The band started when frontman Dury (born in Upminster, Essex, United Kingdom on 12 May 1942 and died 27 March 2000), had a chance encounter in a musical instrument hire shop with guitarist Chaz Jankel. Jankel took Dury's lyrics, fashioned a number of songs, and they began recording with drummer Charley Charles, bassist Norman Watt-Roy and the former Kilburns saxophonist Davey Payne. An album was completed, but major record labels passed on the band. However, next door to Dury's manager's office was the newly formed Stiff Records, a perfect home for Dury's maverick style. The classic single "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll", marked Dury's Stiff debut and this was swiftly followed by an album. titled 'New Boots and Panties', which was to eventually achieve platinum status.
It wasn't until October 1977 that Dury and his band started to go out as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, when the band signed up for the Stiff "Live Stiffs Tour" alongside Elvis Costello And The Attractions, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric and Larry Wallis. The tour was a success and Stiff launched a concerted Ian Dury marketing campaign, resulting in the Top Ten hit What a Waste and the classic UK number one Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick. The band toured to great acclaim throughout Europe.
The band's second album Do It Yourself was released in June 1979 in a Barney Bubbles-designed sleeve of which there were over a dozen variations, all based on samples from the Crown wallpaper catalogue. Another top ten single, Reasons to be Cheerful, kept Dury in the public eye.
In 1980 Jankel left The Blockheads to concentrate on a solo career and was replaced by former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson, who also contributed to the next album Laughter and its two minor hit singles.
Ian Dury And The Blockheads disbanded in 1981 after Dury secured a new recording deal with Polydor Records through A&R man Frank Neilson, choosing to work with a group of young musicians which he named The Music Students and recorded the album Four Thousand Weeks' Holiday. This album marked a departure from his usual style and was not as well received by fans for its American jazz influence.
The Blockheads reformed several times before Ian Dury's death, most notably to play a series of benefit concerts for Charley Charles.
Inbetweenies
Ian Dury and the Blockheads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My reactions are my own affair
A body likes to be near the bone
Oh Nancy, Leslie, Jack and Joan
I die when I'm alone, alone
Shake your booty when your back is bent
Put your feelings where my mouth just went
At least you've put me on the team
And friends do rule supreme, OK
Oh, pardon you, me
With a capital 'see'
And who would have thought
With a capital nought?
In between the lines
Oh
Spread your chickens when you think of next
What the Dickens if they're highly-sexed?
Through channels that were once canals
Do lift the heart of my morale
To know that we are pals, yes
Oh, vanity fair
With a capital 'V'
You give me a share
You take it from me
Oh, jolly good show
With a capital 'O'
It's terrific to go
Hello
Hello, hello, hello
Hello, hello, hello
The song "Inbetweenies" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads is a quirky tune that tackles themes of self-image and companionship. The opening lyrics suggest that the singer is at ease with himself when he looks in the mirror, and that his reactions are his own affair, signaling a sense of individuality. He also quips that "A body likes to be near the bone," which can be interpreted in different ways. It could refer to physical attraction, with bone representing physical strength or being thin, or it could mean that in order to be truly oneself, one needs to strip away all the excess fat and be raw and authentic.
The chorus is a playful invitation to dance and be free, with lines like "Shake your booty when your back is bent" and "Put your feelings where my mouth just went." The song's title, "Inbetweenies", could suggest that these are the moments where one is neither fully positive nor negative, but rather in between. The line "And friends do rule supreme, OK" implies that having close friends who support and understand you is crucial to navigating these in between moments, and that they make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
In the mirror, when I'm debonair
When I look at myself in the mirror, feeling confident and attractive
My reactions are my own affair
My emotional responses are personal and private
A body likes to be near the bone
The body tends to naturally gravitate towards skinny or underweight figures
Oh Nancy, Leslie, Jack and Joan
These are likely names of people the singer knows, possibly chosen for their rhyming quality
I die when I'm alone, alone
I feel lonely and sad when I'm by myself
Shake your booty when your back is bent
Dance and have fun even when you're feeling down or stressed
Put your feelings where my mouth just went
Speak candidly and share your emotions with me
As serious as things do seem
Despite how grave or concerning the situation may be
At least you've put me on the team
You included me in your group or project, which I appreciate
And friends do rule supreme, OK
Friends are very important and have a high degree of influence over us
Oh, pardon you, me
Let's excuse each other for our mutual mistakes or faults
With a capital 'see'
Saying 'see' or the letter C with emphasis or importance
And who would have thought
This is surprising or unexpected
With a capital nought?
'nought' means zero or nothing, so this seems to be asking 'Who would have thought there was nothing significant here?'
In between the lines
There may be a hidden meaning or information conveyed, not directly stated
Spread your chickens when you think of next
Not clear what this means, possibly a reference to nudity or spreading one's legs
What the Dickens if they're highly-sexed?
A more polite way of saying 'Who cares if people are very sexual?' using the name of an author instead of the word 'hell'
Through channels that were once canals
From places or sources that used to be more significant or important
Do lift the heart of my morale
Improve my mood and confidence
To know that we are pals, yes
It's great to be reminded that we are friends
Oh, vanity fair
This could reference the novel 'Vanity Fair', or it could be either addressing or describing someone as being overly preoccupied with looks or status
With a capital 'V'
Capitalizing the letter V in 'Vanity', making the point more forceful
You give me a share
You provide me with my piece or portion
You take it from me
You also have an impact on what I am able to keep or hold onto
Oh, jolly good show
This is a British expression for saying 'Well done!', generally with enthusiasm
With a capital 'O'
Emphasizing the first letter of 'Oh'
It's terrific to go
It's wonderful to be able to participate or be involved
Hello, hello, hello
This could be a greeting or response, or a reference to the song 'Hello, I Love You' by The Doors in which 'Hello, hello' is repeated
Lyrics © DELLA BLUE MUSIC LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAZ JANKEL, IAN ROBINS DURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Oliviacaptain
In the mirror, when I'm debonair
My reactions are my own affair
A body likes to be near the bone
Oh Nancy, Leslie, Jack and Joan
I die when I'm alone, alone
Shake your booty when your back is bent
Put your feelings where my mouth just went
As serious as things do seem
At least you've put me on the team
And friends do rule supreme, ok
Oh, pardon you, me
With a capital 'C'
And who would have thought
With a capital nought?
In between the lines
Ooohhhhhhhhhh
Spread your chickens when you think of next
What the Dickens if they're highly-sexed?
Through channels that were once canals
Do lift the heart of my morale
To know that we are pals, yes
Oh, vanity fair
With a capital 'V'
You give me a share
You take it from me
Oh, jolly good show
With a capital 'O'
It's terrific to go
Hellooo
Hello, hello, hello
Hello, hello, hello
@jimmyjimmy7532
Fantastic band of musicians. And a singer of true originality.
Brilliant
@gunproofgrandad4381
What really impresses me about this tune is, how full it is texturally; there's loads of things going on, but it doesn't sound too busy or cluttered - it's just right. All those tones mingling together and becoming more than the sum of their parts... Beautiful.
@jackthehatuk
I have to say that that is exactly how i would always sum up this legend and his band!
@pharcyde4943
THE BLOCKHEADS ARE FANTASTIC SESSION MUSICIANS
IAN IS WELL GOD!!
@TheArpomni2
Perfectly said
@kevinsonkevin3634
Something about having all of those fine ass musicians fronted by a mad-eyed fuck that knows a tune but doesn't care to follow it 100%. Never before, never again.
@kevinsonkevin3634
Oh. Trollerinis.
@jimmyjimmy7532
This is what you call being an original artist. Fantastic band of musicians with a legendary frontman
@saintrobski
The underrated Chaz Jankel. Such a massive talent.
@spltrcl
hell, yeah!