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Mr. Alphabet Says Lyrics
here comes the book
the book of rules
if you play this game
you won't stay the same
you could win your golden teeth
be a spinning top
use a riding crop
Mr Alphabet says
"smile like a weasel
as I cover you...
cover you in treacle"
we all know impatience is a sin
so do as you're told to do
it's SO rewarding to...
and you could win the tin man's heart
be a chiming clock
lie on the chopping block
Mr Alphabet says
"give me all your money
just to cover you
cover you in honey"
Don't be afraid
There's no marmalade
Don't be afraid
I wouldn't even dream of it!
the book of rules
if you play this game
you won't stay the same
you could win your golden teeth
be a spinning top
use a riding crop
"smile like a weasel
as I cover you...
cover you in treacle"
so do as you're told to do
it's SO rewarding to...
and you could win the tin man's heart
be a chiming clock
lie on the chopping block
"give me all your money
just to cover you
cover you in honey"
There's no marmalade
Don't be afraid
I wouldn't even dream of it!
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I always thought this is a Cure song but it is from the brief collaboration between Steve Severin (of Siouxsie & the Banshees) and Robert Smith (The Cure). I think there were in a drug induced stupor of some kind when they wrote this album in 1983-84. I'll bet this is based on a children's story of some kind.
From the reissued CD liner notes:
From the reissued CD liner notes:
Severin remembers the sessions as, "Pretty insane. There was an ongoing 'happening' in Britannia Row [Studios]... Marc Almond's band would be there, the Associates, John McGeoch... it was like a mainline train station. We recorded from 6 pm to 6 am, then Robert and I would go back to my flat and watch video nasties!"
Severin remembers the sessions as, "Pretty insane. There was an ongoing 'happening' in Britannia Row [Studios]... Marc Almond's band would be there, the Associates, John McGeoch... it was like a mainline train station. We recorded from 6 pm to 6 am, then Robert and I would go back to my flat and watch video nasties!"
But even the video nasties - Bad Timing, Videodrome, The Evil Dead, etc. - formed part of The Glove's master plan. The idea was that by drowning themselves in acid and junk culture the pair would produce the kind...
But even the video nasties - Bad Timing, Videodrome, The Evil Dead, etc. - formed part of The Glove's master plan. The idea was that by drowning themselves in acid and junk culture the pair would produce the kind of mental disorientation essential to the creation of genuinely psychedelic music.
This song is about drug dealers and just the whole drug thing in general really. "If you play this game, you won't stay the same." Basically how you're willing to do anything for drugs once you're hooked on them.
I wonder if they remember what this song is about? But I have a strange feeling you both may be right.
Mr. Alphabet can be 2 things in my interpretation: Record labels in general (RCA, BMG) or executives (CEO, CFO, etc) We all know impatience is a sin (get on with your job) So do as you're told to do (get to work, produce for us) It's so rewarding to (you'll get fame, money, etc) Win the tin man's heart (false hope, nothing there) Be a chiming clock (do what you're told on time and on beat) Lie on the chopping block (work until you're no good)
Whether drug dealer, capitalist record company (or exec), the story is the same.
they promise a lot but they sap you of your goodness (sweetness of sugar, honey) and you're left the 'treacle' (by-product of sugar)
The first time I heard it, I was pretty sure it was mocking dogma; religion; the bible... and all the dumb rules of it. Could be, and most likely am, wrong though lol.