Jake's precise diction and risque lyrics won him comparison to Noël Coward; his distinctive nylon-stringed guitar technique is deceptively complex.
Jake retired to Monmouthshire in Wales in the 1990s, where he died in 2002.
A musical based on his work, Sister Josephine Kicks The Habit, made its debut in 2005. After many years out of print, Jake's music has started to reappear - Jake In A Box collects all of his EMI work and a number of live albums have appeared, highlighting Jake's rapport with his audiences, his tall tales, and his warmth as a performer.
The Last Will And Testament Of Jake Thackray
Jake Thackray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do declare my true intentions, my last will, my testament
When I turn up my toes, when I rattle my clack, when I agonise,
I want no great wet weepings, no tearing of hair, no wringing of hands,
No sighs, no lack-a-days, no woe-is-me's and none of your sad adieus
Go, go, go and get the priest and then go get the booze, boys
Death, where is thy victory? Grave, where is thy sting?
But not a do with a few ham sandwiches, a sausage roll or two and "A small port wine, please"
Roll the carpet right back, get cracking with your old Gay Gordons
And your knees up, shake it up, live it up, sup it up, hell of a kind of a time
And if the coppers come around, well, tell them the party's mine, boys
Let best beef be eaten, fill every empty glass,
Let no breast be beaten, let no tooth be gnashed
Don't bother with a fancy tombstone or a big-deal angel or a little copper flower pot
Grow a dog-rose in my eyes or a pussy-willow
But no forget-me-nots, no epitaphs, no keepsakes; you can let my memory slip
You can say a prayer or two for me soul then, but make it quick, boys
Lady, if your bosom is heaving don't waste your bosom on me
Let it heave for a man who's breathing, a man who can feel, a man who can see
And to my cronies, you can read my books, you can drive around in my motor car
And you can fish your trout with my fly and tackle, you can play on my guitar,
And sing my songs, wear my shirts, you can even settle my debts
You can kiss my little missus if she's willing then, but no regrets, boys
Your rosebuds are numbered
Gather them now for rosebuds' sake
And if your hands aren't too encumbered
Gather a bud or two for Jake
The Last Will And Testament Of Jake Thackray is a satirical song in which the singer, Jake Thackray, describes how he wants to be remembered after he dies. He outlines his last wishes in a humorous and irreverent way. He begins the song by declaring that he does not want anyone to mourn his death. Instead, he wants his friends to celebrate his life. He asks them to get a priest and some booze and have a party. He emphasizes that he wants no tears, lamentations or farewells.
Jake Thackray also makes it clear that he wants his funeral to be a joyful occasion. He wants his friends to have a great time, dancing the Gay Gordons and enjoying the best beef and wine. He doesn't want anyone to wear black or be too solemn. He suggests that they grow a dog-rose in his eyes or a pussy-willow, but no forget-me-nots, epitaphs or keepsakes. He asks his cronies to read his books, play his guitar, and sing his songs after he is gone. Finally, he tells his female friends that he does not want them to waste their bosom on him but rather find a man who can feel, see, and breathe.
Overall, the song presents a humorous and lighthearted approach to death, suggesting that there is no need to be sad or solemn when someone dies. It advocates for a celebration of life rather than a mournful goodbye.
Line by Line Meaning
I, the under-mentioned, by this document
I, the writer of this document, am declaring my true intentions for my last will and testament.
Do declare my true intentions, my last will, my testament
I am stating my final wishes and how I want things to be done after my death.
When I turn up my toes, when I rattle my clack, when I agonise,
When I die, in whatever manner it may be, whether it's slow or sudden,
I want no great wet weepings, no tearing of hair, no wringing of hands,
I do not want any excessive mourning, wailing, or weeping for my death.
No sighs, no lack-a-days, no woe-is-me's and none of your sad adieus
I don't want anyone to say any depressing or melancholic goodbyes to me.
Go, go, go and get the priest and then go get the booze, boys
Instead, I want a priest to be called and to start the party with some alcohol.
Death, where is thy victory? Grave, where is thy sting?
I am declaring that death and the grave do not have any power over me.
When I snuff it bury me quickly, then let carousels begin
As soon as I die, bury me swiftly and then start the celebration right away.
But not a do with a few ham sandwiches, a sausage roll or two and "A small port wine, please"
However, the celebration must not be a simple one with only some light snacks and small drinks.
Roll the carpet right back, get cracking with your old Gay Gordons
Instead, I want a lively party with lots of dancing, such as the Gay Gordons.
And your knees up, shake it up, live it up, sup it up, hell of a kind of a time
I want everyone to have a wild and unforgettable time, to dance, to party, and to drink.
And if the coppers come around, well, tell them the party's mine, boys
In case the police come to investigate the noise, tell them that I am the reason for the party.
Let best beef be eaten, fill every empty glass,
I want the best food and drinks to be served and enjoyed at the party.
Let no breast be beaten, let no tooth be gnashed
I do not want anyone mourning or grieving at the party, only celebrating.
Don't bother with a fancy tombstone or a big-deal angel or a little copper flower pot
After the party, I do not want any fancy or expensive memorials, such as a tombstone or a flower pot.
Grow a dog-rose in my eyes or a pussy-willow
Instead, I would prefer to have natural and simple plants, such as a dog-rose or a pussy-willow.
But no forget-me-nots, no epitaphs, no keepsakes; you can let my memory slip
I do not want anyone to create any memorials, epitaphs, or keepsakes to remember me by, but to let my memory fade.
You can say a prayer or two for me soul then, but make it quick, boys
However, people can say a prayer for me but keep it short and sweet.
Lady, if your bosom is heaving don't waste your bosom on me
I do not want any women to mourn excessively or grieve too much for me.
Let it heave for a man who's breathing, a man who can feel, a man who can see
They should instead reserve their emotions for a living man who can reciprocate them in return.
And to my cronies, you can read my books, you can drive around in my motor car
To my friends, they can read my books, use my car, and borrow my belongings.
And you can fish your trout with my fly and tackle, you can play on my guitar,
They can also go fishing with my equipment or play music with my guitar.
And sing my songs, wear my shirts, you can even settle my debts
They can sing my songs, wear my clothes, and even pay off my debts.
You can kiss my little missus if she's willing then, but no regrets, boys
If my wife is also present and willing, they can even kiss her, but without any regrets.
Your rosebuds are numbered
This line is saying that life is short and it will eventually come to an end.
Gather them now for rosebuds' sake
Therefore, it is important to enjoy and celebrate life while it lasts.
And if your hands aren't too encumbered
If you are not too busy or burdened with other things,
Gather a bud or two for Jake
You can even pick a flower bud or two for me as a tribute.
Contributed by Lucas L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maja Tompkins
on Jumble Sale
There is a mistake in the transcription of the first verse of "Family Tree". It should say "There they perch for all to see", as it does in all the other verses.