There are some song lyrics that send a shiver down your spine, make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. ‘Ritz’ by Steve Harley always do that to me:
Hark to Rouall’s white insanity
Clowns in drag concealing vanity
This is hardly Paradise
We’re still in search of petty scorn
Images so dead, in mourning
Clap and cheer the man performing
This is hardly Paradise
we’re still in search of petty scorn
Couch my disease in chintz-covered kisses
Glazed calico cloth, my costume this is
Come to Pablo Fanque’s in Indigo
We’ll show you pastel Shades of rhyme
It’s okay to laugh in harmony
See the white-faced Auguste’s army
Come to Pablo’s-Fanque’s in Indigo
We’ll Show you pastel shades of rhyme
Take a letter Ophelia, write
“Sorry Desdemona.” bright
Peeking through the Nimbus covers
We see the twisted tale of Man
Catch us in the cornfield hiding
Me, Maryse and Moonbeams gliding
Peeking through the Nimbue covers
We see the twisted tale of Man
Careless, caress, curt up beside me
Visit, sleep and smile and drown me
March together, slay like Nero
Now we have something you understand
Oh! the clown, his stare is eyeless
Shall he make you laugh or cry.yes
March together, slay like Nero
Now we have sometning you understand
It is time to hide my body
Shall we start to speak of holly
I don’t wanna be that Superhero
’Til you have something we understand
Heard they’re moving Pisces into June
Shall we put together a platoon
I don’t wanna be that Superhero
’Til you have something we understand. ©
It is a beautifully crafted song and the more you listen to it, the more you are drawn into what I can best describe as a surreal almost Kafkaesque world of strange transformations and bizarre imagery. If it were being made into a movie, it would be a David Lynch or better yet, a Terry Gilliam film!
In my opinion, Steve Harley is one of the greatest (and most underrated) songwriters of the last 35 years. He was big in the 70s but still enjoys enormous success and support today.
Yes, you’re right about Steve Harley’s song-writing abilities – he is one of the best song-writers ever. Some of his songs: Death Trip, Sebastian, Ritz, Tumbling down, Cavaliers, Mr Soft, etc, are timeless classics. Check out my blog: http://rjdent.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/steve-harley-and-cockney-rebel/ for some examples of Harley at his best. And thanks for this blog.