1. THE MODERN WORLD - Paul Weller


This is a modern world - This is the modern world
What kind of a fool do you think I am?
You think I know nothing of the modern world
All my life has been the same
I've learned to live by hate and pain
It's my inspiration drive -

I've learned more than you'll ever know
Even at school I felt quite sure
That one day I would be on top
And I'd look down upon the map
The teachers who said I'd be nothing -

This is the modern world that I've learnt about
This is the modern world, we don't need no one
To tell us what's right or wrong -

Say what you like 'cause I don't care
I know where I am and going too
It's somewhere I won't preview
Don't have to explain myself to you
I don't give two fucks about your review -


2. LONDON TRAFFIC - Bruce Foxton

London traffic (state of confusion)
London traffic (blocking the streets)
London traffic (going nowhere)
London traffic (polluting the air)
Drive round London in a car
Don't really want to go far
So many cars fill the streets
Wonder why we bother at all

London traffic is a problem
London traffic too many cars
One way systems look very neat
Coloured signs direct the streets

No one knows the answer
No one seems to care
Take a look at our city
Take the traffic elsewhere

Leave the city free from traffic
Give the place a chance to survive
Dirt and filth cover London
Give it a chance to breath again


3. STANDARDS - Paul Weller

Oh we make the standards and we make the rules
And if you don't abide by them you must be a fool
We have the power to control the whole land
You never must question our motives or plans -
'Cause we'll outlaw your voices, do anything we want
We've nothing to fear from the nation
We'll throw you out of your houses if you get too much
If we have to we'll destroy your generation

'Cause we've built up a frontage and we've gained respect
There's no one to endanger our position -

Standards rule OK
Standards rule OK
Standards rule OK
Standards rule OK

And we don't like people who stand in our way
Awareness is gonna be redundant
And ignorance is strength, we have God on our side
Look, you know what happend to Winston -


4. LIFE FROM A WINDOW - Paul Weller

Looking from a hilltop, watching from a lighthouse, just dreaming
Up here I can see the world
Ooh, sometimes it don't look nice - That's OK
Life from a window, I'm just taking in the view
Life from a window, observing everything around you

Staring at a grey sky, try to paint it blue -
Teenage blue

Some people that you see around you
Tell you how devoted they are
They tell you something on Sunday, but come Monday
They've changed their minds

I'm looking from a skyscraper
I'm standing on the Post Office tower
So I can see - all there is to see -


5. THE COMBINE
(Paul Weller)

And life is very difficult, when you're in the crowd
When you're in the crowd, you see things as they really are
You can smell the fear and hate, generated by all around -

I wanna breakaway, but the ties are too strong
Wanna go on holiday, but the crowd says I can't

See life is very different, when you're in the crowd

Oh, sometimes in the night, I wish I was faraway
But then I realize, even escape will be in vain

I wanna close my eyes and be like the rest
I mean, nobody wants to die, although the crowd say they do

Look, life is very intricate, when you're in the crowd

Life becomes the movies
And everyone has a role
It's easy being the actor
When the combine's the only star -

Sunday papers
And the dailies
Ena Sharples
Page 3 girls

News at ten
War in Rhodesia
Far away
In a distant land

But we're alright
We're nice and warm here
No one to hurt us
Except ourselves -


6. DON'T TELL THEM YOU'RE SANE
(Paul Weller)

A boy I know is sick in his head -
At least that's what the doctors say he is
Shut in his room for hours on end
Looks like he's forgotten, but is he
His mind it ticks, more than you know
One day something in his head will click
Warders fill him full of lies, he fights he knows
They'll never convince him that he's mad!

At breakfast he is strapped in a chair (won't go far)
Just a word out of place, he's sent to his room

Don't tell them you're sane
They'll laugh and put you to sleep
Don't tell them you're sane, but you are

Tell me what you did today, was it good
What was it like and who was it with
Don't think I'm prying I'd just like to know
Why it is you do things so slow

Take him to the doctor, see what he says
I don't know why he bothers, he's in for good


7. IN THE STREET, TODAY - Paul Weller/David Waller

In the street today
Murder on the terraces
And fools in high places
It's all so sickening
And we're so satisfied -

In the street tonight

Hate on every pavement
Paranoia on shop doorways
The kids want some action
And who can fucking blame them now

It's all so sickening, and we're so satisfied


8. LONDON GIRL - Paul Weller

Do you know what you're looking for?
Streets of gold, fame and fortune?
You didn't fancy working in a factory
But your mum and dad didn't agree
You slept on Waterloo station at first
But now you've moved to a posher squat
You wonder where your next meal will come from
Still it's better than living at home
You're looking tired 'cause it's been three weeks
Since you changed your clothes or washed your feet
But you're learning fast all the time
How to cadge cigarettes and pills

I don't condemn what you done
I know what it is to be young
You're only searching for today
To see the answers about yesterday -

And I hope you find -


9. I NEED YOU (FOR SOMEONE) - Paul Weller

I need you to keep me straight,
When the world don't seem so great,
And it's hard enough you know
I need you to be around
When my conscience brings me down
And the world feels so obscure

I want you to be the one
Who tells me off when I do wrong,
And you know I can be bad

I need you, I need you
Say you'll stay, make my day

Now what have I done,
Was it something I said - oh dear

I need you to turn me off,
When you think I've said enough,
To the extent of being a bore

I need you to tell me no
Slap my wrists and send me home
Tell me I can't come again

Now why are you crying -
Have I gone too far - again -


10. HERE COMES THE WEEKEND - Paul Weller

If we tell you that you've got two days to live
Then don't complain, 'cos that's one more than you'd get in Zaire -
So don't hang around and be foolish
Do something constructive with your weekend -
From Monday morning I work for Friday nights
Collect my wages, then try to paint on the smell of soap -

'Cause tonight I get ready early
Score what I need and go pick a girl up
It seems like ages since we had some fun -

Here comes the weekend - I get to see the girls
Long live the weekend, the weekend is here
(the weekend starts here)

Everything feels right now
I know why I'm alive now
Everything else is a lie now
Now I know why I'm here

Here comes the weekend - I'm gonna do my head
Long live the weekend, the weekend is dead


11. TONIGHT AT NOON - Paul Weller

Tonight at noon, tonight at noon
When we meet in the midnight hour,
I will bring you night flowers (coloured)
Like your eyes
Tonight at noon, I'll touch your hand
Held for a moment amongst strangers
Amongst the dripping trees
Country girl

Walking in city squares in winter rain -
Walking down muddy lanes or empty streets -
Arranging a time and place to meet -

Tonight at noon, you'll feel my warmth
You'll feel my body inside you
We'll be together for hours
Time and tears -

Won't wait for evermore
For the time is now -
And now is the time to explore
Why waste the world outside
When you're sure -


12. IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR - (Wilson Pickett)

I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when my love comes tumbling down
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when there's no one else around
I'm gonna take you, gonna hold you
Do all the things I told ya
Midnight hour, oh baby

I'm gonna wait 'til the stars come out
And see the sweet look in your eyes
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when my love begins to shine

Well you're the only girl I know
Who really loves me so
Midnight hour, oh yeah

I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when my love comes tumbling down
I'm gonna wait 'til the midnight hour
That's when there's no one else around

I'm gonna take you, gonna hold you
Do all the things I told ya
Midnight hour, oh baby

Yes I am


13. ALL AROUND THE WORLD
(Paul Weller)

Oi!
All over the country
(We want a new direction)
I said all over this land
(We need a reaction)
Well there should be a youth explosion
(Inflate creation)
But something we can command

What's the point in saying destroy
I want a new life for everywhere

We want a direction
(All over the country)
I want a direction
(All over this land)
Because this is your last chance

You can't dismiss what is gone before
But there's foundations for us to explore

I said -
All around the world I've been looking for new -

Youth explosion!

A new direction -
We want a reaction -
Inflate creation -
Looking for new!