Song information On this page you can find the lyrics of the song Overture, artist - Madness.
Date of issue: 30.03.2017
Song language: English
Overture |
But in weather like this, you should wear a coat, a nice warm hat |
A needle and thread the hand stitches of time |
Battling Levinsky versus Jackie Burk |
Bobbing and weaving, an invisible line |
So step for step and both light on our feet |
We’ll travel many along dim silent street |
Would you like a bit of this, or a little bit of that? |
(Misses) |
A little bit of what you like does you no harm, you know that |
The perpetual steady echo of the passing beat |
A continual dark river of people |
In it’s transience and in it’s permanence |
But, when the streetlamp fills the gutter with gold |
So many priceless items bought and sold |
So step for step and both light on our feet |
We’ll travel many along dim silent street (together) |
Once round Arnold Circus, and up through Petticoat Lane |
Past the well of shadows, and once back round again |
Arm in arm, with an abstracted air |
To where the people stare |
Out of the upstairs windows |
Because we are living like kings |
And these days will last forever |
Cos sailors from Africa, China and the archipelago of Malay |
Jump ship ragged and penniless into Shadwells Tiger Bay |
The Welsh and Irish wagtails, mothers of midnight |
The music hall carousel enspilling out into bonfire light |
Sending half crazed shadows, giants dancing up the brick wall |
Of Mr Trumans beer factory, waving, bottles ten feet tall |
Whether one calls it Spitalfields, Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets |
Or Banglatown. |
We’re all dancing in the moonlight, we’re all |
On borrowed ground. |
Oh, I’m just walking down to, I’m just floating down through |
Won’t you come with me, to the Liberty of Norton Folgate |
But wait! |
What’s that? |
Dan Leno |
And the Limehouse golem |
Purposefully walking nowhere, oh I’m happy just floating about |
(Have a banana) |
On a Sunday afternoon, the stallholders all call and shout |
To no-one in particular |
Avoiding people you know, you’re just basking in you’re own company |
The technicolour world’s going by, but you’re the lead in your own movie |
Cos in the Liberty of Norton Folgate |
Walking wild and free, in your second hand coat, |
Happy just to float |
In this little taste of liberty |
A part of everything you see |
They’re coming left and right |
Trying to flog you stuff you don’t need or want |
And a smiling chap takes your hand |
And drags you in his Uncles restaurant |
(ee-yar, ee-yar, ee-yar) |
There’s a Chinese man trying hard to flog you moody DVDs |
You know? |
You’ve seen the film, it’s black and white, it’s got no sound |
And a man’s head pops up and down |
Right across your widescreen TV |
(Only a fiver) |
('Ow much?) |
(Alright, two for eight quid) |
(Ee-yar, ee-yar, look, I’m givin' it away) |
(Givin' it away!) |
Cos in the Liberty of Norton Folgate |
Walking wild and free, in your second hand coat, |
Happy just to float |
In this little piece of liberty |
You’re a part of everything you see |
There’s the sturdy old fellows, pickpockets, dandy’s, extortioners |
And night wanderers, the feeble, the ghastly, upon whom death |
Had placed a very sure hand, |
Some in shreds and patches, |
Reeling inarticulate full of noisy and inordinate vivacity |
That jars discordantly upon the ear |
And gives an aching sensation to both pair of eyeballs |
(Noisy and inordinate vivacity) |
Ohhhh ahhhhhh ahhhhh |
In the beginning was a fear of the immigrant |
In the beginning was a fear of the immigrant |
He’s made his way down to the dark riverside |
In the beginning was a fear of the immigrant |
In the beginning was a fear of the immigrant |
He’s made his home there down by the dark riverside |
Ohhhh ahhhhhh ahhhhh |
He made his home there down by the riverside |
They made their homes there down by the riverside |
The city sprang up from the dark river Thames |
They made their home there down by the riverside |
They made their homes there down by the riverside |
The city sprang up from the dark mud of the Thames |
I’ll say it again |
(Ha ha ha, that’s right) |
'Cos in the Liberty of Norton Folgate |
Walking wild and free |
And in your second hand coat |
Happy just to float |
In this little taste of liberty |
Cos you’re a part of everything you see |
Yes, you’re a part of everything you see |
With a little bit of this |
And a little bit of that |
A little bit of what you like does you no harm |
And you know that |
Ohhhh ahhhhhh ahhhhh |