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Living Colour - Time's Up lyrics



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01. Time's Up

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Vernon Reid, Muzz Skillings, Corey Glover, Will Calhoun
Time's up, the rivers have no life
Time's up, the world is full of strife
Time's up, the sky is falling
Time's up, the Lord is calling

How you gonna stop the clock
When the well runs dry
All the rivers have died

Moment by moment
Day by day
The world is just slipping away

Your future won't save your past
The time is now
It won't last

The time is nigh
Time to do-or-die

Time waits for no one
If you want to go on
Leave me something to grow on

The forests, the trees
The rivers, the seas
All die of this disease

Time ain't on your side
Don't sit idly by
You've got to just try

02. History Lesson

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Vernon Reid
In Africa, music is not an art form as much as it is a means of communication.
A Negro has got no name
Quite often, the words of the song are meaningless.
A Negro has got no name
We are wearing the name of our master
...

03. Pride

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Will Calhoun
When I speak out loud you say I'm crazy
When I'm feeling proud you say I'm lazy
I look around and see the true reality

You like our hair, you love our music
Our culture's large so you abuse it
Take time to understand, I'm an equal man

History's a lie that they teach you in school
A fraudulent view called 'The Golden rule'
A peaceful land that was born civilized
Was robbed of its riches, its freedom, its pride

When I'm at work you say I'm great
You watch and ponder but can you relate?
Inviting eyes hands drop when the music stops

Don't ask me why I play this music
It's my culture so naturally I u-u-use it
I state my claim to say it's here for all to play

History's a lie that they teach you in school
A fraudulent view called 'The Golden rule'
A peaceful land that was born civilized
Was robbed of its riches, it's freedom, it's pride

When it's time for a change concepts rearrange
Now can't you feel my rage
Well, it's up to you to seek the truth

To know your history
The difference between me and you
Relate to me as me not what you see on TV

History's a lie that they teach you in school
A fraudulent view called 'The Golden rule'
A peaceful land that was born civilized
Was robbed of its riches, it's freedom, it's pride

04. Love Rears Its Ugly Head

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Vernon Reid
I always thought that our relationship was cool
You played the role of having sense, I always played the fool
Now something's different, I don't know the reason why
Whenever we separate I almost want to cry

Oh no, please not that again
Love rears up it's ugly head

And when I come home late you don't complain or call
So as a consequence I don't go out at all
My friends are frightened, they don't know what's goin' on
They think you put a spell on me and now my mind is gone

Oh no, please not that again
Love rears up it's ugly head, yeah, it's ugly head

"Love's not so bad," they say
But you never know where love is gonna go
Does anybody really know?
Check this out

I'm standin' at the altar as they play the Wedding March
I'm in a black tuxedo with my collar full of starch
Oh, she looks as lovely as she's ever gon' get
I wake up from this nightmare in a pool of sweat

Oh no, no, no, no, not that again, yeah, yeah
I'm not goin', I'm not goin' when
Love rears up it's ugly head

No, not me, not, no, no, not me when
Love rears up it's, love rears up it's
Ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly head

What you gonna do, Lord?
What you gonna do when it comes and gets you?

05. New Jack Theme

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Vernon Reid
Buy and die, sell and be free
We are the new jacks, this is our reality
Do unto others, leave no one alive
This is our creed, we will survive
No control is how I'm livin'
On the edge with no forgivin'

Things get rough when you've got time to kill
You've got the cash then I've got your thrill
I make more money than a judge or a cop
Give me a reason why I should stop
Large is how I'm livin'
On the edge with no forgivin'

Some people say that my soul is lost
I'll lose my life if I start to turn soft
From where I am there is no turning back
Crack is the master, I am a new jack

Does it anybody see me, yeah?
Does it anybody hear me, yeah?

I'll never change, I'll never stop
I've got cold cash, I'm on the top
We can get busy if you want to play
I'll have the last laugh when I blow you away

Don't you see me, yeah?
Can't you hear me, yeah?
Don't you see me, yeah?
Can't you hear me, yeah?
Don't you see me, hear me?
Don't you see me, hear me?
Don't you see me, hear me?
...

06. Someone Like You

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Muzz Skillings
Do you remember
The times of laughter?
Children playin', life was so sweet
Before our city forgot us
And let the druglord take our street
Pacify me politician
Pacify me with your lies
Blind to the people suffering
Deaf to the children's cries

Well I know what to do
With someone like you

Police, they chased my brother
Policeman licensed to kill
Ohh, how I miss my brother
Good shoes are so hard to fill
Policeman, are you happy?
You snuffed the medical student out
Ohh, maybe he could have changed the world
I guess we'll never find out

Ohh, but I know what to do
With someone like you
Yea yea yeah
I know what to do
With someone like you

It's never too late
To change your ways
It's never too late
To change your ways

Ohh, too young
Gave her body
She was afraid of being alone
One baby having another
Ohh, sweet baby wants to be grown
But there's a, there's an angel on your shoulder
Always speaking to your soul
Listen and your heart will be glad
You'll never have to be alone

Ohh, 'cause I know what to do
With someone like you
Yeah, I know what to do
With someone like you

Ohh, I know what to do
With someone like you
I know what to do

07. Elvis Is Dead

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Vernon Reid
Tabloids scream
Elvis seen at a shopping mall
That's the kind of talk
That makes my stomach crawl
Picture a zombie Elvis
In a tacky white jump suit
Just imagine a rottin' Elvis
Shopping for fresh fruit

You can't 'cause
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead

When the King died
He was all alone
I heard that when he died
He was sittin' on his throne
Alas poor Elvis
They made us know you well
Now you dwell forever
In the heartbreak hotel

Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Dead

Elvis was a hero to most
But that's beside the point
A blackman taught him how to sing
And then he was crowned King
The pelvis of Elvis
Too dangerous for the masses
They cleaned him up and sent him to Vegas
Now the masses are his slave
Slave?
Yes, slave
Even from the grave

Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead

I've got a reason to believe
We all won't be received at Graceland
I've got a reason to believe
We all won't be received at Graceland
I've got a reason to believe
We all won't be received at Graceland
I've got a reason to believe
We all won't be received at Graceland
No, not you, my brother

'Cause
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead
Elvis is dead

08. Type

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Vernon Reid
Stereotype mono type blood type
Are you my type?
Minimalism, abstract expressionism
Post modernism is it?

We are the children of concrete and steel
This is the place where the truth is concealed
This is the time when the lie is revealed
Everything is possible, but nothing is real

Corporate religion televangahypnotism
Suffer till you die for the sweet-bye-and-bye
Science and technology, the new mythology
Look deep inside empty

We are the children of concrete and steel
This is the place where the truth is concealed
This is the time when the lie is revealed
Everything is possible, but nothing is real

Everything that goes around comes around

Hypothetical theoretical
Circumstantial evidence irrelevance
Well don't think twice just roll the dice
Pay the price snake eyes

We are the children of concrete and steel
This is the place where the truth is concealed
This is the time when the lie is revealed
Everything is possible, but nothing is real

We are the children of concrete and steel
This is the place where your fate has been sealed
This is the time when your life is revealed
Everything is possible, but nothing is, nothing is
Nothing is, nothing is, nothing is, nothing is real
Nothing is real

Everything that goes around comes around
Everything that goes around comes around
Everything that goes around comes around
...

09. Information Overload

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Vernon Reid
Sometimes I feel
Like my mind will explode
Sometimes I feel
Like I've got no control

Sometimes I wish
I had a heart made of steel
Sometimes I wish
I couldn't feel

Information overload
Information overload
Information overload
Information overload

They say the future, it's on a microchip
Don't you know we're all on a sinking ship
Only ten percent control all the rest
Only ten percent decide what is best, yes, yes

Information overload
Information overload
Information overload
Information overload

Information overload
Information overload
Information overload
Information overload

I don't want to live like this
I don't want to live like this
I don't want to live like, live like
I don't want to live like this, no, no, yeah, no

Still ain't no cure for the summertime blues
I'd like to shake these blues but I'm still paying dues
My blues so deep you might think they're black
My blues so deep there ain't no turning back, back, back

Information overload
Information overload
Information overload
Information over overload
...

10. Under Cover of Darkness

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Corey Glover
Haa
Touch without seein', love with no feelin'
Stealin' a moment, under cover of darkness

I'd like to kiss you, let my lips caress you
Sending sparks of passion up your spine
But doin' so means sayin' no
And even the thought would be a crime

I like to touch your skin, even if it is a sin
I'd rather burn than not touch you
I might just go mad, thinkin' what I might have had
All the things I'd like to do

Safe seduction, isn't what it is
Sexuality, isn't what it appears to be
It's what you think you see

(You know you can't do without)
I wanna make you hot
Touch that spot and send you on a trip
But my consequences, abstinence and
Lord knows I just can't sleep
(You know what I'm talkin' about)

I wanna feel you, the real you
Not the projection that you let me see
The safest sex is when it's not skin to skin
It's very simple let your mind go free

Safe seduction, isn't what it is, auh
Sexuality, isn't what it appears to be
It's what you think you see

To do or not to do that is the question
Over and over you're prone suggestion
Some senses when I can't condone the fact
That you wanna make your bed my home
Let's say I take this man as my lover
And he swears that there will never be another
But really he doesn't give a damn about safe sex
And with all these other girls he has a taste test
Well the thrill doesn't outweigh the consequences
Therefore I am usin' my common senses
To let you know I adore you
But I'm afraid I'm not the one for you

Ahh, yea, ooh
Ha,ha,ha

Safe seduction, isn't what it is
Sexuality, isn't what it appears to be
It's what you think you see

Safe seduction, isn't what it is
Sexuality, isn't what it appears to be
Ain't what it appears to be
(You know you wanna mess)

11. Ology

Music by Living Colour
Instrumental

12. Fight The Fight

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Vernon Reid, Muzz Skillings, Corey Glover, Will Calhoun
We are all fighting the same fight
We are all in the same war
We are all in the same revolution
You got to know what you're fighting for

We are all fighting the same fight
We are all in the same war
We are all in the same revolution
You got to know what you're fighting for

Yelling and kicking, trying to stay alive
All the time eyes on the prize
But does anybody hear my cries?
Tell me something, "Do I qualify?"

TV telling me we're just the same
What they're talking is the same old game
Tell me, "If I'm just like you
Why can't I do the things that you do?" huh, well

If war's the key, what door will it open?
If peace the answer then what's the question?
Well, war is hell, peace is hell, love is hell
(I've had it with you)
Oh, what the hell?

My heart beats just like yours
When I dream my mind soars
But no fantasy can pay my bills
Another dream unfulfilled

We are all fighting the same fight
We are all in the same war
We are all in the same revolution
You got to know what you're fighting for

We are all fighting the same fight
We are all in the same war
We are all in the same revolution
You got to know what you're fighting for

Fight the fight in the war, in this revolution
You got to know what you're fighting for

13. Tag Team Partners

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Corey Glover
C'mon, c'mon
Tag team partner, c'mon
Tag team partner

14. Solace Of You

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Corey Glover, Vernon Reid
When it hurts to be out there
Where no one will care
I've got the solace of you

Frustrated by the people's lying
But I keep on trying
I've got the solace of you

When I can't think straight
And there's no escape
I've got the solace of you

Gotta go inside back where it started
Back to the beginning 'cause that's where my heart is
Gotta go inside back where it started
Back to the beginning 'cause that's where my heart is

They can hurt me, jail my body
I'll still be free
I've got the solace of you

They can take my land
Tell me I'm not who I am
I've got the solace of you

A wise man said to know thyself
'Cause in the end there's no one else
Just the solace of you

Gotta go inside back where it started
Back to the beginning 'cause that's where my heart is
Gotta go inside back where it started
Back to the beginning 'cause that's where my heart is

Gotta go inside
Back to the beginning
Gotta go inside
Back to the beginning

15. This Is The Life

Music by Living Colour
Lyrics by Vernon Reid
Eee, eee
Eee, eee

In another life you might have been a genius
In another life you might have been a star
In another life your face might have been perfect
In another life you'd drive a better car

In another life all your jokes are funny
In another life your heart is free from fear
In another life you make a lot of money
In this other life everything is clear

In another life you're always the hero
In another life you always win the game
In another life no one ever cheats you
In another life you never have to change

In another life your friends never desert you
In another life you never have to cry
In another life no one ever hurts you
In this other life your loved ones never die

But this is the life you have
This is the life you have
This is the life you have
This is the life

In another life you're always the victim
In another life you're always the thief
In another life you're always lonely
In this other life there is no relief

In your real life treat it like it's special
In your real life try to be more kind
In your real life think of those that love you
In this real life try to be less blind

This is the life you have
This is the life you have
This is the life you have
This is the life you have
Hee, hee, hee, hee