Diary – 1980

Intro

1980
Roaring into the eighties. Not much evidence of a radical change of style, but the raw punkiness is beginning to be played down.  A lot of Voice Toys material on this one, a few of which became cornerstones of the live set. Not that we played live that often, but I do remember a gig at the Woodside Community Centre and particularly going wild with the raucous ‘What’s Your Style’, scraping the guitar against the amps and opening cans of lager over the audience. That sort of thing. Other live staples included ‘Action Man’, ‘Peter Pan’, ‘You’re So Bold’, ‘Intelligence For Profit’ and ‘All My Sundays’ – the lyrics of which my mum found and was not happy about at all. It later transmogrified into ‘Some Day’ during the Third Light days and many years later, because its riff was very similar to ‘Sparta FC’, the song ’40 Odd Years Of The Fall.’ Judging by some of the material here, I must have really been getting into Velvet Underground at this point, as my love for simplistic and repetitive noise with discordant elements is very evident.

 

I’m Alive (Remastered)

Can’t quite scream the chorus as well nowadays but you get the drift.

Please don’t ask a question
Please don’t leave the room
I’m having quite a session
It’ll be over soon

I’m alive

Think of all the people
Yes men and the like
You’re too weak and feeble
I’m too cruel but I

Am alive

And the strangest thing of all is that you don’t seem to care
Even when I tell you when you’re never there

I don’t like to think hard
Sometimes it’s a strain
I’ll just make a new star
And give it a brain

I’m alive

Original recording:

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Action Man (Remastered)

This might have been about our ex army drummer, Gary Dodge, or the territorial boys.

I know a rebel with a cause
Beating the system by default
Every day he’s breaking laws
Laying down plans for an assault

Sad and rich and strong
You make me
La la la lalala

Saturday – army surplus store
That is his natural battleground
Even his heart is camouflaged
Civil war second trime around

Sad and rich and strong
You make me
La la la lalala

He’s just an army fashion poster
Doesn’t know war – he’s not supposed to
Citizen Smith stand in – he looks like
Starting the revolution hitch-hike

Original recording:

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Peter Pan (Remastered)

Very much doubt this was about Cliff Richard. Or was it?

I used to feel like some kind of Superman
I was so psyched up you couldn’t trick or chance
Give me one more chance to build up
Or I’ll tell them about your make up

You nearly had me fooled for a little while
You didn’t change my life, you just cramped my style
Shattered pieces on the floor
Analyse them, turn my head around

Oh Peter Pan
Prove you’re a man
No, let me try

Original recording:

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You’re So Bold (Remastered)

A mythical tale of a local hero. Really straining for the high bits here.

You were always at the school an hour early
You were always the keenest one to learn
Put it to advantage in your later life but
You were drawing dole for almost 9 months

Heard you were mentioned on the radio
You’re so bold
Saw your picture in the morning paper
You’re so bold

On the news it said that you had risked your own life
Just to save a little kid from burning
But it never said that you had lit the match which
Started all the panic in the first place

Heard you were mentioned on the radio
You’re so bold
Saw your picture in the morning paper
You’re so bold

I hear that they’re saying you’re the local hero
Can I believe the rumours that it was all for show

You were always at the school an hour early
You were always the keenest one to learn
Put it to advantage in your later life but
You were drawing dole for almost 9 months

Heard you were mentioned on the radio
You’re so bold
Saw your picture in the morning paper
You’re so bold

You’re so bold
You’re so bold

Original recording:

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Intelligence For Profit (Remastered)

I really liked this one, cos it was so easy to play. Fond memory of feeling smug playing it at the Apollo in Glenrothes.

Idiosyncracy
Do you know what that means?
Not a lot to me
I can’t understand
Why you use those words
To impress your dad
Or to pull the burds?

John, where’s your dictionary?
You don’t make sense to me

Words
A speciality
Now he’s got a job
With the NME
Raving reporter
Witty repartee
He’s confused the ed
Like he confused me

John, where’s your dictionary?
You don’t make sense to me

Oh don’t you look down on me
Your superiority
Oh don’t you look down on me
Your superiority is showing

Original recording:

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General Election (Remastered)

Ha! Political cynicism ahoy! The Red Flag never sounded so corny. Later refashioned in 2024 as  2024

Anybody buying?
All the pigs are flying
Oh my, oh
Oh my, oh
Lucky you’re a teacher
I will never meet you
Oh my, oh
Oh my, oh

You’re too late…

General election
Everybody retching
Oh my, oh
Oh my, oh
Tory, Liberal, Labour
Oh do me a favour
Oh my, oh
Oh my, oh

You’re too late…

Original recording:

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You’ll Be Sorry In The Morning (Remastered)

Regrets? I’ve had a few too many.

You’ll be sorry in the morning
You’ll regret it in the morning when you wake up
You’ll feel bad
You’ll think back and say why did I when I’ve been warned
By my dad

You’ll be sorry in the morning
You’ll regret it when you think back
But you’ll blame it on the wine
To think you’re promised to a marriage
Which will take place
In good time

Original recording:

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All My Sundays (Remastered)

A Voice Toys live highlight. The controversial third verse (see above) not sung in this version.

Got nothing to do on Sundays
I hate staying in, so I won’t
Even if it means washing dishes
Sunday afternoons are no fun

Same old story
I’ve got nothing to do (Sundays)
Don’t stand to gain (Sundays)
Nothing at all (Sundays)
All my Sundays

Sunday afternoons are delicious
A roast and two veg for lunch
Even if it means washing dishes
Sunday afternoons are no fun

Same old story
I’ve got nothing to do (Sundays)
Don’t stand to gain (Sundays)
Nothing at all (Sundays)
All my Sundays

Sunday afternoons are so boring
A roast and two veg for lunch
Even if it means washing dishes
Sunday afternoons are no fun

I’ve got nothing to do (Sundays)
Don’t stand to gain (Sundays)
Nothing at all (Sundays)
All my Sundays

I’ve got nothing to do (Sundays)
Don’t stand to gain (Sundays)
Nothing at all (Sundays)
All my Sundays

Original recording:

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What’s Your Style? (Remastered)

An attempt at a sort of Velvet Underground meets The Mekons noise shambles. Late refashioned in 2023 as We’ve Got Tuna

Hippy style, folkie style, here they come again
I fear I’m getting stared at by a mob of angry friends
All old style, all new style – all the same to me
Somebody is barking up on someone else’s tree
Hey, what’s your style?

Find a trend and cling to it and don’t you give away
Everything you’ve been taught by the hacks on Lovers Lane
You’ll always find some people who are proud to be exclusive
No-one breaks in their in-crowd and everyone’s elusive
Hey, what’s your style?

Hey dad, watch me laugh, watch me get away
I’ve been living here – well, that’s what they say
Nobby Styles, doggy style, just another rhyme
Wait for me tomorrow, I’ll be back at the same time
Hey, what’s your style?

Original recording:

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Take Four A Day (Remastered)

Drugs! Prescribed variety.

Paula was a slight friend of mine
At her house after pictures
She went into the doctors for a line
He gave her dolly mixtures

Take 3 a day…

He had to give her something for her nerves
At first she wouldn’t take them
But soon she got quite used to being numbed
Got a repeat prescription

Take 4 a day – they’ll help you to recover
Take 4 a day – they’ll help you to unwind
Take 4 a day – I think you’re getting better
Take 4 a day – but I’m just being kind

What does that say on the label?
Do not take more than prescribed
She gave up eating to feel better
She gave up living for a while

Original recording:

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Pay Day (Remastered)

Debauchery! Or something.

You’ve been a happy child
Carefree and running wild
Better watch you don’t fall
Yeah…

Friday night and we’re going out to get drunk
Make a bloody nuisance of ourselves
Watch the girls and maybe even dance
And I’ll come home with lager on my pants
Yeah…

In the morning my head feels like lead
I hope that isn’t sick I see on my bed
My belly’s like a cess pit and my breath smells
My finger’s yellow, a dog-end in my hand
Yeah…

You’ve been a happy child
Carefree and running wild
Better watch you don’t fall
Yeah…

Original recording:

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I’ll Watch TV (Remastered)

Before the term ‘couch potato’ was invented. Again, ahead of my time.

15 months depression and no relief
All these people make me sick to my teeth
They offer nothing when I’m on my own
If they had their way, I’d be in a home

You’re sickening me
I’ll watch TV

Making conversation to keep face
Break a new track record just to keep pace
Bye bio-rhythms on a triple low
Hi Billy, just wanted to say hello

You’re sickening me
I’ll watch TV

What’s tonight’s big programme – wait and see
An argument on drink part 53
Dulling your senses all for a good cause
It makes you feel better, like breaking the law

Original recording:

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Quiz Show (Remastered)

And what’s on the TV? Literally this.

Happy married pair
Face the bland compere
His show never drags
With his one line gags

What’s in the box?
Don’t take a chance
Two wooden spoons
A trip to France

Seventeen pounds buys
Tonight’s big surprise
Take the money now
Audience screams Wow!

What’s in the box?
Don’t take a chance
Two wooden spoons
A trip to France

The climax of the show at last
Excitement building up too fast
The couple standing, fingers crossed
The compere sighs, Oh shame they’ve lost
The audience all hold their breath
The quiz show finally died a death

Show draws to a close
Now the credits roll
Compere waves goodbye
Couple stand and cry

What’s in the box?
Don’t take a chance
Two wooden spoons
A trip to France

Original recording:

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When You’re Talking (Remastered)

Rude! Early signs of attention deficit disor…

It’s alright for you, you don’t have to live here
With your father saying no
He just wants me to grow up to be a footballer

When you’re talking I am drifting aimlessly
When you’re talking I want you to stop
When you’re talking I am drifting aimlessly
What’s your father going to say about that?
What’s your daddy going to do?

Oh you wouldn’t understand, you wouldn’t know
Constant arguments all night
Adolescent thinking cannot grow unless you do

When you’re talking I am drifting aimlessly
When you’re talking I want you to stop
When you’re talking I am drifting aimlessly
What’s your father going to say about that?
What’s your daddy going to do?

All the mess won’t fly away
Though I want it to
All the innocent beliefs
Might never come true

Original recording: