Next
(Brel/Shuman/Blau)
Intro: E.. F/E.. x4
see below for chords
Verse 1
Naked as sin, an army towel covering my belly
Some of us blush, somehow knees turn to jelly
Next, next!
I was still just a kid, there were a hundred like me
I followed a naked body, a naked body followed me
Next, next!
I was still just a kid when my innocence was lost
In a mobile army whorehouse, gift of the army, free of cost
Next, you're next!
Verse 2
I really would have liked a little touch of tenderness
Maybe a word, just a smile, some instant happiness but no, no!
Next, next!
Oh it... it wasn't so tragic, the high heavens didn't fall
But how much of that time I hated being there at all
Next, next!
Now I always will recall the brothel truck, the flying flags
The queer lieutenant who slapped our asses as if we were fags
Next, you're next!
Verse 3
I swear on the wet head of my first case of gonorrhea
It's his ugly voice that I forever hear
Next, next!
That voice that stinks of corpses, of whisky and of mud
It is the voice of the nations, that thick voice of blood
Next, next!
And since then, each woman I've taken to bed
Seems to laugh in my arms and whisper through my head...
"Next, next..."
Verse 4
All the naked and the dead should hold each other's hands
As they watch me scream at night in a dream no-one can understand
Next, next!
And when I'm not screaming in a voice grown dry and hollow
I stand on endless naked lines of the following and the followed
Next, next!
One day I'll cut my legs off and burn myself alive
Anything, I'll do anything to get out of line, just to survive
And never to be next, oh never to be next...
Next!
end
Chords
------
Because of the ad lib nature of the vocal I feel it makes more sense
to present the chord structure and time separately so as to aid clarity.
This is basically one verse:
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
Am Am(ma7) Am7 Am(ma6) Am7 Am(ma6) E F/E
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
E F/E E F/E E F/E E
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
Am Am(ma7) Am7 Am(ma6)
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
Dm G C Dm E F/E
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
E F/E E
...and so it repeats four times to end on Am.