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Numbskull

Shooting from the hip
Slipping from an iron grip
Going further than I’ve ever been
Into realms of the unseen
And fate is your enemy
Rebel against your destiny
Going further than I’ve ever been
Yeah further than I’ve ever been

Got a beautiful face
Got a fucked up inside
Need a shot of your faith
Come along for the ride
Yeah love is your faith
Yeah death is your fate

Never gonna reach my goal
I know Cos I have been told
Never finding happiness
Eternally in unrest
This is where the love lies
I’ve seen to the other side
Its always just out of reach
Yeah but always just within my sight

Got a beautiful face
Got a fucked up inside
Need a shot of your faith
Come along for the ride
Yeah love is your faith
Yeah death is your fate
Yeah death is your fate
Come along for the ride

Going further than I’ve ever been
Got a beautiful face
Got a fucked up inside
Need a shot of your faith
Come along for the ride
Yeah love is your faith
Yeah death is your fate
Yeah death is your fate
Come along for the ride
Got a beautiful face
Got a fucked up inside
Need a shot of your faith
Come along for the ride
Yeah love is your faith
Yeah death is your fate
Yeah death is your fate
Come along for the ride

Song Notes

“Numbskull” was premiered live as part of MTV’s 5 Night Stand at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, on May 28th 1998. It has returned to the set list constantly since. The song had the working title “Knumbskull” when it was demoed.

Tim: This one’s just evil. It’s about being fucked up and people not knowing it, about maintaining this straight facade.

Mark and Rick during the Tim Burgess Twitter listening party for Nu-Clear Sounds in April 2020:

Mark: “Numbskull” is the dumbest song ever recorded. So proud!

Rick: Another studio one I think. Remember Mark in the control room sofa coming up with the idea for this. Really loud then really quiet and keep it as dumb as possible.