Last update – 14 Jan 1998.

1. One Way Street To Heartbreak
2. Hey Driver
3. Fire And Rain
4. Mean Machine
5. Cool Hand Killer
6. Action
7. Born To The City
8. One Night Sensation
9. Let Me Down Slow
10. Bye Bye Sadie

Mean Machine (1981) Warner Music Japan, WPCR-1721

1. ONE WAY STREET TO HEARTBREAK

Well, listen to me, mister
If you're needing what I'm thinking
Tonight
Just take a stroll down Main Street
Well, you'll be taken care of
All right

The air is cool
If the price is right
There's hope at every door

*You're on a one way street to heartbreak
No more roads to go
You're on a one way street to heartbreak
Come on, let me show you more

This ain't no time for high class
You don't need to act so funny
Tonight
Well, just take a look around you
Well, there's freedom for your money
All right

You're just a face
In an empty crowd
That's how it has to be

(*Repeat)
(**Repeat)

Now listen
You're on a one way street to heartbreak
(One way street to heartbreak)

Oh yeah, a one way street to heartbreak
(One way street to heartbreak)
Oh yeah, said heartbreak
Yeah, I said heartbreak
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

(*Repeat 2 times)

And more and more
Hey, yeah, yeah
Heartbreak on a one way street
Heartbreak (On a one way street)
Yeah, yeah, yeah

A one way street to heartbreak
(Repeat and fade with ad lib)

2. HEY DRIVER

Don't come searching
Through the open window
She is going back home
No more need to be told
Hearts are racing
Grab a cab for the station
It's all over, baby
That's all she wrote

Hey driver
Oh yeah, make 'em burn
Oh make's burn

*Take me clown to the line
(Hey driver)
Down to platform nine

(Hey driver)
Hope we will get there on time
(Hey driver)
Make's burn, make's burn
Take me down to the line
(Hey driver)
Hope I make it on time
(Hey driver)
Down to platform nine
(Hey driver)
Make 'em burn, make 'em burn
We can make it if we try

Parents doubt
That we could work it out
Those heartless words
That drove us to the city
Love has gone
No sense in holding on
She'd nothing else to say
Her look was pity

Hey driver
Well, make 'em burn, yes
Oh make 'em burn

(*Repeat 2 times)

3. FIRE AND RAIN

Hey, in the mirror
Is it really you
Is that what's left of your pride
Another look
Will tell you what to do

You've reached the end of the ride

Nothing fancy
But you dress in style
A cool headed dude
With a gleam in your eye

Hey, in the mirror
Is that really me
Who knows what you're going through
You've been put down
You were too blind to see
Now here's what you're gonna do

Just pick it up
And put it back inside
You wore your heart on your sleeve
Without a disguise

Let's take the fire and rain
And start it over again
Let's take the fire and rain
'Cause you ain't got (you) got no pain

Fire and rain

Hey, in the mirror
What's been going on
You're in a hell of a mess
They think you're crazy
But you proved them wrong
And you ain't got no regrets

Just turn your head
Man, and walk away
'Cause a fool's got to lose
It's the name of the game

**Let's take the fire and rain
And start it over again
Let's take the fire and rain
And start it over again

Fire and the rain

And now it's all over
(They push you aside)
They're just like you get them
(There's nothing inside)
I just hope I'm getting through
Wipe that grin off your face
'Cause I'm telling you

Fire and rain, ooh
Fire and rain, ooh

( Repeat)
(* Repeat)

Let's take the fire and the rain

4. MEAN MACHINE
(Instrumental)

5. COOL HAND KILLER

Don't trust those crying eyes
Behind them hiding is a danger
He'll greet you with a smile
Although he's just a passing stranger

**He leads a life of Mr. Average Man
Working the hours nine to five
He lives alone and does the best he can
When the night closes in
You run for your life

*He's a coot hand killer
Eyes as cold as ice
He's a coot hand killer
Running in the night

You see him every day
He's just a face in every station
He takes the rush hour train
To some suburban destination

Nobody notices when he goes by
The feelings deep inside his soul
He had his girls all leave him
By and by
When the night closes in
His blood's running cold

(*Repeat)
(**Repeat)
(***Repeat)

6. ACTION

We want action (Repeat)

Guaranteed

Just because you're grown up
Don't think you got it sown up
Daddy, let me put you wise
We'll show you we're ready
Even though you tell me
We can see behind your disguise

People know we've changed
And we can rearrange it
All the time you're putting us down
It got you your respect
But what more could you expect
It's time you gave away your crown

*We won't wait for nobody
No one's getting in our way
We're all sick and tired of listening
To every single word you say
We want action, satisfaction
We want action guaranteed
We want action, satisfaction
We want action guaranteed

They think it's kind of silly
To show us that they're willing
Every time they're coming around
Well, that was your mistake
'Cause this time I'm gonna break
Every piece of solid ground

You've got to take a chance
'Cause it's leading us a dance
Power in the palm of your hand
You think you're all okay
But there's gonna come a day
You wither in the drifting sand

(*Repeat 2 times)

7. BORN TO THE CITY

One more night, oh well
One more life going out of the door
Spare me all the heartbreak
Take it slow, don't you give anymore

One more night forgetting
All those days in the life of a fool
Spare me all the pity
No one cares if you live by the rule

Going nowhere
What do I care now
Changing skylines
Bringing lifelines down

*I was born to the city
Raised out of pity
Moving all the time
Born to the city
Raised out of pity
Living, living a lie
Oh, oh, living, living a lie
Oh, oh, living, living a lie

No more nights pretending
Seeing lights spelling out my name
Streets are no existence
One way moves in a two way game

Lines of mercy
Paying down and out
Crowded sidewalk
Cutting small talk down

I was born to the city
Raised out of pity
Living, living a lie
Born to the city
Raised out of pity
Moving all the time
Oh, oh, living, living a lie
Oh, oh, living, living a lie

(*Repeat)

8. ONE NIGHT SENSATION

What's that you say
And what's that you're doing
**Your method sure fits like a glove
All that you've given
Is all that you take
But baby, you didn't give love

You're leaving me flat
Like a mouse in a trap
Casting your spell over me
Don't take a thrill
But I know that you will
Don't take the life out of me

Ready to do
What you want me to do
Ready to hear what you say
Just give me time
And I'll do what you ask
Ready to do it your way

**One night sensation
Just won't let go
One night sensation
Just can't say no

Now that you're here
Don't go wasting your time
Faith is a healer they say
All that I'm asking
Is all that you're giving
But baby, there must be a way

(*Repeat)
(**Repeat)

No way
This game you play
Oh tonight, oh tonight
All night

One night sensation
And it just won't let me go
You're a one night sensation
And I, I just can't say no

(**Repeat)

No way
This game you play
Oh tonight

9. LET ME DOWN SLOW

Well, just another night
Trying to get it right
Doing just as well as you're able
Give it to me slow
Just a little more
Christ, I know you're willing and able

Me, I'm in the right
You, you're on the left
Don't be leading me to temptation
I guess it's time to go
Well, just a little more
You'll be leading me to damnation

Let me down slow
Don't let go
If you don't mean nothing at all
Let me down slow
Don't let go
Feeling like I'm ready to fall

I gotta make you see
Don't smile that way at me
Every time you think that I'm ready
Where's it gonna stop
Don't spill another drop
Christ, you know I'm here and I'm ready

(*Repeat)

Well, just another night
Feels like any night
Lay your stacks up high on the table
I gotta stop and think
Well, just another drink
Christ, you've proved
You're willing and able

Let me down slow
Don't let go
Feeling like I'm ready to fall
Let me down slow
Don't let go
Feeling like I'm ready to fall

10. BYE- BYE SADIE

Ever since she was a young girl
Little Sadie's made the news
From her style of country singing
To the blues

Now Sadie's hit the big time
And it's taken her away
To the city lights
Where she knows she's got to stay

Bye bye Sadie
Girl, don't you cry
Hide the tears behind a smile
Until the morning light (yeah)
Bye bye Sadie
Girl, don't you cry
It's much too late
Been a big mistake

So bye bye bye (bye)

Well, two years in the big time
Took her money and her pride
'Cause her looks had gone
And left her high and dry

The last we heard of Sadie
Well, she had no time to choose
Left her pining for the drinking
And the booze

(**Repeat 2 times)

All lyrics transcribed by Linda Henrick
Scanned by Alex Gitlin from CD reissue
HTMLized by Vladimir Milovidov

(c) 1997