electronic :: songs :: tighten up

(sumner, marr)

it’s never too late, i heard you say
how can you turn and go away?
i’m staking my claim, to some degree
don’t bring this secret home to me

better to live than to know
better the noise that we love and hate
remember the moments we loved
whenever i feel like i’m in a state

there used to be a way but there ain’t no more
tell me why because we need it
i used to run away but i can’t no more
’cause i feel that i can beat it

there used to be a way but there ain’t no more
there used to be a way but there ain’t no more

how can we be free?
we both need each other
like sister and brother
you mean that much to me

better to live than to know
better the noise that we love and hate
remember the moments we loved
whenever i feel like i’m in a state

there used to be a way but there ain’t no more
tell me why because we need it
i used to run away but i can’t no more
’cause i feel that i can beat it

there used to be a way but there ain’t no more
there used to be a way but there ain’t no more

there used to be a way but there ain’t no more
tell me why because we need it
i used to run away but i can’t no more
’cause i feel that i can beat it

i’m never gonna do what you want me to
i’m never gonna do what you want me to

album version (4:37)
single edit (3:36)

electronic
tighten up
electronic/disappointed
electronic (remastered)
electronic (special edition)

released in edited form as a promo in north america, tighten up would have made a blockbusting third single for electronic, though in the end the more radical feel every beat would receive that honour. tight, taut and punchy, and kickstarted by a jump jet synth riff, it is one of the strongest tracks on the debut album, with an anthemic chorus and real intent behind both the words and the music, marr’s furious strumming during the instrumental mid-section recalling the smiths classic bigmouth strikes again. the absence of the promo edit on the 2006 best of was a grave mistake, because this is as good as it gets, and is as perfect an example of early electronic as get the message is.