Left To My Own Devices

After yesterday’s post about the number 4 the Pet Shop Boys on my Top 4 List Of Best Groups Of All Time All Over The World, i will sing their song Left To My Own Devices. One of their best songs, lyrically.

A few words from Neil Tennant about the meaning of this track:

“This person goes through life always doing what he wanted to do. I liked the idea of writing a really up pop song about being left alone. This song is a day in the life of someone, so it starts off with getting out of bed and being on the phone and drinking tea and all the rest of it, and it ends up with coming home. By this time I was making the words very exaggerated and camp, though writing a book and going on stage were both things I had wanted to do when I was young.”

This song has been on my wishlist to sing for over a year. I did feel a bit hesitant. I still feel like that right now. But i do love this song. Even though most of the text is spoken, i do hope it comes out right. A bit.

🙂

Pet Shop Boys – Left To My Own Devices
I get out of bed at half past ten
Phone up a friend, who’s a party animal
Turn on the news and drink some tea
Maybe if you’re with me we’ll do some shopping

One day I’ll read, or learn to drive a car
If you pass the test, you can beat the rest
But I don’t like to compete, or talk street, street, street
I can pick up the best from the party animal

I could leave you, say goodbye
Or I could love you, if I try
And I could
And left to my own devices, I probably would
Left to my own devices, I probably would

Pick up a brochure about the sun
Learn to ignore what the photographer saw
I was always told that you should join a club
Stick with the gang, if you want to belong

I was a lonely boy, no strength, no joy
In a world of my own at the back of the garden
I didn’t want to compete, or play out on the street
For in a secret life I was a round head general

I could leave you, say goodbye
Or I could love you, if I try
And I could
And left to my own devices, I probably would
Left to my own devices, I probably would
Oh, I would

I was faced with a choice at a difficult age
Would I write a book? Or should I take to the stage?
But in the back of my head I heard distant feet
Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat

It’s not a crime when you look the way you do
The way I like to picture you
When I get home, it’s late at night
I pour a drink and watch the fight

Turn off the TV, look at a book
Pick up the phone, fix some food
Maybe I’ll sit up all night and day
Waiting for the minute I hear you say

I could leave you, say goodbye
Or I could love you, if I try
And I could
And left to my own devices, I probably would
Come on, baby, say goodbye
I could love you, if I try
And I could
And left to my own devices, I probably would
Left to my own devices, I probably would

Out of bed, at half past ten
The party animal phones a friend
Picks up news about the sun
And the working day has just begun

Sticks with the gang – at the back of the street
Pass the test – and don’t compete

Drive the car, if you’re with me
Che Guevara’s drinking tea
He reads about a new device
And takes to the stage in a secret life

(Aaaaaaaah… …ce)

Left to my own devices, I probably would
If I was left to my own devices, I possibly would

(Aaaaaaaah… …ce)

If I was left to my own devices, I probably would
Left to my own devices, I probably would

I could leave you, say goodbye
Or I could love you, if I try
And I could
And left to my own devices, I probably would
Left to my own devices, I probably would
Come on, baby
Left to my own devices, I probably would