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20th century promised land


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


publisher
© EMI Music Publishing


background
The band discovered the melody whilst jamming in the studio. "We stumbled across those chords. It wasn't just the chords that made the whole thing, it was a combination of the chords, what the bass was doing, what I was doing. As soon as well hit it everybody went 'Right, that's it,' and we had to work in reverse and figure out what we'd done - we didn't have a clue what had happened."- Charlie.


This fledgling fragment of a tune was originally called Sky Saw.


The lyrics included Jim quoting German writer Bertolt Brecht from The Land Of Galileo:

Andrea: "Unhappy the land that has no heroes"
Galileo: "No, unhappy the land that needs heroes."

Originally the quote was featured in an abandoned and lost song called Life In Oils.


Despite its relative obscurity on Sister Feelings Call, the track was selected as the B-side for the Sweat In Bullet release.




lyrics
Stories came like the wind,
Joining every bridge in the wind.
Ringing out footsteps,
Calling out steel-heels.
I give voice,
I give breath,
Count out evenings and stars.
How fast can these things move on,
Taking roots back to yourself,
And the reason for fear was moving on,
And on.
Some time,
Great times,
Troubled time,
Fire for the times,
Ringing out footsteps,
Calling out steel-heels.

Promised land,
Great times in commotion.
Here come every day,
It only lasts an hour,
Unhappy the land that has no heroes,
No! Unhappy the land that needs heroes.

And the reason for fear was moving on,
The speed of light was moving on.
Don't cry,
Tears are only wasted waters.
Some say God her only loves the proud,
Be damned on luck,
But not dishearted,
Nothing to prove,
And nothing to present.
I give voice,
I give breath,
Catching winds in my hand,
My hand.

Some times,
Great times,
Catching wind in my hand.
My hand,
Some times,
Great times,
Troubled times,
Fire for the times,
Ringing out footsteps,
Calling out steel-heels.

Promised land,
Great times in commotion,
Here comes every day,
It only lasts an hour,
Unhappy the land that has no heroes,
No! Unhappy the land that needs heroes.

I'll call you out,
I'll scream you out,
And I don't care if you're afraid,
When city sounds invade the air.

Catch the wind in their hands,
Promised land.
Catch the wind in their hands,
Promised lands.
Promised lands.
Promised lands.
Great times in commotion.



discography
Album Version (4:53)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Engineer: Hugh Jones

Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call Limited Edition LP Sister Feelings Call LP Sons And Fascination MC Sons And Fascination Canadian LP Sons And Fascination Canadian MC Sister Feelings Call Australian LP Sister Feelings Call Australian MC Sweat In Bullet 7" single Sweat In Bullet 7" double-pack single Sweat In Bullet 12" single Sister Feelings Call MC Sons And Fascination CD Sons And Fascination MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Themes Volume One Theme Four: Sweat In Bullet CD Theme Four: Sweat In Bullet MC Sons And Fascination CD (Virgin Budget Reissue) Sons And Fascination Remaster Promo CD Sons And Fascination Remaster Limited Edition CD Sons And Fascination Remaster CD Themes 1-4 Promo CDR Themes Volume One - Five X5 Sister Feelings Call Promo CD X5 Five Album Set The Vinyl Collection (79,84)