The Zamora: Homepage

The Zamora, in their original line-up of Justin Chamberlin (lead guitar, b. vox), Pete Newell (drums), Dom Pates (lead vocals), Steve Raffé (rhythm guitar) and Merlin Robertson (bass), were together as a band from 1999 to 2001. Brighton-based, they started life out as Jaded and began performing to local audiences in the summer of 2000.

The discovery of an American band already called Jaded prompted a need for a name change. The first demo EP recorded by the group had been named 'The Zamora EP', in tribute to Bobby Zamora, Brighton & Hove Albion's then-newly signed striker (who was doing wonders for the beleaguered football club). Pete's suggestion that the band renamed themselves using the title of their first EP was soon agreed upon and taken up by the group.

In order to promote their first headlining show in Brighton (at a now defunct venue called The Lift ), a press release was sent out celebrating Bobby Zamora and trumpeting the adoption of his name by the band. Expecting perhaps a little local interest (having also recently completed a Metway Session in Brighton; see SP History - 2000 for information on Metway Sessions), it came as a very great surprise to them when The Sun newspaper got in touch to arrange a photo shoot with the footballer himself and to give the band a full page spread in their Saturday Sports section. Even more of a surprise was the snowballing media interest that arose afterwards and continued for at least a year. The band appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live, received coverage on a range of other regional radio stations, were featured in articles in most of the British newspapers (all keenly following the success story that Bobby Zamora had become by reviving his club's fortunes), appeared on local ITV News reports filmed live in the studio, and even became an item on BBC1's 'Football Focus', thereby giving the group an audience of millions on a Saturday afternoon.

Such attention on a group not fully prepared for it ultimately led to Dom's departure. The band continued with a new lead singer for some time afterwards, but without performing live again.

'Pigeon Souvenirs' is an anthology of recordings made by the original line-up, including studio recordings and unreleased rehearsal demos, mixed with selections from the radio appearances made by members of the group. Below are a number of mp3s taken from 'Pigeon Souvenirs', more of which to be added over time. Also included are the full lyrics as published in the 'Pigeon Souvenirs' booklet, along with a selection of photographs taken from some of the group's live appearances in Brighton.

To listen to an mp3 file, click on the song title link (above the lyrics to the song on this page). If you have a media player already installed, the track should either appear in your browser window and start playing or launch your player and begin playback. If you don't have a media player already installed, QuickTime or Winamp can be downloaded here. To download an mp3, right click on the file and 'Save Target As' if using a Windows platform, or Control + click if using a Mac.

The following links will take you to the lyrics for the listed song, or to a link for an mp3 file if posted here.

At five in the morning, I awoke on the pavement,
In an afro and pimp shirt, no idea how I got there.
Cordelia's perfume slipped out through her fur,
Sweet Caroline talked of Nigeria.

With a drink in my hand I made my way through the crowd,
To the girl in pink rubber and the air hostesses.
Got stopped at the gate by a man with a gun,
Who asked me for their names and addresses.

I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.
I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.
I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.
I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.

She took off her dress behind the bathroom door,
And fuelled my imagination.
But the words that fell and slipped from my lips,
Just ruined my good reputation.

At five in the morning, I awoke on the pavement,
In an afro and pimp shirt, no idea how I got there.
Cordelia's perfume slipped out through her fur,
Sweet Caroline talked of Nigeria.

I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.
I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.
I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.
I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.

Nigeria, Nigeria, Nigeria.

Nigeria, Nigeria, Nigeria.

I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.
I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.
I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.
I'm just doing fine watching shadows doing time.

He's been away for such a long time,
Delivering shivers down her spine.
He's felt the world under his feet,
But without her by his side he still feels incomplete.

La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La (x2)

I'll be all you want if you want me to be.
You can take your pick if you want to be me.
I'll be all you want if you want me to be.
You can take your pick if you want to be me.

He doesn't know where to find her,
Although he's searched both near and far.
But he'll have won the game and claimed his prize,
The first time that they look into each other's eyes, now.

La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La (x2)

I'll be all you want if you want me to be.
You can take your pick if you want to be me.
I'll be all you want if you want me to be.
You can take your pick if you want to be me.

I'll climb the wooden hills to Bedfordshire,
Even though my baby isn't here.
Go down the ragged steps to Santa Fe,
And push my last memories away.

Your words mean so much to me you said,
And I can't seem to keep you from my bed.
I'd carry you the way to New Orleans,
But you know I just don't have the means.

Have I reached my age of reason? Will we see another season?
Do I count my chickens before they hatch?

Wish that I could stop your sneezing, though I know, there ain't no pleasin'
you until I've finally turned my back.

Don't want the grass to grow under my feet.
Don't let the grass grow under my feet.
I'd hate the grass to grow under my feet.
Don't want the grass to grow under my feet.

I've always tried pushing new frontiers.
This one I'm going to save until next year.
Leave my former life in disarray,
And start it all again on Saturday.

You asked me see what lies ahead,
I said take a look yourself instead.
You flashed me a smile like Benzedrine,
And waited for the judge to intervene.

Have I reached my age of reason? Will we see another season?
Do I count my chickens before they hatch?

Wish that I could stop your sneezing, though I know, there ain't no pleasin'
you until I've finally turned my back.

Don't want the grass to grow under my feet.
Don't let the grass grow under my feet.
I'd hate the grass to grow under my feet.
Don't let the grass grow under my feet.

I'll climb the wooden hills to Bedfordshire,
Even though my baby isn't here.

There's a taxi for Alice stopped at the end of the road.
I'm sorry for sneezing, but I think I'm getting a cold.
She rode her motorbike right through my room,
Leaving me wrapped in a barbed wire fantasy.
I'd write you a letter, but my typewriter's been sold.

There's a frightened boxed prophet shouting to me to slow down.
I thought he had the answers until my questions left town.
My doctor thinks that he's omnipotent,
I gave a Turin sample and off I went,
And though I've tried for days, I can't get the gravy brown.

Whenever you've tried to find your way in
You always ask where the latch is.
Whenever I've tried to raise your smile,
You never give me the matches

There's always one in each crowd who won't accept limitations.
You've got to go underground if you want to shake the foundations.
I've seen you sniffing newly polished floors,
And exaggerating the minor details.
I'm not sure you're ready for my new creations.

There's a taxi for Alice stopped at the end of the road.
There's a taxi for Alice stopped at the end of the road.
There's a taxi for Alice stopped.

When I was just a boy, I looked out of my window during floodtime.
And watched the animals pass, down the street past my house, in a straight line.
Although I'm older now, I still look out with the same eyes,
If they evacuate the circus again, I won't be surprised.

Hey hey, Harry J, how many guys d'you bust today?
Hey hey, Harry J, you're living on in us today.

The other day Sonny got his hands on a homing stool pigeon.
Turned out to be the wrong king of place to hide his pills in.
He got it off the back of a travelling medicine show,
And Harry stuck around to catch it all on video.

Hey hey, Harry J, how many guys d'you bust today?
Hey hey, Harry J, you're living on with us today, so come on.

The other day Sonny got his hands on a homing stool pigeon.
Turned out to be the wrong king of place to hide his pills in.
He got it off the back of a travelling medicine show,
And Harry stuck around to catch it all on video.

Hey hey, Harry J, how many guys d'you bust today?
Hey hey, Harry J, you're living on with us today, so come on.

When I was just a boy, I looked out of my window during floodtime,
And watched the animals pass, down the street past my house, in a straight line.
Although I'm older now, I still look out with the same eyes,
So if they evacuate the circus again, I won't be surprised.

Stealing Your Smile

Lounging around in God's empty chair,
Tryin' to figure out how to wear my hair.
I never believed that I'd been unfair,
But then I don't think you'd ever cared.

Days of pain are yet to come,
Still you send your burnin' sun.
Send it to me to char my fun,
The light from your eyes burns no-one.

I get confused and hung up,
Movin' from one falling star - to another,
Till I drop.
(x2)

I need to spend some time on my own,
Need you to crawl back under your stone.
Stay in the dark until the time is right,
For us to join forces and fight.

Head held high as God's only peer,
Knowing now there's nothing to fear.
Checking out that the coast is clear,
I dare you to come near.

I get confused and hung up,
Movin' from one falling star - to another,
Till I drop.
(x2)

I can only hope, if you cannot cope,
I can only hope to steal your smile.

I can only hope, if I've enough rope,
I can only hope to die awhile.
(x2)

I get confused and hung up,
Movin' from one falling star - to another,
Till I drop.
(x4)

We may be poles apart, my love, we may be intertwined,
But just for this one day in time, be my Valentine.

We may be right, we may be wrong, we may be yours and mine,
Just for this one day in time, give me reason and rhyme.

I had so many dreams,
They're just continuations.
I'm closer to the now.

I'll take confusion,
And offer a solution.
We'll make it somehow.

We may be yin and yang, my love, we may be day and night.
Just for this one day in time, we'll know that something's right.

We may have known each other long, we maybe always will,
Just for this one day in time, let's only drink our fill.

I had so many dreams,
They're just continuations.
I'm closer to the now.

I'll take confusion,
And offer a solution.
We'll make it somehow.

We may be been and gone, my love; that maybe suits us fine,
Just for this one day in time, be my Valentine.

We may be been and gone, my love; that maybe suits us fine,
Just for this one day in time, be my Valentine.

I had so many dreams,
They’re just continuations.
I’m closer to the now.

I’ll take confusion,
And offer a solution.
We’ll make it somehow.

I know my future's blown,
I just want to tell someone else about it.
Although I've a broken home,
I've still got a key to the door.

I know my future's blown,
I had to knock it down, just couldn't resist.
Without your chromosome,
I'm still learning to crawl.

I'm jaded.
I'm so jaded.

I know my future's grown,
I just want to find another way around it.
Although we're far from home,
We're already half way there.

You've seen my head explode,
But I didn't want to make a mess on your carpet.
You tried to soak it up,
Only using one hand.

I've made it.
I've just made it.

I know my future's blown,
I just want to tell someone else about it.
Although I've a broken home,
I've still got a key to the door.

I know my future's blown,
I just want to tell someone else about it.
Although I've a broken home,
I've still got a key to the door.

Woke up in my clothes again,
Must have slept through the whole weekend.
Don't know if I'm up or down,
Or if I've still got to pretend.

Parade in your sounds of tomorrow,
Dress in your clothes of yesterday.
The sun may have gone back in,
But I'll still be sitting here making hay.

Running away with a tequila mockingbird,
Tryin' to find my way back home.
Gave it away on a familiar block, I heard.
Couldn't seem to leave it alone...Alone.

Couldn't get to sleep last night,
I just lay there staring into space.
Baby, you were out like a light,
But you opened your eyes when I leaned to kiss your face.

I'm a narcoleptic insomniac,
Who can't seem to find his way back.
'Cause I've spent too much of my time,
Away from the beaten track.

Running away with a tequila mockingbird,
Tryin' to find my way back home.
Gave it away on a familiar block, I heard.
Couldn't seem to leave it alone...Alone.

Like a moth to a flame.
A hunter to game.
An aspirin to pain.
A face without a name.

Tell me what you were dreaming of,
Was I the olive branch or the dove?
I know it'll never be,
'Cause it's too much too soon now to love.

Tried to scratch at the clouds in my hair,
Knowing that we can't get any higher.
I saw your streets run with blood and fire,
Starting your own riot, you know I'll always admire.

Running away with a tequila mockingbird,
'Bout time I left it alone.
Took it all back in the usual way, I heard,
Guess I found my way back home.

If I could look over the new horizon,
And find the boxes that you keep your eyes in,
And a cheaper way of advertising,
I'd sit down here and watch the water rising.

I got invited to the launch of a rocket.
I found a flyer in my back pocket.
When I asked where the launch would be,
Got told the end of the armoury.

Ooooh, yeah!
Ooooh, yeah!

Life's a dream that I can't wake up from,
My sickness grows till I cannot hide it.
Life's a dream that I can't wake up from,
My sickness grows till I cannot hide it.

Sometimes I feel as young as a baby,
Sometimes I feel as old as the hills,
I pick myself up off the street,
And sit and peel the skin from my feet.

Why are we so cold about desire,
When we're at the heart of the fire?
I stick around on the underside,
If I'm right or wrong I can't decide.

Ooooh, yeah!
Ooooh, yeah!

Je suis l'etranger.
Je suis l'etranger.
Je suis l'etranger.
Je suis l'etranger.

If I could look over the new horizon,
And find the boxes that you keep your eyes in,
And a cheaper way of advertising,
I'd sit down here and watch the water rising.
(repeat twice)

Ooooh, yeah! (repeat three times),

Ooooh, Ooooh, Ooooh, 1,2,3,4.

Torch Song Singer

I'll be your torch song singer,
With the itchy trigger finger,
And I'll take you on a white knuckle ride.
With your alligator shoes and your rhythm and your blues,
I'm holding up the bank where you're paying all your dues.

I'll be your touchstone sinner,
With a point to my finger,
To take the arguement outside.
Follow your caterpillar tracks,
And your trail of greenbacks,
You'd better learn to run before we make contact.

I'll be your revolutionary,
With my heart sown on my sleeve,
And trigger a reaction, bring the system to it's knees.
I'll look right through your public eye,
Find another alibi,
And check out that I haven't caught your last disease.

Take a look outside,
As the battle lines are drawn.
And we line them up against the wall.

Watch your back,
For the corporate apologists,
As they lose teeth to our fists.

Torch song singer with the itchy trigger finger,
And I'll take you on a white knuckle ride.

All lyrics by Dom Pates (except 'Jaded' - Pates/Chamberlin). Lyrics published by SPR Music.

Photography by Simon Dack (band with Bobby Zamora), Dan Paton and Jayne Routley.