LIBERTY BELLE AND THE BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS

Produced by the Go-Betweens and Richard Preston

Grant McLennan: Vocals, Lead Guitar
Robert Forster: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Robert Vickers: Bass
Lindy Morrison: Drums

Spring Rain

Dressed in a white shirt with my hair combed straight
Here in my black shoes and me without a date
Me without hindsight, me without
When will change come, Just like Spring Rain
Falling down like sheets
(falling down like sheets)
Coming down like love
(coming down like love)
Falling at my feet
(falling just like)
Spring Rain
Standing on the lawn with cousins and child brides
Caught for the camera on their best sides
Being caught forewarned
their best sides
When will change come
Just like Spring Rain
(chorus)
Driving my first car
My elbows in the breeze
With all these people that I Never, never need
These people are excited by their cars
I want surprises just like Spring Rain
Falling just like sheets
(falling just like sheets)
Coming down so hard
(coming down so hard)
Falling at my feet
(falling just like)
Spring Rain
Coming down like love
(coming down like love)
Falling here so smooth
(falling here so smooth)
Falling in that groove
(falling just like)
Spring Rain
Falling down like love
(falling, falling)
Coming down so hard
(falling down)
You hear it fall falling down
Spring Rain
Falling just like love
(falling, falling)
Falling down so hard
(falling down)
You hear it fall falling down
Spring Rain

The Ghost and the Black Hat

A widow's life is no life at all
Look said the ghost, there in the hall
Her big brown eyes
And northern beer
Pulled her through her living years
Won't you wear the
Won't you wear the
Won't you wear the
The gravedigger's work is almost done
A hole in the ground spits dirt at the sun
The water-tank is dirty and dry
Dust from the creek covers the sky
Won't you wear the
Won't you wear the
Won't you wear the
Five years without a sound
The railroad's melted down
Ten years further on
A husband in the ground
Won't you wear the
Won't you wear the
Won't you wear the
Black Hat

The Wrong Road

A trader in furs living in exile
Boy what a kook
Look at that passport
Stale bread and paper without privilege
If you live here learn the language
When the rain hit the roof
With the sound of a finished kiss
Like when a lip lifts from a lip
I took the Wrong Road round
A room in a lighthouse
Near the park
The ghosts in the next room hear you cough
Time drags on Sundays spent in Mayfair
With all your riches, why aren't you there?
The wind acts like a magnet
And pulls the leaf from the tree
And the town's lost its breath
I took the Wrong Road round
Handsome is good, pretty is better
What was that phrase
Grace under pressure?
Blind by the light bulb
Blood to the bank
Lost all yours letters when the ship sank
In the disjointed breaking light
The soft blue approach of the water
Makes a sound you won't forget
I took the Wrong Road round
Stranded at low-tide where the river bends
Wouldn't you know it, that's how life ends
Lucky at cards, that's an old lie
Lucky in love, that's how life ends
Well the turncoats turned around
When they heard the sound of the bell
Dropped their coins into the well
I took the Wrong Road round
Started out Oliver, ended up Fagin
Don't you worry, it's my problem
What's my name, what's my number?
I'm the lonely one
It's just at the end of the day
When the light makes its slow move away
That I know all I can say is
I took the Wrong Road round
Gambled with risk
Paid you back with risk
So now you know who your friends are
They'll steel your shadow when your back's turned
Bouquets of flowers
Lesson's over
When the rain hit the roof
With the sound of a finished kiss
Like when a lip lifts from a lip
I took the Wrong Road round

To Reach Me

Never tought I'd ever hear from you
My slapped face has healed
so has the misunderstanding
And what brings, what brings you around
Amidst this torrid time
With your heart near mine
To Reach Me keep your lover there
To Reach Me from your side of town
Never tell me you have alnight dreams
Don't talk of impulse or the lonely road
Those demons I just don't see them
Are there any here tonight?
Do they wear horns or burn bright
(Chorus)
And the playboys have all gone to bed
They're tired and their models, drawn on a charcoal sketch
A pipe burns and the smoke goes over the calendar spread
Over the naked girls
Your family tree has never held a ghost
Did Gulliver ever bend down so far
Ruth said
Ruth said
she said
That you once disapproved
How could anyone disapprove of me?
To Reach Me keep your lover there
To Reach Me from your side of town
To Reach Me
To my side of town

Twin Layers of Lightning

She walks me home
There's a Mercedes parked in our street
So we stop and we discuss
Who on earth the owner could be
That's just like me
I'd evade waking up if the alarm wouldn't ring
I'd walk into quick sand
If I knew how far I'd sink
Twin layers of trouble
Two times that might
Twin layers of lightning
Both of us can strike
We went into a club
Bouncers got no brains
He said both of you are barred
I had to set him straight
Listen Jack, don't you know, I'm a star
(chorus)
Some people have no money
While other people have no tact
If they invite us around
Well they're going to get a double act
We scream and we shout
And then we love and we turn
Then we set a chair on fire
And we watch the whole house burn
(chorus)
It's written in big letters
Graffiti all over town
It says TROUBLEMAKERS ON THE RUN
And both our names are written down
Oh but infamy or fame
Each came in a small dose
I just wish the day would come
When the last one would be so close

In the Core of a Flame

If the Devil had seen your dress
He would've changed his name
Put down his fork and moved up above
Why burn in hell when you burn for love?
I know what I mean but just don't say
Cos all the old words get in the way
I'll stay with love
Cos that's the right word baby
That's the right word
Cos I love you
And that's the right word baby
That's the right word, the right word
There are two kinds of lovers in this world
Those who like diaminds and those who like dirt
Here I stand, my face is a mask
I'll take it off because you asked
I know what I mean but just don't say
Cos all the old words get in the way
I'll stay with love
Cos that's the right word baby
That's the right word
Cos I love you
And that's the right word baby
That's the right word, the right word
So hold me up on my word
And keep me down in the bed
There's one thing I should have said
Will you keep me safe from the world
And hold me just like a pearl?
The light always shines the brightest
In the Core of a Flame
After lead break sing the choruses yourself

Head Full of Steam

I'd never met her type she ignored me and that's alright
Never to be friends or my body lie on her floor
Her father works
Her mother works in exports
But that's of no importance at all
I don't mind
I don't mind
To chase her
A fools dream
I'm 104 degrees
With a Head Full of Steam
All waitings up
I'm on that team
That says go forward
With a Head Full of Steam
She plays hard to get along with
But she might drop by
She never had a nickname
But then nor have I
I don't mind
I don't mind
To chase her
A fools dream
I'm 104 degrees
With a Head Full of Steam
All waitings up
I'm on that team
That says go forward
With a Head Full of Steam
Steam
Steam
Oh, I just want to know
I'd never met her type
She locked the door and the key
Opened the windows for the neighbours to see
Her climb on my knee
To chase her
A fools dream
I'm 104 degrees
With a Head Full of Steam
All waitings up
I'm on that team
That says go forward
With a Head Full of Steam
Go Forward
Go forward now
Go forward
Go forward now

Bow Down

You opened my mail
Apart at the seams
Now you know I live beyond my means
Beneath my bed
There's gold in the earth
Above the price
That gold is now worth
Never to Bow Down
Don't you ever slow down
You live with a prince
You live with a cape
Yous see things my memoirs just won't say
Don't be so down
Don't be so sad
Start counting bodies
We'll both go half mad
Never to Bow Down
Don't you ever slow down
Break it to me gently
Speak in our code
We're show people
Speak in our code
Bad news I'll leave
Bad news I'll grieve
Good and bad, baby I'll leave
Never to Bow Down
Don't you ever slow down
I left the house with all the lights on
You see the lights
Nothing is wrong
The television works
The telephone rings
And late at night all good children they sing
Never to Bow Down
Don't you ever slow down
Never to Bow Down
Don't you ever slow down
Bow Down too far
Bow Down no
Bow Down don't
Don't you ever slow down
Slow down Bow Down Bow Down slow down Bow Down
Slow down Bow Down ... Slow Down

Palm Sunday (On Board The S.S. Within)"

I've been having bad dreams
A mother couldn't find her milk
Five days from Melbourne
I didn't feel too good myself
Wool in the hold
A blaze in the sky
The water so black
You could make a shroud
I didn't know where
I didn't know where
So come on darling, aw come on honey
From my mouth to you, for your ears only
I didn't know who to blame
I couldn't tell the time
I didn't know where I was
We'd crossed the International Date Line
Docked at Cape Town
Lost your bracelet
Drunk for days
I need that magnet
I didn't know where
I didn't know where
So come on darling, aw come on honey
From my mouth to you, for your ears only
Back when it started
Back when they took away the stone
They're laying down palms
They're laying down palms on the deck
There are times when you come home
And you can't touch the things you own
I didn't know where
I didn't know where
So come on darling, aw come on honey
From my mouth to you, for your ears only

Apology Accepted

I used to say dumb things
I guess I still do
I'm doing it again
But that's what happens
When you're in view
More used to naked men
You said leave the light on
Don't be frightened
I don't know how long
I can wait to see if my
Apology's accepted
Too proud to hang my head
In shame beside your bed
But sometimes you want something
So bad, you'll grab anything
You said that's ridiculous
There's only one thing that precious
I don't know how long
I can wait to see if my
Apology's Accepted
I gotta know is my
Apology accepted
Time and time again
Your soft eyes close
In trust above me
Such a simple question
I pretended I was sleeping
I didn't know anything
But you I'm keeping
I don't know how long
I can wait to see if my
Apology's Accepted
I gotta know is my
Apology Accepted

The Life at Hand

A ruby waistcoat won't hide my fear
At 12:31 watch my teeth disappear
People buy watches
then tell the time
By the punctual keeling
and crack of my spine
But if you're feeling brave
And you're feeling strong
Please pick me up and take me along
And if you're getting tired then rest for a spell
I'll carry you just as well
because
I'll take you to the life at hand
I'll show you how to live the life at hand
I'll give you
give my life at hand
It's raining
it's pouring
the doorbell's dead
You're an artist with your body
But you can't find your head
With your first million safe in the mattress
You've gotta give it up when the nest-egg hatches
But if you're feeling brave
And you're feeling strong
Please pick me up and take me along
And if you're getting tired
Then rest for a spell
I'll carry you just as well
well
I'll take you to the life at hand
I'll show you how to live the life at hand
I'll give you
give my life at hand

Little Joe

Everyone knows everybody else
Let's skip introductions
Talk on little Joe
His mother left for me to mind
a 100 a week
A lovely guy of 26
loves only the lonely
little Joe
Oh no here he comes
laughing with an old joke
Don't you cry
never do a days work
nothing of value will ever get hurt
Joes no trouble he ran for mayor
The mafia car bombed my car
I said you're not running for mayor
Gave up wishing
took up hoping
hoping Joe will settle down
Shoe store
a movie house
something like
something like a french comedy
He's patronised by gentle souls
their best intensions are their own
Don't you cry
never do a days work
nothing of value will ever get hurt
I've always been a man of the track
took Joe down to the track
So here we sit
Joe and I
Joe and I
Little Joe
Don't you cry
never do a days work
nothing of value will ever get hurt
The whole world
lets get our balance in the mid-night air

All songs written by Grant McLennan and Robert Forster

Engineered by Richard Preston
LIBERTY BELLE AND THE BLACK DIAMOND EXPRESS was recorded at Berry St. London,
WC1 and mixed at Sinclair Rd, London, W14 during October and November 1985
Bow Down mixed at the Power Plant, London
(Thanks to Robin Millar)

Dean B. Speedwell: Organ, Piano, Accordion, Vibes, Bassoon
Audrey Riley: Cello, String Arrangements
Chris Tomlin: 1st Violin
Sally Herbert: 2nd Violin
Sue Dench: Viola
Tracey Thorn: Backing vocals on Head Full of Steam and Apology Accepted
(Tracey Thorn appears courtesy of Blanco y Negro Records)

Cover photography: Richard Mann
Thank you to Southside Management
(C) Lyrics reprinted by kind permission Com-plete Mu'sic Ltd


Lyrics and credits typed in (without permission) by Gustav Fahl
gusfa@ida.liu.se