I have supported Wilko Johnson and Norman Watt Roy, a couple of times. Both were ex-The Blockheads. Also interviewed the current keyboard player who was also playing with The Animals. (Forgotten his name)
I chatted to each about Ian Dury's lyrics, most of which are from a disabled, and unwarrantedly downtrodden position. Dury was a polio victim. I had my own blues band for 20 years and was quite successful. (As well as folk music) I was also a BBC broadcaster for 34 years.
I am a great Ian Dury fan and saw the band live in Birmingham.
Billericay Dickie, is a shot back at the 'Essex Man is a Neanderthal' viewpoint so often portrayed by those in the media. As usual Dury's lyrics are very clever, and we are left wondering if Dickie and his amorous exploits leave him on the right or wrong side of that red line.
Other songs do the same for the disabled. 'Clever Trevor' is the best. He did a different last line when singing live 'It's much slower to get to Southend if you go sideways!' Singer he was not but a wordsmith and poet he was, and one of the best in the rock medium. Then again as Ian pointed out what do I know? After all's been said and done 'You're all Blockheads too!!' Aintcha! You see why brows wonder weather clever Trevor's Clever!