1982 Demo version
Running length: 2:42
Musicians & Credits
Dave Sharp – Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar
Mike Peters – Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Acoustic Bass Guitar
Nigel Twist – Drums
Recorded 3rd June 1982 at EMI Studios, London, England
Produced & engineered by Ron Hill

1983 Studio recording of Reason 41
Running length 3:20
Musicians & Credits
Dave Sharp – Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar
Mike Peters – Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Percussion , Backing Vocals
Backing track recorded on 2nd November 1983 at Good Earth Studios, London, England
Overdubs and mix 9th February 1984 at Strawberry Studios, Manchester, England
Produced by Alan Shacklock, Dave Sharp and Eddie Macdonald

(v) 1995 – Elevator Studios, Liverpool, England recording
Running length 2:49
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic, Electric and Bass Guitar, Harmonica
Owen Thomas – Drums
Recorded and mixed at Elevator Studios, Liverpool, England, 16th to 18th September 1995
Produced by Michael Peters
Engineered and mixed by Mark Phythian

All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated


(v) 1995 : Mike Peters – Second Generation Volume 1 – Rare Songs Of The Alarm Revisited 
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C002
1995 Elevator Studios recording

2000 – The Alarm – Eponymous (1981-1983) – 1982 demo recording version. Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C010. (Part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C018)

All are Worldwide Releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)

30th January 1983. Recorded at The Marquee Club, Wardour Street, London, England
Band line up : Dave Sharp, Mike Peters, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Mixed by Steve Tannett. Running length tbc.
This version of the song was released as one of the 2 tracks on the B-side of the 12″ release of The Stand in April 1983.
The Alarm – Eponymous (1981-1983). This 30th January 1983 performance appears on this remastered album released in 2000. – Twenty First Century Recording Company, Cat. No. 21C010. (Part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set Twenty First Century Recording Company, Cat. No. 21C018) (CD) (1982 remastered version). This version was remastered by Mike Peters in 2000 and Engineered by Gary Butler at RTS, Liverpool

Date tbc 1983. Recorded live at Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist.
Running length 2:53
Released on CD in 1999 as The Alarm Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour. (UK, USA, Spain)
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Blaze of Glory. (Europe)
Released on DVD-Audio in 2003 as The Alarm From The Front Row ….. Live! (USA)

24th August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales.
Running length 3:10
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock vol vol 6 – A Road Less Travelled

29th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales.
Running length 5:05
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2004 on Alarmstock 2 vol 8 – The Peace Train

6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England.
Running length 4:01
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III vol 1 – London

5th April 2014. Recorded at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, England.
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2014 on DVD – Declaration – Live From The Deaf Institute (Cat. No. 21CDVD017)

OK This is a song called Reason 41.
One two three four

Well I used to wonder why that
When it’s black there is no white
And why that when it’s day
There is never any night
I got talking to a soldier and he tried to set things right
He said, If you want peace them you will always have to fight
Hey

I went searching in the desert
Where it just began to rain
And I met up with this drunken bum who said he’d lost his name
He said, I put it in this bottle and it drifted out to sea
I said, there is no water here and he walked away from me

So then I asked for help from a very clever man
He kept looking down at his figures
He was a very busy man
I told him what the problem was
He said, that’s sad. I’d like to help you boy but there is nothing I can add

Guitar

Now my throat was getting dry And I was feeling kinda rough
But I just kept on searching ’till that I’d had enough
I came across a doctor he said, his cure was the best
He diagnosed my troubles, but I didn’t get no rest

One more time

Now I was really kind of puzzled
By the things that had been said
And all the people that I’ve mentioned started spinning round my head
I gave it up for lost and it suddenly was clear
The only reason you are there is ‘cos I’m over here
Hey!

Reason No.1

Well I used to wonder why that
When it’s black there is no white
And why that when it’s daylight
There is never any night
I got talking to a soldier and he tried to set things right
He said, If you want peace them you will always have to fight
Hey

Reason No.9

I went searching in the desert
Where it just began to rain
And I met up with this drunken bum who said he’d lost his name
He said, I put it in this bottle and it drifted out to sea
I said, there is no water here and he walked away from me

So then I asked for help from a very clever man
He kept looking down at his figures
He was a very busy man
I told him what the problem was
He said, well that’s sad. I’d like to help you boy but there is nothing I can add

Reason No. 24

Now my throat was getting dry And I was feeling kinda rough
But I just kept on searching ’till that I’d had enough
I came across a doctor he said, his cure was the best
He diagnosed my troubles, but I didn’t get no rest

Reason No. 31

Now I was really confused
By the things that had been said
All the people that I’ve met
Started spinning round my head
I gave it up for lost and it suddenly was clear
The only reason you are there is ‘cos I’m over here
Hey!

Keep on searching