The Housemartins

Primary members: P. D. (Paul) Heaton, Stan Cullimore, Norman Cook, Hugh Whitaker, Dave Hemingway
Band Biography
Albums of focus: London 0 Hull 4 (1986), The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death (1987)
Songs for study:

 

"Happy Hour" - from London 0 Hull 4 (1986)
It's happy hour again
I think I might be happy if I wasn't out with them
And they're happy it's a lovely place to be
Happy that the fire is real the barman is a she
Where the haircuts smile
And the meaning of style
Is a night out with the boss
Where you win or you lose
And its them who choose
And if you don't win then you've lost

What a good place to be
Don't believe it
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
{It's happy hour again}
Don't believe it
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
{It's happy hour again}

 

It's another night out with the boss
Following in footsteps overgrown with moss
And they tell me that women grow on trees
And if you catch them right they will land upon their knees

Where they open all their wallets
And they close all their minds
And they love to buy you all a drink
And then we ask all the questions
And you take all your clothes off
And go back to the kitchen sink

What a good place to be
Don't believe it
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
{It's happy hour again}
Don't believe it
'Cause they speak a different language
And it's never really happened to me
{It's happy hour again}

 

"Get Up Off Our Knees" - from London 0 Hull 4 (1986)

 
Famines will be famines,
banquets will be banquets
Some spend winter in a palace,
some spend it in blankets
Don't wag your fingers at them
and turn to walk away
Don't shoot someone tomorrow that you can shoot today

Time to end the praying
Listen what they're saying

Get up off your knees
You can wag your finger till your finger's sore
Shake your head till it shakes no more

Paupers will be paupers,
bankers will be bankers
Some own pennies in a jar,
some own oil tankers
What may sound like tomorrow
Could be ours today
There's no more need for sorrow
if we get off our knees to pray

Time to end the praying
Listen what they're saying
Get up off your knees
You can wag your finger till your finger's sore
Shake your head till it shakes no more

Countries will be countries,
borders will be borders
Some have lost their folks at war,
some have give orders
Don't wag your fingers at them
and turn to walk away
Don't shoot someone tomorrow that you can shoot today

Time to end the praying
Listen what they're saying

"Flag Day" - from London 0 Hull 4 (1986)

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

 

"Sitting on a Fence" - from London 0 Hull 4 (1986)
Sitting on a fence is a man
who sees no sense in fighting
Sitting on a fence is a man
who sees no sense at all
Sitting on a fence is a man
who strokes his twenty beards
Sitting on a fence is a man who drinks real ale

But the real problem with this man
Is he says he can't when he can
He'd rather not get his hands dirty
He'll still be there when he's thirty

I told myself to keep my mouth shut
But I still end up saying if and but
I lied to myself right from the start
And I've just worked out that I'm falling apart
Sitting on a fence

Sitting on a fence is a man
who looks up to his guardian
Sitting on a fence is a man
who swings from poll to poll
Sitting on a fence is a man
who sees both sides of both sides
Sitting on a fence is a man who looks down on opinion

But the real problem with this man
Is he says he can't when he can
He's rather not get his hands dirty
He'll still be there when he is thirty

I told myself to keep my mouth shut
But I still end up saying if and but
I lied to myself right from the start
And I've just worked out that I'm falling apart
Sitting on a fence

I told myself, I told myself
And I've just worked out that I'm falling apart
I lied to myself, I lied to myself
And I've just worked out that I'm falling apart!

 

"Sheep" - from London 0 Hull 4 (1986)
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
Now 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

 

 

"Over There" - from London 0 Hull 4 (1986)

The fence is long and high where we live
You can't see the other side where they live
I've spied with my little eye
And I've sighed with my little sigh
But it seems I've give all that I can give

Every hour I have to count to ten
And a thousand times I've thought again
But it seems I've given all that I can give

Is there anyone there
Here is the fence that they built {Over there}
This is the fence that hate built
Is anyone there {Over there}

This is the fence that turns one into two
I want to break through but I'm though if I do
I've tried with my little try
And I've cried with my little cry
But it seems that the gate holds the only clue

Every hour I have to count to ten
And a thousand times I've though again
But it seems I've given all that I can give

 

Is there anyone there
Here is the fence that they built {Over there}
This is the fence that hate built
Is anyone there {Over there}

[Brilliant Solo From "Stan the Man"]

Every hour I have to count to ten
And a thousand times I've thought again

Is there anyone there
Here is the fence that they built {Over there}
This is the fence that hate built
Is anyone there {Over there}

Is there anyone there
Here is the fence that they built {Over there}
This is the fence that hate built
Is anyone there {Over there}

But it seems I've given all that I can give

Is there anyone there
Here is the fence that they built {Over there}
This is the fence that hate built
Is anyone there {Over there}

 

"Think for a Minute" - from London 0 Hull 4 (1986)
Something's going on, a change is taking place
Children smiling in the street have gone without a trace
This street used to be full, it used to make me smile
And now it seems that everyone is walking single file

And many hang their heads in shame
That used to hold them high
And those that used to say hello
Simply pass you by

Think for a minute, Stop for a minute
Think for a minute, Stop for a minute

I always said it could, they never though it would
The people look so pitiful, I'm thinking that it should
And now it's almost here, now its on its way
I can't help saying told you so and have a nice final day

And nothing I could say
Could ever make them see the light
Now apathy is happy that
It won without a fight

Think for a minute, Stop for a minute
Think for a minute, Stop for a minute

And many hang their heads in shame that used to hold them high
{Think for a minute}
And those that used to say hello simply pass you by
{Stop for a minute}

Think for a minute, Stop for a minute
Think for a minute, Stop for a minute

 

"Freedom" - from London 0 Hull 4 (1986)
I used to think you understood
Taught me right and learnt me good
Made things simple for my brain
Told the truth and made it plain

But the implications I mistook
Until I found out whose side you took
And now with paper in my hand I'm beginning to understand

So this is freedom - {They must be joking}
They must be joking - {If they think its true}
So this is freedom - [I doubt their truth}
So this is freedom - {For me and you}

From the front page news to the interviews
It's sink the reds and lift the blues
They pretend they're differing points of view
But it's only different shades of blue

But the implications I mistook
Until I found out whose side you took
And now with paper in my hand I'm beginning to understand

So this is freedom - {They must be joking}
They must be joking - {If they think its true}
So this is freedom - [I doubt their truth}
So this is freedom - {For me and you}

[Guitar Solo]

So this is freedom - {They must be joking}
They must be joking - {If they think its true}
So this is freedom - [I doubt their truth}
So this is freedom - {For me and you}

F.R.E.E.D.O.M.
They locked us up once
So they'll do it again

C.H.A.I.N.E.D.
They locked up my friends
Now they're coming for me

 

"The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death" - from The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death (1987)

They smiled so much and waved their flags
As she saluted to the military band
Most of the people failed to see
She had a broken bottle in the other hand
And she took them by surprise
When she took them by the throat
And said, "My friend, you're not allowed to vote"
But they shook it all off
With a nervous laugh and cough
"Next time," she said, "I'll let those people choke"

The people who grinned themselves to death
Smiled so much they failed to take a breath
And even when their kids were starving
They all thought the queen was charming

She polished all upon the wall
And ran her hands right through her hair
So if the lady took the time to call
All the houses on the street would not compare

And she thought it really funny
That she hadn't any money
But those she looked up to, they had
But they shook it all off
With a nervous laugh and cough
And when they took her riches it was sad

The people who grinned themselves to death
Smiled so much they failed to take a breath
And even when their kids were starving
They all thought the queen was charming

 

"Stand at Ease" - performed live for The John Peel Show, 21 July 1985 (from Live at the BBC album,1987)
This country is protected from the red disease
By men who carry toys and hide themselves in trees
When I was young I said who's that in pyjamas
If we keep our mouths shut they'll promise not to harm us

May had a little lamb its fleece as white as snow
She dressed it up in uniform and taught it yes and no
When I was young I said who's that in pyjamas
If we keep our mouths shut they'll promise not to harm us

Is there any point in raising questions?
Is there any point in raising flags?
Is there any point in singing anthems?
How long must we turn our backs?

Stand at ease, stand at ease

Ask me no questions, tell me no lies
Have you seen a copper cleverly disguised
He's reading the news and he's telling you lies

The country's getting on like chalk and cheese
They're locking up anyone who disagrees
When I was young I said who's that in pyjamas
If we keep our mouths shut they'll promise not to harm us

 Is there any point in raising questions?
Is there any point in raising flags?
Is there any point in singing anthems?
How long must we turn our backs?

Stand at ease, stand at ease
Stand at ease, stand at ease
Stand at ease, stand at ease

Ask me no questions, tell me no lies
(Stand at ease)
Have you seen a copper cleverly disguised
(Stand at ease)
He's reading the news and he's telling you lies
(Stand at ease)
I said he's telling you lies (Stand at ease)
I said he's telling you lies (Stand at ease)
(Stand at ease)

I said ask me no questions, tell me no lies
(Stand at ease)
Have you seen a copper cleverly disguised
(Stand at ease)
He's reading the news and he's telling you lies
(Stand at ease)
I said he's telling you lies (Stand at ease)
I said he's telling you lies (Stand at ease)
I said he's telling you lies (Stand at ease)

He's telling you lies (Stand at ease)
(Stand at ease)
(Stand at ease)
He's telling you lies (Stand at ease)
(Stand at ease)

 

"Johannesburg" - from The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death (1987)

Please don't show your soul to me
I think I'd see the light shine through
And please don't greet me on the street
I'd like to see a world without you
Please don't change your uniform
And start to mourn the thousands dead
And please wear what you've always worn
And don't be drawn by what I've said

'Cause I've found there's nothing more
That I could say to you
Nothing I could do to change your mind
Change your ways and your tune

So please don't feel you have to sway
Or move away from how you feel
And please say what you mean to say
And always stay with a heart of steel

 

"Build" - from The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death (1987)

Clambering men in big bad boots
Dug up my den, dug up my roots
Treated us like plasticine town
They built us up and knocked us down
From Meccano to Legoland
Here they come with a brick in their hand
Men with heads filled up with sand
It's build

It's build a house where we can stay
Add a new bit everyday
It's build a road for us to cross
Build us lots and lots and lots and lots and lots

Whistling men in yellow vans
They can and drew us diagrams
Showed us how it all worked it out
And wrote it down in case of doubt

Slow, slow, quick, quick, quick
It's wall to wall and brick to brick
They work so fast it makes you sick
It's build

It's build a house where we can stay
Add a new bit everyday
It's build a road for us to cross
Build us lots and lots and lots and lots and lots

It's build

Down with sticks and up with bricks
In with boots and up with roots
It's in with suits and new recruits
It's build