I was surprised
I was happy for a day in 1975
I was puzzled by a dream
It stayed with me all day in 1995
My brother had confessed he was gay
It took the heat off me for a while
He stood up with a sailor friend
Made it known upon my sister's wedding day
I got married in a rush
To save a kid from being deported and now she's in love
I was so touched
I was moved to kick the crutches from my crippled friend
And she was not impressed
'Cause I cured her on the Sabbath, so I went to confess
When she saw the funny side
We introduced my child bride to whiskey and gin, to whiskey and gin
The priest in the booth had a photographic memory
For all he had heard
And he took all of my sins and he wrote a pocket novel called
"The State I Am In"
And so I gave myself to God
There was a pregnant pause before he said okay
Now I spend my days turning tables 'round in Marks & Spencer's
They don't seem to mind
I gave myself to sin
I gave myself to providence
And I've been there and back again
The state that I am in
I gave myself to sin
I gave myself to Providence
And I've been there and back again
The state that I am in
Oh love of mine, would you condescend to help me
'Cause I'm stupid and blind
And desperation is the devil's work
It is the folly of a boy's empty mind
And now I'm feeling dangerous
Riding on city buses for a hobby is sad
Lead me to a living end
I promised that I'd entertain my crippled friend, my crippled friend
I gave myself to sin
I gave myself to Providence
And I've been there and back again
The state that I am in
I gave myself to sin
I gave myself to Providence
And I've been there and back again
The state that I am in
I gave myself to sin
I gave myself to Providence
And I've been there and back again
The state that I am in
I gave myself to sin
I gave myself to Providence
And I've been there and back again
The state that I am in
I gave myself to sin
And I've been there and back again, oh yeah
Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk Album Lyrics
Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk Lyrics
Writer: CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Expectations
Monday morning wake up knowing that you've got to go to school
Tell your mum what to expect, she says it's right out of the blue
Do you went to work in Debenham's, because that's what they expect
Start in Lingerie, and Doris is your supervisor
And the head said that you always were a queer one from the start
For careers you say you went to be remembered for your art
Your obsessions get you known throughout the school for being strange
Making life-size models of the Velvet Underground in clay
In the queue for lunch they take the piss, you've got no appetite
And the rumour is you never go with boys and you are tight
So they jab you with a fork, you drop the tray and go berserk
While your cleaning up the mess the teacher's looking up your skirt
You've been used, you're confused
Write a song, I'll sing along
Are you calm? Settle down
Soon you will know that you are sane
You're on top of the world again
Monday morning wake up knowing that you've got to go to school
Mum said she had little choice when she was young, so why should you?
Do you went to work in C&A, 'cause that's what they expect
Move to Ladieswear and take a feel off Joe the Storeman
Tell Veronica the secrets of the boy you never kissed
She's got everything to gain 'cause she's a fat girl with a lisp
She sticks up for you when you get aggravation from the snobs
'Cause you can't afford a blazer and you're always wearing clogs
At the interval you lock yourself away inside a room
Heed of English gets you, asks you, "What the Hell do you think you're doing?"
"Do you think you're better then the other kids? Well get outside."
You've got permission, but you've got to make the bastard think he's right
Tell your mum what to expect, she says it's right out of the blue
Do you went to work in Debenham's, because that's what they expect
Start in Lingerie, and Doris is your supervisor
And the head said that you always were a queer one from the start
For careers you say you went to be remembered for your art
Your obsessions get you known throughout the school for being strange
Making life-size models of the Velvet Underground in clay
In the queue for lunch they take the piss, you've got no appetite
And the rumour is you never go with boys and you are tight
So they jab you with a fork, you drop the tray and go berserk
While your cleaning up the mess the teacher's looking up your skirt
You've been used, you're confused
Write a song, I'll sing along
Are you calm? Settle down
Soon you will know that you are sane
You're on top of the world again
Monday morning wake up knowing that you've got to go to school
Mum said she had little choice when she was young, so why should you?
Do you went to work in C&A, 'cause that's what they expect
Move to Ladieswear and take a feel off Joe the Storeman
Tell Veronica the secrets of the boy you never kissed
She's got everything to gain 'cause she's a fat girl with a lisp
She sticks up for you when you get aggravation from the snobs
'Cause you can't afford a blazer and you're always wearing clogs
At the interval you lock yourself away inside a room
Heed of English gets you, asks you, "What the Hell do you think you're doing?"
"Do you think you're better then the other kids? Well get outside."
You've got permission, but you've got to make the bastard think he's right
Writer: CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Shes Losing It
Lisa knows a girl who's been abused
It changed her philosophy in '82
She's always looking for a fight
She keeps the neighbours up all night
I go to her when I'm feeling slack
The girl's using me as a punching bag
I think that I could help her out
But the girl's got a lot to be mad about
And in the first moment of her waking up
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing it
When the first cup of coffee tastes like washing up
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing
Yeah she's losing it
Lisa met Chelsea at the knocking school
Chelsea didn't feel like following the rules
So they left the place for another school
Where the boys go with boys and the girls with girls
Chelsea was the girl who's been abused
It changed her philosophy in '82
She says, "Inch for inch and pound for pound"
Who needs boys when there's Lisa round?"
And in the first moment of her waking up
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing it
When the first cup of coffee tastes like washing up
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing it
She goes to the mirror to put on her stuff
She knows she's losing it, oh yeah she's losing it
When she doesn't speak to anyone till four 0' clock
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing it
Oh yeah she's losing it
It changed her philosophy in '82
She's always looking for a fight
She keeps the neighbours up all night
I go to her when I'm feeling slack
The girl's using me as a punching bag
I think that I could help her out
But the girl's got a lot to be mad about
And in the first moment of her waking up
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing it
When the first cup of coffee tastes like washing up
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing
Yeah she's losing it
Lisa met Chelsea at the knocking school
Chelsea didn't feel like following the rules
So they left the place for another school
Where the boys go with boys and the girls with girls
Chelsea was the girl who's been abused
It changed her philosophy in '82
She says, "Inch for inch and pound for pound"
Who needs boys when there's Lisa round?"
And in the first moment of her waking up
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing it
When the first cup of coffee tastes like washing up
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing it
She goes to the mirror to put on her stuff
She knows she's losing it, oh yeah she's losing it
When she doesn't speak to anyone till four 0' clock
She knows she's losing it, yeah she's losing it
Oh yeah she's losing it
Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher
Youre Just A Baby
You're just a baby, baby girl
So kiss me on the cheek and then go off to sleep
You're just a baby, baby girl
So kiss me on the cheek before you know what's sweet
You will be working in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
You will be working in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
There must be a reason for all the looks we gave
And all the things we never said before
So what's the score?
Cause there must be a reason for all the looks we gave
And all the things we never said before
You're just a baby, baby girl
So kiss me on the cheek before you go to school
You're just a baby, baby girl
So kiss me on the cheek before you know what's cool
You will be crying in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
Yeah, you will be crying in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
[Refrain]
You're just a baby, baby girl
So kiss me on the cheek and then go off to sleep
You're just a baby, baby girl
So let go of my hand so we can get some sleep
I will be leaving in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
Yeah I will be leaving in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
So kiss me on the cheek and then go off to sleep
You're just a baby, baby girl
So kiss me on the cheek before you know what's sweet
You will be working in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
You will be working in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
There must be a reason for all the looks we gave
And all the things we never said before
So what's the score?
Cause there must be a reason for all the looks we gave
And all the things we never said before
You're just a baby, baby girl
So kiss me on the cheek before you go to school
You're just a baby, baby girl
So kiss me on the cheek before you know what's cool
You will be crying in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
Yeah, you will be crying in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
[Refrain]
You're just a baby, baby girl
So kiss me on the cheek and then go off to sleep
You're just a baby, baby girl
So let go of my hand so we can get some sleep
I will be leaving in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
Yeah I will be leaving in the morning
And I won't be there to see you go off you're head
Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher
Electronic Renaissance
Play a game with your electronics
Take a step to the discotheque, and people
Go outside where there's someone watching cars go by
And the city tall with steeples
Hand in hand with the Electronic Renaissance Is the way to go
Hand in hand with the Electronic Renaissance is the way to go, boy
Hand in hand with the Electronic Renaissance is the way to go
You're learning, soon you will do the things you wanted
Since you were wearing glitter badges
If you work for much very longer
You'll be known as the boy who's always working
If you dance for much very longer
You'll be known as the boy who's always dancing
Monochrome in the 1990's
You go disco and I'll go my way
Monochrome in the 1990's
You go disco and I'll go my way
Monochrome in the 1990's
You go disco and I'll go Funkadelic, man
Is the way to go
So drop a pill and then say hello
Take a step to the discotheque, and people
Go outside where there's someone watching cars go by
And the city tall with steeples
Hand in hand with the Electronic Renaissance Is the way to go
Hand in hand with the Electronic Renaissance is the way to go, boy
Hand in hand with the Electronic Renaissance is the way to go
You're learning, soon you will do the things you wanted
Since you were wearing glitter badges
If you work for much very longer
You'll be known as the boy who's always working
If you dance for much very longer
You'll be known as the boy who's always dancing
Monochrome in the 1990's
You go disco and I'll go my way
Monochrome in the 1990's
You go disco and I'll go my way
Monochrome in the 1990's
You go disco and I'll go Funkadelic, man
Is the way to go
So drop a pill and then say hello
Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher
I Could Be Dreaming
I could be dreaming
I could have ordinary people chasing me from town to town
Mission impossible
They've got a spy for every blink of your eye
I'm feeling hunted
I'm feeling haunted
They've got a knife for every time you take the same train into work
A family's like a loaded gun
You point it in the wrong direction someone's going to get killed
If you had such a dream
Would you get up and do the things you've been dreaming
Is he your husband?
Or just your boyfriend?
Is he the moron who's been beating you and keeping you inside?
I've never done this kind of thing
But if I kill him now, who's going to miss him?
I went up to the school
I went up castlehill
For every step there is a local boy who wants to be a hero
Do you want to do it now?
Outside the butchers with a knife and a bike chain
I could have ordinary people chasing me from town to town
Mission impossible
They've got a spy for every blink of your eye
I'm feeling hunted
I'm feeling haunted
They've got a knife for every time you take the same train into work
A family's like a loaded gun
You point it in the wrong direction someone's going to get killed
If you had such a dream
Would you get up and do the things you've been dreaming
Is he your husband?
Or just your boyfriend?
Is he the moron who's been beating you and keeping you inside?
I've never done this kind of thing
But if I kill him now, who's going to miss him?
I went up to the school
I went up castlehill
For every step there is a local boy who wants to be a hero
Do you want to do it now?
Outside the butchers with a knife and a bike chain
Writer: CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
We Rule The School
On a beech tree rudely carved
NC was here
Why did she do it?
Was she scared or sad?
On a beech tree rudely carved
NC loved me
Why did she do it?
Was she bored, or pushed
Do something pretty while you can
Don't be a fool
Reading the Gospel to yourself is fine
Do something pretty while you can
Don't be afraid
Skating a pirouette on ice is cool
On a bus stop in the town
"We Rule The School"
Written for everyone to see and read
On a bus stop in the town
"We Rule The School"
Written for everyone with eyes in their head
Do something pretty while you can
Don't fall asleep
Driving from California to New York
Call me a prophet if you like
It's no secret
You know the world is made for men
You know the world is made for men
You know the world is made for men
Not us
NC was here
Why did she do it?
Was she scared or sad?
On a beech tree rudely carved
NC loved me
Why did she do it?
Was she bored, or pushed
Do something pretty while you can
Don't be a fool
Reading the Gospel to yourself is fine
Do something pretty while you can
Don't be afraid
Skating a pirouette on ice is cool
On a bus stop in the town
"We Rule The School"
Written for everyone to see and read
On a bus stop in the town
"We Rule The School"
Written for everyone with eyes in their head
Do something pretty while you can
Don't fall asleep
Driving from California to New York
Call me a prophet if you like
It's no secret
You know the world is made for men
You know the world is made for men
You know the world is made for men
Not us
Writer: CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
My Wandering Days Are Over
You know my wandering days are over
Does that mean that I'm getting boring?
You tell me
I'm tired of listening to myself now
I'm tired of fixing things for Michael and the rest of them
You know my bip-bopping days are over
I hung my boots up and then retired from the disco floor
Now the centre of my so called being is
The space between your bed and wardrobe with the louvre doors
I said "My celibate days are over"
You put me straight on the finer points of my speech rehearsed
In the mirror of my steamy bathroom
Where the lino tells a sorry story in a monologue
Six months on, the winter's gone
The disenchanted pony
Left the town with the circus boy
The circus boy got lonely
It's summer, and it's sister song's
Been written for the lonely
The circus boy is feeling melancholy
It's got to be fate that's doing it
A spooky witch in a sexy dress has been bugging me
With the story of the way it should be
With the story of Sebastian and Belle the singer
I said "My one man band is over"
I hit the drum for the final time and I walked away
I sew you in Japanese restaurant
You were doing it for business men on the piano, Belle
You said it was a living Hell
You said that it was Hell
Does that mean that I'm getting boring?
You tell me
I'm tired of listening to myself now
I'm tired of fixing things for Michael and the rest of them
You know my bip-bopping days are over
I hung my boots up and then retired from the disco floor
Now the centre of my so called being is
The space between your bed and wardrobe with the louvre doors
I said "My celibate days are over"
You put me straight on the finer points of my speech rehearsed
In the mirror of my steamy bathroom
Where the lino tells a sorry story in a monologue
Six months on, the winter's gone
The disenchanted pony
Left the town with the circus boy
The circus boy got lonely
It's summer, and it's sister song's
Been written for the lonely
The circus boy is feeling melancholy
It's got to be fate that's doing it
A spooky witch in a sexy dress has been bugging me
With the story of the way it should be
With the story of Sebastian and Belle the singer
I said "My one man band is over"
I hit the drum for the final time and I walked away
I sew you in Japanese restaurant
You were doing it for business men on the piano, Belle
You said it was a living Hell
You said that it was Hell
Writer: CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
I Dont Love Anyone
I don't love anyone
You're not listening
You're playing with something
You're playing with yourself
I don't love anyone
You're not listening even now
You're playing with someone
You're playing with someone else
And if there's one thing that I learned when I was a child
It's to take a hiding
I don't love anything
Not even Christmas
Especially not that
I don't love anything
No, I don't love anyone
Maybe my sister
Maybe my baby brother too, yeah
I don't love anyone
But if there's one thing that I learned when I was still a child
It's to take a hiding
Yeah if there's one thing that I learned when I was still at school
It's to be alone
Out in the street today
The kids are playing, having fun
I pass them by I'm not a kid, no
I don't love anyone
I met a man today
He told me something pretty strange
There's always somebody saying something
He said, "The world is as soft as lace."
But I don't love anyone
You're not listening
You're playing with something
You're playing with yourself
I don't love anyone
You're not listening even now
You're playing with someone
You're playing with someone else
And if there's one thing that I learned when I was a child
It's to take a hiding
I don't love anything
Not even Christmas
Especially not that
I don't love anything
No, I don't love anyone
Maybe my sister
Maybe my baby brother too, yeah
I don't love anyone
But if there's one thing that I learned when I was still a child
It's to take a hiding
Yeah if there's one thing that I learned when I was still at school
It's to be alone
Out in the street today
The kids are playing, having fun
I pass them by I'm not a kid, no
I don't love anyone
I met a man today
He told me something pretty strange
There's always somebody saying something
He said, "The world is as soft as lace."
But I don't love anyone
Writer: CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, ISOBEL CAMPBELL, MICHAEL COOKE, RICHARD COLBURN, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Mary Jo
Mary Jo, sitting alone
Drinking tea, she just got home
She wants, I don't know what you want
Mary Jo, living alone
Drinking gin with the telly on
She wants
The night to follow day and back again
She doesn't want to sleep
Well who could blame her if she wants?
The night to follow day and back again
She doesn't want to sleep
Well who could blame her, if she sleeps?
Well who could blame her, if she sleeps?
Well who could blame her, if she's sleeping?
Mary Jo, back with yourself
For company, keep telling yourself you're young
It'll happen soon
Mary Jo, no one can see
What you've been through
Now you've got love to burn
It's someone else's turn to go through Hell
Now you can see them come from twenty yards
Yeah you can tell
It's someone else's turn to take a fall
And now you are the one who's strong enough to help them
The one who's strong enough to help them
The one who's strong enough to help them all
Mary Jo, you're looking thin
You're reading a book, "The State I Am In"
But oh, it doesn't help at all
What you want is a cigarette
And a thespian with a caravanette in Hull
Because life is never dull in your dreams
A pity that it never seems to work the way you see it
Life is never dull in your dreams
A sorry tale of action and the men you left for
Women, and the men you left for
Intrigue, and the men you left for dead
Drinking tea, she just got home
She wants, I don't know what you want
Mary Jo, living alone
Drinking gin with the telly on
She wants
The night to follow day and back again
She doesn't want to sleep
Well who could blame her if she wants?
The night to follow day and back again
She doesn't want to sleep
Well who could blame her, if she sleeps?
Well who could blame her, if she sleeps?
Well who could blame her, if she's sleeping?
Mary Jo, back with yourself
For company, keep telling yourself you're young
It'll happen soon
Mary Jo, no one can see
What you've been through
Now you've got love to burn
It's someone else's turn to go through Hell
Now you can see them come from twenty yards
Yeah you can tell
It's someone else's turn to take a fall
And now you are the one who's strong enough to help them
The one who's strong enough to help them
The one who's strong enough to help them all
Mary Jo, you're looking thin
You're reading a book, "The State I Am In"
But oh, it doesn't help at all
What you want is a cigarette
And a thespian with a caravanette in Hull
Because life is never dull in your dreams
A pity that it never seems to work the way you see it
Life is never dull in your dreams
A sorry tale of action and the men you left for
Women, and the men you left for
Intrigue, and the men you left for dead
Writer: ISOBEL CAMPBELL, RICHARD COLBURN, MICHAEL COOKE, CHRISTOPHER GEDDES, STEPHEN JACKSON, STUART MURDOCH
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Tigermilk is the 1996 debut album from Scottish pop group Belle and Sebastian. Originally given a limited release (1,000 copies) by Electric Honey, the album was subsequently re-released in 1999 by Jeepster Records.
The album is named after an instrumental that did not end up on the album - it was later performed on Belle and Sebastian's early tours. All of the songs on the album were written by Stuart Murdoch between 1993 and 1996, and originally performed solo on the Glasgow open mic circuit. Though he performs on the album, trumpet player Mick Cooke was not then an official member of the band.
Performed By:
Belle and SebastianThe album is named after an instrumental that did not end up on the album - it was later performed on Belle and Sebastian's early tours. All of the songs on the album were written by Stuart Murdoch between 1993 and 1996, and originally performed solo on the Glasgow open mic circuit. Though he performs on the album, trumpet player Mick Cooke was not then an official member of the band.
Genre(s): Indie pop, chamber pop
Producer(s): Belle and Sebastian, Gregor Reid
Length: 41:37
Released: June 6th, 1996
Year: 1996