Under the Gun

nick the stripper · 04 Jul 2005, 07:09

I noticed that there wasn't a topic for 'Under The Gun' so I've decided to start one.

Does anyone have any ideas about what this song is about because I don't, even though it is one of my favourite Sisters' songs.

Anyways, here's the lyrics:

you don't have to say you're sorry
to look on further down the line
into the sun
too close at heaven
love is fine
but you can't hold it like a ...

two worlds apart and two together
into that good night kiss away
one takes the hard
one the other
kiss a way

are you living for love?
are you living for love?
when the road gets too tough
is your love strong enough?

(are you living?)
(are you living for love?)

do you feel your head is full of thunder?
questions never end?
empty nights alone? no wonder
it all comes back again

are you living for love?
are you living for love?
I've been under the gun
I've lost and I've ...

(one, two, three, four ...)
forget the many steps to heaven
it never happened and it ain't so hard
happiness is a loaded weapon and a
short cut is better by far
explosive bolts, ten thousand volts
at a million miles an hour
abrasive wheels and molten metals
it's a semi-automatic, get in the car
corrosive heart and frozen heat
we're worlds apart where we could meet
where the street fold round and the motors start
and the idiot wields the power
where the chosen hold the highest card
on the field of honour where the ground is hard
so the highest hand is joking wild
and the house soon fold and no-one stand
I put my finger on and dialled
the tower, the moon, the gun, and
nine nine nine, singer down
cloudburst and all around
the first are last, the blessed get wired
the best is yet to come
I put my finger on and fired
heat-seeking, out of the sun
you can set the controls for the heart or the knees
and the meek'll inherit what they damn well please
get ahead, go figure, go ahead and pull the trigger
everything under the gun - one of my all time favourite Sisters' lyrics

Obviousman · 04 Jul 2005, 22:03

Is it just me or does this song, well, the last part of it look like he's just put in all sentences he collected over the years which are basically very cool but for which he could not find the song to fit them in?

So, the lyrics contain some great material, but it looks a bit like a bin to me...

Perhaps with Under The Gun as a pun on MotÃ¶rheads Under The Knife... Since Von liked MotÃ¶rhead, didn't he? Perhaps compare those lyrics...

smiscandlon · 04 Jul 2005, 22:10

Obviousman wrote:Is it just me or does this song, well, the last part of it look like he's just put in all sentences he collected over the years which are basically very cool but for which he could not find the song to fit them in?

DO NOT BLASPHEME.

IT IS ALL PART OF THE MASTERPLAN.

05 Jul 2005, 13:57

smiscandlon wrote:
Obviousman wrote:Is it just me or does this song, well, the last part of it look like he's just put in all sentences he collected over the years which are basically very cool but for which he could not find the song to fit them in?
DO NOT BLASPHEME.

IT IS ALL PART OF THE MASTERPLAN.

@ Obviousman: as much as i love von's tirade on this track i've always thought that it was all a bit von-by-numbers, as you say.

still, even von-by-numbers is f**king cool, eh?

MrChris · 05 Jul 2005, 15:36

Describe guns. Needles. Bombs. Sex. Death. War. Drugs. Politicians. Add together and shake. Make it rhyme a bit. Speak it with a snarl, whilst wearing leather trousers. Fulfil contractual requirements regarding release of greatest hits album. Feel a sense of quiet satisfaction, and enjoy greater funds with which to enjoy the seedier nightlife of Europe.

Obviousman · 05 Jul 2005, 19:20

smiscandlon wrote:DO NOT BLASPHEME.

IT IS ALL PART OF THE MASTERPLAN.

Oh, I know, just like the slight delay on the new album, isn't it

Quiff Boy wrote:@ Obviousman: as much as i love von's tirade on this track i've always thought that it was all a bit von-by-numbers, as you say.

still, even von-by-numbers is f**king cool, eh?

Well, you did never hear me say it isn't cool, since it is very

_emma_ · 05 Jul 2005, 20:44

MrChris wrote:Describe guns. Needles. Bombs. Sex. Death. War. Drugs. Politicians. Add together and shake. Make it rhyme a bit. Speak it with a snarl, whilst wearing leather trousers. Fulfil contractual requirements regarding release of greatest hits album. Feel a sense of quiet satisfaction, and enjoy greater funds with which to enjoy the seedier nightlife of Europe.

But still, easier said than done isn't it. The "speak it with a snarl" part in particular.

smiscandlon · 05 Jul 2005, 21:31

Quiff Boy wrote:still, even von-by-numbers is f**king cool, eh?

I found myself thinking something similar while reading the Alice lyrics thread elsewhere.

I reckon his lyrics are mostly a load of meaningless old bollocks, but boy do they hit the spot.

pikkrong · 09 Jul 2005, 16:26

smiscandlon wrote:
Quiff Boy wrote:still, even von-by-numbers is f**king cool, eh?
I found myself thinking something similar while reading the Alice lyrics thread elsewhere.

I reckon his lyrics are mostly a load of meaningless old bollocks, but boy do they hit the spot.

Hmm... Alice lyics seem to be among the most logical rock lyrics ever... or is just my misinterpretation?

Black Shuck · 12 Jul 2005, 11:13

nick the stripper wrote:
two worlds apart and two together
into that good night kiss away
one takes the hard
one the other
kiss a way

are you living for love?
are you living for love?
when the road gets too tough
is your love strong enough?

(are you living?)
(are you living for love?)

do you feel your head is full of thunder?
questions never end?
empty nights alone? no wonder
it all comes back again

are you living for love?
are you living for love?
I've been under the gun
I've lost and I've ...

You're sorta overlooking the fact that these lyrics were written by Billie Hughes.

I've already mentioned this elsewhere on Heartland, but I recently purchased the Bille Hughes album which contains 'Two Worlds apart' (after years of fruitlessly trying to find the track online...) if anyone wants a copy, let me know.

nick the stripper · 12 Jul 2005, 11:37

Black Shuck wrote:
nick the stripper wrote:
two worlds apart and two together
into that good night kiss away
one takes the hard
one the other
kiss a way

are you living for love?
are you living for love?
when the road gets too tough
is your love strong enough?

(are you living?)
(are you living for love?)

do you feel your head is full of thunder?
questions never end?
empty nights alone? no wonder
it all comes back again

are you living for love?
are you living for love?
I've been under the gun
I've lost and I've ...

You're sorta overlooking the fact that these lyrics were written by Billie Hughes.

I've already mentioned this elsewhere on Heartland, but I recently purchased the Bille Hughes album which contains 'Two Worlds apart' (after years of fruitlessly trying to find the track online...) if anyone wants a copy, let me know.

They're not Von's lyrics.

So it's practically a cover song...

12 Jul 2005, 11:42

yes, its a cover

the first half are not von's lyrics (you think he'dcome up with "are you living for love?"

) but the "rant" at the end is all von. by numbers. and very cool. as discussed.

31 Jul 2005, 00:42

It's by far the blandist musak by the Sisters and no matter how many times I've listened to it I cannot like it. I agree with the 'contractual obligation' sentiment. He wasn't even trying.

Dark · 31 Jul 2005, 11:09

I have a 64kbps version of Two Worlds Apart.
It features in my playlist far more often than Under The Gun.

'Nuff said.

You know, after You Could Be The One, singles-wise, Von never wrote another completely original song.
Dr Jeep and WYDSM were alternate mixes and had live b-sides (cop-out), Temple was a remake, as were all the b-sides (though I don't know the difference between I Was Wrong's "American Dream" edit or whatever), and Under The Gun is a cover song with a remake of Alice.

Bastard, release War On Drugs and Snub Nose!

nick the stripper · 31 Jul 2005, 11:38

Is there anywhere on the net where I can download Two Worlds Apart?

I've searched all over the place, but can't find it.

Dark · 31 Jul 2005, 11:48

nick the stripper wrote:Is there anywhere on the net where I can download Two Worlds Apart?

I've searched all over the place, but can't find it.

You got SoulSeek? Then PM me.

Red_Kola · 29 Aug 2005, 11:31

Black Shuck wrote:You're sorta overlooking the fact that these lyrics were written by Billie Hughes.

Aha. Then it's worth pointing out then that those words were actually written by Roxanne Seeman who was the Taupin to Hughes' John

You can seea full list of their collaborations here. I personally have always loved their work for Santa Barbara and As the World Turns.

hallucienate · 29 Aug 2005, 12:01

Hmmmm, so Two Worlds Apart first saw the light of day on several day time soapies. That might say something about Von's TV habits.

deadagain · 31 Aug 2005, 07:57

I seem to recall reading an interview at the time in which Eldo said Under The Gun was a reworking of an old Berlin single b-side; hence the inclusion of Terri Nunn on backing vocals.

Or did I dream it....

Red_Kola · 31 Aug 2005, 11:29

deadagain wrote:I seem to recall reading an interview at the time in which Eldo said Under The Gun was a reworking of an old Berlin single b-side; hence the inclusion of Terri Nunn on backing vocals.

Or did I dream it....

Given the conspicuous name dropping on Roxanne Seeman's website, I would imagine that if Berlin had ever released one of her songs, we'd know all about it.

paint it black · 31 Aug 2005, 12:58

Terry Nunn wrote: "This Corrosion" is what started my love affair with Andrew Eldritch, but "Under The Gun" was originally called "Two Worlds Apart", written by a guy I wrote with before meeting Andrew. I sent my demo of it to Andrew, who fell in love with it too. He added the rap/rant lyrics at the end (which are brilliant).

another bit of useless triv from off my hard drive

pikkrong · 31 Aug 2005, 20:26

paint it black wrote:
Terry Nunn wrote: written by a guy I wrote with before meeting Andrew.

just like TN has ever written anything together with AE.

CellThree · 01 Sep 2005, 00:49

amazing what s**t you find on the net :

http://www.reimeika.ca/snydder/utg.html

Oh, Two Worlds Apart can be found on :

http://www.geocities.jp/hideki_wtnb/billhughes3rd.html

Obviousman · 01 Sep 2005, 11:28

So, who is this Billie Hughes chap

Anywhere else where we might know him from?

01 Sep 2005, 11:48

nah, he's a "professional" aor/mor songwriter, not a recording artist as such.

i guess he may have written a few songs you'd recognise from charts or movie soundtracks in the 80s, but i'd also guess that he may not have. i doubt you'd actually know him...