Robert WYATT
"Nothing Can Stop Us" (1982)

+ various



BORN-AGAIN CRETIN
Words and Music by Robert Wyatt

At least I won't be shot for singing
I'm a free agent, I can "protest"!
This must be freedom, I must be happy
So let Mandela rot in prison
Someone should tell him how lucky he is
Read him George Orwell, explain about Naipaul
Because he must understand how he needs us
What with our culture, and our charm, and our brains
But how could he understand?
Heathen have no soul...


AT LAST I AM FREE
Words and Music by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards

At last I am free
I can hardly see in front of me
I can hardly see in front of me

And now love please listen
To what I say
I can't go on living life this way
I've tried and I've tried
To make you see
You call this love
All this lying, my friend, it just can't be

At last I am free
I can hardly see in front of me
I can hardly see in front of me

And now love, please hold me
Come closer, my dear
It feels so good, just having you near
But who am I fooling
When I know it's not real?
I can't hide
All this hurt and pain inside I feel


STRANGE FRUIT
Words and Music by Lewis Allan

The Southern trees bear a strange fruit
Blood on the leaves, and blood at the roots
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the Gallant South
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop...


STALIN WASN'T STALLIN'

Stalin wasn't stallin'
when he told the beast of Berlin
that they'd never rest contented
till they had driven him from the land
So he called the Yanks and English
and proceeded to extinguish
the Fuhrer and its vermin
this is how it all began

Now, the Devil, he was reading
in the Good Book one day
how that Lord created Adam
to walk the righteous way
and it made the Devil jealous
he turned green up to his horns
and he swore by things unholy
and he made one of his own

So he packed two suitcases
full of greed and misery
and he caught the Midnight Special
going down to Germany
then he mixed his lies and hatred
with fire and brimstone
then the Devil sat upon it
that's how Adolf was born

Now Adolf got the notion
that he was the master race
and he swore he'd bring New Order
and put mankind in its place !
So he set a scheme in motion
and was winning everywhere
until he up and got the notion
for to kick that Russian bear

Stalin wasn't stallin'
when he told the Beast of Berlin
that they'd never rest contented
till they had driven him from the land
So he called the Yanks and English
and proceeded to extinguish
the Fuhrer and its vermin
this is how it all began

Yes he kicked that noble Russian
but it wasn't very long
before Adolf got suspicious
that he had done something wrong
Cause that bear grabbed the Fuhrer
and gave him an awful fright
seventeen months he scrapped the Fuhrer
tooth and claw, day and night

Then that bear smacked the Fuhrer
with a mighty armored paw
and Adolf broke all records
running backwards towards Krakaw
Then Goebbels sent a message
to the people everywhere
that if they couldn't hit the Fuhrer
Go down hit that Russian bear

Stalin wasn't stallin'
when he told the Beast of Berlin
that they'd never rest contented
till they had driven him from the land
So he called the Yanks and English
and proceeded to extinguish
the Fuhrer and its vermin
this is how it all began

Then this bear called on his buddy
the noble fighting Yank
and they sent the Fuhrer running
with their ships and planes and tanks
Now the Fuhrer's having nightmares
cause the Fuhrer knows damn well
that the Devil's done wrote "Welcome"
on his residence in Hell


SHIPBUILDING
Words and Music by Elvis Costello and Clive Langer

Is it worth it?
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
And a bicycle on the boy's birthday
It's just a rumour that was spread around town
By the women and children
Soon we'll be shipbuilding

Well I ask you
The boy said, "Dad they're going to take me to task
But I'll be back by Christmas"
It's just a rumour that was spread around town
Somebody said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed
in the result of this shipbuilding

With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls

It's just a rumour that was spread around town
A telegram or a picture-postcard
Within weeks they'll be re-opening the shipyard
And notifying the next of kin - once again

It's all we're skilled in
We will be shipbuilding

With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls


AMBER AND THE AMBERINES
Words by Robert Wyatt, Music by Hugh Hopper

Here's to the Fidel few
Clearing road and landslide
Children of history
Not just because Che Guevara showed the way
Not just to shame the C.I.A.
Everyone needs to feel at home
Nobody wins who fights alone

Here's to the N.J.M.
Planning for the future
Women and men who dared raise our aspirations
Not just because Maurice Bishop told them to
Not just to change the western view
Everyone needs to feel at home

And here's to our friends like Chris
Working in the classrooms
London to Mozambique
Nursing wounds of empire
Not just because revolution paved the way
Not just to be there on the day
Everyone needs to feel at home
And nobody wins who fights alone


ROUND MIDNIGHT
Words by Williams & Hanighen, Music by Thelonious Monk

Tears you've shed today
Will pause, waiting until tomorrow
Dreams of what could be
Come close to me, timidly
There's a brand new day in sight
At that time - 'round about midnight...

Life's a game of chance
And you're one of the minor players
Look for what you lost
For days to come, harbour some
Let your spirit start the fight
At that time - 'round about midnight...

Every day's going to bring some sad times
Every day's going to bring some glad times
So take what you can of the glad times
Don't measure your pleasure in nickels and dimes

Look back on today
And you'll know when you've been unhappy
Tears done, chased away
What might at night have their day
Let your eyes put out their light
At that time - 'round about minight...
'Round about midnight...


MEMORIES OF YOU
Words and Music by Blake & Razafinkeriefo

Everything
Seems to bring
Memories of you

How I wish I could forget
Those happy yesteryears
They have left a rosary of tears
Your face beams
In my dreams
In spite of all I do

Everything
Seems to bring
Memories of you