Born in Acocks Green, Birmingham, he was educated at Moseley School. He started his own folk club at 16 called "The Boggery" in Solihull, where he would perform folk songs as well as MC. Before long, his banter with the audience overtook the actual songs and he became known more as a comedian than a singer. He also worked as a musical agent (in partnership with Harvey Andrews), as Finger-Me-Gig, managing (among other bands) Decameron.
He had a surprise UK top 5 chart hit in 1975 with a novelty record called "Funky Moped" written by Chris Rohmann. The B-Side to this single was a risqué monologue parodying the animated children's TV series The Magic Roundabout. The latter was banned by the BBC, an action which is widely believed to have contributed to its commercial success.
Magic Roundabout
Jasper Carrott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Magic Roundabout...'
'I wonder where Florence is?', said Dougal
'I m over here.', said Florence
'Hello, Florence.', said Dougal
'Hello, Dougal.', said Florence
'Boing!'
'Hello, Florence and Dougal.', said Zebadee
'Hello, Zebadee, Florence and Dougal.', said Dillon
'Hello, Dillon.', said Zebadee, Florence and Dougal
'I say,', said Dillon
'What?', said Dougal
'Booinngg!'
'Pardon?', said Zebadee
'Nothing.', Said Dougal
'I wasn't talking to you.', said Zebadee
'Oh.', Said Dougal
'Dillon.', said Dougal
'Yes.', said Dillon
'I wonder if Florence is a virgin?'
'Drops 'em for certain.', said Dillon
'Booinngg!'
'That s right enough.', said Zebadee
'How do you know?', said Dillon
'Booinngg!'
'To my knowledge half of Toytown knows of her hori-
Zontal pleasures. Let s face it, Noddy's the biggest ram
Round here and he reckons he's scored.', said Zebadee
'I can hear you.', said Florence. 'It s not true. Noddy and I
Are just good friends.'
'Rubbish', said Dougal. 'It s all over the canteen. Anyone
Knows about you, you brazen hussy.'
'You lousy old flea-bag', said Florence. 'Call yourself a
Dog? I've seen better hair on a lavatory brush!.'
'Booinngg!!'
'Now look here', said Zebadee. 'Things are getting out of
Hand. Let's get back to the story-line!.'
'It's a crummy story anyway', said Dillon stubbornly
'Booinngg!'
'No, it's not', said Zebadee commandingly
'Who cares?', said Dillon dejectedly
'Well, I like it', said Florence, hopefully
'Ihat's obvious!', said everybody, c___ily
'Booinngg!'
'Now look', said Zebadee, 'let's try and get it together.'
'Well, I'm not working for that fat-bat any more', said
Dougal. 'I'm off to join the Flowerpot men.'
'Good riddance', said Florence
'Knickers!', said Dougal
'Ihat's no way to talk to a lady', said Dillon (knowing he's
On to a good thing)
'Some lady!', said Dougal
'Oh, p___ off', said Dillon
And Dougal did so, all over Florence
'Thank you for sticking up for me', said Florence
'Oh, it's nothing, really', said Dillon
'You know I've fancied you for a long time', said
Florence
'I've fancied you too', said Dillon
'Where do we go from here?', said Florence
'Booinngg!!!'
Time for bed said Zebadee
The lyrics of Jasper Carrott's "Magic Roundabout" tell the story of a group of friends who gather around to watch the "Magic Roundabout" show. At the beginning of the song, they are all greeting each other and wondering where Florence is. However, things quickly spiral out of control when Dougal and Dillon start talking about Florence's sexual history. Zebadee tries to get everyone to focus on the story, but the argument gets out of hand and Dougal ends up insulting Florence. Dillon sticks up for her and they end up confessing their feelings for each other.
Despite the seemingly lighthearted and comical nature of the song, it actually touches on some more serious themes, such as slut-shaming, objectification of women, and toxic masculinity. The way Dougal and Dillon talk about Florence is extremely disrespectful and dehumanizing, reducing her to a sexual object and ignoring her agency and autonomy.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello children. It s a quarter to six. Time today. for Magic Roundabout...
Jasper Carrott introduces the Magic Roundabout show
I wonder where Florence is?', said Dougal
Dougal wonders where Florence is
'I'm over here.', said Florence
Florence responds to Dougal's inquiry
'Hello, Florence.', said Dougal
Dougal greets Florence
'Hello, Dougal.', said Florence
Florence greets Dougal
'Boing!'
A sound effect
'Hello, Florence and Dougal.', said Zebadee
Zebadee greets Florence and Dougal
'Hello, Zebadee.', said Dougal and Florence
Dougal and Florence greet Zebadee
'Hello, Zebadee, Florence and Dougal.', said Dillon
Dillon greets Zebadee, Florence, and Dougal
'Hello, Dillon.', said Zebadee, Florence and Dougal
Zebadee, Florence, and Dougal greet Dillon
'I say,', said Dillon
Dillon starts to speak
'Booinngg!'
A sound effect
'Pardon?', said Zebadee
Zebadee asks for clarification
'Nothing.', Said Dougal
Dougal responds to Zebadee
'I wasn't talking to you.', said Zebadee
Zebadee clarifies who he was speaking to
'Oh.', Said Dougal
Dougal acknowledges Zebadee's statement
'Dillon.', said Dougal
Dougal addresses Dillon
'Yes.', said Dillon
Dillon responds to Dougal
'I wonder if Florence is a virgin?'
Dougal asks a personal question about Florence
'Drops 'em for certain.', said Dillon
Dillon makes a crude remark about Florence
'Booinngg!'
A sound effect
'That s right enough.', said Zebadee
Zebadee agrees with Dillon's remark
'How do you know?', said Dillon
Dillon wants more details
'Booinngg!'
A sound effect
'To my knowledge half of Toytown knows of her horizontal pleasures. Let s face it, Noddy's the biggest ram Round here and he reckons he's scored.', said Zebadee
Zebadee airs gossip about Florence's sexual history
'I can hear you.', said Florence. 'It s not true. Noddy and I Are just good friends.'
Florence denies the rumors about her and Noddy
'Rubbish', said Dougal. 'It s all over the canteen. Anyone Knows about you, you brazen hussy.'
Dougal continues to propagate the rumors
'You lousy old flea-bag', said Florence. 'Call yourself a Dog? I've seen better hair on a lavatory brush!.'
Florence insults Dougal
'Booinngg!!'
A sound effect
'Now look here', said Zebadee. 'Things are getting out of Hand. Let's get back to the story-line!.'
Zebadee tries to get everyone back on track
'It's a crummy story anyway', said Dillon stubbornly
Dillon expresses his dissatisfaction with the story
'Booinngg!'
A sound effect
'No, it's not', said Zebadee commandingly
Zebadee defends the story
'Who cares?', said Dillon dejectedly
Dillon expresses apathy
'Well, I like it', said Florence, hopefully
Florence tries to stay positive
'Ihat's obvious!', said everybody, c___ily
Everyone responds sarcastically
'Booinngg!'
A sound effect
'Now look', said Zebadee, 'let's try and get it together.'
Zebadee tries to maintain order
'Well, I'm not working for that fat-bat any more', said Dougal. 'I'm off to join the Flowerpot men.'
Dougal announces his departure
'Good riddance', said Florence
Florence is happy to see Dougal go
'Knickers!', said Dougal
Dougal insults Florence as he leaves
'Ihat's no way to talk to a lady', said Dillon (knowing he's On to a good thing)
Dillon tries to win favor with Florence
'Some lady!', said Dougal
Dougal insults Florence again
'Oh, p___ off', said Dillon
Dillon tells Dougal to leave
And Dougal did so, all over Florence
Dougal leaves in a disrespectful way
'Thank you for sticking up for me', said Florence
Florence thanks Dillon
'Oh, it's nothing, really', said Dillon
Dillon downplays his actions
'You know I've fancied you for a long time', said Florence
Florence expresses attraction to Dillon
'I've fancied you too', said Dillon
Dillon reciprocates Florence's feelings
'Where do we go from here?', said Florence
Florence wonders about their future together
'Booinngg!!!'
A sound effect
Time for bed said Zebadee
Zebadee ends the show
Contributed by Bailey V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@darrengorham667
My late dad played this to me when I was 14 years old, and I was in hysterics! I hadn't heard it again until last night, and as well as making me laugh once more, it has brought back some wonderful memories of my dad- thanks for giving me a wonderful sense of humour pops, Sleep Well
@visualvinyldiscs
That's great Darren, I'm pleased it brought you some joyous memories : )
@philjamieson5572
I preferred The Herbs to The Magic Roundabout but I love the sound of a pissed audience here.
@tremainecornish2977
Not heard this since it came out.
I'm grinning from 👂 to 👂
Very good 🤣🤣🤣
@HarvestHome2000
"It's all over the canteen!" has to be one of the greatest lines in the history of comedy. The image it conjures up...
@andyrowlands50029
This is still as funny now as it was in 1975. A classic.
@ianl1052
The whole album was a classic. "Jasper Carrot Rabbits On and On". A good reason to check out some car booters. 😉😂😂
@JonnyEnglish-gu1cs
This reminds me of my childhood my dad had it it was risky but we laughed at it all the time not heard it in years thanks I enjoyed it all over again 👍🏻
@cpuuk
My older brother brought this record home, and literally the entire family gathered round to listen to it- classic!
@corinjohn284
My parents had this record. Grew up listening to it and still find it hysterical today