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take a step back (demo)


composer
Words and music: Simple Minds


publisher
© 1989 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd


background
It wasn't until Reel Ten of the Street Fighting Years tapes, that Take A Step Back was logged under its final name. (It was originally part of Sometimes When It Rains and then it was recorded as The Vamp.)

Monitor Mix #1 is a slightly rough recording with the drums high in the mix and vocals considerably softened. The mix is described as For Trevor on the tape box, which suggests it was mixed for the producer so he could concentrate on the drumming. The track starts with a drummer count-in. The instrumentation is largely complete and the first and second verses are in place. The middle-eight is extended and then everyone continues with the same melody whilst Jim repeats parts of the verses and chorus. It eventually comes to a faltering end with everyone gradually dropping out until just the drumming remains.

Rough #1 could almost be mistaken for the album version for the first verses and choruses albeit with slight changes in instrumentation. After a lengthy middle-8, the lyrics become more and more hesitant with Jim coming in an out with the lyrics and leaving entire lines out. Finally he resorts to just singing single phrases over the coda as the song starts to finish. In typical fashion the guitar and keyboards gradually drop out but the drumming continues - but unexpectedly Mick and Charlie come back in with the opening riff of Kick It In. This continues before the familiar drumming of Kick It In starts and the recording stops.

Dalkenth #1 uses the same lyrics as Rough #1 but the backing track is still fast and very loose. The extended coda is better formed and the band gradually bring the song to a complete end rather than dropping out. Dalkenth #1 Edit is the same take but with numerous edits which switches the order of the lyrics, misses out the pauses, trims the coda and comes to a dramatic and sudden stop.

Cello is the same take as Dalkenth #1 but has extra keyboards and cello overdubbed loudly over the mix. Strings is the same take as Dalkenth #1 Edit but with extra keyboards, cello and percussion loudly dubbed over the track. The new elements occupy the right channel to highlight the changes whilst the original track plays in the left channel. Keyboards is the basic Dalkenth #1 Edit again, but this time mixed with all the keyboards in the right channel.


see also:
Sometimes When It Rains (Demo)
The Vamp (Demo)
Take A Step Back
Kick It In


lyrics
Monitor Mix #1
Go tell it on the mountain,
Like it burst forth like a fountain.
Try to shake the deep foundations of this land.
High up on lover's land,
They got hotel rooms so grand,
And no one here knows what goes behind closed doors.

Take a step back to the middle of the track.
Don't you know it's rumoured all around.
Says you know it's come to town.
Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track,
'Cos the rumours are around said you're coming back to town.

And with every little lie,
You come and never blink an eye.
You know you've got yourself all tied up,
When you're around.
I've got the modern world behind me,
Like a needle in a haystack find me,
They build you up and then they're going to burn you down.

So take a step back to the middle of the track,
The rumours all around.
Said you're coming back to me.
Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track.
Says you know it's going upside, you know what's going down.

Don't tell me it's a bad dream,
Don't tell me it's not what it seems,
Don't tell me pretty soon you know.

So take a step back to the middle of the track,
The rumours all around.
Said you're coming back to me.
Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track.
Says you know it's going upside, you know what's going down.



Rough #1 / Dalkenth #1 / Cello
Go tell it on the mountain,
Like it burst forth like a fountain.
Try to shake the deep foundations of this land.
High up on lover's land,
They got hotel rooms so grand,
And no one here knows what goes behind closed doors.

Take a step back to the middle of the track.
Don't you know it's rumoured all around.
Says you know it's come to town.
Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track,
'Cos the rumours are around said you're coming back to town.

And with every little lie,
You come and never blink an eye.
You know you've got yourself all tied up,
When you're around.
I've got the modern world behind me,
Like a needle in a haystack find me,
They build you up and then they're going to burn you down.

So take a step back to the middle of the track,
The rumours all around.
Said you're coming back to me.
Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track.
Says you know it's going upside, you know what's going down.

I've got the modern world behind me, Like a needle in a haystack find me,
They build you up and then they're going to burn you down.

So take a step back to the middle of the track,
Don't...
...You know it's coming round.

Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track,
Cause...

Don't tell me it's a bad dream,
Don't tell me it's not what it seems,
Don't tell me pretty soon you know.

Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track.
You know it's going upside, you know it's doing down.

I'm haunted by the wanderer deep inside.
Wanted by,
Haunted by,
I'm haunted by the wanderer that's deep in my soul.

Look back to the middle of the track,
You know it's going upside...


Dalkenth #1 Edit / Strings / Keyboards
Go tell it on the mountain,
Like it burst forth like a fountain.
Try to shake the deep foundations of this land.
High up on lover's land,
They got hotel rooms so grand,
And no one here knows what goes behind closed doors.

Take a step back to the middle of the track.
Don't you know it's rumoured all around.
Says you know it's come to town.
Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track,
'Cos the rumours are around said you're coming back to town.

And with every little lie,
You come and never blink an eye.
You know you've got yourself all tied up,
When you're around.
I've got the modern world behind me,
Like a needle in a haystack find me,
They build you up and then they're going to burn you down.

So take a step back to the middle of the track,
The rumours all around.
Said you're coming back to me.
Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track.
Says you know it's going upside, you know what's going down.

I'm haunted by the wanderer deep inside.
Wanted by,
Haunted by,
I'm haunted by the wanderer that's deep in my soul.

Look back to the middle of the track,
You know it's going upside...

Don't tell me it's a bad dream,
Don't tell me it's not what it seems,
Don't tell me pretty soon you know.

Come on and take a step back to the middle of the track.
You know it's going upside, you know it's doing down.




demo discography
Monitor Mix #1 (5:33)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Ten
Rough #1 (6:13)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Seventeen
Dalkenth #1 (6:13)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Seventeen
Dalkenth #1 Edit (5:00)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Seventeen
Cello (6:13)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Seventeen
Strings (4:36)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Seventeen
Keyboards (4:43)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Seventeen