KING OF THE MINIBAR
Vinyl / CD limited edition
Digital download
LYRICS & TEXTS
(words and music Andrea Bruschi, all drawings by Igort)
KING OF THE MINIBAR
I have a bright future in my past
but I’m happy
I’m happy with that
I don’t speak much
but my metaphors can follow you around the building
put you to sleep at night
you can find me in my corner smoking my cigar
dancing with what’s left of the falling stars
I’m the king of the minibar
King of the minibar
I’m the king of the minibar
the king of the minibar
the Celine I dig
is not called Dion
I’ve had years of drinking, crying and carrying on
I took a shower with this world
to wash the pain away
but if you look into my eyes
I am just like a child
I’m the king of the minibar
King of the minibar
King of the minibar
the king of the minibar
He’s the king of the minibar
He’s the king of the minibar
I am the king of the minibar
King of the minibar
I am smoking my own cigars
I took a shower with the falling stars
Oh the past sir…the past will always find a way to kick in your ribs
but it’s in the way you swing…it’s the way you look at the clouds that matters
always five steps ahead from madding crowd
I am the king of the minibar
the dentist has fixed my teeth more than a thousand times
I know happiness is just a toothache away
it’s in the way you swing in the way you look at the clouds
my liver is in the Chinese hit parade right now
YOU CAME YOU HURT
You…you don’t know me
and you…you got a bleeding heart
‘Cause you are a thief
and I’m the broken window
You came to me
like rusty blade painted golden
You came you hurt
You smiled you burned me
You…you are a daiquiri mixed with coal
and you…you are smoking on the crime scene
‘Cause you are a doll blessed with such a strange affection
and I am not immune oh no
to your sweet your sweet infection
You came you burned
You smiled you cried
You lied you hurt me
Don’t know what to do my girl
You…you made my life more incomplete
Now you
BLACK WALTZ
This is a black waltz for you
Black as the night that you know so well
This is a black waltz for you
‘cause you bite your lips
when it starts to rain
Down in Berlin they know everything
They know how to treat a man right
Down in Berlin they’ve seen everything
They know Jack London was right
and they know how to turn our tears into the sweetest wine
This is a black waltz for you
‘cause I am the cut
and you’re my tetanus shot
This is a black waltz for me
‘cause I don’t believe in this bourgeoisie
Down in Berlin they’ve seen everything
They know how to treat a man right
Down in Berlin they have seen everything
They know Fassbinder was right
and they know how to turn our tears into the sweetest wine
and like leaves in October we won’t be afraid of the wind
Your silhouette is made for the fog
You’re in Brigadoon all the time
Your silhouette is made for the rain
Eyes were invented for you
This is a black waltz for you… x8
Down in Berlin they have seen everything
They know Jack London was right
Down in Berlin they have seen everything
They know Fassbinder was right
Down in Berlin they know everything
They know Wim Wenders was right
Down in Berlin they have seen everything
They know that Herzog was right!
Vicious Game
You’ve been spying
in the house of love
I know ‘cause I’ve been there
but the light was out
You’ve been crying
a salty stream of pain
Waiting for a sign
Chewing on your hurt
It’s a vicious game
that we have to play
In the sea of love
is where we have to drown
I’ve been lying to everyone
including me
Pretending to be tough
but I was snow melting in the sun
I’ve been wearing my Italian suit of tears
Crying in the rain
Then you smiled at me
It’s a vicious game
that we have to play
In the sea of love
that’s where we have to drown
It’s a vicious game
that we have to play
An obscene honeymoon
is what we have to spend
for the rest of our lives
lives
It’s a vicious game
Such a vicious game
OFFER YOU A SECRET
Well I used to dream at night
but I’ve been murdering my sleep
I know how it feels
to be one of the fools
and I’ve been talking to the walls
He’s been talking to the walls
Maybe they’ll give me a sign
Every sound that I hear brings me back to your voice
‘Cause today I lied
but I’ll offer you a secret
Offer you a secret
I’ll make it up to you somehow
and I’ll offer you a secret
with the words I never spoke
All the voices in my head
all the voices in his head
It’s an orchestra of sound
I should fight this pain that’s intoxicating me
For today I lied
but I’ll offer you a secret
Offer you a secret
I’ll make it up to you somehow
and I’ll offer you a secret
with the words I never spoke
with the words I never spoke
‘Cause today I lied
but I’ll offer you a secret
Offer you a secret
I’ll make it up to you somehow
and I’ll offer you a secret
with the words I never spoke
Today I lied with the words I never spoke
Today I lied with the words I never spoke
with the words I never spoke
MR. SOPHISTICATION
Mr Sophistication
This song is a tribute to the legend of John Cassavetes and his cinematic masterpiece, The killing of a Chinese bookie.
His works have influenced me beyond words: constantly surprising, they always leave the viewer somewhere other than they started, sometimes comfortable, sometimes uncomfortable.
It’s now widely acknowledged he was ahead of his time. Each work reveals new perspectives every time you enter it. The performances, the set, the atmosphere , the light: just about everything is pure work of artistry.
I discovered that David Bowie was a friend of Cassavetes and was a guest on set for this particular film. He is probably somewhere in the club crowd…this was such a surprise, but in the end it makes sense that two of my favourite artists knew and loved each other.
As Cassavetes suggested, “ Bookie“ can be seen as a noir, but the real story is a fight between an independent artist and all the crooks that try to deviate him from his path.
Mr. Sophistication is an eccentric fellow; a poet and a lunatic figure trying to illuminate the strip bar each night with his numbers. He doesn’t care if the material clicks with people, he just keeps going on—as we all should keep on keeping on.
I admire him so much.
This is an ode to him, to Cosmo Vitelli and the De-Lovelies, but in the end it is a tribute to the man and artist known as John Cassavetes.
Baby when it’s dark outside
I go to the joint and wear my outfit right
Baby it’s such a broken world
Everybody needs justice for the soul
‘Cause I’m Mr. Sophistication
and my days are nights
I always host the show
under a neon night
Oh I am Mr. Sophistication
In the red spotlight
Inventing new steps for the dancing
Mankind
Baby sometimes they scream at me
They prefer the girls
To my philosophy
Oh baby my tears are in this show
I know every number
I know every song
For I’m Mr. Sophistication
and my days are nights
I always host the show
under a neon night
Oh I’m Mr. Sophistication
In the red spotlight
Inventing new steps for the dancing
Mankind
Mankind
They sawed my big dream in two
They sawed my big dream in two
But in the end what I’ve got
in the end what I’ve got
is two decent dreams out of one
Out of a broken one
For I’m Mr. Sophistication
and my days are nights
I always host the show
under a neon night
Oh I’m Mr. Sophistication
In the red spotlight
Inventing new steps for the dancing
Mankind
A CROSS TO BE NAILED ON
Evatima was your name
You were a saint with a different creed
On a wild island bitten by a snake
You became queen of pain
Sovereign of mystery
Immune to any physical pain
Any poison was always welcome in your veins
but you didn’t calculate that the heart
is a stubborn and selfish king
So the story begins
For each one chooses the cross to be nailed on
Chooses the blade to be cut by
but can never foresee the bullets shot
from the lover’s gun
Travelling with the circus
playing baccarat with Bess and Henry Houdini
Beautiful, like only a black rose can be
Dance another dance, dream another dream
In the meantime you just laugh at shiny blades
and crucifixion simply made you sing
You just didn’t see it coming at all
from the hands of the one you love
because noone does
For each one chooses the cross to be nailed on
Chooses the blade to be cut by
but can never foresee the bullets shot
from the lover’s gun
And you didn’t Eva so this is for you Eva
No you didn’t Eva so this is for you Eva
For each one chooses the cross to be nailed on
Chooses the blade to be cut by
but can never foresee the bullets shot
from the lover’s gun
And you didn’t Eva
This is for you Eva
Evatima Tardo
Evatima Tardo (born c. 1871) was an American vaudeville performer known for her invulnerability to physical pain, which she attributed to a snakebite she survived in childhood. “The Strangest Woman in the World” was considered a medical miracle by contemporary doctors. During her performances she was bitten by venomous snakes and crucified through the hands and feet for hours at a time while she laughed and sang. Houdini considered her an outstanding beauty and a master of her art. She died after being shot by a jealous lover.
I wanted to dedicate a song to this extraordinary woman. For me, her story reveals the poetic truth that you can be a superhero, capable of undergoing crucifixion without pain, but still vulnerable to a human emotion like jealousy. I imagine the scene of her death: shot by her lover, feeling no pain and singing as she died, but with perhaps a tear in her eye.
HUSBAND LOST AT SEA
Little heart I am writing you now
I’ve been using the light of a star and with no fear in my heart
Little heart since the ship went down
I’ve been floating on a raft
Drinking rain from a cup
And I know from the waves
that you are crying loud at night
‘Cause I’m your husband lost at sea
and you’re my precious wife
I’m your husband lost at sea
and soon I’ll be in your arms
Arms
Little heart the black sea is all around
but I’ve seen some flowers floating
and I know it’s a sign
So soon I’ll reach the shore
Hold my breath and start to run
‘Cause I am your husband lost at sea
And you’re my precious wife
I’m your husband lost at sea
And soon I’ll be in your arms
Arms
I’ll ask the wind
To make the forest sing
and lead me the way
Show me again
Yeah the show me again
the way to your door
‘Cause I am your husband lost at sea
and you’re my precious wife
I’m your husband lost at sea
and soon I’ll be in your arms
I’m your husband lost at sea
I’m your husband lost at sea
I’m your husband lost at sea
and soon I’ll be in your arms
Soon I’ll be in your arms
Soon I’ll be in your arms
Sea
Lips
Love
Arms
END IN TEARS
My days in your town are finally over
My days in your town came to an end
I’ll pack my thoughts in my mind
and drive slow in the night
while it’s snowing in my heart
Your days in my town are finally over
Your days in my town came to an end
and now under my nails
are parts of the skin
of the dreams we used to share
Because this town ain’t big enough
For the both of us
And we’ll never meet again
under this pouring rain
It’s gonna end in tears
That’s what you told me dear
Cassandra was always right
but she didn’t lead a happy life
My days in your town are finally over
Your days my town came to an end
It’s time you became
a ghost in my mind
and disappear in lake of alcohol
My nights in your town are finally over
Your nights in your town came to an end
In a sea of regrets you left my bed
but I was the one who told you to
Because our arms aren’t big enough
to hold the both of us
We’ll never meet again
We’re just shadows in the rain
It’s gonna end in tears
That’s what you told me dear
Cassandra was always right
but she didn’t lead a happy life
It’s gonna end in tears
that’s what you told you dear
I can understand every sign
now go and live a better life
It’s gonna end in tears
That’s what you told me dear
Cassandra was always right
but she didn’t lead a happy life
It’s gonna end in tears
That’s what you told me dear
I can understand every sign
now go and live a better life
IN MY GARDEN
Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid of the dark
Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid in the dark
Most of the time
there’s something wrong with the light
Just let your tears fall down
like shooting stars
There are fireworks
Fireworks in the sky tonight
There are fireworks
Fireworks in the sky tonight
They don’t mean a thing
they don’t mean the rest is right
They simply celebrate
We are a different kind
‘Cause I got nothing to offer you
besides my simple words
and I got nothing to offer you
besides these aching chords
And I hope it’s alright
‘Cause I’ll take you to my garden
You’ll be safe within my garden
I’ll protect you in my garden
In my garden
In my garden
In my garden
No don’t despair, don’t despair your pure heart
No don’t despair your pure heart
I need you to believe that your pain will make you shine
I simply read your signs and I’ll be there in time
‘Cause I got nothing to offer you
besides these simple words
and I got nothing to offer you
besides my aching chords
And I hope it’s alright
‘Cause I’ll take you to my garden
I’ll protect you in my garden
You’ll be safe within my garden
You can stay in my garden
In my garden
In my garden
In my garden
