Joan Armatrading

Back To The Night (1975)

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Side One
NO LOVE FOR FREE
TRAVEL SO FAR
STEPPIN’ OUT
DRY LAND
COOL BLUE STOLE MY HEART

Side Two
GET IN TOUCH WITH JESUS
BODY TO DUST
BACK TO THE NIGHT
SO GOOD
LET'S GO DANCING
COME WHEN YOU NEED ME

Joan Armatrading

 

NO LOVE FOR FREE

 
   

You come to me trembling trembling

 

Shaking at the knees

 

You say you love me better than

 

Anyone else can

 

My head is spinning

 

I’m flattered

 

But I don’t understand

 

Every passing hello

 

How are you

 

You wanna know his name

 

Just because I was there when you

 

needed a shoulder

 

You think I’ll take your name

 

I love for money

 

I’m flattered

 

But I can’t leave my trade

 

You will see me holding up some

 

corner store

 

In my twenties print

 

And my thumb’s turned up

 

Yes I’m looking for a ride

 

Jesus woke me up in some

 

Strangers bed

 

There are a lot like you

 

They want to save my soul

 

Let me tell you

 

This lady loves

 

And she goes where she pleases

 

No love for free.

 

 

 

TRAVEL SO FAR

 

 

 

Travel so far

 

I’ve got to get myself back

 

Move so far from you

 

And you so true

 

Well let me get myself back

 

Never going to wander again

 

Travel so far

 

Well let me get myself back

 

Was seeing the old moon

 

Walking past my door

 

He had freedom eyes

 

His home was the skies

 

And he beckoned me to his side

 

He said come lets go lets go

 

Freedom road

 

Just you and me

 

Bring the sun

 

Il you feel you need some warm company

 

Travel so far

 

Well let me get myself back

 

Move so close to you

 

And you’re still true

 

It’s good to have you smile back

 

Get back get back get back

 

l’ll let you lead the way

 

Never going to wander again

 

Don’t say

 

You’ve stopped loving me

 

‘Cos there by your side

 

Should be no one but me

 

Don’t say you’ve stopped loving me

 

‘Cos there by your side

 

l’ve travelled so far to be

 

Get back get back get back

 

Was feeling how your body moved

 

Watching the leaves blow in the trees

 

Then I thought of your touch

 

And that reminds me of your kiss

 

And I almost drove myself insane

 

Don’t say you’ve stopped loving me

 

Thinking up as I go how you’re gonna

 

Outshine sun and moon

 

Don’t say you’ve stopped loving me

 

‘Cos there by your side

 

Should be no one but me

 

Should be no one but me.

 

 

 

STEPPIN’ OUT

 
   

I’m gonna step out of emotion

 

Break events that bring me down

 

I’m so uncertain

 

But it’s my fault

 

for letting you distract me

 

It’s trouble now

 

I’m on the edge

 

Steppin’ out

 

Steppin’ out

 

Step out of emotion

 

Steppin’ out of love

 

I don’t want no contradiction

 

Your navigation’s gone haywire

 

Your little arrow

 

Oh it’s missed your heart by miles

 

You better hide

 

Your self satisfied smile

 

Cos I’m steppin’ out

 

Steppin’ out

 

Right out of devotion

 

Steppin’ out of love

 

Steppin’ out

 

Steppin’ out

 

Steppin’ out

 

Right out of commotion

 

Steppin’ into life

 

I’m gonna give myself promotion

 

Award myself a great big star

 

I’m not so certain

 

That I wont make that star a crown

 

Because I’m free

 

I’m alone with me

 

Steppin’ out

 

Steppin’ out

 

Right out of commotion

 

Steppin’ into light

 

 

 

DRY LAND

 
   

Let me sail to the depths of your soul
Let me anchor as near as I can to your shore
I’m coming into dry land
Been a long time at sea
And the season of loving
Has long awaited me

 

Tides and waves have kept me
Kept me going
I’m longing for the calm
I’m heading for the pastures
I can see on your dry land
Let the sea that once did take me
Bring me back safe to your door
For I long to touch the dry land of your shore

 

Clear back to land I’m rowing
Clear the deck let me touch your soui
Maybe l’ll bring you back a gift of love
l’ll promise you so much more

 

Clear back to land I’m rowing
Clear the deck let me touch your soui
l’ll bring you back a gift of love
l’ll promise you so much more

 

 

 

COOL BLUE STOLE MY HEART

 
   

I swear you were not my ambition

 

A cooling aid was on my mind

 

I walked up to the bar and I ordered

 

Then I took my ice outside

 

I sat down under the hot sun

 

I looked around at this new land

 

And then oh

 

Cool Blue

 

Long dark

 

You stole my heart

 

I woke up first light next morning

 

And I took a tram to the Leidse Plein

 

I hired a bike and I drove around for hours

 

I was searching for those dark eyes

 

I made a stop at the Blue Note

 

I passed up a chance for some good fun

 

Cause of you

 

Cool Blue

 

Long dark

 

Who stole my heart.

 

 

 

GET IN TOUCH WITH JESUS

 

 

 

I wanted to contact Jesus

 

‘Cos of the million and one ways

 

You said he’s good

 

But if it’s too late it’s too late

 

If it’s too late for love

 

I won’t take hand-outs

 

From you

 

Friends

 

Just give me wings of doves

 

Make my mind blank

 

Set my heart free

 

Mind that’s blank

 

And a heart that’s free

 

Not a line not a song

 

To remind me

 

How come there’s kisses at the bottom

 

When you need

 

When you need

 

And no time when your liner

 

Drifts in

 

Silver and shining

 

You broke my heart

 

Let me tell you I’m hurt

 

But you know that

 

I’m too down to cry

 

I won’t cry

 

I’ll turn to Jesus

 

I’ll turn to Jesus

 

I’ll talk to him

 

And he can help me to help me

 

Somebody help me

 

Help me to get in touch with the man

 

Who can help me dream again

 

I wanted to contact you now

 

‘Cos of the million and one ways

 

I know you’re good

 

It’s never too late

 

It’s never too late for love

 

 

 

BODY TO DUST

 
   

I thought I had a lot

 

I opened my eyes at eight

 

It’s past one

 

And I never said good morning

 

Hold on there

 

Wait

 

Don’t run away I’m only talking

 

Don’t move a flnger for one kiss

 

You can take all my pretty moonlight

 

That’s money to me

 

Take charge of my reasoning

 

Hold on

 

Take a hold of me

 

Make the body beautiful

 

A huge old barrel

 

Rust my car if you must

 

Just don’t go giving too much of yourself

 

To everyone

 

I swear

 

Turn my body into dust

 

Just show me a clean face

 

Clean as can be

 

Either keep your hands to yourself

 

Or stretch out and give them for me

 

Need much more from you

 

Than twenty four hours

 

So much l don’t have to rush

 

Just don’t go promoting yourself to everybody

 

I’ll sell my soul for your trust

 

There’s so much that I want to do

 

All I need is time

 

No cost to you if you just go ‘bout

 

Your business

 

And leave me alone to unwind

 

For a long time.

 

 

 

BACK TO THE NIGHT

 
   

Leaves burnt by the sun

 

And there’s no wind blowing

 

See the motor cars with a smiling face at the wheel

 

I’m watching the little girls

 

With their young men at their heels

 

It’s a sunny day

 

But get me back to the night

 

‘Cause I love that lite

 

Back to the night

 

Like a skinny burlesque queen

 

I love a neon

 

Skyline

 

Sweet smiling rose

 

The night lite perfume

 

See the romeos dancing under the moon light

 

I see the night

 

Night was made for romance

 

You keep your sunny day

 

Just get me back to the night

 

‘Cause I love that lite

 

Back fo the night

 

Like those skinny burlesque queens

 

I love a neon skyline

 

Got the card sharks hustling

 

At the break of the moon

 

Gay night walkers

 

Old blues buskers

 

All night long there’s just so much to do

 

Just get me back to the night

 

Oh I love the lite

 

Back fo the night

 

Like a skinny burlesque queen

 

I love a neon skyline

 

 

 

SO GOOD

 
   

Cuddle in the morning

 

Kissing late at night

 

That’s what I wanna do

 

With my little baby

 

Alright

 

See me take that love

 

And hold it tight

 

Watch me hold on tight

 

Just as in the day time

 

Get my smile

 

Candles round the table

 

In the pale moonlight

 

Blackcurrent and jelly jars

 

Can’t hold the sweetness

 

Sugar itself

 

So nice

 

Been said before but I feel it’s right

 

And when I’m waddling old

 

Still wanna be there

 

High and mighty Oo

 

Old but gold

 

Love in you

 

So good

 

l’m a hopping onto a passing cloud

 

I’m sailing off to a heaven

 

Defines kissing you

 

The suns up above

 

Way up

 

A hot burning sun

 

Cooking up love

 

Making love

 

 

 

LET'S GO DANCING

 
   

I want to say I love you

 

But I don’t know how

 

I want to say I need you

 

But I don’t know how

 

If I said would you love me

 

Could you

 

I want to feel you breathing

 

Your body next to mine

 

Let me hear your heart beat

 

Let me hold your hand

 

If I said let’s go dancing

 

Would you

 

Feel in my mind

 

You want me

 

But some friends told you

 

I’m no good

 

No good

 

She’s no good no good

 

See by your eyes

 

I’ve touched you

 

l’ve touched you deep down inside

 

Inside

 

No need for words inside

 

Come with me let’s go romancing

 

Let’s go out dancing

 

Let’s go romancing

 

All night long.

 

 

 

COME WHEN YOU NEED ME

 
   

So l’ve been sad

 

So I’m confused

 

Like most people are at times

 

But I love you

 

And this love of mine

 

Will comfort you

 

If need be

 

I am your friend

 

At times when I’m worried

 

I’ll shy away from you

 

So at times I’m without the light I need in life

 

But I love you and this love of mine

 

Will open many doors

 

To make you see me to make you see me

 

See me in loves light

 

Come when you need me

 

I’m needing you

 

We could be the starlight in the morning dew

 

Even in my sorrows

 

I’ll smile for you

 

Makes me free to see you happy

 

So I turn away at times

 

Turn away from right and wrong

 

So I freeze in the breeze

 

In the breeze of your song

 

But I love you

 

And this love of mine will

 

see you through

 

Giving to us the morning dew

 
 

Notes

 

(1)

The reference is obviously to the arrow of Cupid, god of love. In this verse and the following, the author turns to herself.

(1)

The reference might allude to "gay" to mean homosexual or be used in a literal sense.

 

© Original Lyrics by Joan Armatrading & Pam Nestor (Dry Land" e "Come When You Need Me") -  A&M Records
© Italian Version by A. Truffi August 2001 / Commercial use not permitted

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