Perfect Strangers

 © 1984 Polygram Records



Knocking at Your Back Door

(Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

Sweet Lucy was a dancer
But none of us would chance her
Because she was a Samurai
She made electric shadows
Beyond our fingertips
And none of us could reach that high
She came on like a teaser
I had to touch and please her
Enjoy a little paradise
The log was in my pocket
When Lucy met the Rockett
And she never knew the reason why

I can't deny it
With that smile on her face
It's not the kill
It's the thrill of the chase

Feel it coming
It's knocking at the door
You know it's no good running
It's not against the law
The point of no return
And now you know the score
And now you're learning
What's knockin' at your back door

Sweet Nancy was so fancy
To get into her pantry
Had to be the aristocracy
The members that she toyed with
At her city club
Were something in diplomacy
So we put her on the hit list
Of a common cunning linguist
A master of many tongues
And now she eases gently
From her Austin to her Bentley
Suddenly she feels so young

Under the Gun

(Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

Infidel can you hear
Would be strange delight
I need you to give your sympathy tonight
When you hear what I say
Deeds I've done
Realise I've never lost and never won

I've got a feeling that it's never right
There was a reason but it's out of sight
It's going down somewhere tonight
Under the gun

Put death in my hand
Learn to fight
Who could care if it's wrong or if it's right
We got no choice
Under command
We're ordered to die or take this land

Stupid bastards and religious freaks
So safe in their castle keeps
They turn away as a mother weeps
Under the gun

When brave men fall
Under crimson skies
There's a sadness reflected in a soldier's  eyes
Tears will dry
For those I kill
Remember no more their names but someone will

The only way to be victorious
Screw the fools who think it's glorious
Who gives a toss about the likes of us
Under the gun

Nobody's Home

(Blackmore/Glover/Gillan/Lord/Paice)

Nothing I can do about it
Maybe I won't even try
Your will is determined to kill any
Reason of mine

I see you coming
With that look in your eye
You act like a king but you ain't got a thing
In your mind

And now there's nobody home
My belly is aching
Your image is blown
Your lights are burning bright
But Nobody's Home

You talk about love and affection
If only you could
You're full of pride but there's nothing  inside
And you think you're so good

You know you got it coming to ya
All things return
You need me
It's not gonna be my concern

And now there's nobody home
Your message is changing
The children have grown
Your lights are burning bright
But nobody's home

I hear you crying
What can I say
You get what you give so
Forgive me as I turn away

Nobody's home
A legend is dying
The seeds have been sown
Your lights are burning bright
But Nobody's Home

Mean Streak

(Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

She came home last night
  rotten rolling drunk
She talk no sense but she sound good so she think
So I reached over and said Hello
Is there some planet you'd care to go
And she said Venus on the rocks

She got a mean streak
Black Mamba don't compete
She got a mean streak
Temptation bitter sweet

She drives me crazy gets inside my brain
She spend my money down a drain
So I roll over for my reward
How much can I afford
And she says
Just a little more

I can't take this no more
I tried so hard but I can't get thru' the  door
Because one smile from those eyes
And I stand there paralysed
And she says
Beg for more get down sucka you know  what I like  oh hang on

Perfect Strangers

(Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

Can you remember remember my name
As I flow through your life
A thousand oceans I have flown
And cold spirits of ice
All my life
I am the echo of your past

I am returning the echo of a point in time
Distant faces shine
A thousand warriors I have known
And laughing as the spirits appear
All your life
Shadows of another day

And if you hear me talking on the wind
You've got to understand
We must remain
Perfect Strangers

I know I must remain inside this silent  well of sorrow

A strand of silver hanging through the sky
Touching more than you see
The voice of ages in your mind
Is aching with the dead of the night
Precious life (your tears are lost in falling rain)

And if you hear me talking on the wind
You've got to understand
We must remain
Perfect Strangers

A Gypsy's Kiss

(Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

John San what you can
La la Janette dance in sand
What's the mystery my son
Gypsy Dan Caravan
Won Tun Wan with your Chinese fan
It's part of history my son

Murder and rape with your power
The 10th revolution in far away days
It's come to this
A gypsy's kiss
All your power's gonna fade in the haze

Ya who' Jumme gae bile ya heed
The Senorita said
I'll drag yer lungs out through yer nose
Space truckers free and high
Teamsters get ya by and by
That should keep you on your toes

They got a gun at your head
But you ain't necessarily playing their game
They can't resist
A Gypsy's Kiss
All that's needed to drive them insane

John Wayne The Alamo
Crazy Horse Geronimo
I'll smoke a piece with you
Mind Body Heart and Soul
We got Rock and Roll
And there's nothing they can do

Hear the small voice of truth
Above the shouting despair of the crowd
What do you wish
A Gypsy's Kiss
Gets you strong for crying out loud

Wasted Sunsets

(Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

The day is gone
when the angels come to stay
And all the silent whispers
will be blown away
And lying in the corner
a pair of high heel shoes
Hanging on the wall
gold and silver for the blues

One too many wasted sunsets
One too many for the road
And after dark the door is always open
Hoping someone else will show

Someone is waiting behind  an unlocked door
Grey circles overhead empties  on the floor
The cracks in the walls have  grown too long
The slow hand is dragging on  afraid to meet the dawn

One too many wasted sunsets
One too many for the road
And after dark the door is always open
Hoping someone else will show

Hungry Daze

(Blackmore/Glover/Gillan)

In a dark and sweaty room in '69  tables turning
Dancing girls, silly girls, all kinds of girls  and it was loud
Tuning up to madness in the back room  candles burning
Present the Stinking Hippy and throw the  naked thunder to the crowd
In the Hungry Daze

The long and lonely highway drags along  it's going nowhere
Sickness and disease and mad  corruption  something's going wrong
The mountain's getting cold and lonely  the trees are bare
We all came out to Montreux  but that's another song
You've heard it all beforeIn hungry daze

Along the Mountain Road to do some  drinking  and now we're mobile again
Different girls, laughing girls, forever  girls  and it's so loud
The crew have lost again  they are beaten men 
The winning team united  living for the crowd
These are the hungry daze

Bonus track on CD and cassette versions, and on the Knebworth '85 picture disc version of the LP:

Not Responsible

(Blackmore/Glover/Gillan/Lord/Paice)

Found some money in an old black jacket
I'm going out tonight, gonna find me a woman or two
I don't know how long it'll last
But I never regret the past
When I wake up tomorrow, I'll be looking around for you

I got no reason to be down at the station
I got no ticket, but I'm gonna take a fucking ride
Don't care where I go
I never seem to know
I never had a penny, but I never wondered why
Oh no, I never wondered why

If I'm cold I need some heat
If I'm hungry then I eat
I'm not responsible

I woke up this morning and I couldn't find my shoes
It's one long party and I haven't seen the sun for days
I'd take you out tonight, but I'm just a little light
So let's go out anyway, you'll be amazed

I take my woman to the palace dancing
I never coulda made it but the doorman is a friend of mine
So I raise a glass to you, the foot is on the other shoe
You can pay the bill and while you're at it pick up mine
Oh, no no, I don't mind

If it rains I stay inside
If I'm scared I run and hide
I'm not responsible, oh no



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