Kill Time

(aka 'Idle In the Kangaroo Court'
and '(Licence To) Kill Time')

(Joe Strummer / Mick Jones / Paul Simonon / Topper Headon)

Lyrics as transcribed by Robin Sharrock, Inder Sidhu and John Stokes


Shout everybody shout! 
Hey wake up 
I want in, I want out 
Hey jailer! 

Run walk this way, that way 
Buy a paper 
Or reach easy on your knees, for later 

Go Cat Go! That message you run: 
Is gonna be a make or break-er 

Zoom Zoom! 

Now I am a one man survey team, from Labour 
I am studying you city types' behaviour 
Hey girl, this opinion poll, you can't wait huh? 
Perhaps I'll flee my bench, to chase her 

Go Cat Go, in bitching /or/ witching hour! 
Go grab your wings, to chase her 

You sold your time but, I still got mine 
I'm from the spare-part pile, 'wanna see my 
Licence To Kill Time! 

The shows tonight, will close tonight... 
See you later 
The efficient sweep, will wash the streets safer 
From the rush-hour crush to the empty square I'll wait here 
And the b-line c-line d-line three-line breaker 

Go Cat Go, in the spillage hour 
Everybody's going, as if they'll get there later 

(Yep) 

You've sold your time but, I've still got mine 
I'm from the spare-part pile, 'wanna see my 
Licence To Kill Time! 

(Kill Time) 

(Dali melts it) 

Arnie Pauly - to be an agitator 
Arnie Pauly - and someone's left the paper 
Arnie Pauly - to be an agitator 
Arnie Pauly Pauly, 
Someone's left their paper 

Shout everybody shout, hey waiter! 
I want in, I want out! Hey Jailer! 
Run walk this way, that way 
Buy a paper 
Or reach easy on your knees, for later 

And the b-line c-line a-line free-line 
Hard-line, best-line, left-line, fine-line 
Breaker.


Notes:

I always heard the 'Arnie Pauly' line as 'I'll need pawnee',
which is very weird and Adam Ant-ish. John Stokes probably
heard correctly with Arnie Pauly, whoever that is.

'Go Cat Go!' (this phrase presumably lifted
from/referencing many old rockabilly records, eg Gene
Vincent and Carl "the king of rockabilly" Perkins)

'Dali melts it' (a reference to Salvador Dali and his
paintings of melting clocks etc?)