Coal
Me train running low on soul coal
They push+pull tactics are driving me loco
They shouldn't do that no no no
They shouldn't do that
Me train running low on dream steam
They pull me whistle too hard me bound to scream
And they shouldn't do that no no no
They shouldn't do that
Think I'm going south for the winter
Think I'm going mad in this hinterland
Between young and old
I'm a thirty year old puppy doing what I'm told
And I'm told there's no more coal
For the older engines
Me train running low on soul coal
Think I'm going south for the winter
Think I'm going west and my sprinter's speed
Is reduced to a crawl
My rails went straight, but straight into the wall
It's the wall on which they dash the older engines
And all my servants are leaving
Imagination gone packing
Can't find the wound from where I'm bleeding
He's just a nut and he's cracking
Hammer goes down
Brakes all scream
Me and a couple of empty carriages
Slide down hill still
Next stop bad dreamsville
Think I'm going south for the winter
Me train running low on soul coal.
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Red Brick Dream
Red brick dream
Windows scream
As the rusting North Star shines above
And drops its iron beams
Crashing down upon the rooves of Swindon Town
I heard the engine's dying breath
Castles and kings all starved to death
I dropped the Coronation cup
Sshh, please don't wake them up from
Red brick dream
Red brick dream
Buttons gleam
By the light of the furnace pouring
Molten memories
Splashing down upon the rooves of Swindon Town
The men of muscle piston rods
Who forged the horses of the gods
The made the town a set of chains
And sleeping it remains in
Red brick dream
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|
Washaway
Mother's in the kitchen steaming
up the window panes
Smell of boiling cabbage comes up from an open drain
But no amount of scrubbing could ever shift a gravy stain
Washaway washaway washerette
Washaway washaway every dirty stain you get
Streets lay deserted
No one feels exerted
Sat on their couches
With loose change in their pouches
They couldn't spend it if they tried
In comes Mr Softee
Dressed up like and ice cream cone
Ringing for his supper
Heading for a stately home
But a thousand Yorkshire puddings
Couldn't make his business boom
See how they wander
To kill time in droves they squander
Money in centres
That feed on the mind, oh bother
It just gets you down
Washaway washaway washerette
Business as usual at the uptown launderette
Washaway washaway the dirt
Wash it
Washaway the dirt
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Blue Overall
Blue overall
Overall the rooftops blue birds fly apart
Blue overall
Overall the bones that cage this stupid heart
Got blues drawing crosses on my front door
Blues a'bringing buckets 'round the back
Blues trying to push me from me white fence
And tar me a darker bluey black
For all this time
I really thought you loved me
For all this time
You only rubber gloved me
Blue overall
Overall my anvil gives no further sparks
Blue overall
Overall my fears swim hammer headed sharks
Got blues drinking beer out in the kitchen
Blue dog is barking to be fed
Got blues spilling wine upon me heartrug
They're holding a party in my head
For all this time
I really thought you loved me
For all this time
You merely went and shoved me
I tried to lose myself in labour
The more I push the mirth
I'm giving birth to a baby's turning
Blue overall
Feeling blue overall
All over I'm turning blue
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