God Speed

Two Main Versions:

* "Pinball Version" (1982) - Apparition (4:06), Traumstadt I (4:04), Traumstadt I CD (0:01 - 4:10)

The Apparition and Traumstadt I cassette mixes start abruptly with the sound of a coin dropping into a pinball machine, whereas the Traumstadt I CD mix fades in a few seconds later.

The middle of the song is drowned in white noise and synth bomb-sounds, separating the two more sequenced sections of the song.

Instruments: Source recording of people playing a pinball machine ending with heavy delay feedback, distorted drum machine pattern, farty synth melody, additional noodly synth, two vocal tracks, sequenced white noise, synth bomb-type sounds, television samples.

* "Pink Box Version" (1991) - Legendary Pink Box (4:00) unavailable elsewhere

Fades in. Not much different from the original version in tone or lyrics, though the "noisy bomb" middle section is represented by chaotic distorted bass and the television samples are quieter and drenched in delay. It ends abruptly.

Instruments: Vibrato bass, drum machine, single vocal track, ominous synth pad chords, synth chimes, synth sirens, thin wobbling synth sound, temple block and gong sounds, television samples with heavy delay feedback, distorted bass guitar, high-pitched electric guitar during the second half, white noise synth, thin ascending/descending synth effect from "Close Your Eyes, You Can Be a Space Captain," violin with heavy oscillating filter.

What It's About:

It's a description of a businessman who is dependent on cocaine.

The samples in the middle of the song seem to be related to television viewing...coupled with the simultaneous lyrics about "what's on" (in the "Pinball Version") this might be reflecting a cocaine addict who watches late-night TV because he can't sleep, though that's stretching it a bit.

Lyrics:

Change.

?

(Woman laughs)

Oh no!

Tie on crooked, fingers fumble,
starts to mumble, almost numb.
The crumbs left on the razor blade
are telling tales of deals that left him penniless!

A nest of grudges. Wondering why
he just can't kick the habit.
He tries and tries, it gets him by
at parties in the supermarket.

Makes him whole,
and if he tries to bait him he'll
lash back and smash the windows in the High Street!

Beats the world up when he's buzzing, bursting out.
Lamps are flashing, bells are ringing. Give 'em hell.
Give 'em hell!

Hellzapoppin'! Pillzapoppin'!
EYES.

(Do you have a ? with what you watch on TV?)
(Sure, what channel do you watch on TV?)

What's new?

What's new?

(? what you watch where you want it, with the brightest--)
(Did you try that scene?)
(Yes, ?)

(Do you have a ? with what you watch on TV?)
(Do you have a ? with what you watch on TV?)

Amphetamine eyes. Belladonna blast.
He's fresher than tomorrow night,
he'll fight for his own way and
play Svengali to the ladies.
He's persuasive.

Jabber, jabber, faster, faster.

Feels the tingle in his nose,
white tornado's in his brain.
He 's sane when all the lights are green
and everyone's agreeing.

Turn a deaf ear and he'll scream and scream!
And kick out for attention.
He's important, he's impatient
and he wants to get there fast.

God speed, God speed.
God speed.

(confident, 45, pop and cautious, and not too malaprop. 'Cause that's how our (?) we don't want to confuse the lot and (?) what's this got to do with our channel?)