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about

Actually, they say it’s just a state of mind.
Well, I’ve got better things to think about.
Dedicated to David, Telly & Vance Hall, Salleh Ben Joned, Siti Hawa,
Anna and Licence Holders throughout the world.

lyrics

City Hall, City Hall
Everybody says you can’t fight City Hall
You can phone in, you can write
You can shout till you’re blue
You can even tell Hotline your plight
You can sit up & beg, you can grovel & crawl
You can even keep on banging your head
Against the wall – but you know you can’t fight
You just can’t fight City Hall

You’re standing on the corner
Minding your own business
Doing a brisk trade in putumayam
Suddenly a truck rolls up –
Little Man, you’re out of luck
Now you’d better pack up & duck (Hey you!)
‘Cause here come some meanies from City Hall
They’ve come to haul away your putumayam stall
And you know you can’t argue
You just can’t argue with City Hall

HAVE YOU GOT A LICENCE? HAVE YOU PAID YOUR FINE?
YOU CAN’T RELAX UNLESS YOU PAY YOUR TAX
YOU NEED A LICENCE WHEN YOU WALK
NEED A LICENCE JUST TO TALK
YOU NEED A LICENCE IF YOU RUN
ANOTHER ONE IF YOU’RE HAVING FUN
NEED A LICENCE FOR YOUR TEETH
NEED A LICENCE JUST TO BREATHE
NEED A LICENCE FOR YOUR NOSE
NEED A LICENCE FOR YOUR TOES
IF YOU AIN’T GOT A LICENCE… WELL THAT’S TOO BAD
BUT IN YA GOES TO CITY HALL

City Hall, City Hall
Guess you need a special licence
Just to cower in the shadow of City Hall

Trying to make a living
Selling sweets & ciggies on the sidewalk
Finally got a licence, no one’s gonna push you around
But hold it! – here come a coupla City Hall clowns
Marching down the five-foot-way (hey hey hey)
Ain’t that enough to ruin anybody’s day?
Well, they grab a pack of Benson each
And then they swagger on
Conveniently forgetting to pay
And you know you can’t collect
Nobody collects from City Hall

HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR LICENCE?
ARE YOU TOEING THE LINE?
HAVE YOU GIVEN US ENOUGH OF YOUR PRECIOUS TIME?
DO YOU HAVE A PERMIT TO RENT OR BUY OR SELL?
OH WELL, I GUESS SOMEHOW WE MUST ADAPT -
BUT HONESTLY THAT’S A LOAD OF CRAP!
SO FOLKS I DON’T MIND TELLING YOU
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE YELLING
GO TO HELL, CITY HALL!

City Hall, City Hall
And I don't mean David, Telly or Vance Hall
They know how to have fun all right
I mean, mean old City Hall
(Actually, they say it's just a state of mind
But I've got better things to think about, people)
And I'm not talking about Siti Hawa
You know Salleh Joned's kid? Ah, she's so sweet
(But then all of Salleh's kids are, haha)
No I’m talking about silly old City Hall,
Stupid old City Hall, shitty old City Hall
But you might as well be, you might as well be talking to a wall

City Hall, City Hall,
Oh won’t you help me find a city
Where there ain’t no such thing as City Hall

credits

from Solitary Vice (& Other Virtues), released August 8, 1984

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about

Guano Breath Malaysia

My output mostly dates back to the 1980s and has been heard by a mere handful. This isn't what I'm into now but at least I'm not too embarrassed about it.

Collaborations with others & freestyle choreographic works form an integral part of my archive.

I enjoy being the world's least ambitious musician.
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