The syncopated and just a bit funky Purgatory is similar to Morons in that the snobby upper classes are the focus. The focus is targeted against:
The beautiful people are sent to destroy us
They have it all but the narrator is living in purgatory which is that intermediate state after the physical life awaiting purification. The problem according to Hunter is that the beautiful people have arrived in heaven but in this life already. Nonetheless, you have to learn to laugh at this state of affairs.
He concludes:
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to laugh at it
I'm living in Purgatory 'n anything's better than this
This was to be the second single from the CD but the American label nixed that idea. Too bad because this song is consistent with the high bar that Ian hit on this entire release with this song, Good Samaritan, Morons, and Rip Off.
There is a live version from 2002 as well.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
belief of some Christian denominations, an intermediate state after physical death for expiatory purification
Purgatory
(Ian Hunter)
Beautiful people - got their beautiful lives - got their
Beautiful husbands - got their beautiful wives - got their
Beautiful bankers - got their beautiful lawyers
All things bright and beautiful
The beautiful people are sent to destroy us
Beautiful people - got their beautiful kids - got their
Beautiful schools where the beautiful other half live - got their
Beautiful futures in their beautiful professions
All things bright and beautiful
The beautiful people got the money for the lessons
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to laugh at it
Cos, I'm living in Purgatory 'n anything's better than this
Beautiful people got their beautiful clothes - got their
Beautiful mansions - down their beautiful country roads - got their
Beautiful Doctors - in their beautiful surgeries
All things bright and beautiful
The beautiful people like a little privacy
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to laugh at it
Cos, I'm living in Purgatory 'n anything's better than this
Beautiful losers on their beautiful estates got their
beautiful job centres on the beautiful welfare wait and wait
Beautiful dreamers - out of their beautiful skulls
All things are bright and beautiful
As long as they're beautiful, people stay beautiful.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
I'm living in purgatory - I know what purgatory is
This ain't no sanctuary - This ain't no way to live
You gotta have a sense of humour - you gotta know how to laugh at it
I'm living in Purgatory 'n anything's better than this
Purgatory | 4:46 | Originally issued on Rant. |
Purgatory (live 19th May 2002) | 4:52 | This live version (recorded Life Cafe, Manchester England) can be found on Bag Of Tricks (Vol 1) (box set only). |