Robert PLANT


Manic Nirvana

(1990)



1. Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes On You) 4'11
(Robert Plant / Phil Johnstone / Doug Boyle / Chris Blacwell)
Es PARANZA Single 98985 (March 26, '90)
2. Big Love 4'35
(Robert Plant / Doug Boyle / Chris Blacwell)
3. S S S & Q 4'39
(Robert Plant / Phil Johnstone / Charlie Jones / Doug Boyle / Chris Blackwell)
4. I Cried 4'55
(Robert Plant / Phil Johnstone)
Es PARANZA Single 98985 (March 26, '90)
5. She Said 5'13
(Robert Plant / Phil Johnstone / Charlie Jones / Doug Boyle / Chris Blackwell)
Es PARANZA [UK] Single 8945 (May '90)
6. Nirvana 4'31
(Robert Plant / Charlie Jones / Doug Boyle)
7. Tie Dye On The Highway 5'17
(Robert Plant / Doug Boyle)
8. Your Ma Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night 4'17
(Stephen Schlaks / Melvin J. Glazer)
Es PARANZA [UK] Single 8945 (May '90)
9. Anniversary 5'02
(Robert Plant / Phil Johnstone)
10. Liars Dance 2'35
(Robert Plant / Doug Boyle)
11. Watching You 4'26
(Robert Plant / Phil Johnstone / Chris Blackwell)

Bonus Tracks

12. Oompa (Watery Bint) 5'48
(Robert Plant / Phil Johnstone / Charlie Jones / Doug Boyle / Chris Blackuell!
Es PARANZA Maxi-single 8985 (April '90)
13. One Love 3'15
(Robert Plant / Phil Johnstone / Charlie Jones / Doug Boyle / Chris Blackwell)
Es PARANZA Maxi-single 8985 (April '90)
14. Don't Look Back (demo) 3'01
(Billy Vera)
Es PARANZA Maxi-single 8985 (April '90)

Total Time: 61:45


  • Robert Plant - Vocals
  • Chris Blackwell - Drums, Some Guitars
  • Doug Boyle - Master Guitars
  • Phil Johnstone - Keyboards, Some Guitars
  • Charlie Jones - Bass

    Voices on "Watching You" by Siddi Makain Mushkin
    Girl Vocals by Laila Cohen & Caroline Harding
    Some Male Vocals on "Big Love" by Micky Groome & Rob Stride
    Voice over on "White, Clean & Neat" by Jerry Wayne
    Surface-noise on "Your Ma ..." is unavoidable ...

    Produced by Robert Plant & Phil Johnstone
    Co-produced & Engineered by Mark Stent
    Assisted by Jeremy Wheatley and Michael Butterworth
    "Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes On You)" & "Big Love" Mixed by Bill Price
    Design and Art Direction by
    The LEISURE PROCESS
    Electronic Illustrations Created by Julia Stone
    (THAMES TELEVISION PLC)
    Cover Photograph: Ralph Fitzgerald /
    SCREAMING ART

    Reissue Credits:
    Remastered by Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot at DIGIPREP
    Bonus Tracks Remastered and Renovated by Raj Das at RAK RECORDING STUDIOS
    Patience and Supervision: Nicola Powell
    Management: Bill Curbishley at TRINIFOLD

    With Manic Nirvana the voltage increases, the rack turns, the spiral tightens. Plant and his musicians from his 1988 album Now And Zen are joined on bass guitar by Charlie Jones, formerly of VIOLENT BLUE, engaged in an act of extreme physical as well as musical exertion. Rock'n'roll does not get much better than this. The voice on this album is primal; swooping, lustful, loud, durable, winning, brash when it has to be, desperate until satisfied—and not always that. And toward the end, it's epic, operatic. But this is not a revisitation. It is an excavation and a new height in Plant's solo career.
    The reviewers were almost universally blown away. "A real Midas touch", said the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, speaking for most. "Purposely Manic"; "The best album of his solo career"; "His best work yet"; "Takes listener's breath away". The front end of the album is a dictionary of libidinous rock, from playful flirtation to deep, prolonged orgasm. The back end, however, is reflective, symphonic. Yet all the way through, ingenious rhythms often skate shifting sands; there are strata, layers, there are new sounds, elements of mysticism. It was like a wheel coming full circle: Plant claiming territory in the contemporary landscape he had himself moulded. Boyle's guitar, meanwhile, has mutated and amplified. The fastidious layering of Now And Zen is unleashed into a storm of open-E confidence.
    "I'm coming up real fast / I got my eyes on you": what a great way to start a Robert Plant album. "Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes On You)" is a hunting song, good and hard, charged with desire. It's always difficult to tell when Plant is singing, but that is half the tantalising pleasure of it. "Let's talk about love," indeed !
    "Tie Dye On The Highway" — power rock at a time when the species was becoming endangered by the long techno night — features fuzz-tone guitar woven into a bubble-gum tune. It even opens by quoting WAVY GRAVY's promise of "breakfast in bed for 400,000" and the illusion that "we must be in heaven, man". Plant's record collection is brimful with JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD, MOBY GRAPE . . .
    There's a bridge on the album, indeed, with the epic and angry "Anniversary", Boyle playing with soaring grace off a symphonic theme and Plant's voice retreating into darker, strained timbres. "Watching You", with its tantalising injection of Moroccan chromatics and West African drumming . . . fading into a finale chord, to end the work like a great symphony, pointing to the next in the cycle. As the album closes, the rasp of its libidinous opening seems a long time ago, a long way away . . .

    - Ed Vulliamy

    Manic Nirvana (Tracks 1-11) was Originally Released as Es PARANZA 91336 on March 19, '90

    Recorded at OLYMPIC STUDIOS, London, England





    1. Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes on You)

      She's the girl of my dreams - she's the girl on my mind
      She used to play me for a fool 'cause she's the hurting kind

      I lost my heart in the East - another part in the West
      You better jump back baby - you're the girl I love the best

      I'm gonna ride the wind - there's nothing I won't do
      I'm coming up real fast - I got my eyes on you

      I see your eyes of love - well tell me what you see
      I see your long black hair moving over me

      Oh yes, I feel good now, now
      Let's talk about love, let's talk about love
      Let's talk about love, let's talk about it
      Alright, alright, alright, I got my eyes on you
      Alright, alright, alright, I got my eyes on you

      I lost my heart over here - another part over there
      I still got plenty left, and baby I don't care

      Oh, let's talk about love, let's talk about love
      Alright, alright, alright, I got my eyes on you
      Alright, alright, alright, I got my eyes on you

      Don't blame me - I won't hurt you - don't blame me
      It's plain to see you know the real me

      She's the girl of my dreams - she's the girl on my mind
      She used to play me for a fool - she's the hurting kind

      Gonna go around the world - nothing I won't do
      Coming up real fast - I got my eyes on you
      Alright, alright, alright, I got my eyes on you
      Alright, alright, alright, I got my eyes on you

    2. Big Love

      I hear a far-away voice on the telephone line
      Tell me what to think to tell it apart
      Said how about 4,000 miles, and 21 years
      Do you think that's enough for a start?

      I'm up to fifteen thousand and holding
      Pass the time just smiling at you
      But this seat belt is kind of exposing
      Putting pressure on my big love for you
      My big love for you, my big love for you - my big, my big --
      My big love for you, my big love for you - my big, my big --

      Will the hostess think I'm exploding?
      Must have finally got this bird off the ground
      Girl, oh girl, if my tank's overloading
      She's weighted and she loves to go down
      She loves to go down, she loves to go down - she loves, she loves --
      She loves to go down, she loves to go down - she loves, she loves --

      When I fly your friendly skies how I love the big surprise
      I will fill your cup with fire - just give me your free air miles

      When I fly her friendly skies [etc repeated]

      I take myself down the aisle to the bathroom
      Are you sure that there's room here for two
      She says: "fifteen thousand and hold him"
      As we talk about my big love for you
      Yes we talk about my big, we talk about my big
      We talk about my big love for you

      How I love your friendly skies
      I will fill your cup with fire (my big, my big, my big)
      When I fly her friendly skies how I love her big surprise
      I will fill your cup with fire (she loves, she loves, she loves)
      Hello baby, I just love to fly, fly, fly
      I been five days - I've been saving up all of my free air miles
      I got nylon stockings - I got chocolate bars
      I got a nervous criminal in a new Lincoln car
      One time I saw Las Vegas
      (She loves, my big, she loves)
      I stopped in a motel - I slept in the same room as Jimmy Page
      They just finished remodelling it from the '75 tour
      I got my free air miles
      (She loves, she loves, my big)
      When I fly her friendly skies how I love her big surprise
      I will fill your cup with fire (she loves, my big, she loves)
      Free air miles - big love
      Free air miles - big love

    3. S S S & Q

      I'll kiss the flower in your hair
      I'll kiss your flower everywhere
      I give my love but you don't care that I want you

      Was it like heaven in your arms?
      Or was it some place else that charmed?
      My self-control is on my arm - I want you

      Here comes the rain again - there goes another lonely day
      If I could only whisper to you across the whole, I'll say

      I've spent the hours in your caress
      Your caress is still the best
      Oh mother of God, I've made a mess - I love you

      Here comes the rain again [etc repeated]

      Girl, girl - all my world
      Make me, take me if you would
      Soak, shake, splash, and quake
      Taste your flower - tastes so good

      Here comes the rain again - there goes another lonely day
      If I could only whisper to you across the whole, I'll say
      Here comes the pain again, while you're so far away
      I lie and wonder whether it's just too much to pay

      My close attention took my seed
      You satisfy my every need
      Gonna let it grow for another year
      I need you, I need you, I need you --

      Girl, girl - all my world

      [etc repeated]

    4. I Cried


      I cried, babe - oh, I cried
      I saw you in a movie - or was it on my wall
      I never dreamed you'd talk to me - I never dreamed at all

      You fitted very strongly - you might have changed my life
      Oh, I was very young then - you came along just right
      This is what I cried
      Now you know I cried

      I walked the stellar ceiling - my feet were off the ground
      You talked of something permanent when Saturday comes round
      This is what I cried
      This is why I cried
      This is what I cried
      Now you know I cried

      Kisses gone crazy - come on, tease me 'till I scream
      Promise is a maybe, running through my dream
      It's what I hear you whisper, soft across my room
      Chase my whole confusion - wrest me from my gloom
      This is what I cried
      Now you know I cried

      Your eyes are where the summer lives in pools of quiet fire
      Come mess with my sincerity - go down on my desire
      I feast on your expression - the smile that tells it all
      On my mind forever - forever on my wall
      This is what I cried
      Now you know I cried
      This is what I cried
      This is what I cried

    5. She Said

      Don't bring me fresh horses - let me ride the wild beat
      Women in houses - I can't deal with their heat
      If this is salvation, I'm not sure if it's theirs anymore

      Reveal me treasures - my loan to ye own
      I'm not quite sure
      Maybe baby - just a little misinformed
      It's funny honey - I can swear that I've seen it before
      I don't know why, I don't know why

      Ten men standing with their backs to the wall
      Shrink from the knowledge - they throw gold in a hole
      What's really sad, you know - they don't mind at all

      Don't give me gestures - you don't know what they mean
      Same old expressions - same familiar old themes
      Your body's talking - I can swear that I've heard it all before

      I don't know why you lied, I don't know why you lied
      I don't know, I don't know, I don't know why
      She said
      I don't know why you lied, I don't know why you lied
      I don't know, I don't know, I don't know why

      You know when the deal goes down
      It's time to leave and you're on your own
      I will walk with you - in my very heart you'll find a home

      She said: "Maybe you will"
      I said: "Maybe I will, maybe I won't - with me, I won't"
      She said: "Maybe you will"
      I said: "Whatever you do is whatever you do"
      Whatever you do is whatever you do
      Whatever you do, whatever you do
      And she said

      Come let me ride - come let me ride the wild beast
      Come let me ride - come let me ride the wild beast

    6. Nirvana

      Love is in the stars - love's heaven sent
      Brush your lips and mine - taste my good intent
      Lay it on real close, inside my crazy arms
      Come on feel your Daddy's love, I won't do you no harm

      How you feel inside - you are the enchanter
      Take me on through the night - fantasy in the desert

      Calm my raging fire - meld my love control
      Coax me with your showers of love - feel my body roll

      How you feel inside [etc repeated]

      Love will seize the mind - its power at your command
      Prisoner in your arms of love - captive in your hands

      How you feel inside [etc repeated]

      Oh Nirvana
      I love you, love you, love you, love you

      How you feel inside [etc repeated]

      Oh Nirvana
      I love you, love you, love you, love you

      Holy Moses - mi amigo
      Mystic biscuit - mind your lingo
      Walk in circles - stand by truth
      Watch out boys - she's after you
      She's after you - she's gonna get you
      Here she comes - watch out !

    7. Nirvana

      Tie dye on the highway - see the garlands in your hair
      If you're going my way, come along
      What a beautiful sky - we just had to stop and stare
      See the beautiful colours fill the air

      (Oh, just the messengers of peace)
      Oh, do you remember - across the burning years
      Sweet smell of the mystery I recall
      Hang me on Miguel - a smile through all my fears
      O high Olympus, touch our soul

      With the messengers of peace and the company of love
      All the passion and release, and love from up above
      Say you will come back with me - say you will come back

      Tie dye on the highway - the wheels still turn around
      Dance to the mariachi - take my hand
      Hope springs eternal when laughter's feeling sound
      Move in the mystic wasted land

      With the messenger of peace and the company of love
      All the passion and release, and love from up above
      (You know that it is true)
      From the desert in my art, where the innocent may love
      All the passions they release, and the love from up above
      Say you will come back with me - say you will come back
      Say you will come back with me - say you will come back

    8. Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night

      Your ma said you cried in your sleep last night
      Your ma said you cried in your sleep last night
      Should have seen the look in her eye
      I had to tell her some little white lies

      I know I haven't been so true to you
      I know I haven't been so true to you
      Don't you cry, don't you cry, don't you cry no more
      Ain't gonna be the way it was before

      Oh, I love you - oh, I love you
      Let me kiss you - let me hold you tight
      Oh, I love you - oh, I love you so much
      My ma said I cried, my ma said I cried
      My ma said I cried in my sleep last night

      All the other guys got their eyes on you
      All the other guys got their eyes on you
      I'm comin' home, comin' home, comin' home for sure
      Ain't gonna be the way it was before

      Oh, I love you - oh, I love you
      Let me kiss you - let me hold you tight
      Oh, I love you - oh, I love you
      I need you so much, and my ma said I cried
      My ma said I cried, my ma said I cried
      My ma said I cried in my sleep last night

      Said hey hey, mama, said the way you move
      Gonna make you sweat - gonna make you groove
      Cause I love you - I love you
      Oh oh, child - said the way you swing
      Gonna make you burn - gonna make you sting
      'Cause I love - 'cause I love you so much
      And my ma said I cried, my ma said I cried
      My ma said I cried in my sleep last night

    9. Anniversary

      What is this land, that I have found
      There is silence all around
      It's the anniversary

      Feel the fear and sad decree
      Keeps my fragile heart at beat
      On the anniversary

      Through these dark and lonely streets
      Drag my ragged grainy feet
      It's the anniversary, the anniversary
      It's the anniversary

      How far is hate away from this
      I, reluctant, feel your kiss
      On the anniversary, the anniversary
      The anniversary

      Don't want to feel your kiss no more

    10. Liars Dance

      Far four winds blow
      There's trouble and it won't go
      I'd really like to help you but you know
      Truth twist - liars dance
      Money, money - greed, chance
      Let's take a little more before we go
      Cause we won't be back again
      No we won't be back again

      Trees cry - men bow
      Kneel before the fatted cow
      Let's take a little moo before we go
      We won't be back again
      No we won't be back again
      Oh we won't be back again

      Tell me Jesus what to do
      A little time for me, and none for you
      Just leave it to the lady who's sure
      She won't be back again
      I know she won't be back again
      I'm sure she won't be back again
      Oh she won't be back again

    11. Watching You

      In sleep I am drawn - I feel guilty at dawn
      Come over the mountains, come over the sea
      Should my darkness prevail - does your memory fail?
      Oh love on the wing, carry my prayer
      Cherish this moment in times of despair
      Over the mountains, over the sea
      Angel of love, come back home to me

      Are your kisses so warm - can you carry my storm?
      I look at the moon and you're gone
      Love on the wing, carry my prayer
      Cherish this moment in times of despair
      Over the mountains, over the sea
      Angel of love, please come on home to me
      Come back home, come back home, come back home

      Love on the wing, carry my prayer
      Cherish this moment in times of despair
      Over the mountains, over the sea
      Angel of love, bring it back home to me
      Come back home to me

      I see my disgrace - can I touch you right now?
      From this beautiful place
      I see my disgrace - can I touch you right now?
      I'm tired of watching you
      Oh, I'm tired of watching you

    12. Oomaph (Watery Bint)

      Lover's ties, so cold in the night
      .. arise, ... here in my fright
      Oh careless love, what should I do
      There's something wrong, there's something wrong with you

      Had a mood in arms, and then
      Turn around and walk right out again
      Oh crazy love, what can I do
      There's something wrong, there's something wrong with you
      Oh, shouldn't do that to me
      Oh, put me in a jeopardy, make me in a jeopardy
      Oh, shouldn't do that to me
      Maybe you should, maybe
      Through the mist, watch those shadows creep
      All those visions, slide up from the deep
      Oh foolish heart, what can I do
      There's something wrong, there's something wrong with you
      Oh, shouldn't do that to me, no
      Oh, I'm in jeopardy, you put me in a jeopardy
      Oh, shouldn't do that to me
      Maybe you should, maybe
      In my ways, I lose control
      My naked heart, yeah, with a hand to hold
      Oh pourous love, what can we do
      We're trapped forever in this cellule
      Oh, shouldn't do that to me, well
      Now, put me in jeopardy, you're foolin' with my jeopardy
      Oh, shouldn't do that to me, now
      Maybe, maybe, oh to have a jive
      Whaaa !

      [Distorted telephone conversation]

    13. One Love

      One for love I can't resist
      Two for your pretty brown eyes Crazy like this
      Three for the stars Around my head Four for the way you smile

      Crazy instead That's why, oh you're all mine
      Five for the fire The power of love
      Six for the glory From up above Thats why, oh that's why
      It takes a One Heart, One Love N-n-now baby love one another
      One dream, one kiss
      Now come on now baby don't you treat me like this
      Seven songs
      That never change Eight for the heart of gold
      Nine... That's why, oh all mine One heart, just one love
      N-now baby love one another One dream, one kiss
      Come on now baby don't you treat me like this
      That's why, oh, oh that's why
      Yes that's why, oh, baby that's why
      Ooh, yeah, that's why, oh that's why
      It's one love, one love, one love, one love, one love Oh-ah

    14. Don't Look Back

      You both made your bed and now
      You're gonna have to sleep there
      Old Man Blues is goin' to try
      Try to find you everywhere
      [Don't look back] oh, you better not look now

      [Don't look back] he's coming for you
      [Don't look back] keep on running
      Running till the end of time, oh yeah
      If you both have faith you'll find
      A sunny day
      Don't be bothered by what
      Smaller minds have got to say, just
      [Don't look back] oh, you better not look now
      [Don't look back] he's coming after you
      [Don't look back] you gotta keep running, yeah
      Running till the end of time, yeah
      [One thing I wanna say]
      [One thing I wanna say] wanna say now
      [One thing I wanna say] oh yeah
      [One thing I wanna say]
      Talk, talk, talk, talking trash
      Talk, talk, talking trash
      Truth is the light [truth is the light]
      The light is the way [light is the way]
      The less folk know [the less they know]
      The more they've got to say [yeah, yeah]
      And if you want me to [uh-huh]
      Here's what I'll do for you [all right]
      I'll light a candle and I'll pray
      The Lord will bless you
      I hope that someday He will understand
      But till they do
      [Don't look back] oh, you better not look now
      [Don't look back] he's coming after you
      [Don't look back] you gotta keep running, yeah
      Running till the end of time, oh yeah
      [Don't look back] oh, you better not look now
      [Don't look back] he's coming after you
      [Don't look back] you'd better keep running, yeah
      Running till the end of time, oh yeah
      Truth is the light
      The light is the way
      The less folk know
      The more they have to say