The Half Man Half Biscuit Lyrics Project

Busking this at Embankment Tube tomorrow

163 pop songs picked over by pedants (in 3,015 comments!)

But I don’t like to talk about it – all the same

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

25 Letters Sent:
  1. 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

  2. Phew, it’s Half Man Half Biscuit Hip-Hop History Hour. Thanks – how could I possibly argue?

  3. 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!

  4. Paul F

    SImon’s right. “Suspected murderer of Tupac murder suspect murdered” – a confusing but ultimately logical potential headline.

  5. John Anderson

    I’ve always heard it as “an ancient ogre figure” rather than “an ancient toga figure.”

  6. dj

    ancient ochre figure, surely

  7. 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.

  8. dj

    isn’t ochre actually a name for a particular type/colour of clay? i’m thinking pottery figure

  9. 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.

  10. Bill Stow

    Line 19 – between ‘were’ and ‘about’ insert ‘more’

    for every mistake – there’s snopake

    Bill

  11. Rob

    I reckon it is: “Behind an ancient oak a figure stood…”

    But that’s just me :-)

  12. Ron, I like that – the line always sounded odd to me.

  13. Joe

    Is it “So then Ben” rather than “Bern”?

  14. steve nicholls

    isn’t it

    ” … Head down in shame like an actress leaving a remorse course”

    ?

  15. dagenham dave

    I’m positive it’s ‘divorce court’.

  16. John Anderson

    I love the idea of someone leaving a “remorse course”, but i’t's definitely the more prosaic divorce court.

  17. 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.

  18. Chris The Siteowner

    Anyone else want to plump for Ben?

  19. dagenham dave

    Having played it a number of times I’ll go for ‘Ben’ as well.

  20. John Anderson

    Definitely Ben.

  21. @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)

  22. 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.

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