A triple tribute to the sadly departed Pete Shelley, frontman of the foremost Manchester punk band, writer of the perfect, punchy, pithy, witty song, and that distinctive voice of unrequited love. Shelley, real name Peter Campbell McNeish, arranged the legendary Sex Pistols gig at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall in June 1976, alongside Howard Trafford, who became Howard Devoto, and temporary lead singer of the band (later for Magazine) that then supported the Pistols when they returned to the same venue six weeks later – gigs that changed the course of British music forever. But when Shelley took over as singer, and especially through 1978 with an extraordinary run of singles, fusing pop and punk of pathos, economy, panache and pace.
… and here on at the venue with that early lineup, with Howard Devoto (left) and Steve Diggle (right)
Three songs is barely enough to show off Shelley’s talents but that those lyrics and that sound do the talking, particularly Shelley’s voice - high, emotionally sensitive and yet waspishly mischievous. The first, unusually long, is from 1979’s A Different Kind of Tension, the second, full title Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve?) from Love Bites (1978), and What Do I Get? the bands first single in the top 40, following their first in 1978, Orgasm Addict. One of the all-time greats.
In these times of contention it's not my intention to make things plain
I'm looking through mirrors to catch the reflection that can't be mine
I'm losing control now I'll just have to slow down a thought or two
I can't feel the future and I'm not even certain that there is a past
I believe in the worker's revolution
And I believe in the final solution
I believe in
I believe in
I believe in the shape of things to come
And I believe in I'm not the only one
Yes I believe in
I believe in
When I poison my system I take thoughts and twist them into shapes
I'm reaching my nadir and I haven't an idea of what to do
I'm painting by numbers but can't find the colours that fill you in
I'm not even knowing if I'm coming or going if to end or begin
I believe in the immaculate conception
And I believe in the resurrection
And I believe in
I believe in
I believe in the elixir of youth
And I believe in the absolute truth
Yes I believe in
I believe in
There is no love in this world any more
There is no love in this world any more
I've fallen from favour while trying to savour experience
I'm seeing things clearly but it has quite nearly blown my mind
It's the aim of existence to offer resistance to the flow of time
Everything is and that is why it is will be the line
I believe in perpetual motion
And I believe in perfect devotion
I believe in
I believe in
I believe in the things I've never had
I believe in my Mum and my Dad
And I believe in
I believe in
There is no love in this world any more
There is no love in this world any more
I'm skippin' the pages of a book that takes ages for the foreword to end
Triangular cover concealing another aspect from view
My relative motion is just an illusion from stopping too fast
The essence of being these feelings I'm feeling I just want them to last
I believe in original sin
And I believe what I believe in
Yes I believe in
I believe in
I believe in the web of fate
And I believe I'm going to be late
So I'll be leavin'
What I believe in
There is no love in this world any more
There is no love in this world any more
There is no love in this world any more
There is no love in this world any more …
[Verse 1]
You spurn my natural emotions
You make me feel I'm dirt
And I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I run the risk of losin' you
And that's worse
[Chorus]
Ever fallen in love with someone?
Ever fallen in love?
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love? (Love???)
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
[Verse 2]
I can't see much of a future
Unless we find out what's to blame
What a shame
And we won't be together much longer
Unless we realize that we are the same
[Chorus]
Ever fallen in love with someone?
Ever fallen in love?
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love? (Love???)
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
[Verse 3]
You disturb my natural emotions
You make me feel I'm dirt
And I'm hurt
And if I start a commotion
I'll only end up losin' you
And that's worse
[Chorus Extended]
Ever fallen in love with someone?
Ever fallen in love?
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love? (Love???)
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone?
Ever fallen in love?
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love? (Love???)
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love?
In love with someone
Ever fallen in love? (Love???)
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with
Fallen in love with
Ever fallen in love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with?
[Verse 1]
I just want a lover like any other
What do I get?
I only want a friend who will stay to the end
What do I get?
[Hook]
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
[Verse 2]
I'm in distress, I need a caress
What do I get?
I'm not on the make, I just need a break
What do I get?
[Hook]
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
[Chorus]
I only get sleepless nights
Alone here in my half-empty bed
For you, things seem to turn out right
I wish they'd only happen to me instead
[Hook]
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
I only get sleepless nights
Alone here in my half-empty bed
For you, things seem to turn out right
I wish they'd only happen to me instead
[Hook]
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
[Verse 3]
I just want a lover like any other
What do I get?
I only want a friend who will love to the end
What do I get?
[Hook]
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
What do I get?
Oh, oh, oh, what do I get?
Well, let me tell you now
[Outro]
(What do I get?)
(What do I get?)
(What do I get?) No love
(What do I get?) No sleep at nights
(What do I get?) Nothing that's nice
(What do I get?) Nothing at all, at all, at all, at all, at all, at all, at all
'Cause I don't get you,
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