That's When I Reach for My Revolver

"That's When I Reach for My Revolver" is a song by Mission of Burma that was written and sung by band member Clint Conley. It appears on their 1981 EP "Signals, Calls and Marches". The Chicago punk band Pegboy covered the song on their 1994 album "Earwig," shortening the title to "Revolver." It was later remade by Moby, and reached number fifty on the UK Singles Chart. It was also covered by then Blur guitarist Graham Coxon as well as Rob Dickinson's band Catherine Wheel.

Catherine Wheel version

Catherine Wheel recorded a version of "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" for their 1992 EP "30 Century Man". Notably, the song also features slightly altered lyrics from the original, such as the replacement of "The spirit fights to find its way" with "That feeling passes by this way".

Moby version

Infobox Single
Name = That's When I Reach for My Revolver


Artist = Moby
from Album = Animal Rights
Genre = Punk rock
Released = August 26, 1996
Recorded = Unknown
Length = 3:55
Writer = Clint Conley
Producer = Moby
Last single = "Bring Back My Happiness" (1996)
This single = "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" (1996)
Next single = "Come on Baby" (1996)

Moby made a cover the song in 1996 for his rock/punk album Animal Rights, it reached number fifty on the UK Singles Chart.

The original version of "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" had the lyrics "Tonight the sky is empty/But that is nothing new/Its dead eyes look upon us/And they tell me we're nothing but slaves." Moby changed the lyrics, and the change most noticeable is the third line ("Instead they look upon us"). The title of the song caused some controversy, and BBC and MTV asked Moby to change the lyrics. Moby re-recorded the song as "That's When I Realize It's Over", and said he did not find the lyrics change to be very important.

Graham Coxon version

Graham Coxon recorded a version of "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" for his second album "The Golden D", released in 2000. This song was never released as a single but is sometimes used in Coxon's live sets.