… 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.
Don't Ask Me
Ian Dury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a doughnut for a brain
On my life, I must see you again
I should think that's made it very plain
Is it his
Is it his or is it ain't?
Don't ask me
Or turn it up
Or pack it in
Don't ask me
Don't ask me
Don't ask
Don't ask me
I'm an ignorant, I'm afraid
On my life, I believe we're tailor made
I should worry if the weather spoils the trade
I'm a crumb
And I'm in your lemonade
Don't ask me
To knock it off
Or cut it short
Or jack it in
Don't ask me
Don't ask me
Don't ask
Let me offer you
My life and all my love
Let me offer you a bargain
What a lovely range
Don't forget the change
Don't ask
Don't ask
Don't ask
Don't ask me to make a sacrifice
On my life, I'm cheap at half the price.
Won't you try a portion or a slice?
Slightly warm
But very, very nice
Don't ask me
To leave it out
Or turn it up
Or pack it in
Don't ask me
Don't ask me
Don't ask
Don't ask...
The lyrics to Ian Dury and The Blockheads' song "Don't Ask Me" are somewhat nonsensical in nature but convey a sense of confusion and uncertainty. The singer starts by saying that they feel as though they have a "doughnut for a brain" and yet they must see someone again. Then comes the puzzling question: "Is it his or is it ain't?" This could refer to a romantic partner, but it's ambiguous.
The singer then pleads with the listener not to ask them to do anything specific, whether it's to "leave it out" or "turn it up." They call themselves "ignorant" and claim that they're "afraid." The second verse continues in the same vein, with the singer describing themselves as a "crumb" in someone's "lemonade." They offer their life and love as a "bargain" and mention not forgetting the change.
The final verse seems to suggest a sexual connotation with the singer offering themselves up to someone else, but then they express that they are "cheap at half the price" which could be interpreted as a lack of self-worth. Overall, the lyrics seem to be about feeling confused and uncertain in a relationship and a general lack of self-confidence.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I stand
I am in this present situation
With a doughnut for a brain
My thoughts are mixed up and confusing
On my life, I must see you again
I really want to meet you again in my life
I should think that's made it very plain
That statement should be clear enough for anyone to understand
Is it his
Does he have it
Is it his or is it ain't?
Is it his or not, I am not sure
Don't ask me
I don't know
To leave it out
To remove something from the picture
Or turn it up
To increase the volume or intensity of something
Or pack it in
To give up or quit something
I'm an ignorant, I'm afraid
I do not know much and I am not sure
On my life, I believe we're tailor made
I think we are meant to be together in life
I should worry if the weather spoils the trade
I would be concerned if the weather affects our business trade
I'm a crumb
I am insignificant and small
And I'm in your lemonade
I am a part of your life and your decisions
To knock it off
To stop doing something
Or cut it short
To end something early
Or jack it in
To give up or quit something
Let me offer you
I would like to present you with
My life and all my love
I am willing to give my whole life and love to you
Let me offer you a bargain
I would like to offer you a good deal
What a lovely range
This is a wonderful selection
Don't forget the change
Remember to give me back the remaining money
Don't ask me to make a sacrifice
Don't request me to give up something important to me
On my life, I'm cheap at half the price.
I am easily available and low in cost
Won't you try a portion or a slice?
Would you like to take a small portion to taste
Slightly warm
It is not very hot or cold
But very, very nice
It has a great taste
Lyrics © DELLA BLUE MUSIC LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAS JANKEL, IAN DURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dontaskme7004
@@geezerchav Spasticus Autisticus by Ian Dury... Taking ownership of the word removes the power others seek to have when using it, my nigga.
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I wibble when I piddle
'cause my middle is a riddle
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I dribble when I nibble
And I quibble when I scribble
Hello to you out there in Normal Land
You may not comprehend my tale or understand
As I crawl past your window give me lucky looks
You can be my body but you'll never read my books
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I'm knobbled on the cobbles
'cause I hobble when I wobble
Swim!
So place your hard-earned peanuts in my tin
And thank the Creator you're not in the state I'm in
So long have I been languished on the shelf
I must give all proceedings to myself
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
I'm spasticus, I'm spasticus
I'm spasticus autisticus
54 appliances in leather and elastic
100 000 thank yous from 27 spastics
Spasticus, spasticus
Spasticus autisticus
Spasticus, spasticus
Spasticus autisticus
Spasticus, spasticus
Spasticus autisticus
Widdling, griddling, skittling, diddling,
fiddling, diddling, widd
@bubblezovlove7213
Proper genius....
I wish I could have met him...
@VERTEXDSP
punk era un termine riduttivo, grandissimo Ian
@71yid
Here I stand with a donut for a brain!! Sounds like my epitah. Brilliant Dury, sadly missed!!
@davidbrown8763
In fact he was one clever bastard.
@marksmithsmith650
Poetical genius
@standarsh4275
im a crumb...and im in your lemonade
@larryzaff3011
The best simply outstanding
@simondavis8932
The master himself!!!
@punkinthehead65
Best poet of the 20th century dont ask me tho im A nitwit im afraid RIP SIR IAN DURY
@closetpunk1967
Brilliant! Thanks for uploading this ;-)