After being a member of the amateur group Dramatis Personae while still at school, Jona started in the music business as a session pianist, before joining the cult pub rock band, Brett Marvin & the Thunderbolts, in the late 1960s. The group was a popular live act for several years, but their only mainstream hit single was "Seaside Shuffle" in 1972, released under the one-off nom de disque Terry Dactyl & The Dinosaurs. Borrowing heavily from Mungo Jerry's 1970 chart-topper "In The Summertime," "Seaside Shuffle" was an unashamedly commercial disc quite at odds with the Thunderbolts' usual style, but reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart.
However, Lewie looked likely to remain a one-hit wonder until he was signed up by Stiff Records in 1977. Following appearances on the Stiff package tours, he finally scored a solo hit in 1980 with the humorous synthpop number, "You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties,"which made the British Top 20. Although his next single "Big Shot - Momentarily" failed to make any impact, by the end of the year he was back in the charts with what became his biggest (and, to date, last) UK hit, "Stop The Cavalry." He was, however, to reach No. 2 on the Australian charts in 1981 with "Louise (We Get It Right)"
Although now one of Britain's (and, incidentally, Germany's) most familiar Christmas singles, "Stop The Cavalry" was not originally intended as a Christmas song – it was released in late November after the record company spotted the line referring to the festival: "I wish I was at home, for Christmas," Not only this, but the specific style of the brass instruments and bells in the chorus are very noticeable as a Christmas style theme.
Lewie has since been able to live comfortably on the continuing proceeds which Christmas airplay of "Stop The Cavalry" has annually brought him, as well as the proceeds from some wise property investments.
The tune and style of "Stop The Cavalry" was later parodied for a series of catchy and humorous TV adverts for John Smith's beer.
In December 2005, Jona was recruited by Channel 4 to record a new Christmas record with other old stars who had Christmas hits, on Bring Back The Christmas Number One.
Kitchen at Parties
Jona Lewie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Enough to drive a man to drink I don't do no washing up
I always leave the stuff piled up
A-piled up in the sink
But you will always find him in the kitchen at parties
Me and my girlfriend we argued and she ran away from home
Living on my own. What am I supposed to do?
That's why you'll always find him in kitchen at parties
you will always find him in the kitchen at parties
You will always find him in the kitchen at parties
Then I met this debutante I said I like new wave rock
She was into french cuisine but I ain't no cordon bleu
This was at some do in Palmers Green
I had no luck with her
You will still find him in kitchen at parties
You will still find him in kitchen at parties
At last I met a pretty girl she laughed and talked with me
We both walked out of the kitchen and danced in a new way
And now I've done my time in the kitchen at parties
I've done my time in the kitchen at parties
He's done his time in the kitchen at parties
He's done his time in the kitchen at parties
He's done his time in the kitchen at parties
He's done his time in the kitchen at parties
The lyrics to Jona Lewie's "Kitchen at Parties" depict a man who is not quite comfortable in social situations. He is not good at "chatting up" and often gets brushed off, which leads to his drinking habits. He does not do any washing up and always leaves the dishes piled up in the sink, but despite all of this, "you will always find him in the kitchen at parties.” This may be his safe haven or where he feels most comfortable, even though he is not the best host.
The man in the song talks about how he and his girlfriend argued and she left him, leaving him alone in his own space. He questions what he is supposed to do without anyone there, but again, he is not completely alone if he is at a party because he is still in the kitchen. He also talks about his failed attempts to impress women, referencing a debutante who was into French cuisine and not impressed by his interest in new wave rock. The lyrics suggest that he did not have any luck with her, but again, he can always be found in the kitchen at parties.
Towards the end of the song, the man finally meets a pretty girl who talks and laughs with him. They leave the kitchen and dance in a new way, which may symbolize his new-found confidence or success in social situations. He has finally "done his time in the kitchen at parties", indicating that he no longer needs to hide or feel uncomfortable in social situations because he has found his place.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm no good at chatting up and I always get rebuffed
I'm not good at socializing and often get rejected or ignored.
Enough to drive a man to drink I don't do no washing up
This situation is so frustrating it could make a person want to drink, but I don't want to do any dishes.
I always leave the stuff piled up
I usually don't clean up after myself and leave dishes and other items in a pile.
A-piled up in the sink
These items are usually stacked in the sink.
But you will always find him in the kitchen at parties
Despite my lack of socializing and cleaning skills, I can always be found in the kitchen at parties.
Me and my girlfriend we argued and she ran away from home
My girlfriend and I had a disagreement, and she left the house.
She must have found somebody new and now I'm all alone
I think she has found a new partner now, and I'm left alone.
Living on my own. What am I supposed to do?
I am now living alone and don't know what to do.
That's why you'll always find him in the kitchen at parties
Because I am now alone, I continue to spend my time in the kitchen at parties.
you will always find him in the kitchen at parties
This line is repeated to emphasize that regardless of my circumstances, I will always be in the kitchen at parties.
Then I met this debutante I said I like new wave rock
I met a woman who was an aristocrat, and I told her I enjoy listening to new wave rock music.
She was into french cuisine but I ain't no cordon bleu
She was interested in French cooking, but I am not skilled in gourmet cooking.
This was at some do in Palmers Green
This happened at an event in Palmers Green.
I had no luck with her
I was not successful in getting to know her better or in starting a relationship.
You will still find him in kitchen at parties
This line is repeated to reinforce that even after another failed attempt at starting a relationship, I can still be found in the kitchen at parties.
At last I met a pretty girl she laughed and talked with me
Finally, I met a beautiful woman who enjoyed talking and laughing with me.
We both walked out of the kitchen and danced in a new way
We left the kitchen and danced together in a different style, enjoying each other's company.
And now I've done my time in the kitchen at parties
After all those failed attempts at starting a relationship at parties, I can finally move on and spend my time doing something else.
He's done his time in the kitchen at parties
This line is repeated to emphasize that I am no longer stuck in the kitchen at parties and can now enjoy myself doing other things.
He's done his time in the kitchen at parties
Again, this line is repeated to drive home the fact that I have finally moved on from being the guy who always hangs out in the kitchen at parties.
He's done his time in the kitchen at parties
One more time, this line is repeated to make sure the listener understands that I am now free from the kitchen at parties and can enjoy myself in other ways.
Contributed by Samuel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nickball2010
One thing springs to mind, they don't make records like this anymore, great to see Kirsty.
@MegaLotusEater
To be fair, these days you similarly get lots of artists who cant sing.
@sallyjoan
and you can? i bet you can't sing for toffee, don't be jealous of people who have talent, unlike you.@@MegaLotusEater
@colincampbell7928
@@MegaLotusEaterand he can? He sounds like Phil Daniels from Quadrophenia. 😢 awesome though.
@MegaLotusEater
@@colincampbell7928 I don't understand what you just said.
@colincampbell7928
@@MegaLotusEater https://youtu.be/Ecvzj2m5nww?si=QZLH4PNp0MrZZMQ0
@daconor91
I'm glad he was able to finally muster up the courage to make his way out of the kitchen at that party. What an emotional rollercoaster.
@AnneBoleynRome
daconor91 Lol 🥂👍👍
@elvis69rules
He's on diet these days
@elleeme9451
Ha!