30 Apr 2008
I gave up hope ironically for Lent
Lord Hereford’s Knob is, quietly, one of the best songs on CSI:Ambleside. Of course, every HMHB album needs a track celebrating English (and indeed here, Welsh) geography, and this one is one of my favourites ever. Plus it namechecks some old HMHB songs! In case you didn’t know, Lord Hereford’s Knob – AKA Twmpa – is a peak in the Brecon Beacons. Thanks Giles
See lyrics to Lord Hereford’s Knob
39 Letters Sent:Jump to latest »
Ben
Think it might be ‘Pox of the Pennine Ridge” and I thought it was “could that be the Severn”
Well done on doing this though, long overdue.
Apr 30th, 2008
bug
It sounds like it might be “To the pots of the Pennine Ridge” as in potholes – there seem to be a few up there if you Google ‘pots pennine ridge’.
Apr 30th, 2008
chris
@Ben: it certainly could be “Severn”, and it would rhyme, but “seraph” makes a lot of sense too; someone’s going to need a better sound system than mine to make it out.
@Bug: yes, that sounds better, I think.
Thanks both!
May 1st, 2008
Ben
I’m remaining steadfast in it being “to the pox of the Penine Ridge” makes more sense lyrically.
None of you can stop me singing along to that…….can you?
P.S after googling ‘Seraph’ I reluctantly concede that point
May 1st, 2008
Vince
I’m giving my vote for “…Could that be the Severn” because:
A) It rhymes with heaven
B) Twmpa is “near” the Severn and
C) I think the F-sound you hear (to make you think of Seraph) is from the backing vocals singing ‘Here”F”ord’s’ Knob
OK. so I was a million miles wide on Bad Losers at Yahoo Chess, but on this one I’m more confident.
Vince
May 17th, 2008
Geoff
I work at the O.S. and I’d just like to say that there isn’t a trig pillar on top of Lord Herefords’ Knob, only a cairn. I know it’s a bit pedantic. I just wanted to add something to the HMHB lyrics project.
Jun 23rd, 2008
chris
@Geoff: One of my favourite comments ever.
Jun 24th, 2008
Geoff
…although I should say that the grid reference they supply is exactly right. But could someone explain to me why this song puts me in mind of the Incredible String Band? I’m beginning to think this might be their best album.
Jun 24th, 2008
Gareth
A single Seraph is the guy from the Matrix, I think; at least that’s what Google confirms. The Severn fits logically – you can see it from the top, on a clear day with the right drug – but since when has logic had anything to do with HMHB lyrics?
Jul 8th, 2008
Mr Larrington
+1 for “Severn” over here.
Note to self: go to bed, you oaf…
Jul 19th, 2008
Neil
That’s definitely the Severn. Listen at high volume through headphones.
Aug 9th, 2008
Chris
OK, I’m gonna change it to “Severn”, by popular vote. Although I bet everyone who thought it was “seraph” will now raise their objections. Or something.
Aug 10th, 2008
Ben
Victory!
Can you take another listen to my suggestion of “pox of the penine ridge” I think it’s much more likely than “pots”
Yes, it’s still bugging me!
Aug 10th, 2008
Chris
@Ben: You’ll need to gather a few more supporters for that one mate, I can’t hear that at all.
Aug 10th, 2008
chesneywold
your’e should be you’re, i’m sure nigel would sing it with the correct contraction in mind
Sep 4th, 2008
Chris The Siteowner
Read here how the great David Lloyd tried (and failed) to get a BBC local radio station to play the song…
Oct 9th, 2008
Giles Pattison
Agree about the Severn, but still not sure about the ‘Pennine ridge’ question. I’ve given it another listen and I don’t think its ‘p??? of the Pennine Ridge’ at all, I think it is ‘to the Pots, to the Pennine Ridge’. Hull Pot is near Penyghent a quarter of a mile from the Pennine Way (it is a big pothole). Hunt Pot is nearby and has a waterfall. It is described by Wainright as “an evil slit”. I’m inclined to go with ‘to the Pots, to the Pennine Ridge’ See also Spike Pot, Blind Pot and Eerie Pot and Penyghent Pot which has an extension called Better Dead Than Welsh.
This is possibly too much information.
Nov 6th, 2008
Simon
Pedantry alert – should there be a comma in the line “I gave up hope ironically for Lent”? If so, after hope or after ironically?
It changes the meaning quite significantly – if the former it is an example of situational irony (he decides to give up hope, and by coincidence of timing it is Lent), if the latter it is an example of that rather irritating post-modern usage as ironic self-reference (because it was Lent, I decided to give up hope, knowing that there is an ironic comment to be made).
Aug 4th, 2009
Third rate Les in his Burberry fez
Theoretically you could have a comma both before and after “ironically”, and if you have any, you should have both. If it’s only before, it makes the “ironically for Lent” idea a bit of an afterthought, which isn’t right in this case. As you say, one after puts the emphasis on “ironically”, as if the point wasn’t that he gave it up for Lent, it’s that he gave it up ironically, with the “for Lent” bit again an afterthought. Neither sounds really right to me though.
Hey – it’s the 4th of August. I had a dream then.
Aug 4th, 2009
Charles Exford
Hadn’t considered it before, but all four possibilities with and without commas are possible & “correct”, each of the comma-ed versions of course having arguably infinitessimally differing shades of meaning, or not, and the un comma-ed version being even more ambiguous, but still not very.
Which is always nice.
Funnily enough right now I’m marking English language assignments by German English teachers. Hee hee, the opportunities for pedantry are so endless that I hardly need the internet at the moment. What joy.
Aug 5th, 2009
Drunkenmadman
I just did a cover of this. hope I got the lyrics right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHe7CamE6lA
The arrangement leaves out a couple of bits (whistle solo and closing section), but I’ll be doing another version later with those in. This is the version I do when solo on acoustic guitar – when the closing section doesn’t really work
Chords will be published at my blog shortly.
Feb 16th, 2010
Charles Exford
Uncanny. When you asked the other day if you had any requests, this was the one Mrs. Exford immediately mentioned, but to be honest her major request is that we can see your fingers making the chords, and I second that emotion. Fretwork homework and all that. Please don’t hide the chords behind your wine glass, she says.
I’m on dial-up at me mum’s rustic bivvy for a few days (half-term and all that), so I’ve no idea if we can see your chords on this one but I sure hope so !
Ooh but if the chords are on yer blog maybe it doesn’t matter. Keep up the good work,
Exxo.
Feb 17th, 2010
Charles Exford
I just happened to need to check out the main gig venue in Hebden Bridge, the Trades Club, for possible hiring for an event, so I cobwebbed up some old reviews, including this one from hmhb.co.uk of a gig on 17/2/99. It gives a new meaning to the revenge-ballad element in the song really, and kind of explains the anger towards the _chattering_ classes.
“The problem is the place is run by a bunch of bearded middle aged southern dope-smoking hippies who try to impose a strictly ‘members only’ policy…. too many ‘members’ for my liking, who just took advantage of being able to get tickets and then spent the evening sat round tables trying to talk over the band – why bother! So we ended up with the ‘house full’ signs up and ‘genuine’ fans locked out. Bit of a farce. When I got in the place one of my mates said “no chance of getting pissed tonight”. I wondered what he meant until I tried to get to the bar. Two bar staff for 250 or so people! Bloody farce.”
May 27th, 2010
Lee's Twenty First
Okay, so I get the “chevrons” and “paradise” references but what’s the deal with “All of our songs sound the same”?
Sep 14th, 2010
Third Rate Les
It means “our works closely resemble one another”.
Sep 15th, 2010
Lee's Twenty First
Thanks Les but (a) I don’t think that particular insult(?) applies to HMHB in the way that it could do to some bands (The Wedding Present spring to mind) because HMHB songs are so varied and (b) I can’t see that it’s a line from another HMHB song in the way that the other two references are.
It just seems odd to me, that’s all.
Sep 15th, 2010
Dave F.
Self deprecating irony, maybe?
I don’t know if they got a review with that quote, but the boy Gedge certainly did & turned it into one of the best t-shirts I’ve owned.
It’s just a pity that it shrunk in the wash over the years.
Sep 15th, 2010
Lee's Twenty First
Dave: I know, it’s still one of my favourite EP covers.
Sep 15th, 2010
dagenham dave
I would agree with Dave, another self deprecating line. the fact that the lyrics from the other songs fit perfectly into this one indicates some similarity in structure.
I also had that Weddoes t-shirt, one of their best I reckon.
I saw it as a bit of a pop at lazy journalistic clichés.
Sep 15th, 2010
Snowy
Good work putting this one together
‘Twmpa, Twmpa, you’re gonna need a jumper’
is possibly the greatest lyric ever written
Nov 3rd, 2010
dagenham dave
Dave F – you may be interested to know that that particular t-shirt has been reissued by The Wedding Present.
Nov 3rd, 2010
Third Rate Les
I don’t really think they sound the same either, but then neither do The Wedding Present’s, except for a small handful (maybe Interstate 5 has an acknowledged debt to Bewitched, but they’re both belters). He’s just gently making fun of himself because this one in particular has the same rhythm and structure as Paradise Lost, Keeping 2 Chevrons and indeed new song RSVP.
Nov 3rd, 2010
Dave F.
Cheer D. Dave
Thank the lord they do them in ‘gut bucket’ size (to allow for the shrinkage, of course).
Nov 4th, 2010
Big Al
Does he actually sing “cuckolded”? To me it sounds a bit like “Kirkcaldy’d” which would fit the wordplay oft used in these fine lyrics.
Mar 18th, 2011
Hartychoke
‘Twmpa Twmpa you’re gonna need a jumper’
references the outro to the Beatles ‘I am the Walrus’ in which Macca says ‘Oompa Oompa stick it up you’re jumper’
Oct 11th, 2011
Charles Exford
Well they’re both referencing Jimmy Edwards really, a massive post-war star whose TV series made it a household refrain and who in turn was doing somebody else’s song from the 30′s – the original artiste has been mentioned on here before.
(but @ Jeff Dreadnought in the lists thread, it certainly has nothing to do with Shani Wallis)
Oct 11th, 2011
Vendor of Quack Nostrums
HMHB, The Beatles and Jimmy Edwards are all referencing one of those Music Hall phrases that passed for comedy in them far off, more innocent days. The Two Leslies laid down this waxing in 1935.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB-oKyA-Snk
Personally, I would rather like NB57 to record a version of Miss Porkington Would Like Cream Puffs.
Oct 11th, 2011
Dave Wiggins
So nobody else recalls Nigel coming onstage with a washboard at Ormskirk Comrades Club in ’86 then? Ooh, look at you madam……
Oct 12th, 2011
Mac
For some reason this fact on the BBC website caught my eye. Why is Hebden Bridge the lesbian capital?
Feb 9th, 2012
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