The Verve Pipe - Pop Smear
Released: December 9th, 1993
Sid Flips Music O/B/O LMNOPop! Music/EMI April Music, Inc./ Hips McCrackin' Music / Guy Bruno Music (ASCAP)

Pretty for You  //  Spoonful of Sugar  //  Victoria  //  Honest  //  The River  //  Sleepy Town
Bullies on Vacation  //  What You Wanted  //  Wanna Be  //  Out Like a Lamb  //  Senator Speak  //  Is It Worth It?
 

PRETTY FOR YOU   [written by Brian Vander Ark]

swallow this scene, I'm on fire -- arms waving, burning higher
impressing you with what I've done -- but every minute I'm losing one by one
swallow this scene, sharpen knives -- pin cushion, pierce my sides
and every blade will catch the sun -- and every minute I'm losing one by one
right now pretty for you
am I finally pretty?
an ornament for everyone
but every minute I'm losing one by one
swallow this scene, there is laughter -- for the ugly ever-after
and after they have poked their fun -- and every lover I'm losing one by one
 
[TOP]

SPOONFUL OF SUGAR   [written by Brian Vander Ark]

I adore a confrontation, and I should be ashamed -- a carnival of complication, everyone's to blame
we can see the rocket's red glare -- pipe bomb bursting in the air
as we proudly hail our taxis out of the fight
singing born of this nation of white bread foundation -- we're taping a king, beaten of his crown
my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of irony
spoonful of sugar to wash it down
i have seen the hungry faces, and i have been removed -- evidence in welfare cases, never being proved
we've written books on education -- summoned federal regulation
skeleton hid deeply 'til its bones turn to dust
i know an old lady who swallowed a fly -- i don't know why exactly, i guess she'll die
my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of irony
spoonful of sugar to wash it down
and god save the queen, oh, and pardon the king -- and our ballots we'll stuff, then drink 'till we drown
my country 'tis of thee, sweet land of irony
spoonful of sugar to wash it down
 
[TOP]

VICTORIA   [written by Brian Vander Ark]

stripping flowers at pedal pace -- twirling blur of legs, legs and lace
victoria, she loves her name
running flushed our faces red -- daring her to kiss, to kiss my head
victoria, she loves her name
bathing in her innocence -- then drowned in her indifference
victoria
i left her on her frozen route -- i grew up while she, she grew out
victoria, she loves her name
a social climb by offering love -- 'til everyone was inside of
victoria
loves
now my love won't make amends -- you cut the cord on which your life depends
victoria, she loves her name
like cheating in a children's game -- victory doesn't taste the same
yet victoria, she loves her name
victoria
loves
 
[TOP]

HONEST   [written by Brian Vander Ark & Donny Brown]

 who will leave your bed this morning? -- who will be the one
to leave you now amidst adoring light -- cause it feels right?
who will be the one
to leave you as tomorrow's dawning? -- and though i'm asking, please don't give specifics
i'm so unterrifically honest
who will hold your door this evening? -- who will be the one
to steal the smile through shining candlelight -- cause it feels right?
who will be the one

to leave you as tomorrow's dawning?
i'm not trying to be scientific
i'm not trying to be anything at all
but this chemistry just turns me
turns me terribly honest
honest
who will leave your bed this morning? -- will he be the one
who snuffs the smile that once had shined so bright? -- are you alright?
will he be the one
who leaves you as tomorrow's dawning?
i'm not trying to be sympathetic
i'm not trying to be anything at all
but this story's happened to me
and it's turned me terribly honest
honest

[TOP]

THE RIVER   [written by Donny Brown]

she fell in love with a lover boy -- in the old days i would walk alone
any other day not disturbing -- while the others roamed
and i listened to her song
but would walk on the other side
we'd be lonely, blue and lonely
then she fell in love with another one -- i was older now, and followed a path
she had learned to be cool, to be caring -- and i thought i should say
it's too much just to be -- but not enough for the life of me
to be lonely, blue and lonely
that's when the river ran dry
that's when the river was all but a spill
that's when the river ran dry
every soul on the shore
without sail, without will
she said her saviour was soon to come -- from a long way, to bring back the girl he once knew
to be true and all loving -- in the very best ways
and i listened to her song
but would walk on the other side
we'd be lonely, blue and lonely
that's when the river ran dry
that's when the river was all but a spill
that's when the river ran dry
every soul on the shore
without sail, without will
if time were a second -- if life were a moment that once stood still
i'd leave it untattered, untouched, until
but it's too much just to be
but not enough for the life of me
to be lonely, blue and lonely
she fell in love with a lover boy -- in the old days, i would walk alone
any other day not disturbing
and i listened to her song
but would walk on the other side
we'd be lonely, blue and lonely
that's when the river ran dry
that's when the river was all but a spill
that's when the river ran dry
every soul on the shore
without sail, without will
and i knew it before, and i do know it still
 
[TOP]

SLEEPY TOWN   [written by Donny Brown]

 
sleep, sleep all the sleepy town
you are the only one
now only night lights flickering
now all is said and done
sleep, sleep all the sleepy town
you are the only one
all the moments from the rising
to the setting of the sun

[TOP]

BULLIES ON VACATION   [written by Brian & Brad Vander Ark]

a bully enjoying his vacation -- oblivious to all our confrontations
speaking fondly of his junior years -- when i was fighting tears
a bully enjoying his vacation
i can taste the anger and the hate
i have come to set the record straight
twenty years seems long enough to wait
a bully enjoying his vacation
cruising with my nemesis on high seas -- five drinks, he doesn't recognize me
full of anticipation -- i don't notice his depression
cruising with my nemesis on high seas
my act of concern is just to tease
i'm about to send him to his knees
so close to force him begging please
he mentions terminal disease
a bully enjoying his vacation
and how he feels someone is dangling -- his vile existence on a string
and now the sea he's conquering -- knows he can conquer anything
a bully enjoying his vacation
aware of his terminal condition -- frustrated by my indecision
knowing i'd regret this very day -- i hit him anyway
aware of his terminal condition
once again, he got the best of me
i left him conquering the sea
a bully enjoying his vacation
[TOP]

WHAT YOU WANTED   [written by Brian Vander Ark]

through the remains i have been sorting -- seeking refuge underneath flourescent skies
an apocalypse of pity -- i know she is safe and building her disguise
bracing for the scavengers -- who reign upon my humble domain
fills my face with anger -- into permanent distortion
i'm ugly getting over you
it's what you wanted
you're gorgeous running out of me
it's what you wanted
i'm ugly getting over you
i know that you're more beautiful now
everday's survival lesson -- brings another scarring session to sustain
i anticipate a lesion -- it's a chemical reaction to my pain
7,000 weathered faces -- hide my beautiful and buried smile
sleeping seems to be the greatest medication
i'm switching channels, silly sitcoms are a metronome -- one beat about half an hour
i will shun the radio -- because i hear my life in every song
brushing off the bottle -- i become a connoisseur for a night
rake the dead grass from the bitter green -- that's growing wild
 
[TOP]

WANNA BE   [written by Brian Vander Ark & Donny Brown]

we all love a millionaire -- on the radio, with a great video
and all the orchestration -- backing up your screaming guitar
how'd you make it this far?
do you gotta be straight on the line?
do you gotta look great all the time?
do you gotta be straight?
we'll even pay you, millionaire -- tell us of your abuse, we stand so amused
and what you said about the audience -- simple lyrics will do
cause they don't have a clue
do i gotta be straight on the line?
do i gotta look great all the time?
do i gotta be straight?
wannabewannabewishiwereyouknowiwishiwereyouknow
wannabewannabewishiwereyouknowiwishiwereyou
now love me i'm a millionaire -- running out of cliches, but i'm keeping the faith
now, should i repeat the second verse? -- or maybe the third?
it's becoming absurd
but i gotta be straight on the line
and i wanna be high all the time
well, i gotta be straight
gottakeepthefaith, gottaplayitstraight
givepeaceachance, sittingonafence
gottatowtheline, sweetchildo'mine
pushcomestoshove, allyouneedislove
 
[TOP]
OUT LIKE A LAMB   [Written by Brian Vander Ark]

 

i'm feeling very moses like -- you think that i could lead you?
or humble, more like david -- would you help me cause i need you?
or i'll be charismatic -- with the power to persuade you
supposing i'm a saviour -- or a drunkard, or your highness
you slither in these sheets -- and then you ask me for forgiveness
i'll tell you parables of making love -- and spreading kindness
flames rise like butterflies
been frightened by my stompin'
i'm laughing 'cause they don't know who i am
the philistines toss tangerines
'cause springtime is for dancing
in like a lion and out like a lamb
goliath sits and watches -- tired of this investigation
so children grab your M-16s -- and load your ammunition
i will work all night -- rewrite the book of revelations
flames rise like butterflies
been frightened by my stompin'
i'm laughing 'cause they don't know who i am
the philistines toss tangerines
'cause springtime is for dancing
in like a lion and out like a lamb
now go and tune your guitars -- and i'll meet you here tomorrow
grab that case of scotch -- it's all the courage you can swallow
i'll burn for all your sins -- but i'm expecting you to follow
flames rise like butterflies
been frightened by my stompin'
i'm laughing 'cause they don't know who i am
the philistines load magazines
'cause springtime is for dancing
in like a lion and out like a lamb

[TOP]

 

SENATOR SPEAK   [Written by Brian Vander Ark]
 

senator speak your mind if i smoke filled room
with a view on the top floor me
the president seal the deal yourself a better
hand jobless homeless man on the moon beam
the capital gains some weight around
forever and a day break a leg of lamb
off in the distance runner uplift your
spirit of '76 trombones lead
i, you bet i been speaking in tongues
speak
well, the deficit yourself right down in the front
row row row your boat is sinking
the cold war of the world beat around the
Bush campaign in the ask yourself absorbing (junior)
the economy, myself and i gotta go
thank you very much

 

[TOP]

IS IT WORTH IT?   [Written by Donny Brown]

is it worth it to wait forever
when you find out there's really not much that you
can say
would it be worth it to wait forever
and everyone is saying you will come around
is it worth it to search forever
when you find out there really isn't any other way
would it be worth it to wait
does it make it any easier
to save your time and give yourself
to open faces, open mouths
to any other one who reaches out
does it make it any easier

[TOP]

 
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