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Labour of Lust

by Nick Lowe

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Immediate download of [numtracks]-track album in your choice of high-quality MP3, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.
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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Finally back-in-print! Remastered and features liner notes from Gregg Geller and Will Birch!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Labour of Lust via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    The 2011 CD reissue of Labour of Lust is completely remastered! Also includes updated credits / liner notes!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Labour of Lust via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Nick Lowe Lunch Box

    Limited edition retro-style metal lunch box, originally released as part of an exclusive bundle of Yep Roc's 1982-1990 Nick Lowe reissues.

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  • Vinyl LP
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    The 2011 Vinyl LP reissue of Labour of Lust is completely remastered! Also includes updated credits / liner notes!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Labour of Lust via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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  • Limited Edition Pink Vinyl LP
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Available on pink vinyl for the first time! Limited to 2,500 copies worldwide!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Labour of Lust via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.
Oh, I can't take another heartache Though you say you're my friend I'm at my wits' end You say your love is bonafide But that don't coincide With the things that you do And when I ask you to be nice, you say You've gotta be cruel to be kind in the right measure Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign Cruel to be kind means that I love you, baby (You've gotta be cruel) You've gotta be cruel to be kind Well, I do my best to understand, dear But you still mystify And I want to know why I pick myself up off the ground To have you knock me back down Again and again And when I ask you to explain, you say You've gotta be cruel to be kind in the right measure Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign Cruel to be kind means that I love you, baby (You've gotta be cruel) You've gotta be cruel to be kind (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Well, I do my best to understand, dear But you still mystify And I want to know why I pick myself up off the ground To have you knock me back down Again and again And when I ask you to explain, you say You've gotta be cruel to be kind in the right measure Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign Cruel to be kind means that I love you, baby (You've gotta be cruel) You've gotta be cruel to be kind (Cruel to be kind) Oh, in the right measure (Cruel to be kind) Yeah, it's a very, very, very good sign (Cruel to be kind) It means that I love you, baby (You've gotta be cruel) You've gotta be cruel to be kind (Cruel to be kind) Oh, in the right measure (Cruel to be kind) Yes, it's a very, very, very good sign (Cruel to be kind) It means that I love you, baby (You've gotta be cruel) You've gotta be cruel to be kind (Cruel to be kind) Oh, in the right measure (Cruel to be kind) Yes, it's a very, very, very good sign
2.
Cracking up, I'm getting ready to go Had enough, I can't take any more No pills that I can take This is too real and there ain't no escape It scare the daylights It make a nightmare I'm tense and I'm nervous Everybody all around me Shakin' hands and sayin' howdy I don't think it's funny no more Cracking up, like a worn out shoe Ain't wet, but the world leakin' through I'd run, but I find no pace I laugh, but it's wrecking me Wrecking me It make a shiver, it make a shake It make a monster, just like an earthquake Everybody havin' fun I don't know how they can carry on 'Cause I don't think it's funny no more At dead of night time, at crack of dawn It comes upon me without warning If I were a gunman I would shoot I'd tear the hair out by the root I'd make a knife out of a notion All at sea in an ocean of a emotion I don't think it's funny no more I don't think it's funny no more Cracking up I don't think it's funny no more Cracking up I don't think it's funny no more Cracking up I don't think it's funny no more Cracking up I don't think it's funny no more Cracking up
3.
Big kick, plain scrap You better shut that trap Or come and get it You kick like a mule You eat like a pig You drink like a fish Oh you're a queer one, baby Oh, when you hold me, in the night On drugs You're so nice on drugs Big kick, plain scrap You better cut this crap Or come and get it You monkey around You playin' with a horse You fish, of course You're a cheap one, baby Oh when you kiss me, in the night On drugs You're so big on drugs When you clip me, in the night Yeah, at the Crest Motel On drugs On drugs Drugs, drugs So nice on drugs Big kick, plain scrap You better cut this crap Or come and get it You monkey around You playin' with a horse You fish, of course You're a deep one, baby Big kick Big kick, plain scrap Big kick, big kick, big kick, plain scrap When you kiss me In the night
4.
I made an American squirm And it feel so right On the screen was the musical war Deep deep into the night Yes i was spreading In the wonderful world Everything was fine Tried to mate in hot of the state Deep deep into the night It goes on and on and on It goes on and on and on But I thank you for the time Yes, I thank you for the time I killed the time It goes on and on and on It goes on and on and on It goes on and on and on But the funky for the time Yes, I thank you for the time I killed the time I made an American squirm And it feel so right On the screen was the comical time Deep deep into the night Deep deep into the night Deep deep into the night It goes on and on and on
5.
Born Fighter 03:08
Well here she comes again Blowing everybody's circuits Girls like that bring a lump to my pocket Everybody says I can never get her I've been a lot of things But I never was a quitter I'm a born fighter I've gotta wriggle for my will now I'm a born fighter How I hate it on a plate Shoe shopping Lapping up the grooms and uppers I don't want to have to get Another pair of hush puppies I keep on lookin at 47-each But one day, l'll be laughing With the lizards on my feet I'm a born fighter I've gotta wriggle for my will now I'm a born fighter Now I hate it on a plate I'm a born fighter I've gotta wriggle for my will now I'm a born fighter How I hate it on a plate Well in between the pages Of the glossy magazines There's a coffee table world I could never ever fit in I shout about how I could never buy it But I stand up and fight For the right to go and try it I'm a born fighter I've gotta wriggle for my will now Said I'm a born fighter How I hate it on a plate I'm a born fighter I've gotta wriggle for my will now I'm a born fighter How I hate it on a plate
6.
You Make Me 01:53
You make me It's out of my hands You see I don't wanna do wrong to you You make me You make me I strive to be strong But I'm weak You say what useless excuse is this You make me I try with my might To have and to hold But there's something to it That I can't control See I haven't loosed my love I'm just confused by love You make me You make me
7.
Skin Deep 03:15
Promises promised In a moment of passion Melt in the morning And soon forgotten Forever and ever Is just a fun idea Love and affection Of the coveted kind It's just belly to belly But never eye to eye A moment to treasure It's just a matter of time Skin deep The way you shake my hand and breathe so fine.. Skin deep skin deep Yes this is a night of skin deep Love and affection Of the coveted kind It's just belly to belly But never eye to eye A moment to treasure It's just a matter of time Skin deep The way you shake my hand and breathe so fine.. Skin deep skin deep Yes this is a night of skin deep Heaven is her only for skin deep
8.
Switchboard Susan, won't you give me a line? I need a doctor, give me 999 First time I picked up the telephone I fell in love with your ringing tone I'm a long distance romancer I keep on trying till I get an answer Gimme gimme one more chance She's a greater little operator Switchboard Susan, let me off the hook I've been this way since you give me your look Switchboard Susan, you're all the rage Come on sugar, let's get engaged I'm a long distance romancer I keep on trying till I get an answer Gimme gimme one more chance She's a greater little operator Said I'm a long distance romancer I keep on trying till I get an answer Gimme gimme one more chance She's a greater little operator When I'm near you girl, I get an extension And I don't mean Alexander Graham Bell's invention Switchboard Susan, can we be friends? After six, at weekends I'm a long distance romancer I keep on trying till I get an answer Gimme gimme one more chance She's a greater little operator She's a greater little operator Hey babe, you're number's great 38-27-38 Oh you bring a smile to my dial Oh you're great, operator's great
9.
The cold, dark night Is split by the stab of twin headlights Like fingers of guides that know of it But have never been there And eyes red-rimmed Are pealed for the n'th time And strain for the roadsigns That flash past the windshield In the hard drivin' rain His mind is not dwelling on beds of white linen But the endless gray ribbon that winds on ahead A moon comes up, cheesy and golden Reminding of older times, gunning moter times Restless and young A cut glass bowl, free with four gallons Is now the companion Of what once was the champion of heartbreakers' row His thoughts may be thinking of sweet smelling women But the endless gray ribbon is his for tonight From Coastacola to Richfolk, Virginia It's amazing how samey they are Twenty five buys some time with a waitress Passion's Peterbuilt out in the car lot His thoughts may be thinking of sweet smelling women But the endless gray ribbon is his for tonight Endless gray ribbon Endless gray ribbon Endless gray ribbon
10.
Without Love 02:29
Without love, I am half human Without love, I'm a machine Without love, there's nothing doin' I will die without love Without love I am an island All by myself in a heartbreak sea Without love there's no denying I am dying without iove Oh there is nowhere I can run And there is no hiding place Sticking out iike a sore thumb By the gloomy look Upon my face Without love l'm incomplete Without love, I am not whole Without love, l'm barely on my feet I'm a dying without love Oh there is nowhere I can run And there is no hiding place Sticking out like a sore thumb By the gloomy look Upon my face Without love l'm incomplete Without love, I am no whole Without love, l'm barely on my feet I am dying without love I am dying without love Oh yes i'm dying without love
11.
Dose of You 03:21
Who in the world ever would have thought it? Where in the world is the grip on myself? Why in the world did I ever comment? What in the world was I thinking of? Spreading from the hard part first Is a bad infection getting worse and worse I caught a dose of you tonight I need a stiff shot, badly! I took a lethal dose of you tonight Oh yeah! Who in the world are you, pretty baby? Where in the world did you spring up from? Why in the world are you so contagious? How do I get what I've got to get gone? Specialists among them to themselves They say there ain't no cure, private or National Health on this one I caught a dose of you tonight I need a stiff shot badly I took a lethal dose of you tonight Oh yeah! Spreading from the hard part first Is a bad infection getting worse and worse I caught a dose of you tonight I need a stiff shot, badly! I took a lethal dose of you tonight Oh yeah! I get a sound of thunder... It's like a heavy gong... I hear a storm warning... On every tongue made of silver Every heel made of high Every dress made of tight Ever look, every sigh! I caught a dose of you tonight I need a stiff shot, badly! I took a lethal dose of you tonight Don't want to spread it all around I caught a dose of you tonight I need a stiff shot, badly! I took a lethal dose of you tonight So give me pills and powder I caught a dose of you tonight I need a stiff shot, badly! I took a lethal dose of you tonight
12.
Love So Fine 03:55
Well I met a girl and she made me lose my lines I don’t do nothing but want her all the time She makes the Mona Lisa look rough She's a true fine lover Don't want no other So fine A love so fine Each time I see her I can't wait until I see her again Although she looks like a fire I only want to stay close friends She's got me flapping like a flag on a pole She's a gas on her back and as a matter of fact she’s so fine A love so fine She can’t be after my money Cause she knows I ain’t got none She only wanna feel her pretty little body and make out on the floor for fun Each time I see her I can't wait until I see her again Tonight I am gonna tell her that I don’t wanna be just friends She’s got a pair of tits that just won't quit Everything that she's got you know I like it a lot She’s so fine A love so fine Each time I see her I am getting ready to see her again Tonight I am gonna tell her hey baby no more folks friends She starts the love bone shake when the hour is late And make the backbone quiver when the egg man delivers She's so fine A love so fine
13.
It's an ugly sight By the police light But lonely now As the innocents leave In twos and threes Cop straightens up Wiping blood off his hand Says, "Christ above That's the worst I've seen In more than seventeen" Somebody says "I think I remember him Used to see him hanging 'round But it's hard to be sure Looking at him now" Whose hand made the boy Suffer and bleed? Who did the deed On Basing Street? It's 4:29 And out on the airwaves Late night DJ plays For the lost and lonely And their late night ways Popping pills Washed with coffee With a little coffee blows Cigarette ash Off the late news flash The world is waiting for him now In the palm of his hand He leans toward the microphone and says "We interrupt this program" But out there in radio land They're all asleep As the firemen hose down Basing Street

about

Originally released in 1979 and out-of-print for nearly two decades, Nick Lowe's Labour of Lust album has been remastered to its original glory and now includes both the U.K.-only track "Endless Grey Ribbon" and the U.S.-only track "American Squirm," along with the bonus B-Side "Basing Street."

Hailed by Trouser Press as "a brilliant piss-taker that pairs sprightly pop and savage lyrical wit," Labour of Lust also contains Nick Lowe's biggest hit to date, the album opener "Cruel to Be Kind." The song climbed the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching #12 in the U.S.

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released March 15, 2011

2011 Nick Lowe Ltd. issued under exclusive license to Yep Roc Records

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Nick Lowe London, UK

Nick Lowe has made his mark as a producer (Elvis Costello-Graham Parker-Pretenders-The Damned), songwriter of at least three songs you know by heart, short-lived career as a pop star, and a lengthy term as a musicians’ musician. But in his current ‘second act’ as a silver-haired, tender-hearted but sharp-tongued singer-songwriter, he has no equal. ... more

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