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.
Stop The Cavalry
Jona Lewie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To say we're doing splendidly
But it's very cold out here in the snow
Marching to and from the enemy
Oh I say it's tough, I have had enough
Can you stop the cavalry?
I have had to fight, almost every night
That is when I say, oh yes yet again
Can you stop the cavalry?
Mary Bradley waits at home
In the nuclear fall-out zone
Wish I could be dancing now
In the arms of the girl I love
(Dub a dub a dumb dumb)
(Dub a dub dubadum dubadum dub a dub dubadum)
(Dub a dub a dumb dumb)
(Dub a dub dubadum dubadum dub a dub dubadum)
Wish I was at home for Christmas
Bang! That's another bomb on another town
While the Tsar and Jim have tea
If I get home, live to tell the tale
I'll run for all presidencies
If I get elected I'll stop, I will stop the cavalry
(Dub a dub a dumb dumb)
(Dub a dub dubadum dubadum dub a dub dubadum)
(Dub a dub a dumb dumb)
(Dub a dub dubadum dubadum dub a dub dubadum)
Wish I was at home for Christmas
Wish I could be dancing now
In the arms of the girl I love
Mary Bradley waits at home
She's has been waiting two years long
Wish I was at home for Christmas
Jona Lewie's hit song Stop the Cavalry is a tongue-in-cheek expression of a soldier's longing for home during wartime. The song's opening lines immediately set the tone by alluding to Winston Churchill, who famously visited the troops during World War II to show his support for them. Churchill's presence here signifies the government's enthusiastic and unrealistic portrayal of the war, as the soldiers struggle to stay warm in harsh conditions while fighting an enemy they may not fully comprehend.
Lewie's use of the phrase 'stop the cavalry' is not a plea to end the war altogether but rather an understated appeal for him to be allowed to return home. The repetition of the phrase throughout the song gives it an almost mantra-like quality, as if the singer is trying to will his way back home through the power of his own voice. The mention of the nuclear fall-out zone creates an eerie and somewhat apocalyptic tone, emphasising how the effects of war are felt far beyond the battlefield.
The upbeat melody of the song provides an ironic contrast to the sombre lyrics. The jaunty rhythm gives the sense of a marching band, and the occasional use of brass instruments reinforces this image. By interspersing the verses with the 'dub a dub a dumb dumb' refrain, Lewie repeats the idea of marching; the inclusion of these nonsensical syllables also adds a sense of absurdity to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, Mr. Churchill comes over here
A sarcastic statement about Winston Churchill's rosy outlook on their war effort.
To say we're doing splendidly
He's saying that despite Churchill's optimism, the war is still proving difficult.
But it's very cold out here in the snow
The bleak, miserable conditions of fighting in winter.
Marching to and from the enemy
The grueling nature of the war effort.
Oh I say it's tough, I have had enough
He expresses fatigue and a desire to go home and see his loved ones.
Can you stop the cavalry?
The singer is calling out in desperation for the war to end.
I have had to fight, almost every night
The difficult and continuous nature of fighting in the war.
Down throughout these centuries
The long-standing history of war.
That is when I say, oh yes yet again
Expressing the exhausting cycle of war and conflict.
Can you stop the cavalry?
Reiterating the artist's plea for an end to the fighting.
Mary Bradley waits at home
The singer's loved one waiting for them back home.
In the nuclear fallout zone
The inescapable danger and uncertainty of living in a world with nuclear weapons.
Wish I could be dancing now
The longing to enjoy life and love rather than be consumed by war.
In the arms of the girl I love
The singer's desire to be reunited with their loved one.
Bang! That's another bomb on another town
The destructive, violent nature of war.
While the Tsar and Jim have tea
A comment on the leaders who orchestrate and engage in war while others suffer the consequences.
If I get home, live to tell the tale
Expressing the possibility of not even surviving the war.
I'll run for all presidencies
The desire to make change as a leader and prevent future wars.
If I get elected I'll stop, I will stop the cavalry
A proclamation of the singer's goal to end war if they are ever in a position of power.
Wish I was at home for Christmas
A repeated plea to go home and celebrate the holidays with loved ones rather than be consumed by war.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jona Lewie, Rob De Nijs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kennymccormick4733
Here are the lyrics to this Christmas Classic:
Hey, Mr. Churchill comes over here to say we're doing splendidly
But it's very cold out here in the snow marching to and from the enemy Oh I say it's tough I have had enough can you stop the cavalry?
I have had to fight almost every night down throughout these centuries That is when I say, oh yes yet again can you stop the cavalry?
Mary Bradley waits at home in the nuclear fall-out zone Wish I could be dancing now In the arms of the girl I love
Wish I was at home for Christmas
Bang! That's another bomb on another the town While the Tzar and Jim have tea If I get home, live to tell the tale I'll run for all presidencies
If I get elected, I will stop, I will stop the cavalry
Wish I was at home for Christmas
Wish I could be dancing now in the arms of the girl I love Mary Bradley waits at home She has been waiting two years long
Wish I was at home for Christmas
@selene007
Merry Christmas 🎄
[Verse 1] 🎶
Hey, Mr. Churchill comes over here
To say we're doing splendidly
But it's very cold out here in the snow
Marching to win from the enemy
Oh I say it's tough, I have had enough
Can you stop the cavalry?
[Verse 2]
I have had to fight, almost every night
Down throughout these centuries
That is when I say, oh yes yet again
Can you stop the cavalry?
[Chorus]
Mary Bradley waits at home
In the nuclear fall-out zone
Wish I could be dancing now
In the arms of the girl I love
[Intermission]
Dub a dub a dumb dumb
Dub a dub a dumb
Dub a dumb dumb dub a dub
Dub a dub a dumb
Dub a dub a dumb dumb
Dub a dub a dumb
Dub a dumb dumb dub a dub
Dub a dub a dumb
Wish I was at home for Christmas
[Verse 3]
Bang! That's another bomb on another town
While the Tsar and Jim have tea
If I get home, live to tell the tale
I'll run for all presidencies
If I get elected I'll stop - I will stop the cavalry
[Intermission]
Dub a dub a dumb dumb
Dub a dub a dumb
Dub a dumb dumb dub a dub
Dub a dub a dumb
Dub a dub a dumb dumb
Dub a dub a dumb
Dub a dumb dumb dub a dub
Dub a dub a dumb
Wish I was at home for Christmas
[Chorus]
Wish I could be dancing now
In the arms of the girl I love
Mary Bradley waits at home
She's been waiting two years long
Wish I was at home for Christmas
@oskarostermann4734
It was never meant to be a Christmas song but it turned into one. And it's still great.
Don't let us forget what this song is really about.
@josephleahy8280
This has always been a Christmas song. The lyrics say, "wish I was at home for Christmas".
@neilduncan6645
Anti war song at its finest. Hijacked as a christmas song because of that jingle. Still awesome.
@Burgerboy118
@neil duncan its about wanting to be at home for christmas with their family instead they are abroad fighting in a war
@legiregi1567
The song is about Christmas, it's about Christmas in ww2 and how they longed to come home for christmas
@ellepant
@Legi Regi ww1 not ww2
@danielconsidine3863
Most underrated Christmas song.ever.
@darrenturner8913
Agreed
@ashe7762
agreed
@cumorsomething8119
Yeah