XTC – You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful / We're All Light

To brighten up a grey Easter weekend, two upbeat, romantic and typically eccentric numbers written by Andy Partridge from t 2000 album Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2). The album is second helping of Part 1 from the year before, with made up of tracks written in the mid-90s. Full of unusual metaphors and extensively-filling lyrical rhythms, both are love songs, but dip into matters of the cosmos, politics, history and evolution, and could be perceived equally as confusing mashup as a clever interweaving of ideas: "A zillion years ago, some star sneezed, now they're paging you in reception," sings Partridge, attempting to sum up the entire history of the universe in one line. Either way, whether you regard this sort of thing is brilliant or somewhat overstretched, the rhythms and melodies of this particular brand of postpunk pop are undeniably catchy. By this time only Colin Moulding remained as the other original member, but new drummer Chuck Sabo's work certainly helps carry the can for a band that, while never gaining the commercial success deserved, has never done the easiest or most obvious thing.

And every morning before I'm awake
I walk around the world to make sure she's alright.
And every evening 'fore I bolt the door
I give the stars a stir to make sure they will spin all night.
For I see people who will scratch and spit and kick and fight
And I see nations war about whether right is left and whether wrong is right.
And I know storms inside your head can amplify the blight
But no matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful.
No matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful.

And every Troy with wooden horse
I take to peaceful waters but can't make him drown.
And every Bastille that gets stormtroopered
"Hail to the Chief" comes rainin', rainin', rainin', rainin' down.
And I've seen people conduct lightning down to a summer's day,
And I've seen nations playfully hurl snowballs packed with stones and clay,
And I know rain inside your head can seriously put a stop to play,
But no matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful.
No matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful.

So let it rain.

And when we see flying saucers, flying cups, and flying plates,
And as we trip down lover's lane we sometimes bump into the gate,
And I know thunder in your head can still reverberate,
But no matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful.
No matter what the weather, you and the clouds will still be beautiful
No matter what the weather.

So let it rain
So let it rain
You know you still be beautiful
So let it rain
It doesn't matter what the weather you know you're beautiful
Just let it rain
You're just, you're beautiful
So let it rain
Yeah, since the clouds all part the clouds just rose
So let it rain
From your pretty little mouth to your pretty little nose you're beautiful
So let it rain
It doesn't matter if the rain wants to fail if the rain wants to fall
Just let it rain
So let it rain
So let it rain.

From the Album " Wasp Star - Apple Venus Volume 2- "

And I won't take from you.

Don't you know
'bout a zillion years ago
Some star sneezed, now they're paging you in reception.
Don't you know
Jack and Jill-ion years ago
Some dinosaur dropped the pail when it saw our reflection.

Don't you know
We're all light
Yeah, I read that someplace.
Don't you know
We're all light
Yeah, I read that someplace.
So you won't mind if I kiss you now
Before indecision can bite
Don't you know in this new Dark Age
We're all light.

Don't you know
At your fingertips arrayed
There's a universe of atoms that thinks you're real something.
Don't you know
Just a couple of lips away
There's an revolutionary beanfeast whose insides are jumpin'.

Don't you know
We're all light
Yeah, I read that someplace.
Don't you know
We're all light
Yeah, it's a bumper sticker someplace.
So you won't mind if I kiss you now
We may hear the angels recite.
Don't you know in this new Dark Age
We're all light.

And I won't take from you what you can't take from me
And I'll leave nothing here that you can't use upon your trip.
And I won't take from you what you can't take from me
And I'll leave nothing here but love and milk a' plenty for your tea.

Don't you know
Upon the pillion of time's bike
We roar onto the stage and too soon we're dead centre.
Don't you know
Buffalo Bill-ions raised his sight
He's picking off the whole herd as soon as we enter.
So you won't mind if I kiss you now
And maybe come on in for the night.
Don't you know in this new Dark Age
We're all light
We're all light.

And I won't take from you
What you can't take from me
And I won't take from you
(you know where you itch, is a little tiny switch, and if you let
Me in, I can show you just the pin, that you put in the slot and the
Element gets hot, and the stuff just pours out)
And I won't take from you
What you can't take from me
(all we're light)
(kiss me now, kiss me now)

And I won't take from you
What you can't take from me
And I won't take from you
What you can't take from me.

From XTC's 2000 album, 'Wasp Star (Apple Venus, Volume 2).' Just a wee bit of perspective as to our (only) place in the multiverse. "In this new Dark Age," we need more music, less war, more acceptance, less hatred, more respect, less destruction, more wonder, less fear, more listening, less talking, more singing, less preaching.

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