I’ve had no trouble locating reliable lyrics transcriptions for any of the songs in my course, “The Social Politics of Indie” — until we got to the class on all-female bands, of course. Here are two transcriptions for songs that no one else on the internet has bothered with. As Simon Reynolds writes in Rip It Up and Start Again, “Off-Duty Trip” is about “a notorious rape trial of the day, in which the perpetrator was treated leniently by a judge to avoid damaging his military career.” “Make Up” is about makeup. I’ve underlined bits I’m not sure about. Please email me with corrections.

 

THE RAINCOATS

Off-Duty Trip

from The Raincoats (1979)

Just a couple in the park
Pounding out those games in the dark
Those who walk past her screams
Are only reminded of love’s young dreams
A scuffle, violating arms
Can only prove the strength of his charms

Woman, you’re pinned up
On the wall in front of you
A soldier’s life is very tough
Needs tender loving when fighting’s through

Join the professionals,
The professionals

Yes they’re really strangers in the night
Oh they’re saying to me if you put up a fight
It’s not just a kiss you owe me
It’s all this ammunition loaded
I bought you a drink
And well, we’re walking hand in hand

Woman, you’re pinned up
On the wall in front of you
A soldier’s life is very tough
Needs tender loving when fighting’s through

Save the professional,
The professional(s)

Seaside town, off-duty trip
Taking flesh, going to let it rip
With rings on his finger,
Sharp like the taste that still lingers,
Flavor of this month — center spread
57 Page Three varieties in his head . . .

Woman, you’re pinned up
On the wall in front of you
A soldier’s life is very tough
Needs tender loving when fighting’s through

Join the professionals, save one of the professionals,
No, no jail for the professional.

 

DELTA 5

Make Up

Peel Session (live on the BBC, 1980)

It’s everything deep and red
It’s creamy, soft, and moist
It makes your face feel important
Better looked than overlooked

You wear it with a thousand others
You’ve never looked so false
At the most important time of all
No one will see the flaws

Cover it, roll it on or over
Cover it, roll it on or over
Cover it, roll it on or over

It’s a delicious contradiction
To make the cost worthwhile
They will give endless promises
Nothing to do with results

Don’t worry, we’ll soon make up
Now it’s on, it won’t wear off
The disguise of today
Don’t go out without it

Cover it, roll it on or over
Cover it, roll it on or over
Cover it, roll it on or over

Do you wear it?
Does it wear you?
Do you wear it?
Does it wear you?
Do you wear it?
Does it wear you?
Do you wear it?
Does it wear you?
Do you wear it?
Does it wear you?

Don’t worry, we’ll soon make up
Now it’s on, it won’t wear off
The disguise of today
Don’t go out without it