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German Overalls Lyrics by Peter Hammill

Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night (2006 Digital Remaster)

1973

[Verse 1]
Mannheim: rainy Saturday with no money nor friend...
Only Tequila can end the boredom
Try to reach London for a pocket of hope;
We're children and we grope in the dark
Hugh spends his last Mark on coffee and cheese...
I feel just like a refugee...
Rathaus-keepers and traffic police
Middle-aged maids with rotting teeth
Industrial magazines and old Sunday Times:
Reading material/bleeding lines
What are we doing here?

[Verse 2]
Memorial menace, eager for revenge
Has begun to bend our minds (Our minds, our minds)
Shower-curtain imperative in the presence of acid;
Now, feeling placid is death
I try to hold my breath as the P.A. comes down...
Here we all are in Ktown!
The Big Wheel never fails to grind around...
It drags me up/it drugs me down
Seven senses wonder: 'Can this be real (Real)
Or am I become a performing seal?'
Why are we dying here?

[Bridge]
I walk the streets alone, try to find a sign of love
I've crushed the plaster-bone in the freaky clubs
I have bit the fruit
But all I live for is to play
And I'm tired of the nights and the days

[Verse 3]
Of airports, taxis and motorway showers
Groping for a key in the afterhours
David takes to travelling in the van
He knows that we all can understand:
We're at the mercy of the Kosmos tour
Making a pilgrimage to the German Lourdes...
But we're still crippled here

[Interlude]
Cathedrals spiral skywards; I think I'm getting vertigo
I think I don't know what is real

[Verse 4]
One more sudden spotlight; one more madness is over;
I must not show a sign of fear
Words echo round my ears, I think I'm going to laugh...
Think I'll just go and take a bath, I guess I'll wash my clothes
And don't you know I'll grow to go and make my name
Maybe be a servant in the Famegame;
Stake my sane and rest my life on the line...
Now lay me asunder and rend my mind;
At the fall of the curtain let this be my ghost

About “German Overalls” by Peter Hammill

Read the complete lyrics to "German Overalls" by Peter Hammill from the album "Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night (2006 Digital Remaster)" in 1973. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under British Folk, Contemporary Folk, Art Rock.

"German Overalls" is performed by Peter Hammill. from the album "Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night (2006 Digital Remaster)" in 1973 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "German Overalls", explore more songs by Peter Hammill using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"German Overalls" is credited to Peter Hammill. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"German Overalls" appears on "Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night (2006 Digital Remaster)" in 1973.

Visit the Peter Hammill artist page at /artist/peter-hammill for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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