I Just Wanna Be Loved

Take a picture of tonight and keep it by your heart
What is left is memories, there's no better way to part I will find another love, someone who won't bring me down
How you tried to level me but you never stood your ground

Fortunately I got wise this time
Fortunately I got me on my mind

Oh I just want to be loved
Don't want to fight you baby
But I'm much too proud to say it now
I just want to be loved
Don't want to beg you baby
But I'm much too proud to shout it out

Take a piece of dignity and use it in your life
Even though you hurt me I still want you to survive
Love was never special, we were never down
You will always have someone to bring you homeward bound

Fortunately I got wise this time
Fortunately I got me on my mind

Oh I just want to be loved
Don't want to fight you baby
But I'm much too proud to say it now
I just want to be loved
Don't want to beg you baby
But I'm much too proud to shout it out

When you love someone
Don't you know, love is blind
When you love someone
They don't need borrowed time, yeah that's right

Fortunately I got wise this time
Fortunately I got me on my mind

Oh I just want to be loved
Don't want to fight you baby
But I'm much too proud to say it now
I just want to be loved
Don't want to beg you baby
But I'm much too proud to shout it out

Love me, love me, love me, love me yeah

Released in October 1998, I Just Wanna Be Loved was the first NEW Culture Club single for 12 years. Despite reaching No.4 on the UK charts, I Just Wanna Be Loved was not released in the US and perfomed poorly on international charts due to little radio and media support.

Cold Shoulder

Watching the stars on Primrose Hill
The moon is high and the city is still
I came here to escape the chill
Of your cold shoulder

Evil sometimes the things you say
If you really wish I would just go away
Then why do you cry
Like a little child

All your world that's what you say I am
I'm working so hard to be a better man

You know I'll never ever lie, never play those games with my mind
You'll be the loser, you might find
Questions lead to answers in time
While you're so cold, so cold inside

Remember that fight in Amsterdam
When I made you cry 'cause I know I can?
You could not escape the chill
Of my cold, cold shoulder

All your world that's what you say I am
I'm working so hard to be a better man

You know I'll never ever lie, never play those games with my mind
You'll be the loser, you might find
Questions lead to answers in time
While you're so cold

I know you're hurting inside
Want someone to pay for the tears you cry
Ain't gonna be me, not this time

Never lie, never play those games with my mind
You'll be the loser, you might find
Questions lead to answers in time
While you're so cold, so cold inside

Never play those games with my mind
You'll be the loser, you might find
Questions lead to answers in time
While you're so cold, so cold inside

I know you're hurting
I'm hurting too
But I don't wanna hurt you
'Cause I love you
But my head says 'not this time'

Cold Shoulder was the third single released in the UK from Don't Mind If I Do. The refusal by UK radio stations to add Cold Shoulder to their playlists resulted in this being Culture Club's worst-ever charting single, debuting at a miserable 43 and leaving the UK's Top 75 after only 3 weeks.

Maybe I'm A Fool

(Rap intro by Derick Johnson)

Dangerous lover
With the blue-green eyes
Slides into the room
He's got trouble on his mind

Baby you're misunderstood
So come and lie here by my side
'Cause your love it hurts so good
Every time, every time

Maybe I'm a fool for loving you
Maybe I'm a fool
Maybe I'm a fool for wanting you
Maybe I'm a fool

But love's so hard to find
I keep searching every time

Foolish words spoken
Forgotten in the night
When the sun meets the ocean
I wanna be here by your side

Let me give you all those things
That money just can't buy
'Cause your love it hurts so good
Don't ask me why, don't ask me why

Maybe I'm a fool for loving you
Maybe I'm a fool
Maybe I'm a fool for wanting you
Maybe I'm a fool

Maybe I'm a fool, but I love you baby, baby...

(Rap by Derick Johnson)
(I keep searching everytime)

Maybe I'm a fool
Maybe I'm a fool

Baby you're misunderstood
So come and lie here by my side
Cause your love it hurts so good
Don't ask me why, just don't ask me why

Maybe I'm a fool for loving you
Maybe I'm a fool, I'm a fool, I'm a fool, yeah
Maybe I'm a fool for wanting you
Maybe I'm a fool, I'm a fool for your loving

Right now

Love's so hard to find
I keep searching every time
All the time, all the time
Cause I can't live without you
Can't live without you

Maybe Maybe baby I'm a fool for your loving (repeat until end)

Sign Language

I'm not hungry - I eat
When I'm tired - I can't sleep
When I'm nervous - I speak
It seems the only thing to do

In the morning - I rise
Wipe the dream from my eyes
Contemplate your demise
There's just no getting through

Always dream, don't apologize
Life is sweet, never close your eyes
The truth it seems, must have passed you by
At least a million times

Gimme a sign, gimme a reason to be here
I'm leading the blind, when will you make your motives clear
Gimme a sign (gimme gimme, gimme a sign)
After all this time why can't we get it right

So you made me - a 'creep' (ow)
I'm not losing any sleep (ow)
Cause my scars are much too deep (ow)
Don't start getting precious on me (yeah)

In the morning - I rise
While your life is - paralyzed
In the sweet smell of disguise
There's just no getting through to you

Always dream, don't apologize
Life is sweet, never close your eyes
The truth it seems must have passed you by
At least a million times

Gimme a sign, gimme a reason to be here
I'm out of my mind, so shallow and always insincere
Gimme a sign (gimme gimme, gimme a sign)
After all this time why can't we get it right

Hey!

(Gimme gimme gimme a sign)
Gimme gimme gimme Yeah!
(Gimme gimme gimme a sign)
Gimme gimme gimme Yeah, yeah, yeah
(Gimme gimme gimme a sign)
After all this time why can't we get it right

Another drive by love affair
Why don't you tell someone who cares
If you care

Gimme a sign, gimme a reason to be here
I'm out of my mind, when will you make your motives clear
Gimme a sign (gimme gimme gimme a sign)
After all this time why can't we get it right

(Gimme a sign)
(Gimme gimme gimme a sign)
Gimme gimme yeah yeah
(I'm out of my mind, Gimme gimme gimme a sign)
Gimme gimme gimme yeah
(Gimme a sign)
(Gimme gimme gimme a sign)

After all this love why can't we get it right
Let's get it right

Mirror

(Trying to get the message through)

You took the sun from the sky, give it back
You know I wouldn't take a bullet for you
You bring me down 'cause of all that you lack
You're underhanded and you're sly with it too

In a moment of desperation
We forgive and we compromise
Reaching out for that one sensation - life

No time for wasting my time
I'm just trying to get the message through
You hold up a mirror to me
You know that all you'll ever see is you
All you'll ever see is you

You know you won't change the world from your back
But still you lie there like a vacant fool
What happens when all your credit runs out
And I have to be kind to be cruel

In a moment of desperation
We forgive and we close our eyes
Reaching out for that perfect love to survive hey, yeah, yeah

No time for wasting my time
I'm just trying to get the message through (trying to get the message through)
You hold up a mirror to me
You know that all you'll ever see is you
All you'll ever see is you

You just don't get it
Do ya?

(I'm trying, trying to get the message)
(I'm trying, trying to get the message)
(I'm trying, trying to get the message) Baby, baby, baby
(I'm trying, trying to get the message)

In a moment of desperation
We forgive and we close our eyes
Reaching out for that one sensation to survive, hey yeah

No time for wasting my time
I'm just trying to get the message through (trying to get the message through)
You hold up a mirror to me
You know that all you'll ever see is you (ooh-ooh)
All you'll ever see is you

(I'm trying, trying to get the message)
(I'm trying, trying to get the message)
(I'm trying, trying to get the message)
(I'm trying, trying to get the message)

(I'm trying, trying to get the message)
(I'm trying, trying to get the message)
(I'm trying, trying to get the message)
(Trying to get the message through)

Yeah!

Black Comedy

Sweet cunning eyes try to take from me
You're too young, I'm too wise, this is parody
A taste of what you like can be fatal sometimes
Arms that hold you tight but leave you cold, so cold

The stars in the sky are out of reach tonight
Tears fall like rain, wrong again, words won't make me right
'Cause I knew from the start you were wrong for me
Call it fate if you like or black comedy

Love, maybe lust, made me sweet sixteen
So my soul lost control, nothing in between
A taste of what you want can be brutal sometimes
Arms that hold you tight but leave you cold, so cold

The stars in the sky are out of reach tonight
Tears fall like rain, wrong again, words won't make me right
'Cause I knew from the start you were wrong for me
Call it fate if you like or black comedy

The stars in the sky are out of reach tonight
Tears fall like rain, wrong again, words won't make me right
'Cause I knew from the start you were wrong for me
Call it fate if you like or black comedy

The stars in the sky are out of reach tonight
Tears fall like rain, wrong again, words won't make me right
'Cause I knew from the start you were wrong for me
Call it fate if you like or black comedy

The stars in the sky are out of reach tonight
Tears fall like rain, wrong again, words won't make me right
'Cause I knew from the start you were wrong for me
Call it fate if you like or black comedy

Your Kisses Are Charity

Last night you breathed the deepest sigh
Turned away with those cold cool eyes
You said won't you give me space to breathe
And my tears gave you confidence to leave

Now you say I'm just to much for you
There are things you'll never know
If you lie and cheat so easily
You'd better go, go go go, yeah

All I know is how I feel
And my heart was always yours to steal
But you take and never give to me
Your kisses are charity
Your kisses are charity, yeah

Yesterday you were my brightest star
But even when you're near I don't know where you are
I was wrong to show my weaker side
Now it's much too late to cry cry cry

I was blind to put my trust in you
If you leave me I'll fall apart
Did you plan to make a fool out of me
From the start, yeah yeah yeah, yeah

All I know is how I feel
And my heart was always yours to steal
But you take and never give to me
Your kisses are charity
Your kisses are charity, yeah, yeah

Now you say I'm too much for you
There are things you'll never know
If you lie and cheat so easily
You'd better go, go go go, yeah

All I know is how I feel
And my heart was always yours to steal
But you take and never give to me
Your kisses are charity
Your kisses are charity, yeah, yeah

Your Kisses Are Charity was the second single released in the UK from Don't Mind If I Do. Its country-reggae sound took it to No. 25 on the charts, and the 'Dolly' version of the single featured US Country Music legend Dolly Parton on guest vocals.

Weep for the Child

Hey you, do you ever cry - for the child?

Falling in love with strangers, feeling incomplete, hey that's me
Some are fly, some are shy, some are acting like they own the street, ooh
One minute we're together then the next you're acting really cool, so cool
You can play me any way but don't ever treat me like a fool, no no no

Sometimes so hateful
Sometimes so shy
Don't ask me why

Weep for the child
Better raise your hand
We're twisting the style
Ain't no need to understand
Don't leave me alone to make it tonight
No don't go

Wearing your desperation wrapped me on your sleeve, yes you do
You've got everything you want but you just can't get the things that you need, oh no no no

Sometimes you fake it
Sometimes you lie
Don't ask me why

Weep for the child
Better raise your hand, raise your hand
We're twisting the style
Ain't no need to understand
Don't leave me alone to make it tonight, no no no

Sweet baby

You never understood
You never treat me right

Weep for the child
Better raise your hand, raise your hand
We're twisting the style
Ain't no need to understand, do you understand?
Don't leave me alone to make it tonight, yeah

Weep for the child
Weep
Weep
Weep
in your heart

Weep for the child
Better raise your hand, raise your hand
We're twisting the style
Ain't no need to understand, no need
Don't leave me alone to make it
Alone to make it
Alone to make it tonight

See Thru

No apology necessary shut your mouth
You've closed your mind
We've been walking this road forever
It don't lead to paradise

In the mirror your sad reflection haunting you
Now I see mine
Yes I see mine

And you just don't get it
But you just might regret it, you might regret it

Shooting the rainbows from the sky
Throwing your love to passers by
Begging forgiveness for your crime
Never prepared to do your time
It's always them and never you
'Cause you're so see thru, I see thru you
('Cause you're so see thru)

Ain't no use in demanding justice
You're a victim of your sight
I held you up when your heart was heavy
Now you never give me mine
In the mirror my sad reflection haunting me
One more time, one more time

And you just don't get it, do ya?
But you just might regret it, yeah yeah yeah yeah

Shooting the rainbows from the sky
Throwing your love to passers by
Begging forgiveness for your crime
Never prepared to do your time
It's always them and never you
'Cause you're so see thru, I see thru you
('Cause you're so see thru)

Shooting the rainbows from the sky
Throwing your love to passers by
Begging forgiveness for your crime
Never prepared to do your time
It's always them and never you
Boy you're so see thru, I see thru you
('Cause you're so see thru)

You just don't get it, no you just don't get it
You just don't get it but you might regret it
You might regret it

Shooting the rainbows from the sky
Throwing your love to passers by
Begging forgiveness for your crime
Never prepared to do your time
It's always them and never you
'Cause you're so see thru, I see thru you
('Cause you're so see thru)

Shooting the rainbows from the sky - you're so see thru
Throwing your love to passers by
Begging forgiveness for your crime - throwing your love to passers by, you're so see thru
Never prepared to do your time
It's always them and never you - never prepared to do your time, you're so see thru
'Cause you're so see thru, You're so see thru, yeah yeah

Shooting the rainbows from the sky
Throwing your love to passers by
Begging forgiveness for your crime
Never prepared to do your time
It's always them and never you
'Cause you're so see thru, 'Cause you're so see thru

Strange Voodoo

(Loving you, strange voodoo)

How can I help you boy when I can barely help myself?
I'm useless now as I have always been
Just like some worthless love song dying on the radio
We talk in circles 'til we don't know what we mean

Ain't no happy ever after, ain't no big dark man, no no
Ain't no perfect situation, can't you understand

Loving you is some strange voodoo
Loving you is some strange voodoo

How can I love you boy when you don't even love yourself?
I'm useless now as I have always been
Your lying eyes, your thieving hands, you're such a rogue at times
But you will always be a part of me

Ain't no happy ever after, ain't no big dark man, no no no no
Ain't no perfect situation, ain't no master plan

Loving you (keep on loving you)
Is some strange voodoo (keep on loving you, I'm gonna keep on)
Loving you (keep on loving you)
Is some strange voodoo (keep on loving you, I'm gonna keep on)
(strange, strange voodoo)
Loving you is some strange voodoo
Strange voodoo

Ain't no happy ever after, ain't no big dark man, no no
Ain't no perfect situation, can't you understand

Loving you is some strange voodoo
Loving you - strange voodoo
Loving you (keep on)
(strange voodoo - keep on loving)
Loving you (keep on loving)
(strange voodoo - keep on loving)
(Loving you) - strange voodoo
(Loving you) - strange voodoo

Truth Behind Her Smile

Just see how she makes them love her
Twisting the world around her finger
Sensing weakness in a stranger
With one kiss she'll re-arrange ya
But I know the truth behind her smile

Keep me warm tonight, never satisfy
If you meet again she may pass you by
No apologies, never compromise
It's the truth behind her smile

Just see how she makes them want her
Oh, if I could be her for one day
Sensing weakness in a stranger
See them run, no sense of danger
But I know the truth behind her smile

Keep me warm tonight, never satisfy
If you meet again she may pass you by
No apologies, never compromise
It's the truth behind her smile

She'll let you down

Keep me warm tonight, never satisfy
If you meet again she may pass you by
No apologies, never compromise
It's the truth behind her...
Truth behind her smile

Fat Cat

Another song of woe
Woe sounds like this

You say nothing's changed, where were you when my world
Was spinning into masquerade
You claim it's just a question of mathematics
I shut the door on your amateur dramatics

Then you think too much
And you talk too much, vicariously
Yeah you think too much
And you talk too much
Every word is substance free

You're the dirt on my collar
You're the hole in my favourite shoe
You're the last dying breath of love
You're the weight that I need to lose

And you hurt yourself

You say I'm deranged, I'll admit to being strange
But I just can't stop loving you
If the light in your eyes
Addiction came as a surprise
Didn't think I'd be so into you

Then you think too much
And you talk too much, so carelessly
Yeah you think too much
And you talk too much
Every word is substance free

You're the dirt on my collar
You're the hole in my favourite shoe
You're the last dying breath of love
You're the weight that I need to lose

You're the dirt on my collar
You're the hole in my favourite shoe
You're the last, last dying breath of love
You're the weight that I need to lose

You're the dirt on my collar
You're the hole in my favourite shoe
You're the last dying breath of love
You're the weight that I need to lose

Confidence Trick

Never meant to hurt you, I don't know why
You come with your lawyers and your alibi
How can you look me straight in the eye
When you know

The clock on the wall is singing our song
The love in my heart is all dead and gone
You know why
You know why

There you go with your confidence trick
I'm much too wise, you don't fool me a bit
Feeling so low and looking so high
We both know that your truth is a lie

I never really knew you all these years
You lied to my face while I undressed your fears
Then you set me a-sail on an ocean of tears
Said goodbye

The clock on the wall is ticking real slow
There's nothing to say and there's nowhere to go
You know why
You know why

There, there you go with your confidence trick
I'm much too wise, you don't fool me a bit, no no
Feeling so low and looking so high
We both know that your truth is a lie

It's a lie

Looking up to the truth of what you are
Blinding all colours and beauty
And the sparkle in your eye is blinding

The clock on the wall is singing our song
The love in my heart is all dead and gone
You know why
You know why
Why, why, why, why, why, why

There, there you go with your confidence trick
I'm much too wise, you don't fool me a bit
Feeling so low and looking so high
We both know that your truth is a lie
It's a lie, lie

(The truth is, the truth is a lie)
(repeats in background)

And you never stopped loving me
Choaking back tears for you
So lovable
And we never go
And we never know
See I'm over
But I'm under
I don't ever wanna come down
I don't ever wanna come down
I don't ever wanna come down
To where you are

Starman

Didn't know what time it was and the lights were low
I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin' down some rock 'n' roll 'lotta soul, he said
Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That weren't no DJ, that was hazy cosmic jive

There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile

He told me -
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie

I had to phone someone so I picked on you
Hey, that's far out so you heard him too!
Switch on the TV we may pick him up on Channel Two
Look out your window I can see the light
If we can sparkle he may land tonight
Don't tell your papa or he'll get us locked up in fright

There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile

He told me -
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie

Starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile

He told me -
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la-la (repeat until end)

Culture Club faithfully covered this David Bowie hit (it reached No.10 in the UK and No.65 in the US in July 1972) on their '98 Re-wind Tour so well that it
has become a fixture at Culture Club concerts and got a joint A-Side single with Cold Shoulder.

Less Than Perfect

I know a song ain't good enough to let you know how I feel
I'll sing it hard, I'll sing it sweet, to let you know that it's real
If I change my attitude, maybe I can conquer you completely
All the things I say and do, everything I learn from you defeats me

And I let you down
I let you down
I let you down
I let you down

I know it's wrong to blame the past for everything that I do
I fool the world most of the time but there's no fooling you
If I change my attitude, maybe I can conquer you completely
Everything I say and do, all I learn from you defeat me

And I let you down
I let you down
I let you down
I let you down
I let you down
Let you down

What you see ain't always what you get
No matter how clear it seems
One minute lovers, then the next...

Oh oh no
Oh no

I let you down, yeah yeah
I let you down
I let you down
I let you down
I let you down
I let you down
Let you down
Let you down

What Do You Want

from 'VH1 Storytellers' (1998)

Right there it is!

Pretty faces perfect hair make 'I see you' when
You float into my vision once again, yeah
Promises are in your eyes, never to return
Inside your love I'm bound to burn

Now you don't understand the rivers and the seas are turning
Now it's out of my hands and I won't be a fool for learning

What do you want from me
I give you everything you need
Twisted security
I give you everything you need
What do you want

Pretty faces break your heart words that turn to dust
I need to love and you I trust
Waiting for the wheel to turn shall I waste my life
A key to hold to paradise

Now you don't understand the rivers and the seas are turning
Now it's out of my hands and I won't be a fool for learning

What do you want from me
I give you everything you need
Twisted security
I give you everything you need
What do you want from me
I give you everything you need
Twisted security
I give you everything you need

Love a we, a love a we, love a we, I love ya
Love a we, a love a we, love a we, I need ya

Now you don't understand the rivers and the seas are turning
Now it's out of my hands but I won't be a fool for learning

What do you want from me
I give you everything you need
Twisted security
I give you everything you need
What do you want from me
I give you everything you need
Twisted security
I give you everything you need