Born James Alan Hull in Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne on 20th February1945, he became a member of the band The Chosen Few alongside keyboard player Mick Gallagher in 1962. He supported himself one year by working as a nurse at a mental hospital while appearing as a folk singer and guitarist in local clubs before helping to form Brethren and Downtown Faction, which evolved into Lindisfarne in 1970. He also released a one-off solo single, "We Can Swing Together", which was re-recorded with the group on their first album, Nicely Out of Tune, and became a regular favourite in their stage performances.
As the group's most prolific songwriter and joint lead vocalist, Hull came to be regarded as its leader. In 1972, dissatisfied with the sound and critical reception of their third album Dingly Dell, he considered leaving the group, but instead he and joint lead vocalist Ray "Jacka" Jackson formed a new six-piece Lindisfarne the following year, leaving the three other original members to form Jack the Lad. He also released a first solo album, Pipedream, in the same year, and published a book of poems, Mocking Horse.
Lindisfarne disbanded in 1975, and Hull released a second solo album, Squire, then formed the short-lived Radiator, which also included drummer Ray Laidlaw of Lindisfarne and Jack the Lad. At the end of 1977 the original line-up of Lindisfarne reformed after a well-received Christmas show at the Newcastle City Hall which was broadcast on local radio. Thereafter he combined his musical career as front man of the group with a solo career. He was also a staunch Labour Party activist.
In 1994, he recorded Back to Basics, a live all-acoustic survey of the best of his songwriting from 1970 onwards. On 17th November 1995 whilst working on a new album, Statues & Liberties, Hull died suddenly of a heart thrombosis, at the age of fifty.
Drinking Song
Alan Hull Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A middle class man drinks when he can
But a wise man drinks all of the time.
And a rich lady drinks only sherry at her bridge parties every night
The players are drunk but remain polite
They don't care who's won 'cause they're all too tight.
And the magistrate is drinking his lunch when the thief has been found guilty and fined
And the congregation is leaving church
When the vicar is pissed on the sacramental wine.
'Cause there's really no other way.
So if you ever stop to think why this world's so insecure
It's all because some politicians
Or smoke marijuana in public places
But most of all it's because they take a drink.
Because, there's really no other way
There's really no other way.
The lyrics of the song "Drinking Song" by Alan Hull speaks to the different classes in society and their relationship with alcohol. The first verse makes a comparison between the drinking habits of a rich man and a poor man. The rich man will typically only consume whiskey, which could be seen as a symbol of his high status and wealth. Meanwhile, the poor man who cannot afford whiskey will settle for wine. The middle-class man has the privilege of drinking when he can, demonstrating his moderate level of wealth. However, it is the wise man who drinks all the time. Rather than suggesting that the wise man is an alcoholic, these lyrics may mean to convey that the wise man knows his limits and understands the benefits of drinking in moderation.
The song then goes on to explore other classes of society and their drinking habits. The second verse mentions the rich lady who drinks only sherry at her parties, and her guests who are too drunk to care about the outcome of their game. In the third verse, the magistrate drinks during his lunch break, emphasising how deeply entrenched alcohol is in society even in formal settings. The final verse is perhaps the most powerful, as it links alcohol consumption to political instability in society. The lyrics suggest that politicians and other individuals may take poorly judged decisions after consuming alcohol, which contributes to the insecurity of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
A rich man drinks only whiskey, a poor man drinks only wine
Wealth often dictates one's choice of alcohol, with the rich opting for expensive whiskey and the poor settling for affordable wine.
A middle class man drinks when he can
The middle class enjoys drinking, but is limited by their financial means.
But a wise man drinks all of the time.
The wise understand the benefits of drinking, and do so regularly.
And a rich lady drinks only sherry at her bridge parties every night
Women who are well-off often prefer sherry as their drink of choice, especially during social events like bridge parties.
The players are drunk but remain polite
Despite being drunk, the participants in the bridge parties maintain their decorum and manners.
They don't care who's won 'cause they're all too tight.
Intoxicated players have little regard for the outcome of the game, as they are too inebriated to care.
And the magistrate is drinking his lunch when the thief has been found guilty and fined
Judges and other legal professionals have been known to drink on the job, even when they are responsible for making important decisions like convicting a criminal.
And the congregation is leaving church
Churchgoers often partake in drinking, despite being in a religious setting.
When the vicar is pissed on the sacramental wine.
Even religious leaders like vicars have been known to consume alcohol, even if it means getting drunk on the sacramental wine.
So if you ever stop to think why this world's so insecure
The presence of insecurity in today's world can be attributed to a multitude of factors.
It's all because some politicians
Politicians are partly to blame for the world's instability.
Or smoke marijuana in public places
The public's disregard for laws and social norms, like smoking marijuana in public, also contribute to insecurity.
But most of all it's because they take a drink.
One of the biggest contributors to the world's insecurity is the overconsumption of alcohol.
Because, there's really no other way
Alcohol consumption has become so normalized that there is no other way of life for many people.
There's really no other way.
The overreliance on alcohol is so deeply ingrained in society that it is difficult to imagine a world without it.
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Robert R
Great song writer.
Charles Z
Where did you find this recording?