Extensive academic research into Sensitive Outsider taught me that the tennis player scratching her bum in that poster was called Samantha, something it’s probably very important to know. I wondered if the curse of HMHB had been bestowed upon Athena, but they do still have some shops, apparently, even though they’re still trading off that picture, bless ‘em. Thanks to Martin, Jon F and gNick
See lyrics to Sensitive Outsider
Bill Stow
Hi – regarding Sensitive Outsider – here’s another entry for pedants corner – Saint Martins should I believe read St Martins ( St Martins in the Fields is the reference I think ) and Ten Thousand Maniacs should read 10,000 Maniacs the american band.
I’m getting as pedantic as Raddy Antic
regards
Bill
29 January 2009
Murray Meikle
In the verse that starts “Faked my way through Glastonbury”, I remain to be convinced that Nigel is singing “that’s not Enya”. I have always heard it as “that’s not in yet”, which seems to fit (pardon the pun) within the context of the sexual awkwardness that a sensitive outsider might display. Some of my best friends are sensitive outsiders.
7 March 2009
Neil G
Murray,
Hmm, interesting theory. I can’t see it in the acoustic tent at Glastonbury, though, can you?
7 March 2009
Dave F.
Speak for yourself, Neil G!
I’ve often displayed sexual awkwardness in the Acoustic Tent. or more accurately The Red Flag bar just down the track.
I’m sure it’s Enya. Isn’t she another muse?
9 March 2009
gary s
Well if that’s not enya, instead of look that’s not enya, I think.
3 August 2009
ACIDIC REGULATOR
Apostrophe alert! “paupers’ pit”, “St Martin’s”.
Is an elitist preservative one in Old Etonian colours (black with turquoise stripes)?
8 August 2012
Chris The Siteowner
Not sure about the “paupers’ pit”, as it could equally be “pauper’s”, or – at a pinch – be correct with no apostrophe at all. St Martins has definitely left its apostrophe behind.
9 August 2012
John Burscough
As has the Paupers Pit Theatre in Buxton (handy for the hills, for those who enjoy wandering the Peaks). A pauper’s pit would have to be pretty small if it only contained one pauper.
9 August 2012
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
Be a bit exclusive for an individual pauper to have his own pit – that would incur a single occupancy surcharge, which your average pauper could ill-afford. Multi-occupancy paupers’ pits were more the medieval standard for those unable or unwilling to up-grade to a grave, although, as a rule, everyone got their own coffin.
9 August 2012
Chris The Siteowner
OK, it’s a paupers’ victory.
9 August 2012
John Burscough
Come to think of it, shouldn’t it be elitist preserves (possibly made from the Oranges and Lemons from which the St Martins 5/4d originates)? Preservatives would suggest food additives or (in America) condoms.
9 August 2012
John Burscough
The Athena tennis poster girl’s name was Fiona (Butler, now Walker). Does anybody still have a copy to confirm Gez’s assertion that it was called ‘Samantha’? Otherwise, might it not have been Ms Fox, or some other Samantha, on the putative incense mercy dash?
9 August 2012
ACIDIC REGULATOR
NB definitely sings “preservatives”, though. I’ve just had the strangest vision of dill pickle gherkins (perhaps Duchy Originals) in Old Etonian frenchies. Reminds me of the Cabinet, and of Steve Bell’s work.
Googling various combinations of elit/e/ist preserv(ativ)es threw up nothing of any relevance.
9 August 2012
ACIDIC REGULATOR
Good question, @John! There’s no reference to Samantha in the Wikipedia article or its citations, nor did assorted googling turn up anything.
If you’re right, I’d go along with la Fox, as the best-known Samantha; another entry under “musician” for the Lists thread.
9 August 2012
Exxo
“Samantha from Athena” doesn’t make sense as referring to anyone in an Athena poster. You are not “from Athena” if you were in one of their posters and a sensitive outsider would surely be quite precise in his language use.
It does makes sense as Samantha who works for Athena, probably in one of their erstwhile retail outlets.
Again it is extremely unlikely to refer to a specific individual.
A sensitive outsider would, anyway, surely have little truck with such images as those you refer to.
TTH IMHO, in fact TWTH
And shirley you can’t add stuff to the lists thread based on speculation.
Unless it’s a speculative list of course.
9 August 2012
ACIDIC REGULATOR
@Exxo, don’t underestimate the force of “if” in post 14 … but, as a matter of usage, if I should say: I’ve got Samantha from Athena on my bedroom wall … I assume you’ld understand I meant a poster, not a crucified salesgirl?
9 August 2012
Exxo
I would hope that you wouldn’t have such poor taste in posters or in use of English.
The song doesn’t say that she’s on a wall, anyway, and doesn’t seem to me to refer to a poster. So personally I don’t agree with the reference to a poster suggested by Gez, Chris, and John, and iffed by yourself.
10 August 2012
ACIDIC REGULATOR
Until someone provides evidence that the Tennis Girl was ever called Samantha, I agree with Exxo that she was merely an example of the kind of people at Athena and was no-one specific.
13 August 2012
s.g.d. a Shropshire Lad
The girl in the poster was Fiona.
13 August 2012
Archie D Walker
I was always the outsider at school. And my mother left me,age 8,with a Shylock character…and I bloody hate the man.FYI my mother is chimerical…a shegoat so Robert Graves described ‘that’ mother figure…in other words a she-devil!! And she is, for lying to me for THIRTY years.
1 December 2012
Archie D Walker
And,about ten years ago,my younger brother had a friend who played in a band called Chimera. The younger brother in question had lived with my mother four years at the time…..funny…very ironic.
1 December 2012