In 1994, the duo expanded to a trio when Resque drummer Wez joined the band. In 1996, the band expanded further to include Salvatore Alessi of S*M*A*S*H on bass, Ben Lambert on keyboards, and Wez's brother Steve on guitar.
The groups most successful single, "The Only Living Boy in New Cross" from their UK #1 album "1992: The Love Album", reached #7 in the UK and #26 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart in the United States.
After the Watershed
Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
loved you to death after the watershed
Between the Open University and closedown
you were dead
He's warmed your cockles with his magic tricks
glasses, bottles, bottles, filter tips
John Player Special
Exhibit G from the family firm
his bride to be taking twisted turns
To give you French kisses
and Chinese burns
You see, she'd had a skinful and she couldn't stop
like a pitbull in a china shop
And all the King's social workers, the ghurkas and the cops
somehow
couldn't love you back to life again now
A black eye for a black eye
a chipped tooth for a chipped tooth
a fraction of a half life
some housework and some home truths
And nothing but the home truth
Nothing but the home truth
Nothing but the home truth
And it's goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Come home you silly cow
We've baked a cake and your friends are waiting
and David Icke says he'd like to show us how
to love you back to life again now
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Come home you silly cow
We've baked a cake and your friends are waiting... waiting... waiting...
AND DAVID ICKE SAYS!
goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Come home you silly cow
We've baked a cake and your friends are waiting
and David Icke says
Goodbye, you silly cow
Come home
come home
come home
come home
A black eye for a black eye
a chipped tooth for a chipped tooth
a fraction of a half life
some housework and some home truths
And nothing but the home truth
Nothing but the home truth
Nothing but the home truth
The song "After the Watershed" by Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, is a complex and layered story about a tragic death, with lyrics that are full of vivid imagery, irony and dark humor. The first verse, "Exhibit F, the reporters said, loved you to death after the watershed. Between the Open University and closedown, you were dead," sets the tone for the song, laying out the idea that someone has died and that their death has been sensationalized by the media. The imagery here is particularly potent with the phrasing "between the Open University and closedown," suggesting that the person died in the dead of night when all the educational programming had finished.
The second verse appears to be about a magician, with the line "He's warmed your cockles with his magic tricks, glasses, bottles, bottles, filter tips, John Player Special, Number 666." The magician may represent someone who tried to entertain or distract the person who later died, possibly in an attempt to help them, but it was not enough. In the third verse, "Exhibit G from the family firm, his bride to be taking twisted turns, to give you French kisses and Chinese burns," the story takes another turn. This verse seems to be about a love interest of the person who has died, who is described as taking "twisted turns" and being unable to stop.
The chorus, "And it's goodbye Ruby Tuesday, come home you silly cow. We've baked a cake and your friends are waiting, and David Icke says he'd like to show us how to love you back to life again now," is a haunting reminder that the person who has died is gone forever, and that they will be missed. The repeated line "come home you silly cow" is particularly poignant, suggesting that the person who has died was once loved, even if they were flawed. The last verse, which repeats the lines "A black eye for a black eye, a chipped tooth for a chipped tooth, a fraction of a half life, some housework and some home truths, and nothing but the home truth, nothing but the home truth, nothing but the home truth," feels like a stark and bitter summary of the message of the song, which is that death is final and that there is no going back.
Line by Line Meaning
Exhibit F, the reporters said
The media released a statement called Exhibit F
loved you to death after the watershed
The public devoured the media's coverage of your death, but only after a certain time of night
Between the Open University and closedown
During a specific time on TV, when lectures ended and programming finished for the night
you were dead
You were no longer alive
He's warmed your cockles with his magic tricks
He's pleased you with his impressive stunts
glasses, bottles, bottles, filter tips
Objects he used in his performance
John Player Special
A brand of cigarettes, often smoked by rebellious figures
Number 666
A reference to the biblical number symbolizing the devil
Exhibit G from the family firm
Another statement from the family company
his bride to be taking twisted turns
His fiancée behaving erratically
To give you French kisses
To give you passionate kisses
and Chinese burns
A painful prank where the performer twists the skin on somebody's arm
You see, she'd had a skinful and she couldn't stop
She had consumed a lot of alcohol and was out of control
like a pitbull in a china shop
Like a dangerous animal in a fragile environment
And all the King's social workers, the ghurkas and the cops
Despite the efforts of many people from different professions
somehow couldn't love you back to life again now
Could not bring you back to life, no matter what they tried to do
A black eye for a black eye
A retaliatory act of aggression
a chipped tooth for a chipped tooth
The same type of injury in return
a fraction of a half life
A shortened amount of time being alive
some housework and some home truths
Some domestic chores and harsh realities
And nothing but the home truth
Only honesty is being spoken
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
A farewell to Ruby
Come home you silly cow
Come back to your loved ones, no matter how foolish you were
We've baked a cake and your friends are waiting
We've prepared a celebration and people want to see you
and David Icke says he'd like to show us how
A reference to a British conspiracy theorist known for claims of shapeshifting reptilian beings infiltrating the government
to love you back to life again now
To bring you back to life with affection
Contributed by Cameron I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@woobaby79
If you are young now, love and cherish these years, because they go in a flash.
@regfries8279
one of the most important posts i've ever seen on youtube. so true.
@maxvolume890
Best internet comment I’ve ever seen
@nodiggity9472
"And David Icke says he's gonna show us how to love you back to life again" Cracks me up man, every time.
@user-wj5co6xb4x
Love it.......
@garymangan2655
My introduction to Carter was when my friend bought some CD of some band but the wrong CD was in the case. He got the Sheriff Fatman CD single by mistake and the rest is history. Got to see them live through the 90s and flew from Ireland to the final show in Brixton. Amazing
@marsamgod73
I don't mind admitting this song brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it.
@nettalaor441
Same
@BoudicaJ
@@nettalaor441 ... and same xx
@markrandall8487
I like the bit at 30 seconds where they're playing a silent guitar