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Happy House

Sioux: vocals
Severin: bass, vocals
Budgie: drums, harmonica, vocals
McGeoch: guitar

This is the happy house-we're happy here in the happy house oh it's such fun
We've come to play in the happy house
and waste a day in the happy house-it never rains

We've come to scream in the happy house We're in a dream in the happy house
We're all quite sane

This is the happy house-we're happy here There's room for you if you say "I do"
but don't say no or you'll have to go
we've done no wrong with our blinkers on It's safe and calm if you sing along

This is the happy house-we're happy here in the happy house. To forget ourselves-and pretend all's well There is no hell.


Tenant

Sioux: vocals, acoustic guitar
Severin: electric guitar, electric sitar, rhythm box Budgie: bass, drums

Squatting on doorsteps-following footsteps Nocturnal habits are surveyed with interest So we crawl into corners-ignore any callers and imagine our radiators clang for our neighbors

When we crawl on all fours-upon the cushioned floor still they cling to the wall + knock on our doors and the tendency for tenants is tenacity The paint is cracked and the paper peels the plaster falls and the body reels...softly

Forty watt bulb swing from a light cloud On lawnmower groan, the carpet has grown but they have eyes at the keyholes and ears at the walls and the tendency for tenants is secrecy.....sssssssh.


Trophy

Sioux: vocals
Severin: bass
Budgie: drums
McGeoch: guitar, ellaphone.

Headhunters, headshrinkers and long distance runners Dust gathers on momentoes-Dust gathers on proud moments Young voices grow thick and old
The cheers are distant wearing thin

Chorus:
Take it to the wall
to be hung on the wall, to be viewed by all a tribute in the grand hall

Yes they're locked away or polished every day for the maintenence man-in the back of a van Oh young voices grow thick and old
The cheers are distant wearing thin

(Chorus)

Bring yourselves out from your showcase parties But you've been shut away too long
you've been shut away too long
Frightened faces in the rain
Misplaced features run down the drain
Oh wash away and start again

(Chorus)


Hybrid

Sioux: vocals
Severin: bass
Budgie: drums
McGeoch: guitar, sax

It's a hybrid of me-I'm a hybrid of he
You're a misfit of me-I'm a misfit of you ...in limbo

Carbon copies run blue-a reminder for you but they're only skin deep crumpled shells in a heap Marked cheap

Surrogate heads of a no-no domain
shoulders form rows to make waves again Catch the next train

When you walked through that door marked "enter if you dare" Reasoned with a friend marked "do not bend" bit on that finger marked "handle with care"

a tear soiled your cheek-a broken finger on the floor a mess in sawdust-a shop window burst..no repairs

it's a hybrid of me-I'm a hybrid of he
You're a misfit for me-I'm a misfit for you in limbo.....do you speak the lingo?


Clockface

Sioux: vocals
Severin: basses, piano
Budgie: drums
Jones: guitar


Lunar Camel

Sioux: vocals, droma-derian, finger cymbals Severin: bass, rhythm box

Chasing a monsoon over the dune
Oh fly me to the moon, get me there soon I don't have to prove I'll last longer than you One hump or two any handicap will do against you I'll be there soon-over the moon
I'll be there soon-over the moon

Chasing a monsoon over the dune
Oh fly me to the moon, get me there soon.

*side two*


Christine

Sioux: vocals
Severin: bass
Budgie: drums
McGeoch: 6+12 string guitars, fawfisa

She tries not to shatter, kaleidoscope style Personality changes behind her red smile Every new problem brings a stranger inside Helplessly forcing one more new disguise

Christine-the strawberry girl
Christine-banana split lady

Singing sweet savages lost in our world This big-eyed girl sees her faces unfurl Now she's in purple
Now she's the turtle

disintegrating

Christine-the strawberry girl
Christine-banana split lady
22 faces...disintegrating.


Desert Kisses

Sioux: vocals
Severin: bass
Budgie: drums
McGeoch: guitar, sitar, string synth
The Sirens: backing vocals

Desert kisses in the sand
engulfing joints, engulfing land
Tidal fingers cling to rocks
a deadly grip, a deadly lock

cursed and pissed into the ocean
wilfully caused a great commotion
but only for a stifled moment
then it was back to still life motion

A sideways crawl, a sideways scrawl
the cancer crab is on us all
I kissed your face, I kissed the sand
I heard you sigh
there was no sound

thrashed and spat back at the ocean
but there was nothing, no commotion
just my lonely stupid notions
trapped again in still life motion

Sinking down-with just my sound
Sinking down-running on the moving ground Sinking down
Sinking down-without a sound
Sinking down-sleeping on the moving ground Sinking down

Desert kisses in the sand
engulfing joints, engulfing land
Tidal fingers cling to rocks
a deadly grip, a deadly lock

Sinking down-the world is round
Sinking down-there's no-one around
Standing on the moving ground
Sinking down-the world is flat
there's no-one here to question that
Sinking down-without a sound
Sinking down
Sinking down-the world was round
Sinking down-there was no-one around
Sinking down.


Red Light

Sioux: vocals, camera
Severin: synthesizers, rhythm box
Budgie: drums

She falls into frame with a professional pout but the polaroids ignite on seeing their subject and the aperture shuts-too much exposure

Voyeur sucks into focus-floodlit the glossy kiss-pit but as emulsion drips down...down
the aperture shuts-too much exposure

Come into this room-Come into this gloom See the Red light rinsing another shutterslut wincing the sagging half-wit sister
pretty, pretty picture
of an ancient nipple shrinking-that Kodakwhore winking 'til the aperture shuts-too much exposure.


Paradise Place

Sioux: vocals, rhythm guitar
Severin: bass
Budgie: drums
Jones: lead guitar

Look to the hills-now look at my face
Do you notice my eyes-are they in the right place?

There's a Mantovani backdrop-to pucker-up a tummy tuck A voice soft as lint-mashed up with shades of pink

You can hide your genetics under drastic cosmetics But this chameleon magic is renowned to be tragic

Look to the hills-now look at my face
Do you notice my eyes-are they in the right place?


Skin

Sioux: vocals, melodica
Severin: bass, "the force"
Budgie: drumsdrumsdrums
Jones: guitar

Mink, seal and ermine smother fat women I have a noble cause for skin-there's just too many of them The only necessary cull-Curse the brain inside it's skull Just a bitch in the manger to the balances of nature

Chorus:
Cover me with skin and accuse me of sin but you know what I mean
there's just too many of them

give me your skin for dancing in-hairless and streamline-fits like my own skin tatooed and sun-dyed-it's warm and it's human There was too many of them-the animals like them shame about the smell but they're fine steeped in perfume.

All songs written by Sioux/Severin
except TROPHY (written by Sioux/Severin/McGeoch) Produced by Nigel Gray and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Recorded at Surrey Sound, The Coach House and Polydor January-May 1980 Information: Billy Houlston, c.o Siouxsie and the Banshees "File", 1 Carthusian St., London EC1
Art Direction: Rob O'Connor
Sleeve Photography: Joe Lyons
Illustrations: Rose Harrison


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