If Things Were Perfect appears on the 1985 James II and Village Fire EP releases.
It was originally titled Chicken Wire and a very early version was played at Model Team International’s support gig with The Fall at Manchester Poly in 1980 before Tim had joined the band and appeared on a 1982 demo tape with lyrics rewritten by Gavan and Jennie Ingram.
It formed part of the band’s first John Peel Session in 1983 and was listed as a double a-side with Hymn From A Village on the James II EP. Although the other track was seen as the lead by Factory, the band were insistent on the double-A side format as they were happier with this track.
It returned into the set for a few shows in 2007 after a near twenty year absence.
Details
LyricsReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
On a machine like this
Everybody gets their hands oily
Smoke filled rooms
Nobody's lungs stay clean
But there's a difference between
A swim and a wallow
Gives out a clue to how things might have been
If things were perfect
Ask for perfection
P-p-p-people aren't like that
Any fool can see
Who are you to laugh at me?
I am still
Standing on the chicken wire
Daren't look down
But try and inch a little higher
Friends on the ground
Say "come on in, the water's fine"
But I can see their frozen smiles from here
When you give give give yourself to someone
Is there anything left you can call your own
If I give give give give my body to someone
Can I keep keep keep a part for me
Oh keep a part for me
Oh leave some piece that's free
I'll do anything to please you
I'll do anything to please you
But take me take me please
I'm asking, but I'm down on my knees
You're warm, a home, a place to hide
You're warm, a home, a place to hide
You're warm, a home, a place to hide
A place to hide
Pity, pity me
Pity, pity me
You might laugh-ha ha ha when it doesn't affect you
While I cry-oh oh oh for all to see
Come on and laugh-ha ha ha when it doesn't affect you
While I cry stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop
Stop
Stop!
Everybody gets their hands oily
Smoke filled rooms
Nobody's lungs stay clean
But there's a difference between
A swim and a wallow
Gives out a clue to how things might have been
If things were perfect
Ask for perfection
P-p-p-people aren't like that
Any fool can see
Who are you to laugh at me?
I am still
Standing on the chicken wire
Daren't look down
But try and inch a little higher
Friends on the ground
Say "come on in, the water's fine"
But I can see their frozen smiles from here
When you give give give yourself to someone
Is there anything left you can call your own
If I give give give give my body to someone
Can I keep keep keep a part for me
Oh keep a part for me
Oh leave some piece that's free
I'll do anything to please you
I'll do anything to please you
But take me take me please
I'm asking, but I'm down on my knees
You're warm, a home, a place to hide
You're warm, a home, a place to hide
You're warm, a home, a place to hide
A place to hide
Pity, pity me
Pity, pity me
You might laugh-ha ha ha when it doesn't affect you
While I cry-oh oh oh for all to see
Come on and laugh-ha ha ha when it doesn't affect you
While I cry stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop stop
Stop
Stop!
| Song: | If Things Were Perfect |
| Released: | 1st February 1985 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | James II EP |
| First Heard Live: | Unknown Venue – 22nd November 1982 |
- James II EP :Studio, EP, 1985
- Village Fire – Five Offerings From James EP :Compilation, EP, 1985
- Fresh As A Daisy (Reference CD) :Promo, Album, 2007
- Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles :Compilation, Album, 2007
- Manchester Club Academy – 30th April 2007
- Newcastle Academy – 23rd April 2007
- London Hoxton Bar And Grill – 16th March 2007
- Bath Moles Club – 16th November 1988
- Manchester Ritz – 12th April 1988
- London Town And Country Club – 10th April 1988
- London Astoria – 2nd October 1987
- Manchester Green Rooms – 9th August 1987
- Sheffield University – 28th May 1987
- Sunderland Poly – 15th May 1987
- Liverpool University – 4th December 1986
- Bristol Bierkeller – 26th November 1986
- Swansea University – 25th November 1986
- Hamburg Logo – 18th November 1986
- London ICA – 10th October 1986
- Glasgow Daddy Warbucks – 14th August 1986
- Bristol Clevedon Kenn Moor WOMAD – 19th July 1986
- Manchester PSV Club – 15th July 1986
- London LSE – 26th June 1986
- Manchester Town Hall – 7th June 1986
- Bristol Ashton Court Festival – 3rd August 1985
- Manchester Platt Fields Festival – 2nd August 1985
- Mersea Island WOMAD – 21st July 1985
- London Bloomsbury Theatre – 17th July 1985
- London Hammersmith Riverside – 12th May 1985
- Manchester Palace Theatre – 31st March 1985
- Middlesbrough Town Hall – 23rd March 1985
- London ICA – 19th March 1985
- BBC Radio 1 Muriel Grey – 9th March 1985
- Blackpool Gaiety Bar – 29th August 1984
- Bournemouth Town Hall – 2nd December 1983
- BBC Radio 1 John Peel – 17th October 1983
- Liverpool State Ballroom – 23rd March 1983
- Unknown Venue – 22nd November 1982
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