Rory Gallagher : Defender
Lyrics
1. KICKBACK CITY
They say this town will kill you,
They say this town ain't got no soul.
This town could take a child's smile,
And turn it into stone.
But don't you think I know that,
This place has cut me to the bone.
Trouble crawling up your back.
Fear just eats your soul.
You say this town will eat you up,
You say this town don't have a heart.
You try and learn all your lines,
And you try to play the part.
With all this double dealing,
I tell you brother, you get smart.
Here in kickback city,
You're lost before you start.
People in subways,
Look nearly half dazed to me.
Renting tomorrow, investing in sorrow,
No belief....yeah....
Faces in sidestreets,
Hiding like angels from grace.
Selling you sorrow, renting tomorrow,
You're out of place...yeah...
They say this town will kill you,
They say this town ain't got no soul.
They'll set you up and pull the stitch,
'Till you're unravelled on the floor.
But I won't let it beat me,
Though trouble's knocking at my door.
Somehow it's just your smile,
That keeps me coming back for more.
Yeah...
Here in Kickback City,
Feel I'm goin' down slow.
Here in Kickback City,
Feel I'm goin' down slow.
Yeah....
2. LOANSHARK BLUESUES
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day or two,
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day or two,
I`ll pay you back with interest,
The last thing that I do,
I`ll pay you back with interest,
The last thing that I do.
Yeah....Yeah....
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day away,
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day away,
I`m down on my knees, got one foot in the grave,
Down on my knees, got one foot in the grave.
Yeah....Yeah...Yeah....
Got the loanshark blues,
Got the loanshark blues,
Give me an offer I can`t refuse.
Wife needs shoes, the kids must eat,
Feel so cold, I can`t feel my feet,
Can`t get my hands on one thin dime,
I'm gonna turn to a life of crime,
No work here, so I walk the street,
Sign on the door, I feel I`m beat,
I know you run Pier 15,
You got a grip on all my dreams.
I got the loanshark blues,
The loanshark blues,
Give me a number I can`t refuse.
Yeah....
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day or two,
Give me til Monday that`s only a day or two,
I`ll pay you back with interest,
The last thing that I do,
Pay you back with interest,
The last thing that I do.
Yeah....
Got the loanshark blues,
Got the loanshark blues,
Give me a number I can`t refuse.
Yeah....
Roofs got holes, see the sky,
I can`t get straight and I have tried,
I`m in your debt, I`m well aware,
I`ll break the law cause I don`t care.
Living on a knife edge I have been,
But I`m too tough to just give in,
Moving on down with the longshore men,
On the docks we`re locked out again.
I got the loanshark blues,
The loanshark blues,
Give me a number I can`t refuse,
I got the loanshark blues,
Got the loanshark blues,
Give me a number I can`t refuse.
Yeah...Yeah...
Loanshark babe.
3. CONTINENTAL OP
Well..there's a body in the bay,
The cops are taking it away.
They said this case was closed,
It only shows that you never know.
So who are they gonna get,
When the trouble's gotta stop?
Here's my card,
I'm the Continental Op.
Jane Doe in the bay,
Now that's Exhibit 'A'.
Bloodstains on the dress,
Of the million heiress.
But I saw you leaving town,
I'm gonna have to track you down.
You've slipped through the web,
And you might have dodged the Feds.
Who are they going to get,
When you've outfoxed the Cops?
Here's my number,
I'm the Continental Op.
I'm the Continental Op.....yea
Call the Agency,
We never close.
First consultation is free,
Check my reputation,
Check my pose,
First you ought to check my fee.
There's a menace on the streets,
Offering infants' sweets.
Don't give this man a ride,
Lock your car from the inside.
He's suspect No. 1,
But I guess his race is run.
He left a set of prints,
He's not smart as he thinks
Who are they gonna get,
When you've outfoxed the cops?
Here's my card ,
I'm the Continental Op.
Yea..who are they gonna get,
When you've outfoxed the cops?
Here's my badge,
I'm the Continental Op.
4. I AIN'T NO SAINT
I ain't no saint, can't turn the other cheek.
I ain't no saint, can't turn the other cheek.
But you could cool my temper, by words I hear you speak.
Tell ya, straight from the shoulder, straight from the hip.
If I'm falling over, she makes the pieces fit.
If I get arrested or in some legal twist,
She talks to the judge and gets the case dismissed.
5. FAILSAFE DAY
What I see just takes the heart from me.
It's all OK, they keep telling me.
Somehow it feels like Failsafe Day.
You know it's almost Failsafe Day.
It's not the time now to go sad on me.
Yeah, we can run the illusion's free.
Let's not just throw this chance away.
You know it's almost Failsafe Day.
And deep inside I hear that something.
Like a silent scream.
And in the night I hear that rumbling.
Keep on hoping it's just a dream.
Wish there was some time to buy or steal.
'Cause there's this stranger in the air I breathe.
Deep down it feels like Failsafe Day.
They're gonna fade us all away.
Deep inside I hear that something.
Like a silent scream.
The voice inside just tells me one thing.
Keep on hoping it's just a dream.
What I see just chills the heart in me.
It's all OK, but they're not fooling me.
You know it's almost Failsafe day.
Somehow it feels like Failsafe day.
You know it's almost Failsafe day.
They're gonna fade it all away.
6. ROAD TO HELL
Soft-soaped on the road to Hell.
So many times I've tripped and fell.
No chances left.
The sky is falling down on me.
Yeah....
One step from the demons' fire.
Can't stop the train, and flames get higher.
Too late to save me.
The wall's coming down on me.
Yeah...
Broken wishes and broken dreams.
Close to the edge, I cut it lean.
No Regrets,
The flame's getting higher on me.
Yeah...
Push the tempo, push the time.
No excuses, not this time.
No way out.
The ground's opening up on me.
Yeah...oh yeah...
Can you feel the heat?
Coming from the street.
Pouring down on me...yeah..
They tried to keep me on a long thin chain,
Thanks, but no thanks just the same.
You saw it coming,
The devil's got the jump on me.
Yeah...
Lost soul on the road to Hell.
Wind up the motor and ring the bell.
No stopping now,
The pain's coming down on me.
Yeah
Straight time on the road to Hell.
No mercy time at the wishing well.
No turning back,
The Angels gonna cry on me.
Yeah....
7. DOING TIME
I'm breaking rocks and I'm doing time.
She's on the street with a friend of mine.
I drove the car, I took the fall.
I walk the cell, at night I cry 'til dawn.
At night I cry 'til dawn.
The days are long, but time will pass.
I'm breaking out, I soon will get my chance.
I'm in a cell, it's ten by nine.
She's livin' it up on champagne and wine.
I took the rap, I have to smile.
Time drags by, but I'll get loose after a while.
Get loose after a while.
Deep in the night, just like a child.
I walk the cell, my mind is running wild.
I'm going numb from too much waiting,
Until my dying day.
I'll suffocate from too much hating.
There'll be hell to pay.
I'm gonna rot from too much waiting,
'Til my dying day.
My soul is bruised, my heart is shaking,
There'll be hell to pay.
Yeah...
I'm digging ditches, I'm breaking stones.
Sewing mailbags, it ain't no fun.
Bread and water, my life is complete.
Hold my breath, 'til I'm back out on the street.
Back out on the street.
Yeah...
Revenge is sweet, or so they say.
Just watch your step, I'll breaking out today.
Revenge is sweet, or so they say.
Just watch your step, I'll breaking out today.
Revenge is sweet, or so they say.
Just watch your step, I'll breaking out today.
8. SMEAR CAMPAIGN
The Dirty Tricks department,
Is working overtime.
Trying to stop the candidate,
From getting in this time.
The wheels are now in motion,
All the traps are set.
Under the commotion,
He'll walk into this net.
The state's intoxicated,
They're at the starting gate.
He may never make it,
To the planned T.V. debate.
He can't fight off the big bucks,
Of the old brigade.
He's gotta watch his step,
In this Smear Campaign.
They called a snap election,
In the summer heat.
This town is reeling backwards,
Like a drunk man on the street.
Yeah....
Feed those lies, bend those minds,
At any price.
Foul or fair, as long as he's not in there, Election Time.
Yeah..
Smear Campaign.
Don't believe the papers,
It's not anybody's race.
He's not a rank beginner,
It's not a children's game.
He may get the nomination,
If he breaks through the chain.
Or they'll shoot him down on Main Street,
In this Smear Campaign.
Just watch the party faithful,
Fuel the dream machine.
They've fudged up all the issues,
Eat that scandal sheet.
The Dirty Tricks department,
Are nearly half insane.
Trying to stop the candidate,
With a Smear Campaign.
Smear Campaign.
Yeah...
9. DON'T START ME TO TALKING
Well I'm goin' down the road,
Stop in Fanny May's.
Gonna tell ol' Fanny,
What I heard her boyfriend say.
Don't start me to talkin',
I'll tell everything I know.
Gonna break up this signifyin' cause,
Somebody's got to go.
Jack gave his wife two dollars,
To go downtown and get some market.
Gets out on the street,
Ol' George stopped her.
He knocked her down,
And blackened her eye.
She gets back home,
And tells her husband a lie.
Don't start me to talkin',
I'll tell everything I know.
Gonna break up this signifyin' cause,
Somebody's got to go.
Yeah......
She borrowed some money,
To go to the beauty shop.
She honked his horn,
She began to start.
Said take me baby,
Around the block.
I`m going to the beauty shop,
To give my hair a shock.
Don't start me to talkin',
I'll tell everything I know.
Gonna break up this signifyin' cause,
Somebody's got to go.
Yeahhhh....
10.SEVEN DAYS
Seven days of thunder,
Eight days of rain.
The feeling that I'm under,
Is like a ball and chain.
Like a ball and chain.
Like a ball and chain.
Like a ball and chain.
Just round the corner,
I know a store.
Gonna trade in my razor,
And buy a 44.
And I'll come knocking,
Knocking door to door.
The feeling in my head is like,
All-out-war.
All-out-war.
Third World War.
And if they catch me,
Put me in the chair.
You can sit beside me,
There's plenty room to spare.
You are the reason I am in this fix,
Will you pray for me.
When they throw that switch,
Throw that switch.
This time they'll lock me,
Up for sure.
Throw away the key,
When they slam the door.
City to city, town to town,
Seven day's of running.
Will they track me down,
Will they track me down.
On the ground..yeah....
They say this town will kill you,
They say this town ain't got no soul.
This town could take a child's smile,
And turn it into stone.
But don't you think I know that,
This place has cut me to the bone.
Trouble crawling up your back.
Fear just eats your soul.
You say this town will eat you up,
You say this town don't have a heart.
You try and learn all your lines,
And you try to play the part.
With all this double dealing,
I tell you brother, you get smart.
Here in kickback city,
You're lost before you start.
People in subways,
Look nearly half dazed to me.
Renting tomorrow, investing in sorrow,
No belief....yeah....
Faces in sidestreets,
Hiding like angels from grace.
Selling you sorrow, renting tomorrow,
You're out of place...yeah...
They say this town will kill you,
They say this town ain't got no soul.
They'll set you up and pull the stitch,
'Till you're unravelled on the floor.
But I won't let it beat me,
Though trouble's knocking at my door.
Somehow it's just your smile,
That keeps me coming back for more.
Yeah...
Here in Kickback City,
Feel I'm goin' down slow.
Here in Kickback City,
Feel I'm goin' down slow.
Yeah....
2. LOANSHARK BLUESUES
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day or two,
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day or two,
I`ll pay you back with interest,
The last thing that I do,
I`ll pay you back with interest,
The last thing that I do.
Yeah....Yeah....
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day away,
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day away,
I`m down on my knees, got one foot in the grave,
Down on my knees, got one foot in the grave.
Yeah....Yeah...Yeah....
Got the loanshark blues,
Got the loanshark blues,
Give me an offer I can`t refuse.
Wife needs shoes, the kids must eat,
Feel so cold, I can`t feel my feet,
Can`t get my hands on one thin dime,
I'm gonna turn to a life of crime,
No work here, so I walk the street,
Sign on the door, I feel I`m beat,
I know you run Pier 15,
You got a grip on all my dreams.
I got the loanshark blues,
The loanshark blues,
Give me a number I can`t refuse.
Yeah....
Give me til Monday, that`s only a day or two,
Give me til Monday that`s only a day or two,
I`ll pay you back with interest,
The last thing that I do,
Pay you back with interest,
The last thing that I do.
Yeah....
Got the loanshark blues,
Got the loanshark blues,
Give me a number I can`t refuse.
Yeah....
Roofs got holes, see the sky,
I can`t get straight and I have tried,
I`m in your debt, I`m well aware,
I`ll break the law cause I don`t care.
Living on a knife edge I have been,
But I`m too tough to just give in,
Moving on down with the longshore men,
On the docks we`re locked out again.
I got the loanshark blues,
The loanshark blues,
Give me a number I can`t refuse,
I got the loanshark blues,
Got the loanshark blues,
Give me a number I can`t refuse.
Yeah...Yeah...
Loanshark babe.
3. CONTINENTAL OP
Well..there's a body in the bay,
The cops are taking it away.
They said this case was closed,
It only shows that you never know.
So who are they gonna get,
When the trouble's gotta stop?
Here's my card,
I'm the Continental Op.
Jane Doe in the bay,
Now that's Exhibit 'A'.
Bloodstains on the dress,
Of the million heiress.
But I saw you leaving town,
I'm gonna have to track you down.
You've slipped through the web,
And you might have dodged the Feds.
Who are they going to get,
When you've outfoxed the Cops?
Here's my number,
I'm the Continental Op.
I'm the Continental Op.....yea
Call the Agency,
We never close.
First consultation is free,
Check my reputation,
Check my pose,
First you ought to check my fee.
There's a menace on the streets,
Offering infants' sweets.
Don't give this man a ride,
Lock your car from the inside.
He's suspect No. 1,
But I guess his race is run.
He left a set of prints,
He's not smart as he thinks
Who are they gonna get,
When you've outfoxed the cops?
Here's my card ,
I'm the Continental Op.
Yea..who are they gonna get,
When you've outfoxed the cops?
Here's my badge,
I'm the Continental Op.
4. I AIN'T NO SAINT
I ain't no saint, can't turn the other cheek.
I ain't no saint, can't turn the other cheek.
But you could cool my temper, by words I hear you speak.
Tell ya, straight from the shoulder, straight from the hip.
If I'm falling over, she makes the pieces fit.
If I get arrested or in some legal twist,
She talks to the judge and gets the case dismissed.
5. FAILSAFE DAY
What I see just takes the heart from me.
It's all OK, they keep telling me.
Somehow it feels like Failsafe Day.
You know it's almost Failsafe Day.
It's not the time now to go sad on me.
Yeah, we can run the illusion's free.
Let's not just throw this chance away.
You know it's almost Failsafe Day.
And deep inside I hear that something.
Like a silent scream.
And in the night I hear that rumbling.
Keep on hoping it's just a dream.
Wish there was some time to buy or steal.
'Cause there's this stranger in the air I breathe.
Deep down it feels like Failsafe Day.
They're gonna fade us all away.
Deep inside I hear that something.
Like a silent scream.
The voice inside just tells me one thing.
Keep on hoping it's just a dream.
What I see just chills the heart in me.
It's all OK, but they're not fooling me.
You know it's almost Failsafe day.
Somehow it feels like Failsafe day.
You know it's almost Failsafe day.
They're gonna fade it all away.
6. ROAD TO HELL
Soft-soaped on the road to Hell.
So many times I've tripped and fell.
No chances left.
The sky is falling down on me.
Yeah....
One step from the demons' fire.
Can't stop the train, and flames get higher.
Too late to save me.
The wall's coming down on me.
Yeah...
Broken wishes and broken dreams.
Close to the edge, I cut it lean.
No Regrets,
The flame's getting higher on me.
Yeah...
Push the tempo, push the time.
No excuses, not this time.
No way out.
The ground's opening up on me.
Yeah...oh yeah...
Can you feel the heat?
Coming from the street.
Pouring down on me...yeah..
They tried to keep me on a long thin chain,
Thanks, but no thanks just the same.
You saw it coming,
The devil's got the jump on me.
Yeah...
Lost soul on the road to Hell.
Wind up the motor and ring the bell.
No stopping now,
The pain's coming down on me.
Yeah
Straight time on the road to Hell.
No mercy time at the wishing well.
No turning back,
The Angels gonna cry on me.
Yeah....
7. DOING TIME
I'm breaking rocks and I'm doing time.
She's on the street with a friend of mine.
I drove the car, I took the fall.
I walk the cell, at night I cry 'til dawn.
At night I cry 'til dawn.
The days are long, but time will pass.
I'm breaking out, I soon will get my chance.
I'm in a cell, it's ten by nine.
She's livin' it up on champagne and wine.
I took the rap, I have to smile.
Time drags by, but I'll get loose after a while.
Get loose after a while.
Deep in the night, just like a child.
I walk the cell, my mind is running wild.
I'm going numb from too much waiting,
Until my dying day.
I'll suffocate from too much hating.
There'll be hell to pay.
I'm gonna rot from too much waiting,
'Til my dying day.
My soul is bruised, my heart is shaking,
There'll be hell to pay.
Yeah...
I'm digging ditches, I'm breaking stones.
Sewing mailbags, it ain't no fun.
Bread and water, my life is complete.
Hold my breath, 'til I'm back out on the street.
Back out on the street.
Yeah...
Revenge is sweet, or so they say.
Just watch your step, I'll breaking out today.
Revenge is sweet, or so they say.
Just watch your step, I'll breaking out today.
Revenge is sweet, or so they say.
Just watch your step, I'll breaking out today.
8. SMEAR CAMPAIGN
The Dirty Tricks department,
Is working overtime.
Trying to stop the candidate,
From getting in this time.
The wheels are now in motion,
All the traps are set.
Under the commotion,
He'll walk into this net.
The state's intoxicated,
They're at the starting gate.
He may never make it,
To the planned T.V. debate.
He can't fight off the big bucks,
Of the old brigade.
He's gotta watch his step,
In this Smear Campaign.
They called a snap election,
In the summer heat.
This town is reeling backwards,
Like a drunk man on the street.
Yeah....
Feed those lies, bend those minds,
At any price.
Foul or fair, as long as he's not in there, Election Time.
Yeah..
Smear Campaign.
Don't believe the papers,
It's not anybody's race.
He's not a rank beginner,
It's not a children's game.
He may get the nomination,
If he breaks through the chain.
Or they'll shoot him down on Main Street,
In this Smear Campaign.
Just watch the party faithful,
Fuel the dream machine.
They've fudged up all the issues,
Eat that scandal sheet.
The Dirty Tricks department,
Are nearly half insane.
Trying to stop the candidate,
With a Smear Campaign.
Smear Campaign.
Yeah...
9. DON'T START ME TO TALKING
Well I'm goin' down the road,
Stop in Fanny May's.
Gonna tell ol' Fanny,
What I heard her boyfriend say.
Don't start me to talkin',
I'll tell everything I know.
Gonna break up this signifyin' cause,
Somebody's got to go.
Jack gave his wife two dollars,
To go downtown and get some market.
Gets out on the street,
Ol' George stopped her.
He knocked her down,
And blackened her eye.
She gets back home,
And tells her husband a lie.
Don't start me to talkin',
I'll tell everything I know.
Gonna break up this signifyin' cause,
Somebody's got to go.
Yeah......
She borrowed some money,
To go to the beauty shop.
She honked his horn,
She began to start.
Said take me baby,
Around the block.
I`m going to the beauty shop,
To give my hair a shock.
Don't start me to talkin',
I'll tell everything I know.
Gonna break up this signifyin' cause,
Somebody's got to go.
Yeahhhh....
10.SEVEN DAYS
Seven days of thunder,
Eight days of rain.
The feeling that I'm under,
Is like a ball and chain.
Like a ball and chain.
Like a ball and chain.
Like a ball and chain.
Just round the corner,
I know a store.
Gonna trade in my razor,
And buy a 44.
And I'll come knocking,
Knocking door to door.
The feeling in my head is like,
All-out-war.
All-out-war.
Third World War.
And if they catch me,
Put me in the chair.
You can sit beside me,
There's plenty room to spare.
You are the reason I am in this fix,
Will you pray for me.
When they throw that switch,
Throw that switch.
This time they'll lock me,
Up for sure.
Throw away the key,
When they slam the door.
City to city, town to town,
Seven day's of running.
Will they track me down,
Will they track me down.
On the ground..yeah....
lyrics added by thierry26740 - Modify this lyrics