"philosophical vein behind the up-and-running light soul sounds" by Q reviewer Phil Sutcliffe. "Life of Surprises" was not part of the original 1985 running order of Protest Songs; it dates from the demo sessions in Lynx Studios for From Langley Park to Memphis in late 1986. This recording was first released as a B-side on the single of "Nightingales" before its inclusion on Protest Songs. In his review of Protest Songs, Stuart Maconie considered the song to be a potential hit single. Maconie was proven right in 1992 when the song gave its name to Prefab Sprout's first best of collection, A Life of Surprises: The Best of Prefab Sprout and was released as a single to promote it. "Life of Surprises" became one of the band's greatest successes on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 24. "Wicked Things" was one of the ten tracks listed in NMEs "Alternative Best of Prefab Sprout" in 1992. "Dublin", which features only McAloon accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, is about the Troubles. McAloon maintained in several interviews that Steve McQueen would have been improved had "Dublin" been included on it, saying; "We could have had the ultimate killer album, a record beyond all other records". "Tiffanys" is among the earliest-written Prefab Sprout songs, dating to the band's formation in 1977. It is about Newcastle nightclub Tiffany's, described by McAloon as "very seedy". The band performed in the venue's function room in 1983. "Tiffanys" was frequently included in the band's setlists in the years leading up to its 1985 recording. "Diana" was written in 1982. A regular number in the band's concerts, "Diana" was considered for inclusion on Swoon, and at one time was planned to be released as a non-album single in Autumn 1984. It is the second of two tracks on Protest Songs that had previously been released; an earlier recording (produced by Hal Remingto) was the B-side of "When Love Breaks Down" in 1984. "Diana" is about the deification of Diana, Princess of Wales. McAloon elaborated in an 1984 interview "It’s really about the Daily Mail, the way they wrote about her. The burden she had". "Talking Scarlet", which concerns forbidden lust, lent its name to the band's official fan club newsletters. "Till the Cows Come Home" is about a provincial place, and McAloon considered it one of the album's best songs. Like "Dublin", McAloon felt the song would've elevated