DESCRIPTION:
The Chronicle of the Black Sword is the fourteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1985. It spent two weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #65.[2] The album is based upon the adventures of Elric of Melniboné, a recurring character in the novels of science fiction author Michael Moorcock, a long standing associate of the group, who contributes lyrics to one track on the album.

After two years of constant lineup changes, guitarist Dave Brock (the only member who has remained since the band's formation) settled on a lineup of himself, guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton, keyboardist Harvey Bainbridge bassist Alan Davey and drummer Danny Thompson (son of Pentangle's bassist Danny Thompson).

Though the album is based around Elric, "Needle Gun" is a reference to Jerry Cornelius, another of Moorcock's fictional characters. The lyrics were ghost written by Roger Neville-Neil.[3]

Prior to the recording of the album, the group appeared on Channel 4's ECT on 26 April and recorded a session for BBC Radio 1 on 19 July. They headlined an anti-heroin festival at Crystal Palace on 24 August, with a guest appearance from Lemmy.

The group undertook a 29 date UK tour in November and December to promote the album, with support from Dumpy's Rusty Nuts.[4] The Hammersmith Odeon shows on 3 and 4 December were filmed and recorded, released as the video The Chronicle of the Black Sword and album Live Chronicles, and featured a guest appearance from Moorcock.

It has been issued on CD multiple times, each with differing bonus tracks. The latest issue in 2009 includes 1984's The Earth Ritual Preview EP.

So you're alive, I thought you was done
So you're alive, I thought you was done I'm gonna bring you down with my needle gun Feel my pin-prick tattoo your spine
Give it a minute,
Your life's entwined with mine
It's gonna make you run Needle needle, needle needle gun It's gonna make you run Needle needle, needle needle gun
Hear my laughter In your head It's a pity, it's a shame Nothing's been said
It's a vaccination joy
With the ultimate death toy
It's gonna make you run Needle gun, needle gun
It's gonna make you run Needle needle, needle needle gun It's gonna make you run Needle needle, needle needle gun
So you're alive,
I thought you was done I'm gonna bring you down with my needle gun
Feel my pin-prick tattoo your spine
Give it a minute, Your life's entwined with mine
It's gonna make you run Needle needle, needle needle gun It's gonna make you run Needle needle, needle needle gun
Hear my laughter In your head It's a pity, it's a shame
Nothing's been said It's a vaccination joy
With the ultimate death toy It's gonna make you run Needle gun, needle gun
It's gonna make you run Needle needle,
needle needle gun It's gonna make you run
Needle needle, needle needle gun
It's gonna make you run
Needle needle, needle needle gun
It's gonna make you run Needle needle, needle needle gun
It's gonna make you run Needle needle, needle needle gun
It's gonna make you run
Evil needle, needle needle gun