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Black Boxcars

by Venetic ®

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1.
In Control 03:45
Six o’clock in the morning and I’m out walking Going downtown; there’s nothing better to do The sun is rising above the hills Mount Vic’s streets are still empty and cold It’s a grey Sunday; it’s a cold day Going down the hillside from Mount Vic I turn away from Oriental Bay In Courtenay Place the streets are being swept The odd shaky drunk still staggers away They’ve been out drinking all night long And it’s written right there on their faces They’ve survived the night and through to the day It’s a new day; it’s the next day You appear on the cusp of the morning You come out of a side doorway In a dark and dingy alleyway Your hair is flaming red and your eyes are ablaze Your hips sway in a self-assured swagger They’ve been busy all night Swaying, shaking, and moving around You’ve been up all night through to the dawn You know exactly what you’re doing And you don’t mind, coz you’re in control You’re in control, you’re in control No one else but you is in control No one else but you is in control I watch you with your self-assured stroll You own that alley Like you own your life Like you own your body Like you own your soul It doesn’t matter what they think of you It doesn’t matter what they say None of it’ll ever get through to you Because you’re in control
2.
Allesveloren 01:18
Funny how it feels when all feeling is gone A sense of uncertainty is all that’s strong I don’t know why you’re acting this way We’ve lost our direction, everything’s gone astray It’s all gone wrong, there’s no more options to choose We’ve hit a wall; what do you expect me to do? I’m not your flunky, your little house boy I’m not your doormat, and I’m sure not your toy Spare me your preaching, your self-righteous cant This ain’t no film by Gus Van Sant You’re not Madonna or even Germaine Greer I’m not your straw man, and no I’m not queer You just keep harping on You should leave it alone You go on and on You just won’t leave it alone If I’ve said it before I’ve said it a thousand times You just don’t realise that you’ve crossed that line
3.
Why does it feel so empty when I go to bed at night? Why can’t I mention how things are in my life? It’s not nice being written out; being sent to Coventry Left feeling hollow, devoid of your pleasantries Yeah I get the message; life ain’t no cup of tea It was your way or the highway, but where does that leave me? Life’s a crooked thoroughfare, full of twists and turns The dust is oppressive and the sun’s heat burns I’m no longer on your schedule, so I can take my time And I’ll have a lot to ponder as I walk the median line Yeah I got the message; I’ve been written out Those ever-lengthening silences don’t leave much room for doubt What’s the use of boxcars if all the dice are black? I’m in Hell’s casino and all the odds are stacked First I lost my pride, then I lost my soul Then I lost my way; now I’m out in the cold Yeah I get the message I’m reading it loud and clear Staring at that closed drawbridge Leaving me stuck out here Why am I so lonely when I used to feel alright? Why am I stuck on this and wasting so much time? I’m all burnt out; I’ve been to Hell and back I’ve felt the tightening screws; the stretching of the rack And all I hear is that record – what was that all about? That sanctimonious German; that jumped-up little kraut Ein Mann mit allen Antworten Aber leider mit ohne Ahnung Musikalische Sturm und Drang Nacht mir die Sintflut – nah jah! I can’t say I’m happy with how the cards played How things panned out; it doesn’t make my day It doesn’t make me joyous, that settling for second best And watching my life turn into a total wreck
4.
The paving stones are shiny and slick As I climb on the bus It’s midnight and raining It washes regrets away Over things that might have been And never will be Yet my shadow still remains Haunting alleys and boulevards Like a ghost all forlorn Stalking my yesterdays Chasing my past The remnants of my dreams: They’re lost in a distant place Trapped in time A vestige of my shattered hope The city is a layered cake Rotting at the base Collapsing in on itself Its people hide behind façades Double-glazed and shuttered: Their hearts are just like their homes Children sleep on their streets On cardboard cartons With a blanket for the cold Don’t mention inequality; The burghers will curl their lips Coz they’re better than you or me It’s a city with a heart of stone Where strangers are left all alone Out in the streets by themselves Bereft of all hope and help I somehow hoped for more This isn’t what I crossed half a world for Ne croyez pas que j’ai des partis pris Je suis sans rancune Mais je n’oublie pas non plus Dans le pays de l’égalité J’ai vu pas mal de haine Mais je ne suis ni dupe ni soumis Je ne serai pas votre bouc-émissaire Et je ne vais pas me taire Face à toutes vos hypocrisies: J’en ai assez vu pour le reste de ma vie Je n’ai pas de partis pris Mais je me souviens de votre mépris Ne me croyez pas rancunier Mais je ne vais pas l’oublier jamais Le Rhône est un grand fleuve tranquille Tout à fait comme vos paisibles vies Si parfaites qu’elles m’ont étourdi Elles sont le reflet de votre ville
5.
Those were the days when they did what they wanted And they helped themselves as they pleased Bosses against workers; they played a cruel game They wanted you to jump when they sneezed It was class war, it was mean, it was a free-for-all They didn’t give a damn about us So why should we care at all? Those were the days of my dad I remember all his mates The men who he spoke for Frank the cabbie and Big Splash Little Lucifer the pyromaniac Oyster George, who worked on the boats And knew how to make some cash Mum wouldn’t let them drink in the house; They were rowdy men Back in the days of my dad Those were the days when men used to smoke And stay out drinking into the night Going around from pub to pub Getting into the occasional fight Contraband down at Lyttelton docks Cuban cigars in a box They would trade whatever they got If it fell off the back of a wharf Those were the days of my dad Those were the days of my dad Then came the eighties and everything changed So much for class war Who are your friends and enemies? And what are you fighting for? Sold out by the Labour Party The working men’s world collapsed They ended up redundant Wondering how they’d been had Those were the days of my dad Those were the days of my dad But he gave me a yardstick For seeing people for what they’re worth For seeing through all the bullshit And all the lies on this Earth For seeing nothing is sacred Except your word and your bond The friends you stand behind In a world that’s mean and unkind So never trust politicians And bosses who don’t keep their word All they care about is money And leading the pack or the herd Rules are meant to be broken If all they’re for is keeping you down And don’t take crap from anyone That’s what I learnt from my dad
6.
Your Fall 02:43
It’s already messed up your mind And I know it’s ruined your heart Yeah sure, it builds you up But then it goes and tears you apart And once you’ve gone to town It leaves you a mess on the ground It leaves you there shaking and crying So bad you can barely stand You may think you’re up there flying But you don’t know how to land The truth is you’re slowly dying You’re a poor shell of a man It’s got its own relentless logic It’s driven you half insane It’s both sad and it’s tragic How it metes out so much pain Once you might have had a life Now it’s washing you down the drain You know you’ll have to watch your back Or your background’ll creep up on you I’m not here for your pity party But I’ll cheer on your wrecking crew Don’t expect my sympathy; Not after all that crap you’ve brewed You can call it fate or call it karma It’s all the same to me Regardless of your fuss and your drama You’re living in a hollow dream Go ahead and play space cadet But out in space no one can hear you scream Don’t imagine you can clown about Don’t think you can play the fool You’re not gonna drive me out I’m in this for the long haul And you’re riding for a bloody great fall
7.
When all the walls are closing in And your life has no direction; nothing’s happening Your mind’s a labyrinth of twisting thoughts Your nerves are shot and you’re all out of sorts Please don’t ever think you’re all alone I’m thinking of you and I’m not the only one Even though it’s true I’m far away The human brain weaves such a complex web A few warped strands and soon you’re out of your head Your reflex becomes a state of permanent fright And you end up thinking that’s it for the rest of your life You know you’ve got to come out of your shell Michelle You alone can crawl away from your self-made Hell And I know it’s easier said than done But you’ve gotta start living and have some fun I know what’s passing through your mind An inner pain that wracks you and leaves you blind It strips you of your faculties for handling life Leaving you with turmoil, trouble, and strife You need to come out of your shell Michelle You alone can do it; no not anyone else You’ve got to come out of your shell Michelle Come on Michelle, come on Michelle Come on Michelle, come on Michelle Come on Michelle, come on Michelle Come out of your shell, come on Michelle Come out of your shell, come on Michelle Come out of your shell, come on Michelle Come out of your shell, come on Michelle Come out of your shell, come on Michelle Come out of your shell, come on Michelle Come out of your shell, come on Michelle Come out of your shell, Michelle Michelle etc.
8.
You don’t want to go too close to that window It’s better if you don’t stop and stare There are strange things sitting in that window There’s some very strange things standing there They all come in different shapes and sizes Different colours and textures too It’s not just the variety that surprises But the strange things they’re designed to do Mothers hurry their kids past that window They don’t want them spotting what’s in there All the neighbours gossip about what’s in that window But knocking on that door’s something they won’t do For an angry man lives behind that window With all those toys there on display You don’t want to mix with that man behind the window Whether or not he’s straight or gay Coz he’ll come running and screaming after you And there ain’t no telling what he’s gonna do But he’ll probably want to beat you black and blue Black and blue, black and blue (etc.)
9.
Well here I am in front of you Naked and raw; don’t know what to do All my weaknesses laid out to view I’m at your mercy; you call the tune You may not think so, but we’re the same Both our lives have been so strange Tossed about like corks at sea Don’t look so surprised at me Love’s more than our number of years Don’t give in to conventional fears I have my weaknesses and my doubts But I’m gonna stick this one out I watch as the others come and go Your life’s a circus; a three-ring show It’s been crazy and I see your pain I’ll give you sunshine rather than rain I’m far from perfect, yes that’s true But I know I’d be good for you So that’s why I’m making my move And declaring my love to you I know I’m not your ideal man You never pictured me in your master plan But if you open those eyes so blue You’ll see a man in love with you And I know it’s just a matter of time I know it’s just a matter of time I know it’s just a matter of time I know it’s just a matter of time I know it’s just a matter of time Yes, it’s just a matter of time It’s just a matter of time (etc.)
10.
I’ve tried so hard, I’ve tried to be nice I’ve done my best all of my life I tried to do what was expected of me I bit my tongue as you stepped on me You’re all take and no give You won’t even let me live My life in bliss or happiness With you I’ve got no peace or rest Your arrogance exasperates You won’t even give me a break Your open trap flappity-flaps When will you get off my back? It’s a wonderful life you’ve granted yourself You’re an absolute picture of health You waltz around and put on airs You’ve got no worries and no cares I wonder if it dawns on you All the crap you’ve put me through But you’re up there and I’m down here You’re so high up you need a tank for air Maybe silence wasn’t enough Well then I’ll just call your bluff I don’t have to be nice or polite I’ll give you the fright of your life Wasn’t that easy, wasn’t that great? I trampled on you; you felt my hate Now I’m you’re monster, your worst nightmare I’m coming for you and you’d better be scared
11.
So what happened to my jet pack? No anti-grav belt – what a setback Bases on the Moon – no we ain’t got them Global peace – wasn’t that the plan? The future’s not what it was cracked up to be It’s a B-grade sci-fi tragedy CHORUS Still they’re stating At least they’re claiming Or so they’re saying More they’re praying It’s gonna be alright It’s gonna be alright Temperature’s rising – there’s no place to go Soon we’ll be hiding under geodesic domes We won’t need shades, we’ll need a big lead hat To keep the radiation off our backs The future’s not so bright – we’re losing time Things went wrong somewhere down the line CHORUS We won the Cold War; so we’ve been told Yet all our freedoms have now been sold No Soviet informants or KGB Instead we’ve got surveillance and CCTV It makes you wonder what democracy means Now Soviet citizens are starting to look free CHORUS Yeah it’s gonna be all- Yeah it’s gonna be all- Yeah it’s gonna be all- Be alright be alright Be alright be alright
12.

about

This 8th album is Venetic's first vinyl release, cut by Palomino Records in Kentucky, and showcases a set of well-crafted songs with settings stretching from Wellington, New Zealand, to Lyons, France.

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released March 9, 2015

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Venetic ® New Zealand

Since 2002, Venetic has independently released 10 albums with more on the way. Healed by the flames of purgatory, he is now back from the undead.

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