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David Sylvian
Nine Horses
Japan Tin Drum

Tin Drum (1982)

  1. The Art of Parties
  2. Talking Drum
  3. Ghosts
  4. Canton
  5. Still Life in Mobile Homes
  6. Visions of China
  7. Sons of Pioneers
  8. Cantonese Boy

Tin Drum

  1. The Art of Parties

    Once I was young
    Once I was smart
    Now I'm living on the edge of my nerves
    The things we said weren't quite so tough
    When we were young

    Well I'm burning
    I'm burning buildings
    I'm building...
    This time

    For the art of parties
    Under heavy weather
    The art of parties
    I'm burning...
    Burning

    I'm living
    I'm living my life
    I'm living
    This time

    The wind blew through my hair
    Once I was young
    I'd shelter from the sun
    Once I was smart
    We lived on the strength of our nerves
    When we were young

    Well I'm burning
    I'm burning buildings
    I'm building...
    This time

  2. Talking Drum

    I hear a voice I hear a sound
    But nothing plays on my mind
    I take the car I travel round
    But nothing stays on my mind

    What do you do when things go wrong?
    I'm winning
    In the heart of the bushland
    What do you do when things go wrong?
    I'm winning
    In the heart of the bushland

    But now I'm scared
    Now I'm lost in love
    All these things were never done
    Your burning bridge my talking drum
    Now we're too late for heaven

  3. Ghosts

    When the room is quiet
    The daylight almost gone
    It seems there's something I should know
    Well I ought to leave but
    The rain it never stops
    And I have no particular place to go

    Just when I think I'm winning
    When I've broken every door
    The ghosts of my life
    Blow wilder then before
    Just when I thought I could not be stopped
    When my chance came to be king
    The ghosts of my life
    Blew wilder than the wind

    Well I'm feeling nervous
    And I find myself alone
    The simple life's no longer there
    Once I was so sure
    Now the doubt inside my mind
    Comes and goes but leads nowhere

    Just when I think I'm winning
    When I've broken every door
    The ghosts of my life
    Blow wilder then before
    Just when I thought I could not be stopped
    When my chance came to be king
    The ghosts of my life
    Blew wilder than the wind

  4. Canton

    Instrumental

  5. Still Life in Mobile Homes

    Sometimes the comfort of a room
    Sometimes I'm quite alone
    I pack to leave a foreign town
    It seems I'll never know

    But I'll rent new accommodation
    We'll make plans for mobile homes

    Slow boats moving with the tide
    Drifting far from shore
    It's the nature of this country life
    I've never known before
    Still we'll make plans for buildings and houses
    From mobile homes

    Plant life
    My life
    Still life in mobile homes
    Plant life
    My life
    Still life in mobile homes

    The sound of wildlife fills the air
    So calm and dry
    The bushland burns in this southern heart
    Like an open fire

    Still we'll make plans for buildings and houses
    From mobile homes...
    Mobile homes

    Plant life
    My life
    Still life in mobile homes
    Blood life
    My life
    Still life in mobile homes

    A voice screams from heaven
    As we start to sail
    It's the calling of the fatherland
    I used to know so well

    But our age
    New accommodation
    Will make plans for mobile homes

    Plant life
    My life
    Still life in mobile homes
    Plant life
    My life
    Still life in mobile homes

  6. Visions of China

    I'm walking young and strong
    But just a little too thin
    I may be happy but I haven't clue to this life in my mind

    Stay with me
    We could learn to fight
    Like every good boy should
    Cling to me
    We are blacked out in visions of China
    Tonight

    I'm building heroes again
    I never thought of before
    I remember the fashion but don't have clue to your life in my mind

    Stay with me
    We could learn to fight
    Like every good boy should
    Cling to me
    We are blacked out in visions of China
    Tonight

    We walk backwards say nothing
    My visions of China
    We're young and strong in this party
    We're building our visions of China
    We walk backwards say nothing
    Visions of China
    We're young and strong in this party
    We're building our visions of China
    We walk backwards say nothing
    Our visions of China
    We're young and strong in this party
    We're building our visions of China

  7. Sons of Pioneers

    Sometimes I feel I've been here forever
    Sometime ago
    Sometimes we sense the doubt together
    Sometimes alone

    I'm tired but we won't sleep at all
    Even though the air is calm
    Something here and something warm
    Something cuts the scars inside tonight

    Sons of pioneers are hungry men

    Every voice I hear sounds so familiar
    Every song I know
    Still there's been no change in the weather
    But sometime we'll have to go

    I'm tired but we won't sleep at all
    Even though the air is calm
    Something here and something warm
    Something cuts the scars inside tonight

    Sons of pioneers are hungry men

  8. Cantonese Boy

    We're pushing through these farming towns
    We worked hard ploughing over ground
    Red army calls you the call of the crowd
    Red army needs you they call you now

    Cantonese boy
    Bang your tin drum
    Cantonese boy
    Civilian soldier
    Cantonese boy
    Bang your tin drum
    Cantonese boy
    Red army calls you home

    We're singing marching through the hills
    We're changing the lives we've led for years
    Red army calls you the call of the crowd
    Red army needs you they call you now

    Cantonese boy
    Bang your tin drum
    Cantonese boy
    Civilian soldier
    Cantonese boy
    Bang your tin drum
    Cantonese boy
    Red army calls you home

    Red army calls you
    Red army needs you

    Gentlemen you heard us call
    Raised your glass and called for more
    Only young men broke the wall