There are several theories about why the Happy Mondays are called what they are. One is that the band's name refers to what Manchester's unemployed population called the day that welfare checks were issued, or that simply they didn't have to go back to work on Mondays unlike the poor working sods. However, Shaun Ryder did remark in an interview with drug smuggler Howard Marks that the name Happy Mondays was merely a quick solution to naming the band and bears no real relevance at all. Despite fan speculation, he name has no connection with the song "Blue Monday" by synthpop band New Order, as the Mondays were together and had named the band before this song was released.
First incarnation
Manchester pop impresario Tony Wilson discovered the Mondays at a battle of the bands contest held at his Hacienda nightclub. The story goes that Wilson signed them to his label, Factory Records, even though they came in last. Their first album, Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out), debuted in 1987. A number of other albums followed, most of which were released in the United States on the Elektra Records label. By the late 1980s, the Happy Mondays were an important part of the Madchester music scene and personified rave culture. By this time frontman Ryder was fighting a serious drug problem and the band's productivity plummeted.
Musically, the band fused indie pop guitars with a rhythmic style that owed much to house music, techno and northern soul. Much of their music was remixed by popular DJs, emphasizing the dance influences even further. In terms of style and dress, they crossed hippy fashion and ideals with 1970s glamour. Sartorially and musically, the band helped to encourage the psychedelic revival associated with acid house. One of their most popular songs was Lazyitis, featuring a surreal duet between Ryder and country music legend Karl Denver.
The Mondays disbanded in 1992, and Shaun Ryder and Bez formed Black Grape with ex-Paris Angels guitarist, Paul Wagstaff a.k.a."Wags" and ex-Ruthless Rap Assassins star, Paul Leveridge a.k.a. "Kermit".
Second incarnation
Seven years passed, but in 1999 Happy Mondays reformed, minus Paul Davis and Mark Day. In their place were Wags and a number of other musicians close to Shaun Ryder. However, the reunion with a world tour and the release of a new single, The Boys Are Back In Town, was to be short-lived. The single sunk in the charts, reaching only number 30 in the UK singles chart. It was also dropped from the live set after proving difficult for the band to perform live. In 2000 the band called it a day after providing support for Oasis on their "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants" tour.
The band is featured in the 2002 movie 24 Hour Party People, with Danny Cunningham as Shaun Ryder. Paul Ryder had a cameo role as a gangster and Rowetta (who sang for the band on Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches and Yes, Please!) appeared in the film as herself.
Third incarnation
2004 saw another reformation, comprising Bez, Gary Whelan and Shaun Ryder, following the latter's unsuccessful solo career. The musicians released a live DVD that year of a show in Barcelona, and rumours abounded that the band was recording a new album. The Mondays played a variety of festival dates in 2005 (including Glastonbury), capping it off with a concert at the Manchester Evening News Arena in their hometown.
In June 2006 the Mondays performed another one-off gig in Liverpool, although Paul Ryder was not present - having sworn to never perform with his brother again following the 2000 break-up. On Sunday 30th July 2006 the Mondays were special guests at The Fuji Rock Festival - a 3 day festival held at the Naeba Ski Resort in Japan. They performed a 60 minute set - starting with Loose Fit and ending with 24 Hour Party People. Only Shaun, Bez and Gaz Whelan were present from the original lineup.
In early August of 2006, the band announced that they had completed their first album in 14 years with producers Sunny Levine and Howie B, and have recently signed to Sanctuary Records. A new single, "Playground Superstar" from the soundtrack for the football film "Goal!" was released a few months prior to completion of the new album, titled Uncle Dysfunctional and released in Summer 2007.
Happy Mondays performed before another reformed act, Rage Against the Machine, to put the finishing touches at the venerated 2007 Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California on April 27, 2007. The band then toured medium-sized venues in England in May 2007, playing old and new material. Various festival dates in the UK and New York City were performed throughout Summer 2007.
Fourth incarnation
On 29 January 2012, Shaun Ryder announced on radio station Xfm that the band would return with the original and definitive lineup of himself, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, Gary Whelan on drums, Rowetta as female vocalist, Mark Day on guitar, Paul Davis on keyboards and dancer Mark Berry. They appeared on ITV's This Morning, and were interviewed by Philip Schofield. Shaun Ryder pronounced that amends had been made, friendships reinstated and that it was just like the old days, but without the madness. They did a 13-date UK tour in May 2012, most of which were sold out, and an extra date was added at London's Brixton Academy due to the demand for tickets.[26] The tour included other shows at the Manchester Arena, plus other dates in Bournemouth, Glasgow, Dublin, Leeds, Sheffield and Nottingham. To coincide with the band's reformation tour a best of album, Double Double Good was released in July 2012, as well as a live recording of the band's May 2012 gig in Brixton. The band went on to play gigs in Chile and Argentina in May 2012 and then a number of European festivals in the summer of 2012, including Ireland's Sea Sessions, Scotland's T in the Park, the band were headliners at Camp Bestival in Dorset in July 2012 and they performed at the V Festivals in August 2012. They then travelled to Majorca and Ibiza to play the Ibiza and Majorca Rocks events.
The band announced in September 2012 that they were writing their first album with the original lineup in more than 20 years.[citation needed]
The band played two nights at the Roundhouse, London and in Manchester in December 2012. They travelled to Dubai in April 2013 to perform and in May 2013 played gigs at Bristol's Vegfest and one in Brighton. June 2013 brought gigs at the Isle of Wight Festival and Scarborough, then in July 2013 they played at the Warrington Music Festival and at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey. They played dates in Belfast, Crewe and Dublin in August 2013. In October 2013 they travelled to Spain to do gigs in Barcelona and Madrid then in November 2013 they kicked off a 16 date UK tour to celebrate 25 years since their second critically acclaimed album Bummed was released, and the band plan to play most of the songs from that infamous album. The band signed to Creation Management in 2015. They have announced an international tour to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches.
In September 2015, a special programme on Watch called Singing in the Rainforest followed the band as they travelled to Panama to record a new song with an isolated tribe called the Embera. The band composed a track with members of the tribe for a performance, penning the track "Ooo La La to Panama". Although billed as the first original line-up recording since 1992, Paul Davis was not present, and no mention of him was made. Gaz Whelan confirmed via the Happy Mondays Twitter account (in answer to a question from a Twitter user named ormi_shinobi) that Davis had left the band.
The band toured New Zealand and Australia in February and March 2019, performing their 1990 album Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches.
On 15 July 2022, the band announced via their Facebook page that Bassist and original member Paul Ryder had died in the early hours of that morning. He was 58 years old.
Happy Mondays have continued to perform live after Ryders death.
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Discography
Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out) (1987)
Bummed (1988)
Hallelujah (1989)
The Peel Sessions 1989 (1990) #79 UK
Madchester Rave On EP (1989) #19 UK
Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches (1990) #4 UK, #89 US
Live (1991) #21 UK
Yes Please (1992) #14 UK
Loads (1994) #41 UK
Greatest Hits (1999) #11 UK
Step On - Live In Barcelona (recorded Dec. 2004) (2005) #194 UK
The Platinum Collection (2005) #19 UK
Uncle Dysfunktional (2007) #73 UK
God's Cop
Happy Mondays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone somewhere swa between your knees
Hand me out fish, did some big tease
Oh man did you fuck it, Baby brother I took it
Then I pilfered the bag and the amex gold
Because the lord chief constable knows I'm Owen
And everybody said I told you so
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
God rains it E's
God rains it E's all on me
God made it E's all on me
[Chorus]
Cause me and the chief got soul to soul
Me and the chief got slowly stoned
Me and the chief got soul to soul
Oh me and all the chiefs get slowly stoned
I like it and I want it and I just don't need to stop it
Cos me and all the rich got mobile homes, homes
Me and all the rich got mobile phones, bones
God made it easy
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
God rains it E's
God rains it E's all on me
God made it E's all on me
[Chorus]
God made it easy
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
God rains it E's
God rains it E's all on me
God made it E's all on me
The lyrics of Happy Mondays' song "God's Cop" contain a lot of cryptic phrases and references that could be open to interpretation. From the opening line "I can virtually do anything I read," the song presents a sense of recklessness and power, as if the singer can get away with anything they want. The line "Someone somewhere swa between your knees" could refer to a sexual encounter, possibly involving multiple parties. The following lines "Hand me out fish, did some big tease / Oh man did you fuck it, Baby brother I took it / Then I pilfered the bag and the amex gold" suggest theft and deceit, with the singer taking advantage of someone before stealing their possessions.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more repetitive and focus on the phrase "God made it easy on me" and "God rains it E's all on me," which could refer to the drug ecstasy (E). The chorus repeats the phrase "Me and the chief got soul to soul," suggesting a close relationship between the singer and someone referred to as "the chief." The song ends with a repetition of the phrase "God made it easy on me," emphasizing the reckless and carefree attitude of the singer.
Overall, the lyrics of "God's Cop" paint a picture of hedonism and excess, with the singer taking advantage of others and reveling in their own power while under the influence of drugs.
Line by Line Meaning
I can virtually do anything I read
I am confident and capable of doing anything I set my mind to by learning from written material.
Someone somewhere swa between your knees
I suspect that someone was positioned between your legs, likely engaging in sexual activity.
Hand me out fish, did some big tease
Pass me some drugs and engaged in a playful, teasing manner.
Oh man did you fuck it, Baby brother I took it
You messed up, and I took control of the situation.
Then I pilfered the bag and the amex gold
I took the bag and the American Express Gold card without permission.
Because the lord chief constable knows I'm Owen
I am not worried about getting caught because the authorities know who I am.
And everybody said I told you so
People warned you about the consequences, but you did not listen and now face the consequences.
God made it easy
It is effortless and accessible for me.
God rains it E's
I have easy access to the drug ecstasy.
Cause me and the chief got soul to soul
I have a deep connection with the person I am referring to as 'the chief'.
Me and the chief got slowly stoned
The chief and I are getting high together, at a slow pace.
I like it and I want it and I just don't need to stop it
I enjoy this lifestyle and do not want to stop it, even though I may be addicted.
Cos me and all the rich got mobile homes, homes
I and my wealthy friends have luxurious mobile homes.
Me and all the rich got mobile phones, bones
All of my wealthy friends and I have mobile phones that we treasure.
God made it easy
It is effortless and accessible for me.
God rains it E's
I have easy access to the drug ecstasy.
Cause me and the chief got soul to soul
I have a deep connection with the person I am referring to as 'the chief'.
Oh me and all the chiefs get slowly stoned
I and all of the people who refer to themselves as 'the chief' are getting high together, at a slow pace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL ANTHONY RYDER, GARY KENNETH WHELAN, MARK PHILIP DAY, PAUL RICHARD DAVIS, SHAUN WILLIAM RYDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@triggered5451
I can virtually do anything I read
Someone somewhere swa between your knees
Hand me out fish, did some big tease
Oh man did you fuck it, Baby brother I took it
Then I pilfered the bag and the amex gold
Because the lord chief constable knows I'm Owen
And everybody said I told you so
God made it easy
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
God rains it E's
God rains it E's all on me
God made it E's all on me
[Chorus]
Cause me and the chief got soul to soul
Me and the chief got slowly stoned
Me and the chief got soul to soul
Oh me and all the chiefs get slowly stoned
I like it and I want it and I just don't need to stop it
Cos me and all the rich got mobile homes, homes
Me and all the rich got mobile phones, bones
God made it easy
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
God rains it E's
God rains it E's all on me
God made it E's all on me
[Chorus]
God made it easy
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
God rains it E's
God rains it E's all on me
God made it E's all on me
@mana3735
Slight corrections:
I can virtually do anything I read
Someone somewhere swam between your knees
Hand me out fish, did some big tease
Oh man did you fuck it, Baby brother I took it
Then I pilfered the bag for the amex gold
Then I pilfered the young bag for the amex gold
Because the lord chief constable knows I'm owed
Oh, and everybody said I told you so
[Chorus]
God made it easy
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
God made it easy
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
[Bridge]
'Coz me and the chief got soul to soul
Me and the chief got slowly stoned
Me and the chief got soul to soul
Oh me and all the chiefs get slowly stoned
[Verse 2]
I like it and I want it and I just don't need to stop it
Cos me and all the rich got mobile homes - homes
Me and all the rich got mobile phones - bones
[Chorus]
God made it easy
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
God made it easy
God made it easy on me
God made it easy on me
[Bridge]
'Coz me and the chief got soul to soul
Me and the chief got slowly stoned
Me and the chief got soul to soul
Oh me and all the chiefs get slowly stoned
[Chorus]
God made it easy
God makes it easy on me
God makes it easy on me
God laid his E's on
God laid his E's all on me
@justinpalmer3775
I am 54 years old and this still without doubt one of the best albums ever.
@rgreenwood4103
Absolutley! I'm 52 by the way chief...
@agustinrajal2810
I would like to be your friend
@stevejennings2394
@R greenwood 52 here as well… what a record!
@stevens.5342
58 and remember very well just dancing out of my mind to this and all the other Madchester bands.
@mana3735
Such an underrated album. This is on a par with the Roses debut album but never gets the same recognition. In fact, I'd say this album is more representative of those times.
@northcountrybhoy
Maybe more representative of the times but the Rose's second album (you forgot garage flower) is one of the best albums ever made.
@mana3735
@northcountrybhoy It is.
@danielfearon5188
Mana twennytwenny the Monday’s are better than the stone roses
@mikek882
Very much so.