Get all 5 The Penny Black Remedy releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Give The Void Its Colours, Owing To Certain Complications... Vol. 1, Maintaining Dignity In Awkward Situations, Inhale... Exhale... OK, Now You Can Panic!, and No One's Fault But Your Own.
1. |
95 Charing Cross Road
02:50
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95 Charing Cross Road
It’s not been the same
Since they put on the chains
And they padlocked your front door
Everything changed when they took you away
From 95 Charing Cross Road
They even took the light bulbs
They ruined nearly everything in that raid
But they did not take my heartache
They forgot to take my pain
All that remained of the games that you played
Was a barely visible bedpost
And a poorly spelled sign
Which said you’re moving to Chinatown
I’m afraid that was just no use
They even took the light bulbs
They ruined nearly everything in that raid
But they did not take my heartache
They forgot to take my pain
It’s not been the same
Since they took down your name
From the sign on your front door
Everything’s changed since they dragged you away
From 95 Charing Cross Road
They even took the light bulbs
They ruined nearly everything in that raid
But they did not take my heartache
They forgot to take my pain
But they did not take my heartache
They forgot to take my pain
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
© 2009 All rights reserved
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2. |
Don't Count On Us
01:58
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Don't Count On Us
We can tell you’re keen
To see how we can help you
Help you play a better hand
Than what those bastards dealt you
Don’t count on us
To make you rich and save your soul
Don’t count on us
To dig you out your future hole
Pray tell you have a plan B
Should your dreams all fail
Maybe sell us back
Your council flat in Maida Vale
Don’t count on us
To raise your children when you die
We can’t count on them for nothing
We’d be fools to try
Don’t count on us
To raise an eybrow when you fall
Don’t count on us
To give two shits, two hoots, too much, too soon
To such an uncultured, nay, uncouth, scrounger as yourself
Don’t count on us
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
© 2009 All rights reserved
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3. |
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Come Back When You Have More Ambition
I promised you
I’d not be quite so poor
By this time next year
I guess I’ve already failed
Given my reluctance to be paid
Any more than I think I deserve
It’s really not a moral qualm
I just like being where I am
Even if that means just surviving on stale bread
Ignore my socialist ideals
I’m as shallow as I appear
If I had money I’d only squander it
On vulgar clothes and beer
I really wish I hadn’t heard
You declaring what I’m worth
And what it really means to exist
You said I’d like this to work
Just figure out what I’m worth
And come back when you’ve really earned
And she said, “come back, baby, come back, baby,
Come back when you’ve really earned”
She said, “come back, baby, come back, baby,
Come back when you’ve convinced me you’ve learned”
And she said, “come back, baby, come back, baby,
Come back when you’ve really earned”
And she said, “come back, baby, come back, baby,
Come back when you’ve convinced me you’ve learned”
And she said, “come back, baby, come back, baby,
Come back when you’ve really listened”
And she said, “come back, baby, come back, baby,
Come back when you have more ambition”
And she said “lie”…
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
(c) 2009 All rights reserved
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4. |
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You Have Wasted Your Life, Now Please Stop Wasting Your Money
You’ve been prudent
And my God have you been frugal
You know you shouldn’t but sometimes you wish you were poorer
You made it clear, though, how you feel through certain choices
You never really did like the sound of common people’s voices
A good upbringing doesn’t always need renouncing
A good education means nothing if you don’t have a good accountant
You don’t recycle and you don’t do charity
You don’t tip waiters, either
You never made any allusions to being Mother Theresa
I don’t want to sound envious or bitter
I don’t want to sound judgemental, but….
I suspect your assets could be used for something better
But I’m much too polite to say…
Oh what a waste, oh what a waste
What a goddamn awful shame
What a pitiful little waste
What a waste
You have wasted your life, now please stop wasting your money
You have someone pay your bills
You pay most of your taxes
How much more can a civilised society ask of you?
You’ve got no patience, which explains no friends or family
But you do have people who have reasons for their loyalty
It’s not your fault, it’s not your duty, and it’s not your problem
It’s human nature for people to always want what don’t belong to them
They should focus their attentions on their own little lives,
Their own little bank accounts, their own little loans,
Their own little genitals, their own little souls,
And now leave you alone
I don’t want to sound envious or bitter
I don’t want to sound judgemental, but….
I suspect your assets should be used for something better
But I’m much too polite to say…
Oh what a waste, oh what a waste
What a goddamn awful shame
What a disgusting waste
What a waste
You have wasted your life, now please stop wasting your money
Oh what a waste, oh what a waste
What a goddamn awful shame
What a horrible little waste
What a waste
You have wasted your life now please stop…
Oh what a waste, oh what a waste, oh what a waste
Oh what a waste, oh what a shame, oh what a shame
Oh what a shame, oh what a waste, oh what a waste
You have wasted your life now, please stop wasting all your money
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
© 2009 All rights reserved
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5. |
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The First Time I Saw Angels
The first time I saw angels
I drew my final shallow breath
They told me “that’s sure to be the last time
That you’ll trust that cunt called death”
I really should have seen it coming
It was only by their smiles that I could tell
That those angels aren’t from heaven
That fucker sent me straight to hell
Well, he promised me such beauty when he held me in his arms
A place to reunite with loved ones
A place I’m free from harm
A paradise of serenity
A place to make you glad you died
But if flames are your idea of funny
I’d hate to see what makes you cry
You took me in your arms
And you took me down
You took me in, you took me in
They must have closed the gates to heaven
When I closed my doors on you
Why I did it with such vindictiveness
I’ve never really been quite sure
Having never knowingly sinned before
You can imagine my surprise
There were no wings, no harps, no halos,
No clouds, celestial or otherwise
You took me in your arms
And you took me down
You took me in, you took me in
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
© 2009 All rights reserved
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6. |
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I Won’t Argue When I’m Dead
You can burn my abused and my broken dead body
When the time comes for me to depart
Then again, I think I’d rather that you buried me
But then, I’ve never liked bugs
And I’m terrified you’d bury me alive
I’m letting you decide how to get rid of me when I die
Please bear in mind that I don’t like fire or confined spaces neither
I’m letting you decide how to get rid of me when I die
I give you my word I won’t argue when I’m dead
I flirted with the notion of a crypt I could be stored in
But, I’d worry about being vandalised or stolen
I considered the romance of being cast unto the ocean
But I remembered how deep it is
And I never did learn how to swim
I’m letting you decide how to get rid of me when I die
Please bear in mind that I’m scared of fish and I don’t like graveyards neither
I’m letting you decide how to get rid of me when I die
I give you my word I won’t argue when I’m dead
I thought about donating my remains to medical science
But honestly, there’s not much left to give
My lungs are black, my kidneys are pickled,
My brain is as useful as what’s left of my liver…
But with hindsight, man, I had a damn fine time being alive
I’m letting you decide how to get rid of me when I die
Please bear in mind that I’m scared of scalpels and I don’t dig doctors neither
I’m letting you decide how to get rid of me when I die
I give you my word I won’t argue when I’m dead
I’m letting you decide how to get rid of me when I die
Please bear in mind that I’m scared of dying and the thought of nothing after
I’m letting you decide how to get rid of me when I die
I give you my word I won’t argue when I’m…
I give you my word I won’t argue when I’m…
I give you my word I won’t argue when I’m dead
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
© 2009 All rights reserved
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7. |
Hit Hard, Aim Low
04:00
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Hit Hard, Aim Low
You got along with the women
You got along with the men
You got along with the animals
The minerals, the activists, the criminals
The kids who daily drove you round the bend
But you made a New Year’s resolution
To protect your interests and your pride
You always hoped for revolution
It’s just shame you were always useless in a fight
When you hit you gotta hit hard, you gotta aim low
You gotta hit hard, you gotta aim low
You got along with marijuana
You got along with the cops
You got along with simple country folk
The city grime, the Marxists and the philistines
You always hoped that someday that you’d have to go and get a revolution
When you could kick them where it hurts
A small victory, but satisfying
In the knowledge that you got in first
You gotta hit hard, you gotta aim low
You gotta hit hard, you gotta aim low
You got along with the mentally ill
You got along with the terminally thrilled
You got along with the erratic fanatics of amateur dramatics
There used to be a time when you’d think twice before you panicked
But that was then, this is now
And you’ve only gone and found
You’re not afraid to say what’s been on your little brain
So hit ‘em hard, hit ‘em low
Hit ‘em somewhere down below
But hit ‘em in the face and it’s easy not to get the message
So hit hit hard, aim aim low
You gotta hit hit hard, aim, aim low
You gotta hit hard, you gotta aim low
You gotta hit hard, you gotta aim low
Hit hard, aim low
You gotta hit hard
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
© 2009 All rights reserved
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8. |
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I Used To Have Such Nice Dreams
I can’t be sure, but I think I saw the future in my dreams
Last night, when I was fighting for my breath
I try as a rule not to read too deeply into them
But since I woke up bleeding they got harder to ignore
It’s a shame they never stay
Like little children’s dreams
Shame they always change into these nightmares
It’s a shame, but hey
At least I’m sleeping these days
I miss the nice dreams
‘Cause now there’s nowhere left to hide
I can’t be blamed for endlessly complaining
About the blood, the sweat, the smell of sex
And this stammer I’ve incurred
If I had my own way,
I’d sacrifice imagination
For a life of Mills and Boons, weak Bovril and blame
It’s a shame they never stay
Like little children’s dreams
Shame they always change into these nightmares
It’s a shame, but hey,
At least I’m sleeping these days
I miss the nice dreams
‘Cause now there’s nowhere left to hide
Nowhere left to hide
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
© 2009 All rights reserved
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9. |
Bring Back Brando
03:29
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Bring Back Brando
I know you always did things your way
That’s why I loved you
But why did you have to go and die on my birthday
It’s not even been a year
Since Johnny Cash sang his last song
I know this might sound weird,
But I always thought I’d meet you
And I know I’m not fourteen
But it really hurt me hearing the newsreader announce
That Marlon Brando died today
Bring back Brando, bring back Brando,
It’s my 29th birthday and all I want is to bring back Brando
I knew the day would come
But I imagined I’d be with you
At the very least vaguely know you
At the very, very least I’d get pissed with you
I’d ask you “what you drinking?”
And You’d reply, “what’ve you got?”
Bring back Brando, bring back Brando,
It’s my 29th birthday and all I want is to bring back Brando
It’s getting on quite late and I’m sad and rather tired
Maybe five is one too many times to watch A Streetcar Named Desire
I haven’t even started to watch The Fugitive Kind
This is all I have left of my lifetime’s mild obsession
It’s not the few bad movies it’s your timing that I question
Who knows, a few more years
And I could’ve been there to say goodbye
Bring back Brando, bring back Brando,
It’s my 29th birthday and all I want is to bring back Brando
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
© 2009 All rights reserved
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10. |
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Gypsy Hospital Death March
Did I cry?
To be honest, I don’t remember too much
About that kick in the guts
When they told me how and when I’ll die
I wondered what they could mean
It must have been the morphine that they’d put me on
I panicked, my erratic little heartbeat
Was attacking what was left of my shredded nerves
But I’m fine goddamit, I’ve not reached 35 yet
And when I do I’ll let you know that I am still not good to go
And I’m not good to go
But the pain is getting critical
The pain is fucking criminal
I don’t want to die
Did I pray,
When they told I had less than 6 months to go?
And did I try to take their advice and live a healthy life
Stop smoking and drinking?
Yes, like I’ll exercise
The medical profession
Has a lack of good intentions
When it comes to having a giggle playing piggy in the middle
Of the quacks and the packs of hypochondriacs
If this is not a joke
Then I’d like my National Insurance payments back please
The pain is getting critical
The pain is fucking criminal
I don’t want to die
Did I cry,
When they told me I had less than 6 days to go?
Did I try to take their advice and live a healthy life? (Fuck, no!)
So I bought myself some hookers, bought some crack cocaine
And took ‘em both on my deathbed right in front of my dear ol’ ma and pa
Well, they figured since I’m dying
“There’s no sense in denying our poor boy his last wishes
He’s never gonna enjoy it anyhow”
The pain is getting critical
The pain is fucking criminal
I don’t want to die
Words and music written by Keith M Thomson
© 2009 All rights reserved
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The Penny Black Remedy London
The Penny Black Remedy are a London based band renowned for their energetic live shows and for their unique musical fusion of many different genres, including Folk, Americana, Punk and Ska. At the band's core is Keith M Thomson and Marijana Hajdarhodžić. TPBR have released three albums and plan to release the first of two compilations of acoustic recordings, studio outtakes and demos in Oct 2020. ... more
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