Tom Robinson Band
1977-1979 UK compilation (1997) EMI GOLD: ***

1) 2-4-6-8 Motorway
2) I Shall Be Released
3) Don't Take No For An Answer
4) Glad To Be Gay
5) Martin
6) Right On Sister
7) I'm Alright Jack (live)
8) Up Against The Wall
9) Grey Cortina
10) Too Good To Be True
11) Long Hot Summer
12) The Winter Of '79
13) Power In The Darkness
14) Waiting For My Man (live)
15) Getting Tighter
16) Bully For You
17) All Right All Night
18) Never Gonna Fall In Love (Again)

sleeve notes for album:TRB biog

1) 2-4-6-8 Motorway

Drive my truck midway to the motorway station
Fairlane cruiser coming up on the left hand side
Headlight shining, driving rain on the window frame
Little young Lady Stardust hitching a ride... and it's

2-4-6-8 ain't never too late
Me and my radio truckin' on thru the night
3-5-7-9 on a double white line
Motorway sun coming up with the morning light

Whizzkid sitting pretty on your two-wheel stallion
This ol' ten-ton lorry got a bead on you
Ain't no use setting up with a bad companion
Ain't nobody get the better of you-know-who

2-4-6-8 ain't never too late
Me and my radio truckin' on thru the night
3-5-7-9 on a double white line
Motorway sun coming up with the morning light

Well there ain't no route you could choose to lose the two of us
Ain't nobody know when you're acting right or wrong
No-one knows if a roadway's leading nowhere
Gonna keep on driving home on the road I'm on...

2-4-6-8 ain't never too late
Me and my radio truckin' on thru the night
3-5-7-9 on a double white line
Motorway sun coming up with the morning light

1977 debut single by Tom Robinson Band

2) I Shall Be Released

Lyrics by Bob Dylan

'B' side of '2-4-6-8 Motorway' single

3) Don't Take No For An Answer

We first met in the winter
Said 'let's give it a try'
I swallowed my fears
A couple of years
Just living a lie
I'd just come from the country
Wide-eyed and naive
I signed on the line
I signed a long time
Now you won't let me leave... but you

Don't take no for an answer (x3)
When you've nothing to lose... no you
Don't take no for an answer( x3)
Put yourself in my shoes

I don't want any trouble
I ain't after a fight
But well-respected man
Please understand, man
You're standing in my light
No use sticking together
I've gotta get out and get off
I offered you a slice
You told me no dice
Cos you wanted the lot... but you

Don't take no for an answer (x3)
When you've nothing to lose... no you

Don't take no for an answer( x3)
Put yourself in my shoes

From 1978 EP by Tom Robinson Band 'Rising Free'

4) Glad To Be Gay

The British Police are the best in the world
I don't believe one of these stories I've heard
'Bout them raiding our pubs for no reason at all
Lining the customers up by the wall
Picking out people and knocking them down
Resisting arrest as they're kicked on the ground
Searching their houses and calling them queer
I don't believe that sort of thing happens here

Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy that way

Pictures of naked young women are fun
In Titbits and Playboy, page three of The Sun
There's no nudes in Gay News our last magazine
But they still find excuses to call it obscene
Read how disgusting we are in the press
The News of The World and the Sunday Express
Molesters of children, corruptors of youth
It's there in the paper, it must be the truth

Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy that way

Don't try to kid us that if you're discreet
You're perfectly safe as you walk down the street
You don't have to mince or make bitchy remarks
To get beaten unconscious and left in the dark
I had a friend who was gentle and short
Got lonely one evening and went for a walk
Queerbashers caught him and kicked in his teeth
He was only hospitalised for a week

Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy that way

So sit back and watch as they close all our clubs
Arrest us for meeting and raid all our pubs
Make sure your boyfriend's at least 21
So only your friends and your brothers get done
Lie to your workmates, lie to your folks
Put down the queens and tell anti-queer jokes
Gay Lib's ridiculous, join their laughter
'The buggers are legal now, what more are they after?'

Sing if you're glad to be gay
Sing if you're happy that way

From 1978 EP by Tom Robinson Band 'Rising Free'

5) Martin

I just want to tell you about Martin
Cos nobody I know has got a brother like him
As kids we could never be parted
The neighbours all knew us as the terrible twins
At school some kids were always looking for a fight
But Martin never wanted a fuss
Bigmouth Brown thought he'd push him around
Being three years older than us
So I smashed him in the mush with the cloakroom stool
I got six of the best and suspended from school

But it was worth it with a brother like Martin
It was worth it with a brother like him

We used to nick motors for a joyride
Till we rammed a Black Maria in this XJ6
To give Martin time to get clear
I tried to punch a few policemen before I got nicked
I got Borstal for taking and driving away
And beating up the boys in blue
But Martin never missed a single visiting day
He hitched from Clapham to Crewe
With all me racing mags and the little bits of news
Smuggling in ciggies and a little bit of booze

No-one ever had a brother like Martin
No-one ever had a brother like him

People get the wrong impression with Martin
I know he doesn't mix much but he's no snob
The weekend I got out of remand home
He'd got Uncle Ruby to find me this job
And back at my Nan's he'd repainted my room
And bought me a brand new carpet
There was all me old records and books on a shelf
And a secondhand telly from the market
You can get a bit hard when you've been inside
But I hugged the old bastard and I almost cried

Cos no-one ever had a brother like Martin
No-one ever had a brother like him

From 1978 EP by Tom Robinson Band 'Rising Free'

6) Right On Sister

She's a right on sister
And she knows what she likes
She needs you and me, man
Like a fish needs a bike
Suffragette city
Don't bother her none
Cos the women's revolution
Is bound to come... and I say

Right on, sister
Right on sister, right on

She's a clear level thinker
Just look at her play
She's got it together
In most every way
The women's army is marching
And the weak shall be strong
Power to the sisters
Right on, right on... and I say

Right on, sister
Right on sister, right on

From 1978 EP by Tom Robinson Band 'Rising Free'

7) I'm Alright Jack (live)

Don't you worry, I'm alright, Jack
We've never had it so good
House in Hampstead, fallout bunker
Done everything we could
Fitted the Rolls with a shatterproof windscreen
Soon as we heard the news
Harrods do a nice little teargas
Even a woman can use

All good men at Number Ten
Everything's understood
Don't you worry, I'm alright, Jack
We've never had it so good

Don't you worry, I'm alright, Jack
We've never had it so good
There's plenty of grouse at the country house
We're eating as we should
Hugh's at Sandhurst, everything's safe
With Perkins running the farm
Half a dozen shotguns in the Land Rover
Ready for the call to arms

Gin traps down around the grounds
Trip wires out in the wood
Don't you worry, I'm alright, Jack
We've never had it so good

'B' side of 'Up Against The Wall' single

8) Up Against The Wall

Darkhaired dangerous schoolkids
Vicious, suspicious sixteen
Jet-black blazers at the bus stop
Sullen, unhealthy and mean
Teenage guerillas on the tarmac
Fighting in the middle of the road
Supercharged FS1Es on the asphalt
The kids are coming in from the cold

Look out, listen can you hear it
Panic in the County Hall
Look out, listen can you hear it
Whitehall (got us) up against a wall
Up against the wall...

High wire fencing on the playground
High rise housing all around
High rise prices on the high street
High time to pull it all down
White boys kicking in a window
Straight girls watching where they gone
Never trust a copper in a crime car
Just whose side are you on?

Look out, listen can you hear it
Panic in the County Hall
Look out, listen can you hear it
Whitehall (got us) up against a wall
Up against the wall...

Consternation in Brixton
Rioting in Notting Hill Gate
Fascists marching on the high street
Carving up the welfare state
Operator get me the hotline
Father can you hear me at all?
Telephone kiosk out of order

Spraycan writing on the wall

Look out, listen can you hear it
Panic in the County Hall
Look out, listen can you hear it
Whitehall got us up against a wall
Up against the wall...

9) Grey Cortina

Wish I had a grey Cortina
Whiplash aerial, racing trim
Cortina owner - no one meaner
Wish that I could be like him

Twin exhaust and rusty bumper
Chewing gum at traffic light
Stop at red but leave on amber
Grey Cortina outa sight

Wish I had a grey Cortina
Whiplash aerial, racing trim
Cortina owner - no one meaner
Wish that I could be like him

Furlined seats and lettered windscreen
Elbow on the windowsill
Eight track blazing Brucie Springsteen
Bomber jacket, dressed to kill

Wish I had a grey Cortina
Whiplash aerial, racing trim
Cortina owner - no one meaner
Wish that I could be like him

Never cop a parking ticket
Never seem to show its age

Speed police too slow to nick it
Grey Cortina got it made

Wish I had a grey Cortina
Whiplash aerial, racing trim
Cortina owner - no one meaner
Wish that I could be like him

10) Too Good To Be True

Dreamed last night I was dreaming
Somebody answered my prayer
Cried out over my shoulder
Only the devil was there
Hold no hope for the future
Or good times seeing me through
Too good to be true
Too good to be true

Can't find the floor or the wardrobe
Can't find my way to the park
Life in a bedsitter bedlam

Afraid to go home in the dark
All day today just excuse for tomorrow
Tomorrow just something to do
Too good to be true
Too good to be true

I've given up reading the papers
I've given up watching TV
Hope in hell I'm able to tell
Whatever happened to me
Facing a phase in the future
Hope I've got something to lose
Too good to be true
Too good to be true

11) Long Hot Summer

Hey Joe, get up and go
Wouldn't like to tell you twice
Hey mac, get off my back
Didn't ask your advice
There's all this heat
Out in the street
Telling us to move along

It's gonna be a long hot summer
From now on

Hey man, I don't understand
We ain't hardly bothering you
Say fag, you're just a drag
We ain't nearly finished with you
There's all this heat
Out on the beat
Telling us we don't belong

It's gonna be a long hot summer
From now on

Hey Dan, give us a hand
We won't make it alone
But we can all make a stand
Next time the whistle's blown
So get your feet
Out on the street

When you hear the heat is on

It's gonna be a long hot summer
From now on

Look out sisters
Look out brothers
We won't be fooled again

12) The Winter Of '79

All you kids that just sit and whine
You should have been there back in '79
You say we're giving you a real hard time
You boys are really breaking my heart
Spurs beat Arsenal, what a game
The blood was running in the drains
Intercity took the trains
And really took the place apart
That was the year Nan Harris died
And Charlie Jones committed suicide
The world we knew busted open wide
In the winter of '79

I'd been working on and off
A pint of beer was still ten bob
My brand new Bonneville got ripped off
I more or less give up trying
They stopped the Social in the spring
And quite a few communists got run in
And National Service come back in
In the winter of '79
When Marco's caff went up in flames
The Vambo boys took the blame
The SAS come and took our names
In the winter of '79

It was us poor bastards took the chop
When the tubes gone up and the buses stopped
The top people still come out on top
The government never resigned
The Carib Club got petrol bombed
The National Front was getting awful strong
They done in Dave and Dagenham Ron
In the winter of '79
When all the gay geezers got put inside

And coloured kids was getting crucified
A few fought back and a few folks died
In the winter of '79

Yes a few of us fought
And a few of us died
In the winter of '79

13) Power In The Darkness

Power in the darkness
Frightening lies from the other side
Power in the darkness
Stand up and fight for your rights

Freedom... we're talking bout your freedom
Freedom to choose what you do with your body
Freedom to believe what you like
Freedom for brothers to love one another
Freedom for black and white
Freedom from harassment, intimidation
Freedom for the mother and wife
Freedom from Big Brother's interrogation
Freedom to live your own life... I'm talking 'bout

Power in the darkness
Frightening lies from the other side
Power in the darkness
Stand up and fight for your rights

(Voice from The Other Side:) "Today, institutions fundamental to the British system of Government are under attack: the public schools, the house of Lords, the Church of England, the holy institution of Marriage, even our magnificent police force are no longer safe from those who would undermine our society, and it's about time we said 'enough is enough' and saw a return to the traditional British values of discipline, obedience, morality and freedom.
What we want is:

Freedom from the reds and the blacks and the criminals
Prostitutes, pansies and punks
Football hooligans, juvenile delinquents
Lesbians and left wing scum
Freedom from the niggers and the Pakis and the unions
Freedom from the Gipsies and the Jews
Freedom from leftwing layabouts and liberals
Freedom from the likes of you..."

Power in the darkness
Frightening lies from the other side
Power in the darkness
Stand up and fight for your rights

14) Waiting For My Man (live)

Lyrics by Lou Reed, unavailable cos he'll sue
my ass off if I reproduce em here without permission.

15) Getting Tighter

Lyrics by Longo/Camacia


Monday morning woke up free
All I wanted was to be me
Smoked a joint that got me high
High as I could be

Passed some straights who screamed "Hey Fag!"
Brought me down, what a drag
Punched a hole in my gay bag
Just could not be me

And it's getting tighter day by day
Nothing getting lighter in any way (x2)
Just could not be free
Just could not be me

Met some machos on my block
They hassled me with macho mock
Cos I ain't no macho rock
Just could not be me

Jocks from Jersey passing by
Threw a rock, I don't know why
I got stoned but I lost my high
Just could not be free

And it's getting tighter day by day
Nothing getting lighter in any way (x2)
Just could not be free
Just could not be me

Tired of acting like a clown
Listen, can't you hear the sound
It's time to put the oppressors down
So we can be free
So I can be me.

Longo/Camicia 1976
Reproduced by kind permission of Rocket Music

'B' side of 'Never Gonna Fall In Love (Again)' single

16) Bully For You

Cut the cackle cos we're getting to the facts now
Guilt edged security hold me back now
Cold blanket at the drop of a hat man
Bully for you - I'm just mad about that man

I hear the sound of dogs in the rain
I know you won't be back again
We seen it three times on the run
Pass up a chance to
Cut the crap and make it happen...
Giving can be fun

We don't need no aggravation
We don't need no aggravation

I ain't afraid but I just don't wanna fight now
This movie's over - so switch that light out
Turn of the screw and tomorrow soon come man
Wake in the morning, wonder what've you done man

There ain't another place in town
I'm moving over, going down
Killing time, the morning drop
The final judgement
Stayed a day to try your way to
Make the aching stop...

We don't need no aggravation
We don't need no aggravation

Music by Peter Gabriel

17) All Right All Night

We don't see no place for hatred
Real life's too good to waste it
No-one here's afraid to face it
Take it while we can
Keep a space for other faces
Keep the faith and never break it
Now you're round we're bound to make it
Whole world in your hands

Alright all night
Everybody understands
Alright all night
We've got the whole world in our hands

Debt collection, high connection
Gonna get some insurrection
Time to set some fresh direction
Whole world in our hands
Let them run for re-election
Let them get police protection

Cash injection, state correction
Just won't mean a damn

Alright all night
Everybody understands
Alright all night
We've got the whole world in our hands

18) Never Gonna Fall In Love (again)

Never meant to be so friendly
Never made the room look nice
Never heed a word of warning
Never take my own advice...
Oo-ooh, I got a brand new problem:
Pretty and he's five foot ten
I've been in love three times this week -
I'm just about to fall again...

I don't wanna fall in love
I'm never gonna fall in love
Again...
No I don't wanna fall in love
Never gonna fall in love
I'm never gonna fall in love
Again

Never meant to be so sexist
But it's so hard to overcome
Trying hard to fight the feeling
Lechery can be such fun...
Cos everywhere there's lots of foxes
And every cat I meet's a Tom
I wish he didn't make me rabid
Wish he wouldn't turn me on... cos

I don't wanna fall in love
I'm never gonna fall in love
Again...
No I don't wanna fall in love
Never gonna fall in love
I'm never gonna fall in love
Again

Music by Elton John