Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back

Subject: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: GUEST,desperate folkie
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 04:17 AM

i put this thread up last night but awoke this morning to see it had gone.

Does anyone have these lyrics, i want to make it into an anti-war song. I have looked everywhere.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: MartinRyan
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 04:37 AM

Didn't look very hard, Folkie! Try Google.

Regards (even if it is a troll...)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: GUEST,desperate folkie
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 04:42 AM

i tried google for hours.

I'm not a troll, i just wanted some lyrics thats all. sorry. I was advised to come on here by a friend at my local folk club and he said someone on here could probably help. i dint realise id get called names.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: MartinRyan
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 04:45 AM

Sorry, folkie, in that case! It's just that I tried "send the buggers back" + song in Google and found it easily enough.

Regards (even if its not a troll..)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: GUEST,desperate folkie
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 05:02 AM

No problem. I do keep trying google, and it just does not appear. There are many references to it, but nothing bout lyrics.

someone said it would make a good anti-bush blair song so i thought id pick up the lyrics and try to make a change in them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: GUEST,desperate folkie
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 05:19 AM

anyone? Please??!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: Wolfgang
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 06:10 AM

Well, assuming that you really want to make an anti-war song from that I post here the bit I have found following Martin's advice:

"Times wuh 'ard in our 'ouse. Me father had to seyhve for them shoes, an' when they arrived the' waren't white at aall. The' ware black. An' 'e shouted 'SEND THE BUGGERS BACK!'"

2..3..4..

Send the buggers back, oh send the buggers back.
These aren't the ones I wanted, son, I'm sending them straight back.
I said I wanted white ones, they've sent us bloody black,
I'm going to put the lid back on and send the buggers back.

Me father worked hard all his life down pits in't tannery,
He laboured every hour God sent from June to January.
He kept his pennies in a jar to buy his son some shoes,
But when the bastards came out black he blew a bloody fuse.

It's only about shoes, isn't it? So why are there always other thoughts intruding my mind when I see these lyrics?

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: MC Fat
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 06:17 AM

It's from a TV comedy show called 'Phoenix Nights' and it's depicted as a racist song in the show. You all right Wolfgang ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 06:20 AM

is wolfgang the new hannam? joking woldgang, im joking.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 06:24 AM

The song appears to have originated with Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights sung by a spoof folk group (led by Tim Healy) - see Half a Shilling and purports to be about getting the wrong coloured pair of shoes. I can't tell if Peter Kay wrote it or not. Four lines can be found in a blog at: Sentimental Geek Blogspot - page down to the Half a Shilling entry.

These last four lines were posted in your original request last night, but a lot of posts suggesting that you were a racist troll have probably lead to the thread being deleted. (Several links to what appear to be racists web sites come up in the search for it). The song was obviously intended as a spoof by Peter Kay. If there are any more lyrics than that (and there may not be - I can't remember the show - it may have only cut to them for those few lines) you'll probably need to get the video - see the original link for details.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the buggers back
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 06:25 AM

(Oops - cross posted with previous two)

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 12:49 PM

From the title I would try a search something like "Public Relations Songs from Yorkshire".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Peace
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 05:07 PM

The song appears on a Stormfront site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 08:29 AM

You can see a video of SEND THE BUGGERS BACK at YouTube. I'm not familiar with Peter Kay or Phoenix Nights, but I assume the video is an excerpt from the TV show.

The song isn't only about shoes. It has an encoded racist message. But since the song was originally presented in the context of a satirical TV show, I don't believe the overall intent of the show's writers was racist, but rather satirical.

In the proper context, the song is funny, but I can see that quoted out of context, it could be something hateful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: goatfell
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 10:23 AM

I too find the song funny but there are people out there that don't have a sense of humour the PC Brigade for example, even though the song it's self is funny racisim is not

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: meself
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 12:19 PM

I know humour is difficult to explain, but would someone care to try explain why someone who does not find racism funny would be amused by this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Smokey.
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 03:47 PM

In its originally intended context (Phoenix Nights) it was extremely funny, but the 'song' itself never got past the first verse and chorus. It was the reaction to it that got the laugh, rather than the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Joe_F
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 06:23 PM

There is much to be said for certain black buggers, in my experience.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 10:41 AM

Maybe it would be even funnier if it were sung from the perspective of Native Americans.

Grumble, grumble.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Smokey.
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 07:33 PM

The tune seems more or less to be borrowed from The Seekers' "Morningtown Ride". Half a shilling, for the benefit of the unbritslanged, used to be called a 'tanner'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 07:40 PM

Having watched Phoenix Nights several times, I would say that the song was intended to be offensive rather than humerous.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Smokey.
Date: 21 Jun 09 - 08:00 PM

The humour, or part of it, was in the fact that no-one had noticed its offensiveness until the visiting newspaper reporter pointed it out. (see the youtube clip)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Gervase
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 05:04 AM

Aye, context is everything. To sing that outside the context of a satirical comedy show would almost certainly be racist, and definitely in poor taste.
However, seeing as the original request was four years ago, and I haven't yet heard this song take the UK folk circuit by storm (in fact I haven't heard it at all, anywhere), I think we can safely assume that it's died a merciful death.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 07:06 AM

Its racist in context.

That's the whole point.

In the story, a racist person sings a racist song and a naive club owner only twigs that the song is racist when it is too late.



It could be performed satirically, as could songs from the film "The Freewheelin' Bob Roberts" and in the right context it could be very funny.

It is such a caricature, like Borats
Throw the Jew Down the Well

And like Bob Roberts I'm a bleeding Heart

That it has comic potential.

However, as is apparent in the Borat clip and as is intended by the other two, it is very close to the bone and it is conceivable that those who miss the irony could take songs like this up as their anthems in all seriousness.

Tricky issue Satire.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Billy Weeks
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 01:24 PM

Noticeable, is it not, that 'Guest desperate folkie' who set the whole thing off in 05, has not shown himself since then. Perhaps he has won the little bet he had with himself that he could get a racist lyric published on Mudcat. The song may, indeed, be a clever sendup - but that won't have diluted a racist's pleasure in seeing it here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: meself
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 02:15 PM

Well, if that was the bet, it was a pretty safe one; there have been many racist and other "some may find offensive" song lyrics published here.

...........

"it is conceivable that those who miss the irony could take songs like this up as their anthems in all seriousness."

If you read the comments under the youtube clip, you will find a number of people who "miss the irony", and who respond to it with racist comments and slogans. And then there are those who pretend that it's a riotously funny song about a pair of shoes, and only about a pair of shoes, and pretend not to understand what the fuss is about.

I thought the clip from the TV show was pretty lame, myself; maybe you need to be a regular viewer, or British, or something, to get a big laugh out of it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Smokey.
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 06:48 PM

Possibly having a northern English sense of humour and experience of 'working men's clubs' (as they were known, back when we had working men) helps a bit. Phoenix Nights was incredibly well-observed but it's probably not a very familiar world outside its territory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 09:07 AM

The other thig to bear in mind is that the clip is just that - only a clip.

To fully get the context you'd have to watch the show.

I'm not a phoenix nights fan generally, but I do get the joke.

It appears that a journalist is investigating reports that Peter Kays Club is putting on offensive material.

So he invites her in to see for herself.

He proudly assures her that his club is a family club and beyond reproach, and points to the band as evidence.

The joke is when it turns out they are a bunch of racists and his big PR coup comes tumbling down around his ears.


It could just as easily have been "The Aristocrats" ....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: meself
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 03:49 PM

Yeah, I followed what was going on; it just didn't strike me as all that rip-roaringly funny. I guess I'm missing something ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Weasel
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 04:32 PM

I watched, I think, three episodes of Phoenix Nights and didn't manage a single laugh - I found it boring and, when a friend insisted on switching it on when I was visiting her, made my feelings known.

Once again I didn't laugh, then she said, "Look at that" - and started pointing things out that I had missed. Many tears of uncontrollable laughter later, I bought the DVD set and still find new laughs every time I watch them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 06:49 PM

Satire and Irony only work if you have your brain switched on !
Its like telling the Rene Descartes joke to someone whos has never heard of him !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: meself
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 08:17 PM

Oh, wise one, please tell us poor benighted fools how to switch on our brains!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 04:40 AM

"Yeah, I followed what was going on; it just didn't strike me as all that rip-roaringly funny. I guess I'm missing something ..."

Coming from a member of the nation which gave us the dreadful Bob Hope - the man they claimed to be 'The World's Greatest Comedian', but who never said anything original or funny in his life - that's a cracker! :-)

Unfortunately, the Brits and the Yanks are two nations divided not only by a common language, but often by completely different perceptions of what is and isn't funny.

I agree with many of the comments above, it has to be seen in context and with brain engaged in order to 'get it'. Lox is right - satire and irony are a bit tricky, and sometimes what you get ain't what you see, if you get what I mean. :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Gedi
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 08:14 AM

Yes, lots of subtle humour going on here. To me its how racists such as the band in the clip can (or at least try) sneak their message past people who wouldn't otherwise tolerate such things. Its a warning to us all not to take things at face value.

Who's Rene Descartes?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 08:25 AM

The other thing was that Brian Potter, the club owner, had been warned earlier in the episode that the folk group he'd booked had caused riots at their last couple of gigs - warnings that he dismissed as nonsense. As with many of the jokes on Pheonix Nights, it was a slow-burner and the pay-out was very, very funny. I think it probably helps to be familiar with the show.





Phoenix Nights was a great series. "It's that tiger of Potter's." Classic.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: meself
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 10:33 AM

I'm not from any nation that gave anyone Bob Hope - but if I were, I would not see how that had any relevance here. I did not make any kind of generalized put-down of the British sense of humour or of the British, so the shots at the "Yanks" are entirely gratuitous attempts at insult.

Now, people, I just didn't find the clip as funny as everyone else seems to. Please save yourself the trouble of composing lectures or smarmy aphorisms on irony and satire, and explanations of the obvious: I hereby acknowledge that I have no sense of irony, no understanding of satire, and I am far too dense to comprehend the situation in the clip.

(Btw, I know nothing of the experience of "the dreadful" Bob Hope with the British - but would I be correct in assuming that, as in the case of such other impositions of the Yanks on the British as "Mcdonalds", the British willing paid for it?)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 11:40 AM

Whatever.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 11:46 AM

Meself - smilies indicate that there's a bit of a joke going on.
2 smilies in my post = 2 jokes.
There was no "entirely gratuitous attempts at insult" - they were intended to be a bit humorous, hence the smilies.
If you don't get Phoenix Nights, I'm not surprised you didn't get that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 11:48 AM

"Phoenix Nights was a great series"

It was indeed Ruth, and one of my friends was in an episode - the great British maestro of Americana, Jack Hudson.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: meself
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 12:46 PM

I've never seen Phoenix Nights, other than that brief clip - as I thought would have been clear from my posts. Allow me to repeat my confession: "I hereby acknowledge that I have no sense of irony, no understanding of satire, and I am far too dense", etc. So please save yourself the trouble of the sneering remarks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 03:25 PM

Whatever - again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: squeezeboxhp
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 03:44 PM

you really need to have experienced the Northern England Working Men's Club circuit of the 1970 to appreciate the true irony of Phoenix Nights.

Priceless

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 04:38 PM

Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyZSf8WKQ5w

There's plenty more!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 08:16 PM

There are very few things that 'Work' when you only have a brief snippet and it is totally out of context . NOT having a Television , I have never seen Phoenix Nights but I imagaine it was at least a half hour show , so the clip is a VERY brief part of a LONG running joke !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 09 - 07:17 AM

Bob Hope was from Eltham, London, England.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Send the Buggers Back
From: Weasel
Date: 25 Jun 09 - 10:00 AM

You can make anything sound like anything if you take it out of context.

I have a friend who is a teacher and when harassed by religious advisers he assures them that every day he bases his teaching on the words of the bible. Their joy at a sinner saved evaporates fairly quickly when he adds that the passage in question is the one that says "Suffer little children".

Cheers