Being Boring

I came across a cache of old photos
And invitations to teenage parties
"Dress in white" one said, with quotations
From someone's wife, a famous writer
In the nineteen-twenties
When you're young you find inspiration
In anyone who's ever gone
And opened up a closing door
She said: "We were never feeling bored
'Cause we were never being boring
We had too much time to find for ourselves
  And we were never being boring
  We dressed up and fought, then thought: "Make amends"
  And we were never holding back or worried that
  Time would come to an end"
When I went I left from the station
With a haversack and some trepidation
Someone said: "If you're not careful
You'll have nothing left and nothing to care for
In the nineteen-seventies"
But I sat back and looking forward
My shoes were high and I had scored
I'd bolted through a closing door
I would never find myself feeling bored
    'Cause we were never being boring
     We had too much time to find for ourselves
     And we were never being boring
     We dressed up and fought, then thought: "Make amends"
     And we were never holding back or worried that
     Time would come to an end
     We were always hoping that, looking back
     You could always rely on a friend
Now I sit with different faces
In rented rooms and foreign places
All the people I was kissing
Some are here and some are missing
In the nineteen-nineties
I never dreamt that I would get to be
The creature that I always meant to be
But I thought in spite of dreams
You'd be sitting somewhere here with me
     'Cause we were never being boring
     We had too much time to find for ourselves
     And we were never being boring
     We dressed up and fought, then thought: "Make amends"
     And we were never holding back or worried that
     Time would come to an end
     We were always hoping that, looking back
     You could always rely on a friend
     And we were never being boring
     We had too much time to find for ourselves
     And we were never being boring
     We dressed up and fought, then thought: "Make amends"
     And we were never being boring
     We were never being bored
     'Cause we were never being boring
     We were never being bored


                This must be the place I waited years to leave

Each morning after Sunblest
Feel the benefit, mental arithmetic
I waited by the staffroom
In time for benediction
     Living a law just short of delusion
     When we fall in love there's confusion
     This must be the place I waited years to leave
To our voices nobody's listening
We shiver in the rain by the touchline
Then a coach ride to the station
"My lord, the carriage awaiteth!"
     Living a law just short of delusion
     When we fall in love there's confusion
     This must be the place I waited years to leave
     This must be the place I waited years to leave
     And how    How long?
I'm listening to the words I thought I'd never hear again
A litany of saints and other ordinary men
Kneeling on the parquet
Whatever has gone wrong?
The fear and feeling hopelessness
I don't want to belong
I dreamt I was back in uniform
And a candidate for examination
History, someone had blundered
And a voice rapped "knuckle under!"


                               To face the truth

You know it hurts me when you lie
Sometimes it even makes me cry
'Cause I'm so in love with you
If you don't believe what I have said
Take a look, my eyes are red
'Cause I'm so in love with you
     But all those sleepless night in bed
     When you've been out somewhere instead
     I wonder if you care and cannot bear the proof
     It hurts too much to face the truth
     To face the truth
A lawyer with a case to prove
Would sift the evidence, then move
It's the only thing to do
So why then can't I face the facts?
Sift this evidence that backs
I am so in love with you
     But all the nights when you have said
     You must be somewhere else instead
     I wonder where you go, but daren't expose the proof
     It hurts too much to face the truth
     To face the truth
     To face the truth
You are the only one, the only one
You know it hurts me when you lie
Sometimes it even makes me cry
'Cause I'm so in love with you
If you don't believe what I have said
Take a look, my eyes are red
'Cause I'm so in love with you
     But all the nights you don't show up
     I know it's time I should grow up
     I ask you if you care, you stand and stare aloof
     It hurts too much to face the truth
     To face the truth
     To face the truth


                   How can you expect to be taken seriously?

You live upon a stage, and everyone's agreed
You're the brightest hope by far that anyone can see
So when you take the limelight you can guarantee
You're gaining fame and claiming credibility
     Tell me baby are you gonna get high as a kite?
     Tell me baby are you gonna let it happen every night
     How can you expect to be taken seriously?
You live within the law, and everyone assumes
You must find this a bore, and try something new
You're an intellectual giant, an authority
To preach and teach the whole world about ecology
     Tell me baby are you gonna make any other claims?
     Tell me baby are you gonna take any of the blame?
     How can you expect to be taken seriously?
     How can you expect to be taken seriously?
(Seriously)
You live within the headlines, so everyone can see
You're supporting every new cause and meeting royalty
You're another major artist on a higher plane
Do you think they'll put you in the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame?
     Tell me baby how you generate longevity
     Tell me baby how you really hate publicity
     How can you expect to be taken seriously?
     How can you expect to be taken seriously?


                          Only the wind

It's only the wind blowing litter all around
Just a little wind and the trees are falling down
There's nobody crying, that was yesterday
Inside we're all smiling, everything's okay
It's only the wind blowing cans along the street
Someone's dustbin lid playing havoc with the peace
There's nobody hiding behind a locked door
And no one's been lying, 'cause we don't lie any more
It's only the wind, how it takes you by surprise
Suddenly begins, then before you know it dies
My hands are not shaking, I don't touch a drop
You must be mistaken, I know when to stop
     When life is calmer, I have no doubt
     No angry drama, a storm blows itself out
It's only the wind, they say it's getting worse
The trouble that it brings haunts us like a curse
My nerves are all jangled, but I'm pulling through
I hope I can handle what I have to do
     When life is calmer, I have no doubt
     No angry drama, a storm blows itself out
     A storm blows itself out...
I'm sorry


                              My october symphony

So much confusion
When autumn comes around
What to do about October
How to smile behind a frown?
It's hard to settle down
It's so been using
Will they cancel the parade?
We marched each October
Now they say we were never even saved
We must be very brave
     Shall I rewrite or revise
     My October symphony?
     Or as an indication
     Change the dedication
     From revolution to revelation?
So we're all drinking
As leaves fall to the ground
Because we've been thinking
How October's let us down
Then and now
Shall we remember
December instead?
Or worry about February?
Mourn our war-torn dead
Never seeing red?
     Shall I rewrite or revise
     My October symphony?
     Or as an indication
     Change the dedication
     From revolution to revelation?


                                So hard

I doublecross you
And you get mysterious mail
I've tried hard not to shock you
It's hard not to with the things I could say
     Tell me why don't we try
     Not to break our hearts and make it so hard for ourselves?
     Why don't we try
     Not to break our hearts and make it so hard for ourselves?
 You lock your letters in a box
And you've hidden the key
I go on better - I'm indebted
To a contact magazine
     Tell me why don't we try
     Not to break our hearts and make it so hard for ourselves?
     Why don't we try
     Not to break our hearts and make it so hard for us?
Everybody's got to live together
Just to find a little peace of mind there
If you give up your affairs forever
I will give up mine
But it's hard
So hard
I'm always hoping you'll be faithful
But you're not, I suppose
We've both given up smoking 'cause it's fatal
So whose matches are those?
     Tell me why don't we try
     Not to break our hearts and make it so hard for ourselves?
We make it so hard
     Tell me why don't we try
     Not to break our hearts and make it so hard for ourselves?
     Tell me why don't we try
     Not to break our hearts and make it so hard for ourselves?
     Not to break our hearts and make it so hard for ourselves?
     We make it so hard for ourselves
     We make it so hard
     So hard
     We make it so hard


                             Nervously

A nervous boy in several ways
I never knew the world could operate this way
I was nervous when we stopped to speak
And the world came crashing around my feet
     We don't talk of love
     We're much too shy
     But nervously we wonder when and why
A nervous boy, in spite of which
I never thought I could tremble as much as this
Your flashing eyes and sudden smiles
Are never quite at ease, and neither am I
     Oh, we'll talk about it all some night
     But nervously we never get it
     Right
     From the start I approved of you
     Right from the moment you turned to face me
A nervous boy from another town
With a nervous laugh and a concentrated frown
I spoke too fast with watchful eyes
Of a recent past and some nostalgic surprise
     We don't talk of love
     We're much too shy
     But nervously we wonder when and
     Smile
     Knowing why I approved of you
     Right from the moment you turned to face me
A nervous boy


                            The end of the world

Floods of tears and doors slamming
Stamping feet across the landing
Because of your obligation
To stay home and fight
Sitting down to a composition
Test the limits of your inhibition
If the phone hasn't rung by midnight
It's over tonight
     If someone tried, you'd realise
     It's just a boy or a girl
     It's not the end of the world
Piles of toast and broken promises
Among the books and pens and reading glasses
It seems there's no escape from the humdrum
It's over and done
     If someone tried, you'd realise
     It's just a boy or a girl
     It's not the end of the world
     If someone cried, you'd sympathise
     It's just a boy or a girl
     It's not the end of the world
At midnight in desperation
Imagine total teenage destruction
The Prophets all predicted extinction
The Virgin spoke in apparitions
And if it all came to pass now
You feel we'd all deserve it somehow
     But if someone tried   (you'd realise)
     You'd realise   (and sympathize)
     It's just a boy or a girl
     It's not the end of the world
     If someone cried   (you'd sympathize)
     You'd sympathise   (and realise)
     It's just a boy or a girl
     It's not the end of the world
     It's not the end


                               Jealousy

At dead of night, when strangers roam
The streets in search of anyone who'll take them home
I lie alone, the clock strikes three
And anyone who wanted to could contact me
At dead of night, 'till break of day
Endless thoughts and questions keep me awake
It's much too late
     Where've you been?
     Who've you seen?
     You didn't phone when you said you would!
     Do you lie?
     Do you try
     To keep in touch?  You know you could
     I've tried to see your point of view
     But could not hear or see
     For jealousy

I never knew time pass so slow
I wish I'd never met you, or that I could bear to let you go
At dead of night, 'till break of day
Endless thoughts and questions keep me awake
It's much too late
     Where've you been?
     Who've you seen?
     You didn't phone when you said you would!
     Do you lie?
     Do you try
     To keep in touch?  You know you could
     I've tried to see your point of view
     But could not hear or see
     For jealousy
     Where've you been?
     Who've you seen?
     You didn't phone when you said you would!
     Do you lie?
     Do you try
     To keep in touch?  You know you could
     I've tried to see your point of view
     But could not hear or see
     For jealousy
     Where've you been?
     Who've you seen?
     You didn't phone when you said you would!
     Do you lie?
     Do you try
     To keep in touch?  You know you could
     I've tried to see your point of view
     But could not hear or see
     For jealousy
     Where've you been?
     Who've you seen?
     You didn't phone when you said you would!
     Do you lie?
     Do you try
     To keep in touch?  You know you could
     I've tried to see your point of view
     But could not hear or see
     For jealousy
I never knew 'til I met you


 Produced by Pet Shop Boys and Harold Faltemeyer. Engineered by Brian Reeves
                and Bob Kraushaar. Mixed by Julian Mendelsohn.

Additional programming: Dominic Clarke.
Guitar (Being boring): J.J.Belle.
Rhythm guitar/feedback guitar (This must be the place...)
and guitar (My October symphony): Johnny Maar.
Orchestra (This must be the place... and Only the wind) arranged and
conducted by Angelo Badalementi.
Plastic tube (Being boring): Dominic Clarke.
String quarted (My October symphony) arranged by Alex Balanescu and played
by the Balanescu Quartet.
Additional vocals (My October symphony): Jey Henry.
Vocals on Being boring, How can you expect to be taken seriously?, My October
symphony and Jealousy recorded by Bob Kraushaar.

Recorded at Red Deer, Munchen, and Sarm West, London.
Orchestra and strings recorded at Abbey Road by Haydn Bendall.
Thanks to David Cooke and Claudia Kriege at Red Deer.
Assistant at Sarm West: Robin Barclay and Danton Supple.
All songs written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant and published by
Cage Music Ltd/10 Music Ltd.

Photography by Eric Watson.
Designed by Mark Farrow/3a and Pet Shop Boys.

Pet Shop Boys managed by Jill Wall, assisted by Carolyn Sinclair, at
Pet Shop Boys Partnership.
Pet Shop Boys are represented in USA and Canada by Arma Andon/SBK Managment.

(p) 1990 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by
Pet Shop Boys Partnership under exclusive licence to EMI Records Ltd.
(c) 1990 Pet Shop Boys Partnership under exclusive licence to EMI Records Ltd.

To join the Pet Shop Boys Fan Club, send sae to:
PO Box 102, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 2PY, United Kingdom.



Unofficial Pet Shop Boys Partnership fan club site.
http://www.thepetshopboys.ru