A 3-minute classic from 1980, Terminal Zone was used to close all the band's shows (with the exception of the Creetown village hall riot, when we didn't get that far!).

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The song was written so long ago, it's difficult to remember. Basically it seems to be about teenage alienation, coupled with the cynicism of a youth who's had too much too young. I must have been reading J.G. Ballard at the time, because when I re-read The Atrocity Exhibition years later, I found a chapter entitled The Terminal Zone!

Take me to the terminal zone, it seems so nice.
I don’t want to go alone but it seems so nice.

I’ve seen a lot of strange things happen,
It’s a mixture of guilt and dreams,
But terror is different for all people
And safety’s not what it seems.
The future’s not secure anymore,
And it holds subliminal rhymes.
They’ll get you if you seem too secure
In these inconsiderate times.

Take me to ...

I don’t feel for anybody anymore,
I’ve learned just to stand apart
We can’t communicate with each other,
There’s no path to my heart.
They can’t tell us that we are blind,
But we’ll wonder why we can’t see.
The strange ones may have control of us,
But you all seem strange to me.

Take me to ...

I’m not too sure what’s going on,
And it’s got so that I don’t care,
All I want is to be left alone
With my ration of food and air.
I could scream at the world in political tones,
But it wouldn’t mean anything.
So take me to the terminal zone
Where the cardboard angels sing.

Take me to ...