Ed Kuepper Serene Machine
CD, 1993, Digipak

released March 1993 HOT
8-paged Booklet
plus
Ed Kuepper Catalogue (HOT Spit Junction, NSW-2088) Laughing Clowns, Ed Kuepper, The Aints CD releases card


Musicians:
Ed Kuepper - vocals, guitar
Mark Dawson - drums, percussion
Sir Alfonso - bass
Artie Sledge (17 Miles High) Sledge - guitar, bass
The Hub Matinee Choral Society, The Socialist Republic of Newtown's People's Choir – vocals



All Songs Polygram Music Publishing
Words and Music by E. Kuepper except Maria Peripatetica; Lyric to 'Maria Peripatetica' Traditional, arranged by E. Kuepper, music by E. Kuepper

Lyrics in Booklet paged 2 to 7:
WHEN SHE'S DOWN

It's a mixture of disaster
Truth and lies
It's in the air, it's in the air
Like the smell of mowed grass
That's on the ground
I like the sound when she's around

She's like the setting sun
When she's down
She's like the setting sun
When she's down

And she won't tell all her secrets
And that's fine
They're not mine, they're not mine
Like the taste of salty sweat
When she's aroused
She's aroused, she's aroused

She's like the setting sun,
When she's down
She's like the setting sun,
When she's down

And you look for reasons and
A good excuse
Simple truth, no excuse
Like the rain that falls upon
The dusty ground
I like the sound when she's around

She's like the setting sun
When she's down
She's like the setting sun
When she's down

- - - - - - - -


SLEEPY HEAD (SERENE MACHINE)

So please wake up, you sweet sleepy head
With night time coming, there're things to be said
No happy endings, serene machine
If you don't act soon,
You'll see what I mean
If you scratch your world to pieces
You'll see the stains and all the creases
That are hidden away
With your sweet life at an all time low
No sweet-talkers with gems for eyes
To show the way
Well, your story could be ending
Without ever happy ending
To help pull it all through
And your mind could run so wild
In, oh ten thousand endless miles
Along a one way street
So please wake up, you sweet sleepy head
With night time coming, there's things to be said
No happy endings, serene machine
If you don't act soon,
You'll see what I mean
Like your two cent friends
With their pretend faith
Who've ruled your world since distant time
And then stole it away
Well, I know you're always right
But still prepared to say you're wrong
Who could ask for more?
But your story could be ending
Without ever happy ending
To help pull it all through
And your mind would run so wild
In, oh ten thousand endless miles
Along a one-way street
So please wake up, you sweet sleepy head
With night time coming there's things to be said
No happy endings, serene machine
If you don't act soon,
You'll see what I mean

- - - - - - - -


WHO'S BEEN TALKING?

Who's been talking?
I just don't understand
You know I'm not that kind of man
Who's been talking?
Was it Betty or Sue?
Because it's not the kind of thing that they'd do
Who's been talking?
Was it Bobbie or Joe?
It's not the fashion with the people I know
Who's been talking?
I just don't understand
Who'd lie about the things that I do?
Who's been talking?
I just don't understand
Who'd lie about the things that I do?
Who's been talking?
Well they'd better shut their mouth
Who's been talking?
Well they'd better shut their mouth
Who's been talking?
Do they live around here?
You know you can't believe a thing that you hear
Well, who's been talking?
Won't you give me a clue?
I won't tell them that the pigeon was you
Who's been talking?
Don't believe what they say
You know I never ever acted that way
Who's been talking?
Was it someone I know?
You know I wouldn't do the things
That they say
Who's been talking?
Well, they'd better shut their mouth
Who's been talking?
Well, they'd better shut their mouth

- - - - - - - -


IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE

It's happened before
Most likely it will happen again
Yes
I don't want to see
Pathetic acts of self abuse
It turns me right off today
Why go that way?
You had the same as everyone else
Now
Why can't you see?
Your actions don't get sympathy
Just watch the reactions
Of the people you know
It only serves to break them up
It turns me right off today
Why go that way?
You're wasting all your precious time
It's happened before
You got the same as everyone else
Now
You don't need strength
When you're hypnotized
You look as though you just can't tell
I just can't look in your eyes
All of this has happened before
It's happened before
Most likely it will happen again
Yes
It's happened before
Most likely it will happen again
Yes

- - - - - - - -


I WISH YOU WERE HERE

I've been seeing you
In a million places
Seen your face
On the other faces
That walked by me
Sometimes sent to try me
That talk to me
Or that look right through me
Though I know that you're not really there
It might sound dumb
but I don't really care
I wish you were here
It seems like a year
I wish you were here
I wish you were here
I wish you were here
Hear the songs
That I know would move you
See the books
That I know would bore you
Hear the voices
Sometimes soft as whispers
Sometimes loud enough
To drain and drown you
Though I know that you're not really there
It might sound dumb
but I don't really care
I wish you were here
It seems like a year
I wish you were here
I wish you were here
I wish you were here

- - - - - - - -


MARIA PERIPATETICA

Sad painted flower cast unwist
Into life's lap, poor face that fate
Has mocked at, drunk to, smitten, kissed
Until I read the rune thereof
With more in it to love than hate
With more to pity than to love
What nights were yours?
What morns were theirs?
Whose sleep was incense, vital, rare
Burned into ashes unaware
Before your desecrated shrine
Your barren bosom freed their cares
Because its milk was bitter wine
Of all who loved and let you go
There was not one whose love impressed
Stamped upon your memory so
Their eyes out-sparkle all the rest
Of all the mouths your mouth has drained
Of all the breasts your breast has sought
And clung to, mad, desired, disdained
In that long catalogue of dole
Is there not one who something taught
In the salacious brutal school?
Over the lesson of the dark
Their soul embracing your lost soul?
Maria Peripatetica
Maria Peripatetica

- - - - - - - -


SOUNDS LIKE MYSTERIOUS WIND

It was cold that night
In that spooky Oxley flats way
The mysterious wind
Had been blowing through the day
I was in my bed
And I thought that I was sleeping
When I heard my name
Whispered from me other room
And it seems like
I must have sinned
And it sounds like
Mysterious wind
I thought the light was on
In that other room because
Because the moon it shone
With a light of sickly life
The mysterious wind
Was blowing dry that evening
And I felt too scared
To get up out of bed
And it seems like
I must have sinned
And it sounds like
Mysterious wind
It's the sort of wind
That could drive a wedge
'Tween lovers
It's the sort of sound
That sends children under covers
And it broke the hearts
Of me and every lover
Even close to the ground
It almost seem to smother us
And it seems like
I must have sinned
And it sounds like
Mysterious wind

- - - - - - - -


REASONS

She didn't give her reasons
And her concern seemed not to show
She didn't give her reasons
And her concern seemed not to show
She never give me reasons I know
I ought to speak or something
I just don't know
Everyone had questions to ask
Was it really her face or just a mask
And folks would query
Did she jump or was she pushed?
I thought she'd pull back
Just like a magnet or so
She didn't give her reasons
And her concern seemed not to show
She didn't give her reasons
And her concern seemed not to show
She said she was a fortune teller
And swore that she could read minds
And know your heart
The closer and the closer I looked
I couldn't find a trace
Of the life that she'd left
And folks would query
Did she jump or was she pushed?
I thought she'd pull back
Just like a magnet or so
She didn't give her reasons
And her concern seemed not to show
She didn't give her reasons
And her concern seemed not to show

- - - - - - - -


THIS HIDEOUS PLACE

Baby, won't you go?
I know you'd like to go
From this hideous place
this is our chance
Our only chance
There's so much history
That the mystery to me
Is why we just haven't left
It's not even as though we dance
And if the signs on the road
Are confusing
We'll look straight ahead
Not behind and ignore them
I know that I sound
Like a petrol commercial
But, baby the way
That I feel there are worse things
This place has my head
Filled with poison thoughts
There is no peace to be bought
There's no chance
There's no romance
No need to pack
We'll leave the baggage behind
Leave everything I don't mind
There'll be new things
You'll find I don't mind
And if the signs on the road
Are confusing
We'll look straight ahead
Not behind and ignore them
I know that I sound
Like a petrol commercial
But baby, the way
That I feel there are worse things

- - - - - - - -

(YOU) DON'T KNOW WHAT TO STEAL

When I saw you just yesterday
I felt so vile I could not say
A lot of things on my mind
And you can say 'that's how it sloes'
Time moves so fast it never slows
Just like it's digital
The way that you can disguise your loneliness
Well, part of it is just your cleverness
The hand-me-downs
Because you take it all lying down
Adore the lies handed down
Trampled into the ground
(You) don't know what to steal
You saw heaven just down the road
At least some bloke with a heavy load
And maybe a chip or two
And if our time just moves too fast
It's no surprise that nothing lasts
Five second hand-me-downs
The way that you can disguise your loneliness
Well, part of it is just your cleverness
The hand-me-downs
Because you take it all lying down
Adore the lies handed down
Trampled into the ground
(You) don't know what to steal

- - - - - - - -


YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY (SWEETE REPRISE)

Comedians of the trade
Decided when
To dig the grave
Back at the old school hall
I witnessed violence
From all
It was there
I made my bed
Or was it perhaps
Made for me?
Would you please not
Stare like that?
'Cause it don't appeal to me
It must be said
It's not a fable
You can't please everybody
Even if you're able
It must be said
That I'm not stable with you
Would you please
Not stare like that?
Well, I asked so mercifully
Your bubble might have burst
But I don't want
To die of thirst
Sing to me only now of
Things too beautiful to see
I have my photographs
I don't want more to remind me
It must be said
It's not a fable
You can't please everybody
Even if you're able
It must be said
That I'm not stable with you

- - - - - - - -


MARRIED TO MY LAZY LIFE

Feel so high
Sun so low
There's no place
I want to go
This lazy life
Means so much to me
Drink champagne
Smoke cigars
Chauffeur's too drunk
To drive my car
I'm married to my lazy life
Watch the children
In the park
And have my breakfast
After dark
This lazy life
Means so much to me
See the sunlight
On your thighs
Leave the sleep there
In my eyes
Even married to
A lazy wife
Doo Doo Doo
Doo Doo Doo