7.1 What is that eerie voice at the beginning of the original version of 'Pale Shelter'?
That's actually a reversed clip of Roland talking. He says:
is an amplification of the sickness in the individual…sickness in the system…
is an amplification of the sickness in the individual
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7.2 Why isn't the second verse written for 'The Prisoner' sung on the album?
According to Curt, the lyric sheets for The Hurting were printed before the album version of 'The Prisoner' was fully recorded, and it turned out that the verse just didn't "fit" with the song. This verse is also absent from the original version of the song, found on the 'Pale Shelter (You Don't Give Me Love)' single.
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7.3 What is that word Curt sings during the final chorus of 'Mad World'?
According to Curt, the word is actually "Hlaajean": a reference to Hlaaj, a figmentary planet that producer Chris Hughes created. Curt told this story in a 1983 interview, and he recently confirmed its accuracy. This means that the word printed in the lyrics for the Greatest Hits release ("halogeon") is incorrect.
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7.4 What is being sung at the beginning of 'Pale Shelter (New Extended Version)'?
I honestly cannot tell who is singing this intro; it sounds like both Roland and Curt in parts. The lyrics go:
How can I ever know?
How can I decide when you're inside?
Won't ever let me go, how can I be sure?
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7.5 What is that weird bit of singing about halfway through 'Change (Extended Version)'?
That's actually a reversed sample of Curt singing:
You don't give me love
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7.6 What is Roland repeating in the background on 'The Way You Are'?
Til tomorrow, til tomorrow, til tomorrow, climb the ladder
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7.7 Tell me about those random sound clips featured in 'The Big Chair'.
Those clips are taken directly from Sybil, the movie that inspired this song as well as the album title Songs From The Big Chair.
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7.8 Tell me about those random sound clips featured in 'Empire Building'.
Those clips are taken directly from Breaker Morant, a movie about the conduct of Australian soldiers during the Boer War. Also, if you own Saturnine Martial & Lunatic, you will notice that Roland admits the song structure is almost entirely created from one 8-bit, 2-second sample of an "early Simple Minds drum intro." The song featuring this drum intro is 'Today I Died Again', from Simple Minds' third album Empires And Dance.
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7.9 What in the world is all that gibberish at the beginning of ‘Broken Revisited’?
The first 1:10 of the song is simply the main vocal track from ‘We Are Broken’ slowed down, distorted & reversed.
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7.10 Is there anyone crazy enough to transcribe the full collection of lyrics and sound bites that appear in 'Mothers Talk (Beat Of The Drum Mix)'?
Of course. What else do I have to do? Actual work?
Click here.
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7.11 Why does Roland shout "William!" during 'I Believe (A Soulful Re-Recording)'?
You can distinctly hear Roland yell "William!" just before the little saxophone solo in the single version of 'I Believe.' This is a shout out to the saxophonist, William Gregory.
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7.12 What does Curt sing in the background during 'Head Over Heels'?
Nothing ever changes when you're acting your age
Nothing gets done when you feel like a baby
Nothing ever changes when you're acting your age
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7.13 What is being chanted in Spanish during 'Listen'?
Cumple anos chica, no hay que preocuparse
Translation: Birthday girl it's not your fault.
Another translation: Grow up (or grow older) girl; you don't have to worry (about it).
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7.14 What does Curt sing in the background during 'Woman In Chains'?
Curt sings a line that's tough to understand during the part of the song where Roland sings, "I will not accept the Greatness of Man." The best guesses I and other fans can come up with are:
Is this my world?
or
This is my song
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7.15 What is the line spoken during the intro to 'Famous Last Words'?
Let's take another five minutes.
According to Roland, this was placed here as a joke, since the album obviously took a lot longer than five minutes to record!
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7.16 Why did Roland sing about "Raoul And The Kings Of Spain" during performances of 'All You Need Is Love' on the Seeds Of Love tour?
Believe it or not, "Raoul And The Kings Of Spain" was actually supposed to be the title of TFF's third album. This plan was frowned upon by record company executives who felt the record should be titled after the hit single 'Sowing The Seeds Of Love', and Roland & Curt caved to the idea.
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7.17 What are the lyrics to 'My Life In The Suicide Ranks'?
Your guess is as good as mine. Here is the link to what I've come up with. If you can offer corrections or suggestions, please feel free. The song was recorded straight onto tape during an improvised jam session, so it's unlikely Roland even remembers what he was singing at the time.
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7.18 What is that distorted line repeated throughout the original version of 'Johnny Panic And The Bible Of Dreams'?
The generally accepted lyric is:
I couldn't guarantee that
This isn't confirmed though, so let me know if you have a different interpretation.
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7.19 What does Roland sing before the choruses in 'Cold'?
The first:
Time stood still with his fingers in his ears
Didn't want to hear it from another bunch of hollow men
And the second:
King got caught with his fingers in the till
Where's your calculator, will you leave it in your will?
The "King" referenced here is likely Paul King, TFF's former manager who declared bankruptcy in 1990.
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7.20 What is spoken at the end of 'Bloodletting Go'?
As the song fades out, Roland is asking for a chord:
A minor?
Someone replies:
That's it.
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7.21 What is the line repeated at the beginning and end of 'Schrodinger's Cat'?
Roland was once asked about this, and he confirmed that this is indeed a distorted voice saying the line:
Last train to Norwich
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7.22 Does Roland really sing "I love the devil" in 'Elemental'?
Heh. This is a fun one.
No, Roland does not sing "I love the devil." This question was first posed on the TFF mailing list way back in 1994 when an astute fan noticed a lyric similar to this while listening to the 'Elemental (Sons Of August Mix)'. A flame war quickly ensued when other fans became enraged that anyone would dare make such a suggestion. As it turns out, the line in question is no more than a bit of studio trickery: a reversed sample of the "put your loving arms around" lyric found throughout 'Elemental'. It can be heard in the album version of the song, but is much more audible in the remix.
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7.23 What is all that talking in the background on Roland's cover of 'Ashes To Ashes'?
At times, Roland is apparently just repeating the lyrics, but at 1:22 into the song he clearly says:
Schrodinger’s cat is dead to the world
A direct reference to the b-side that wouldn’t be released until a year after this song's recording!
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