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Album: Book Of Days
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1694









Released: 1989
Length: 5:05
Plays (last 30 days): 1
this day is not my life
the passing time is not my life
the thorn that's in my side
is all these scenes that we regret
the wasted words we can't forget
through the windows of my room
i hear the traffic breathing slowly
someplace miles away
make promises pay
shame, will shake this house
shame, will shake this house
your dreams are not my life
these broken words are not my life
your lies are none of my invention
your promises were not plan
now the party girls have gone
i hear the rattle of their heels
before their footsteps fade
make promises pay
shame, will shake this house
shame, will shake this house
the passing time is not my life
i've been counted down and shouted out
i had everything i wanted
nothing i can't rise above
to let it show was not my plan
headlines and frontpages
sell weddings and divorces
make promises pay
make promises pay
shame, will shake this house
shame, will shake this house
Comments (123)add comment
 joejennings wrote:



I agree with both! I gave this tune an 8!  Thanx RP!  

"Into You Like a Train" was great, also "India." 
Richard Butler's vocals are timeless.  From the early 80's and still performing with the Fur's in 2023.  I saw them in the mid 80's in D.C. and then again in 2009, in Atlanta. Newer band members, but sounding the same.  Richard Fortus, the guitarist he had in his fantastic other band, Love Spit Love, helps out on the latest Fur's lp, when he isn't out touring the world with GnR's.  I have everything the Furs, LSL and his solo work. Richard is a true British gem. 
 Cueburned wrote:

Hey Camper Van Beethoven your dad's here... 




  this is great!
 Dave_Mack wrote:

Reminds me of Catherine Wheel's "Crank", which is a good thing. Richard Butler has a cool voice.




I love both bands and am embarrassed to admit that I never drew that connection between them- but it all definitely follows a train of thought, doesn't it?

On another note- this particular Furs album really sounds like the end of an era, and a course correction after Midnight to Midnight.
Hey Camper Van Beethoven your dad's here... 
RP is my soundtrack everyday! Please consider donating to keep the music flowing.
 eileenomurphy wrote:

Good Tune! Dumb Waiters is my favorite PF tune!




I agree with both! I gave this tune an 8!  Thanx RP!  
These guys created some pretty great music than would be more highly regarded if it wasn't labeled with the shame of  the 80's, which some folks automatically deem as being inherently inferior.  I'd counter than their stuff has proven to transcend the era of its creation... 
 billmce wrote:

saw these guys at the Adams Avenue Theater in San Diego in Nov '82. Slam dancing in the mosh pit - it was a wild affair.



The Ken cinema ? (now closed)
 jasonv wrote:

Saw them on their last tour with James as the opener. James was transcendent, PF were ghoulish. We laugh every time a PF track comes on the radio.



James was so good at the Philly Show that I left halfway through the furs show, and I really like the Furs.
Really love the furs , seen them a dozen times probably and yet I still don't have this lp. 
 Nice to hear this On RP. 
BTW Their latest "Make It Rain" (2020) won't disappoint the older Furs fan
Saw them on their last tour with James as the opener. James was transcendent, PF were ghoulish. We laugh every time a PF track comes on the radio.
 SmackDaddy wrote:
Saw them twice. Once at my college's gym on Halloween with the BoDeans opening if I remember right. Had a scarecrow costume with a pillow case over my head tied around my neck and a board through the shoulders of a jean jacket. Problem was that the mask didn't move when my head did. So I had to turn my whole body to look anywhere. I didn't see a lot of the show.

Then I saw them in Orlando and during the encore RB was singing a song so new he had to read the lyrics off of a piece of paper but they invited people up from the audience and they FILLED the stage. Pretty cool moment actually.
 
Look after the king of R n R please 
 LazyMF wrote:
I was a roadie for them for one day at their concert at the University of Houston in 1990. Made $60 bucks, free food, drink and t-shirt and got to watch the concert from backstage. They were arrogant jerks, but I still like their music. I think "Ghost Inside You" is their best song.
 
I did that a bunch in college.  At least you made $60.  all we got were free smokes and beer at the end of the gig with our t-shirt
 kt.johnson.jr364 wrote:
Lead singer's voice (Richard Butler?) reminds me of Neil Diamond
 

shit!! bad memories?
furs!  love this sound; 10 stays 10
Saw them twice. Once at my college's gym on Halloween with the BoDeans opening if I remember right. Had a scarecrow costume with a pillow case over my head tied around my neck and a board through the shoulders of a jean jacket. Problem was that the mask didn't move when my head did. So I had to turn my whole body to look anywhere. I didn't see a lot of the show.

Then I saw them in Orlando and during the encore RB was singing a song so new he had to read the lyrics off of a piece of paper but they invited people up from the audience and they FILLED the stage. Pretty cool moment actually.
Lead singer's voice (Richard Butler?) reminds me of Neil Diamond
saw these guys at the Adams Avenue Theater in San Diego in Nov '82. Slam dancing in the mosh pit - it was a wild affair.
    Makes me want to watch "Pretty in Pink"  (again)  
Play this back to back with that Talk Talk song, so we know whose life it is! ;P
 adib wrote:
How did I miss out on this band in their heyday? 
I really like most tracks I'm hearing now, on RP.
 
Replying to myself - just spotted they are playing Rock City in Nottingham in October, just after my birthday.  Might need to make some not-so-subtle suggestions... 
Love that song 😊 Is anyone else reminded of the Little House on the Prairie theme by the first few notes on the guitar in the intro? Very weird the first time I heard it.
Reminds me of Catherine Wheel's "Crank", which is a good thing. Richard Butler has a cool voice.
How did I miss out on this band in their heyday? 
I really like most tracks I'm hearing now, on RP.
 Proclivities wrote:

Nice.  That was a great time to be in NYC.  Cool tune.
 

Second that. Was in college just a few blocks up from Irving Plaza back then. It was a great time and I knew it then.
Cyfers
 Proclivities wrote:

Nice.  That was a great time to be in NYC.  Cool tune.

 
Right!? my rent was $150 a month for a dive in East Harlem, those were the days (daze) : )
love the furs
I seem to post this whenever a Furs song comes on RP, but do yourselves a favor and check out Richard Buter’s self-titled solo album from about 10 years back. It’s wonderfully deep and shows more range than he exercised with the Furs. One of my favorite “unknown” albums of all time.
Didn't think I knew them but it sounded familiar.  Just read online that he is the same singer from Love Spit Love.  Makes sense.
 hayduke2 wrote:
saw them at Irving Plaza in '86 with a total 18 yr old Debbie Harry look-alike, and had quite the memorable time  (woo-hooo)

 
Nice.  That was a great time to be in NYC.  Cool tune.
Another gem I'm hearing for the first time on RP.  Classic '80s.  Gotta start that with a 7. 
 Johnny_Wave wrote:
Bumping from a 7 to an 8

 
Me too!!!
Bumping from a 7 to an 8
Blimey, we're banging this morning, Mr G.  Delerium "Monarch" - Gabriel "Feeling Begins" - Furs "House".  Cracking set from the start to build the backdrop to our sunny, freezing morning here in the UK.  No other channel for me, these days.  I hope you continue until I go deaf, at least.  I hope my kids pick up the RP baton and run with it.
 hayduke2 wrote:
woo-hoooooooooooo those were the daze

 ; )

 
Does this man have 3 arms?
woo-hoooooooooooo those were the daze

 ; )
This song helped me turn my life around when I was down and out. A mess. Rock bottom. I was 6.

Thanks for playing, though I'd much rather hear the "long version" from the Sony "Theodore" sampler LP. Which is still an all-time fave.


saw them at Irving Plaza in '86 with a total 18 yr old Debbie Harry look-alike, and had quite the memorable time  (woo-hooo)
I saw the Furs at the Orpheum in Boston, and the sound mix was the worst I have ever experienced.  Eardrum piercing shrill and loud - it was okay in the lobby.

Too bad.
This is sounding really good today.
 Sasha2001 wrote:




Sure, but we've all heard those a thousand times already.
 
i think we all associate a certain voice with a specific performance and we can not imagine anything being as good or better in their career.  
Thanks, Bill
Silly me I love this group.....
 sirdroseph wrote:

I rated this a 5, why would I rate anything a 5?{#Lol}



 

Because it's not 1/2 bad..
Nice Bill

I rated this a 5, why would I rate anything a 5?{#Lol}


 Proclivities wrote:

Theodore was "an alternative music sampler" which was released around 1988 or '89, and featured this "long version" of this tune.


 



Worth buying a copy of Theodore. I still have it in rotation in my tunes.
 Biscobret wrote:
there are WAY better Furs songs...
 



Sure, but we've all heard those a thousand times already.
 Cynaera wrote:
.....darn it, I'm dancing. If that's abhorrent to some people, so be it.....

It only starts with the dancing. Then it leads to playing cards....

Next thing you know, it's 4 AM, you're in a Vegas hotel room ordering pizza and in the background, RomeoTuna is leading 32 people in dance.

Not that there's, y'know, anything wrong with that (as long as you invite the rest of us ;) )

 gregorbill wrote:
There is no PFurs album called Theodore. This is on the 1989 album Book of Days.
 
Theodore was "an alternative music sampler" which was released around 1988 or '89, and featured this "long version" of this tune.


I don't want to analyze this or compare it to other PsychFur songs - I'm taking it at face value, and darn it, I'm dancing. If that's abhorrent to some people, so be it. Personally, I think we all need to dance more.
Bugger.....
Missed it, but how good is the album Forever Now? Any track from that would be joyful!!
 Biscobret wrote:
there are WAY better Furs songs...
 
agreed

there are WAY better Furs songs...
Love it! Play it again! Better yet, play the extended version from the Theodore Sampler album. Classic! 10...10...10...
One of my favorite bands of all time. Saw them in concert last year and they can still rock it out!
 juanos wrote:
{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana}{#Drummer}
 
EXACTLY!!!!!!

{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana}{#Drummer}
I hadn't heard this in years. So good! Thank you!
 Cynaera wrote:
I hadn't heard this one - LOVE IT! {#Dancingbanana_2}
 
Hey, that's what I was gonna say!

I hadn't heard this one - LOVE IT! {#Dancingbanana_2}

Along way....

from WALES to ENGLAND!


The Furs, 1987, Newport (Wales) Leisure Center, smell the chlorine from the pool, feel the seat scafolding moving from the jumping masses, don't care cos they're awesome.
 Uncle_Fenester wrote:
Maybe not the best Furs song, but any Furs song is a woozy pleasure.
 
amen

I have to say I like the Furs — and I like this song.
cranberries -> zeppelin -> furs

...where else but radio paradise would we hear someone pull off such a perfectly invigorating playlist?..

...nice!..
Good stuff.
 eastcoast wrote:
The Furs, the Smiths, the Cure...hard to tell them apart sometimes...
 
Not to my ears.  For one thing, the vocals of each group are entirely different from one another.  Same era, different vibes.

 Kristi wrote:
Bill's been on a Furs kick lately! I'm lovin' it! Thanks Bill!
 
I thought Bill was anti-fur. Wait till PETA hears about this! {#Wink}
Not much of anything. Blandness.
There is no PFurs album called Theodore. This is on the 1989 album Book of Days.
Always liked The Psych Furs. Love Richard Butler's vocals.

Quality tune.
Thank you kindly for recovering from a horrible song like "Jungleland" with this — some premium Furs.
HOLE IN ONE tks PR
Incredible - thanks! It may be old but it's great to hear. I'll have to look through my closet to find that Sony "Theodore" sampler - it had lots of fun stuff on it. But it's great to hear this long version of the Furs' "House" again. Sing it Richard!
Why do I keep hearing "oh, oh, here she comes" on the backing guitar?
curtkare wrote:
I'd like to say we got together that night, that we're married, etc., but she was with someone, and although she reached out and gave my leg a nice, firm grab as she and her friend walked by, I never saw her again.
Great story. But my experience with the really cute girls is that all they ever did was pull my leg.
Oh thank you Bill, what a wonderful tune to un-mute to!
Good gawd the Psychedelic Furs! Excellent. Great groove. And this was how long ago? Yikes. Still seems fresh to me, the years peel away ... lovin' it! :-)
Bill's been on a Furs kick lately! I'm lovin' it! Thanks Bill!
curtkare wrote:
September 22nd, 1984, All ages show - Psychedelic Furs with Ministry - Aragon Ballroom, Chicago <...> Richard Butler was the show, smoking and preening all the way, but Mars, John Ashton and the others ran through their new "Mirror Moves" album with great authority and looked totally cool in the process. At least I guess they did - I spent half the show making eyes at the coolest looking girl in the whole place - and for one of those rare, beautiful times in my life, this girl was doing the same!! I'd like to say we got together that night, that we're married, etc., but she was with someone, and although she reached out and gave my leg a nice, firm grab as she and her friend walked by, I never saw her again. The evening ends with Chip's car being towed by the Lincoln Park Pirates, and his boom-box was stolen, and I don't think I'll ever remember anything as great as the way I remember that girl's beautiful face looking back at me, at that show, in those wonderful, youthful days.
I guess, that's why we love music, eh? Its magic is to pull us back in our memories and to let us drift away each time we listen to a special song. Sometimes a special song fills my heart with (even painful) memories and I think that those days are gone forever....and my soul is far away for some time.... Nice story you wrote there!
curtkare wrote:
The evening ends with Chip's car being towed by the Lincoln Park Pirates, and his boom-box was stolen, and I don't think I'll ever remember anything as great as the way I remember that girl's beautiful face looking back at me, at that show, in those wonderful, youthful days.
Thanks for sharing a great story. In the words of another great 80's song, "all the money in the world could not buy back those days".
September 22nd, 1984, All ages show - Psychedelic Furs with Ministry - Aragon Ballroom, Chicago (the old pop Ministy, not the death drill Ministry - eesh) Having just been fired from my job at McDonald's, I suddenly found myself with a free evening and an opportunity to go with Chip and Cathy to see the Furs at the Aragon. New Wave had yet to reach its peak, Pretty in Pink was a twinkle in John Hughs' eye. Lots of people thought the Furs were "punk rock". With my Levi's carefully rolled up, folded over, and tucked into my white Nike high-tops, I put on my matching Levi's jacket, combed my hair up as big and fluffy as it would go, and waited for them to pick me up. Cathy and Chip looked like Alannah Curry and Joe Leeway of Thompson Twins, circa Here's to Future Days Once inside the crowded, smoky, beer-soaked venue, we worked our way upstairs in time to catch the last chorus of WORK - for Love, Ministry's "hit". Richard Butler was the show, smoking and preening all the way, but Mars, John Ashton and the others ran through their new "Mirror Moves" album with great authority and looked totally cool in the process. At least I guess they did - I spent half the show making eyes at the coolest looking girl in the whole place - and for one of those rare, beautiful times in my life, this girl was doing the same!! I'd like to say we got together that night, that we're married, etc., but she was with someone, and although she reached out and gave my leg a nice, firm grab as she and her friend walked by, I never saw her again. The evening ends with Chip's car being towed by the Lincoln Park Pirates, and his boom-box was stolen, and I don't think I'll ever remember anything as great as the way I remember that girl's beautiful face looking back at me, at that show, in those wonderful, youthful days.
Guessing a tune from "Crowded House" is next. Betcha! No wait, can't afford it.. Living in the US you know. I'll give u 2 USD for a euro or a l00ny, help us please!
Outstanding to hear the long version of "House" from the ancient Sony "Theodore" sampler disk. Had me thumbing my desk and donating a fresh $10 to the cause.
dionysius wrote:
Wow I can't believe I missed the visual here. I must be having a slow morning, very funny.
dionysius wrote:
ROFL Thanks for playing the Furs, Bill!!
hahaha. What I thought too. Now I wanted to hear the Massive Attack "teardrop" tune. Wrong tempo/mix though I guess.
The Furs, the Smiths, the Cure...hard to tell them apart sometimes...
gernick wrote:
I didn't go through the whole list but this song is originally on the Furs'album Book of Days (Theodore is a sampler CD, or so amazon tells me)
I actually have both the Theodore and Book of Days CDs, and IIRC, they're actually different versions on each. Both good versions, though.
Uncle_Fenester wrote:
Maybe not the best Furs song, but any Furs song is a woozy pleasure.
I didn't go through the whole list but this song is originally on the Furs'album Book of Days (Theodore is a sampler CD, or so amazon tells me) House just chills me, his voice just goes right in to me, i love this song, nothing short of godlike Thanx RP!
Maybe not the best Furs song, but any Furs song is a woozy pleasure.
Synth80s wrote:
I'm always amused when people post (and they commonly do) comparisons like this. What you're saying is, "this guy sounds like a singer whose career started 20 years later." Allmusic.com is your friend! ;) BTW, Richard Butler, the lead singer of the Furs, released an excellent solo album in 2006. -Synth80s
I was thinking the same thing. I haven't heard his solo album, but I did see the Furs in concert about 2 years ago. They still sound EXCELLENT.
Ubaldo wrote:
The singer remind anybody of the Goo Goo Dolls?
I'm always amused when people post (and they commonly do) comparisons like this. What you're saying is, "this guy sounds like a singer whose career started 20 years later." Allmusic.com is your friend! ;) BTW, Richard Butler, the lead singer of the Furs, released an excellent solo album in 2006. -Synth80s
The singer remind anybody of the Goo Goo Dolls?
LazyMF wrote:
I think "Ghost Inside You" is their best song.
I think the actual title is The Ghost in You and I agree 100%. This is pretty okay.
I love this guys voice more every time I hear it, and I'm already a fan!
Ah, thanks! A nice lit'ul rockah from the Furs... Feels like a good day, the sun is shining, and Bill's doing a rocking set... Maybe some Split Enz or some Devo or B52s or something suitably retro coming up in this set, Bill? Domo!
I love those Furs!
Bizzarefall wrote:
Wow, for some reason I have the strange urge to hold my lipstick between my boobs to apply it.
I still want to know how that joke he's telling when he falls through the ceiling tiles ends...
Bizzarefall wrote:
Wow, for some reason I have the strange urge to hold my lipstick between my boobs to apply it.
gillicious wrote:
There's something eerie about putting on a Furs t-shirt this morning, coming to work and then hearing a Furs song on RP. Too bad I can't get up and dance around (without the workmates getting worried).
YOU DID NOT!!!!! Put on a furs t this morning, that is, no way
Wow, for some reason I have the strange urge to hold my lipstick between my boobs to apply it.
There's something eerie about putting on a Furs t-shirt this morning, coming to work and then hearing a Furs song on RP. Too bad I can't get up and dance around (without the workmates getting worried).
All the P-Furs songs sound alike: bad.
This song always reminds me of flying off to Tahiti in a big French DC-10 with a close friend a few years back. Nothing to do with the tune or the lyrics ........ it was just on the headphones on the way over. It's amazing how a song can bring back such great memories .. wind surfing an exquisite tropical lagoon, dinner at Bloody Mary's, cruising the Society Islands....... :sunny.gif:
moomatz wrote:
?????
I like the drums, okay?
LazyMF wrote:
I was a roadie for them for one day at their concert at the University of Houston in 1990. Made $60 bucks, free food, drink and t-shirt and got to watch the concert from backstage. They were arrogant jerks, but I still like their music. I think "Ghost Inside You" is their best song.
Interesting you would say this...a good friend of mine in Miami had the same opportunity and said virtually the exact same thing.
radiojunkie wrote:
Say what you will about the Furs -- this has a killer drum track.>
?????
Say what you will about the Furs -- this has a killer drum track. (And I think the Amazon computer has finally gotten completely fried; the two CDs it's showing for this are the Original Broadway Cast of The Sound of Music, and a Mozart Clarinet Concerto and Quintet. I can't think of any way either one is psychedelic or fur...)
DUUUUUUUUUUUDE! FUURRRRRRRRZZZ!
I was a roadie for them for one day at their concert at the University of Houston in 1990. Made $60 bucks, free food, drink and t-shirt and got to watch the concert from backstage. They were arrogant jerks, but I still like their music. I think "Ghost Inside You" is their best song.
I don't think it's aged too well either. There are a couple of other Furs hits that suffer the same fate. It's interesting in an achaeological kind of way but beyond that, consume in limited doses. Here Come Cowboys, anyone?
Was an interesting sound in the 80s, but now... Well let's just say a little goes a long way.