7 Jan 2009
Beneath your Reverend Jim Jones bedspread
The title of A Lilac Harry Quinn defeats me, I have to say, although apparently Harry Quinn had a cycle shop in Liverpool, so maybe he sold “Harry Quinns” and maybe you could get lilac ones. Or something. Anyway, a few cycling references in this one, as well as an obscure athletics one. This must be a popular song, as five people have sent in the lyrics to it – and no two sets were the same (and my final compromise takes bits from all of them). Thanks to gNick, Jon F, Nigel, Sarah and EskimoEric
See lyrics to A Lilac Harry Quinn
11 Letters Sent:
Mr Larrington
Harry Quinn built many custom bikes, so I imagine one could have one in any colour one wanted.
Jan 8th, 2009
Ray Gee
the ‘Lilac’ in the title comes from the fact that the sign outside the shop, which has long since been closed, is actually painted in lilac coloured paint, and as you say they were a cycle shop in Liverpool.
The business was taken over by another cycle supplier in Liverpool and they trade under the name still, so it must have had a good name.
This has always been one of my all time Half Man favourites, my son, also a Half Man avid fan, knowing this, took me to Liverpool one day, we were driving round, after a while he told me to look up when we got round the next corner, and there it was, in all it’s glory……..Harry Quinn, resplendant in LILAC!
Beautiful, and it could only be Half Man Half Biscuit.
Do you know, in the song they go into a rant of….’sturmey archer, campagnolo, sturmey archer, campagnolo…………’, well this is a continuation of the cycling theme as these were two different gear systems used on cycles.
An absolutely fascinating song………but………it’s only one of many fascinating songs from arguably the most imaginative band ever.
Jan 8th, 2009
nigel (not that one)
“….’sturmey archer, campagnolo, sturmey archer, campagnolo…………’, well this is a continuation of the cycling theme as these were two different gear systems used on cycles.”
Still are, although sturmey archer are not so common. Shimano doesn’t quite scan, unfortunately
Jan 9th, 2009
Daryl
An all time classic. Perhaps ‘Baby I’m from the Wirral peninsula’ needs to be in speech marks?
Jan 9th, 2009
Chris The Siteowner
It’s a fair suggestion Daryl, but I’m shying away from speech marks, because it’s often difficult to know where to stop (in this case, maybe the next two lines should be included too).
Jan 9th, 2009
nigel (no, not that one)
Sadly, Harry Quinn died on 1st October
Oct 5th, 2009
Daryl
Am I the only one who’s impressed that Nigel made the ‘Dick Quax running shoes’ scan? What a guy.
Oct 7th, 2009
dagenham dave
This one popped up on the iPod today which reminded me to check what the ‘running shoes’ line was. I won’t embarrass myself by revealing what I thought it was but ‘Dick Quax’ didn’t feature in it.
Once again this site has made me feel that little bit more content. Cheers Chris.
Mar 28th, 2010
Ray Gee
Dick Quax was a New Zealand middle distance runner from the 70′s
Apr 1st, 2010
a_p
The great Harry Quinn lives on…
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=16928
Nigel would be proud “…He won’t take Harry anywhere he has to lock him up, just in case he gets stolen…”
Apr 30th, 2010
Matt Lee
I thought it was “Merseyless” rather than merciless, but I’m likely wrong.
Jul 23rd, 2010
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