Down From the Country

One main version:

* (1981) - Kleine Krieg (5:36), Traumstadt 5 (5:34), Under Triple Moons (5:29)

The song fades in cleanly on all releases, with Kleine Krieg having the most material and Under Triple Moons the least (only by a few seconds). Likewise the song fades into the "Squeak" suffix on all releases, but Traumstadt 5 and Under Triple Moons fade the suffix out almost as soon as it has begun.

The sped-up, clunky keyboard and vocoder snippets that start appearing halfway through are the same ones used at the end of the Clicky Version of "Thursday Night Fever."

The song is noticeably slowed down on Traumstadt 5 and Under Triple Moons. The Kleine Krieg version has by far the best sound quality, probably because the Traumstadt 5 quality is so low, and Under Triple Moons uses the same version.

Instruments: Single pattern drum machine; keyboard bassline; acoustic guitar; organ chords; synth melody; two vocal tracks.

Suffix "Squeak" (0:26)

High-pitched synth squeaks and backwards vocoder voices. On Kleine Krieg this crossfades into "Thursday Night Fever." On the other releases the suffix fades out almost immediately.

What It's About:

A naive rube from the countryside has big dreams about the city, but he is quickly duped by two men who get him drunk, pay for his entertainment, rob him, then kill him. The "neon gods" show him how to haunt the city as a "city ghost."

Lyrics (adapted from the Cloud-Zero archive):

Down from the country, oh he had such plans
'bout making some money, 'bout living, being a man.

Packed his belongings in a battered old case.
Yes that look of fulfillment, well it stretched across his face.

Thought about his new life, maybe find himself a girl.
Share a flat and a mattress. Sure, they'd build their brave new world.

Take a job in an office, start low but proud.
He could work all the hours - hours the boss would allow.

And he'd reach new horizons, put some money away.
Buy a house in the suburbs, maybe have a son on the way.

Yes, down in the country, schemes and dreams stretch high, no limitations,
they train you right. You take the whole world whole world on and win.

Down in the station with his foot on his case,
well he met some new friends, said they'd show him round the place.

And they bought him a burger, and they showed him the sights,
and he played Space Invaders. Oh he got stoned by the light.

Then down to the nightclubs, bought him all of his drinks
and the sweet-smelling ladies, well, they're looking just at him.

Had a glass too many, had nowhere to go,
and he tripped on a table. They said: "Time we walked you home."

And they each took a shoulder, brought a grin to his face.
Gentle lift through the doorway, gently lifted up his case.

Shortcut through the alley, stopped a while for a rest.
Fingers rifled his pockets...but to no success.

And they spread his belongings in the dirt and the rain,
and of course they found nothing, as he feebly tried to explain.

Now down in the country, sort things out with your fists.
And he never had a prayer as the switchblade cut his wrists,
his chest, his arms.

And the neon gods took him, and they showed him the ropes.
Now he haunts down the alley...a city ghost.

Why You Should Care:

The city ghosts are further elaborated on in the song of the same name.