Temper Temper

One main version:

* (1981) - Chemical Playschool 2 (3:56), Prayer for Aradia Bonus Tracks (3:59)

Another wonderful pop song which was not used elsewhere. Unlike most other Dots songs, the tempo is kept by the rhythm guitar instead of by a drum machine or a pulsing keyboard. During the choruses the tracks are usually sent through a heavy, watery reverb.

Instruments: Electric rhythm guitar with heavy rotor effect; erratic tambourine; organ chords; high-pitched keyboard melody; another sharp synth following the melody; odd vocoder saying "Temper Temper"; one vocal track.

What It's About:

A man has got a really awful temper, but he's not as bad as the Greeks or the Mexicans. A playful song with tongue firmly in cheek.

Lyrics (adapted from the Cloud-Zero archive):

I don't know why I shout at you, but I do it all the time.
Something simmers deep inside and I just go out of my mind.
I didn't mean to hurt you. Really not so cruel.
Let's make up, be friends again, forget about it all.

Temper temper. I lose my temper.
Must remember to keep my temper,
temper temper.

You should see me in the night time, when I've had a drink.
Start to trash the furniture, drown spiders in the sink.
I don't know why I do it. It all seems so unreal.
Someone said "Go see a doctor. You really must be ill."

Temper temper. Lose my temper.
Must remember to keep my temper,
temper temper.

Looooose my cool.
So uncool.

Temper!

But I'm not the only one, you should see the Greeks.
Give them cold moussaka, hear them stand and shriek.
Tear up all the tablecloths, smash plates against the wall.
Start to chase the waitresses and end up in a brawl.

Temper temper. They lose their tempers.
Must remember to keep their tempers,
temper temper.

Then you get the Mexicans. God, they can be mean.
Stomp on their sombreros and mash their jumping beans.
Quite a stunning spectacle, it really makes me scared.
Is it just frivolity or something in the air?

Temper temper. They lose their tempers.
Must remember to keep their tempers,
temper temper.

Those Mexicans, they're some people.

Temper temper. Temper temper!