… Read Full Bio ↴Ian Dury (1942-2000) was an English singer, songwriter, and bandleader.
Born on 12th May 1942, he is best known as founder and lead singer of the British band Ian Dury and the Blockheads, though he began his musical career in pub-rock act Kilburn & the High Roads. He wrote many famous songs including "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick", "What a Waste", and "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll". He died on 27th March 2000.
At the age of seven, Dury contracted polio; very likely, he believed, from a swimming pool at Southend on Sea during the 1949 polio epidemic. After six weeks in a full plaster cast in Truro hospital, he was moved to Black Notley Hospital, Braintree, Essex, where he spent a year and a half before going to Chailey Heritage Craft School, East Sussex, in 1951. Chailey was a school and hospital for disabled children, and believed in toughening them up, contributing to the observant and determined person Dury became.
Bill Haley's Last Words
Ian Dury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alright! I'm calling you from Harlingen, Texas
I'm telling you, friend, that I've got a son named Scott Haley
Alright? You know all that jive, don't you, Jack?
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
We're gonna bop, gonna rock, around the clock tonight
I'm gonna have Captain Buddy Larrymore, the Chief of Police call you
'Cos now I've got your number
But you don't wanna listen, do you?
If a bobby needs a buddy, fucking from the right
If a body needs a buddy, make me sing it
I've got a lawyer in Philadelphia
I've got several lawyers in Philadelphia
I've got one of the things on Valley Brook
You tell me about the six foot seven guy that runs my publishing company
Thirteen women only one man around
There were thirteen women, only one running around
You tell me I didn't have the biggest Mexican record in Mexico?
Now, you see I collect loyalty from Mexico too, friend
'Cos I sing in the two languages
Everybody razzle-dazzle
Everybody razzle-dazzle
Everybody razzle-dazzle
The whole night through
I'm gonna have Captain Buddy Larrymore to call you
And if you want his phone number I'm gonna give it to you
You call him and tell him what you just heard
And he's gonna ask you how you got his phone number
And you're gonna be in jail
Hot-dog, maya maya
Hot-dog, maya maya
Hot-dog, maya maya
Hot-dog, all the time
Now, you'll keep your mouth shut, won't you?
'Cos I'm gonna give you a number in Miami Beach
And he'll shut your mouth
I seem to carry a little more weight tonight than I did, don't I?
He man, ho, the mambo rock
He man, ho, the mambo rock
He man, ho, the mambo rock
Everybody doing the mambo rock
Now, you hang on and wait just a second on this toll free line
Goodbye, don't ever call me, you don't have my number
I didn't give you any numbers
You cannot let Bill Hayley say anything and keep his mouth shut
Now, can I talk?
And when I'm finished talking then you can open your mouth
I do remember Philadelphia
Where's Buddy Larrymore? He's in Sicily
So if you see Lenny, tell him I wish you a Merry Christmas
See you later, Alligator
In a mambo bar
See you later, Alligator
In a mambo bar
The song "Bill Haley's Last Words" by Ian Dury is a conversation between a man who claims to be Bill Haley and another person on the phone. At the beginning of the song, "Bill Haley" introduces himself and informs the person on the other end of the phone that he has a son named Scott Haley. The rest of the song consists of a series of seemingly random statements by "Bill Haley," including references to his publishing company, lawyers in Philadelphia, and his popularity in Mexico. He interrupts himself several times to exclaim "Hot-dog, maya maya" and to shout out "Everybody razzle-dazzle" and "He man, ho, the mambo rock."
Despite the seeming lack of coherence in the lyrics, the song is widely believed to be a parody of the way rock and roll stars of the 1950s talked, with their exaggerated claims of fame and fortune, their jive talk and their lack of respect for authority. "Bill Haley's Last Words" takes these tendencies to absurd extremes, highlighting the absurdity and narcissism of the rock and roll lifestyle. The line "If a bobby needs a buddy, fucking from the right" is an example of the kind of crude and provocative language that rock stars often used in their lyrics and in person.
Line by Line Meaning
Alright! I'm calling you from Harlingen, Texas
I need to talk to you
I'm telling you, friend, that I've got a son named Scott Haley
I have an important point to make
Alright? You know all that jive, don't you, Jack?
Do you understand me?
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
We're going to have a good time
We're gonna bop, gonna rock, around the clock tonight
We're going to dance all night
I'm gonna have Captain Buddy Larrymore, the Chief of Police call you
I have connections
'Cos now I've got your number
I have a way to contact you
But you don't wanna listen, do you?
You're not paying attention
If a bobby needs a buddy, fucking from the right
I'm willing to help a friend in need
If a body needs a buddy, make me sing it
I will sing to show my support
I've got a lawyer in Philadelphia
I have legal assistance if I need it
I've got several lawyers in Philadelphia
I have multiple options for legal help
You tell me about the six foot seven guy that runs my publishing company
I'm interested in my business partners
Thirteen women only one man around
There's a competition for a man's attention
There were thirteen women only one running around
One woman was successful in winning the man's attention
You tell me I didn't have the biggest Mexican record in Mexico?
I'm proud of my success
Now, you see I collect loyalty from Mexico too, friend
I have dedicated fans
'Cos I sing in the two languages
I cater to a diverse audience
Everybody razzle-dazzle
Let's have some fun
The whole night through
For the entire night
And if you want his phone number I'm gonna give it to you
I have a solution to your problem
You call him and tell him what you just heard
Report the message to him
And he's gonna ask you how you got his phone number
He's cautious about giving out his number
And you're gonna be in jail
You'll be in trouble
Hot-dog, maya maya
Something exciting is happening
Hot-dog, all the time
Everything is exciting
Now, you'll keep your mouth shut, won't you?
Please keep quiet
I seem to carry a little more weight tonight than I did, don't I?
I'm feeling powerful
He man, ho, the mambo rock
Let's dance
Everybody doing the mambo rock
Everyone's having fun
Now, can I talk?
Can I speak now?
And when I'm finished talking then you can open your mouth
I have something to say
I do remember Philadelphia
I have memories of that place
Where's Buddy Larrymore?
I need to find someone
He's in Sicily
He's in another country
So if you see Lenny, tell him I wish you a Merry Christmas
Pass along my message
See you later, Alligator
Goodbye for now
In a mambo bar
At a dance club
Contributed by Gabriel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.