Week Five: Peter Murphy - "Keep Me From Harm" - Holy Smoke

Way back in 1993, when I received my license and my first car - a 1987 Hyundai Excel - stick shift, I was basically the equivalent of a taxicab service for my friends and acquaintances until they received their freedom, as well, in the form of a plastic government-issued card.  It did, however, always allow me the ability to have a full tank of gas as a result of everyone pitching in for gas funds.

Most of my friends and acquaintances knew that I was in full control of the radio and did not even bother to argue to the contrary.  I remember, however, that my dear friend, Stephanie, purchased me a ton of new cassettes for Christmas that year because she told me that she could not tolerate "that much Siouxsie".

One of the cassettes was Holy Smoke by Peter Murphy.  Being a huge fan of his already and being strapped for cash to purchase new music as a result of my barely-above-minimum-wage job at the deli, I did not decline her request to play this album.  Although, much to her dismay, since it was not my favorite Peter Murphy album, by any means, she was still forced to listen to lots of Siouxsie.



Health is all I'm asking for
Love is all I need
Hope is what I'm asking for
Lay me down to sleep
It was then that I lost you
Was dragged there too
Under a sea of mystery
Died there along with you
Love me hold me keep me from harm
Love me hold me keep me from harm
Guess you found your own root
Dug into that fast heart
Flew without wing or pinion
Now you orbit the stars
Now haunted and weary
Your vision creeps
I need a clear water
I need a release
Love me hold me keep me from harm
Love me hold me keep me from harm



Week Five: Peter Murphy - "I'll Fall With Your Knife" - Cascade

So back in the early 90s, when I embarked upon my goth phase, I was met with a pretty tangled web of what amounted to numerous band member connections, or to put it in simpler terms - it seemed like many of these band members "got around" - not necessarily in a sexual manner, you dirty-minded blogland readers... (But who am I kidding?!?! They probably did that too!!!)

So where do I begin?  Well, you have the connection of Robert Smith playing on Siouxsie's Nocturne album, and you have the connection of Robert Smith and Steve Severin forming The Glove.  You also have other founding members of The Cure going off to form the band, Presence.  However, the ultimate split in the goth world, in my opinion, turned out to be the Bauhaus split - forming Peter Murphy's solo career and also Tones on Tail and then Love & Rockets.

Now, it seems quite simple when stated in the above manner, but in the early 90s, which translates to pre-internet days for me, this kind of research required one to spend hours in libraries/book stores/record shops, flipping through magazines and music-related books to acquire such knowledge.

Regardless, I have had the pleasure of seeing both Peter Murphy and Love & Rockets at least two times a piece.  I can't say which act assumes the place of "my favorite" because I appreciate them both for separate factors, but I can say that, of all the tunes that Peter Murphy has pumped out in his solo career, "I'll Fall With Your Knife" is definitely "my favorite".



To the crowd

To the world

You were so dry

And with the token bird I made

Send it to fly right to your side

With the broken wing you sailed

Oh like winter in July

A barren river wide

I'll pray for the flood

To wash on you

It's here I'll be with you

Well if the birds can reach the sky

To this land I'll be with you

'Til the sun bursts from your side

With my hands I reach to you

When you think your chance is passing by

When you blow your moon away

I'll bleed like the reed

Fall with your knife

It's here I'll be with you

I'll fall

Week Four: Various Duets - Chrissie Hynde & UB40 - "I Got You Babe" - The Singles (Pretenders)

I hated the song, "I Got You Babe", when I was growing up.  My mother listened to it and sang it so much that it just grated on my every nerve.  Then when I finally saw Sonny & Cher on TV one evening performing it and realized what complete dorks they were, that really sealed the deal for me.

I always kind of avoided this track on the Pretenders compilation, as well, simply because I detested the song so much.  However, one day, much to my dismay, I neglected to end the CD in enough time to miss out on this song.  Surprisingly enough, I completely adored it when it was set to a reggae beat.  Then when I saw how super-cute the accompanying video was, I was hooked!

[HER:] They say we're young and we don't know
We won't find out until we grow
[HIM:] Well I don't know if all that's true
'Cause you got me, and baby I got you

[HIM:] Babe
[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe

[HER:] They say our love won't pay the rent
Before it's earned, our money's all been spent
[HIM:] I guess that's so, we don't have a pot
But at least I'm sure of all the things we got

[HIM:] Babe
[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe

[HIM:] I got flowers in the spring I got you to wear my ring
[HER:] And when I'm sad, you're a clown
And if I get scared, you're always around
[HER:] So let them say your hair's too long
'Cause I don't care, with you I can't go wrong
[HIM:] Then put your little hand in mine
There ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb

[HIM:] Babe
[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe

[HIM:] I got you to hold my hand
[HER:] I got you to understand
[HIM:] I got you to walk with me
[HER:] I got you to talk with me
[HIM:] I got you to kiss goodnight
[HER:] I got you to hold me tight
[HIM:] I got you, I won't let go
[HER:] I got you to love me so

[BOTH:] I got you babe
I got you babe
I got you babe
I got you babe
I got you babe