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citizen (dance of youth)


composers
Composers: Kerr / Burchill / MacNeil / Forbes / McGee
Authors: Kerr
(Earlier sleeves simply state:- Lyrics: Kerr: Music: Simple Minds)


publisher
© EMI Music Publishing Limited: (1979 - 2007)
© JKMC-Bucks Music Group Ltd / Hornall Music / EMI Music Publishing Ltd: (2008 - 2014)
© BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd / EMI Music Publishing Ltd: (2015 -)


background
Citzen (Dance Of Youth) with its unbalancing start-stop rhythm, lurched forward drunkenly as the third song on a uncompromising album. Lyrically its hints at a police state, and east-west divide, was an early indicator of the style the band would take for their next album.

The song became a live favourite with Jim emphasising the last verse before the whole song gave way to Factory.




lyrics
Citizen.
A cure to kill the east.
A disease of the west.
Romance is no escape.
But I'll escape you.
The manufacturing sound,
Complaining to ourselves.
You're cutting up our friends,
Making love to our sisters.
Another endless day,
Another daze,
But I'm losing track,
The train goes off the rails.
Dance of the youth,
Youth want to dance.

Citizen.
The tribal war begins,
But radio's a God.
Industrial money.
God is industry.
Dance of youth.
Citizen you know what we're after.
Know what we're after.
Know what we're after.

Citizen.
The state that we've come to love.
Love's a crime against the state.
I hate the sound of bells.
Communications lost.
Something we're after.
I hate democracy.
One more contact lost.
Love,
A crime against the state,
The state we've come to love.
Oh electric candle light,
What time is it over there?
We got to wear a badge,
We're losing track of days.

Dance of the youth,
Youth want to dance.

Citizen.
I'll share a room with you.
You're getting so very thin.
Did we ask for this?
Are you rationing our water?
Dance of the youth.
Our food is getting cold,
And you're getting colder.
I see you,
I'm not so unaware,
Citizen.

Citizen,
An American,
Got got a camera,
Takes a picture.
Citizen.
Drum.
Citizen.
Drum.
Citizen.
Drum.
To drum, to drum.



discography
Album Version (2:53)
Recorded and mixed: John Leckie
Arrangement: John Leckie and Simple Minds

Real To Real Cacophony LP Real To Real Cacophony MC Real To Real Cacophony LP (Virgin Reissue) Real To Real Cacophony MC (Virgin Reissue) Real To Real Cacophony LP (Virgin Budget Reissue) Real To Real Cacophony MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Real To Real Cacophony CD Real To Real Cacophony Reissue CD Compact Collection Real To Real Cacophony Reissue CD Real To Real Cacophony Disky CD Original Gold compilation CD Real To Real Cacophony Remaster Promo CD Real To Real Cacophony Remaster Limited Edition CD Real To Real Cacophony Remaster CD X5 Real To Real Cacophony Promo CD X5 The Vinyl Collection (79,84)



Session (2:53)
Producer: Trevor Dann
Engineer: Nick Gomm
Mastered by: Simon Heyworth
Recorded: 19th Dec 79
Broadcast: 7th Jan 80

Silver Box Promo CDR #1 Silver Box




sessions
John Peel, Radio One: 7th January 1980



live history
Real To Real Cacophony Tour: 1979-1980