One Of The Survivors
Written by: Raymond Douglas Davies

Published by: Davray Music Ltd.

Chord file
Lyrics:
(Sung by Johnny Thunder and Chorus)

See Johnny Thunder sitting on his motorbike
Riding along the highway,
Rock and Roll songs from the nineteen-fifties
Buzzing around in his brain.
Johnny Thunder he's one of the original bebop generation
And he's got no time for complicated music or too much sophistication.

He's one of the survivors,
The motorbike riders.
You ought to see Johnny Thunder riding down the highway
One of the rock and roll survivors,
Twelve bars flowing through his brain.
He digs Jerry Lee Lewis, Dion and The Belmonts,
And Johnny & The Hurricanes.

He plays Hound Dog, Oh Boy, and Great Balls of Fire
And Boppin' At The High School Hop.
And he's got no time for phonies or posers
'Cos they don't know how to reel and rock.
and he plays Little Egypt and Ooh Poo Pah Doo,
And he plays Poison Ivy and Blue Suede Shoes,
The Hollywood Argyles, Danny & The Juniors,
Dion & The Belmonts, Johnny & The Hurricanes.

He's one of the survivors,
The boppers and the jivers,
Yeah and he rocks all day.
Johnny & The Hurricanes, Johnny & The Hurricanes.

Got my freedom riding along the freeway.
I ride a hundred miles an hour but I don't mess up my D.A.
Rock, rock, rock, rock, rock 'n' roll.
You can't stop rock 'n' rollin' music play.
(repeat last two lines)

Feel those vibrations flow in my brain.
Got my freedom riding down the highway,
Keeps me sane, feel alive,
I'm one of the survivors.

Feel all right.
First gear, second gear, third gear, fourth gear, all right.
Old Johnny Thunder looks a little overweight,
And his sideburns are turning grey.
But he still likes to bebop, boogie and jive
To his worn out seventy-eights.
Johnny Thunder.
He's alright.
He's one of the survivors,
Twelve bars flowing through his brain,
Jerry Lee Lewis, Dion & The Belmonts,

Only A Dream
Written by: R. Davies

Published by: Davray Music Ltd., 1992

Chord file
Lyrics:
Standing by the elevator
Feeling gloomy and down
Waiting for the flashing light
To lift me up from the ground
Then the elevator opened
And I saw her standing there
She had to be a young executive
She looked so corporate and clean
And I thought I'd seen her somewhere before
On the cover of a magazine
I didn't think she'd even look at me
Or bother to glance my way
But she actually smiled at me and said
Hi-ya handsome, have a good day

Chorus:
I must be dreaming if she looks at me
I gotta be dreaming, is it a fantasy
Now I've got positive emotions
Buzzing 'round every molecule in me
I gotta be dreaming, is it reality
But over and over I live that memory
Was it real or only a dream
La la la la

Was it my imagination playing tricks on me
When she looked my way
Maybe she took me for somebody else
Whatever it was, it made my day, hey hey

I wake up in the morning
Smiling with anticipation
Suddenly I feel alive
Face the world with expectation
I must be dreaming this world is a better place
Was my imagination playing tricks on me
Was it real or only a dream?
I see a great big sunset
Where only clouds used to be
Was it all an illusion, is it fantasy
If it's just a dream
It's good enough for me, yeah yeah

Waiting by the elevator
Feeling optimistic and keen
Waiting for my executive goddess
to appear as if in a dream
Then the elevator opened
She was talking to another guy
And I tried to say hello to her
But I failed to even catch her eye
Then everybody crowded inside
And I sadly stood my ground
Thinking life's just like that elevator
It takes you up and brings you down

Chorus

Was it only an illusion
Was it real or only a dream

Chorus

On The Outside
Written by: Ray Davies

Published by: Davray Music/Carlin Music

Chord file
Lyrics:
You stay at home,
All on your own with nothing but walls to talk to.
You never go anywhere,
You say you've nothing to wear,
So you keep all your troubles inside of you.
There's something hidden in you,
And you keep it out of view.
You shouldn't feel any guilt,
Or have any doubts,
You gotta let yourself out whilst there's something left of you

Hey baby blue,
Don't hide your troubles inside.
I'd sure like to knoe you,
And there's so much to show you on the outside.
Somehow I know that we are goona get by,
So stop acting like a ladfy come and cry like a baby on the outside
Outside
I know that the weather is fine,
Outside
I know we're gonna be alright.
Somehow I know that we are goonna survive.
So stop acting like a lady come and cry like a baby on the outside
On the outside


You think you're a freak,
And you're afraid to compete,
In a world that you thinks got it down on you,
You're a closet queen,
You think it's obscene,
To let the people see what's deep inside of you.
I know what you're going through,
But what you are is nothing new,
So don't feel ashamed
'Cos you're not to blame,
Role up the blinds and let the sun come shining through.

Hey baby blue
Don't hide your troubles inside,
You should be glad in the gay,
Nobody cares anyway on the outside.
Somehow I know that we are gonna get by,
So stop acting like a lady come and cry like a baby on the outside.
Outside
I know that the weather is fine
Outside
I know it's gonna be alright.
Somehow I know that we are gonna get by,
So stop acting like a lady come and cry like baby on the outside.
On the outside
On the outside

Oobadiooba
Written by: Ray Davies

Published by: ?

Chord file
Lyrics:
Oobadiooba, oobadiay
Everything's swingin', swingin my way
Sad times are over, oobadioobiayay
Yeah yeah yeah

Oobadiooba, oobadiay
One thing is certain, I wanna say
Darlin' I love you, oobadioobiayay
Yeah yeah...

Feel I wanna laugh and shout
Cry "Hip hip hooray"
Now I know without a doubt
You are here to stay

Oobadiooba, oobadiay
We'll be together, come what may
Sad times are over, oobadioobiayay
Yeah yeah yeah

Feel I wanna laugh and shout
Cry "Hip hip hooray"
Now I know without a doubt
You are here to stay

Oobadiooba, oobadiay
We'll be together, come what may
Sad times are over, oobadioobiayay
Yeah yeah yeah

Oobadiooba, oobadiyay

Ordinary People
Written by: Raymond Douglas Davies

Published by: Davray Music Ltd.

Chord file
Lyrics:


STAR:
I am the image maker. I am the magic
maker. I can turn the most ordinary
man in the world into a star. To prove
my point I am going to find the most
mundane little man and turn him into
celebrity. Hmm! This looks like a
suitably uninteresting house. I wonder
if there's anybody here with enough
star quality?

He presses the doorbell.

STAR:
Hello. What's your name?

WIFE:
Andrea.

STAR:
Oh, that's a nice name. What's your
husband's name?

WIFE:
Norman.

STAR:
His name's Norman. That sounds
ordinary enough. I would like you to
join in a unique experiment with me.
I am going to take Norman's place for
a few days. I 'm going to research his
ordinary dull little existence.

WIFE:
Oh you can't come in now! The place
is in a terrible mess!

STAR:
That doesn't matter. I want you to act
normally. I want you to treat me as if I
were Norman. I am going to sacrifice
my normal flamboyant life style and
become ordinary, boring little Norman
for a few days.


Ordinary People

It's like another world, being here with you,
It's quite a trip for me, so this is reality.
I'm studying every movement, I'm trying to learn the part,
Now I want you to be natural, just relax and be as you are,
'Cos it's all for art, I want to observe the ordinary people

Tomorrow I shall become Norman,
I shall go to his office,
Mix with his workmates.
And if they ask any questions
I shall say I'm doing research for one of my songs.
Nomand and I are changing places
And I'm going to make him a star,
So I'm throwing away my stage suit and I'm packing away my guitar,
For the sake of art I'm gonna mix with the ordinary people.

Star:
God these pyjamas are awful!

Wife:
Awful? Well all I can say is my Norman wears them every night.

Star:
Alright, no sacrifice is too great for art!

The things I've done for music,
The things I've done for art.
So I'll make these sacrifices and I'll take it like a star
For the sake of art I will mix with the ordinary people.

Star:
You'd better come to bed darling.

Wife:
Coming! You'll never get up for work in the morning.

I'm making observations, and character simulations.
I'll mix with his friends and relations,
And he'll be a part of me.

Chorus
He's changing places with Norman,
To get background for his songs.

I'm immortalising his life
And I'll even sleep with his wife,
For the sake of art I'll go to bed like the ordinary people.

Turn out the light.
Turn out the light.

The Star exchanges his silver stage
suit for Norman's pin stripe suit,
umbrella and briefcase. He forsakes
his customary brandy and cigars and
settles for a cup of hot chocolate before
going to bed.

Live version:
Hey Norman, you're stayin' at home with your wife
And you dream you're a rock-n-roll star
But you've reached the point of no return
And you don't know who you really are
You're livin' in a fantasy world
You don't know what's real
How does it feel, all of your life
In an enchanted lie[?] [could be "eternal lie"?]

[Or possibly it's "Imitating lives of... the ordinary people"]

The ordinary people
The ordinary people
The ordinary people

Hey mister can you lend me a hand
Can you tell me who I really am
Am I just an ordinary guy
Or do I play in a rock-n-roll band
Are you all in my imagination
Are they only in my mind
'Cause I just don't know what to feel
When everything seems real

With the ordinary people
The ordinary people
The ordinary people

Out Of The Wardrobe
Written by: R.D. Davies

Published by: Davray Music Ltd.

Chord file
Lyrics:
Has anybody here seen a chick called Dick
He looks real burly but he's really hip
He's six feet tall and his arms are all brown and hairy

He married Betty Lou back in '65 when you had to be butch to survive
But lately he's been looking at his wife with mixed emotions
You see, he's not a common place closet queen
He shouldn't be hidden, he should be seen
'Cos when he puts on that dress he looks like a princess

Well, the day he came out of the wardrobe
Betty Lou got quite a surprise
She didn't know whether she should get angry or not bat an eye
She really couldn't call up her mama
Mama would positively die
Should she go or stay, or should she try to get a trial separation

You see, he's not a faggot as you might suppose
He just feels restricted in conventional clothes
'Cos when he puts on that dress he feels like a princess

He's not a dandy, he's only living out a fantasy
He's not a pansy, he's only being what he wants to be
Now his life is rearranged and he's grateful for the change
He's out of the wardrobe and now he's got no regrets

Betty Lou didn't know what to do at first
But she's learning to cope at last
She got the best of both worlds
And she's really in a state of elation
She says it helped their relationship
She says a change is as good as a rest
And their friends are finally coming 'round to their way of thinking
She wears the trousers and smokes a pipe
And he washes up
She helps him wipe
'Cos when he puts on that dress he looks like a princess

He's out of the wardrobe and he's feeling alright
He's out of the wardrobe and he's feeling satisfied
Now it's farewell to the past
The secret's out at last
He's out of the wardrobe and now he's got no regrets

Over The Edge
Written by: R. Davies

Published by: Davray Music Ltd., 1991

Chord file
Lyrics:
Everybody is a victim of society
Comedy, tragedy, vaudeville and variety
Pantomime players in the grand tradition
Winners and losers till the intermission

Girl, I know the world's a stage
That's what the poet said
But I think our weird relationship
Is way above my head
I'll be your Casanova whipping by
If that's what you desire
But once I start performing
I can't easily retire

I'll swing on a trapeze
I'll jump through hoops
And I'll eat fire
Be a human cannon ball
And walk on the high wire
Put on make-up, wear a wig
I'll be your tragic clown
But once you've got me up there
I can't easily come down

Don't drive me over the edge of it
Can't you see I've got mixed-up emotions
Joined the crowd just to be part of it
That was the start of it
Oh, now I'm over the edge
(Don't drive me over the edge of it)
Oh, over the edge

The world is turning upside-down
Civilization's dead, over the edge
Economic turmoil, now the world is in the red
Democracy's a shadow of its former glory
Law and orders broken-down
End of story

My next door neighbour's totally snapped
He's gone over the edge
He's putting up barbed wire barricades
Around the garden hedge
And planting land mines on the lawn
He's gone barmy
According to his wife, he's formed a secret army
Ever since he got laid off
Something inside snapped
His wife says he's gone 'round the twist
Now there's no turning back
All night he waits in the garden shed
For the enemy to attack
A suburban vigilante
Dressed up in a union jack
He's over the edge, oh, over the edge

Don't drive me over the edge of it
Woman, you are gonna drive me
Totally over the edge
Is it yes or is it no
Are you gonna take the pledge
The pressures of society are getting to your brain
And forced you to act weird
And put me under all this strain
But don't drive me over the edge of it
Stop while I've still got emotions
Joined the crowd, just to be part of it
That was the start of it
Oh, over the edge
Don't drive me over the edge of it

Everybody is a victim of society
Comedy, tragedy
Vaudeville, variety
Pantomime players in the grand tradition
Forced into roles that leave them totally driven
Right over the edge

Party Line
Written by: R. Davies

Published by: Davray/Carlin Music Corp.

Chord file
Lyrics:
(Hello, who's that speaking, please?)

I'm on a party line,
Wonderin' all the time,
Who's on the other end?
Is she big, is she small?
Is she a she at all?
Who's on my party line?

Wish I had a more direct connection.
This party line was here when I arrived.
And I'm not voting in the next election,
If they don't do something about finding out
the person who is on my party line.

I'm on a party line.
I'm on a party line.

I can't speak without an interception.
This is private, please get off my line.
Please tell me when I can have my privacy.
I'd like to meet the girl who's always talking
when I'm speaking on my party line.

Wish I had a more direct connection.
This party line was here when I arrived.
And I'm not voting in the next election,
If they don't do something about finding out
the person who is on my party line.

I'm on a party line,
Wonderin' all the time,
Who's on the other end?
Is she big, is she small?
Is she a she at all?
Who's on my party line?
Who's on my party line?
Who's on my party line?

People Take Pictures Of Each Other
Written by: Ray Davies

Published by: Noma Music, Inc./Hi-Count Music, Inc. BMI

Chord file
Lyrics:
People take pictures of the Summer,
Just in case someone thought they had missed it,
And to proved that it really existed.
Fathers take pictures of the mothers,
And the sisters take pictures of brothers,
Just to show that they love one another.

You can't picture love that you took from me,
When we were young and the world was free.
Pictures of things as they used to be,
Don't show me no more, please.

People take pictures of each other,
Just to prove that they really existed,
Just to prove that they really existed.
People take pictures of each other,
And the moment to last them for ever,
Of the time when they mattered to someone.

People take pictures of the Summer,
Just in case someone thought they had missed it,
Just to proved that it really existed.
People take pictures of each other,
And the moment to last them for ever,
Of the time when they mattered to someone.
Picture of me when I was just three,
Sucking my thumb by the old oak tree.
Oh how I love things as they used to be,
Don't show me no more, please.

Perfect Strangers
Written by: David R.G. Davies

Published by: Colgems-EMI Music Inc.

Lyrics:
Everytime we meet
My heart skips a beat
Seems we're Perfect Strangers

I can't understand
What's inside of man
That makes us Perfect Strangers

Through all this time so lonely
All the people with nobody
With lifes misunderstanding
Feel I've known you all my life
There's something quite familiar in your eyes
A soul is calling
Do you ever wonder why?

Everytime we meet
A sympathetic beat
In the heart of strangers
Here the love it calls
But you don't know me at all
Seems we're Perfect Strangers
Just like Perfect Strangers

Ever looked up to the sky
On a night so melancholy
See the angry world around you
Really need someone to talk to
Doesn't mind you feel so crazy
Where's the understanding stranger
Or the understanding lover

I know there'll come a day
When peace will touch the heart of you
Until then I will say

Open up your eyes
You're not hypnotised
We're not really strangers
You don't understand
That in the heart of love
There's no Perfect Strangers
Everytime we meet
A sympathetic beat
In the heart of strangers

Repeats...