So I’ve been listening to a lot of Sinead O’Connor in the car, and belting along at the top of my lungs (a pastime I’ve enjoyed since high school, might I add) but there are always a few little bits here and there that I can’t quite make out. Even after all these years of singing the same songs, I either never knew or I knew and then forgot the tricky bits. And so tonight I sat down with my buddy Google and started to look up song lyrics.
ARG! How can I trust any of these lyrics? I can’t make out this line, but I should assume that you got it right? When you clearly got this line over here completely wrong??
Here are some examples:
From Drink Before The War:
How I hear it:
“And you dig your own grave yeah
But it’s a life you can (‘savor’? ‘save, yeah’?)
So stop getting (‘pissed’?) (I always assumed “pissed” in the “drunk” sense not the “angry” sense)
It’s not gonna happen”
One lyrics site says it’s “save” and “fussed” (fussed??) but why should I believe them when they clearly got this part wrong, from the same song? The correct words are:
“And you live in a shellThey say it’s “And you live in a sham…” Uh… let’s see. Which one rhymes with the next line, shell or sham? And of those options, which of these is a common phrase, or even makes sense: “live in a shell” or “live in a sham”? Hmmm. So clearly I can’t believe them.
you create your own hell”
Another site lists the line as
“And you dig your own grave, yeahThat makes much more sense to me. That site also chose “shell” over “sham”, so they get bonus points from me.
When it’s a live you could save
So stop with the past
it’s not gonna happen”
Here is a worse one:
From Troy:
The lines go:
“But you should have left the light onThis one site lists it as:
You should have left the light on
Then I wouldn’t have tried
You’d never have known
Then I wouldn’t have pulled you tighter,
no, I wouldn’t have pulled you close,
I wouldn’t have screamed ‘no, I can’t let you go’
if the door wasn’t closed”
“...And I wouldn’t have pulled you tighterUh… just, no.
No I wouldn’t have pulled you close
I wouldn’t have screamed
No I can’t let you go
And then tore off your clothes”
Another site has
“I wouldn’t have screamed...“and”? That makes no sense there. Aside from the fact that she very clearly says “if”, it is also the only word that would even make sense…
No, I can’t let you go
And the door wasn’t closed”
Several sites seem to agree about the one I’m most puzzled by (this is actually the main one I was Googling):
From Just Like U Said It Would B:
How I hear it:
“I can see too many mouths openI’ve seen some sites change “ears closed” to “lids closed” which I think is wrong, but that last line I’ve seen once like this:
too many eyes closed, ears closed,
not enough minds open
too many legs open
tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me do
Why (it’s a 3-syllable-mumble, anyway)? why why
I don’t see (1-syllable-mumble), why why” (sometimes this line actually sounds like “I don’t seem wise, why why” to me)
“I don’t see whys and why, why” (?! huh??)
but most often like this:
“I don’t see why I listen, why why”
Which boggles my mind because that’s a lot of syllables to cram into what I’m hearing! A lot of sites agree, but yet these same sites make so many other stupid and obvious mistakes, that I feel foolish trusting them blindly. Oh how I wish there was a definitive and accurate lyrics database. * sigh *
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10/26/2007 10:29 AM Reply
…So I went to Yahoo and looked up what seems to be the main fan-site, and which seems to have the correct lyrics. This will be a bit long…
JACKIE
(Sinéad O’Connor)
Jackie left on a cold, dark night
Telling me he’d be home
Sailed the seas for a hundred years
Leaving me all alone
And I’ve been dead for twenty years
I’ve been washing the sand
With my ghostly tears
Searching the shores for my Jackie-oh
I remember the day the young man came
He said, “your Jackie’s gone
We got lost in the rain”
And I ran to the beach
And laid me down
“You’re all wrong”, I said
And they stared at the sand
“That man knows that sea
Like the back of his hand
He’ll be back some time
laughing at you”
And I’ve been waiting all this time
For my man to come
Take his hand in mine
And lead me away
To unseen shores
I’ve been washing the sand
With my salty tears
Searching the shore
For these long years
And I’ll walk the seas forever more
Till I find my Jackie oh
Till I find my Jackie oh
Till I find my Jackie oh
Jackie oh
Jackie oh
Jackie oh
MANDINKA
(Sinéad O’Connor)
I’m dancing the seven veils
Want you to pick up my scarf
See how the black moon fades
Soon I can give you my heart
I don’t know no shame
I feel no pain
I can’t see the flame
But I do know Man-din-ka
I do know Man-din-ka
I do know Man-din-ka
I do
They’re throwing it all this way
Dragging it back to the start
And they say, “See how the glass is raised?”
I have refused to take part
I told them “drink something new”
Please let me pull something through
I don’t know no shame
I feel no pain
I can’t
I don’t know no shame
I feel no pain
I can’t see the flame
But I do know Man-din-ka
I do know Man-din-ka
I do know Man-din-ka
I do
I do
I do
I say I do
Soon I can give you my heart
I swear I do
Soon I can give you my heart
I do
Mandinka
Soon I can give you my heart
Soon I can give you my heart
Soon I can give you my heart
JERUSALEM
(Sinéad O’Connor/Ali McMordie/Mike Clowes/John Reynolds)
Ran down and the lady said it
It got torn down
And the priest just said
It got burned
They give me five years five years
It’s my turn
Ran down and the lady said it
It got torn down
And the priest just said
It got burned
They give me five years five years
It’s my turn
Oh Jerusalem
Oh Jerusalem
Getting tired of you doing this to me
I’m gonna hit you if you say that to me
One more time
I want to see you
And you’re saying you’re busy
I want to stop it
And you said it would be easy
It sure takes time
Hope your next time
Gonna be the last time
Hope you don’t two-time
It’ll be the best time
There won’t be no next time
It’s show time
I hope you do
What you said
When you swore
You’d make it better
Deliver all the letters
On time
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
JUST LIKE U SAID IT WOULD B
(Sinéad O’Connor/Steve Wickham)
I will walk in the garden
And feel religion within
I will learn how to run with the big boys
I will learn how to sink and to swim
And there’s talk in the houses
And people dancing in rings
Ah, when you close my eyes, babe?
I can see most everything
I can see most everything
It’s just like u said it would b
It’s Just like u said it would b
It’s just like u said it would b
It’s Just like u said it would b
I can see too many mouths open
Too many eyes closed, ears closed
Not enough minds open
Too many legs open
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, do
Why isn’t it why why
I don’t see why I listen, why, why
When I’ve walked in the garden
When I’m walking off stage
When everything’s quiet
Will you stay?
Will you be my lover?
Will you be my mama?
I said will you be my lover?
I said will you be my babe?
When I lay down my head
At the end of my day
Nothing would
Nothing would please me better
Than I find that you’re there
When I lay down my head
At the end of my day
Nothing would
Nothing would please me better
Than I find that you’re there when I wake
Just like u said it would b
Just like u said it would b
Just like u said it would b
Just like u said it would b
Will you be my lover?
Will you be my mama?
Just like u said it would b
NEVER GET OLD (Sinéad O’Connor)Just like u said it would b
Just like u said it would b
Just like u said it would b
Young woman with a drink in her hand
She like to listen to rock and roll
She moves with the music
`Cause it never gets old
It’s the only thing
That never gets old
Young man in a quiet place
Got a hawk on his arm
He loves that bird
Never does no harm
It’s the only thing
That never can do no harm
Must be the only thing
That never can do no harm
Sun setting on the avenue
Everyone walks by
They live their life under cover
Being blind
Being blind
Being blind
TROY
(Sinéad O’Connor)
I’ll remember it
And Dublin in a rainstorm
And sitting in the long grass in summer
Keeping warm
I’ll remember it
Every restless night
We were so young then
We thought that everything
We could possibly do were the right
Then we moved
Stolen from our very eyes
And I wondered where you went to
Tell me when did the light die
You will rise
You’ll return
The phoenix from the flame
You will learn
You will rise
You’ll return
Being what you are
There is no other Troy
For you to burn
And I never meant to hurt you
I swear I didn’t mean
Those things I said
I never meant to do that to you
Next time I’ll keep my hands to myself instead
Oh, does she love you
What do you want to do?
Does she need you like I do?
Do you love her?
Is she good for you?
Does she hold you like I do?
Do you want me?
Should I leave?
I know you’re always telling me
That you love me
Just sometimes I wonder
If I should believe
Oh, I love you
God, I love you
I’d kill a dragon for you
I’ll die
But I will rise
And I will return
The Phoenix from the flame
I have learned
I will rise
And you’ll see me return
Being what I am
There is no other Troy
For me to burn
And you should’ve left the light on
You should’ve left the light on
Then I wouldn’t have tried
And you’d never have known
And I wouldn’t have pulled you tighter
No I wouldn’t have pulled you close
I wouldn’t have screamed
No I can’t let you go
And the door wasn’t closed
No I wouldn’t have pulled you to me
No I wouldn’t have kissed your face
You wouldn’t have begged me to hold you
If we hadn’t been there in the first place
Ah but I know you wanted me to be there oh oh
Every look that you threw told me so
But you should’ve left the light on
You should’ve left the light on
And the flames burned away
But you’re still spitting fire
Make no difference what you say
You’re still a liar
You’re still a liar
You’re still a lawyer
(yes it’s really LAWYER, according to the official books !!)
I WANT YOUR (HANDS ON ME)
(Sinead O’Connor/Mike Clowes/John Reynolds/Rob Dean/“Spike” Hollifield)
I want your hands on me
What I want, give me
You know I wanna please you
What I wanna do to you
You don’t waste no time, do you?
You know I’m looking through you
Why you wanna tease me
I want you to come and please me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
You know that I can thrill you
I want you call me to you
I wanna move, will you?
I really wanna feel you
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put your hands on me
Put your hands on me
Put your hands on me
Put your hands on me
Put your hands on me
Put your hands on me
Put your hands on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Hands, gimme love
Hands, gimme loads
Hands, gimme love
Hands, gimme loads
I want your
Feelings
Gimme, yes
Aaahhhh
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Put’em on, put’em on, put’em on me
Hands, gimme love
Hands, gimme loads
Hands, gimme love
Hands, gimme loads
I want your
Feelings
Gimme, yes
DRINK BEFORE THE WAR
(Sinéad O’Connor)
Well, you tell us that we’re wrong
And you tell us not to sing our song
Nothing we can say will make you see
You got a heart of stone
You can never feel
You say “oh I’m not afraid – it can’t happen to me
I’ve lived my life as a good man
Oh, no you’re out of your mind
It won’t happen to me
‘Cos I’ve carried my weight
And I’ve been a strong man”
Listen to the man in the liquor store
Yelling “anybody want a drink before the war?”
And your parents paid you through
You got a nice big car
Nothing bothers you
Somebody cut out your eyes
You refuse to see
Somebody cut out your heart
You refuse to feel
And you live in a shell
You create your own hell
You live in the past
And talk about war
And you dig your own grave yeah
But it’s a life you can save
So stop getting fast
It’s not gonna happen
And you’ll cry
But you’ll never fall
No, no, no
You’re building a wall
Gotta break it down
Start again
No, no, no
It won’t happen to us
We’ve lived our lives
Basically we’ve been good men
So stop talking of war
Cause you know we’ve heard it all before
Why don’t you go out there
And do something useful
Oh listen to the man in the liquor store
He yelling “anybody wanna drink before the war?”
“Anybody wanna drink before the war?”
“Anybody wanna drink before the war?”
Just Call Me Joe
(Black. Moon E.)
================
We came here across the great divide
Into the city, slander all eyes
We found a great love as we fell inside
They could not touch us as we’d go by
I’ve seen you the first time in Trogny’s bar
But I’ll see you later, we’ll talk of black
We’ll meet up for sure, oh will we not?
Away from all of the friends that you’ve got
Oh no, oh no
I said don’t call me sir
just call me Joe
Don’t call me lady
Just call me Joe
Don’t call me mister
Oh, just call me Joe
Don’t call me sweetheart
Just call me Joe
You wear the best clothes that I’ve ever seen
I’ve seen your light and your poetry
And it’s the best thing that there’s ever been
You’re both the beauty and the beast
That’s how it is and that’s how it end
Into another city where you live far away
That’s how it is and that’s how it end
You’ve seen my face but you’ve never heard my name
Oh no, oh oh
I said don’t call me sir
Oh, just call me Joe
Don’t call me lady
Just call me Joe
Don’t call me mister
Just call me Joe
Don’t call me sweetheart
Just call me Joe
“We never said goodbye, I said carry your purses with you now I have
regards to you about our night this weekend and i’m giving you
information…the leaves, the leaves they like your teeth. Come on
I’m not going to force you now I had this, this annoying dream. This
technology of ours..there’s this place that is ever so refined that
one one knows and a storm boomer with white light action..life is the
shadow of a fish, multiple electrical systems you fly through, traffic
lights that may open a door…a bunch of computer systems as clear as
a cut crystal painting…infinite selections as clear as a crystal
show…weapons, tanks, lasers, and aircraft moving across the sky, and
huge missles, nuclear warheads that stand out more than
anything…ultimate satellites, spy cameras, infared sensors, you, you
can hear the thunder and positive thnking and start to say: I’ll make
more human development practices..you don’t have to go and stop your
field practices..such as human rights violations, yeah come up and see
me sometime if you never ever want to intensify all communication,
listen to what i’m not saying over and over…I feel as if some
traveller returned”