“Universal Corner” is the fourth song on Wild Gift, the 1981 album by Los Angeles punk band X.
From the Wild Gift booklet:
“‘Universal Corner’ is about longing and taking the bus,” says John [Doe]. “I had a car when I wrote that song, but I took the bus intentionally to write it, although the bus...
[Verse 1]
Slip around some universal corner
(Like a woman)
Slip around some corner, pick up the phone
(Like a woman)
She must build a fire next to the pay phone
Heat is the point, smoke on the receiver
Light up to its universal ringing
(Like a woman)
Picking it up, her heat finds the night and rises
And rises
[Verse 2]
She lets you in on her perfect secret
(Like a woman)
She wants a man who knows all the right places
(Like a woman)
Washing his feet with her tears, she'd dry them with her hair
Among the undefiled, she's gone wild
Her sins will sin from behind her
(Like a woman)
Dropping the phone, she leaves it dead to the dead men
The dead men
[Chorus]
Screaming Magdalene
So alone, she picks up the phone
Screaming Magdalene
I'm so waiting, is there anyone so waiting?
Screaming Magdalene
She is running
[Verse 3]
Slip around some universal corner
(Like a woman)
Slip around some corner, pick up the phone
(Like a woman)
She must build a fire next to the pay phone
Heat is the point, smoke on the receiver
Light up to its universal ringing
(Like a woman)
Picking it up, her heat finds the night and rises
And rises
[Chorus]
Screaming Magdalene
So alone, she picks up the phone
Screaming Magdalene
I'm so waiting, is there anyone so waiting?
Screaming Magdalene
She is running
Universal Corner was written by John Doe (X) & Exene Cervenka.
Universal Corner was produced by Ray Manzarek.
X released Universal Corner on Tue May 12 1981.