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Rating: On weekends, I volunteer at a mental health institution. To keep it brief, I lend a hand in an asylum, which no longer has such a strong name because the methods have changed. The people haven’t. I started suggesting music therapy to rehabilitate this band of crazies. Allow me to use this term, because by now I know them all and joke around with them two days a week. I tried with the Housemartins album titled The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death. Everyone seems enthusiastic or at least it seems so because their reactions to the listening vary. Tony, a big guy, always says yes to everything he's told. He talks over you, always with this monosyllable, “yes, yes, yes.” So, I like to play with him and ask, “Shall we play the Rolling Stones?” and he replies “yes,” “Or should we play Pink Floyd?” and he always replies “yes.” “Or should we put on the Housemartins?” Then he starts with a barrage of “yes yes yes yes yes” and as soon as the title track starts, he moves like a tango dancer. We have so many laughs. Then there's Fred, a very shy guy who always looks down and constantly moves his fingers, intertwining them. When the track "Me and the Farmer" starts, with a very lively rhythm, incredibly his reaction is contrary to his usual habit, he relaxes his hands, and his fingers stop moving madly, he lifts his gaze and smiles. Then there's August, who every time I enter the room follows me like a shadow. He can't wait for me to get close to the stereo to take the Housemartins record out of the sleeve. Then he holds my hand until he hears the drum sticks of "I Can't Put My Finger on It." At this point, I feel his hand gripping mine, maintaining the rhythm of the snare, and the echo of his voice repeating “on it, on it.”
This 1987 record is truly phenomenal. It manages to restore balance to the less stable people. There are songs of indescribable beauty. "The World's on Fire" or "You Better Be Doubtful." One of the very few albums that you can listen to all the way through and then start it over again. It brings a timeless joy. And what a sweet song is "The Light is Always Green?" Equally profound is "Build."
I've discovered that Saturdays and Sundays fly by because I'm swept along with all the guys by the music. A unique kind of music.
On Sunday evening, I return to restart my daily life, projecting my focus on the next weekend. I return to my large white room, covered with a soft layer as if mattresses were hung vertically on the walls. The medical staff welcomes me, helping me put on a very particular garment. A white robe that is worn from the front with very long sleeves. These very long sleeves wrap around my body and fasten behind my back. And finally, I can go to bed peacefully. The whole week passes between tablets, pills, blood pressure measurements, and noise. Background noises. People complaining, shouting, screaming, chants that send shivers down the spine.
Saturday is coming, and I will be able to find my mental balance again in sweet company: the Housemartins record.
I wish you a moment of madness during a job interview.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death (03:33)
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
02 I Can't Put My Finger on It (02:28)
As martin said to xanthe
As they played with wooden toys
You may have wendys playhouse
But where the heels your boys?
As paul said to fifi
As they eyed each other up
You may have better plimsoles
But you cant pee standing up
And Id like to take the time to bite
Their neck and make it bleed
Or maybe I could cut holes in their
Daddys harris tweed
And I cant put my finger on it
Maybe its something in their food
And I cnat put my finger on it
All I know is christ wouldve sued
As sharon said to jamie
As they sat down for a chat
If you think Im cooking dinner
Well, prepare to eat dead rat
As debbie said to alex
As they held hands in the park
How come you wear rupert check
When you think youre so hard
I shouldve done his land rover
To let him know Id been
Instead I wrote f off
On the dirt across his screen
And I cant put my finger on it
Maybe its something in their food
And I cnat put my finger on it
All I know is christ wouldve sued
I wish Id let them know that I was here
A drop of arsenic in the wine
Sulphuric acid in the beer
03 The Light Is Always Green (03:59)
We dig our models with the brains the size of models
And cars that we can trust with out wives
And we dig converstations with girls from every nation
But not the ones that whisper or tell lies
Wherever theres a will theres a motorway
Wherever there is greed there is speed
And theyve always got to be there for yesterday
Welcome to the new scalextrics breed
And the light they always show to them
Is green, green, green
And the heels they always show to me
Are clean, clean, clean
Were only flying past so we dig our sevice fast
From the waiters to the women to the wine
Never mind the match, Ive an urgent date to catch
Get me to the concert hall on time
Pretending to be pilots in a war
Pretending to weave between the flak
No-one knows what the missions for
Blinkered horses on the track
And the light they always show to them
Is green, green, green
And the heels they always show to me
Are clean, clean, clean
07 Me and the Farmer (02:54)
Me and the farmer
Get on fine
Through stormy weather and bottles of wine
If I pull my weight
He'll treat me well
But if I'm late he'll give me hell
And thought it's all hard work no play
Farmer is a happy crook
But Jesus hates him everyday
'Cause Jesus gave and farmer took, took
(Chorus:)
{Won't he let you go?} Probably no
{Won't he let you go?} Probably no
{Why does he treat you so?} I just don't know
{Why does he treat you so?} I just don't know
Me and the farmer like brother, like sister
Getting on like hand and blister
Me... and... the farmer (roh roh)
He's chopped down sheep, planted trees
And helped the countryside to breathe
Ripped up fields, bullied flocks
And worked his workers right around the clock
It may seem strange but he'd admit
Intentions aren't exactly true
and through God loves his wife a bit
He hates the farmer through and through
(Chorus)
All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All we've got is London Zoo
'Cause farmer owns them all, all...
(Chorus)
Me... and... the farmer
Me... and... the farmer
08 Five Get Over Excited (02:44)
Fun, fun, fun
Fun, fun, fun
Fun, fun, fun
Fun, fun, fun
James dean posters on their wall
{five killed in a car-crash}
What a sad little end to it all
{five killed in a car-crash}
Last seen having lots of fun
{five dumped in a river}
Barefoot and on the run
{five dumped in a river}
I am mad from Scandinavia
I want a guy in the London area
He must be crazy and Sagitarius
Cause I am Leo and I'm hilarious
Which gives me
Fun, fun, fun (jeremy)
Fun, fun, fun (fifi)
Fun, fun, fun (jeremy)
Fun, fun, fun
Last seen drinking daddy's own beer
{five poisoned over dinner}
Singing abbas mamma mia
{five poisoned over dinner}
Drop dead watching thunderbirds fly
{five get over excited}
Poster on their wall says why?
{five get over excited}
I am guy from Camden Town
My hair is curly but I gel it down
My clothes are black but my bread is brown
I'm really into early Motown
Which gives me
Fun, fun, fun (jeremy)
Fun, fun, fun (fifi)
Fun, fun, fun (jeremy)
Fun, fun, fun
Feigning concern, a conservative pastime
Makes you feel doubtful right from the start
The expression she pulls is exactly like last time
Got to conclude she just hasn't a heart
Fun, fun, fun (jeremy)
Fun, fun, fun (fifi)
Fun, fun, fun (jeremy)
Fun, fun, fun
10 Bow Down (03:04)
Mother, Father, I think that I would rather
Stay at home with you for another year
That building's so tall and it makes me feel so small
That I might get lost and simply disappear
Evil smiles won't change my mind
I'm worried and I'm not the worrying kind
Why's that man rubbing his hands
Looking at me writing down his plans?
Today I have been moulding plasticine
and I made a little man who looked just like me
His limbs were so weak and he couldn't move his mouth to speak
And I could bend him into any shape I wanted him to be
Evil smiles won't change my mind
I'm worried and I'm not the worrying kind
Why's that man rubbing his hands
Looking at me writing down his plans?
Those kids with the blazers on
They went in with names on their elbows
Came home with medals on
Spit it out that's the way the story goes
A flying start for the briefcase crew
Oh, you didn't have to teach me like you did
But you did
And you didn't have to beat me like you did
But you did
But you did
You did
You did
11 You Better Be Doubtful (02:32)
Tinker, you better place another bet
The rich up in the castle haven't finished eating yet
They'll throw you a bone or a spat-out stone
But knowing them that's all you'll get
Tailor, you better close another shop
No-one wants your quality, make do with what you've got
They'll let you survive
The'll let you get by
But knowing them, they'll let you rot
You better be doubtful
You better beware
You better not shout now
You better not care
Tinker, you better buy another boot
Those "Pocock Continental" are finally showing through
We'll get you a pair
From a second-hand fair
They'll only have 'a two'
Sailor, you better sink a few more ships
Admiral loony Nelson cannot find his game of risk
We'll lose a few lives
A couple of tribes
But knowing him he'll like his lips
You better be doubtful
You better beware
You better not shout now
You better not care
From Queen Wilkinds to Queen Victoria
We've had a promising side
From King Callaghan to Bonny Prince Francis
We've paid up and we've cried
Princess Gower and Princess Ferguson
We've looked a hard nut to crack
But we're weak at the.........Back!
12 Build (04:45)
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
Its build
Its build a house where we can stay
Add a new bit everyday
Its 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
Its wall to wall and brick to brick
They work so fast it makes you sick
Its build
Its build a house where we can stay
Add a new bit everyday
Its build a road for us to cross
Build us lots and lots and lots and lots and lots
Its build
Down with sticks and up with bricks
In with boots and up with roots
Its in with suits and new recruits
Its build...
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