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Welcome to tractorial base
words: Robert Campbell
music: Robert Campbell, Steve Lipson, Mike Sheppard
images: Various

Theme from Tractorial Base

I wanted to be happy so I tried to be sad
I bought myself a future then found out I'd been had
I'm writing on the walls of my dressing room
I wanted you in my life but you came too soon
My manager is trying to pull off his face
I gotta get out of Tractorial Base
I gotta get out of Tractorial Base

Fighting off the people from Tractorial Base
I'm waiting for a phone call but it never comes
I'm booked for a concert so I took off for the moon
I wanted you in my life but you came too soon
My manager is trying to pull off his face
I gotta get out of Tractorial Base
I gotta get out of Tractorial Base


My manager is trying to pull off his face
I gotta get out of Tractorial Base
I've said goodbye to the human race


Welcome aboard

Tractorian Transport welcome you aboard car five three seven on track route four seven in the guide book. We shall be arriving at Tractorial Base at four five eight TBT. Please insert travel charge now...

This is Tourist Information Tape TI3. Tractorial Base is said to be the neon city of the universe. It is divided into ten zones - residential, manufacturing, entertainment and administration areas. It is perhaps most famous for its neon zone - four square miles of public display systems. We advise you to make use of our night time helijet service track nine eight to see the full beauty of this zone. Zone five is the heart of the entertainment and cultural world. Here you will find concert halls, theatres, cinemas, recreation grounds, hotels, and everything to suit the visitor to the base. Current attractions are listed in our entertainment brochure on sale at the termination point. We are now approaching our termination point - the Tractorial Radio building. We hope you have enjoyed your journey and on behalf of Tractorian Transport I wish you a pleasant stay in Tractorial Base.


Johnny and the Wild Boys

Johnny was the stranger in a strange land looking
Hooking onto wild boys - getting into blue movie dreams
If you know what I mean
Johnny was the rock boy blue boy blooded
Get 'em off the streets - Get 'em in the back room
Oh Johnny knows what it's like to be wanted

Screen one - a dark room, a full moon and a table for two
Eyes meet - don't speak - 'cause I got something for you
Something for you
Screen two - bright lights, fusing wires get stuck in my head
Hard rock giving birth to the song of the dead
The song of the dead - the song of the dead
Dead

So far so good - Johnny and the water boys
Johnny talking bubble talk - hello - goodbye
It's nice to see you again
Well you still look the same - yes you do
Johnny don't like changes - Johnny don't like strangers
Johnny likes his life to be
Just the way he wants it be

Screen three - old woman, kids crying - all the sounds of the night
Don't dream - don't laugh - and everything'll be all right
It'll be all right
Screen four - blood bursting on a wall at the back of the hall
If someone asks you - you ain't seen nothing at all
Nothing at all

She's a schoolgirl, callgirl, daughter of the new world
Trying to be heard all the stories 'bout Johnny and me
And that's the way it should be - yes, it should
'cause Johnny was the rock boy blue boy blooded
Hooking onto wild boys - and getting into blue movie dreams
If you know what I mean

Screen seven - eyes meet - don't speak - just walk away
Don't stop - don't try to get in his way
Don't get his way
Screen eight - don't touch - it's too much - he can't explain
It's just like being alone and falling in love again
Falling in love again
Falling in love again
Falling in love again
Falling in love again
Falling in love again
Falling in love again

 

 

The opening three songs from Tractorial Base run for more than eight minutes. The Theme from Tractorial Base was one of the very first songs we wrote together and set the tone for everything that followed. It soon led on to Welcome Aboard and the creation of the fantasy city where anything could happen. Johnny and the Wild Boys didn't come until much later. Inspired by the William Burroughs book, the song always felt very visual and cried out for a music video. We recorded the songs through the night at the Regent Park Studios in London.