They recruited rapper Kermit and drummer Ged Lynch of the Manchester-based group The Ruthless Rap Assassins, plus guitarist Wags from The Paris Angels. Recording of new material started that year, although the group were not under contract. The key addition to the band was bassist and guitarist Danny Saber, who became Ryder's key musical foil.
In 1995 they signed to Radioactive Records (an imprint of major label BMG) and released their debut album, produced by Saber and Stephen Lironi. It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah immediately charted at number 1 in the UK, and spawned three Top 20 singles. According to Songfacts, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich listed it as his favorite CD of 1996.
Black Grape's music was funky and eclectic, using varied instrumentation and samples. Ryder's lyrics seem to derive mainly from nonsense rhymes and humorous catch-phrases. The debut album received critical acclaim in Britain, riding high during the then fashionable Britpop wave but the group made little impact in the U.S..
The subsequent album, 1997's Stupid Stupid Stupid was less favoured and charted at number 11 in the UK. The group split in 1998 after Ryder fired the rest of band while touring.
The band reformed for a one-off live show, their first in over 10 years, for Get Loaded in the Dark at the Coronet, London, on April 1, 2010. Five years later, the band announced plans for a tour to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their debut album. A reunion album, Pop Voodoo, was released in August 2017, although only Ryder and Kermit remained from the original lineup, with Youth handling bass, songwriting, and production duties.
Kelly's Heroes
Black Grape Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Most of these men sing like surfs
Jesus was a black man
No Jesus was Batman
No, no, no, no, not at all
That was Bruce Wayne
Who got the biggest
Who got the biggest brain
For a year I did bang her
And Dennis sleeps fucked off
He'll surface again
Don't talk to me about heroes
Most of these men sing like Surfs
Don't talk to me about your big big heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
He never a sad man
Or so call mean bad man
Or that's just down to the strain
Well he hand out fish man
With his centred parted sun tan
Then cut all the lame
Who got the biggest
Who got the biggest
Who got the richest brain
Jesus was a black man
No Jesus was Batman
No, no, no, no, fuck
That was Bruce Wayne
Don't talk to me about heroes
Most of these men sing like Surfs
Don't talk to me about your big big heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
We lead double lives
We deal in sex and beautiful women
Contemplating
Don't talk to me about heroes
Most of these men sing like Surfs
Don't talk to me about your big big heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
The lyrics to Black Grape's song Kelly's Heroes are filled with references to heroes and legends, but the song seems to be a criticism of these figures. The singer repeatedly says "don't talk to me about heroes," indicating that he doesn't believe in the idea of these larger-than-life figures. He also mentions that many of them "sing like surfs," implying that they are not as powerful or impressive as they are made out to be.
The lyrics also contain some humorous references to Jesus and Batman. The singer first says that Jesus was a black man, but then corrects himself and says that Jesus was actually Batman. He then denies both of these claims and says that the true hero is Bruce Wayne, who is the alter-ego of Batman. This could be seen as a commentary on the way we create heroes out of fictional characters or other people, rather than finding heroic qualities in ourselves.
The second verse of the song talks about a man who is generous and kind, but also has a "centred parted sun tan," which could be seen as a humorous reference to the idea of hero worship. The chorus repeats the same message about not believing in heroes, with the addition of the line "we lead double lives, we deal in sex and beautiful women," which could be interpreted as a commentary on the idea that our society values superficial qualities over true heroism.
Overall, Kelly's Heroes is a satirical and thought-provoking song that challenges the idea of heroes, while also poking fun at the way we create legends and myths around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't talk to me about heroes
I don't want to hear about people's so-called heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
Most of these men are just like workers doing what they're told
Jesus was a black man
Jesus was believed by some to be black
No Jesus was Batman
Some people believe Jesus was like a superhero, but actually that's more like Batman
No, no, no, no, not at all
Absolutely not, this is completely wrong!
That was Bruce Wayne
What people think of as Jesus is actually more like Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne
Who got the biggest
Who is the most impressive or powerful
Who got the biggest
Again, who is the most impressive or powerful
Who got the biggest brain
Who is the smartest or most clever
For a year I did bang her
I had sexual relations with someone for a year
And Dennis sleeps fucked off
Dennis is missing and may not come back
He'll surface again
Dennis will come back eventually
He never a sad man
He was never seen as a sad person
Or so call mean bad man
Or thought to be a cruel or evil person
Or that's just down to the strain
Maybe that's just due to a difficult situation
Well he hand out fish man
He was generous and gave out fish
With his centred parted sun tan
He had a tan with a part right down the center
Then cut all the lame
He got rid of anyone he thought was not cool or interesting
We lead double lives
We go about our daily lives but also have a secret or hidden side
We deal in sex and beautiful women
We are involved with sexual activity and attractive women
Contemplating
Thinking deeply about something
Don't talk to me about your big big heroes
Again, I don't want to hear about people's supposed heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
Most men are just doing what they're told, like workers
Don't talk to me about heroes
Once more, I don't want to hear about heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
Again, most men are just following orders like workers
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PAUL EVERTON LEVERIDGE, SHAUN RYDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@matiasfilippa8694
Cuantos recuerdos...
Don't talk to me about heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
Jesus was a black man
No, Jesus was Batman
No, no, no, no, not at all
That was Bruce Wayne
Who's got the biggest
Who's got the biggest
Who's got the biggest brain?
For a year I did bang her
And Dennis sleeps fucked off
He'll surface again
Don't talk to me about heroes
Most of these men sing like Surfs
Don't talk to me about your big big heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
He never a sad man
Or so call mean bad man
Or that's just down to the strain
Well, he hand out fish man
With his centred parted sun tan
Then cut all the lame
Who's got the biggest
Who's got the biggest
Who's got the richest brain
Jesus was a black man
No Jesus was Batman
No, no, no, no, fuck
That was Bruce Wayne
Don't talk to me about heroes
Most of these men sing like Surfs
Don't talk to me about your big big heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
We lead double lives
We deal in sex and beautiful women
Contemplating
Don't talk to me about heroes
Most of these men sing like Surfs
Don't talk to me about your big big heroes
Most of these men sing like surfs
@Carrera-gp9od
Absolute classic album
Doesn’t get the credit it deserves
The lyrics are tremendous, funny as fuck and the tunes are banging
Fucking magic !!
@ARyan-nf5my
All those types spawned classic albums on their breakaway projects late 90s. Their legend was established / were in their prime, was the perfect situ whoever they recruited was in awe and it brought the best out
@theculturedthug6609
Was a number 1 album in the UK in 1995.
@julianciahaconsulting8663
this was definitely one of the best 10 albums of the 1990s....and it still holds up 25whatever years later doesnt it?
@leesdroidaccountharbin9665
This album was WAY ahead of its time. This song would be a hit song today if it were released.
@nimhard
This masterpiece deserves way more than 45.000 views
@adamluck7002
It's a number one best seller
@alanmcintosh8087
The best wolves run alone
@stuartmitchell1908
I remember this coming out and was suprised and relieved. Shaun had been through a bit and I thought nothing could top top the Mondays, but this is on par. Brilliant.
@pauldeering6531
Guitar work is brilliant on that..hands up to the guitarist..