It won't give up it wants me dead. Goddamn this noise inside my head.

Polls are closed. theninth is our winner. (Email me a shipping address please?)

AND THE ANSWERS ARE:

Jethro Tull, "Something's On The Move."

hawkwing_lb
and
theninth

She wore a black tiara
rare gems upon her fingers
and she came from distant waters
where northern lights explode
to celebrate the dawning
of the new wastes of winter
gathering royal momentum
on the icy road.
With chill mists swirling
like petticoats in motion
sighted on horizons
for ten thousand years
the lady of the ice sounds
a deathly distant rumble
to Titanic-breaking children lost
in melting crystal tears.

Black Sabbath, "Iron Man"

peacockharpy

He was turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
Where he traveled time
For the future of mankind

Nobody wants him
He just stares at the world
Planning his vengeance
That he will soon unfold

Now the time is here
For iron man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved

I can't believe nobody got that one. I thought it was a total gimme.

I'm allowing the Elvis Costello song "Man out of time," however, as close enough for government work.

David Bowie, "TVC-15"

hawkwing_lband
rikibeth

Up every evening 'bout half eight or nine
I give my complete attention
to a very good friend of mine
He's quadraphonic, he's a,
he's got more channels
So hologramic,
oh my T V C one five
I brought my baby home, she
She sat around forlorn
She saw my T V C one five, baby's gone, she
She crawled right in, oh my
She crawled right in my
So hologramic,
oh my T V C one five
Oh, so demonic,
oh my T V C one five

Maybe if I pray every, each night I sit there pleading

"Send back
my dream test baby,
She's my main feature"
My T V C one five, he, he just
Stares back unblinking
So hologramic,
oh my T V C one five
One of these nights I may just
Jump down that rainbow way, be with my baby, then
Thank dog somebody got this one. I was mourning for you all.

Led Zeppelin, "Over the Hills and Far Away," one of their four (4!) Tolkien songs. And the least-known. Trick question: this is the one that relates to The Hobbit. Thus, the short guy in the clue. *g*

Many dreams come true
And some have silver linings
I live for my dream
And a pocketful of gold.

No, I have no idea where the chick comes from. But at least Bilbo got laid.

Tracy Chapman, "Hard Wired"

We've got a box to put in your brain
Hard wired for downloading
All the secrets and the mysteries
You've been selfishly withholding

Make you think you like to be watched
Displayed on the auction block
Invaded in your own home
Stripped naked on the television
Humiliated in front of millions

I knew it was a hard song, but I thought you'd get the artist, at least.

Nine Inch Nails, "the becoming"

I am ashamed of you all. Go buy this album now.

I beat my machine its a part of me its inside of me
I'm stuck in this dream its changing me I am becoming
The me that you know had some second thoughts
He's covered with scabs and he is broken and sore
The me that you know doesn't come around much
That part of me isn't here anymore
All pain disappears it's the nature of my circuitry
Drowns out all I hear theres no escape from this my new consciousness
That me that you know used to have feelings
But the blood has stopped pumping and he's left to decay
The me that you know is now made up of wires
And even when I'm right with you I'm so far away
I can try to get away but I've strapped myself in
I can try to scratch away the sound in my ears
I can see it killing away all my bad parts
I dont want to listen but it's all too clear
Hiding backwards inside of me I feel so unafraid
Hold a little tighter I might just slip away

It won't give up it wants me dead
Goddamn this noise inside my head

Mike & the Mechanics, "Silent Running"

loligo
and
theninth

Take the children and yourself
And hide out in the cellar
By now the fighting will be close at hand
Dont believe the church and state
And everything they tell you
Believe in me, I'm with the high command

Can you hear me, can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?
Can you hear me, can you hear me running?
Can you hear me running, can you hear me calling you?

Nena, "99 Red Balloons" aka "99 Luftballoons"

cheshyre
purpleprimateronin_kakuhito
peacockharpyloligo
ckd
rikibeth
theninth
and
coffeeandink

Clearly, the best-known track on the quiz:

Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells, it's red alert
There's something here
From somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky
Where 99 red balloons go by

Peter Schilling, "Major Tom (Coming Home)," which is a responsorial to David Bowie's "Space Oddity," (And a trick question, because Bowie has a 1980 sequel, "Ashes to Ashes." The date is important.

peacockharpy
loligo
ckd
hernewshoes
akirlu
rikibeth
and
theninth

Also, a gimme, other than the tricky aspect.

second stage is cut
we're now in orbit
stabilizers up
runnning perfect
starting to collect
requested data
what will it effect
when all is done
thinks Major Tom

back at ground control
there is a problem
go to rockets full
not responding
"hello Major Tom
are you receiving
turn the thrusters on
we're standing by"
there's no reply

4 3 2 1
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
calling calling home...

Yes, I could have filled the entire quiz with Bowie songs. Or Tull. or Blue Oyster Cult...

Blondie, "Rapture"

peacockharpy
akirlu
mojave_wolf
and
theninthI was shocked this didn't get more answers:

Go out to the parking lot
And you get in your car and you drive real far
And you drive all night and then you see a light
And it comes right down and lands on the ground
And out comes a man from Mars
And you try to run but he's got a gun
And he shoots you dead and he eats your head
And then you're in the man from Mars
You go out at night, eatin' cars
You eat Cadillacs, Lincolns too
Mercurys and Subarus
And you don't stop, you keep on eatin' cars
Then, when there's no more cars
You go out at night and eat up bars where the people meet
Face to face, dance cheek to cheek
One to one, man to man
Dance toe to toe
Don't move too slow, 'cause the man from Mars
Is through with cars, he's eatin' bars
Yeah, wall to wall, door to door, hall to hall
He's gonna eat 'em all
Rapture, be pure
Take a tour, through the sewer
Don't strain your brain, paint a train
You'll be singin' in the rain
I said don't stop, do punk rock

Well now you see what you wanna be
Just have your party on TV
'Cause the man from Mars won't eat up bars when the TV's on
And now he's gone back up to space
Where he won't have a hassle with the human race
And you hip-hop, and you don't stop
Just blast off, sure shot
'Cause the man from Mars stopped eatin' cars and eatin' bars
And now he only eats guitars, get up!

The Buggles, "Clean, Clean"

akirlu

Oh go Johnny gonna fight the war
shotgun in the morning at the local liquor store
oh go talking bout them diesel fuels
Johnny tell the chaplain go and polish his tombs
lying on the wasteground with a blanket on his face
indicating that he's left the human race
hell went open when the world came in
gotta keep your head if you wanna win
I'm gonna take a ride, gonna pick up the team
gonna go where we've never been
I'm gonna pick up the team
(picking up, pickin up the team)
now you know it's hard to keep the fighting

Man. Does nobody remember that song? It's an awesome tune.

Talking Heads, "(Nothing but) Flowers"

loligo
and
theninth

Once there were parking lots
Now it's a peaceful oasis
you got it, you got it

This was a Pizza Hut
Now it's all covered with daisies
you got it, you got it

I miss the honky tonks,
Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens
you got it, you got it

Oingo Boingo, "No Spill Blood"

I thought all of you weirdos would get this one. Come on, it's Boingo!

I'm not going to allow the Wakeman CD on this one, because it's not pop (though of course Yes is, or prog-rock anyway), and I'm not allowing the musical War of the Worlds, because, dude, musical. Also not pop.

(What is the law)
No spill blood
What is the law
(No spill blood)
(Who makes the rules)
Someone else
Who makes the rules
(Someone else)

The rules are written in the stone
Break the rules and you get no bones
All you get is ridicule, laughter
And a trip to the house of pain!

We walk on two legs not on four
To walk on four legs breaks the law
What happens when we break the law?
What happens when the rules aren't fair?
We all know here we go from there
To the house of pain!

It's Dr. Moreau! Work with me here!

Queensryche, "I Dream In Infrared"

Okay, this one was completely freaking obscure. I admit it. Buried track off an unknown album. But I did think that the hint about the church-sponsored hit man would get some sugar.

As you awoke this morning
and opened up your eyes
Did you notice the tear-stains
lining your face were mine

Don't you wonder, can't you see
what's happening to our lives
I can't keep living this masquerade
When my lonely eyes see only your face at night

I only see in infrared
I can't dream anymore
Can't you see I need, too
I can't stand the pain

You've gathered all my secrets
and I don't know who I am
I even feel alone when you're near
'cause you'll never understand

Shriekback, "Faded Flowers"

...I even mentioned XTC. I tried to help.

Only the anacrucis
the main event remains
Shameful and naked, out there in the
great cold outdoors
We have to learn these things again
Bathe in this incandescent glow
the leap to something I don't know
There is no doubt upon us when
the greasy men come back again

These eyes are blind
This is a pure thing
These hands I kiss
Tragic as anything
These eyes are blind
This is a pure thing
All splash and hiss
Beyond my measuring
These faded flowers
Precious as memory
A veil of cloud
Correct as energy
We had some good machines
But they don't work no more
I loved you once
Don't love you anymore

Love that song. Love it.

And the bonus question is Johnny Cash, "When The Man Comes Around."

The hairs on your arm will stand up. At the terror in each sip and in each sup. For you partake of that last offered cup, Or disappear into the potter's ground. When the man comes around.

Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers. One hundred million angels singin'. Multitudes are marching to the big kettle drum. Voices callin', voices cryin'. Some are born an' some are dyin'. It's Alpha's and Omega's Kingdom come.

And the whirlwind is in the thorn tree. The virgins are all trimming their wicks. The whirlwind is in the thorn tree. It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Till Armageddon, no Shalam, no Shalom. Then the father hen will call his chickens home. The wise men will bow down before the throne. And at his feet they'll cast their golden crown. When the man comes around.

Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still. Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still. Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still. Listen to the words long written down, When the man comes around.