Half Man Half Biscuit Half Hearted

Half Man Half Biscuit Half Hearted

Ah yes. Why spend time typing up the lyrics to Half Man Half Biscuit songs? Because they are gems like no other. We celebrate British bands and artists for seminal musical works (think Bowie or Elvis Costello) and, unless you happen to know the late John Peel's inside leg measurement or you were enlightened as a student, the majesty, wit and sheer intelligence of the HMHB opus is ignored. Shame, shame, shame.


Over the years a number of web sites have recorded some lyrics and a multitude of research notes for the songs [see the excellent www.hmhb.co.uk]. The latter are invaluable to understanding the wide ranging and often obscure historical references. The former are a mixed bag, with only a few songs listed.


So what started out as a full hearted attempt by me to record the lyrics so my sister could understand the songs has developed into a blog post and a project to educate the half-hearted masses and to provide a definitive song list with lyrics.

They'll be other crap on here too such as my own songs "Progressive Dads", "People called Wilson", "Blog-proof iPod", "Armchair Expert" and "Holistically Challenged"- I need to finish writing them first :)

"...Baby I'm from the Wirral Peninsula.
A merciless despot with nothing to lose"

Monkey Man, June 2007

Please note that all lyrics are mostly my interpretation and are presented here to assist you in understanding the songs. They are the copyright of others.

You should also pay a visit to www.chrisrand.com/hmhb/ for HMHB lyrics - a superb site with a superb range of listings

Wednesday, 20 June 2007

Tyrolean Knockabout [Cammel Laird Social Club]

I’ve been strolling down my favourite lane
And I’ve been bowling my left-arm occasionals again
Life gets sweeter the more that I understand
The flora and the fauna and the hedgerows
Abound in this land

Monday morning the field paths are calling my name
No storm warning is going to stop me setting out again
You could join me
My flask is full to the brim
And let’s face it it beats skulking round the 7” import section with him

I’m keeping my feet above the mulch of the bottom with song
A drink and a four-handed reel as I ramble along
Let’s hear it for the brakeman without him I would have to find more words
Yodal-leyheeeee

I’ve been goading D-list Paul Ross for a laugh
By unloading outside what he would call his “gaff”
Old fridge-freezers doors all removed like we’re told
His face at the window on waking a sight to behold

I’m keeping my feet above the mulch….Etc


And now the notes taken from www.hmhb.co.uk

Tyrol Region of Austria, Innsbruck, skiing and the like.
"keeping my feet above the mulch of the barton" First sentence of Phase the Third, Chapter 2 of Tess of the d'Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy) reads, "The dairymaids and men had flocked down from their cottages and out of the dairy-house with the arrival of the cows from the meads; the maids walking in pattens, not on account of the weather, but to keep their shoes above the mulch of the barton.".
Four-handed reel Morris dance.
Brakeman Jimmie Rodgers was "The Singing Brakeman" - he'd obviously put a few words in with the yodelling as well.
Paul Ross Jonathon's brother, seems to present a variety of inane quiz shows on the telly as well as the Talk Radio Weekend Breakfast show.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

God I love this.
It renders Paul Ross's very existence way way less pointless.

EskimoEric said...

Hee hee......less pointless. I like