Mr Robinson's Quango
Blur Lyrics


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Ooh ah ooh
Ooh ah ooh
Oh Mr. Robinson and his quango
Dirty dealer, expensive car
Runs the buses and the Evening Star

He got a hairpiece
Ooh he got herpes
His private life is very discreet
A nicer man no you're never gonna meet
And he's a self professed savior of the dim right wing
He got respiratory problems and a mason's ring

Ooh ah ooh
Ooh ah ooh
Oh Mr. Robinson and his quango
Drinks with generals and county wives
And the family business is doing all right
(Ah) They're doing tangos down in the quangos
He makes 'em tick ooh he makes them tock
And if you don't fit he'll put you in the dock
Just sits in his leather chair and twiddles his thumbs
Gets his secretary in and pinches her bum

Ooh ah ooh
Ooh ah ooh
Ooh ah ooh
Ooh ah ooh

He ran into the toilet in the town hall
He got his biro out and he wrote on the wall:
"I'm wearing black French knickers under my suit
I've got stockings and suspenders on I'm feeling rather loose
Oh I'm a naughty boy
Oh, I'm a naughty, naughty boy"
I said ooh!

He's a self professed savior of the dim right wing
He got respiratory problems and a mason's ring

Ooh ah ooh
Ooh ah ooh
Ooh ah ooh
Ooh ah ooh





Ooh, I'm a naughty boy (naughty, naughty boy)
Ooh, I'm a naughty, naughty boy

Overall Meaning

The song “Mr Robinson’s Quango”, by the British rock band Blur, is a satirical portrayal of a corrupt British bureaucrat. The lyrics describe this man, Mr. Robinson, and his position in the Quango, a governmental agency that operates independently of the department it's meant to regulate. The song begins with a rhythmic chant of “ooh ah ooh” before delving into Mr. Robinson's character. The singer describes him as a “dirty dealer” and highlights his wealth with mention of his “expensive car”. Mr. Robinson has significant power within the government, as he “runs the buses and the Evening Star”.


The song progresses with an exposé of Mr. Robinson's personal life. Though he projects a clean and sophisticated image, he wears a hairpiece and has herpes. The lyrics state that his “private life is very discreet,” depicting a contrast between his public image and his secret desires. Despite this, he is hailed as “a nicer man, no you're never gonna meet.” He also has a “respiratory problem” and is part of the secretive Freemasons organization. The song’s sarcastic tone is established when it highlights Mr. Robinson's allegiance to the “dim right wing” and his self-proclaimed role as their savior. However, he is painted as an ineffective ruler who simply twiddles his thumbs in his leather chair.


The song concludes with a moment that highlights Mr. Robinson's deviant side. The singer recounts a time when the bureaucrat ran into the toilet of a town hall and wrote on the wall, revealing his penchant for wearing black French knickers, suspenders, and stockings. The song ends with the words “ooh, I'm a naughty boy” repeated, emphasizing the satire at the expense of the hypocritical Mr. Robinson.


Line by Line Meaning

Ooh ah ooh
Repetitive sounds used to create a catchy tune.


Oh Mr. Robinson and his quango
Talking about Mr. Robinson and his powerful position in a quango.


Dirty dealer, expensive car
Mr.Robinson is corrupt and wealthy.


Runs the buses and the Evening Star
Mr. Robinson is in charge of Buses and the Evening Star newspaper.


He got a hairpiece
Mr. Robinson wears a toupee.


Ooh he got herpes
Mr. Robinson has herpes.


His private life is very discreet
Mr. Robinson is secretive about his personal life.


A nicer man no you're never gonna meet
Despite his flaws, Mr.Robinson appears pleasant to others.


And he's a self professed savior of the dim right wing
Mr.Robinson claims to be a supporter of the right wing.


He got respiratory problems and a mason's ring
Mr.Robinson has breathing issues and is a member of the Freemasons.


Drinks with generals and county wives
Mr.Robinson accompanies generals and rich women.


And the family business is doing all right
Mr.Robinson's family business is successful.


(Ah) They're doing tangos down in the quangos
The people in the quango are scheming.


He makes 'em tick ooh he makes them tock
Mr.Robinson manipulates people to do his bidding.


And if you don't fit he'll put you in the dock
If you oppose Mr.Robinson, he will punish you.


Just sits in his leather chair and twiddles his thumbs
Mr.Robinson is relaxed and unconcerned.


Gets his secretary in and pinches her bum
Mr.Robinson sexually harasses his secretary.


He ran into the toilet in the town hall
Mr.Robinson went to the bathroom in the town hall.


He got his biro out and he wrote on the wall:
Mr.Robinson wrote on the bathroom wall with a pen.


"I'm wearing black French knickers under my suit
Mr.Robinson is crossdressing.


I've got stockings and suspenders on I'm feeling rather loose
Mr. Robinson is wearing stockings and suspenders and feeling relaxed.


Oh I'm a naughty boy
Mr.Robinson finds himself mischievous.


"Oh, I'm a naughty, naughty boy"
Mr.Robinson emphasizes his own naughtiness.


Ooh!
Exclamation to draw attention to the previous statement.


Ooh, I'm a naughty boy (naughty, naughty boy)
Repetition of the earlier declaration of naughtiness.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damon Albarn, David Rowntree, Graham Coxon, Steven Alexander James

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@lkc7253

Oh, Mr Robinson
And his quango
Dirty dealer
Expensive car
Runs the buses and the Evening Star
He got a hairpiece
Ooh, he got herpes
His private life is very discreet
A nicer man, no, you're never gonna meet

He's the self-confessed savior of the dim right wing
He got respiratory problems and a mason's ring

Oh, Mr Robinson
And his quango
Drinks with generals and county wives
The family business is doing alright
They're doing tangos
Down in the quangos
He makes them tick
Ooh, he makes them tock
And if you don't fit
He put you in the dock

He just sits in his leather chair and twiddles his thumb
Gets his secretary in and pinches her bum

He ran into the toilets in the town hall
He got his biro out and wrote on the wall
"I'm wearing black French knickers under my suit
I've got stocking and suspenders on
I'm feeling rather loose"

Ooh, I'm a naughty boy
Ooh, I'm a naughty, naughty boy



All comments from YouTube:

@mtvpunk7225

when you fall off your school's stairs while singing this song and now every time you hear it you get flashbacks of that moment...great

@luke4djojo

better than hitting your head in your microphone during your performance on tv.

@sharlennla4982

omg im out of fcks. What’s that

@izabella9101

Sharlenn La during a live show Damon bangs his head on the microphone

@yellowjackboots2624

Who hasn't been there.

@k-leb4671

@@luke4djojo Actually I think falling off the stairs might be more painful.

1 More Replies...

@jakubpodolak4104

1:27 so romantic, I'd never noticed before how beautiful guitar in this song is

@pearl.jasmine

OH I'M A NAUGHTY BOY hits head on mic

@dominiceh9702

LOL! THIS IS WHAT I CAME FOR

@jesterssketchbook

wh-why w-hy did he do that? lol

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