Get all 41 Billie Ray Martin releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Electribe 101 - The John Peel Session, Electribal Soul, Heading for the Night - The Frankie Knuckles Mixes, Your Loving Arms (Original single with Bonus and unreleased Mixes), The Glittering Gutter - The U.S. Club Mixes, Billie Ray Martin Vocal Sample Pack - The song sessions, The Soul Tapes, Strongheaded Woman, and 33 more.
1. |
Captain Drag
06:58
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give me a story
(tale of a lifetime)
give me a story
(tale of a lifetime)
(tale)
(tale)
he was a sailor
he was captain of his ship
and his arms were painted and strong
he had his work
and he had his friends
there was only one thing that was wrong
well, he had a change of mind
he could no longer use
what he knew he didn't choose
well, he had a change of body
and that's all that he wants you to know
give me a story
a reason to tell
a tale of a lifetime
something that is real
give me a story
like a long lost friend
cause that's all he ever wanted
and that's all he ever did
now he's a woman
he thought life could go on
but his ship was taken away, hm (tale)
he's still a captain
and his arms are still strong
but they don't like the dress that he wears
oh yes, they had a change of mind
they could no longer know
how the wind was gonna blow
he had a change of body
and that's all he ever wanted to be, oh
give me a story
a reason to tell
a tale of a lifetime
something I can feel
I've often wondered what these things are for
on a cold night by the harbour
life in a bottle, well well
was never so hard, oh no it never was, mm-hm
all the waves of his passion
had to break out from under the glass, oh
with all of the pressure
oh
well
give me a story
a reason to tell
tale of a lifetime
something that is real, yes
give me a story
no beginning and no end
cause that's all he ever wanted
and that's all he ever did
and that's all he ever wanted, well well
and that's all he ever did, hm-mm
and that's all he ever wanted
and that's all he ever did
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2. |
Where Fools Rush In
06:22
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it was a different face and a different smile then
in a lover's land where lovers kiss, mm
it was another place and another time then
but the same old plans and promises
somewhere I don't know where
there's a place for lost time
I know I shouldn't go there but I
I wanna be where fools rush in
I wanna fall in love again
I wanna go back to the place where I believe in lost words
I wanna lay my soul bare
knowing it leads to nowhere
and when it's over will there be a next chance, be a next chance
looking back to where the end of time ends
never knowing what was really there, mm
where every end is like a blast of silence (yes it is)
that's defeating me from there to here
sometime I don't know when
I will claim what is mine
and I won't be denied when I say
I wanna be where fools rush in
I wanna fall in love again
I wanna run back to the place where I believe in lost words
I wanna lay my soul bare
knowing it leads to nowhere
and when it's over will there be a next chance, be a next chance
though love is lonely
I'm a fool on lover's lane
though it's hurtin' me so bad, only
here will I be safe (hey)
I wanna be where fools rush in
I wanna fall in love again
I wanna go back to the place where I believe in lost words
I wanna lay my soul bare
knowing it leads to nowhere
and when it's over will there be a next chance (the next chance)
be a next chance
I wanna be where fools rush in
I wanna fall in love again
I wanna run back to the place where I believe in lost words
I wanna stand in the door there
knowing it leads to nowhere
and when it's all over will there be a next chance (the next chance)
be a next chance
mm, give me one more chance
oh yes, one more chance
mm.. give me, give me
I wanna sing a song about pride
I wanna sing a song about pride
I wanna sing a song about pride, hey
I wanna sing a song about pride
I wanna sing a song about pride
I wanna sing a song about pride
I wanna sing a song about pride, hey
I wanna sing a song about pride
I wanna sing a song about pride
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3. |
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I saw my face in the paper today
it said hello to the face that i saw at home
then I read a tale of a girl with my name
it was not the one that I know, no
you shook my hand and you said you understand
and you said that you know where I'm coming from
but the only place that I've ever been
is far, far from known
what you say about me
stabs me in the heart
what you read about me is a shot in the dark
I've never been to Memphis
I've never seen my good-luck star
I've never seen Las Vegas lights
laughing at the dark
I've never dragged the train of my dress
down Elvis Presley Boulevard
I've never been to Memphis
cross my heart, hm
I want to see my name in neon lights
cause the words that you write they don't last, my friends
they only shine a day at a time
and leave stains on my hands, well
so what's the use in rolling the dice
when you already know how it's gonna fall
you think that if you play your cards right
you might deal with us all
what're gonna do
when a seven falls
will the rolling thunder scatter all of your cards
I've never been to Memphis, no
I've never seen my good-luck star
I've never seen Las Vegas lights
laughing at the dark
I've never dragged the train of my dress
down Elvis Presley Boulevard
I've never been to Memphis
cross my heart, cross my heart
ooh yes
believe me
I've never been to Memphis, no no
I've never seen my good-luck star, baby
I wanna see Las Vegas lights, yeah
laughing at the dark
I've never dragged the train of my dress
down Elvis Presley Boulevard
I've never been to Memphis
cross my heart, cross my heart
I've never been to Memphis, no no no
I've never seen my good-luck star, yeah
I've never seen Las Vegas lights, yeah
laughing at the dark
I've never dragged the train of my dress
down Elvis Presley Boulevard (yeah)
I've never been to Memphis
cross my heart, yeah
I've never been to Memphis, no no
I've never seen my good-luck star (no no)
I've never seen Las Vegas lights, yeah
laughing at the dark
I've never dragged a train of my dress
through the Nevada desert sand
I've never been to Memphis
raise my hand, raise my hand, baby, yeah
tell it how it is, c'mon on
whoo!
cross my heart
whow! that's the one - that was the one
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4. |
Crime Of Passion
05:40
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here I sit in silent wonder
while you set the scene
submitting to your private torture of the first degree
here I am anticipating
a healthy act of sin, oh
I tell you that flattery won't get you nowhere
your hands have not yet been
baby are you ready for the other side of me
call it a prevention of a crime of passion
honey after all the films that you and I have seen
I wouldn't push me to the edge of your obsession, no no
through the hell of your rejections
I was held on call, oh
you can't tell me you don't notice
the torture of it all, oh yeah
through the maze of strange reactions
I guessed my way in, oh
but I was outside your sense of sane encounter
and your politics of sin
oh baby are you ready for the other side of me
call it a prevention of a crime of passion
honey after all the films that you and I have seen
I wouldn't push me to the edge of your obsession, no no
I don't know if this is madness
and I don't really wanna know it
every trap you open for me
I'm not gonna fall for it
every time you kiss me baby
it feels like the day of the dead
put your loving arms around me
and I might take a bite out of it
baby are you ready for the other side of me
call it a prevention of a crime of passion
honey after all the films that you and I have seen
I wouldn't push me to the edge of your obsession
hey baby are you ready for the other side of me
call it a prevention of a crime of passion
oh honey after all the films that you and I have seen
I wouldn't push me to the edge of your obsession
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5. |
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I don't know
how long I've been alone now
oh and I
I don't know, oh no
how it ended up this way
oh and I
I don't care
who will break my heart the next time around
oh and all I can say
is that this loneliness makes me scared
anyone will do for a heartache, hm
and if it's not you
let it be anyone but you
anyone will do fine for a heartache, yeah
and if it's not you
let it be someone, anyone but you
I don't see (I don't see) oh no no
what becomes of the broken hearted (no no)
no and I
I don't see (sometimes I don't see)
see them walking down the same old dead end street as me, no
oh and I
I'm so tired (I'm so tired)
just to wallow around in all of this sorrow
oh and all, all this time (all this time)
ain't enough time (no no no no) to ease the pain
anyone will do, oh for a heartache, mm
and if it's not you (if it's not you)
let it be anyone, anyone but you
anyone will do, oh for a heartache, mm
and if it's not you (if it's not you)
let it be someone, anyone, anyone
oh, no time waits for anyone
no it won't wait for anyone (no no no...)
who waits in vain
anyone will do, oh, for a heartache (for a heartache) baby
and if it's not you (hm)
let it be anyone, oh anyone but you
anyone will do, yes! for a heartache
and if it's not you (if it's not you)
let it be someone (someone)
anyone, anyone
let it be someone, anyone (someone), anyone (anyone)
but you (hm)
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6. |
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I don't like your party dress
cause this ain't no party
you're falling around as if you
you know where the ground is
you've seen me a thousand times
and you know what my name is
but if you were in my shoes you'd know
what the price of fame is
so I wait outside
to see what I can see
and I follow you in through the blinds
until you're part of me
and I'm waiting
yes I'm waiting
I'm eighteen carat garbage
parked outside your door
won't you recognize my face
you've seen me here before
I'm eighteen carat garbage
won't you hear me out
don't wanna be living a lie
don't slam the door
I won't take a photograph cause
nothing would be on it
and there ain't a dime store novel
that I could write from it
and I don't wanna sound insane and
I don't know what your game is
I just wanna seize your brain and
see where LA is
so lock the house, burn it
but save the silver tray
but please give daddy that knife back
and please throw the gun away
I'm eighteen carat garbage
parked outside your door
won't you recognize my face
you've seen me here before
I'm eighteen carat garbage
won't you hear me out
don't wanna be living a lie
don't slam the door
there are hollow sounds in the hall of fame
and they're haunting me
I like people
yeah I like people when they're on tv
I'm eighteen carat garbage
parked outside your door
won't you recognize my face
you've seen me here before
I'm eighteen carat garbage, yeah
won't you hear me out
don't wanna be living a lie
don't slam the door
I'm eighteen carat garbage
parked outside your door
won't you recognize my face
you've seen me here before
I'm eighteen carat garbage
won't you hear me out
don't wanna be living a lie
don't slam the door
because I'm eighteen carat garbage
parked outside your door
won't you recognize me
you've seen me here before
I'm eighteen carat garbage
won't you hear me out
don't wanna be living a lie
don't slam the door
I'm eighteen carat garbage
parked outside your door
won't you recognize my face
you've seen me here before
I'm eighteen carat garbage
won't you hear me out
don't wanna be living a lie
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7. |
Hello, Hold On!
03:50
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hello!
why are there footprints on the wall
and w-oh hello!
tissues and tears on the floor
and why does the sun hang so low in the sky
it pries through the blinds and the walls have long shadows
hold on!
there's no spirit in your sadness
hold on!
there is method in your madness
and no honey, you're not insane
just Jackson Pollock in your brain
so come on hold on to your madness too
hello!
you need a script just to talk
and w-oh hello!
there ain't a bomb you won't drop
but you're not the only one
who will stalk his own mind
the blind lead the blind
and the gods have long faces
hold on!
there's no spirit in your sadness
hold on!
there is method in your madness
and now that you stand accused
there's only you and Howard Hughes
so come on hold on
to your madness too
oh you
you are the soul of the asylum
celebrate your creation
come on
hold on!
there's no spirit in your sadness
hold on!
there is method in your madness
and now that you stand accused
there's only you and Howard Hughes
so come on hold on to your madness
hold on!
there's no spirit in your sadness
hold on, yeah!
there is method in your madness
and no honey you're not insane, ha ha!
just Jackson Pollock in your brain
so come on hold on to your madness too
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8. |
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myself
myself
myself
myself
myself
myself
myself
myself
myself (bring all the peace)
myself (bring all the peace)
myself (bring all the peace)
myself (bring all the peace)
myself, bring all the power (that love commands)
bring all the peace
bring all the peace
bring all the peace
(bring all the power)
bring all the peace
bring all the peace
bring all the peace
(bring all the power)
bring all the peace
bring all the peace
bring all the peace
(bring all the power)
bring all the peace
bring all the peace
bring all the peace
(bring all the power)
bring all the peace
bring all the --
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9. |
||||
I've been misplaced
and I've been mislead
and I've been lost to myself for so long
I am undone
and I am untouched
and I've been unmoved by this game for so long, oh Lord
I am discolored
and I am diluted
and I've been dissolved into nothing for so long, oh Lord
and I've been so caught up
that I didn't notice
that I know a change is gonna come (come)
I've been withdrawn (withdrawn)
I've been withheld
and I've been put on the shelf for so long (so long, I have) oh yes I have
I am disjointed
and I am discouraged, oh yes
and I've been holding my breath for so long, oh Lord, yeah
I've been so ready (so ready yeah)
so way ahead of myself
that I didn't see a change is gonna come (come) (oh yes it will)
to my mind
bring all the peace you can find
to my hands
bring all the power that love commands
cause I've been keeping (I've been keeping)
my soul from receiving (my soul from receiving) oh yeah
and oh Lord I've been helpless for so long, oh yes I have, oh yeah
so let me go now (let me go now)
cause I should know now (baby)
that I know (I know)
a change (mm-hm)
is gonna come (come) (yes it's coming, yes it is) oh yes
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10. |
Systems Of Silence
04:48
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you sit like a shadow inside a shadow, TV kills another soul
you don't know why the phone never rings on Sundays
the walls are alive from the light outside, it's like a film inside a film
the city's gonna teach you the part one day
and you shield your weakness, hey
but they know your secret
still I feel like dancing with you in systems of silence
we turn in a secret ballet all around and between the sounds and the sights
the fears will be fading away in systems of silence
I just wanna dance all the way right down to the core of the black and the white
you live for this city, breeding its illusions with your hands against the wall
another day has coached you into surrender
you're bleeding its emotions, walking its desires like a dance you can't perform
the city's gonna teach you the steps one day, yeah
and we've lost our senses, hey
but I'll take my chances
still I feel like dancing with you in systems of silence
we turn in a secret ballet all around and between the sounds and the sights
the fears will be fading away in systems of silence
I just wanna dance all the way right down to the core of the black and the white
and you freeze like they told you
and you give yourself up
and you reel spread-eagled (hey)
still I feel like dancing with you in systems of silence
we turn in a secret ballet all around and between the sounds and the sights
the fears will be fading away in systems of silence
I just wanna dance all the way right down to the core of the black and the white
still I feel like dancing with you in systems of silence
we turn in a secret ballet all around and between the sounds and the sights
the fears will be fading away in systems of silence
I just wanna dance all the way right down to the core of the black and the white
(systems of silence) oh yeah
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11. |
Demons Of Delirium
05:22
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as the lights grow dim at midnight
things take on a rapid pace
the bed is racing up the wall and
the lamp becomes a speck in space
and as you stare the sweat is pouring from you
and it falls away like rain, yeah
and you wouldn't wanna be in your shoes
or sit inside your seat, eh
when the ground that you've been standing on
fades beneath your feet, mm
and as the audience moves in you
you wouldn't leave here if you could
your eyes become like teeth, you're ready
it's 'hurrah for Hollywood', yeah
and there's so many people in you
fighting for a seat, well
and you wouldn't wanna be in your shoes
or sit inside your seat, yeah
when the ground that you've been standing on
fades beneath your feet, well
and you wouldn't wanna be in your shoes
or sit inside your seat, hey, yeah
when the ground that you've been standing on
fades beneath your feet, yeah
well
and you wouldn't wanna be in your shoes
or sit inside your seat, yeah
when the ground that you've been standing on
fades beneath your feet, oh yeah
who would wanna be in your shoes
or sit inside your seat, oh, yeah
and you wonder if you'll ever meet
with the ground beneath your feet, yes
with the ground beneath your feet, oh yeah
with the ground beneath your feet, come on
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12. |
Legends That Die
04:15
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rats in the basement
the family upstairs
grow, grow
tall as can be for the family
on the fourth floor, oh
everyone here will have love for sale
today the stars are on the ground
the girl is on the game
if she don't get a job
she won't be back to play
rats in the basement
the family upstairs
food on the table
and strangers that swear
doves in the attic
and dogs on the stairs
legends that die
and live again
wait, see
peroxide and pearls oh they come and go
a knock on the door, oh-hoh
who is outside
is the dog all right
dad's on the floor, these crumbling stairs
are no solid ground
heroes never fall
legends never found
the rats in the basement
the family upstairs
food on the table
and strangers that swear
doves in the attic
and dogs on the stairs
legends that die
and live again
won't you come back again and take her hand
won't you come back again and take her hand
help them to understand what makes a man
and if they don't mind tell them to find
rats in the basement
the family upstairs
food on the table
and strangers that swear
doves in the attic
and dogs on the stairs
legends that die
and live again
rats in the basement
the family upstairs
food on the table
and strangers that swear
doves in the attic
and dogs on the stairs
legends that die
and live again
they live again
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13. |
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wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
wait
outside
ss..side
ss..side
ss..side
outside
ss..side
ss..side
ss..side
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14. |
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And now I know
Spanish Harlem are not just pretty words to say
I thought I knew
But now I know that rose trees never grow in New York City
Until you've seen this trash can dream come true
You stand at the edge while people run you through
And I thank the Lord there's people out there like you
I thank the Lord there's people out there like you
While Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
Sons of bankers, sons of lawyers
Turn around and say good morning to the night
For unless they see the sky
But they can't and that is why
They know not if it's dark outside or light
This Broadway's got
It's got a lot of songs to sing
If I knew the tunes I might join in
I'll go my way alone
Grow my own, my own seeds shall be sown in New York City
Subway's no way for a good man to go down
Rich man can ride and the hobo he can drown
And I thank the Lord for the people I have found
I thank the Lord for the people I have found
|
Billie Ray Martin Berlin, Germany
"Billie Ray Martin is one of the living legends in modern music history and one of the best voices on planet earth."
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Billie Ray Martin: "I'm a kid from Hamburg’s red-light district, who wanted to be a soul singer, but ended up playing repetitive machine music, while still trying to be a soul singer"
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