The Half Man Half Biscuit Lyrics Project

Busking this at Embankment Tube tomorrow

110 pop songs picked over by pedants!

But you can’t hide the fact that we used to play naked Twister

Ordinary to Enschede is a B-side from the McIntyre, Treadmore and Davitt era. It’s rather sweet. There’s a mystery place in the first verse (”Phipps Central” according to the HMHB site) which I’ll be very grateful if anyone can shed a light on.

See the lyrics to Ordinary to Enschede

11 Letters Sent:
  1. Floreat Ultonia

    Just inspired guesswork but might Phipps Central be Eindhoven Beukenlaan which serves the Philips industrial complex?

    Keep up the good work.

  2. Ben

    Can’t help with any lyrics as I’ve never actually heard the song.

    Just thought I’d post in case anyone was struggling with what an ‘ordinary’ was.

    Back in the days of ‘Football specials’ when trains were laid on for 70’s hoolies to wreck, there was an incident between Chelsea and Everton fans at High Street Kensington which (I think) lead to Everton coming off slightly the worse for wear.

    Next season some legendary graffiti was sprayed onto a wall at Lime Street -”Ordinary to Chelsea” inviting those seeking retribution to attend via a scheduled train service in order to slip through the attentions of the Met.

  3. twistedkitemike

    I always thought it was ‘Fib Central’?

    As in, telling porkies?

    I may enquire upon high if necessary.

    Mike…………………………………………………………

  4. Wow, could be. Not sure it makes much sense, but then again, who does? (Sorry, came across all Blade Runner there)

  5. gNick

    Sounds like Fib Central, now I listen to it again. I’ve been singing it in acoustic nights as Phipps Central for about a year though…

    An enquiry on high might make good sense - whether the answer would is another matter.

  6. dj

    i thought it was phipps central as well, but no, i couldn’t offer a convincing argument for it either.

  7. CAMRA man

    Hi Chris.
    Great site and congratulations for taking on a monumental and noble task. Here’s my tuppence worth. After hearing it again, I concur with the others by thinking it’s “Fib” . I kinda fits in with the previous two lines where she is lying to him.

  8. OK, let’s go with that, although enquiries made on high would still be most welcome!

  9. Ben

    If like me you’ve never heard this rarity, some kind soul has uploaded it onto You tube

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elvz-h0xCYk

  10. sgd

    the song book has it as Phipps Central.

    hope this helps

  11. Twistedkitemike

    Out of interest, my enquiry to a higher authority was met with an unequivocal “Fib Central”. He should know. Maybe.

    Unrelated, but many thanks to this site/forum for confirming (albeit only one of the many theories that I had considered over the years) the lyrical content of “Techstep”. It ’sort of’ makes sense now.

    Again, great piece of work; this site.

    Mike…………………………………………………………………..

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