Oingo Boingo : Nothing to Fear

1982

1- Grey Matter

2- Insects

3- Private Life

4- Wild Sex (In the Working Class)

5- Running On A Treadmill

6- Whole Day Off

7- Nothing To Fear (But Fear Itself)

8- Why'd We Come

9- Islands

10- Reptiles and Samurai

Grey Matter

They say you're stupid
That you're too young to vote
They say you'll swallow anything
That they shove down your throat

They say you can't think
That you haven't got a brain
That you're just there to listen
That you're just being trained

CHORUS
There's something inside your head
There's something inside your head
There's something inside your head
There's something inside your head

They say you lost the ability to even think
That your tiny little brain
Slipped down the kitchen sink

They say that you'll buy anything
That they turn your way
That you'll listen to everything
That they decide to play

CHORUS
Grey matter grey matter ooh . . .
Grey matter grey matter ooh . . .
Grey matter grey matter ooh . . .
Grey matter grey matter ooh . . .

BRIDGE
I think you like it--like it
To be told what to do--isn't that true
I think you're better--better--better off
Stone cold dead--without your head

They say you're stupid
That you're too young to vote
They say you'll swallow anything
That they shove down your throat

If they say lie down, you'll do it
If they say--buy it now--you'll do it
If they say--turn around--you'll do it
If they say--hit the ground--you'll do it
If they say--bite the big weenie--you'll do it
If they say--wasn't that good--you'll do it
If they say--bend over baby--you'll do it
If they say--take it and like it--you'll do it

CHORUS

Insects

Tiny insects in my hair
Tiny insects everywhere
Tiny insects in my pants
Watching insects make romance
Insects make me make me want to dance dance dance
They make want to dance . . .

Flying insects everywhere
Flying insects buzzing buzzing buzzing thru the air
Just like little diamonds in the sky
Insects buzzing in my eye
Buzzing insects make me want to dance dance dance
They make me want to dance . . .

Insects crawling all around
Insects squirming in the ground
Insects gooey squeaky chewy
Should I eat them--no
I'd rather stomp them hurt them stomp
Stomp them while I dance dance dance
I hurt them while I dance dance dance
I stomp them while I dance dance dance . . .

Insects make me scream and shout
They don't know what life's about
They don't have blood
They've got too many legs
They don't have brains in their heads
They know they'll rule the world some day
They bite and sting me anyway
They bite and sting and suck
They bite and sting and suck suck suck
They bite and sting and
suck suck suck suck suck . . .
Dance dance dance

Private Life

This is my private life
I have no friends to fear
I've got no problems no cross to bear
If you can find me
come and get me out of here

CHORUS
This is my private life
This is my private life
This is my private life . . .

These are my private things
There they are against the wall
The dirty pictures, religious objects
These are my private things
come and get them out of here

This is my private bed
This is where I lie at night
Staring at a light bulb hanging on the ceiling
Waiting for a dream to
come and get me out of here

BRIDGE
Here in my humble room at night
I often wonder what goes on out there
What makes them runs o scared
I often stare at the people passing by
But they can't see me thru my window shades
Just like I'm not even there

CHORUS
This is my private life
This is my private life
This is my private life
There's something dangerous I like

This is my private life
I know my problems aren't your fault
What I really want to know
Has it always been this way

This is my private life
This is my private life
This is my private life
Come and get me out of here

Wild Sex (In The Working Class)

I work so hard trying to make a few buck
I pass the hours in a dream
The sweat keeps rolling off the tip of my nose
There's only one thing keeps me on my feet

BRIDGE
I may be greasing the wheels in a noisy factory
I may be hunched over metal machines
Watching the gears as they move
just reminds me
of bodies in motion
The sweat and the sound

CHORUS
Wild sex in the working class
After five it's a gas
Wild sex in the working class
Counting minutes gonna get home fast

Thinking of your warm skin
While I touch cold steel
The days go by to the pounding beat
My back is aching so bad
But I'm grinning inside
Thinking of you keeps me on my feet

BRIDGE

CHORUS
I work so hard I'm thinking of you
I work so hard but I'm thinking of you
I work so hard

CHORUS

Treadmill

You've got me so I'm running round and round in circles
You've got me so I can't see my own face
You've got me so I feel I've been like this forever
You've got me so I'm crazy with disgrace

I know what's on your mind
But it's not what you think it is
I know what's on your mind
But it's not what you think it is

Running on a treadmill after you and I'm
Running on a treadmill now
Running on a treadmill after you and I'm
Running on a treadmill now

Whole Day Off

Have you seen my girlfriend
She lives in a pig pen
Have you seen my girlfriend
I can't seem to find her
Perhaps she is hiding
Underneath a blade of grass

CHORUS
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off
Let's take the whole day off . . .

Have you seen my new house
Looks just like a dog house
Have you seen my new house
Someone saw it walking
Straight into the ocean
He thought it was an ivory boat

CHORUS

BRIDGE
Maybe--it's just a bad dream and I'll wake up soon
But I don't think I'll be so lucky
Maybe--it's just one of those strange days when nothing seems right
No nothing seems right at all
Went up to a pay phone on a bathroom wall
But I can't remember who I want to call
Operator can you help me

Have you seen my garden
It is most peculiar
Have you seen my garden
Nothing there that grows
Looks anything at all like plants
I hear their voices . . .
Let's take the whole day off . . .

CHORUS
Have you seen my girlfriend
Have you seen my girlfriend . . .

Nothing To Fear (But Fear Itself)

Hey neighbor let me give you some advice
The Russians are about to pulverize us
In our sleep tonight
That is if the crazy Arabs
Or the riots don't get us first
And the fire will rain down from the sky
The fire will rain down from the sky
People will die--People will die
People will die--People will die
But go ahead sleep tight in your beds
Remember what the wise man said

CHORUS
There's nothing to fear nothing to fear
There's nothing to fear nothing to fear
There's nothing to fear (but fear itself)
There's nothing to fear (but fear itself)
And the temperature's starting to drop now
The temperature's starting to drop now
The temperature's starting to drop now . . .

Hey little girl won't you come this way
Won't you let me buy you candy or perhaps a chocolate shake
Or perhaps some nice cocaine or perhaps a little kiss
Or perhaps a ride in my big car
Perhaps a ride in my big car
Won't you make an old man happy
Won't you make an old man happy
Won't you let me show you paradise
(Don't ask your mother for advice)

CHORUS

If they don't turn you into a junkie or a zombie on the street
If they don't turn you into a yo-cat or a grinning Jesus freak
If they don't take away your brains or turn your body inside out
If they don't take away your passion with a color TV set
They'll take away your heart and soul
They'll take away your heart and soul
They'll take away your heart and soul
Don't let them take away your heart and soul
But remember what the wise man said

CHORUS

Why'd We Come (All This Way)

INTRO
Everyone says we've come such a long, long way
We're civilized, isn't that nice?
We've gotten so smart
We know how to blow the whole world apart
But when it comes to the simple things
(Like living together) . . . HA!

VERSE
Why'd we have to come all this way
Is anything any easier to understand
Why'd we have to come all this way
Are we any smarter than primitive men
We still fall in love though we know better
Anything at all just to stay together
Stop wasting all my time

CHORUS
Why did we come all this way
Why did we come all this way
Why did we come all this way
Why did we come all this way

VERSE
Why'd we have to come all this way
We could have quit while we were way ahead
Why'd we have to come all this way
We could have just stayed home instead
The road was long and the journey was hard
We never even dreamed that we'd come so far

CHORUS

BRIDGE
It didn't have to end up like this
It didn't have to end up like this
It didn't have to end up like this
It didn't have to end up like this

Islands

Island in the sea
Are so much like me
They don't ever change--no emotion, no emotion

Islands on the land
Dry like desert sand
Island in the city
All alone it's such a pity

CHORUS
It's just a masquerade
Just painted laces
When will it change
Never

Islands in the seas
What's come over me
We are both surrounded by the water--empty water
Give me mystery--and the fear it brings
Anything at all to break up the monotony

CHORUS

Islands in the sea
Forever . . . forever

Reptiles and Samurai

Reptiles and Samurai
Inhabit my head
Invading my dreams
Sleeping in my bed
They battle but they never die
They hear what I hear
Watching thru my eyes
They don't like what they see

Reptiles and Samurai
Are under my skin
They hide in my mind
They speak with my tongue
They run amuck in my terrain

They are not friends
But they are forced reluctantly
To share my brain

1ST BRIDGE
Reptiles have silly grins
Dark eyes--shiny teeth--some have fins
Samurai they smile never
Serious--pretty swords--very clever

CHORUS
Sometimes I watch you from this place way in the sky
Your face is young and shiny transformed right before my eyes
Without warning, without reason
To Samurai and lizards
reptiles and Samurai
Samurai and lizards
Reptiles and Samurai

Reptiles and Samurai
Inhabit my head
Invading my dreams
Sleeping in my bed
They battle but they never die

2ND BRIDGE
Reptiles have pretty scales
They run real fast--they like to bite--some have tails
Samurai like their water hot--very brave
They eat raw fish--they fight alot

CHORUS