Lyr Req: Kick the Cat (Pat McIntyre)

Subject: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: AndyG
Date: 22 Jul 98 - 05:26 AM

As I was walking across town to the Folk Club last night a snippet from a song came to me. I heard it last well over twenty years back and just wondered if any UK residents or ex-pats might remember it. The song was Kick the Cat it's about class and education in Britain, and is probably post-war. To jog the memory here's what I think I remember:

Kick the Cat:

... something to do with parliament ...
And there you can in accents smooth,
Persuade the shiftless workers to the polling booth

Oh, oh, accents smooth,
Persuade the shiftless workers to the polling booth

A red-brick University,
will get you just a little further up the tree.
Where lawyers, doctors, teachers pass,
Their examinations for the Middle Class.

... rest of the song ...

Oh, oh, fancy that.
Your only consolation is to kick the cat

Oh, oh, fancy that.
Your only consolation is to kick
the
cat

AndyG

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: AndyG
Date: 22 Jul 98 - 06:07 AM

Oh dearie me!
Hope this is a fix

AndyG

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: GUEST,Sandy Smith
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 11:03 AM

Did you ever find these lyrics? I remember the Spinners singing it when I was a child, but I've lost that particular album.

I have a few more lyrics, but not many. Any luck?

Thanks,

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 12:47 PM

Sounds like a parody of Gilbert & Sullivan's "When I was a lad" from HMS Pinafore

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 01:09 PM

I hit SEND too soon - When I was a lad

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: Peace
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 07:05 PM

Kick the Cat
(McIntyre)
Oh it is hard you will agree
To know your place in Britain's meritocracy
It's most important you should know
The people who're above you and the ones below
(Repeat last two lines)

If Parliament's where you would be
Be sure you come from Oxford with a good degree
For then you may in your accent smooth
Persuade the shiftless workers to the polling booth
(Repeat last two lines)

A redbrick university
Puts you on the lower branches of the tree
And even there you'll have a ball
Scorning those who never reach the tree at all
(Repeat last two lines)

Lawyers, doctors, dentists pass
Their examination to the middle class
Especially if they just scraped through
I'll give you ten to one that they'll look down on you
(Repeat last two lines)

If proper status you would win
Be sure to hang your curtains with the right side in
No one's below you, fancy that
Then your only consolation is to kick the cat
(Repeat last two lines)

(as sung by The Spinners)

from http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:epa-hmIiYlkJ:mysongbook.de/msb/songs/k/kickthec.html+accents+smooth,+parliament,+shiftless+wo

Subject: Lyr Add: KICK THE CAT (Pat McIntyre)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 07:05 PM

I must have been on holiday when this request was first made. The lyrics have, in fact, been posted here, but I'll do them again in proper format. Hope it's not too late ...

KICK THE CAT
(McIntyre)
^^
Oh it is hard you will agree
To know your place in Britain's meritocracy
It's most important you should know
The people who're above you and the ones below
             Oh oh you should know
             The people who're above you and the ones below

If Parliament's where you would be
Be sure you come from Oxford with a good degree
For then you may in your accent smooth
Persuade the shiftless workers to the polling booth

A redbrick university
Puts you on the lower branches of the tree
And even there you'll have a ball
Scorning those who never reach the tree at all

Lawyers, doctors, dentists pass
Their examination to the middle class
Especially if they've just scraped through
I'll give you ten to one that they'll look down on you

If proper status you would win
Be sure to hang your curtains with the right side in
No one's below you, fancy that
Then your only consolation is to kick the cat

This is what the Spinners sang on 'Not Quite Folk' (1969). They give credit to 'McIntyre'. Who is (s)he, and does anybody have any more background on the song?

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: Peace
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 07:08 PM

I found mine with a google of

accents smooth, parliament, shiftless workers

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: Peace
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 07:13 PM

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: Peace - PM
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 07:05 PM
Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: Susanne (skw) - PM
Date: 08 Jan 06 - 07:05 PM


OK, what ARE the odds?

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 09 Jan 06 - 04:54 PM

Peace, it was 7:04 by my watch ... :-)

Life's full of coincidences!

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 11:58 PM

According to folktrax.org that's Pat McIntyre.

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: GUEST,Sandy Smith
Date: 14 Jan 06 - 05:16 AM

To you all, a big kiss, and many, many thanks! Ahhh, the relief of finding the lyrics to a song that's been in my head for 25 years. Bless you all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kick the Cat (Pat McIntyre)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 06:56 PM

And does anyone have any more info on Pat McIntyre, please?

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Kick the Cat
From: GUEST,The Old AndyG
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 07:49 AM

I've been away.

The eight-and-a-half years flew by :)


AndyG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kick the Cat (Pat McIntyre)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 05:37 PM

Andy, nice to see you back! Will it be permanent?

And did one Pat McIntyre happen to fly by? :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kick the Cat (Pat McIntyre)
From: GUEST,Pat McIntyre
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 12:31 PM

Wrote it in 1968.The tune needed a lot more work,but after recording two songs ('A simple lad like me' and 'Come all you good Christians'-both anti-war songs) there was space on the tape I sent to the B.B.C.s 'Songs of grief and Glory', so I sent in an unfinished 'Kick the Cat'. That was the one the Spinners chose.I'm female (an old crone now)a socialist,an internationalist and proud to be a peacenik.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kick the Cat (Pat McIntyre)
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 18 Mar 11 - 09:42 PM

Hey, Pat - great to hear from you! Many thanks for the info.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Kick the Cat (Pat McIntyre)
From: GUEST,Sean Cooney
Date: 29 Jun 15 - 01:28 PM

Hi I'm hoping Pat McIntyre might see this - I'd love to talk to you about Mary Duffy and the songs she recorded for Sam Richards in the 80s and send you a CD I've recently recorded featuring one of the songs...please send me an email [e-mail]
thanks
Sean Cooney