Dead Reckoning lyrics

Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

I am a huge fan of Diamond Head and has a lot of music with them on vinyl LP's and a single CD.
My favourite song is probably Dead Reckoning and I have heard a couple of different versions so far, (three to be exact) and they all have different lyrics.

I have tried to find out what Sean Harris actually sings and it has been kind of difficult. I based my listenings on lyrics found on the internet where parts were missing or incorrect. I found out that the released version on "4 Cuts EP" lacks a verse that exist on a recording of the band perfoming at the BBC Friday Rock Show where a long intro and a guitar solo has been added. I found out that there were some differences in the lyrics between the two versions and found out that the lyrics I found on the internet were based on the extended BBC Friday Rock Show version with the extra verse in the middle. Recently I also found a live video recording of the band performing the song on YouTube. The lyrics on this version were only slightly different from the 4 Cuts EP version.

If anybody would help me with identifying the last few lines I couldn't do my self (and correcting the lyrics, though I think I've got the most correct). It's quite difficult for me to hear what he exactly sing since I am danish and I'm only trained in english until 9th grade at school.

The reason I need these lyrics so bad, is that I love the song, but also because I am thinking about performing/singing it with my band.

Well... This is what I have come up with so far:
--------------------
Extended Version from BBC Friday Rock Show: (Is to be found on "From Heaven to Hell"
-
Oh yeeaarh
OW!
Yay yeaarh!
New York City
New York time 2084
Business man makes a deal for a nuclear war
Time is right, split the atom, at the Berlin wall.
Bring your dead
Nuclear holocaust will fall
Oh yeaarh!
Oh yeearh yearh!
I said yes!
Oh yeaarh!
Dead reckoning yeah, I said yes
Make a deal
Time is right to start your fight
Friends are here, all are waiting for the night
Just reckon, to see if its alright
???
Oh yeaarh!
Oh yeearh yearh!
I said yes!
Oh yeaarh!
Dead reckoning yeah, I said yes
Aaaaaah
City weeps, children run to hide their skins
Time will stop, as the nuclear war begins
????
Children die, but I'm sure noone can win
OW!
(Guitar solo)
New York City
New York time 2085
Business man, he is dead no-one left alive
Saturn sky, a fire has just arrived
I can see, what a waste for the tears you cried
Oh yeaarh!
Oh yeearh yearh!
I said yes!
Oh yeaarh!
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
I reckon you're dead
-----------------------------------
4 Cuts EP Version
The lines in [ - ] is from the live version I found on YouTube where the lyrics otherwise are identical with the 4 Cuts EP version.: http://youtube.com/watch?v=S21vdrs7q-I
-
Oh ooooh oh
New York City
New York time 2084
Business man makes a deal for a nuclear war
Time is right, split the atom, at the Berlin wall.
Buy your bomb
Nuclear holocaust will fall
Oh ooooh oh
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
City weeps, the children run to hide their skins (weeps is pronounced a bit weird on 4 Cuts EP)
cant believe what you see as the war begins [watch the fire, as the nuclear war begins]
Set the sky on fire and spread your wings
Rip your ??? and gather up the many sins
Myyyy
Dead Reckoning
Dead Reckoning
Oh ooh oh oooh oh
Aaah aaah
??? time 2085
Congress man, make a deal, no one left alive [Congress man, where's your deal, no one left alive]
Just wait it and the time arrives
??? every stain with the tears I cried (I think he sings something with "pray your ???" at the start of this line)
I cried
Oh oooh oh
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
I reckon you're dead

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:36 pm

Well, I have to say that your English is pretty good. Have you tried looking at the lyrics section on the main DH site?

P.S.
If you do ever play the song in your band you'll have to record it so we can have a listen Very Happy

Site Admin Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 70

Having just listened to the 4 cuts version i reckon I can fill in some of the blanks (as Les Dawson would say);

Oh ooooh oh
New York City
New York time 2084
Business man makes a deal for a nuclear war
Time is right, split the atom, at the Berlin wall.
Buy your bomb
Nuclear holocaust will fall
Oh ooooh oh
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
City weeps, the children run to hide their skins (weeps is pronounced a bit weird on 4 Cuts EP)
cant believe what you see as the war begins [watch the fire, as the nuclear war begins]
SATURN SKY OF FIRE, spread your wings
REAP YOUR CROP and gather up the many sins
Myyyy
Dead Reckoning
Dead Reckoning
Oh ooh oh oooh oh
Aaah aaah
RAVAGED LAND, BITTER time 2085
Congress man, make a deal, no one left alive [Congress man, where's your deal, no one left alive]
Just WAITING and the time arrives
BRING YOUR DEAD, every stain with the tears I cried (I think he sings something with "pray your ???" at the start of this line)
I cried
Oh oooh oh
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
Dead reckoning
I reckon you're dead

Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 22 Location: DUBLIN,IRELAND

I was wondering if you or any one else you be able to help me get my hands and guitar tabs for this song?????

Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Well, I am pretty sure I can help you with this, except for the guitar solo. I usually just improvise over it.

By the way, I just heard another version of this song live from Leeds 1980 where Sean Harris yet again sing different vocals, the 2nd verse is completely different and there are som differences in the other verses, and doesn't even remin me of any of the other versions.
If anyone could help me identifying that version too, i would be glad.

Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

I just got hold of a bootleg of this song played at Leeds in 1980, and i have tried to listen off the lyrics of this version, since I noticed they were different. The second verse is completely different from any other version I have heard. If anyone has this version, could they try to listen to it and maybe help me find out what the lyrics are.
This is what i have gotten so far:
New York City
New York time 2084
Business man makes a deal for a nuclear war
Time is right, split the atom, at the Berlin wall.
Buy your bomb
Nuclear holocaust will fall
Oh yeaarh!
Oh yeearh yearh!
I said yes!
Oh yeaarh!
Dead reckoning
Oooh
Watch the fire, watch the night
You're time is through
???
Just waiting to see you push you through
Buy your bomb as i tie myself to you
Oh yeaarh!
Oh yeearh yearh!
I said yes!
Oh yeaarh!
Dead reckoning
City weeps, children run to hide their skins
Watch the fire, as the nuclear war begins
???? and i should never win (doesn't make any sense to me)
Oh my lord, got the time to make my ??? (sins perhaps?)
(Guitar solo)
New York City
New York time 2085
Business man, where's your deal no-one left alive
Saturn sky, a fire has just arrived
Buy your bomb, where's your tears, they all are cried (again something that doesn't really make sense to me)