Get all 34 Paul Roland releases available on Bandcamp and save 45%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of 'Hello Fred' the Thin Youth Said (Home demo), 1992 Dutch Radio Session, A Grimm Fantasy For Orchestra (demo), Nosferatu (Gothic ballet music only), (My Dog Is Hooked On) Cocaine with Andy Ellison, Candyman (bandcamp exclusive EP), In Memory of a Time Traveller (unreleased early mix), Lair of the White Worm (unreleased version), and 26 more.
1. |
Barbara Steele
03:35
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2. |
Igor's Song
04:14
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Igor's Song
What was the worst job that you ever had? If you got the time, I'll tell you mine.
The hours were brutal, the pay was a joke, but beggars can't be choosers when they're hungry and broke
I wasn't too well qualified. I took what I could get and still you haven't heard the worst of it yet.
It's hard to find employment in these challenging times, especially if you're burdened with an imperfection like mine
There isn't much call for a hunchback in Vasaria these days, at least not the kind of occupation that pays
The master gave me room and board and three square meals a day, he even offered to fix this hump if he could find a way
I lent a sympathetic ear when he needed to be consoled, I didn't ask too many questions and I did as I was told.
But poking round the graveyard after they have all paid their respects and digging up their next of kin is more than I was given to expect Then shimmying up the gallows pole when I've got no head for heights to cut down the poor soul dangling there, well, it just don't seem right.
Every time a storm's forecast who hangs out the bleedin' kites? Shivering in a vicious wind waiting for the damned lightning bolt to strike. I cooked, I cleaned, I stitched and sowed, even stole some poor bastard's brain and when it all goes badly wrong who gets the blame?
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3. |
Dark Heart, Pale Lips
04:08
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Dark Heart, Pale Lips
Dark is the heart that tore my soul from me
Pale were the lips that spoke sweet treachery
Black is the shade that I must wear
cruel the grief that I must bear
For ill is the day I pledged my love to thee
Dark is the heart that tore my soul from me
Pale were the lips that spoke sweet treachery
Strong were the hands that held me close
Tenderly or so I supposed
On the day that I pledged my love to thee
Dark is the heart that tore my soul from me
Pale were the lips that spoke sweet treachery
White would have been my bridal gown
And snow white lilies for my crown
On the day that I pledged my love to thee
Dark is the heart that tore my soul from me
Pale were the lips that spoke sweet treachery
Bitter is the draught that I shall drink
But sweet is the sleep and black as ink
A year to the day I pledged my love to thee
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4. |
The Binding Tree
03:53
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The Binding Tree
Come with me to the binding tree
Come with me and I’ll cleave to thee
Oh my arms reach out to hold you and to take you down below
Dance with me under the binding tree
Dance with me I am yours and shall always be
Yes, these limbs will bind you tightly oh my dear don’t struggle so
Come lie with me
Come with me and I will be
Come with me and I will be like a wife to thee
All my tears are like the dew that drips like jewels from the leaves
Come lie with me
Bury me neath the binding tree
Bury me here I’ll lie and wait for thee
And the wind that blows right through me keening just like one who grieves
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5. |
Liar! Wormtongue!
03:50
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Wormtongue
Liar! Wormtongue! Beggar, cutpurse, thief.
Liar! Wormtongue! Rogue, master of mischief
Accursed be thy days, accursed be, I say.
Liar! Wormtongue! venom taints thy lips
Liar! Wormtongue! and stains your fingertips
Accursed are thy days, accursed be I say.
Liar! Wormtongue! a grin from ear to ear
Liar! Wormtongue! you simper, smirk and sneer
Accursed are thy days, accursed be I say.
Chorus There was a time when I took him at his word
But now I think his slurs and slanders absurd
Coda He’s the knave of swords, the lord of flies
The king of cups the prince of lies
He’s a scoundrel and a real Don Juan
The spinner of outlandish yarns
Believe me
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6. |
King of the Witches
03:02
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King of the Witches
Gotta tell you my story, gotta tell you how I came to be
King of the witches, lord of the coven, yeah, I’m Beelzebub’s MC
Gotta tell you my story of a self-made celebrity
Gotta tell you my story, how I procured a cult of devotees
Let’s go naked in the moonlight let’s dance sky clad now
Take my hand and submit to my will let me or do you doubt me now?
I grew a goatee, a shock of white hair and very rakish it is, I might say
Though some mistake me for a satyr or pater to Anton Le Vey
Don’t you believe the salacious stories, the wicked whispers, no don’t be taken in
The vile rumours, the scandalmongers say I’ve a Book of Shadows bound in human skin
I’m a real roguish so and so
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7. |
Imp On My Shoulder
03:35
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Imp On My Shoulder
Got some kind of imp on my shoulder telling me all the things I done wrong
I have a real ugly feeling he and I won't be getting along
I should have done everything different each and every step of the way
If only I had been smarter, he says I'd be happy today
I wasted all of my chances, I squandered all of the breaks
I guess I’m the kind of man who doesn’t have whatever it takes
I’ve never lucked out in my life look what fate sent my way
When opportunity knocked, what did I do? I sent her away
His face, it’s kind of familiar the me that I might have been,
He’s really not a bad fellow, not half as bad as he seems
It’s true, I wasted all of my chances, I squandered all of the breaks
I guess I’m the kind of a man who doesn’t have whatever it takes
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8. |
Davidson's Eyes
03:51
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9. |
Sink Hole Sam
04:35
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Sink Hole Sam
Old man Job says we know nothing, goofing round and apple scrumping
Says he can show us a real scream guaranteed it’s something that we ain’t never seen
It can be lured out of its burrow by the scent of young boys’ mojo
He seen it down by Lake Tahoe but my pa says it’s a no-show, boy
It’s badder than Big Foot or Sink Hole Sam
Rougarou, the Momo or White Thang
It’s all lank hair, lean and loathsome
But you can’t hunt it on your lonesome
Takes a man to track and catch it
If you got the itch you gotta scratch it, son
I don’t know if there’s such a critter, all I know is I’m no quitter
I got my BB gun and flashlight and if I have to I’ll stay out all night long
It better show that’s all that I can say
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10. |
Cut Her Loose
03:13
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Cut Her Loose
Mama says I don’t know jack, that sorehead never cut me slack
She always has me on the rack and that’s a fact
Mama says I’m just no good, I didn’t work out like she hoped I would
She thought she had her hooks in me, but I broke free
Mama always puts me down tells me that I’m such a clown
But now I’m gonna cut her loose and that’s the truth
Mama says I don’t know jack said she ought to send me back
All she does is grouse and that’s a fact
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11. |
Vinyl Fix
02:44
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Vinyl Fix
Well, it just ain’t real if it ain’t got that feel when the needle drops, snap, crackle, scratch and pop
Yeah, I get my kicks from a vinyl fix. I got so much wax I keep track
I just love that sound as it goes round and round and if it skips a beat, hell that’s kinda neat
Gotta love those bumps when the needle jumps and skates across the grooves nixing all your moves
It’s so cool to be old skool it’s some kind of bliss to go back like this It’s so cool to be old skool again
there’s no going back to the future jack cause no streaming bites are gonna make it right
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12. |
Morphine
04:12
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Morphine
Doc, won’t you give me a shot. I’m not feeling so hot
I can’t feel my legs and I fear that not all of me’s here.
Nurse, won’t you give me a pill to take the edge off these chills
I’m all of a sweat and I shake, please give me whatever it takes.
I fear that I’m fading away, getting less and less every day
I ought to have something to say but I don’t feel so lucid today
Don’t be afraid to let go, unwind, come unglued and get mellow
Won’t you give some more of that stuff, cause it’s never enough
I think its high time to say goodbye I’ll see you on the other side of the sky
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13. |
Rockin' Billy
02:52
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Rockin’ Billy
I got a girl called six foot Sue. Me, I’m only five foot two
But it’s true I’m her rocking billy
Yes that girl is kinda tall, but she knows I’m not so small
I guess that’s why she calls me rocking billy
I keep her thrilled and satisfied, when I get all Dixie Fried
I’m blessed in ways I can’t deny. I’m Billy
And when we hit the floor, she rebel yells for more, more, more
Then I know I’m her rocking billy
She lives in a red house on the hill, when she can’t dance her sisters will
I got enough to give them all a thrill
I ain’t done with rocking yet, got a rocket in my pocket you bet, no she’s ain’t heard nothing yet.
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14. |
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Shelley Don’t Lie
Now I’m no judge of women and I’m a poorer judge of men
But I know when you lie to me and when five will get you ten
I haven’t been to college and I barely scrapped through school
But I don’t need a degree to tell a knave from a fool
I believed you when you told me you’d got that monkey off your back
But a junkie friend just told me you’ve gone back to making tracks
I can tell when you’re deceiving, holding something back from me
Don’t tell me you’ve been using when you swore that you were free
Shelley don’t lie.
Shelley don’t lie to me
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15. |
Can't Find My Grave
02:48
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Can’t Find My Grave
I’ve been walking since sundown I’ve been walking for days
I’ve been walking since sundown but I can’t find my grave
Every step it brings sorrow, every mile memories,
Lord lead me to my grave before I sink to my knees
I crossed over mountains I crossed over plains
I don’t know how I got here I can’t even remember my name
Once I was a young man. Took every blow in my stride
They despoiled my spirit dealt a fatal blow to my pride
Every street is deserted, not a soul have I seen
I don’t know where I’m going but hell, I know where I been
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Paul Roland England, UK
Formerly managed by June Bolan, Paul has been spinning supernatural and historical-themed tales against a backdrop of gothic rock, psych-pop and baroque strings, earning him the sobriquet, ‘The Male Kate Bush' (attributed to former label mate Robyn Hitchcock) ... more
Paul Roland recommends:
Robyn Hitchcock
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I shared a label with the Soft Boys back in the early 80s and was seduced by 'Underwater Moonlight' on first hearing. Privileged to have Robyn guest on my 'The Puppet Master' and 'Mad Elaine').
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This man never releases a weak album. Love them all. Heavy stoner rock to whimsical psych, bursting at the seams with strong songs and totally wired psych guitar. A killer, no filler.
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For almost 50 years Marc inspired and energised me. Privileged to have been managed at one time by June and to have written 4 biogs - trying to capture what made him my main man.
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Lair of the White Worm
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Thin Lear's sophisticated rock music is tempered with soaring chamber pop accents and an undeniable gift for melody.
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