Four Simple Words - Frank Turner

Because we’re all so very

Twenty-first century

You’re probably listening to me

On some kind of portable stereo

Maybe you’re sitting on the back of the bus

Or it’s running up your sleeve and you’re across from your boss

Or you’re sitting in your bedroom on your own

With the lights down low

I’d like to teach you four simple words

So the next time you come to a show

You could sing those words back at me

Like they’re the only words that you know

I want to dance, I want to dance

I want lust, and love, and a smattering of romance

But I’m no good at dancing, and yet I have to do something

Tonight I’m gonna play it straight, I’m gonna take my chance

I want to dance

Heigh ho heigh ho heigh ho!

We’re heading out to the punk rock show!

Colleagues and friends condescend with a smile

Yeah, but this is my culture, man, this is my home

The dark huddled masses gather at the gate

Yeah, the doors are at seven and the show starts at eight

A few precious hours in a space of our own

And when the band comes on, the only thing I really know

I want to dance, I want to dance

I want lust, and love, and a smattering of romance

But I’m no good at dancing, and yet I have to do something

Tonight I’m gonna play it straight, I’m gonna take my chance

I want to dance

Yeah, is anybody else sick of the music that’s churned out by lackluster

scenesters from Shoreditch?

Yeah, it’s all sex, drugs and sins, like they’re extras from Skins!

But it’s OK, cause they don’t really mean it!

I want bands who had to work for their keep

Drove a thousand miles and played a show on no sleep

Sleeping on the floor at a stranger’s place

Hungry just to do it all again the next day!

I want to dance, I want to dance

I want lust, and love, and a smattering of romance

But I’m no good at dancing, and yet I have to do something

Tonight I’m gonna play it straight, I’m gonna take my chance

I want to dance

So put your hands on your hips

And bring your knees in tight

Yeah, we do this shit together man

No fists, no fights!

We’re not trying to save the world

So people think like us

We just want our own space to dance, man

No favours, no fuss

Yeah, on blood, sweat and vinyl we have built ourselves a house

If the roof is on fire, then we’re gonna put it out

Forget about your bitching and remember that you’re blessed

Because punk is for the kids who never fit in with the rest

Alright

Somebody told me that music with guitars

Was going out of fashion and I had to laugh

This shit wasn’t fashionable when I fell in love

If the hipsters move on, why should I give a fuck?

I wanna dance, I wanna dance

I want me some lust, some love, and a smattering of that old time romance

But I’m no good at dancing, and yet I have to do something

Tonight I’m gonna play it straight, I’m gonna take my chance

Yeah, I want to dance

I want to dance

I want you and me both to join hands down at the front

So the next time I see you, remember these words, oh

We’ll sing like the barricades are down and we’ll dance like no one’s around

Singing four simple words