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.
There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards
Ian Dury and the Blockheads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a writer he was brahma.
Velvet jackets and pyjamas,
"The Gay Divorcee" and other dramas.
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bas-tards.
Van Gogh did some eyeball pleasers.
He must have been a pencil squeezer.
He didn't do the Mona Lisa,
That was an Italian geezer.
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bas-tards.
Einstein can't be classed as witless.
He claimed atoms were the littlest.
When you did a bit of splitting-em-ness
Frighten everybody shitless
There ain't half been some clever bastards.
Probably got help from their mum
(who had help from her mum).
There ain't half been some clever bastards.
Now that we've had some,
Let's hope that there's lots more to come.
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bas-tards.
Okey-dokey!
Oh!
Segovia.
Da-laa la-laa da-daa da-lee
De dump di dump de dump-dump-diddle li-lee.
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever........
..................................bastards.
The song "There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads is a tribute to intellectuals, artists, and writers who have contributed to the world significantly. The song is a mixture of admiration and humor as Dury mentions the names of some of the most renowned personalities in history. He refers to people like Noel Coward, who was a prominent writer and actor in the 20th century, and whose plays, including "The Gay Divorcee," were highly successful. Dury also mentions Vincent Van Gogh, the post-impressionist painter whose masterpieces are well-known to art-lovers all over the world. Additionally, the song also mentions Albert Einstein, one of the most brilliant minds in the field of science, and Segovia, the great Spanish classical guitarist.
Dury's ode to these geniuses is peppered with humor and sarcasm. He calls them "Lucky bleeders" and "clever bastards", but it's evident that he holds them in high regard. The song's catchy tune makes it an enjoyable experience for listeners, while the lyrics invite them to appreciate and celebrate the contributions of these great personalities.
Line by Line Meaning
Noel Coward was a charmer.
Noel Coward was a charming person.
As a writer he was brahma.
As a writer, he had great creative powers.
Velvet jackets and pyjamas,
Noel Coward had a unique sense of style and clothing.
"The Gay Divorcee" and other dramas.
Noel Coward wrote many successful dramatic pieces, including "The Gay Divorcee".
Van Gogh did some eyeball pleasers.
Van Gogh created some visually impressive pieces of art.
He must have been a pencil squeezer.
Van Gogh likely spent a lot of time and effort perfecting his art.
He didn't do the Mona Lisa, That was an Italian geezer.
Van Gogh did not paint the Mona Lisa, which was instead painted by an Italian artist.
Einstein can't be classed as witless.
Einstein was not stupid.
He claimed atoms were the littlest.
Einstein proposed that atoms were the smallest units of matter.
When you did a bit of splitting-em-ness, Frighten everybody shitless
The discovery of atomic fission, splitting atoms, created fear in people.
Probably got help from their mum (who had help from her mum).
Many people come from families that value intelligence and education.
Now that we've had some, Let's hope that there's lots more to come.
There have been many clever and successful people in the past, and hopefully, there will be many more in the future.
Okey-dokey!
An affirmation or confirmation of agreement.
Oh!
An exclamation used to express surprise, wonder or excitement.
Segovia.
In reference to Andrés Segovia, a renowned classical guitarist.
Da-laa la-laa da-daa da-lee
De dump di dump de dump-dump-diddle li-lee.
Nonsensical sounds or words used for musical effect.
There ain't half been some clever bastards
There have been many clever and successful people.
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
An expression of admiration or envy towards those successful people.
There ain't half been some clever bas-tards.
Repetition of the chorus, reinforcing the idea that many clever people have existed.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN ROBINS DURY, RUSSELL GODFREY HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nossasenhoradoo871
"He died too young, as do all the good 'uns."
Bollocks. He probably faked his death, as do most pop, rock and films stars. Maybe he should have had a degenerative disease like Stephen Hawking - then he would have live longer! (Heh, heh!)
And I am fan. My girlfriend (at the time) loved his music and Hit Me is one of the greatest songs of all time, though I give at least 50% of the credit to that fantastic bass line!
The 'good'uns' don't die young; they fake their deaths for insurance purposes. Take a look at Karen Carpenter's pictures when she was suffering from bulimia ;they used an athlete's (a runner) body and you all fell for it. Heck, The Carpenters weren't even siblings!
@jethropike1964
"When you do a bit of splitiness frighten everybody shitless", you don't get lyrics like that any more, Ian Dury=genius, one of my all time heroes
@VeeWales
I was born in 71, but thanks to a generous older brother, I was not forced to endure a life without Ian. Other people's parents were frankly shocked at my lyric knowledge in the playground. I love you Ian. xxxxx
@TheSuzy6
One of the best lyricists of all time, pure and simple! Miss you madly Ian and adore your genius songs!!
@amk110270
Ian Dury was a very underrated artist and lyricist. He died too young, as do all the good 'uns.
@paulph12002
No, he wasn't underrated. He was very successful back in the day.
@RJDCR
yes
@nossasenhoradoo871
"He died too young, as do all the good 'uns."
Bollocks. He probably faked his death, as do most pop, rock and films stars. Maybe he should have had a degenerative disease like Stephen Hawking - then he would have live longer! (Heh, heh!)
And I am fan. My girlfriend (at the time) loved his music and Hit Me is one of the greatest songs of all time, though I give at least 50% of the credit to that fantastic bass line!
The 'good'uns' don't die young; they fake their deaths for insurance purposes. Take a look at Karen Carpenter's pictures when she was suffering from bulimia ;they used an athlete's (a runner) body and you all fell for it. Heck, The Carpenters weren't even siblings!
@TheMichaelseymour
@mellkiades Like so many people ....you talk logic . However, when a person A: experiences something illogical , person B: has not had any experience of ....he makes blanket statements ...like yours . Isnt it strange how many times Evil lives long ....and goodness , snuffs out....this IS satans world...but good folk (like us ?) are dragged away ....hmmm...well , because there IS an afterlife ....small price to pay for an eternal soul ... in limitlessness of a spiritual life....75 yrs is fuck all....take comfort , thats ALL bush , etc will ever get ...in fact ...they get that time because god gives them plenty of time to have a conscience ...but they generally dont ....and so can be rightfully extinguished upon death ....even in death God is merciful ...but the biggest punishment for them - NO consciousness at all - ever again ....sorry , cant let you make those generalizations and not challenge it
@mellkiades
@Michael Seymour you write with such certitudes, which is completely bollocks. You're not challenging anything. You're just repeating what your parents and surrounding believers have told you. You're not thinking for yourself. SAPERE AUDE. Think for yourself, and you'll realize that being certain of things like you are is a pathetic position. Skepticism is a far superior solution: DOUBT EVERYTHING you're being told and read - do not believe the thought leaders that only wish you to fall in the ranks and follow their gibberish and false promises. Religion has understood for ages that if you promise eternal life you'll have flocks of imbeciles following you, going wild and ready to do anything to get that damned reward. They've been marketing experts for eons. Put all in a giant garbage and start anew by doubting everything and understand one thing: even if a superior entity came down and explained to you how the universe worked and how it was created you would NOT understand it, because our brain is limited and so is our imagination. Your role is to be part of a chain of beings and to witness for a short amount of time your surroundings. It is NOT to have certitudes about the fucking universe and a God you and your kind wish to exist and that you have fabricated with your brains and that is a result of your limited imagination and understanding of the universe. The truth is far more complex or far more simple or far more different or far more impossible to comprehend. The truth is not some very creative storytelling written by people 2,000 years ago when people thought that the Earth was flat.
Your own name says it: SEYMOUR. SEE MORE than what you've been brainwashed with.
@billt1954
Our Ian was a bit of a clever bastard himself, wasn’t he?