God Only Knows

The Fury was the first Numan album that I didn't think was incredible. The cover was pretty lame. Numan in a white suit and a red bow tie - very dull. The font - dreadful. Musically and lyrically it was still pretty strong, however; if only the darkness and seediness of the lyrics could have been reflected in the image.

Although The Fury reached number 24 in the U.K. album chart, which was higher than Berserker and the associated live album, White Noise Live, it did mark the beginning of the serious decline in Numan's sales.

The song I have chosen as my favourite track from The Fury is God Only Knows, a beautiful song with very powerful lyrics recounting a near-death experience Gary Numan had when flying his twin-engined plane around the world. In the middle of a giant storm the engines repeatedly died. Each time the engines quit, Gary and his co-pilot just had to sit back and wait for death until, each time, the engines kicked in again.

I have an emotional attachment to this photograph. This plane is taking Valerie from Itami Airport to Narita Airport; the first step on her journey to Spokane for a six weeks home stay. I'm missing her already.

I was waiting for something
I was listening to my breathing
Like a man listening to life

I was looking for fire
It could take me or leave me
It could all just burn away

The oxygen law
It reminds me

I'd been surrounded for hours
By the sound of thinking metal
And I knew something was wrong

I can tell you what fear is
It is the smell of burning
And I'd been close once before

I waited a long time
How I survived God only knows
It seemed like forever
How I survived God only knows
I don't like the memory
How I survived God only knows
How I survived God only knows

I remember the feeling
I'll remember forever
How it all just came apart

I don't believe in praying
I don't believe in a God
Now I question everything

The dreamer is gone
I'm an old man

I could tell you of horror
I could show you the pieces
But I just want to forget

I'm not sure if I saw it
I'm not sure if I heard it
I just screamed 'I can't get out'
'I can't get out'