The Voltarol Years

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Hannu Mikkola, eat your heart out. Brings to mind that poem written in iambic pentameters where one of the lines consists solely of the the word “deuterohermeneuticality”. Brilliant article, very informative. With bands (not just HMHB) I love finding out what inspired the lyrics, or what the story is behind them, especially first hand from the person that wrote them. Nice to see Nigel remembers my encounter with him in Liverpool one. He is right, I met him by John Lewis but I do remember there being a ukulele band playing by the Sports Direct and assumed that’s what he was talking about in the song. Great to hear that Oblong probably won’t be their swan-song; the way it is written did make me wonder. Oh and it’s my new favourite HMHB song too now, rarely have I ever heard anything so beautiful. If you told the young me (listening to Trumpton Riots and Dukla Prague) that Nigel would one day write a song that would make me cry, well…… Rogation Sunday’s Here Again!” Getting excited about something kind of unexciting – reminded me straight away of Joy in Leeuwarden

Jingle #1 is on the same show as Jingle #2, posted above, at 1.51.57. Bit of an early Floyd sound about it. All that matters to us old Haverhillians is the 1978/79 Eastern Counties League title, clinched, as chance would have it, with a 4-0 drubbing of Chatteris Town. Always a special day when you hear the news of a news HMHB album… although now have to wait over a month. Even better was pre-t’internet when you just ‘discovered’ a new one in the record shop. It was like taking a new child home. By the way, people give me too much credit for my botanical knowledge. Orange-tipped butterflies and all that? I had to research what would be about in early Spring. I do know that Greater Knapweed and Mugwort (which appear in Rogation Sunday) are plants, though, and not trees. I’m not a botanical expert in any way is what I’m saying I suppose. Fifty snows of winter seems to be Oliver Optic, a pseud of an American politician called William Taylor Adams, in his book fighting for the right (1892) about the Civil WarWhy is “Old Joe” pointing at the roof? For any reason anyone wants him to be. But in my head, it’s something unusual and, perhaps, sinister, but there’s nothing specific.

I didn’t have any particular rich singers in mind when I wrote that line about “the singer’s paintings” because there are quite a lot of them. Don’t get me wrong, because there are probably quite a few musicians who are great artists. But it’s just that cliche of those musicians who get successful and suddenly think “I’ll become a great painter now”.Shipment notification at last. Now can I get away with getting into work 4 hours late so that the postie can deliver before I go out? In my mind’s eye, there is a specific lane but as it’s not about me it doesn’t really matter. For the record, though, the lane is called Marsh Lane and runs between Lever Causeway and Storeton Woods. I visualise the area where it bends just below the woods. It was loft ladders what killed our Martin”– I was thinking about those old public information films. Nothing more than that. At work we had ‘Post songs with a name in the title’ day (always fun at our work). I posted Bob Wilson. And thought there must be loads of others.

Many listeners have feared Oblong Of Dreams, due to the very nature of it, could be your swansong – your epic farewell. Fantastic piece, especially interesting that Nigel wrote “Slipping the Escort” with a female singer in mind. The line “Ah! Sweet mystery of life, at last I’ve found you!” is actually sung by the patient – the bloke. It’s not the wife or narrator. His sweet mystery of life is having a big scrap at the football. That is what he loved. In the song “Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life” by Nelson Eddy, it’s love he’s referring to. I wrote the “Tuba” riff on the guitar but got Chris Taylor, the engineer, to use a Tuba (an electronic one from a keyboard) over the top of it. Selected items are only available for delivery via the Royal Mail 48® service and other items are available for delivery using this service for a charge.

Recommendations

Awkward Sean’ (last night’s Gid Coe show, 37:12 into the programme) is at moment my favourite from the four songs now heard and at just over 3 minutes raises the average length of songs heard so far by a few seconds.