Do you know what you look like before you go out? Do you know what you look like before you go out?
But I say happy memories leave a bitter taste I say happy memories leave a bitter taste I need a good brain wash agent To cut out this present shout of
Do you know what you look like before you go out? Do you know what you look like before you go out?
That's why you eat crap food That's why nobody talks to you That's why you messed up everything you do
Do you know what you look like before you go out? Do you know what you look like before you go out? Look, know, look
He was the first one to wear a flying jacket and go to a club And she has the general policy of not being seen dead in a pub Straight leg jeans when she goes out There's a microbe attached to their brains that itches And gives a morning shout
Do you know what you look like before you go out? Do you know what you look like before you go out?
But I say happy memories leave a bitter taste I got a prison in me 1 Our bodies weren't made for times like these I always have a wash, and that's enough
Do you know what you look like before you go out?
You gotta know what you look like nowadays, before you go out Or some existential crap will write about you They say don't drink alcohol You gotta know what you look like, oh!, before you go out Know, look, look
But I say get it down yer neck Ein beer And I will you and you attack attack Pure Sartre food Catchment club
Do you know what you look like before you go out? Do you know what you look like before you go out? Do you know what you look like before you go out? Before you go out? Before you go out?
With all the fashions you filched off faggots With all the fashions you filched off faggots
Do you know what you look like before you go out? Before you go out? Before you go out?
Here's health Here's health
Commentary
< Post in progress >
According to Paul Hanley (2020, p.38), this song was originally titled “Know Look”.
Although ‘Look, Know’ was the only song committed to tape at both of the sessions that made up Hex Enduction Hour‘s recording, it wasn’t included on the final album. Instead it was released as a stand-alone single a month after Hex.
Hanley, Paul (2020), p.142.
Mark E. Smith Reviews His Own Single
Mickey Most could get a better sound on a Lasky’s £15.00 cassette recorder with his toupee on backwards. Even “OTT” get pretentious about this “North”, “Coronation Street”, “Repetition-ah” (delete) consciousness. B-side has Under-23 international Smith belatedly jumping on CB bandwagon with song about some idiot who doesn’t “know” who he is. “Alienating”, “Repulsive” – Bury Times Mid-Weeker.
Mark E. Smith reviews his own single in Melody Maker, 1 May 1982. The B-side was “I’m Into C.B.“, of course.
“OTT” may be a reference to the late-Saturday-night television show O.T.T. (i.e. “Over The Top”), presented by Chris Tarrant and conceived as an adult version of the legendary children’s TV show, Tiswas. As well as Tarrant, many of the other performers had also been involved with Tiswas. O.T.T. was only broadcast for one series, 2 January – 3 April 1982.
The quotes attributed to the Bury Times Midweeker are paraphrased from the local newspaper’s negative review of Hex Enduction Hour. Mark E. Smith hit back wittily prior to “Mere Pseud Mag. Ed.”, during The Fall’s gig at Derby Hall, Bury, on 27 April 1982: “The next number is for the Bury Times Midweeker, who said we were ‘repulsive’. But I don’t have to shove five of my records through one letter-box.”
I tracked down the review in the British Library newspaper archives:
Review by Paul Cravens. Bury Times Midweeker, 6 April 1982, p.11.
This review was referred to by M.E.S. in an interview with Sounds in May 1982:
There’s a thing nowadays where people can’t shut up if they don’t know what they’re talking about. A great disease of the modern age. I got a local paper the other day, I love the crummy layouts and all that. There was a really vicious review of the album, the lad was a fan but he was obviously deeply offended.
Source: Interview with M.E.S. by Sandy Robertson, Sounds, 8 May 1982.
Footnotes
c.f. “The interior is a prison unconscious” from “My New House“. ↩︎
Smith, Mark E. (1982). “Prole in Art Threat Horror.” Melody Maker, 1 May. p.23.
Smith, Mark E. (1985). The Fall Lyrik & Texte Von Mark E. Smith. In Deutsch & Englisch. With Drawings by Brix. Berlin: The Lough Press. [AKA The Orange Book. Available online in The Internet Archive]
Smith, Mark E. (2008). vII. The Lough Press & AMarquisManipulationProductions. [AKA the Blue Lyrics Book]
The Fall never cease to amaze!
On a trip to Veitnam got this in my head
Checked what the heck Smithy is singing
Forgot all about the Veit Cong ref
What Viet Cong reference?
[…] Look, Know […]