Them’s The Vagaries is (of course) another bunch of amusing observations; I don’t know why I find the “squid” line so funny. Regarding the “aviaries” stuff at the end, Nigel said: “Yeah, that’s where we do get silly. Sometimes I don’t care. But you can’t be stern-faced all your life.” Thanks to EskimoEric, Paul and Max
Note from Chris The Siteowner:
I tend to act on lyric corrections usually only when somebody backs up an initial suggestion. If a correction doesn't get a seconder, I usually let it go (unless it's so obviously the right thing to do). However, if you feel strongly that I shouldn't have ignored a suggestion, feel free to re-post your comment and ask for some support!
Note: the first three Half Man Half Biscuit albums have some crossover of tracks - see here for details
Design: Grid Focus by Derek Punsalan, 5thirtyone.com
26 Letters Sent:
Hoagy
Is it not “You’ll never get asked back again”?
Sep 6th, 2008
Chris The Siteowner
Now I listen to the song again, it could well be. So let’s have a quick straw poll:
“You’ll never get us back again”? or
“You’ll never get asked back again”?
Sep 6th, 2008
Brian
Yeah, having re-listened it definitely sounds like “asked”.
Sep 6th, 2008
m i k e
I’d vote “asked”.
Also, I’m convinced someone points to the “finches” in the yard, not cages. It doesn’t make as much sense to call a finch an aviary, but listen to the Peel session version of this song and it’s unmistakable.
Sep 6th, 2008
Martin
Definitely “You’ll never get asked back again” in my book.
Sep 7th, 2008
simon smith
Always heard it as `asked`. Good to see you back, Mr Rand.
Sep 7th, 2008
Chris The Siteowner
OK, “asked” it is.
@m i k e: Interesting! I’ll have a listen.
Sep 7th, 2008
Max Williams
Brit-pop! Thank god, that line’s been bugging me since i first heard it. My mind is a marginally less troubled place now.
Sep 7th, 2008
Neil G
Excellent. I could never work out that bit at the end where they’re singing different things at the same time. I managed ‘Aldershot’ after about two years but the rest was indistinguishable to me. Thanks to those with better ears.
Sep 7th, 2008
Ben
I think it might be “Flip-Flop” but that’s impossible to distinguish between “Brit-Pop”
Also is it not “Auguries” in the last refrain?
And apologies to anyone stood next to me at a gig who’s heard me shouting “You paint a picture of my yard….and then” etc
That “Aldershot” bit doesn’t ring true either to my ears but have no alternative suggestion.
Sep 7th, 2008
grim
Not having listened to this in a while, but my memory’s definitely telling me it’s the “features” in the yard. Feel free to ignore it.
Sep 7th, 2008
dj
the peel session version changes the “five day tests” line for “cliff carlyle”, cliff being the semi famous yodeler come singer who probably appeared on the val doonican show quite a lot
Sep 7th, 2008
Mic
Is it not “Kids in earshot”. I know that upsets me.
Sep 8th, 2008
Fredorrarci
I’m convinced it’s “flip-flop” – definitely some l’s in there.
I can’t hear “cages” – another vote for “features”. (“Finches”, perhaps? Perhaps not.)
Sep 11th, 2008
Mark
Isn’t it “fixtures in my yard” and “fan of cobain”
Sep 12th, 2008
Bob Arctor
I hear “Kids in Argos shops” ??
Sep 12th, 2008
RobJ
I’m sure it’s not cages. I would also go for features.
And it’s definitely “kids in Aldershot”
Sep 15th, 2008
Mick
I’d go with Auguries in the last bit…here’s Wikipedia:
The Augur was a priest and official in the classical world, especially ancient Rome and Etruria. His main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying the flight of the birds (flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of birds they are), known as “taking the auspices.”
Oct 21st, 2008
Chris The Siteowner
@Mike: Finally I revisited the Peel session version, and I know that of course HMHB bend the lyrics in live versions, but it’s definitely “finches” there, so as the recorded version is debatable, we’ll go with that.
@Mick/@Ben: Sorry, I’ve listened to both versions again and again, and I can’t hear the “auguries” bit. Maybe I’m missing something!
Oct 21st, 2008
Dave F.
I’m hearing Flip-Flop.
& Auguries, I’m afraid Chris.
Also finches/the band/Aldershot.
Although kids in Argos shops do p*ss me off – gangs fifteen years old girls looking for engagement rings in Elizabeth Duke. (Some of them with surprisingly large bellies!)
Oct 24th, 2008
Fredorrarci
From an interview with none other than Mr. Blackwell himself:
You do sing “Them’s the aviaries” at the end, don’t you? I hope you do!
“Yeah, that’s where we do get silly. Sometimes I don’t care. But you can’t be stern-faced all your life.”
From the HMHB site
Oct 25th, 2008
Chris The Siteowner
Indeed – as I quoted right at the top of the page!
Oct 26th, 2008
Fredorrarci
Oh. Didn’t see that…
Oct 26th, 2008
jaeneas
I found this download game, ‘Squid Yes, Not So Octopus 2′.
It took me a couple of minutes to remember how I knew the quote from.
The author checks HMHB and tea as influences.
May 30th, 2009
Chris The Siteowner
You’re right: here’s SYNSO (Squid Yes, Not So Octopus), describing it as “The only game based on one line from a Half Man Half Biscuit song”, and here’s SYNSO: Squid Harder. And here’s the author. The game’s ReadMe file credits “Nigel from Half Man Half Biscuit who wrote Them’s The Vagaries from which the title is derived”.
May 30th, 2009
dagenham dave
for what it’s worth, I agree that it’s ‘asked’ and ‘kids in Aldershot’.
Regarding the last four ‘them’s the…..’, there is at least one vocal singing ‘aviarys’ in the first line but the other three are ‘auguries’.
Possibly.
Feb 6th, 2010
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