GALE FORCE WIND
(SINGLE)

TWO TRACK 7" ON VIRGIN. CAT NO. VS1044.
Side a- Gale Force Wind.
Side b- I Can't Say No.

FOUR TRACK 12" ON VIRGIN. CAT NO. VST1044.
Side a- Gale Force Wind; I Can't Say No.
Side b- No, I Can't Say (Thank You For Speaking To Me Mustapha);
Can't I Say No (Hackney Aid).

FOUR TRACK CD ON VIRGIN. CAT NO. VSCD1044.
Gale Force Wind; I Can't Say No; Town To Town; No, I Can't Say (Mustapha).

CASETTE SINGLE ON VIRGIN. CAT NO. VSCS1044.
Gale Force Wind, I Can't Say No, Irish National Anthem, Say 'No I can't'.

The joys of being on a major record label saw Virgin go into overdrive with a second single taken from '39 Minutes'. No doubt that they made a good choice with this one. A brilliant class war anthem that is always first on my turntable when I hear some rich bastard complaining about their taxes. Presented through the eyes of a drunken wino it's a despairing commentary on humanity as the wino is afflicted by the same greed as his illustrious neighbour. Reflecting the 'only got themselves to blame' attitude attacked in the song there's also room to cover the inhuman social treatment of those with AIDS.

he has nothing but a can of beer
two crutches and the soot from the air
the nights of sulking in the city's drains
he hates the rich but he hates in vain

if a power was to lift him up make him rich
would he admit it was luck
or say he earned it and claim a state of grace
just like the rich in his hateful place

what the hell is wrong with you
you long to lord it like the rich folks do
as you command me from the depths of Gin
to walk a tightrope in a Gale Force Wind

i saw a dead man in the street today
and he'll stay there because he never paid
he was a stranger who would not go home
blinded by sun on the streets of gold

mother mother won't you dry my eyes
the doctor says that I will have to die
i went with someone and I woke to find
i'm now subhuman and I don't know why

nothing is what you'll hear from me when they ground me
and spat me back on the streets
will i be sorry i chose reality instead of half wit romantic greed.

go a partner, go right, go straight
and watch your friends become the kind you hate
and face extinction with a sheepish nod
or try a life of the underdog.

what the hell is wrong with you
you laugh at murder like the rich folks do

RIGHT CLICK ON THE LYRICS AND 'SAVE TARGET AS' TO SEE THEIR LIVE AMNESTY PERFORMANCE IN REALAUDIO. (THIS IS A LARGE FILE).

This release continued their Virgin tradition for throw away B-sides and the rest of the record is almost totally unnecessary. 'Town To Town', fit to grace any record, is only there to fill up space and convert any remaining stragglers who'd missed it the first time around. 'Can't Say No' and 'Mustapha' are just having a laugh. That said, 'Can't Say No' with Betty Lou Dupree (whoever she is) may not leave me wanting to kick in some Yuppie's head but is strangely enjoyable. 'Irish National Anthem' isn't worth the bytes it would use up to describe it.

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