Death May Be Your Santa Claus

Album: Brain Capers (1971)
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  • How long 'fore you realise you swing
    How long 'fore you realise you sting
    From the good to the bad to the ugly change
    How long 'fore you start to rearrange
    How long how long 'fore you realise that all's strange

    How long will it take to turn you around
    How long will it take to bend you down
    It makes you believe in the [real] exchange
    How long will it take for me to rearrange
    How long how long 'fore you realise that all's strange

    Well i don't care what the people may say
    I don't give a - anyway
    I don't care what the people may say
    I don't care what the people may say
    I don't give a - anyway
    I don't care what the people may say

    How long 'fore you realise what you missed
    How long 'fore we we get out and may get pissed
    You get all the books from the corn exchange
    Really mad at this outrage
    How long how long 'fore you realise that all's strange
    I don't care what the people may say
    I don't give a - anyway
    I don't care what the people may say
    I don't care what the people may say
    I don't give a - anyway
    I don't care what the people may say

    How long
    How long
    How long
    How long

    Won't you tell me how long
    Won't you tell me how long
    Won't you tell me how long
    Won't you tell me how long

    How long will it take
    How long will it take
    How long will it take (yeah)
    How long will it take Writer/s: Ian Hunter, Verden Allen
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Martianhuman from U.s.On my list of favorite songs, since it came out 1972 (U.S.). It all came back at me karmic-ly when Christmas Eve 2020 I got infected with COVID. Death COULD have been my Santa Claus.... but wasn't!
  • Zebedyzak from UkLester, I totally agree. "Brain Capers" is an absolutely cracking album. Sadly, this one wasn't a very big seller either. I don't even think about punk (punk? what's that? lol) when I listen to it. I think of it as a classic rock album with a delightful air of eccentricity and nonconformity to give it that extra special touch.
  • Zebedyzak from UkThis song is on my list of mondegreens from my school days. I was about 13 or 14 when I bought "Brain Capers" and until I discovered the correct lyrics on the Internet some 30 years later I always thought the lyric "You get all your books from the Corn Exchange" was "You get on the bus from the Corn Exchange". Mott's songs are among those which I (and my sister) often misheard, with amusing results. Lol:)
  • Lester from New York City, NyBrain Capers is a great album. Mick Ralphs sings lead on a cover of Darkness, Darkness.
  • Kevin from Los Angeles, CaActually, Guy Stevens nicked the title from a movie of the same name made in the UK in 1969.
  • Jp from Valley Forge, PaThey had to produce an album to meet contractual agreements. They had done 3 albums before that hadn't sold, were known for their live shows and were deeply in debt. They went into the studio and bashed out an album in a few days. I think I remember reading at the time that it was recorded in "a little time, with a lot of wine." It is as close as they ever came to their live show. An angry predecessor to punk, and the song I play every Friday night to kick off the weekend right.
  • Rod from Logan, NjFirst to comment on a song i never heard in my life
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