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XTC – Human Alchemy (1983) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
XTC
Mummer
Human Alchemy

TRACK

Human Alchemy

Release date: 30th August 1983

About This Track

"Human Alchemy" is a track by XTC, from the album Mummer , released 30th August 1983. Full lyrics are available below.

Lyrics

Human Alchemy

[Refrain]

An alchemy

Human alchemy

[Verse 1]

We stole them from their

Freedom to be sold

To turn their skins of black

Into the skins of brightest gold

[Refrain]

An alchemy

Human alchemy

[Verse 2]

We stoked the fires of trade

With human coals

And made our purses

From the flailed skins of purest souls

[Refrain]

An alchemy

Human alchemy

[Bridge]

Other lands became a larder full of all the good things

All we had to do was go and take

Blood, the color of the rain that grew our wicked harvest

Black, the color icing on our cake

[Refrain]

An alchemy

Human alchemy

[Bridge]

Other lands became a larder full of all the good things

All we had to do was go and take

Blood, the color of the rain that grew our wicked harvest

Black, the color icing on our cake

[Verse 3]

We stole their babes and mothers

Chiefs and braves

Although we held the whip

You know we were the real slaves

[Outro]

To alchemy

Human alchemy

Alchemy

Human alchemy

An alchemy

Human alchemy

Alchemy

Human alchemy

Alchemy

Human alchemy

Human, human alchemy

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Mummer

1983

Album

Release year

1983

—Beating of Hearts

Explore

More tracks by XTC

I Don't Want to Be Here

Senses Working Overtime [Early Work Tape][Demo Version]

Generals and Majors [Rehearsal Tape][Demo Version]

The Mayor of Simpleton [Early Work Tape][Demo Version]

Life Begins at the Hop [First Rehearsal Extract]

Always Winter Never Christmas [#][Demo Version]

XTC — Paradise
XTC — I Don't Want to Be Here
XTC — The glow
XTC — Senses Working Overtime [Early Work Tape][Demo Version]
XTC — Generals and Majors [Rehearsal Tape][Demo Version]
XTC — The Mayor of Simpleton [Early Work Tape][Demo Version]
XTC — Life Begins at the Hop [First Rehearsal Extract]
XTC — Always Winter Never Christmas [#][Demo Version]
XTC — Towers of London [Rejected Single Recording]
XTC — Battery Brides
XTC — Science Friction [CBS Demo]
XTC — I'll Set Myself on Fire [Live]
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—Funk Pop a Roll

—Deliver Us from the Elements

—Human Alchemy

—In Loving Memory of a Name

—Love on a Farmboy's Wages

—Me and the Wind

Towers of London [Rejected Single Recording]

Science Friction [CBS Demo]

I'll Set Myself on Fire [Live]

The Meeting Place [Home Demo]

Let's Make A Den

King for a Day [Home Demo]

Terrorism [Home Demo]

Spinning Top [Live]

The Everyday Story of Smalltown [Big Express Version]

Wake Up [Home Demo]

Cherry In Your Tree

Helicopter [Unused Single Recording]

Towers of London [Live]

My Bird Performs [Demo Version]

Find the Fox [Home Demo]

Ladybird [Mummer Version]

Always Winter But Never Christmas

Life Begins at the Hop [Unused U.S. Single Recording]

The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead [Early Home Demo]

Dear God [Band Demo]

I'm the Man Who Murdered Love [Home Demo]

Skeletons [Home Demo]

The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead [Demo Version]

My Paint Heroes (home Demo)

Generals and Majors [Live]

This Is Pop? [Single Version]

Chalkhills and Children [Oranges and Lemons Version]

Real by Reel [Unused Single Recording]

Generals and Majors [Edit]

The Disappointed [Home Demo]

Crowded Room [Live]

Radios in Motion [Live]

This Is Pop? [Live]

Statue Of Liberty (edit)

All You Pretty Girls [Home Demo]

Traffic Light Rock [Live]

Easter Theatre [Home Demo]

Always Winter Never Christmas [Home Demo]

Love on a Farmboy's Wages [Home Demo]

Statue of Liberty [Live]

The Troubles [Home Demo]

Wonderland [Home Demo]

Let's Make A Den (demo)

Grass [Home Demo]

The Smartest Monkeys [Demo Version]

Punch and Judy [Unused Single Recording]

Down a Peg [Demo Version]

Reign of Blows (Vote No Violence!)

Ball and Chain [Unused Single Recording]

The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead [LP Version]

Life Begins at the Hop [First Recording, Unused]

Season Cycle [Skylarking Version]

Where Did the Ordinary People Go?

I'm the Man Who Murdered Love [Demo Version]

Standing in for Joe [Demo Version]

We're All Light [Early Cassette Idea]

In Another Life [Jug Band Version]

In Another Life [Excerpt of Original Demo]

I'm the Man Who Murdered Love [Tamla Demo Excerpt][Excerpt]

Lie For A Lie (demo)

I'm the Man Who Murdered Love [Early 'Other Song' Cassette Idea]

We're All Light [Demo Version]

The Wheel and the Maypole [Demo Version]

Church of Women [Demo Version]

Didn't Hurt A Bit

Procession Towards Learning Land

You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful

Standing In for Joe

In Another Life

The Wheel and the Maypole

Church of Women

My Brown Guitar

We're All Light

I’m the Man Who Murdered Love

I'm the Man Who Murdered Love

Easter Theatre [Demo Version]

River of Orchids [Demo Version]

I'd Like That [Home Demo]

I’d Like That

Knights in Shining Karma

Your Dictionary

River of Orchids

I Can't Own Her

The Last Balloon

Harvest Festival

Frivolous Tonight

The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead

Dear Madam Barnum

Books are Burning

Holly Up on Poppy

My Bird Performs

The Disappointed

Then She Appeared

The Smartest Monkeys

The Ugly Underneath

The Diſappointed

Wrapped in Grey

The World Is Full of Angry Young Men

The History Of Rock 'n' Roll

The Forgotten Language Of Light

Shore Leave Ornithology (Another 1950)

Steam Fist Futurist

I Sit In The Snow

Poor Skeleton Steps Out

One of the Millions

Across This Antheap

Chalkhills and Children

Garden of Earthly Delights

Scarecrow People

Here Comes President Kill Again

Hold Me My Daddy

Mayor of Simpleton

The Mayor of Simpleton

The Meeting Place

Sacrificial Bonfire

That's Really Super, Supergirl

Ballet for a Rainy Day

Summer's Cauldron

The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul

Another Satellite

Earn Enough for Us

Train Running Low on Soul Coal

This World Over

Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her

I Bought Myself a Liarbird

The Everyday Story of Smalltown

You're The Wish You Are I Had

I Remember the Sun

Shake You Donkey Up

All You Pretty Girls

Red Brick Dream

Love on a Farmboy’s Wages

Love on a Farmboy's WagesMummer

Me and the WindMummer

Funk Pop a RollMummer

Deliver Us from the ElementsMummer

In Loving Memory of a NameMummer

Beating of HeartsMummer

Thanks for Christmas

Countdown to Christmas Party Time

No Thugs in Our House

All of a Sudden (It's Too Late)

Jason and the Argonauts

English Roundabout

Fly on the Wall

Down in the Cockpit

It's Nearly Africa

Senses Working Overtime

Tissue Tigers (The Arguers)

Blame The Weather

Looking for Footprints

Cockpit Dance Mixture

Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass

Respectable Street

Love at First Sight

Respectable Street [Urgh! A Music War]

Strange Tales, Strange Tails

Towers of London

Rocket from a Bottle

Living Through Another Cuba

Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins)

No Language in Our Lungs

Burning with Optimism's Flames

Travels in Nihilon

Generals and Majors

Don't Lose Your Temper

The Olympian / Ten Feet Tall

Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down

The Somnambulist

Take This Town / Babylon’s Burning

Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)

Making Plans for Nigel

That Is the Way

Roads Girdle the Globe

Chain of Command

Complicated Game

When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty

Life Begins at the Hop

Pulsing Pulsing

Are You Receiving Me?

Life is Good in the Greenhouse

Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)

Buzzcity Talking

Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!)

Jumping in Gomorrah

I Am the Audience

Radios In Motion

Traffic Light Rock

I'll Set Myself on Fire

Radios in Motion [White Music Version]

New Town Animal in a Furnished Cage

Into the Atom Age

Hang On To The Night

All Along the Watchtower

Statue of Liberty

She's So Square

Goodnight, Sucker

Science Friction

XTC — Terrorism [Home Demo]

XTC — Spinning Top [Live]

XTC — The Everyday Story of Smalltown [Big Express Version]

XTC — Wake Up [Home Demo]

XTC — Cherry In Your Tree

XTC — Helicopter [Unused Single Recording]

XTC — Saturn Boy

XTC — Towers of London [Live]

XTC — My Bird Performs [Demo Version]

XTC — Find the Fox [Home Demo]

XTC — Ladybird [Mummer Version]

XTC — Always Winter But Never Christmas

XTC — Life Begins at the Hop [Unused U.S. Single Recording]

XTC — The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead [Early Home Demo]

XTC — Paper and Iron

XTC — Dear God [Band Demo]

XTC — Snowman [Live]

XTC — I'm the Man Who Murdered Love [Home Demo]

XTC — Skeletons [Home Demo]

XTC — The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead [Demo Version]

XTC — My Paint Heroes (home Demo)

XTC — Generals and Majors [Live]

XTC — This Is Pop? [Single Version]

XTC — Chalkhills and Children [Oranges and Lemons Version]

XTC — Real by Reel [Unused Single Recording]

XTC — Find The Fox

XTC — Generals and Majors [Edit]

XTC — The Disappointed [Home Demo]

XTC — Blue Beret

XTC — Crowded Room [Live]

XTC — Radios in Motion [Live]

XTC — This Is Pop? [Live]

XTC — Statue Of Liberty (edit)

XTC — All You Pretty Girls [Home Demo]

XTC — Rip Van Ruben

XTC — Traffic Light Rock [Live]

XTC — Easter Theatre [Home Demo]

XTC — Always Winter Never Christmas [Home Demo]

XTC — Love on a Farmboy's Wages [Home Demo]

XTC — Statue of Liberty [Live]

XTC — The Troubles [Home Demo]

XTC — Star Park

XTC — Wonderland [Home Demo]

XTC — Let's Make A Den (demo)

XTC — Grass [Home Demo]

XTC — The Smartest Monkeys [Demo Version]

XTC — Punch and Judy [Unused Single Recording]

XTC — Down a Peg [Demo Version]

XTC — Reign of Blows (Vote No Violence!)

XTC — The Troubles

XTC — Ball and Chain [Unused Single Recording]

XTC — The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead [LP Version]

XTC — Life Begins at the Hop [First Recording, Unused]

XTC — Season Cycle [Skylarking Version]

XTC — Where Did the Ordinary People Go?

XTC — I'm the Man Who Murdered Love [Demo Version]

XTC — Standing in for Joe [Demo Version]

XTC — We're All Light [Early Cassette Idea]

XTC — In Another Life [Jug Band Version]

XTC — In Another Life [Excerpt of Original Demo]

XTC — I'm the Man Who Murdered Love [Tamla Demo Excerpt][Excerpt]

XTC — Lie For A Lie (demo)

XTC — I'm the Man Who Murdered Love [Early 'Other Song' Cassette Idea]

XTC — We're All Light [Demo Version]

XTC — Some Lovely

XTC — The Wheel and the Maypole [Demo Version]

XTC — Church of Women [Demo Version]

XTC — Didn't Hurt A Bit

XTC — Procession Towards Learning Land

XTC — Frost Circus

XTC — Desert Island

XTC — You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful

XTC — Wounded Horse

XTC — Playground

XTC — Standing In for Joe

XTC — Stupidly Happy

XTC — Boarded Up

XTC — In Another Life

XTC — The Wheel and the Maypole

XTC — Church of Women

XTC — My Brown Guitar

XTC — We're All Light

XTC — I’m the Man Who Murdered Love

XTC — I'm the Man Who Murdered Love

XTC — Easter Theatre [Demo Version]

XTC — River of Orchids [Demo Version]

XTC — I'd Like That [Home Demo]

XTC — I’d Like That

XTC — Easter Theatre

XTC — Knights in Shining Karma

XTC — Fruit Nut

XTC — Your Dictionary

XTC — Greenman

XTC — River of Orchids

XTC — I Can't Own Her

XTC — The Last Balloon

XTC — I'd Like That

XTC — Harvest Festival

XTC — Frivolous Tonight

XTC — The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead

XTC — Dear Madam Barnum

XTC — Bungalow

XTC — Books are Burning

XTC — Crocodile

XTC — Holly Up on Poppy

XTC — Humble Daisy

XTC — My Bird Performs

XTC — Omnibus

XTC — The Disappointed

XTC — Then She Appeared

XTC — The Smartest Monkeys

XTC — The Ugly Underneath

XTC — That Wave

XTC — War Dance

XTC — The Diſappointed

XTC — Wrapped in Grey

XTC — The World Is Full of Angry Young Men

XTC — New Broom

XTC — The History Of Rock 'n' Roll

XTC — The Forgotten Language Of Light

XTC — Commerciality

XTC — Shore Leave Ornithology (Another 1950)

XTC — The Rotary

XTC — Steam Fist Futurist

XTC — I Sit In The Snow

XTC — The Loving

XTC — King for a Day

XTC — Merely a Man

XTC — Poor Skeleton Steps Out

XTC — One of the Millions

XTC — Across This Antheap

XTC — Pink Thing

XTC — Chalkhills and Children

XTC — Garden of Earthly Delights

XTC — Scarecrow People

XTC — Cynical Days

XTC — Miniature Sun

XTC — Here Comes President Kill Again

XTC — Hold Me My Daddy

XTC — Mayor of Simpleton

XTC — The Mayor of Simpleton

XTC — Happy Families

XTC — The Meeting Place

XTC — Sacrificial Bonfire

XTC — Mermaid Smiled

XTC — That's Really Super, Supergirl

XTC — Dear God

XTC — Season Cycle

XTC — 1000 Umbrellas

XTC — Ballet for a Rainy Day

XTC — Summer's Cauldron

XTC — The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul

XTC — Big Day

XTC — Another Satellite

XTC — Extrovert

XTC — Earn Enough for Us

XTC — Train Running Low on Soul Coal

XTC — Wake Up

XTC — Blue Overall

XTC — This World Over

XTC — Reign of Blows

XTC — Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her

XTC — I Bought Myself a Liarbird

XTC — The Everyday Story of Smalltown

XTC — You're The Wish You Are I Had

XTC — I Remember the Sun

XTC — Shake You Donkey Up

XTC — All You Pretty Girls

XTC — Red Brick Dream

XTC — Washaway

XTC — Love on a Farmboy’s Wages

XTC — Love on a Farmboy's Wages (from Mummer )

XTC — Me and the Wind (from Mummer )

XTC — Funk Pop a Roll (from Mummer )

XTC — Ladybird (from Mummer )

XTC — Deliver Us from the Elements (from Mummer )

XTC — In Loving Memory of a Name (from Mummer )

XTC — Beating of Hearts (from Mummer )

XTC — Great Fire

XTC — Thanks for Christmas

XTC — Countdown to Christmas Party Time

XTC — Wonderland

XTC — No Thugs in Our House

XTC — Ball and Chain

XTC — All of a Sudden (It's Too Late)

XTC — Jason and the Argonauts

XTC — Knuckle Down

XTC — English Roundabout

XTC — Leisure

XTC — Fly on the Wall

XTC — Down in the Cockpit

XTC — Snowman

XTC — Melt the Guns

XTC — It's Nearly Africa

XTC — Runaways

XTC — Yacht Dance

XTC — Senses Working Overtime

XTC — Punch And Judy

XTC — Tissue Tigers (The Arguers)

XTC — Blame The Weather

XTC — Looking for Footprints

XTC — Cockpit Dance Mixture

XTC — Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass

XTC — Respectable Street

XTC — Love at First Sight

XTC — Respectable Street [Urgh! A Music War]

XTC — Strange Tales, Strange Tails

XTC — Officer Blue

XTC — Towers of London

XTC — Rocket from a Bottle

XTC — Living Through Another Cuba

XTC — Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins)

XTC — No Language in Our Lungs

XTC — Burning with Optimism's Flames

XTC — Travels in Nihilon

XTC — Generals and Majors

XTC — Smokeless Zone

XTC — Don't Lose Your Temper

XTC — The Olympian / Ten Feet Tall

XTC — Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down

XTC — The Somnambulist

XTC — Ten Feet Tall

XTC — Take This Town

XTC — Take This Town / Babylon’s Burning

XTC — Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)

XTC — Making Plans for Nigel

XTC — That Is the Way

XTC — Day In Day Out

XTC — Millions

XTC — Helicopter

XTC — Scissor Man

XTC — Roads Girdle the Globe

XTC — Real by Reel

XTC — Chain of Command

XTC — Complicated Game

XTC — Outside World

XTC — Limelight

XTC — When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty

XTC — Life Begins at the Hop

XTC — Pulsing Pulsing

XTC — Are You Receiving Me?

XTC — Life is Good in the Greenhouse

XTC — Beatown

XTC — My Weapon

XTC — Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)

XTC — Super-Tuff

XTC — The Rhythm

XTC — Buzzcity Talking

XTC — Crowded Room

XTC — Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!)

XTC — Jumping in Gomorrah

XTC — I Am the Audience

XTC — This Is Pop?

XTC — Radios In Motion

XTC — Traffic Light Rock

XTC — Instant Tunes

XTC — I'll Set Myself on Fire

XTC — Cross Wires

XTC — Do What You Do

XTC — Radios in Motion [White Music Version]

XTC — I'm Bugged

XTC — Spinning Top

XTC — Neon Shuffle

XTC — New Town Animal in a Furnished Cage

XTC — Heatwave

XTC — Into the Atom Age

XTC — Hang On To The Night

XTC — All Along the Watchtower

XTC — Statue of Liberty

XTC — She's So Square

XTC — Goodnight, Sucker

XTC — Dance Band

XTC — Science Friction

All You Pretty Girls
Are You Receiving Me?
Ball and Chain
Earn Enough for Us
Easter Theatre
Generals and Majors
Grass
Great Fire
I’d Like That
I’m the Man Who Murdered Love

Showing 10 of 299

Credits

Writer: Andy Partridge
Producer: Steve Nye, XTC
Bass: Colin Moulding
Drums: Pete Phipps
Electric Guitar: Andy Partridge
Lead Vocals: Andy Partridge
Mellotron: Dave Gregory
Sleigh Bells: Pete Phipps
Synthesizer: Dave Gregory