VENUS OF THE HARDSELL: Rock & Roll Rebel

Venus of the Hardsell es el único single lanzado por Mucous Membrane, ficticio cuarteto punk que integrara entre 1977 y 1979 el místico inglés John Constantine (protagonista del cómic Hellblazer). Escrito por Constantine y el guitarrista Gary Lester, se lanza en 1978 bajo la etiqueta independiente Snot Music y es promocionado con fuerza en el Casanova Club de Newcastle.

Presentado como respaldo en las páginas del Hellblazer Annual 1 (1989), las estrofas que compone Jamie Delano (The Horrorist) y los dibujos del ilustrador canadiense Dean Motter (Mister X) añaden un rasgo rebelde a la enigmática creación del guionista Alan Moore.

Love adventure death and glory

The short goodbye the whispered story

One last glance at the chameleon dance

And into the dark across the park

I ain't no mark for the venus of the hardsell

(Say it)

I ain't no mark for the venus of the hardsell

Saints and sinners raw beginners

Lipstick traces and tv dinners

Cigarsmoke bars and expensive new cars

The Acapulco dive and the media jive

They all survive for the venus of the hardsell

(Know it)

They all survive for the venus of the hardsell

Empty graves and shallow heads

Shallow smiles and empty beds

Betta get a room without a view

Sail out of sight of land

Momma won't like it but you should

Travel with a rough-neck crew

Listen out for all that's said

Just worry when the hounds ain't fed

(Gotta)

Worry when the hounds ain't fed

'Cos one mutt yaps and the pack starts baying

Blood for the gods it's cheaper than praying

Soldier boys die but superman still flies

Violent days - it's a permanent craze

It never pays to love the venus of the hardsell

(leave it)

Don't screw around with the venus of the hardsell

There's new uniforms at the church bazaar

Fanatics got the rising star

Thin dark streets ring with matching men's feet

Past the billboard bride troops the national pride

It's all supplied by the venus of the hardsell

(Fuck it)

It's all supplied by the venus of the hardsell

Nixon's Name's left in the moon where Apollo's masons called the tune

To cast their influence from above and damn all lunacy and love

You know they made her the Venus Of The Hardsell

(raped her)

You know they made her the Venus Of The Hardsell

They're winning momma and it's getting dark

D'you think there's time to build an ark

Tomorrow's a fiction yesterday a lie

I had a friend stuck his works in his eye perhaps he'll die?

I wonder why we don't cry for the Venus Of The Hardsell

Don't sigh for the Venus Of The Hardshell

Don't lie for the Venus Of The Hardsell

Don't die for the Venus Of The Hardsell