Appearing in many British films, including three Carry On films, the second Doctor Who film and The Railway Children, Cribbins was also the narrator of the British animated children's TV series The Wombles, a BBC radio adaptation of The Wind in the Willows and many episodes of Jackanory. Other television appearances included Fawlty Towers as the spoon salesman Mr Hutchinson, in the episode "The Hotel Inspectors" (1975).
Later television appearances include playing Wally Bannister in the long running UK soap Coronation Street, also appearing in Doctor Who for the Christmas episode 2009 as Wilfred Mott, alongside actor David Tennant.
The Hole in the Ground
Bernard Cribbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A hole in the ground, so big and sort of round it was
There was I, digging it deep
It was flat at at the bottom and the sides were steep
When along, comes this bloke in a bowler which he lifted and scratched his head
Well we looked down the hole, poor demented soul and he said
Do you mind if I make a suggestion?
Don't dig there, dig it elsewhere
The shape of it's wrong, it's much too long
And you can't put hole where a hole don't belong
I ask, what a liberty eh
Nearly bashed him right in the bowler
Well there was I, stood in me hole
Shovelling earth for all I was worth
There was him, standing up there
So grand and official with his nose in the air
So I gave him a look sort of sideways and I leaned on my shovel and sighed
Well I lit me a fag and having took a drag I replied
I just couldn't bear, to dig it elsewhere
I'm digging it round co's I don't want it square
And if you disagree it doesn't bother me
That's the place where the holes gonna be
Well there we were, discussing this hole
A hole in the groud so big and sort of round it was
Well it's not there now, the ground's all flat
And beneath it is the bloke in the bowler hat
And that's that
In Bernard Cribbins's humorous song "The Hole in the Ground," the singer describes his experience digging a hole in the ground. He describes the hole as being round and deep with steep sides. He is interrupted by a man wearing a bowler hat who suggests that he is digging the hole in the wrong shape and location. The singer is initially angry with him, but then calmly explains that he is digging it round because he wants it that way. The man in the bowler hat does not agree with him, but the singer seems not to care. The song concludes with the revelation that the hole is no longer there, and there is a man buried underneath it, assumed to be the man in the bowler hat.
This song can be interpreted as a commentary on how people offer their unsolicited opinions and advice to others. It highlights how we can become defensive of our own decisions and not want others to interfere, even if their observations may be valid. The song also has a dark undertone, with the final reveal of a man buried beneath the hole. This could be interpreted as a warning against ignoring the warnings of others and the potential consequences that can come with pushing against them.
Line by Line Meaning
There I was, a-digging this hole
I was busy digging a hole
A hole in the ground, so big and sort of round it was
The hole was large and round
There was I, digging it deep
I was digging it deep
It was flat at at the bottom and the sides were steep
The bottom was flat and the sides were steep
When along, comes this bloke in a bowler which he lifted and scratched his head
A man in a bowler hat arrived and scratched his head
Well we looked down the hole, poor demented soul and he said
He looked down the hole and said a suggestion
Do you mind if I make a suggestion?
May I suggest something to you?
Don't dig there, dig it elsewhere
Don't dig here, dig somewhere else
Your digging it round and it ought to be square
The hole should be square instead of round
The shape of it's wrong, it's much too long
The shape is incorrect, it's too long
And you can't put hole where a hole don't belong
You can't dig a hole where it doesn't belong
I ask, what a liberty eh
I thought it was outrageous
Nearly bashed him right in the bowler
I almost hit him in the hat
Well there was I, stood in me hole
I was standing in my hole
Shovelling earth for all I was worth
I was shoveling earth as hard as I could
There was him, standing up there
He was standing there
So grand and official with his nose in the air
He was acting very important
So I gave him a look sort of sideways and I leaned on my shovel and sighed
I gave him a side-eye glance and leaned on my shovel with a sigh
Well I lit me a fag and having took a drag I replied
I lit a cigarette and took a puff before replying
I just couldn't bear, to dig it elsewhere
I couldn't stand to dig it somewhere else
I'm digging it round co's I don't want it square
I'm digging it round because I want it that way
And if you disagree it doesn't bother me
If you disagree, it doesn't matter to me
That's the place where the holes gonna be
That's where the hole will be
Well there we were, discussing this hole
We were discussing the hole
A hole in the groud so big and sort of round it was
The hole in the ground was big and round
Well it's not there now, the ground's all flat
The hole is not there anymore, the ground is flat
And beneath it is the bloke in the bowler hat
The man in the bowler hat is buried beneath it
And that's that
That's the end of it
Contributed by Parker B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DesigninMind1
A well loved voice in children lives of his ear-a .
From jackanory , railway children and carry ons.
Just took my daughter to watch the new railway children.
He will be Sadly missed. Like others of this time.
Jonny Morris, Kenneth Williams for example as children narrators of the time.
Maybe a make voices for all those children without a farther figure in there early years .
@NonFatMead
Seems fitting to listen to this one. RIP Bernard. True legend.
@stephencole1167
spot on
@kymclinton3140
So very very true rip bernard
@dieselfan7406
I've just found the single in my collection!
@ramsfanyt8227
RIP Bernard Cribbins who has died today at the age of 93. He will be remembered for his funny songs, narrating the wombles, Jackanory, Old Jack's Boat, Doctor Who and much much more. Forever a British Legend may he rest in peace.
@rjjcms1
RIP Bernard and thanks a thousand times for all the fun and laughter watching your performances and hearing those songs gave us through the years.
@plumberman4u
What a "Super British" voice.
His narration was top quality.
R. I. P.
@london19657
A great man,much beloved. Jackackanory and the wombles. When I grew up, he was my friendly uncle, as he was to many a young boy. Google Hornyby trains advertisment.. He was beloved. Still Is.
@victorformosa228
From the Railway Children to the Publican in Frenzy.
@user-gc3gl5bl2n
Yeah I don't see me getting 2 93, so let's have another cup of tea