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Signmaker (remastered)

by Dark Company

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1.
Killer 03:49
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KILLER Learning is a clock with only one hand Dreaming is a beach with speaking sands Knowledge is a vice that grips a man And Cain was a killer that didn’t understand Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love Wanting is a boat that doesn’t know the sea Needing is a pain that hurts to be free Waiting is a lock that doesn’t have no key And Cain was a killer that could have been me Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love War is a sore that won’t go away Night is a bruise on the skin of day Children are the reason that you say you’ll stay And Cain was a killer who got clean away Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love Teachers are people who shoot at sparks Lessons are knives that shine in the dark Sins are boats on the lake in the park And Cain was a killer right there at the start Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
2.
Astrologer 03:54
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ASTROLOGER The planets run their course and then Make signs we cannot read The stars of choice they got no voice Just wink and dumbly plead When dawnlight speaks from out the dark Of night’s grim cloak of ice All the telescopes of the scientists Don’t help them to be wise And I hear rainbows climb the sky Coloured tears from Heaven’s eyes I taste sunlight’s yellow wine See black night fade back into time Mystic men write words that flame To banish Satan’s lies The human race must join the chase Instead it just slips and slides On special days weird omens come Judged by blind-eyed priests But the tribes of man like grains of sand Pray only for release And I hear rainbows climb the sky Coloured tears from Heaven’s eyes I taste sunlight’s yellow wine See black night fade back into time The planets run their course and then Make signs we cannot read The stars of choice they got no voice Just wink and dumbly plead When dawnlight speaks from out the dark Of night’s grim cloak of ice All the telescopes of the scientists Don’t help them to be wise And I hear rainbows climb the sky Coloured tears from Heaven’s eyes I taste sunlight’s yellow wine See black night fade back into time ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
3.
Second Sight 03:06
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SECOND SIGHT Suicide swords of Samurai awarded for mistakes Give blessed absolution if you’ve got what it takes Certain kinds of solitude with memories are fused Valleys filled with shadows will dream up an excuse He’s a charismatic man He’s a Judas in a can He’s a pocket-prophet poppet With dreams made out of sand Jagged edge of jealousy, green-eyed prize of hate Grants a spiky shelter that mustn’t go to waste And the weapons of the warriors, priceless with their pain Make cutting out a heart an easy change of game He’s a charismatic man He’s a Judas in a can He’s a pocket-prophet poppet With dreams made out of sand Charismatic man, Judas in a can Charismatic man, Judas in a can The labours of great Hercules weigh down many books Blindness to their meaning is no excuse not to look In ancient days a shaman made a watch out of the sun These days more important that he knows how to use a gun He’s a charismatic man He’s a Judas in a can He’s a pocket-prophet poppet With dreams made out of sand ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
4.
Animal House 02:59
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ANIMAL HOUSE I don’t truck no garden stones Ain’t got a lawn full of little old gnomes Don’t grow roses round my gate No alarm clock rings cos I sleep real late Savings and loan sharks aren’t for me Ain’t got a boat floating on the sea All I wanna do is just be me I ain’t got a number two car Ain’t even bought the first so far Watching TV I don’t get to do Ain’t got a tube in my room with a view Don’t whack balls with a little bitty stick Only drink brandy when I’m sick You can call me slow but don’t call me thick Habitat furniture ain’t got in my home Telephone table’s no good with no phone Suits and ties from the charity store I help the aged more and more First class travel means you’re keeping dry My hotel roof is a piece of sky And it ain’t no good to ask me why And it ain’t no good to ask me why And it ain’t no good to ask me why And it ain’t no good to ask me why ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1989 D & G Music.
5.
Armed & Dangerous 05:42
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ARMED & DANGEROUS In the circus there’s a uniform for fun The love they got is fired from clownish guns But it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Warmed up with a yellow paper sun Each act in line comes right in on cue Bringing our emotions into view And it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Next time bring your mind along with you There’s a pistol in my smile It shoots grins for miles and miles But look into my eyes The reflection’s saying goodbye Outside the ring we sit and blankly stare Nobody but our own selves in the chair But it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Close your eyes and no-one knows you’re there With animals such tricks are neatly made They nod and wink in terminal parade It’s oh so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Into their souls we think we can invade There’s a pistol in my smile It shoots grins for miles and miles But look into my eyes The reflection’s saying goodbye ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1990 D & G Music.
6.
Future Sadness Past 05:55
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FUTURE SADNESS PAST Slow light, runway from the sun So right, time and times are done We must pay the price for fun Until we have Night Man on the run Slow light, MacBeth witches’ brew Best seen from some distant view We know, do what you have to do It’s an icy night we must all live through Now we rage against the cold sky Now we hate tomorrow Now we say we will try To kill the birds of sorrow To kill the birds of sorrow ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
7.
Crash 03:48
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CRASH No more candid picture shows Just soap bubble opera’s shallow glows They tell me it’s a story about my life To just ignore what I don’t like It’s so real I must live like that Script in my pocket and a ticket in my hat We gotta stop We’re gonna crash Life is money you can’t pay back Life is money you can’t pay back No more cracks in the temple walls Next week’s episode will save us all Your mirror becomes a TV tube What was reflection now is a view The face you see is not your own It spends its time in someone else’s home We gotta stop We’re gonna crash Life is money you can’t pay back Life is money you can’t pay back No more thoughts in a lazy way They scream from the glass: “We’ll make your day!” I believe it’s true because it’s on the screen But you can only see what they have seen We’re all plugged in to one beating heart Life don’t begin until the programme starts We gotta stop We’re gonna crash Life is money you can’t pay back Life is money you can’t pay back ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1990 Pig Pen Music.
8.
& co - Killer (Digital RMX) 02:45
lyrics
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KILLER Learning is a clock with only one hand Dreaming is a beach with speaking sands Knowledge is a vice that grips a man And Cain was a killer that didn’t understand Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love Wanting is a boat that doesn’t know the sea Needing is a pain that hurts to be free Waiting is a lock that doesn’t have no key And Cain was a killer that could have been me Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love War is a sore that won’t go away Night is a bruise on the skin of day Children are the reason that you say you’ll stay And Cain was a killer who got clean away Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love Teachers are people who shoot at sparks Lessons are knives that shine in the dark Sins are boats on the lake in the park And Cain was a killer right there at the start Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music. Please note that there is no actualy vocal part included in this version. Lyrics are included so the listener can sing along.
9.
& co - Astrologer (Kiddies' TV from Hell RMX) 03:52
lyrics
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ASTROLOGER The planets run their course and then Make signs we cannot read The stars of choice they got no voice Just wink and dumbly plead When dawnlight speaks from out the dark Of night’s grim cloak of ice All the telescopes of the scientists Don’t help them to be wise And I hear rainbows climb the sky Coloured tears from Heaven’s eyes I taste sunlight’s yellow wine See black night fade back into time Mystic men write words that flame To banish Satan’s lies The human race must join the chase Instead it just slips and slides On special days weird omens come Judged by blind-eyed priests But the tribes of man like grains of sand Pray only for release And I hear rainbows climb the sky Coloured tears from Heaven’s eyes I taste sunlight’s yellow wine See black night fade back into time The planets run their course and then Make signs we cannot read The stars of choice they got no voice Just wink and dumbly plead When dawnlight speaks from out the dark Of night’s grim cloak of ice All the telescopes of the scientists Don’t help them to be wise And I hear rainbows climb the sky Coloured tears from Heaven’s eyes I taste sunlight’s yellow wine See black night fade back into time ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music. Please note that there is no actualy vocal part included in this version. Lyrics are included so the listener can sing along.
10.
& co - Armed & Dangerous (Digital RMX) 01:57
lyrics
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ARMED & DANGEROUS In the circus there’s a uniform for fun The love they got is fired from clownish guns But it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Warmed up with a yellow paper sun Each act in line comes right in on cue Bringing our emotions into view And it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Next time bring your mind along with you There’s a pistol in my smile It shoots grins for miles and miles But look into my eyes The reflection’s saying goodbye Outside the ring we sit and blankly stare Nobody but our own selves in the chair But it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Close your eyes and no-one knows you’re there With animals such tricks are neatly made They nod and wink in terminal parade It’s oh so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Into their souls we think we can invade There’s a pistol in my smile It shoots grins for miles and miles But look into my eyes The reflection’s saying goodbye ★ Words by P. Greatorex. Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/S. Lock/J. Willmot. Please note that there is no actualy vocal part included in this version. Lyrics are included so the listener can sing along.
11.
& co - Armed & Dubwise 05:45
lyrics
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ARMED & DUBWISE In the circus there’s a uniform for fun The love they got is fired from clownish guns But it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Warmed up with a yellow paper sun Each act in line comes right in on cue Bringing our emotions into view And it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Next time bring your mind along with you There’s a pistol in my smile It shoots grins for miles and miles But look into my eyes The reflection’s saying goodbye Outside the ring we sit and blankly stare Nobody but our own selves in the chair But it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Close your eyes and no-one knows you’re there With animals such tricks are neatly made They nod and wink in terminal parade It’s oh so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Into their souls we think we can invade There’s a pistol in my smile It shoots grins for miles and miles But look into my eyes The reflection’s saying goodbye ★ Words by P. Greatorex. Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/S. Lock/J. Willmot. Please note that the vocal part is not fully included in this version. Lyrics are included so the listener can sing along.
12.
Crash (Eastenders RMX) 03:52
lyrics
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CRASH (EASTENDERS RMX) No more candid picture shows Just soap bubble opera’s shallow glows They tell me it’s a story about my life To just ignore what I don’t like It’s so real I must live like that Script in my pocket and a ticket in my hat We gotta stop We’re gonna crash Life is money you can’t pay back Life is money you can’t pay back No more cracks in the temple walls Next week’s episode will save us all Your mirror becomes a TV tube What was reflection now is a view The face you see is not your own It spends its time in someone else’s home We gotta stop We’re gonna crash Life is money you can’t pay back Life is money you can’t pay back No more thoughts in a lazy way They scream from the glass: “We’ll make your day!” I believe it’s true because it’s on the screen But you can only see what they have seen We’re all plugged in to one beating heart Life don’t begin until the programme starts We gotta stop We’re gonna crash Life is money you can’t pay back Life is money you can’t pay back ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1990 Pig Pen Music.
13.
& co - Dangerous Dub 05:34
lyrics
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DANGEROUS DUB In the circus there’s a uniform for fun The love they got is fired from clownish guns But it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Warmed up with a yellow paper sun Each act in line comes right in on cue Bringing our emotions into view And it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Next time bring your mind along with you There’s a pistol in my smile It shoots grins for miles and miles But look into my eyes The reflection’s saying goodbye Outside the ring we sit and blankly stare Nobody but our own selves in the chair But it’s so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Close your eyes and no-one knows you’re there With animals such tricks are neatly made They nod and wink in terminal parade It’s oh so dangerous Armed laughter changing us Into their souls we think we can invade There’s a pistol in my smile It shoots grins for miles and miles But look into my eyes The reflection’s saying goodbye ★ Words by P. Greatorex. Music by G. Davies/P. Greatorex/S. Lock/J. Willmot. Please note that the vocal part is not fully included in this version. Lyrics are included so the listener can sing along.
14.
The Joker (demo) 05:04
lyrics
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THE JOKER I look out from this scratched and faded view Makeshift repairs instead of getting new Don’t you ever get tired of tracing all the wires Knowing that the switches won’t switch for you? I work at the job that’s easiest, you see Paying rent instead of living free Don’t you wanna be bad instead of just being sad Finding out you can be you instead of me? The Joker he stares proudly at the wall He can be who he wants to be But he don’t wanna ‘be’ at all He’s an empty Harlequin With colours growing dim And he struts about inside his little world I keep up with the latest lines of talk So I can ride instead of having to walk Don’t you like the fashions that gotta little passion? Being daring takes an extra bit of thought I sleep with one eye fixed upon the clock Waiting for the Reaper’s ghostly knock Don’t you keep the days checking which ones can stay Using them for your story’s clever plot? The Joker he stares proudly at the wall He can be who he wants to be But he don’t wanna ‘be’ at all He’s an empty Harlequin With colours growing dim And he struts about inside his little world ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1989 Pig Pen Music.
15.
Blue House (laughter version) 04:26
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BLUE HOUSE (LAUGHTER VERSION) I don’t fit in your ice lolly mould I don’t fit in your car I don’t fit in your cute hornrims I don’t follow your star I’m just so awkward It’s too good to be true Got ideas like a disease There’s nothing in my head except John Coltrane I can’t make sense of what I see I can’t make sense of what I see I’m just so precious Cos I know I’m so right Got no limitations of thought There’s nothing in my pocket except a lump of steel Money’s no honey and life is short Money’s no honey and life is short I’m just so dreamy And I’m living a lie I like the lie I’m living too There’s nothing in my wallet except a smeared photo And you know it isn’t even of you You know it isn’t even of you I’m just so twisted Don’t want to find the door Outside is where you should be There’s nothing in my heart except a Bowie knife One cut, you know, it sets me free One cut, you know, it sets me free I don’t fit in your white ski pants I don’t fit in your tweeds I don’t fit in your hip Raybans I don’t have your needs I’m just so weary Much too tired to sleep Got this roller coaster bed There’s nothing in my soul except some hot be-bop What you asked is what I said What you asked is what I said I’m just so cool I’m cut right outta ice Got words like a freezing snow There’s nothing in my mind except a long bus ride I keep telling you I’ve got to go Keep telling you I’ve got to go ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music.
16.
Killer (classic blort) 00:49
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KILLER (CLASSIC BLORT) Learning is a clock with only one hand Dreaming is a beach with speaking sands Knowledge is a vice that grips a man And Cain was a killer that didn’t understand Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love Wanting is a boat that doesn’t know the sea Needing is a pain that hurts to be free Waiting is a lock that doesn’t have no key And Cain was a killer that could have been me Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love War is a sore that won’t go away Night is a bruise on the skin of day Children are the reason that you say you’ll stay And Cain was a killer who got clean away Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love Teachers are people who shoot at sparks Lessons are knives that shine in the dark Sins are boats on the lake in the park And Cain was a killer right there at the start Wisdom is a yo-yo with a broken string Time is a bird that cannot sing And you can’t stop the rain with anything Except love ★ Words by Peter Greatorex. Copyright ℗ 1991 D & G Music. Please note that this is not the full version. Full lyrics are included all the same.

about

Signmaker by Dark Company.

Signmaker is the first album by Dark Company. These are the first songs that Dark Company recorded at Silent Running Studios, Exeter, in 1991.

The original Signmaker album was released on cassette only, and only the first seven tracks appeared. Soon after, the album was reissued with the Eastenders Remix of Crash and the demo of The Joker.

When Signmaker was again reissued in 2000, all the other bonus tracks were added along with all new artwork and a CD release. The bonus tracks are mostly remixes, rehashings and rare studio out-takes that involved a fair amount of myrth.

In 2010 we remastered the whole Signmaker album, including the bonus tracks, and it is now available as a CD or to download.

Dark Company was founded in the summer of 1991 by George Davies and Pete Greatorex. They had already worked together in the band Alien Heat and had a lot of love and respect for each other’s skills. The Signmaker period was one where Dark Company grew to a nine-piece and then shrank again to just three, leading the band to reinvent themselves for their second incarnation, which began with the album subsequent to Signmaker, Rage in Heaven.

Besides George (guitar, bass, keys, programming, production) and Pete (words, voices and harmonica), the band added further talent to their lineup. Initially these musicians were Rowena Parsons (tenor saxophone, flute), Sammi Lock (flute) and Jeff Willmot (bass, keys, programming, soprano saxophone).

Soon after, Ben Ballard on drums joined for a short while. You can hear him on the demo of The Joker, but he didn’t stay long and various other drummers came and went. In the meantime, the band continued to use George’s old Boss DR220A drum machine.

Don Wills added some rather classy jazz rhythm guitar to the ensemble. His friend Simon Malpas came along too and attempted to play trumpet, but he was so bad that the band didn’t pursue that for very long. You can hear a little of Simon in the background of the demo of The Joker, and both Don and Simon in the laughter version of Blue House. Said laughter was instigated by some profoundly atrocious hootage produced by Simon, which reduced the entire band to giggles and hysteria.

Craig Milverton also joined Dark Company on keys briefly, but he was already too busy with an assortment of jazz projects and didn’t fancy Dark Company very much.

By the spring of 1992 Dark Company had taken a new and more digital direction and the band had shrunk down to a hardcore unit of Pete, Jeff and George.

credits

released December 16, 2010

Recorded, engineered and produced by George Davies at Silent Running Studios, Exeter, 1991-2.

Remastered at Wud Records Studio One 2010.

Artwork and design by Wud Records.

See also:
www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/dark-company/signmaker/
www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/dark-company/signmaker
www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Company/154909774522910
twitter.com/Dark_Company

Album download package includes the artwork for a CD jewel case backing tray and a single-sided two page CD card insert, all of which you can preview in Dark Company's gallery at Wud Records here:

www.wudrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/signmaker_remastered_front.jpg
www.wudrecords.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/signmaker_remastered_back.jpg

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