I've been meaning to comment on simply one sentence that I read in an edition of the actual physical book publication of TP Record Guide some time back--about the Housemartins' second record, but that now appears on the website:

"Personnel and musical changes marred the band's second album, The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death. Heaton's lyrics, once pointed and exact, have become obtuse and, in some instances ("Me and the Farmer," "I Can't Put My Finger on It"), downright inane."

When I first heard Me and the Farmer, I was working on a farm in Kent packing strawberries. It was played a lot on the radio, and, as "inane" as the lyrics may sound, they are actually TRUE TO LIFE. We used to get a big kick when that song would play on the radio and we'd be weighing and boxing strawberries and the farmer would happen in! Please, Mr Robbins, if you wish to criticise them, realise that they may actually be telling some sort of truth that you've never had to deal with (i.e., casual farm labour where your farmer powers up a new Volvo and your peasant wheezes down the road in a second-hand Ford Cortina).

As for I Can't Put My Finger on It, well, every word in that song expresses the kind of pathetic love/hate feeling that poor people in England feel when they see a Land Rover whip up to a Threshers. It may all sound childish (and it probably is), but it's not "inane". It has a sort of sense to it--a logic, if you like.

Thanks for all the interesting reading over the years, Mr Robbins! Cheers, John

not that i'm avoiding responsibility, but those are not my words, and i'm not familiar enough with the band's work to recast that reliably. any suggestions?

maybe tepid marxism but not inane

Me and the farmer get on fine
Through stormy weather and bottles of wine
If I pull my weight he’ll treat me well
But if I’m late he’ll give me hell
And thought it’s all hard work no play
Farmer is a happy crook
Jesus hates him everyday
’cause jesus gave and farmer took

{won’t he let you go? } probably no
{won’t he let you go? } probably no
{why does he treat you so? } I just don’t know
{why does he treat you so? } I just don’t know
Me and the farmer like brother, like sister
Getting on like hand and blister
Me and the farmer

He’s chpped down shppe, planted trees
And helped the countryside to breathe
Ripped up fields, bullied flocks
And workded his workers right around the clock

It may seem strange but he’d admit
Intentions aren’t exactlly true
And through God loves his wife a bit
He hates the farmer through and through

{won’t he let you go? } probably no
{won’t he let you go? } probably no
{why does he treat you so? } I just don’t know
{why does he treat you so? } I just don’t know
Me and the farmer like brother, like sister
Getting on like hand and blister
Me and the farmer

All things bright and beautiful
All creatures gr3eat and small
All we’ve got is london zoo
’cause farmer owns them all

willfully prosaic

farmers 1 housemartins 0