DEAD RINGER

Dead Ringer album cover art, by Bernie Wrightson

Epic Records


PEEL OUT

Every day of my life they say the same old thing
Hey boy! - (Oh boy) - you better wait for your turn
And every day of my life I get the same old line
Hey boy! - (Oh boy) - when are you going to learn

I wanna go on the red - I wanna go on the green
I wanna go on all colors that I see in between
I wanna run all the tolls - I wanna run all the signs
I wanna run all the way across a double white line

But every day of my life I see the same old road
Hey girl! - (Oh girl) - we gotta pull up our routes
And every day of my life I see the same old dream
Hey girl! - (Oh girl) - I need a dream I can use

I wanna go on the red - I wanna go on the green
I wanna go on all colors that I see in between
I wanna run all the tolls - I wanna run all the signs

My body is the car and my soul is the ignition
Your love will be the key and we'll jockey for position till we -
Peel out! Peel out! Peel out!
We're sick and tired of waiting in line
Peel out! Peel out! Peel out!
Nobody's taking our time
Peel out! Peel out! Peel out!

Tire tracks and broken hearts
That's all we're leaving behind
There oughta be a law and there better be a crime
There oughta be a law and there better be a crime

And every night of my life there's something holding me back
Hey girl! - (What is it boy?) - oh girl I know it's time to cut loose
And every night of my life I dream of someone like you
Hey girl! - (What is it boy?) - oh girl you got a dream I can use

Tire tracks and broken hearts
That's all we're leaving behind
My body is the car and my soul is the ignition
Your love will be the key and we'll jockey for position till we -

Peel out! Peel out! Peel out!
We're sick and tired of waiting in line
Peel out! Peel out! Peel out!
Nobody's taking our time
Peel out! Peel out! Peel out!

Peel out! Peel out! Peel out!
We're sick and tired of waiting in line
Peel out! Peel out! Peel out!
Nobody's taking our time
Peel out! Peel out! Peel out!
Peel out!

(top)


I'M GONNA LOVE HER FOR BOTH OF US

I can't stand to see it no more
The way you're living with a goddess but you treat her like a slave
And you can't hold her back anymore
She's like a dreamer in a dungeon or an angel in a cave

And I've been closer to you now than any other boy
And you know that what I'm saying is true
You're gonna break her up and tear her down and fade her away
And then there's no telling what I'm gonna do
I'll make you pay for everything that you do
I'll make you pay for everything that you do

But if you give me your girl
And then you give me your trust
And if you give me till the end of the night -
I'm gonna love her for both of us

I'm gonna give her everything you always wanted to give
I'm gonna love her for both of us
I'm gonna take her every moment that she wanted to live

I'll let her shine like a jewel in the crown of the holy sun
You turned her into a ghost
but she'll be burning when the night is done
I'll let her shine like a jewel in the crown of the holy sun
You turned her into a ghost
but she'll be burning when the night is done
You gotta give me your girl and your trust
I'm gonna love her for both of us

You can't hide away anymore
You had a chance but you blew it and you'll never get it back
And your holiness was never so pure
She needs a fire in the heart and not a stabbing in the back

And I've been closer to you now than any other boy
And you know that what I'm saying is true
You're gonna break her up and tear her down and fade her away
And then there's no telling what I'm gonna do
I'll make you pay for everything that you do
I'll make you pay for everything that you do

But if you give me your girl
And then you give me your trust
And if you give me till the end of the night -
I'm gonna love her for both of us

I'm gonna give her everything you always wanted to give
I'm gonna love her for both of us
I'm gonna take her every moment that she wanted to live

I'll let her shine like a jewel in the crown of the holy sun
You turned her into a ghost
but she'll be burning when the night is done
I'll let her shine like a jewel in the crown of the holy sun
You turned her into a ghost
but she'll be burning when the night is done
You gotta give me your girl and your trust
I'm gonna love her for both of us

When the screws are tightnin' and the tears are falling
I can hear her crying out to be saved
And like a bolt of lightning I go answer the call
But she's singing like a siren to me over the waves

I never wanted to take away your lover
Until I heard her crying out to be saved
I always thought of you as one of my brothers
But she's singing like a siren to me over the waves
Singing like a siren to me over the waves
There ain't no holding me down!

I'll let her shine like a jewel in the crown of the holy sun
You turned her into a ghost
but she'll be burning when the night is done
I'll let her shine like a jewel in the crown of the holy sun
You turned her into a ghost
but she'll be burning when the night is done
You gotta give me your girl and your trust
I'm gonna love her for both of us

I'm gonna love her for both of us
I'm gonna love her for both of us
I'm gonna love her for both of us
Gonna give her everything you always wanted to give
I'm gonna love her for both of us
Gonna take her every moment that she wanted to live
I'm gonna love her for both of us
Gonna give her everything you always wanted to give
I'm gonna love her for both of us
Gonna give her everything you always wanted to give
I'm gonna love her for both of us
Gonna take her every moment that she wanted to live
I'm gonna lover her for both of us
Gonna give her everything you always wanted to give
I'm gonna love her for both of us
Gonna take her every moment that she wanted to live
I'm gonna love her for both of us
Gonna give her everything you always wanted to give
I'm gonna love her for both of us
Gonna take her every moment that she wanted to live
I'm gonna love her for both of us
Gonna take her every moment that she wanted to live
I'm gonna love her for both of us

(top)


MORE THAN YOU DESERVE

From the very first moment I saw you
I knew our love would be so strong
And the very first moment I kissed you
I knew our joy would last so long

And then I saw you making love to my best friend
I didn't know whatever to say
I saw you making love to my best friend
So I looked him right in his eyes and I said
Listen boy

Won't you take some more it's what you came for
And don't mind me I won't throw you no curves
Have yourself a ball with my good woman
Won't you take some more boy it's more than you deserve
Won't you take some more boy it's more than you deserve

When I saw you hanging round the truck stop
Shining like an angel in the night
And when I saw you crying like a baby
I knew you'd have to be my wife

Then I saw you making love to my best friend
I didn't know whatever to say
I saw you making love to my best friend
So I looked him right in his eyes and I said
Listen boy

Won't you take some more it's what you came for
And don't mind me I won't throw you no curves
Have yourself a ball with my good woman
Won't you take some more boy it's more than you deserve
Won't you take some more boy it's more than you deserve

Now I think I'm gonna have to leave you
Because I'm feeling much too weak to share
And the pie, oh it's cut in too many pieces
The flavour that I crave is no longer there

Then I saw you making love to two of my best friends
I didn't know whatever to say
I saw you making love to a group of my best friends
So I looked them right in their eyes and I said
Listen here group

Won't you take some more it's what you came for
And don't mind me I won't throw you no curves
Have yourself a ball with my good woman
Won't you take some more boy it's more than you deserve
Won't you take some more boy it's more than you deserve
Won't you take some more boys it's more than you deserve

(top)


I'LL KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T COME BACK

From the minute I turned and laid my eyes on you
I had no eyes of my own
I was blind to the world - you were too good to be true
But you were something to see - so very young and alone

And I still don't believe the way you turned on me
Now where's the girl that I knew?
I gave you somewhere to live and then somebody to love
You gave me nothing but trouble - man I've been such a fool
You gave me nothing at all - now let me give it to you
You taught me how to be cruel - now let me try it on you

How do you abuse me - let me count the ways
How many hours in how many days
How does it amuse you - let me count the pain
How many rules breaking how many games

How do you abuse me - let me count the ways
How many hours in how many days
How does it amuse you - let me count the pain
How many rules breaking how many games

You got your ass out of gear and your soul out of whack
Go on and take all your stuff - don't even bother to pack
In every way I want you out of my life -
But I'll kill you if you don't come back
I'll kill you if you don't come back

In the pit of the night you used to pull me so close
And then you'd hold me so tight
And in the wink of an eye you used to give me it all
And with a kiss in the darkness you'd deliver the light

And in the pit of the night I hear you laughing so loud
I know you're laughing at me
Oh ain't it funny and sad the way I fell for your lies
The way I fell into love and then I begged to be free
You gave me nothing at all - now let me give it to you
You taught me how to be cruel - now let me try it on you

How do you abuse me - let me count the ways
How many hours in how many days
How does it amuse you - let me count the pain
How many rules breaking how many games

You got your ass out of gear and your soul out of whack
Go on and take all your stuff - don't even bother to pack
In every way I want you out of my life
But I'll kill you if you don't come back
I'll kill you if you don't come back

Somebody bless all the girls in the sand on the beach
They're dreamin' of boys and staying just out of reach
Bless all the cheerleaders down on the track
They're glistening like diamonds with sweat on their backs

Bless all the girls in the gangs on the street
They're looking for danger and they're holding their piece
Bless all the girls staying late after school
They're playing with fire and oh they're playing it cool

And bless all the shy girls who're learning to dance
They stare in the mirror and they conjure romance
Bless all the girls who are always alone
They kneel down in prayer and they wait up by the phone

Bless all the homecoming queens of the night
They're looking for magic in gymnasium lights
And bless all the girls who know what love is about
They try not to cry and then they try to put out

And bless all the homecoming queens of the night
They're looking for magic in gymnasium lights
And bless all the girls who know what love is about
They try not to cry and then they try to put out

Somebody bless all these girls that I never have met
But damn you and curse you after all that you've done
You're the one girl I'll never forget
You're the one girl I'll never forget

Somebody bless all these girls and everything that they do
But damn me and curse me for still needing you
And I'll kill you if you don't come back
I'll kill you if you don't come back
I'll kill you if you don't come back
I'll kill you if you don't come back
I'll kill you if you don't come back
I'll kill you if you don't come back
I'll kill you if you don't come back

(top)


READ 'EM AND WEEP

I've been trying for hours just to think of what exactly to say
I thought I'd leave you with a letter or firey speech
Like when an actor makes an exit at the end of a play
And I've been dying for hours
trying to fill up all the holes with some sense
I'd like to know how you faded and you threw it away
I'd like to give you all the reasons and what everything meant

Well I could tell you good-bye or maybe see you around
With just a touch of a sarcastic thanks
We started out with a bang and at the top of the world
Now the guns are exhausted and the bullets are blanks
And everything's blank

If I could only find the words then I would write it all down
If I could only find a voice I would speak
Oh it's there in my eyes so can't you see me tonight
C'mon and look at me and read 'em and weep

If I could only find the words then I would write it all down
If I could only find a voice I would speak
Oh it's there in my eyes so can't you see me tonight
C'mon and look at me and read 'em and weep

I've been whispering softly
Trying to build a cry up to a scream
We let the past slip away
And put the future on hold
Now the present is nothing but a hollowed out dream

And I've been dying for hours
trying to fill up all the holes with some sense
I'd like to know why you faded and you threw it away
I'd like to give you all the reasons and what everything meant

Well I could tell you good-bye or maybe see you around
With just a touch of a sarcastic thanks
But now the rooms are all empty and the candles are dark
The guns are exhausted and the bullets are blanks
And everything's blank

If I could only find the words then I would write it all down
If I could only find a voice I would speak
Oh it's there in my eyes so can't you see me tonight
C'mon and look at me and read 'em and weep

It's there in my eyes and coming straight from my heart
It's running silent and angry and deep
It's there in my eyes and it's all I can say
C'mon and look at me and read 'em and weep

Read 'em and weep -
For all the hours we'll be spending alone
Read 'em and weep -
For the dreams we'll ignore
Running silent and deep -
And all those promises we promised to keep
They won't be kept anymore

Read 'em and weep -
For the magic that our bodies had made
Read 'em and weep -
For the blood that we lost
Running silent and deep -
And all the secrets that we somehow betrayed
For whatever the cost

Read 'em and weep -
For the memories still alive in the bed
Read 'em and weep -
For the lies we believed
Running silent and deep -
And all the things that can never be said
C'mon and look at me and read 'em and weep
Why don't you look at me and read 'em and weep

It's there in my eyes and coming straight from my heart
It's running silent and angry and deep
But it's here in my eyes and it's all I can say
C'mon look at me and read 'em and weep

(top)


NOCTURNAL PLEASURES (Spoken)

The entire city is burning
You can see the flames like the inside of a mad jukebox
Lost boys stalk the streets with those jungle markings on their chests
Barbarians prowl in shadows their heads rocking with rodents
Motorcycles reproduce in nocturnal alleys
groaning with greasy pleasure
And they've blown up the YWCA like a giant balloon
And sent it out to sea full of screaming, lovely, lonely girls

(top)


DEAD RINGER FOR LOVE

Every night I grab some money and I go down to the bar
I got my buddies and a beer I got a dream - I need a car
You got me begging on my knees c'mon and throw the dog a bone
A man he doesn't live by rock 'n roll and brew alone

Baby baby
Rock 'n roll and brew
Rock 'n roll and brew
I know that you and I oh we got better things to do
Rock 'n roll and brew
Rock 'n roll and brew
They don't mean a thing when I compare 'em next to you

I don't know who you are or what you do
Or where you go when you're not around
I don't know anything about you baby
But you're everything I'm dreaming of
I don't know who you are
But you're a real dead ringer for love
You're a real dead ringer for love

(Girl:) Ever since I can remember you been hanging around this joint
You been trying to look away but now you finally got the point
I don't have to know your name and I won't tell you what to do
But a girl - she doesn't live by only rock 'n roll and brew
Baby baby, baby baby

(Both:) Rock n' roll and brew
Rock 'n roll and brew
(Boy:) They don't mean a thing when I compare 'em next to you
(Both:) Rock n' roll and brew
Rock 'n roll and brew

(Boy:) I know that you and I oh we got better things to do
I don't know who you are or what you do
Or where you go when you're not around
(Girl:) I don't know anything about you baby
But you're everything I'm dreaming of
I don't know who you are
(Boy:) But you're a real dead ringer for love
You're a real dead ringer for love

(Boy:) Oh! You got the kind of legs that do more than walk
(Girl:) I don't have to listen to your whimpering talk
(Boy:) Listen you got the kind of eyes that do more than see
(Girl:) You got a lotta nerve to come on to me
(Boy:) You got the kind of lips that do more than drink
(Girl:) You got the kind of mind that does less than think
But since I'm feeling kinda lonely and my defenses are low
Why don't you give it a shot and get it ready to go
I'm looking for anonymous and fleeting satisfaction
I want to tell my daddy I'll be missing in action

(Girl:) Ever since I can remember I've been hanging 'round this joint
My daddy never noticed now he'll finally get the point
(Boy:) You got me beggin' on my knees -
C'mon and throw the dog a bone
A man he doesn't live by rock 'n roll and brew alone

(Both:) Baby baby, baby baby
Rock 'n roll and brew
Rock 'n roll and brew
They don't mean a thing when I compare 'em next to you
Rock 'n roll and brew
Rock 'n roll and brew
I know that you and I oh we got better things to do

(Girl:) I don't know who you are
(Boy:) Oh what you do
(Girl:) Or where you go
(Boy:) When you're not around
(Girl:) I don't know anything about you baby
(Boy:) But you're everything I'm dreaming of
(Both:) I don't know who you are
But you're a real dead ringer for love
A real dead ringer for love

Dead ringer for love
Dead ringer for love - dead ringer
Dead ringer for love - dead ringer
Dead ringer for love - dead ringer

(top)


EVERYTHING IS PERMITTED

Everything is permitted
Everything is allowed
And all our gods we have outwitted
We are running with the crowd
And all the clocks are showing zero
And all our parents must have fled
And we just never had no heroes
And all our enemies will soon be stone cold dead

Everything is permitted
There is nothing out of bounds
There are no limits or no fences
There is always some way round
And all the compass points are zero
And all the navigators fled
And we just never had no heroes
And all our enemies will soon be stone cold dead

So if everything is permitted
If nothing ever is taboo
Then there is always something shattered
When there is something breaking through
And all the clocks are showing zero
And all our parents must have fled
And we just never had no heroes
And all our enemies will soon be stone cold dead

If everything is permitted
If nothing ever is taboo
Then there is always something shattered
When there is something breaking through
Then there is always something shattered
When there is something breaking through
Everything is permitted

(top)