Acting Thick for Money (volume 2)
by The Wind-up Birds
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Digital Album
Immediate download of 11-track album in your choice of high-quality MP3, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.Buy Now name your price
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What's for Dinner?
04:06
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3. |
Spoils
03:42
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6. |
Pig Fractions
03:06
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7. |
This Bailiff's Bravado
02:51
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9. |
Today Seems Staged
02:44
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10. |
White Hair
03:18
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11. |
We Fixed The Raffle
04:04
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about
This is the second of our archive raiding compilations covering the 2 EPS we recorded before releasing our proper debut album.
As we were learning to record as we went the sound quality is a bit up and down but we quite like it so no worries.
The EPs were - "In These Great Times" and We Fixed The Raffle:The Post War Years.
Alongside this we have added the original version of Meet Me at The Depot which we recorded at Ghost Town so you can compare to the single version.
To celebrate this magical moment we have made a video for one of the tunes that we all still really like - What's For Dinner? and you can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SUUcVUIemo
As we were learning to record as we went the sound quality is a bit up and down but we quite like it so no worries.
The EPs were - "In These Great Times" and We Fixed The Raffle:The Post War Years.
Alongside this we have added the original version of Meet Me at The Depot which we recorded at Ghost Town so you can compare to the single version.
To celebrate this magical moment we have made a video for one of the tunes that we all still really like - What's For Dinner? and you can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SUUcVUIemo
credits
released 25 January 2013
tags
license
all rights reserved
feeds
feeds for shows
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Jul 02Leeds, UK
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Jul 26Penrith, UK
discography
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Jan 2013 -
Nov 2012 -
May 2012 -
Apr 2012 -
Jun 2011 -
Dec 2010 -
Apr 2010 -
Apr 2011 -
Nov 2011
contact / help
For help with downloads, click here.
For all other inquiries, including help with merch, click here.
Redeem download codes here.
- Track Name: What's for Dinner?
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And these paths down the back of the houses didn’t offer much protection
There were only limited exits unless you cut through the old people’s home
There was one way through the bushes but not many people new it
You were better off in the cafe but you had to get there early
The trick was to stay in the cafe until they realised that you had no money
Lurking round the pool table with your back to the bloke at the counter
But any day when it was raining you didn’t stand a chance
‘Cause the place was already packed with the ones who had got out early
And they were saying
Well, what’s a punch in the face between friends?
Well, what’s a punch in the face between friends?
This is the conflict that never ends
So what’s a punch in the face between friends?
I remember once in a canteen there was a bloke who was South African
He said “If I won the lottery I’d be out of this country”
The lottery was new then and still fairly exciting
There was this feeling that everyone would be winning
The Asian bloke who controlled the speed of the main machine said
“What’s wrong with this country?” he was getting quite angry
The South African never answered, just stared at the front of his paper
There was a bad atmosphere when we got back to the machine room
And we were muttering
Well, what’s a punch in the face between friends?
Well, what’s a punch in the face between friends?
This is the conflict that never ends
So what’s a punch in the face between friends?
At the back the girls are calling other girls to hand out warnings
Of how they’ll get them in the morning for the things that they’ve been saying
At the back the girls are calling other girls to hand out warnings
Of how they’ll get them in the morning for the things that they’ve been saying
Then this in the office everyone was glued to the TV
Watching all the bulletins with disbelieving expressions
Nobody was talking, some people were barely breathing
And the fire warden nervously fingered his armband
The coffee machine had broken and the buzz of the air conditioning
Was becoming overwhelming, some people felt like fainting
Now its barely two days later the staff room is practically empty
There’s a couple of ladies watching one of those antique programmes
I bet they’re thinking
Well, what’s a punch in the face between friends?
Well, what’s a punch in the face between friends?
This is the conflict that never ends
So what’s a punch in the face between friends? - Track Name: The Families of The Disappeared
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A year has passed and any thoughts she had
That things would get easier have gone
She should have moved away but she had to stay
In the forlorn hope that she could right all the wrongs
In the shed at the back, boxes are packed
With all the things that she said she had thrown
She sifts through them every now and again
But somehow it just makes her feel more alone
Trapped within these walls
And adrift between two lives
She said “Watch me as I fade, love
Right before your eyes”
She feels the neighbour’s eyes as she walks by
There’s an awkward kind of sympathy, shabbily expressed
They say his name every now and again
Just testing the water, working out what’s best
The hours are gone avoiding the sun
A cascade of photographs flowing down the wall
The months drag on, the money has gone
The theatre is empty but the curtain never falls
Trapped within these walls
And adrift between two lives
She said “Watch me as I fade, now
Right before your eyes”
A flower dying in time lapse photography
Aware they’ll never name a road after me
A flower dying in time lapse photography
Aware they’ll never name a school after me
A flower dying in time lapse photography
Aware they’ll never name a pub after me
A flower dying in time lapse photography
Aware they’ll never name a film after me
A flower dying
A flower dying
A flower dying
A flower dying
A flower dying
A flower dying
A flower dying
A flower dying now - Track Name: Spoils
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They scooped all her ornaments into a case
In twenty-five minutes they had ransacked the place
What was a home now reverts back to space
What was a home reverts back to space
Her telly and her hi-fi were the first in the van
Routing through the drawers as fast as they can
Clothes in plaggy bags left for the binman
Clothes in plaggy bags left for the binman
Left the bed where it was ‘cause the springs were all shot
No one bothered with the sofa ‘cause it weighed such a lot
The seats were too threadbare so they left them to rot
The seats were threadbare
They left them
The teachers said I was lonely
But it was only a matter of time
Until I came out of my shell
They can tell
They see it all the time
The teachers said I was lonely
But it was only a matter of time
Until I came out of my shell
They can tell
They see it all the time
No one fancied the wardrobe, no bedroom would it fit in
Smashed it to pieces and the pieces were put in
The skip round the corner when no one was looking
Skip round the corner when no one was looking
Everybody scrambling, claiming their share
“She promised me this, do you remember? You were there”
“Careful with her pictures”
“She’s dead, she don’t care”
“Careful with her pictures...”
The teachers said I was lonely
But it was only a matter of time
Until I came out of my shell
They can tell
They see it all the time
The teachers said I was lonely
But it was only a matter of time
Until I came out of my shell
They can tell
They see it all the time
The time of her life
Holding hands through a serving hatch
The time of her life
And they chased each other round the garden at the back
The post war years in a cul-de-sac
Then he was taken away, her very best friend
The clues were there but it was hard to comprehend
The years left were easier than you might expect
Four kids and a grandson who could never connect
The years left were easier than you might suspect
Four kids and a grandson who could never
The teachers said I was lonely
But it was only a matter of time
Until I came out of my shell
They can tell
They see it all the time
The teachers said I was lonely
But it was only a matter of time
Until I came out of my shell
They can tell
They see it all the time
Pocketing jewelry when there’s no one around
Getting light-headed with the booty they’ve found
Its open season now that she’s in the ground
Open season now that she’s in the ground - Track Name: Meet Me at the Depot (original version)
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Meet me at the depot
We can commandeer a wagon
We can hit the road to London
Seek adventure without caution
Meet me at the depot
Early Sunday morning
We’ll take off without warning
While the city’s sleeping
There is nothing of value here
This is what the angels say
I know you got tired of dreaming
This is what the angels say
They say meet me at the depot
With your hip flask ready
There’s this fire in your belly
And there’s nothing on the telly
Meet me at the depot
We’ll leave notes on the conveyors
For the gaffer and the packers
Tell them not to miss us
There is nothing of value here
This is what the angels say
I know you get tired of dreaming
This is what the angels say
They say meet me at the depot
Promise me your coming
I didn’t plan all this for nothing
I know I’ll be left waiting
Meet me at the depot
We’ll leave notes on the conveyors
For the gaffer and the packers
We’ll tell them not to miss us
Meet me at the depot
With your hip flask ready
There’s this fire in your belly
And there’s nothing on the telly
Meet me at the depot
Early Sunday Morning
We’ll take off without warning
While the city’s sleeping
Meet me at the depot
We can commandeer a wagon
We‘ll hit the road to London
Seek adventure without caution
There is nothing of value here
This is what the angels say
I know you get tired of dreaming
This is what the angels say
You were left on your own
You had nowhere to go
This is what the angels say
You were left on your own
You had nowhere to go
This is what the angels say
They say - Track Name: The Neutral Countries (original version)
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On the top deck of the bus out of Beeston
Eyes drawn to the window smeared in something
Turns out its a pack-up left on the bus by
Some guy with sad eyes
Some school-kids had found it
Here we are the neutral countries
We’re born, we’re compromised and then we
Find somewhere to hide ‘til its all washed over us
Here we are, neutral countries
We are compromised and then we
Find somewhere to hide ‘til it washes over us
He is distracted (hence the lost pack-up)
Sat in the toilet at his workplace
Avoiding his duties
Left in the dark
‘Cause the light in the toilet is on some kind of timer
Here we are the neutral countries
We’re born, we’re compromised and then we
Find somewhere to hide ‘til its all washed over us
Here we are, neutral countries
We are compromised and then we
Find somewhere to hide ‘til it washes over us
We we’re never young
We saw the coat tails and grabbed on
We we’re never fun
We were empiricists to a man
We we’re never young
We saw the coat tails and grabbed on
Now he’s in the canteen replacing his pack-up
He might get a pasty or maybe a fry up
And though he chooses a seat with his back to the rest
They still involve him in the same conversations
Here we are the neutral countries
We’re born, we’re compromised and then we
Find somewhere to hide ‘til its all washed over us
Here we are, neutral countries
We are compromised and then we
Find somewhere to hide ‘til it washes over us - Track Name: Pig Fractions
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There’s a quarter of a pig in the middle of the road
Maybe a butcher’s van shed its load
Or someone tried to thieve it and dropped it in a chase
Or thought it was funny left rotting in this place
A girl with a phone not looking where she’s going
Trips on the pig, ends up with a toe
In between the ribs that are lying there exposed
Flat on her back, crying in the road
All I ever see are pig fractions
Lying in front of me
A distraction
All we’ll ever be is pig fractions
La la la la
A lady tries to help but she gives her a mouthful
That’s what you get for trying to be helpful
An elderly gent walks out to shift the pig
He’s watched from the side by a couple of kids
Get a lump in my throat when they rush out to help him
Easy to forget not everyone’s a villain
Move the pig to the side of the road by the bin
They can’t put it in ‘cause the bin is overflowing
All I ever see
Pig fractions
Lying in front of me
A distraction
All we’ll ever be is pig fractions
La la la la
Between the office blocks, a square, the height of our culture
With seats you can’t sit on and a rubbish sculpture
The blokes have suits on but they don’t wear ties
A sartorial decision that’s wrong to my eyes
They’re chewing on quirky sandwiches now
Pureed fruit on their pig and their cow
And all I ever see is pig fractions
Lying in front of me
A distraction
All I’ll ever be is pig fractions
La la la la - Track Name: This Bailiff's Bravado
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This bailiff’s bravado
He clucks like a chicken
On spit dappled streets that can barely contain him
This bailiff’s bravado
He’s constantly flexing his gym tortured muscles
Though he pretends that he isn’t
And the letter from the service provider lies beside her
The language within seems deliberately ambiguous
This bailiff’s bravado
Soft taps at the door
Practiced politeness brings fear all the more
This bailiff’s bravado
The tricks of his trade
Feigned concern hiding threats that are made
And the letter from the service provider lies beside her
The language within seems deliberately ambiguous
This bailiff’s bravado
He thinks of his kids
Its an easy excuse for the things that he did
This bailiff’s bravado
The job that exists
‘Cause the people won’t live within their means like he did
And the letter from the service provider lies beside her
The language within seems deliberately ambiguous - Track Name: The Craze That Never Caught On
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She gives her house a brutal cleaning
Exhaustion gives her life a meaning
There’s ratpack claptrap on daytime TV
Its repackaged cool for everybody
While we sing a song
We sing a song
We sing a song
The craze that never caught on
We sing a song
We sing a song
We sing a song
The craze that never caught on
And they’re down below and they’re trying to talk us down
There’s bits of dinner on his face
He wears it well
Full of grace
But when he thinks there’s no one looking
He grabs the drip tray and starts drinking
While we sing a song
We sing a song
We sing a song
The craze that never caught on
We sing a song
We sing a song
We sing a song
The craze that never caught on
And they’re down below and they’re trying to talk us down
And then they meet and it just works
Banish the dark where the nightmare’s lurk
In every moment, hidden pearls
Shut your curtains
Forget the world
And they’re down below and they’re trying to talk us down - Track Name: Today Seems Staged
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Its like I know whats going to happen
Scan the crowd looking for a pattern
I don’t know what to say
Today seems staged
And the the words that the people are using
Don’t seem to be of their own choosing
Script read off a page
Today seems staged
Today the people are hitting their mark
A mobile phone and a character arc
And all I can see is scenery
Today the children run on tracks
I’m left waiting for the second act
None of this feels real to me
And all the movements feel rehearsed
The seams on the costumes are fit to burst
No one acts their age
Today seems staged
Everyones looking for a cue
Someone to prompt them what to do
Think about your wage
Today seems staged
Today the people are hitting their mark
A mobile phone and a character arc
And all I can see is scenery
Today the children run on tracks
I’m left waiting for the second act
None of this feels real to me - Track Name: White Hair
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Someone’s drawn a cock on the old man’s house
He sees it every time that he goes out
He tried to clean it off but it will need sanding
These kids are beyond his understanding
Kick a ball outside his door
They don’t use the park up the road anymore
He played Sunday league into his thirties
Now it seems that the don’t want to get their hands dirty
White hair
Should we blame it on the food we eat
White hair
Should we blame it on the Sunday league
White hair glimpsed through a window
Should we blame it on you or me or everybody
This lad drew a cock on someone’s house
He didn’t see what the fuss was about
He thought it’d make the others laugh
He’d forgotten about it by the time they reached the caff
It was after they’d had a kick around
While waiting for the girls to come down
They play on the street now instead of the park
Can’t go down there when its getting dark
White hair
Should we blame it on the Sunday league
White hair
Should we blame it on the food we eat
White hair glimpsed through a window
Should we blame it on you or me or everybody
Someone’s drawn a cock on her dad’s house
Its getting to him there is no doubt
She doesn’t go down there very much
Its hard for her to keep in touch
As a child she’d watch him play football in the park
Carry her home on his shoulders in the dark
Nowadays he rarely steps out doors
He’s not the same man anymore
He’s not the same man anymore
He’s not the same man anymore
White hair
Should we blame it on the food we eat
White hair
Should we blame it on the Sunday league
White hair glimpsed through a window
Should we blame it on you or me or everybody - Track Name: We Fixed The Raffle
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“Get out of my house” said the boy to the man
Who is sat on his couch when he gets home from school
“I won’t let you come round here anymore”
The man, he just stands, cracks his thumbs, grabs his tools
He slams the door, makes a point as he leaves
No words sprung to mind so the door slam would do
We fixed the raffle
Couldn’t take the hassle
We fixed the raffle again
The club was quite full when the car crashed outside
Some ran to the door or window
Others stayed sat in the seats where they sit every week
Should you make a move when there’s games to be played?
He stayed in his seat so the first that he heard
Was when he was home the next day, teletext
We fixed the raffle
Couldn’t take the hassle
We fixed the raffle again
I thought it would be fun to walk home one night
No one else around, complete peace
Just the sound of cars and passing motorbikes for hours
We fixed the raffle again
Finding the time for the things that make me happy
Finding the time for the things
