Get all 8 luxembourg releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Changes, 45, London is Blue, Youth EP, A Secret Public - b-sides & rarities 2001-2006, Last Holiday Before Divorce - Deleted Scenes From An Unfinished Sequel, Front, and Best Kept Secret - Demos & Rarities 2001-2004.
1. |
A Secret Public
02:20
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keep your secrets
well secreted
if you don’t
they get repeated
soon more people know than do not know
keep your treasures
undercover
if you don’t
they get discovered
don’t say that i didn’t try to warn you
i can’t make you forget what you’ve seen
can’t make you forget what you’ve seen
now there’s a man
WC1
he can see what can be done
to save your sorry ass and turn you round
just give him some of what you make
give him a share of what you take
an alchemist, he’ll turn your shit to gold
i can’t make you forget what you’ve seen
can’t make you forget what you’ve seen
i can’t make you forget what you’ve seen
can’t make you think it was a dream
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2. |
Close-Cropped
03:31
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do you remember us
on that minibus
with me staring at your feet?
and even judging by your footwear
i knew we had to meet
so it’s a crying shame that in the mating game
i have the prowess of a fool
when we got to the farm
i should have turned on the charm
but instead i played it cool
are you with or without her?
you’d be so much happier with me
if you’re available
i’m unrestrainable
can’t you see?
i want your close-cropped hair
i want your pale blue eyes
and i want your soft hands
and your handsome thighs
i want your gormless grin
your regional accent
and i want your cracked lips
and i want your snake hips
and i want it right now
and i might even
and i might even tell you
now my days are filled with ways
in which our paths might cross
i’ve never been down
to your part of town
as much as i have this week
are you with or without me?
you’d be so much happier without
are you available?
you see, i’m uncontainable
can’t you see?
i want your peachy skin
and i want it now
i want your well-groomed nails
and your tended brow
i’d let your supple arms
drape across my frame
i want the things you’ve got
i think you feel the same
i’d let your three-day stubble
tear across my cheek
i want to hold your hand
until some time next week
i want your winning ways
and your ample chest
i want the bits on display
and i want the rest
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3. |
Pin Me Down
03:28
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so we meet up in a public space
you’re very easy to spot, you look so desperate
we spend too much money on unsuitable things
swapping our life stories and trying to look pleased
with our lot, have you got quite what i need?
it all goes so well, we applaud the same things
so pin me down
if you really must
and there’s really nobody else at hand
pin me down if you really must
although it’s inadvisable
i’ve made the switch from ultra strong to fetherlite
it wasn’t that hard, but now it doesn’t feel right
the days between your phone calls telescope into hours
please don’t be surprised when i start to back off
cut short my replies and then start screening my calls
i’m sorry i’m not won in the usual way
i only want what’s unlikely, dear
i like the theory more than the practical
you’d only be disappointed
i’d only be disappointed
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4. |
The Reading Room
04:06
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you caught me in the reading room again
i promise you that i’ve nearly reached the end
what exactly is that thing you’re reading?
baby, if you really want to know…
it’s only a dark cautionary tale
it’s only the story of love that fails
it’s only you
it’s only me
it’s only our lives only written down
you speak as I turn the nightlight out
asking what the story’s all about
you say, do they live happily, and ever after?
or is it a tragedy, some kind of biography?
you ask so I think you ought to know
the brittle page cracks
and crumbles to dust
the words fall in piles around us
the cover is torn, it falls apart
it’s only A Map of England and Wales
it’s only A Boys’ Guide to Sharks and Whales
it isn’t Keats, it isn’t Yeates
it’s only Fifteen Ways to Leave Your Love
so if you’re stuck for something to do
you could do much worse than read a book or two
if you’ve a tough decision to make
you could do much worse than read a book of verse
but baby please DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ
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5. |
Breaking Down
05:09
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i've been driving
through winters cold and summers fair
with a little forethought
you can drive for miles and never get anywhere
i've been to leigh-on-sea
i've been to eccleshall
and if you've seen just one
honey you've seen them all
keep driving and let anything happen
cos somewhere there's a place where all the lovers go
somewhere there's a place where all the good times go
and we might find it
keep driving, oh but don't look behind you
cos somewhere there's a place where all the lovers go
somewhere there's a place where all the good times go
and we might find it
i've been driving
from birmingham to coventry
or should that be derby?
it all starts to look the same to me
it never looks that bad
it never looks that good
and if you haven't been
i think that maybe you should
you'd stay there for the rest of your life
cos somewhere there's a place where all the lovers go
somewhere there's a place where all the good times go
and we might find it
keep driving, oh but don't look behind you
cos somewhere there's a place where all the lovers go
somewhere there's a place where all the good times go
and we might find it
i checked my tires, checked my screenwash
but it didn't stop me breaking down
it doesn't matter cos i don't need a car to drive
keep driving and let anything happen
cos somewhere there's a place where all the lovers go
somewhere there's a place where all the good times go
and we might find it
keep driving, oh but don't look behind you
cos somewhere there's a place where all the lovers go
somewhere there's a place where all the good times go
and we might find it
cos the world looks much better when you're passing through
and you don't need a thing if you've a changing view
we could drive to the place where the lovers go
we could dance to the sound of the dash radio
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6. |
In My Bed
06:19
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when you're overwrought
when you're overtired
when you need a plain word of hope
just this once in a while
please don't forget that part
i might just drop my guard
tonight you're forgiven
tomorrow i might just despise you
but that's all to come
come crawling into my bed
your hands and knees work just fine
there's room for one more in my bed
these old sheets have seen it all
these four posts would tell their stories if they could
but i'm kind of glad they don't
if you're open to ideas
if you're tired, if it's been years since you've been had
well i guess i could do you a favour
oh but don't say i'm easy
i sleep in the same bed each night
i just let them come to me
come crawling into my bed
your hands and knees work just fine
there's room for twelve more in my bed
if you've had more than enough of your own company
i know that i have
i know that i have
so get into my bed
oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no
my bed
oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no
cos baby, these old sheets have seen it all
these four posts would tell their stories if they could
but i'm kind of glad they don't
if you're open to ideas
if you're tired, if it's been years since you've been had
well i guess i could do you a favour
when you're overwrought
when you're overtired
when you need a plain word of hope
when you're overwrought
when you're overtired
when you need a plain word of hope
when you're overwrought
when you're overtired
when you need a plain word of hope
when you need a plain word of hope
when you need a plain old word of hope
You sure you want to be with me I've nothing to give?
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7. |
Not My Number
03:34
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how do you cope when you’re not around me?
it must be a strain getting through those hours
do you stay indoors
kneeling on all fours?
do you sweep your stairs
in your underwear?
well there’s one thing that i’m sure of:
you’re not using your phone at all
your tears of joy were not quite the reaction
that i had in mind when i told you i’d be away a while
did you flirt all day
in an innocent way?
change your library books
and get dirty looks?
well there’s one thing that i’m sure of:
you’re not using your phone at all
or perhaps you’re never off the damn thing
but it’s not my number that you call
it’s not my number that you call
yes, perhaps you’re running up a huge bill
but it’s not my number that you call
it’s not my number that you call
it’s not my number that you call
i know that your shift pattern’s antisocial
it’s not as antisocial as the fact that you never call
do you have your fun
when your work is done?
do you hang around -
buy another round?
do you stay indoors
kneeling on all fours?
do you sweep your stairs
with a certain flair?
it’s not my number that you call
it’s not as if i really mind at all
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8. |
Fingers
05:17
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don’t get that ring engraved for me, dear
not me, dear
and leave your armchairs where they are
they’re fine
don’t blurt it all out to your mum and dad
that would be sad
restrain your fingers from honesty on the keypad
and you’ll be glad
for i can’t help seeing the end in every beginning
i can’t help seeing the end in every beginning
but don’t hold me
it means you disappear from me
you try to hold us
but in your grip there’s just you and me separately
it’s like nothing ever really ends
it all just accumulates
don’t book that holiday to sicily
for you and me
or be prepared to go alone
or take a friend
i’m climbing your stairs
going up to your room
and i will pay you
but ask for nothing
i’m climbing your stairs
coming up to your room
and i will pay you
but i’ll take nothing more
i can’t help it
and you can’t help me
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9. |
Changing Trains
03:12
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on the coastal path
and later on the beach
something kind is said
and then the subject must be changed
as two eyes become heavy
for no apparent reason
something right’s been done
the subject must be changed
come the feast, cry over the hardship
now the famine has passed, the famine can be mourned
come the feast, cry over the hardship
now the family has passed, the family can be mourned
the station isn’t wretched
the platform isn’t cruel
the carriage not malevolent
the passers by benign
the fields are far from doleful
the sunshine isn’t harsh
the table isn’t hateful
but the journey is brutal
if it doesn’t take you, it leaves its mark
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10. |
The Exhibitionist
02:49
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from the doss house in the city
to the swank suburban pad
they all say the same thing
when your name gets an airing:
“son, you really could do so much worse”
and from the campus to the churchyard
from the oil rig to the street
they’re very quick with advice
and that’s all very nice
but i have to admit it’s becoming persuasive
so you can have it if you want it
and you can have it right now
if you just say the word
there’s a chance you’ll be heard
because i’m always listening now
GOODBYE INHIBITION!
we’re throwing all caution to the wind
call off the search team and hold the front page
because i’m letting you in
and you’re letting me in
from the highlands to the cotswolds
from the east end to the wash
they’re all very consistent
yes, in spite of the distance:
“son, you really could do so much worse”
and from the schmoozer to the boozer
from the actor to the thief
they’re inclined to concur
and i’m inclined to defer
to their greater experience in these matters
so you can have me if you want me
and you can have me right now
if you just say the word
there’s a good chance you’ll be heard
cos i’m always listening now
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11. |
Reasons For Losing Sleep
04:47
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the man across the hallway is keeping me awake
he’s banging nails into picture rails
and it never fails
to stop me from sleeping
i don’t know what i’ve done to deserve this
i really don’t know what i’ve done to deserve this
i knock three times to stop him - he just knocks back
i bang on the wall to tell him - he just bangs on
the man i met at the weekend is making me lose sleep
ignoring my e-mails but sleeping with females
well, spare me the details
they stop me from sleeping
i don’t know what i’ve done to deserve this
i really don’t know what i’ve done to deserve this
the bedroom burns as i toss and turn - but don’t sleep
the daylight streams through the curtains - i can’t sleep
you’re not the only one keeping me awake tonight
so many reasons for losing sleep
but don’t forget that only one of them is you
the never-ending nailing is making me lose sleep
and even if it were to stop
well, the banging would just keep on regardless
i know exactly what i’ve done to deserve this
i know exactly what i’ve done to deserve this
i clear my mind and the noise just disappears
i clear my mind and the noise all disappears
i’m not the only one keeping myself awake tonight
so many reasons for losing sleep
but don’t forget that only one of them is you
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12. |
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when we met you made a niche inside my body
beneath my ribcage and above my spleen
the niche was small at first
but you filled it completely
and with time you and the niche both grew
and grew
and grew
into a complex universe of spores and nodules
weaving between kidney, heart and lung
but always friendly
so benign and ever-welcome
but then you shrank
and you left
left your negative inside
and the search it goes on
and the search it goes on
but hope, it fades with the passing days
and the search it goes on
and the search it goes on and on...
but hope is fading
fading with the passing days
soon you became an extra vital internal organ
and then you shrank
and left a howling void behind you
there are endless doorless corridors
inside my upper torso
unique impression cast within me now
search continues, hope fades...
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13. |
About Time
03:52
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there are times that we remember well
we were young and almost happy
we didn’t long for any more than what we had
the sunburn on our backs
and running through the long grass
never knowing destination
there are times that we’d be glad to drop from memory
the times we’d love to eradicate in fifty thousand different ways
the days when we were lost
the days when we were lonely
never knowing why exactly
waiting again all day
waiting again all day
waiting again all day
i’ll be waiting still tomorrow
as the months go by i find myself much more inclined to simply waiting
in spite of early indications being bad
we’re not put off by that
we’re made of stronger stuff now
and we’ve learned to keep on waiting
if you think that things are good right now
i’m here to say that things were better some years ago
and things will be much better still at some point yet to come
we’re not sure when exactly
but we recommend just waiting
turn the clocks back take a train to the sea
breathe the air and wash your face in the brine
the days get longer when your back’s turned
and you can’t imagine winter
now i’m clumsy and my timing is bad
the clocks go forward and there’s no one to blame
the days get shorter when your back’s turned
you always keep on waiting
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luxembourg London, UK
Luxembourg are a British five-piece indie band, formed in London in 2001. Most often compared to artists like Pulp, The Smiths, Suede and Roxy Music, they have been described as "pop noir".
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