RORY GALLAGHER: Defender (1987)

1. Kickback City
2. Loanshark Blues
3. Continental Op
4. I Ain't No Saint
5. Failsafe Day
6. Road To Hell
7. Doing Time
8. Smear Campaign
9. Don't Start Me Talkin'
10. Seven Days
11. Seems To Me
12. No Peace For The Wicked

KICKBACK CITY
They say this town will kill you
They say this town ain't got no soul
This town could take a childs smile
And turn it into stone
But don't you think I know that
This town has cut me to the bone
Trouble crawling up your back
Fear just eats your soul

You say this town will eat you up
You say this town ain't got no heart
You try to learn all your lines
And you try to play the part
With all this double dealing
I tell you brother you get smart
Here in kickback city
You're lost before you start

People in subways look nearly half dazed to me
Renting tomorrow investing in sorrow no belief

Faces in sidestreets hiding like angels for grace
Selling you sorrow renting tomorrow you're out of place

They say this town will kill you
They say this town ain't got no soul
They'll set you up and pull the stitch
Till you unravelled on the floor
But I won't let it beat me
Though trouble's knocking in my door
Somehow it's just your smile
That keeps me coming back for more
Here in kickback city
Feel I'm going down slow
Here in kickback city

Feel I'm going down slow

LOANSHARK BLUES
Give me til Monday, that's only a day or two
Give me til Monday, that's only a day or two
I'll pay you back with interest, if it's the last thing that I do yeah
I'll pay you back with interest, if it's the last thing that I do yeah

Give me til Monday, that's only a day away
Give me til Monday, that's only a day away
I'm down on my knees, Ive got one foot in the grave
I'm down on my knees, I ve got one foot in the grave

I've got the Loanshark Blues I've got the Loanshark Blues
Give me an offer I can't refuse

My wife needs shoes my kids must eat feel so cold, I can't feel my feet
Can't get my hands on one thin dime gonna turn to a life of crime
No work here, so I walk the street sign on the door, feel I'm beat
I known you run Pier 15 you got a grip on all my dreams

I got the Loanshark Blues the Loanshark Blues
Give me an offer I can't refuse

Give me til Monday, that s only a day or two
Give me til Monday, that's only a day or two
I'll pay you back with interest, if it's the last thing that I do
I'll pay you back with interest, if it s the last thing that I do

I got the Loanshark blues the Loanshark Blues
Give me an offer I can't refuse

The roofs got holes, see the sky can't get straight and I have tried
I'm in your debt, I'm well aware I'll break the law ‘cause I don't care
Living on a knife edge I have been but I'm to though to just give in
Moving on down with the longshore men on the docks we're locked out again

I got the Loanshark Blues the Loanshark Blues
Give me an offer I can't refuse

I got the Loanshark Blues the Loanshark Blues

Give me an offer I can't refuse

CONTINENTAL OP
There's a body in the bay
The cops are taking it away
They said this case was closed
It only shows that you never know

So who are they going to get when the trouble's got to stop
Here's my card I'm the continental op

Jane Doe in the bay, now that's exhibit "A"
Bloodstains on the dress, of the millionaires
But I saw you leaving town, I'm gonna have to track you down
You've slipped through the web and you might have dodged the feds
But who are they going to get when you've outfoxed the cops
Here's my number I'm the continental op

I'm the continental op
Call the agency, we never close
First consultation is free
Check my reputation, check my pose
But first you ought to check my fee

There's a menace on the streets, offering infants' sweets
Don't give this man a ride, lock your car from the inside
He's suspect No. 1, but I guess his race is run
He left a set of prints, he's not so smart as he thinks

'Cause who are they gonna get when you've outfoxed the cops
Here's my card I'm the continental op

'Cause who are they gonna get when you've outfoxed the cops

Here's my badge I'm the continental op

I AIN'T NO SAINT
I ain't no saint I can't turn the other cheek
I ain't no saint Can't turn the other cheek
But you can cool my temper by the words I hear you speak

I'll tell you straight from the shoulder
Tell you straight from the hip
If I'm falling over, she makes the pieces fit
If I get arrested or in som legal twist
She talks to the judge and gets the case dismissed

I ain't no saint won't make it through the pearly gates
I feel alright down here, Lord I think heaven's gonna have to wait

She don't tell me how to make a living

Don't lock her love up with a key
If I'm down my head is spinning

Don't call a doctor or a priest

I ain't no saint won't toe the party line
I ain't no saint I won't toe the party line
But you get my nomination every single time

I'll tell you straight from the shoulder
Straiht from the hip
Believe the tallest stories if I hear it from your lips
Don't need to worry about the crazy shape I'm in
This tender magic surely gives me a thrill

I ain't no saint
Won't make it through the pearly gates
I feel allright down here lord

I think heaven's gonna have to wait

FAILSAFE DAY
What I see just takes the heart from me
It's all okay they keep telling me
Somehow it feels like failsave day
You know it's almost failsave day

It's not the time now don't go sad on me
Yeah we can run the illusion is free
Let's not just throw this change away
You know it's almost failsave day

And deep inside I hear that something
Like a silent scream
And in the night I hear that rumbling
Keep on hoping that it's just a dream

Wish there was some time to buy or steal
'Cause there's this stranger in the air I breathe
Deep down it feels like failsave day
They're gonna fade us all away

Deep inside I hear that something
Like a silent scream
The voice inside just tells me one thing
Keep on hoping that it's just a dream

What I see just chrills the heart in me
It's all okay but they're not fooling me
You know it's almost failsave day
Somehow it feels like failsave day
You know it's almost failsave day

They're gonna fade it all away

ROAD TO HELL
Soft-soaped on the road to hell
So many times I tripped and fell
No changes left the sky is falling down on me

One step from the demons' fire can't stop the train
The flames get higher too late to save me
The wall is coming down on me

Broken wishes and broken dreams
Close to the edge I cut it lean
No regrets the angels gonna cry on me

Push the tempo push the time
No excusus not this time
No way out the ground is opening up on me

Can you feel the beat
Coming from the street
Pour rain down on me

They try to keep me on a long thin chain
Thanks but no thanks just the same
You saw it coming the devil has got the jump on me

Lost soul on the road to hell
Wind up the motor and ring the bell
No stopping now pain is coming down on me

Straight time on the road to hell
No mercy time at the wishing well

No turning back angels going to cry for me

DOING TIME
I'm breaking rocks and I'm doing time
She's on the streets with a friend of mine
I drove the car I took the fall
I walk the cell at night I cry ‘til dawn
At night I cry ‘til dawn
The days are long but time will pass
I'm breaking out I soon will get my change

I'm in my cell it's ten by nine
She's living it up on champagne and wine
I took the rap I have to smile
Time drags by but I'll get loose after a while
Get loose after a while
Deep in the night just like a child

I walk the cell my mind is running wild

I'm going numb from too much waiting
Until my dying day
I'll suffocate from too much hating
There'll be hell to pay

I'm gonna rot from too much waiting
'Til my dying day
My soul is bruised my heart is shaking
There'll be hell to pay

I'm digging ditches I'm breaking stones
Sewing mailbags it ain't no fun
Bread and water my life is complete
Hold my breath ‘til I'm back out on the streets
Back out on the streets

Revenge is sweet or so they say
Just watch your steps I'm breaking out today
Revenge is sweet or so they say

Just watch your steps I'm breaking out today

SMEAR CAMPAIGN
The Dirty Tricks department,
Is working overtime.
Trying to stop the candidate,
From getting in this time.
The wheels are now in motion,
All the traps are set.
Under the commotion,
He'll walk into this net.

The state's intoxicated,
They're at the starting gate.
He may never make it,
To the planned T.V. debate.

He can't fight off the big bucks,
Of the old brigade.
He's gotta watch his step,
In this Smear Campaign.

They called a snap election,
In the summer heat.
This town is reeling backwards,
Like a drunk man on the street.

Yeah....

Feed those lies, bend those minds,
At any price.
Foul or fair, as long as he's not in there, Election Time.

Yeah..

Smear Campaign.

Don't believe the papers,
It's not anybody's race.
He's not a rank beginner,
It's not a children's game.

He may get the nomination,
If he breaks through the chain.
Or they'll shoot him down on Main Street,
In this Smear Campaign.

Just watch the party faithful,
Fuel the dream machine.
They've fudged up all the issues,
Eat that scandal sheet.

The Dirty Tricks department,
Are nearly half insane.
Trying to stop the candidate,
With a Smear Campaign.

Smear Campaign.
Yeah...
Smear Campaign.

DON'T START ME TALKIN'
Well I'm going down the road
Stop in Fanny Mays
Gonna tell Fanny what I heard her boyfriend say

Don't start me talkin'
I'll tell everything I know
I'm gonna break up this signifyin'
'Cause somebody's got go

Jack gave his wife two dollars
To go downtown to get some market
Gets out on the street
Ol' George stops her
He knocked her down
And blackened her eye
She gets back home and tells her husband a lie

Don't start me talkin'
I'll tell everything I know
I'm gonna break up this signifyin'
'Cause somebody's got go

She borrowed some money
To go to the beauty shop
She honked his horn
She beegan to start
Said take me bay ‘round the block
I'm going to the beauty shop
To have my hair socked

Don't start me talkin'
I'll tell everything I know
I'm gonna break up this signifyin'

'Cause somebody's got go

SEVEN DAYS
Seven days of thunder eight days of rain
The feeling that I'm under
Is like a ball'n chain, like a ball'n chain

Just round the corner I know a store
Gonna trade in my razor and bay a 44
And I'll come knocking knocking door to door
The feeling in my head is like all out war
All out war third world war

And if they catch me and put me in the chair
You can sit beside me there's plenty room to spare
You are the reason I am in tis fix will you cry for me
When they throw that switch throw that switch

This time they'll lock me up for sure
Throw away the key when they slam the door

City to city town to town
Seven days running
Will they track me down

Will they track me down

SEEMS TO ME
Seems to me, I've been all tore down before.
It seems to me, I've been down this way before.
Tears in your eyes baby, don't fool me anymore.
Tears in your eyes baby, don't fool me anymore.

Fool me anymore. Yeah....

I must admit it, guess my race is run...yeah..
I must admit it baby, it's a case of hit and run.

Don't look for me baby, 'cause I'm circling around the sun.
Don't laugh at me baby, I'm circling around the sun.

Yeah....oww....yeah...

Feel six feet under, feel like a drowning man...yeah..
Feel six feet under, feel like a drowning man.

Man overboard, and you won't lend a hand.
Man overboard, you won't lend a hand...yeah..

Seems to me you've gone for broke this time.
Seems to me you've gone for broke this time.

Hung, drawn and quartered.

You've hung me on the line

NO PEACE FOR THE WICKED
No peace for the wicked,
No way, no how.
If you've gone and done it,
You gotta pay somehow.
No use complaining,
About the hand that feeds.
Now you know that it's raining,
How come you talk to me?
How come you talk to me?

Well..yeah..

Well your friends in high places,
Won't bail you out this time.
With all your social graces,
It's like a pantomime.

Feeling so uneasy,
You can't tell friend from foe.
You're always looking back to see,
Who's coming through the door.

You sold protection,
Fed the common fear.
Took 'yes' for an answer,
You didn't see the tears.

Collecting for the loanshark,
With the silken fist.
Now you've crossed the 'company',
With the Judas kiss.
They've got you on the list.

Yeah...

You're like a loaded heater,
Just about to go off on the street.
You need a baby-sitter,
To pick you up if you can't stand the heat.

Yeah...

No peace for the wicked,
No way, no how.
If you've gone and done it,
You gotta pay somehow.

No use complaining,
About the hand that feeds.
Now you know that it's raining,
How come you talk to me?
How come you talk to me?

Yeah...

Well your friends in low places,
Have tightened up the screw.
They've made this town a nightmare,
You're trapped. What can you do?

The quality of mercy,
Is really out of reach.
Don't call on the ones you peeled,

Practice what you preach.