… 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.
Clever Trevor
Ian Dury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
never ever, never ever
you ain't got no call not to think I wouldn't fall
into thinking that I ain't too clever
and it ain't not having oen thing nor another
niether, either is it anything, whatever
and it's not not knowing that thier ain't nothign showing
and I answer to the name of Trever, however
Just cos I ain't never said, no, nothing worth saying
never ever, never ever, never ever
things ‘ave got read into what I never sad, ‘till me mouth becomes me ‘ead
which ain't not all that clever
and it's not not saying one thing nor another
neither, either is ist anything I haven't said, whatever
and it ain't not proving that me mind ain't moving
and I answer to the naem of Trever, however
knock me down with a feather
Clever Trevor
widebrows wonder wether Clever Trevor's clever
either have they got
nor neither haven't not
got no right to make a clot
our of Trevor
why should I feel bad about something I ain't ‘ad
such stupidness is mad cos nothing underfoot
comes to nothing less to add to a load of old toot
and I ain't half not half co there's nowhere to put it
even if I ‘ad i'm a bit of a Jack the Lad
knock me down with a feather
Clever Trevor
widebrows wonder wether Clever Trevor's clever
either have they got
nor neither haven't not
got no right to make a clot
our of Trevor
also, it takes much longer to get up north, the slow way
The lyrics of the song "Clever Trevor" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, are about the singer, Trevor, defending himself against those who doubt his intelligence and abilities because of his lack of material possessions and social status. He asserts that he shouldn't be underestimated just because he hasn't had the same opportunities as others. Trevor acknowledges that people have made assumptions about him based on his lack of words, possessions, and social status, but he doesn't let that define him. He refuses to feel bad about not having what others have, and he sees it as a load of old toot. Trevor views himself as a bit of a Jack the Lad, meaning he's a confident and cheeky person who likes a good time.
The chorus of the song, "knock me down with a feather, Clever Trevor, widebrows wonder whether Clever Trevor's clever," has a sarcastic tone. Trevor is poking fun at those who judge him without knowing him or giving him a chance. "Knock me down with a feather" is a British expression used when someone is surprised or impressed.
Overall, the song is an anthem for people who have been underestimated and not given the same opportunities as others. It's a call to not judge people by their appearance or social status and to give everyone a chance to prove themselves. It's a humorous and upbeat song with a serious message about not judging a book by its cover.
Line by Line Meaning
just cos I ain't never ‘ad, no, nothing worth having
Just because I have never had anything valuable
never ever, never ever
Not even once
you ain't got no call not to think I wouldn't fall
There's no reason for you to think that I wouldn't fail
into thinking that I ain't too clever
To believe that I'm not intelligent
and it ain't not having oen thing nor another
And it's not about having one thing or another
niether, either is it anything, whatever
Neither is it anything specific, whatever it may be
and it's not not knowing that thier ain't nothign showing
And it's not about not knowing that nothing is visible
and I answer to the name of Trever, however
But my name is Trevor, nonetheless
just cos I ain't never said, no, nothing worth saying
Just because I have never said anything important
never ever, never ever, never ever
Not even once, not even once, not even once
things ‘ave got read into what I never sad, ‘till me mouth becomes me ‘ead
People have interpreted things that I never said, to the point where my own words don't even make sense to me
which ain't not all that clever
Which is not smart or logical
and it's not not saying one thing nor another
And it's not about not expressing anything
neither, either is ist anything I haven't said, whatever
It's not anything that I haven't already said, whatever it may be
and it ain't not proving that me mind ain't moving
And it's not about proving that my mind isn't working
and I answer to the naem of Trever, however
But my name is still Trevor, regardless
knock me down with a feather
I'm surprised
Clever Trevor
My name is Trevor and I'm clever
widebrows wonder wether Clever Trevor's clever
People with big eyebrows wonder if I'm really clever
either have they got
They don't have
nor neither haven't not
And they don't have not
got no right to make a clot
They have no right to stupidly judge me
our of Trevor
Because my name is Trevor
why should I feel bad about something I ain't ‘ad
Why should I feel bad about something I have never had
such stupidness is mad cos nothing underfoot
It's crazy to be upset about something that doesn't even exist
comes to nothing less to add to a load of old toot
Adding to a bunch of nonsense
and I ain't half not half co there's nowhere to put it
And I'm not the slightest bit annoyed because there's no point in being bothered
even if I ‘ad i'm a bit of a Jack the Lad
Even if I had something, I wouldn't take it too seriously
also, it takes much longer to get up north, the slow way
By the way, it takes much longer to travel up north if you take the slower route
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@googleaccountjki993
Just 'cause I ain't never ad, no,
Nothing worth having
Never ever, never ever
You ain't got no call not to think
I wouldn't fall
Into thinking that
I ain't too clever
And it ain't not having
One thing nor another
Neither, either is it anything, whatever
And it's not not knowing that
There ain't nothing showing
And I answer to the name
Of Trever, however
Just 'cause I ain't never said, no,
Nothing worth saying
Never ever, never ever, never ever
Things ave got read into what I never sad,
Till me mouth becomes me head
Which ain't not all that clever
And it's not not saying
One thing nor another
Neither, either is it anything
I haven't said, whatever
And it ain't not proving
That me mind ain't moving
And I answer to the name
Of Trever, however
Knock me down with a feather
Clever Trevor
Widebrows wonder whether
Clever Trevor's clever
Either have they got
Nor neither haven't not
Got no right to make a clot
Out of Trevor
Why should I feel bad
About something I ain't â??ad
Such stupidness is mad
'Cause nothing underfoot
Comes to nothing less to add
To a load of old toot
And I ain't half not half
'Cause there's nowhere to put it
Even if I ad I'm a bit of a Jack the Lad
Knock me down with a feather
Clever Trevor
Widebrows wonder whether
Clever Trevor's clever
Either have they got
Nor neither haven't not
Got no right to make a clot
Out of Trevor
Also, it takes much longer
To get up north, the slow way
@DontBendOverForAllah
This is just 'there' - fucking excellent. Superb musicians, great lyrics, fantastic band! RIP Ian your might no longer be here but your music lives on.
@Mandandala
A great poet, a great soul... truly life affirming.
@NormAppleton
One of my heroes
@octaviobumble5245
Ian dury and the blockheads were ahead of their time, simply devine, pure bliss and sorely missed. Pure class
@david-leethompson62
Basic,,,
White
...
COOL
FUNNY
*
RAP
WELCOME TO THE TESLA
UNIVERSE: PURE ENERGY
@PaulMarcSalifu
never i forget hem
@garyb5998
🥰
@hristq-p8812
I honestly think they were of the time, but have endured with great freshness. The music will not age.
@NormAppleton
No, they transcended time, pretty much everyone on Stiff or Twuotone did.
@jimmyjones6990
Never get bored of this classic.