Angry White Snail by Cathal Coughlan
From the Cathal Coughlan’s 1996 Grand Necropolitan album. Written by Cathal Coughlan. No capo.
VERSE 1
He’s an [G] angry white [F] snail
Ex [G] posed on a film set of cardboard and lace
He [F] paws at a woman and spits in her face
[F] Waiti [E] ng for [Eb] wood – but to no a [Cm] vail
VERSE 2
It is [G] not in his [F] gift
He’s [G] far too affected by the anger he feels
Against [F] those who have made him to strip and to kneel
[F] Primed, [E] aimed and [Eb] lit – a sack of up [Cm] lift
He [C#m7] crawls and leaves his [B7] grease
On a [C#m7] thousand nylon bedsheets [Em]
And he [Eb7/G] hates his shape, his state, his scape
And the [B7] silver slime that gleams in his wake
How can the [C#m7] crown of creation have come to such a state
Look boy, [Abm7] silver gleaming out there in his wake
VERSE 3
Under [G] cover of [F] war
[G] Many’s the grudge borne at neighbour or friend
Can be [F] settled in earnest before battle’s end
[F] Far from [E] home, far from [Eb] law, under cover of [Cm] war (the cover of war)
VERSE 4
In its [G] absence, life’s no [F] good
Man must give [G] way to woman, now logic applies
And [F] listen to children and make like he’s wise
A [F] “force for [E] good” – while [Eb] just waiting for [Cm] wood
OUTRO/FADE
[C#m] [Baug]
He drinks and he bets on geese
And he’s good only for signing grocery receipts
For he’s only shape and bluff and hate
And a silver slime that gleams in his wake
How can such great things have gone to such waste?
Look at that silver slime, smearing out in his wake
He’s an angry white snail
He’s an angry white snail
He’s an angry white snail
Shooby-doo-wah
Shooby-doo-wah
Dooby-dooby-doo
Shooby-doo shooby-doo-wah
[B] [G] (x4)