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the vamp (demo)


composer
Words and music: Simple Minds


publisher
© 1989 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd


background
The Vamp was the demo version of Take A Step Back. It was originally the coda of Sometimes When It Rains.

Rough #1 starts with a short instrumental introduction before the lyrics start. The lyrics are very close to the final album version, although the coda is missing and various verses simply repeat. Musically it's very close to the final album version as well, although most of the instrumentation drops out during the Don't tell me it's a bad dream section, before building up again. There's a small amount of improvisation before the song fades out.

Rough #2 is based on Rough #1 with more lyrics and instrumentation. It still builds to a rather hesitant conclusion before the song finally fades out. Rough #3 appears to be the same lyric take but with some extra instrumentation although it's not all that different from Rough #2.


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


lyrics
Rough #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.

I've got the modern world behind me,
Like a needle in a haystack find me,
They going 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 back.
And the rumours said you know you're coming round.
So come on and take a step back to the middle of the track,
Cause you know it gonna love, and it's going down.

Go tell it on the mountain,
Like it burst forth like a fountain.
Shake the deep foundations across this very land.
Come on take a step back to the middle of the track,
Don't rumours all around said don't you know it's coming up and 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.

Come on 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 upside down.

Come on take a step back to the middle of the track,
Says you know it's going upside, you know what's going on around.


Rough #2 / Rough #3
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 going 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 back.
And the rumours said you know you're coming round.
So come on and take a step back to the middle of the track,
Cause you know it gonna love, and it'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.

Come on 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 gonna build you upside down.

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

Oh look back, to the middle of the track.
They gonna build you upside down.

[La, la, la]



demo discography
Rough #1 (4:43)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Six
Rough #2 (4:38)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Six
Rough #3 (4:34)
Produced by: Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn

Street Fighting Years Reel Six