Used To Be In Evil Gazebo is a fabulous made-up interview between yet another pretentious indie band member, and a journalist from the NME. The Nick Drake-wannabe is a classic character, but what really completes the song is the journalist’s wonderfully believable questioning. And the pause before the “I’ve been in a mental hospital” chorus. Fabulous. Thanks to Joe
See lyrics to Used To Be In Evil Gazebo
Patrick
Chris/Joe,
I’m pretty sure the ending is “suspected murderer OF Tupac murder suspect” not “…AND….”.
As in the murder of Orlando Anderson in 1998, who was widely believed to be Tupac’s murderer. Orlando’s murderer however remains unknown.
Patrick
13 May 2008
chris
Phew, it’s Half Man Half Biscuit Hip-Hop History Hour. Thanks – how could I possibly argue?
14 May 2008
simon smith
is it not `murdered`? as opposed to murder? I always heard it as a never ending gang murder revenge attack thing. As in, eventually, `suspected murderer of suspected murderer of Tupac murder suspect murdered`. Maybe I read too much into these things!
15 May 2008
Paul F
SImon’s right. “Suspected murderer of Tupac murder suspect murdered” – a confusing but ultimately logical potential headline.
19 May 2008
John Anderson
I’ve always heard it as “an ancient ogre figure” rather than “an ancient toga figure.”
30 January 2009
dj
ancient ochre figure, surely
2 February 2009
Dave F.
@DJ – Orange??
I’m going with ancient ogre. There is a slight break between the words. Enough to suggest there’s only one t.
2 February 2009
dj
isn’t ochre actually a name for a particular type/colour of clay? i’m thinking pottery figure
2 February 2009
Dave F.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochre
3 February 2009
dj
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematite#Ochre
3 February 2009
Ian in Colorado
Re: ogre vs. ochre.
Actually, I always assumed it was “older”, since a bit before he mentions a young boy on the cover, so the “ancient older” figure seems relevant, albeit tautological.
But it does sound more like ogre, so am now utterly confused.
4 February 2009
Bill Stow
Line 19 – between ‘were’ and ‘about’ insert ‘more’
for every mistake – there’s snopake
Bill
12 February 2009
Rob
I reckon it is: “Behind an ancient oak a figure stood…”
But that’s just me
7 April 2009
Chris The Siteowner
Ron, I like that – the line always sounded odd to me.
7 April 2009
Joe
Is it “So then Ben” rather than “Bern”?
17 October 2009
steve nicholls
isn’t it
” … Head down in shame like an actress leaving a remorse course”
?
23 February 2010
dagenham dave
I’m positive it’s ‘divorce court’.
23 February 2010
John Anderson
I love the idea of someone leaving a “remorse course”, but i’t's definitely the more prosaic divorce court.
23 February 2010
Ben
Another positive for ‘Divorce’ here, and for shame that Joe’s comment has been ignored for 5 months, it’s deffo ‘Ben’ and not just cause that’s my name too. The ‘interviewee’ is a young callow indie chap, precisely the sort to be called by my moniker.
‘Bern’ sounds more like an older colleague of Tony from LITWOS driving the one-one-two.
23 February 2010
Chris The Siteowner
Anyone else want to plump for Ben?
24 February 2010
dagenham dave
Having played it a number of times I’ll go for ‘Ben’ as well.
24 February 2010
John Anderson
Definitely Ben.
24 February 2010
@steve_nicholls
I’ve always heard ‘Ben’ … but that probably doesn’t help as my judgement must now be called into question on this song!
(BTW, I’m also in the “ancient oak” team)
24 February 2010
Peter Gandy
I’m for Ben.
I regularly quote from this song on http://www.swimclub.co.uk when somebody begins a thread asking for songs with swimming references. Got to keep spreading the word.
24 February 2010
Chris The Siteowner
It’s Ben. Confirmed: Source
1 April 2010
Tangerine Wizard.
Its definitely Ben no Bern.Pankhurst would be the perfect name for an all girl band.
7 June 2012
MIKE IN COV
Anyone else play Zork II back in the day? There was a gazebo in it which was pretty damn evil as I remember.
5 July 2012
ACIDIC REGULATOR
Anyone got any theories on, why Ladbroke Grove? I suspect the whole song’s based on an annoying article or two in NME, and that it was simply chosen as the sort of place where Ben would live; but there’s also an unlikely-looking Van Morrison connection and a slightly more possible Jerry Cornelius/Michael Moorcock one.
7 August 2012
vendor of quack nostrums
Home of the squats were the Clash and others started. Strummer lived there in the 80s and 90s. Hanger on muso wannabees did too I suspect.
7 August 2012
Darren
I am of the opinion that the protagonist’s girlfriend’s band is called Of Course Pankhurst.
15 March 2013