By the early '80s, bands like Sham 69, the Angelic Upstarts, and the Cockney Rejects had transformed the working-class punk sensibility into a Cockney-dominated subgenre dubbed Oi! As early progenitors of the scene, Cock Sparrer was in demand once again, especially after their song "Sunday Stripper" appeared on an Oi! compilation. They began gigging again and quickly landed a record deal, resulting in the 1982 hit single "England Belongs to Me," which struck a chord during the middle of the Falklands War. Cock Sparrer's official U.K. debut album, Shock Troops, was also released in 1982 and became a long-standing Oi! favorite. Guitarist Beaufoy left the band in 1983 and was replaced by the tandem of Chris Skepis (rhythm) and Shug O'Neill (lead). This lineup recorded the follow-up album, 1984's Runnin' Riot in '84, but Skepis and O'Neill both departed shortly thereafter. Beaufoy rejoined briefly for the Live & Loud album, released in 1987, but disagreements within the band and (again) with their record company precipitated another breakup.
In late 1992, Cock Sparrer was invited to play a reunion gig at the Astoria, near Charing Cross. The appearance of over 2,000 fans stunned the band into a full-fledged reunion, featuring the original quartet of McFaull, Beaufoy, Burgess, and Bruce, plus new rhythm guitarist Daryl Smith. In early 1994, Cock Sparrer released Guilty as Charged, their first album of all-new material in a decade. The odds-and-ends EP Run Away followed in 1995, featuring live and studio recordings; the proper follow-up to Guilty as Charged, Two Monkeys, was released in 1997, with rumors that it would be the band's last album featuring all new material. A spate of compilations and live recordings followed during the next few years, with the band continuing to tour extensively, hitting the U.S. in 2000.
Last Orders
Cock Sparrer Lyrics
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I′d already had a skinful but I asked her for a date
She said yes, I had a drink to celebrate
Time for one last round
I know the road to romance has some very rocky paths
So next night I was careful and I stuck to drinking half's
In an hour, in an alley with our drawers around our calf′s
Time for one last round
So loud a man can't think
The bells, the bells,
Is there time for another drink?
Fifteen minutes later we were back inside the pub
She told me I was wonderful, she said she was in love
I said "thank you darling, two large brandies guv"
There's time for one last round
The bells, the bells,
So loud a man can′t think
The bells, the bells,
Is there time for another drink?
Four pints of lager later things went from bad to worse
She came back from the toilet caught me going through her purse
She said "forget the taxi, you′re gonna need a hearse"
There's time for one last round
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila four
I knew I wasn′t drunk I had a good grip on the floor
I puckered up to kiss her but she punched me in the jaw
Time for one last round
Time for one last
Time for one last
Time for one last round
"Cock Sparrer's song 'Last Orders' tells the story of a drunken encounter with a woman at a pub. The singer, already intoxicated, musters the courage to ask her out. Despite his inebriation, she agrees, and he celebrates with another drink. The lyrics suggest that the path to romance can be tumultuous ('the road to romance has some very rocky paths'). The next night, the singer tries to be more cautious by only drinking halves, but he still ends up in an alley with the woman, their clothes around their calves. However, the joy and excitement of their encounter are interrupted by the bells, which are so loud that they disrupt their thoughts and make it difficult to enjoy the moment. Despite the interruption, they return to the pub, with the woman expressing her affection for the singer. He responds by ordering two large brandies, implying that there's still time for one more round. However, the situation takes a turn for the worse when the woman catches him going through her purse. She suggests that he's in deep trouble or even in mortal danger ('you're gonna need a hearse'). Nevertheless, the singer remains optimistic, ordering more drinks and expressing a desire for one last round. The song concludes with a humorous twist, as the singer attempts to kiss the woman but is met with a punch to the jaw, yet still maintains the idea of having one more round."
Line by Line Meaning
The first time that I saw her it was getting kinda late
When I first laid eyes on her, it was already late in the night.
I′d already had a skinful but I asked her for a date
Although I was already quite intoxicated, I still gathered the courage to ask her out.
She said yes, I had a drink to celebrate
Her positive response filled me with joy and made me want to raise a glass in celebration.
Time for one last round
Before moving on to the next part of this story, it's time to have one final drink.
I know the road to romance has some very rocky paths
I am aware that the journey towards love can be filled with challenges and obstacles.
So next night I was careful and I stuck to drinking half's
Learning from my previous experience, the following night I decided to be cautious and limit my alcohol consumption.
In an hour, in an alley with our drawers around our calf's
Just an hour later, we found ourselves in a secluded place, passionately engaged, with our clothes loosened and partially removed.
The bells, the bells, So loud a man can't think
The sound of the bells ringing is so overwhelming that it becomes difficult for a person to focus and concentrate.
The bells, the bells, Is there time for another drink?
Despite the distraction caused by the echoing bells, one may wonder if it's still possible to have another drink.
Fifteen minutes later we were back inside the pub
After a brief rendezvous, we returned to the comfort of the pub.
She told me I was wonderful, she said she was in love
She expressed her admiration towards me and revealed that she had fallen in love with me.
I said 'thank you darling, two large brandies guv'
Grateful for her compliments, I responded by ordering two generous servings of brandy.
There's time for one last round
Before proceeding further, it's fitting to indulge in one final drink.
Four pints of lager later things went from bad to worse
After consuming four pints of lager, the situation deteriorated and became even more unfavorable.
She came back from the toilet caught me going through her purse
Upon returning from the restroom, she discovered me secretly snooping through her personal belongings.
She said 'forget the taxi, you're gonna need a hearse'
Upset with my actions, she declared that I shouldn't bother with taking a taxi home as I would require a hearse instead.
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila four
I proceeded to consume multiple shots of tequila in rapid succession.
I knew I wasn’t drunk I had a good grip on the floor
Despite my inebriation, I believed I still had control over my body and balance, evident by my stable footing.
I puckered up to kiss her but she punched me in the jaw
As I leaned in for a kiss, she unexpectedly responded by delivering a forceful punch to my jaw.
Time for one last round
Concluding this captivating tale, it's once again appropriate to have one final drink.
Time for one last
The moment has arrived for a final act or event.
Time for one last
The time has come for the concluding action or occurrence.
Time for one last round
Before bidding farewell, let's partake in another drink together.
Writer(s): Michael Beaufoy, Stephen John Burgess, Collin Mcfaull, Daryl Smith, Steven Robert Bruce
Contributed by Sebastian I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.