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m_cobwebI'd forgotten how good this band was. My dear friend David Martin in college introduced me to them, but it was by a tape that he made for me without lyrics. Yesterday I found a used greatest hits--it doesn't have lyrics either, but that's why it's good we now have the internet. Beautiful South is one of my favorite bands of all time, with all their sweet vitriol, and Housemartins is where it all started. It's all there. The melodies, the politics, the heart-breaking words alternating with the angry sneers. Samples:
London 0 Hull 4 (1986)
Flag Day
Too many Florence Nightingales
Not enough Robin Hoods
Too many halos not enough heroes
Coming up with the goods
So you though you'd like to change the world
Decided to stage a jumble sale
For the poor, for the poor
It's a waste of time if you know what they mean
Try shaking a box in front of the Queen
'Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams
It's a waste of time if you know what they mean
Too many hands in too many pockets
Not enough hands on hearts
Too many ready to call it a day
Before the day starts
So you thought you'd like to see them healed
Got blue Peter to stage an appeal
For the poor, for the poor
It's a waste of time if you know what they mean
Try shaking a box in front of the Queen
'Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams
It's a waste of time if you know what they mean
Flag Day, Flag Day, Flag Day
And another...
Sheep
Sometimes I get so angry with the simple life they lead
The shepherds smile seems to confirm my fears
They've never questioned anything, They've never disagreed
Sometimes I think they must have wool in their ears
And when you see a can I see a crook
And when you see a crowd I see a flock
It's sheep we're up against
Sheep we're up against
When I was young they used to get me counting sheep
But the counting I did was all in vain
No when I'm tired and I'm trying to get to sleep
I count humans jumping onto trains
And when you see a can I see a crook
And when you see a crowd I see a flock
It's sheep we're up against
Sheep we're up against
[Influential Guitar Break]
And when you see a can I see a crook
And when you see a crowd I see a flock
It's sheep we're up against
Sheep we're up against
Yeah. Housemartins.
London 0 Hull 4 (1986)
Flag Day
Too many Florence Nightingales
Not enough Robin Hoods
Too many halos not enough heroes
Coming up with the goods
So you though you'd like to change the world
Decided to stage a jumble sale
For the poor, for the poor
It's a waste of time if you know what they mean
Try shaking a box in front of the Queen
'Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams
It's a waste of time if you know what they mean
Too many hands in too many pockets
Not enough hands on hearts
Too many ready to call it a day
Before the day starts
So you thought you'd like to see them healed
Got blue Peter to stage an appeal
For the poor, for the poor
It's a waste of time if you know what they mean
Try shaking a box in front of the Queen
'Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams
It's a waste of time if you know what they mean
Flag Day, Flag Day, Flag Day
And another...
Sheep
Sometimes I get so angry with the simple life they lead
The shepherds smile seems to confirm my fears
They've never questioned anything, They've never disagreed
Sometimes I think they must have wool in their ears
And when you see a can I see a crook
And when you see a crowd I see a flock
It's sheep we're up against
Sheep we're up against
When I was young they used to get me counting sheep
But the counting I did was all in vain
No when I'm tired and I'm trying to get to sleep
I count humans jumping onto trains
And when you see a can I see a crook
And when you see a crowd I see a flock
It's sheep we're up against
Sheep we're up against
[Influential Guitar Break]
And when you see a can I see a crook
And when you see a crowd I see a flock
It's sheep we're up against
Sheep we're up against
Yeah. Housemartins.
