Get all 42 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 - Demos and Rarities, 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, and 34 more.
1. |
Hello, Hold On!
03:40
|
|||
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
|
||||
2. |
||||
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
|
||||
3. |
||||
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)
|
||||
4. |
Hearts In Armour
04:02
|
|||
oh, my heart
here right now I, I tell ya I wanna know
how could you go this far
hidin' away all the love that you've got
[hey there]
(you) gave it all away
locked yourself in a shell
but don't you know that in every shell you might find the white of a pearl
these lonely hearts in armour
standing alone cause they don't know the words to say
crying those tears out of steel
for the love they're hidin' away [wow]
there'll come a time when these hearts
in armour I'm hiding will come to conquer you
you'll be a heart in my arms, no more
hearts in armour for you
oh, my pearl
everyone knows that you're as frail as a bird
I know when love's unkind
fallin' again seems a waste of your time
oh in this battle of romance, yeah
everyone wears a shield (yeah)
but you might find that behind all the iron
there just waits a hand to be held
these lonely hearts in armour
standin' alone cause they don't know the words to say
cryin' those tears out of steel
for the love they're hidin' away, oh baby
there'll come a time when these hearts
in armour I'm hidin' will come to conquer you
you'll be a heart in my arms, no more
hearts in armour for you, ooh oh baby
these lonely hearts in armour
standin' alone cause they don't know the words to say
these lonely hearts in armour, yeah
standin' alone cause they don't know the words to say
these lonely hearts in armour
standin' alone cause they don't, no they don't know, oh oh... yeah-yeah...
|
||||
5. |
18 Carat Garbage
04:40
|
|||
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
|
||||
6. |
Captain Drag
04:07
|
|||
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
|
||||
7. |
Legends That Die
03:51
|
|||
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
|
||||
8. |
||||
last night your picture crashed off the wall
and I picked up the broken pieces off the floor
since then every time I turn around
broken glass is back right where it was before
and I can hear your footsteps sound
and your shadow's there beside me
I can hear your footsteps sound
and your ghost is right behind me
tonight the night falls like a fear so dark
and once again I'm haunted by the ghost of what once was
but I can hear whispers and the sound of broken glass (mercy now), hm
all I can do is to sit here, waiting for the past
I can hear your footsteps sound
and your shadow's there beside me, oh yes it is
I can hear your footsteps sound, amen [?]
and your ghost is right behind me
and the day that breaks will find me in pieces (oh mercy now)
just like your shattered frame, there lies my broken heart - waiting for the dark, oh
and I can hear your footsteps sound
and your shadow's there beside me (baby)
and I can hear your footsteps sound, oh baby like I used to do
and your ghost is right behind me, mm...
and I can hear your footsteps sound, baby
and your shadow's there beside me, oh yeah
and I can hear your footsteps sound, baby, oh yes
and your ghost is right behind me
|
||||
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
|
||||
10. |
Conquer Tomorrow
03:56
|
|||
raised in no-man's land of solitude and time
a radio's playing but the song's too pale to shine
you're like your mobile home that's, that's been parked in desert land
there's only a shopping mall to pull at the traveller's hands
you're the echo of another day that time forgets
conquer tomorrow
it's like a call from the past
conquer tomorrow
and make it last just as long as it lasts
and hold on to today cause this may be as good as it gets
do you ever, do you ever see such grace?
from the tequila inside you you wouldn't be too suprised
if an alien landed in your trashcan tonight
and there's a casino waiting at the chance of your restlessness
it looks like a spacecraft shining through the fog and the mist
and should you decide to gamble any future that you possess
conquer tomorrow
it's like a hole in the past
conquer tomorrow
and make it last just as long as it lasts
and hold on to today cause this may be as good as it gets
have you ever, have you ever been this blessed?
and did you ever
did you ever, yeah
and did you ever know that you're you're larger than life?
conquer tomorrow
it's like a hole in the past
conquer tomorrow
and make it last just as long as it lasts
and hold on to today cause this may be as good as it gets
and don't ever, (yeah) don't ever feel dispossessed
conquer tomorrow
it's like a call from the past
conquer tomorrow, yes
|
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."
DJ Hell
"Billie Ray Martin is an absolute revelation."
K.Hollings, The Wire
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"
... more
Streaming and Download help
If you like Billie Ray Martin, you may also like:
Bandcamp Daily your guide to the world of Bandcamp