"Skid Row" (1989)



1. Big Guns
2. Sweet Little Sister
3. Can't Stand The Heartache
4. Piece Of Me
5. 18 And Life
6. Rattlesnake Shake
7. Youth Gone Wild
8. Here I Am
9. Makin' A Mess
10. I Remember You
11. Midnight/Tornado

1. Big Guns

[Bolan, Hill, Snake, Affuso]

She was a ballerina on a subway train
Stiletto heels and a candy cane
Looked like a number on a station wall
Hot on the tail of a social call

I wet my lips I thought I had it made
Like Valentino with a hand grenade
I made my move with my libido on
She circled once and then she dropped the bomb

She got the big guns
Pointed at my heart
Bang bang shooting like a firing squad
Big guns
Blew me away
And I went down in flames

I met a sidewalk preacher on a roller skate
He said he had the key to heaven's gate
I said: "I'll wait for the movie 'cause I been there before"
And learned: like is a battle and love is war

She got the big guns
Pointed at my heart
Bang bang shooting like a firing squad
Big guns
Took me by surprise
She got my lovin' reachin' for the sky

She got the big guns
Pointed at my heart
Bang bang shooting like a firing squad
Big guns
Blew me away
And I went down in flames

I'm doing time as a back seat Romeo
Play solitaire with my hands in the air
Another night and no bullets to spare

She got the big guns
Pointed at my heart
Bang bang shooting like a firing squad
Big guns
Took me by surprise
She got my lovin' reachin' for the sky

She got the big guns
Pointed at my heart
Bang bang shooting like a firing squad
Big guns
Blew me away
And I went down in flames

Big guns (Big guns)
Big guns, blew me away
And I went down in flames

Big guns, big guns
She really, really got the big guns
She shot me down in flames

2. Sweet Little Sister

[Bolan, Snake]

She blew my mind behind the wrecking machine
She was a shitload of trouble called the Subway Queen
Had a hip with bad habits and a shake that was a bit obscene

One night I caught her running out the cellar door
There was about a million people lying flat on the floor
For such a sweet little lady I would swear she's rotten to the core

She got her hands in the cookie jar
Smiling like an alligator
Makin' headlines in the back of her car
Tight-lipped now but sink ships later

I know a thing or two about -- sweet little sister
Her mama kill her if she knew what she do -- sweet little sister
She'll love ya black and blue -- sweet little sister
Mona Lisa with a new tattoo
She's my sweet little -- sweet little sister

Every quittin' time is another disease
Too many cowboys ridin' high shootin' low at the knees
The back hand boogie is the price you pay for being the squeeze

The pettin's getting heavy got her tongue in her ear
her friend is doing time for kickin' ass on a queer
They're in a mental state and all their friends are here

She's tellin' lies through her burgundy lips
Angel on a mission of mercy
She'll get you dancin' with the crack of her whip
Take you up to heaven in her rocket ship

I know a thing or two about -- sweet little sister
Her mama kill her if she knew what she do -- sweet little sister
She'll love ya black and blue -- sweet little sister
Mona Lisa with a new tattoo
She's my sweet little -- sweet little sister

She got her hands in the cookie jar smiling like an alligator
Makin' headlines in the back of her car
Tight-lipped now but sink ships later

I know a thing or two about -- sweet little sister
Her mama kill her if she knew what she do -- sweet little sister
She'll love ya black and blue -- sweet little sister
Mona Lisa with a new tattoo
She's my sweet little -- sweet little sister

3. Can't Stand The Heartache

[Bolan]

Fall in love with a twisted lady
Suicide with a cover girl
Spent all your time then you got stuck paying the price

Uptown, kick it down, into a spin
Face the wall, take it all, you just can't win

Can't stand the heartache
So bleeds the red, red rose
Time heals a broken heart
But that's just the way it goes
Can't stand, can't stand the heartache

You got caught in the line of fire
Bystander innocence
You held your own till it wasn't yours anymore

Waste away another day into the night
You're at home by the phone, it don't seem right

Can't stand the heartache
So bleeds the red, red rose
Time heals a broken heart
But that's just the way it goes
Can't stand, can't stand the heartache

You held me like a prisoner
And I don't know
Why I stayed here from the start

Uptown, run me down under your wheels
I pray, one day, you'll know how it feels

Can't stand the heartache
So bleeds the red, red rose
Time heals a broken heart
But that's just the way it goes
Can't stand, can't stand the heartache

Can't stand the heartache
So bleeds the red, red rose
Time heals a broken heart
But that's just the way it goes
Can't stand, can't stand the heartache

Can't stand the heartache
So bleeds the red, red rose
Time heals a broken heart
But that's just the way it goes
Can't stand, can't stand the heartache

4. Piece Of Me

[Bolan]

Sleazin' in the city
Lookin' for a fight
Got my heels and lookin' pretty
On a Saturday night, night, night

Good God, bless my soul
I need a fix of rock 'n roll
Come on baby you gotta wait and see
You better hurry
To get a piece of me

Caught a lonely lady
Crying on a cigarette
I got nasty, nasty habits
And that's all she's gonna get

One for the money, two for the show
So 'round and 'round and 'round we go
Take a look at what-a you might need
You better hurry
To get a piece of me

I don't have looks, I don't have money
But I know one thing's for sure
One night ain't enough of my love
She wanted more, more, more

Sleazin' in the city
Lookin' for a fight
Got my heels and lookin' pretty
On a Saturday night, night, night

One for the money, two for the show
So 'round and 'round and 'round we go
Take a look at what-a you might need
You better hurry
To get a piece of me
To get a piece of me
To get a piece of me

5. 18 And Life

[Bolan, Snake]

Ricky was a young boy, He had a heart of stone.
Lived 9 to 5 and worked his fingers to the bone.
Just barely got out of school, came from the edge of town.
Fought like a switchblade so no one could take him down.
He had no money, oooh no good at home.
He walked the streets a soldier and he fought the world alone
And now it's

18 and life You got it
18 and life you know
Your crime is time and it's
18 and life to go
[repeat above]

Tequila in his heartbeat, His veins burned gasoline.
It kept his motor running but it never kept him clean.
They say he loved adventure, "Ricky's the wild one."
He married trouble and had a courtship with a gun.
Bang Bang Shoot 'em up, The party never ends.
You can't think of dying when the bottle's your best friend
And now it's

[chorus]

"Accidents will happen" they all heard Ricky say
He fired his six-shot to the wind - that child blew a child away.

[chorus]

6. Rattlesnake Shake

[Bolan, Snake]

Tricky little Vicky walks along South Street
She learned her French from the boys that she'd meet
I gotta laugh when I hear them say
She's a sweet little cheese when the cat's away

I know what you been trying
What you got ain't worth buying
Can't make living working door to door

Shake, shake, shake it like a rattlesnake
Boom, boom baby out go the lights
Shake, shake, shake it like a rattlesnake
Staying up late doing the rattlesnake shake

Juicy Miss Lucy always diggin' on junk
She's on the corner talkin' trash with the punks
Her buried treasure is so easy to see
'Cause talk is cheap and so is she

You're lost in search of passion
(But) Prince Charming ain't in fashion
So let it bleed if you wanna stay

Shake, shake, shake it like a rattlesnake
Boom, boom baby out go the lights
Shake, shake, shake it like a rattlesnake
Staying up late doing the rattlesnake shake

Shake, shake, shake it like a rattlesnake
Boom, boom baby out go the lights
Shake, shake, shake it like a rattlesnake
Staying up late doing the rattlesnake shake

Shake, shake, shake it like a rattlesnake
Boom, boom baby out go the lights
Shake, shake, shake it like a rattlesnake
Staying up late doing the rattlesnake shake

7. Youth Gone Wild

[Bolan, Snake]

Since I was born they couldn't hold me down
Another misfit kid, another burned-out town

Never played by the rules I never really cared
My nasty reputation takes me everywhere

I look and see it's not only me
So many others have stood where I stand
We are the young so raise your hands

They call us problem child
We spend our lives on trial
We walk an endless mile
We are the youth gone wild
We stand and we won't fall
We're the one and one for all
The writing's on the wall
We are the youth gone wild

Boss screamin' in my ear about who I'm supposed to be
Getcha a 3-piece Wall Street smile and son you'll look just like me

I said "Hey man, there's something that you oughta know.
I tell ya Park Avenue leads to Skid Row."

I look and see it's not only me
We're standin' tall ain't never a doubt
We are the young, so shout it out

They call us problem child
We spend our lives on trial
We walk an endless mile
We are the youth gone wild
We stand and we won't fall
We're the one and one for all
The writing's on the wall
We are the youth gone wild

They call us problem child
We spend our lives on trial
We walk an endless mile
We are the youth gone wild
We stand and we won't fall
We're the one and one for all
The writing's on the wall
We are the youth gone wild
We are the youth gone wild

8. Here I Am

[Bolan, Snake]

Six foot one and lonely
Dressed in spaghetti rags
Standing at the bus stop
With her alligator bags

What can u do?
No, no, no, what can I do
I better see a doctor
'Cause I think I'm getting hooked on you

I ain't much for talkin'
But all I got to say is

Here I am
Close your eyes and I'll be Superman
Here I am
Come and take my lovin' while you can

She broke a million hearts
On 2nd Avenue
With her German cigarettes
And designer attitude

What can u do?
No, no, no, what can I do
My love's been goin' blind
Since the first time I laid eyes on you

Ain't much for conversation
But I got to let you know

Here I am
Close your eyes and I'll be Superman
Here I am
Come and take my lovin' while you can

You don't need a crystal ball
To see she's got it all

Here I am
Close your eyes and I'll be Superman
Here I am
Come and take my lovin' while you can

9. Makin' A Mess

[Bach, Bolan, Snake]

T-bone Billy just a singin' the blues
Caught his lady with another man
Lit up a smoke and did some talkin'
With the back of his hand

She started shakin', started losing her mind
But he was kicking back and playing it cool
Signed her walkin' papers
Took the 5:15 to Kalamazoo

Sing for your supper,
Nobody rides for free
Eat your heart out, I'll send it C.O.D.

One, two baby what you do
Three, four let me show you the door
You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me
Five, six take your last licks
Seven, eight let me give it to you straight
You're better off dead than makin a mess of me

Now Billy-boy's out havin' a ball playin' fiddle at the local bar
Dark shades, cool kicks, he's Hollywood Blvd.
Slick Daddy and his fat cigar sayin':
"Sign upon the dotted line!"
He shook his head and said:
"All I need is that fiddle of mine!"

Sing for your supper,
Nobody rides for free
Take your big time, I'll take care of me

One, two baby what you do
Three, four let me show you the door
You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me
Five, six take your last licks
Seven, eight let me give it to you straight
You're better off dead than makin a mess of me

When trouble came knockin'
Billy kep-a-rockin' like this...

Sing for your supper,
Nobody rides for free
Eat your heart out, I'll send it C.O.D.

One, two baby what you do
Three, four let me show you the door
You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me
Five, six take your last licks
Seven, eight let me give it to you straight
You're better off dead than makin a mess of me

One, two baby what you do
Three, four let me show you the door
You're better off dead than makin' a mess of me
Five, six take your last licks (lick it)
Seven, eight let me give it to you straight
You're better off dead than makin a mess of me