Rip It Up and Start Again

To begin, this is a tremendously rough demo recording. The first rule of recording is to set down a backing track first, which then serves as the metronome keeping all other parts on time. I did not do this here, feeling so impatient to try my hand at the lead vocal that I forgot basic technique. Please overlook the one slightly awkward transition towards the end.

Here I am doing my best Edwyn Collins imitating Morrissey impression. I'd add that it's me with the remains of a cold imitating Edwyn Collins imitating Morrissey. We'll see how my skills for mimicry hold up in any case. The guitar part on the original is high up on the fretboard and doesn't sound properly on an acoustic, so I had to move it down a full octave. This changes the dynamic of the song a bit, but there was nothing much else I could do.

The original song was recorded by the UK group Orange Juice in 1983. Partially a backlash against a lack of guitar-driven rock in popular music at the time, it was Orange Juice's one and only substantial hit. Music in the 80's was divided into those who embraced the decade, and those who performed in opposition to it. The latter have stood up with time and the former have largely been forgotten.



When I first saw you
Something stirred within me
You were standing sultry in the rain

If I could've held you
I would've held you
Rip it up and start again

Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again
I hope to God you're not
as dumb as you make out

I hope to God
I hope to God
And I hope to God I'm not as numb
as you make out

I hope to God
I hope to God

And when I next saw you
My heart reached out for you
But my arms stuck
like glue to my sides

If I could've held you
I would've held you
But I'd choke rather
than swallow my pride
Rip it up and start again

Rip it up and start again
Rip it up and start again

I hope to God you're not as
dumb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God

And I hope to God I'm not
as numb as you make out
I hope to God
I hope to God

And there was times I'd take my pen
And feel obliged to start again
I do profess

That there are things in life
That one can't quite express

You know me I'm acting dumb-dumb
You know this scene is very humdrum
And my favourite song's entitled 'boredom'

Rip it up and start again
I said rip it up and start again
I said rip it up and rip it up and rip it up and rip it up and rip it up and start again