WITHOUT REASON OR RHYME [THE KILLING OF HARRY STANLEY] On September 22 1999, an unarmed Harry Stanley was walking home when he was shot dead by an armed police response unit. Someone had rung the cops claiming that “a man with an Irish accent” - Harry was Scottish - was carrying “a sawn-off shotgun in a plastic bag” - the bag contained a table leg which needed mending. Harry’s family are still pursuing the case.

The Lyrics
I wish, I wish, but it’s all in vain

On hands and knees
Floors like these
Washing away
Red from grey

Hearts will ache
Shotgun-shaped
No remorse
Of course, of course

Of course there’s an explanation
Why you sing without reason or rhyme
Without reason or rhyme

Everyone
Must be wrong
This explains
Where he lays

Hearts can kill
And they will
Filed reports
Of course, of course

Of course there’s an explanation
Why you sing without reason or rhyme
Without reason or rhyme