The LP was not always well received but the only attempt at a reggae-flavored song is Theatre of The Absurd. The song lived up to its promise. This is song about Brixton and the fruitful collaboration of rock and reggae as Ian adapted another poem for a musical format. Hunter saw the flowering of mixing two forms of music as early as 1973 and culminated with the Clash. Ian contrasts his rock theater of the absurd with Mick Jones' music. Neither Mick Ronson nor Hunter understood reggae but leaned on Mick Jones for the effects, sound, and ideas. Belatedly, Hunter thought Brixton Rock would have made a better title and is reminiscent of the Clash's Guns of Brixton. As Mick Ronson and Hunter were out of ideas Jones came in and started with this song and his stylings which stretched to the entire album. At the time Ian says he and Ronson were bored, idle, and lazy allowing Jones to take creative control.
There is an alternative version and a live version from 1981.
Ian Hunter On Track for Sonicbond Publishing, TheDoctorOfDigital@pm.me
Theatre Of The Absurd
(Ian Hunter)
My teeth turned seven shades darker
as I sit 'n' write these words
and London's gettin' paler
in my theatre of the absurd.
You figured for an evening
and you made it all worthwile.
It's seldom people have a job
and even rarer that I smile.
Play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
Teach your children to be them
and never ever ours.
Play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
Someone took the park away
but they left a lonely flower.
And if your songs be classics,
throw them to the herd.
Truth is where they came from
and not this theatre of the absurd.
Some say you wanted to play for me
but it's only what you've heard
that made you want to capture me
in your theatre of the absurd.
It was not me, I said myself
and you must do so, too.
I hope you have the strength to stay
when I'll be watchin' you.
So baby,
play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
Teach your children to be them
and never ever ours.
Play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
Someone took the park away
but they left a lonely flower.
Oh when I got here back home tonight
something within me stirred.
Oh it must have been a different kind of play
that touched my theatre of the absurd.
Now I'll be on my way alone
But an interesting thing occurred
See nobody ever shared too much
in my theatre of the absurd.
And there I was back in London,
thought about history.
It was just like being in school again
but I felt something movin' in me.
Hearin' just a bit of the future,
oh it's comin' and it's still blurred
and that's the only thing worth living for
in my theatre of the absurd.
Come on,
play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
Teach your children to be them
and never ever ours.
Oh play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
Someone took the park away
but they left a lonely flower.
(Beautiful)
Play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
Play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
(John, come on)
Play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
Oh, play me some, (Come on, Eric) play me some,
play me Brixton power.
Oh, play me some, play me some,
play me Brixton power.
...
| Theatre of The Absurd | 5:49 | Originally released on Short Back and Sides and on the compilation From The Knees Of My Heart. |
| Theatre of The Absurd (alternate version) | 6:08 | Released on the outtakes CD Long Odds and Outtakes and on the box set version of Short Back 'n' Sides |
| Theatre of The Absurd (live 26-28th October 1981) | 4:36 | This live version (recorded at the Old Waldorf, San Francisco CA) was originally issued on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only). |
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