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.
It Ain't Cool
Ian Dury and the Blockheads Lyrics
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You think it's cool to be the overlord of all that you survey
You think it's clever beinfg clever, that you wear your fortune well
You think it's cool to be the foxy one, but time alone will tell that -
It ain't cool
(It ain't cool)
It ain't cool
You thin it's cool to be the comic, making cracks at my expense
You think it's cool to sit in judgement when I ain't got no defense
You think it's witty being witty, when you know my tongue is tied
You think it's cool to be a prankster but your joks are passing ride
It ain't cool
(It ain't cool)
It ain't cool
(It ain't cool)
It ain't cool to count your blessings one bye one (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool to say you've done what you ain't done (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool to claim your winnings when you put on your beginnings
And another persons innings has begun
You think it's cool to be a sharpie as you cout me down to size
But it ain't cool (it ain't cool)
You think it's cool to brush aside the little people you dispise
But it ain't cool (it ain't cool)
You think it's niffty being niffty, and you think you're no-one's fool
But you ain't cool (you ain't cool)
You think it's cool to hold your victim up to cruel ridicule
But it ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool to be a clucker
It ain't cool to be a crutt
It ain't cool to make your mucker
Wait upon that if you but
It ain't cool to think you're pucker
When you're tearing off a sheet
It ain't cool to make a sucker out of everyone you meet
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool to count your blessings one bye one (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool to say you've done what you ain't done (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool to do subtraction, when you're checking every fraction
Now your little peice of action has begun
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
It ain't cool (it ain't cool)
The lyrics to Ian Dury and the Blockheads' song It Ain't Cool are a critique of someone who thinks they are cool and clever but actually comes across as rude, cruel, and narcissistic. The song points out that this individual makes others wait for their approval and attention, judges and mocks them harshly, and generally behaves in a superior and dismissive way. The repeated refrain of "It ain't cool" emphasizes the contrast between this person's self-perception and the negative impact they have on those around them.
The song also touches on themes of injustice and dishonesty, as the person in question is portrayed as someone who cheats and manipulates others while claiming undeserved credit for their successes. The lyrics also suggest a warning that this person's behavior will ultimately come back to haunt them, as "time alone will tell" the truth about who they really are.
Overall, It Ain't Cool is a scathing indictment of arrogance and cruelty disguised as coolness and wit. It urges listeners to recognize the harm caused by such behavior and to strive for genuine kindness and empathy instead.
Line by Line Meaning
You think its cool to make me wait with baited breath for what you say
You believe it's fashionable to keep me hanging on your every word
You think its cool to be the overlord of all that you survey
You consider it trendy to be the supreme ruler of everything around you
You think its clever being clever, that you wear your fortune well
You believe it's chic to be smart and flaunt your wealth
You think its cool to be the foxy one, but time alone will tell that -
You think it's stylish to be attractive, but only time will reveal whether or not that's true
It ain't cool
It's not fashionable
You thin its cool to be the comic, making cracks at my expense
You believe it's fashionable to tell jokes at my expense
You think its cool to sit in judgment when I ain't got no defense
You think it's trendy to pass judgment when I can't defend myself
You think its witty being witty, when you know my tongue is tied
You think it's fashionable to be clever when you know I can't respond
You think its cool to be a prankster but your jokes are passing ride
You think it's trendy to play practical jokes, but they're not very funny
It ain't cool
It's not fashionable
It ain't cool to count your blessings one bye one (it ain't cool)
It's not fashionable to count your blessings one at a time
It ain't cool to say you've done what you ain't done (it ain't cool)
It's not fashionable to claim to have achieved something you haven't
It ain't cool to claim your winnings when you put on your beginnings
It's not fashionable to take credit for someone else's success
And another persons innings has begun
And someone else's opportunity has started
You think its cool to be a sharpie as you cout me down to size
You think it's trendy to be critical and diminish me
But it ain't cool (it ain't cool)
But it's not fashionable
You think its cool to brush aside the little people you dispise
You believe it's chic to ignore and look down on those you despise
But it ain't cool (it ain't cool)
But it's not fashionable
You think its niffty being niffty, and you think you're no-ones fool
You think it's fashionable to be cool and think you're smart
But you ain't cool (you ain't cool)
But you're not fashionable
You think its cool to hold your victim up to cruel ridicule
You think it's stylish to publicly mock your victim with cruel humor
But it ain't cool (it ain't cool)
But it's not fashionable
It ain't cool to be a clucker
It's not fashionable to be a follower
It ain't cool to be a crutt
It's not fashionable to be a loser
It ain't cool to make your mucker
It's not fashionable to make your friend look bad
Wait upon that if you but
If you insist, go ahead and wait
It ain't cool to think you're pucker
It's not fashionable to think you're great
When you're tearing off a sheet
When you're trying to get ahead
It ain't cool to make a sucker out of everyone you meet
It's not fashionable to deceive everyone you encounter
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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