Cardiacs, originally called Cardiac Arrest, was an English band formed in 1… Read Full Bio ↴Cardiacs, originally called Cardiac Arrest, was an English band formed in 1977 and led by Tim Smith (1961-2020). Noted for their complex, varied and intense compositional style and for their eccentric, theatrical stage shows, they have been hailed as an influence by many newer groups and artists.

As well as Smith, around 23 musicians were part of the Cardiacs over the years, including Smith's brother, Jim, and multi-instrumentalist, Sarah Cutts, who married Tim Smith in 1983.

Their music combined the excitement and energy of punk with the intricacies and technical cleverness of early British progressive rock, a combination sometimes referred to as pronk, although frontman Smith disavowed this classification.

Cardiacs released eight studio albums plus a number of live albums, compilation albums and singles between 1980 and 2007, and are best known for the 1988 minor hit single "Is This the Life?" They are also noted for attracting strongly diverse responses: they have remained one of Britain's leading cult rock bands during their four-decade-spanning career, but have also attracted virulent critical attack (including a lengthy editorial ban from the British music magazine New Musical Express).

On the 30th June 1990, Cardiacs played at Salisbury Arts Centre (a former church). The show was recorded and initially the video of it was released on VHS tape under the name "All That Glitters Is A Mare's Nest". The video helped Cardiacs achieve a cult following, with pirated copies of the video, being highly sought after. The audio from the show was released on CD in 1995.

The band was on hiatus following the 2008 hospitalisation of Tim Smith after a heart attack and series of strokes which affected his speech and movement.

Commenting on his condition, in 2017, Smith wrote: “Imagine if you were wearing a skintight bodysuit made of fishnet all around you, with electrical pulses going all the time. This is what my body feels like unless I fall asleep.”

In 2018, fundraising was set up for Tim Smith, which included the comment “This condition has affected Tim’s movement, his dexterity, his ability to speak, and it has added painful muscle tone and spasms that are a permanent feature of his life these days.”

On Tuesday 21st July 2020, at around 10.30 pm, Tim Smith passed away at his home, as a result of a heart attack.

Cardiacs final album, "LSD" remained unfinished at the time of Tim Smith's death. At the time of his death, Cardiacs still remained a cult following, their recordings were not, for example, available on Spotify. For many years there were few new copies of Cardiacs albums in circulation. Later on, re-releases became available on CD and then vinyl.

Hello Mr. Sparrow
Cardiacs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My leg is
On fire oh
Isn't it a fact
I've seen it
And it appears quite a task lasting forever

I've got the mind of an eel
But I'm fizzing all the time

I've got an eel now
But I'm fizzing all the time

I'd say, I'd say
I'd say, I'd say
Fine accomplished day to day
Bide my time in my own way
It's passing me over

Meet me once upon a time
But obviously don't ignore it's me
I'm here you see
I've got no say in it anyway

Isn't it a fact,
But a funny thing to say
Why do you stay in
On such a lovely sunny day
I'd say, I'd say
I'd say, I'd say
Fine accomplished day to day
Bide my time in my own way
It's passing me over

Meet me once upon a time
But obviously don't ignore it's me
I'm here you see

I've got no say in it anyway
"Ha ha ha ha!"

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Hello Mr. Sparrow" by Cardiacs are quite abstract and difficult to interpret at face value. However, the song appears to be a commentary on the nature of existence and our individual places in the world. The first verse illustrates a feeling of pain and discomfort, with the singer's leg being on fire. Yet it appears to be a fact that he has seen it and it will last forever. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for life's pains and challenges that we must endure.

The following verses offer a glimpse into the state of the singer's mind. He claims to have the "mind of an eel" and is constantly "fizzing," which could indicate a restless and energetic state. He then declares that he has "no say in it anyway," perhaps referring to the fact that our lives are often out of our control and subject to fate or destiny.

The chorus appears to offer some kind of comfort or consolation, with the repetition of "fine accomplished day to day" and "bide my time in my own way." This could be a reminder to focus on the present moment and find contentment in the small things in life, rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past. The song ends with a somewhat ironic and cryptic "Ha ha ha ha!" which could be interpreted in a number of ways.

Overall, "Hello Mr. Sparrow" is a dense and thought-provoking song that invites interpretation and analysis. It is a great example of Cardiacs' unique style and their ability to create complex, multi-layered music.

Line by Line Meaning

My leg is
My leg is in pain and discomfort

On fire oh
On fire with pain and discomfort

Isn't it a fact
A fact that cannot be denied

I've seen it
I have witnessed the pain in my leg

And it appears quite a task lasting forever
The pain is a challenge that seems to never end

I've got the mind of an eel
My mind is agile and quick like that of an eel

But I'm fizzing all the time
But I am constantly excited and energetic

I've got an eel now
I possess an eel, perhaps metaphorically

I'd say, I'd say
I would venture to say

Fine accomplished day to day
My day to day life is satisfactory and productive

Bide my time in my own way
I wait for things to happen in my own manner