Break Day

Three main versions:

* "Jolly Pulse Version" (1981) - Only Dreaming (3:04), Ancient Daze (3:02), Ancient Daze CD-R (3:09)

Both mixes fade in, but Ancient Daze (CD) cuts off the first few seconds of music. Both mixes fade out at the same time, ending with synth boops. The Ancient Daze (CD-R) mix has more of the fade in, and contains a few seconds of blank space at the end of the track. The "spilt the milk" line is different in this version but I don't understand it.

Called "Breakday" on Only Dreaming

Instruments: Pulsing synth chords for beat and melody; plinky melody played on keyboard occasionally degenerating into heavy chorus effect or white noise; erratic bassline occasionally providing siren effects or white noise; two vocal tracks

* "Evil Pulse Version" (1981) - Chemical Playschool 1 (3:37), Kleine Krieg (3:30)

Both mixes fade in with windy synth noises, but on Kleine Krieg this is mixed with the previous song ("Peace Krime #2"). In both mixes the song fades down into church/choral noises, but on Chemical Playschool this fades out cleanly whereas on Kleine Krieg this gradually mixes with a suffix ("Defeated Palace").

Instruments: Pulsing synth chords for beat and melody; organ chords quietly pulsing in double time; two keyboards play alternating plinky melodies and discordant effects; two vocal tracks.

* "Tower Version" (1984) - The Tower (3:35)

Starts abruptly, fades out with "alarm keyboard" at the end.

Instruments: Single drum machine pattern; funky keyboard bass line that goes into double-time during chorus; organ synth chords; two synths provide plinky/bell accents; two tracks of chunky electric guitar during chorus; two vocal tracks; sequenced alarm keyboard near the end.

Suffix "Defeated Palace" (1:28)

Only on Kleine Krieg, crossfades with choral noises. Backwards snippet of "Defeated" which gradually mixes with horn noises, deep synth groans, and percussion.

What It's About:

As fascism began to slowly overtake a country, the citizens ignored the growing police state until it was too late: "break day" had arrived. Unstoppable soldiers commit indiscriminate acts and the future looks bleak, as the people realize they should have stopped the process -- or at least escaped -- before break day truly arrived.

Lyrics (adapted from the Cloud-Zero archive):

(All versions differ slightly in the exact lyrics)

Slogans turned to secrets. The symbols turned to stains.
The face of an enemy was imprinted on our brains.
Made us spectres at the shutters,
faces covered, taking aim.
Faking blame.
Break day.

Break day!
The brakes failed. Break day.
We all broke down together.

Drains were painted scarlet. Scars were opened wide.
Kids saluted in the basements, whistled hymns and homicide.
And though we wanted to change things,
the fact remains, we never tried.

Break day!
The brakes failed, break day.
We all broke down together.

But you had a chance.
You had the brains, you had the money,
could have bought an airplane and skipped this hole for somewhere sunny.
You recognized the symptoms, smelt the hatred in the air.
But you stayed. You better pray.
Aren't you just a little scared?

'Cos it's break day!
The brakes have failed. Break day.
Breaking down together, en masse.

A nurse hid and shivered as an army axed her door.
Linking arms, drinking orders, urinating on the floor
Spilt the milk, split a hymen,
take 'em wicked, make 'em sore...

Let 'em know it's break day.