Mott the Hoople formed when Silence, a not-too-successful group from the Welsh borders, was joined by session pianist and rock and roll hopeful Ian Hunter along with musicians Mick Ralphs, Verden Allen, Pete Overend Watts, and Dale Griffin . They developed from Dylan obsessives to their own character over the course of four albums for Island. They were a very popular live act but only achieved brief commercial success.
In 1971, the band was close to splitting up but continued to record track "All the Young Dudes", a song written for them by up and coming pop star and fan David Bowie. Three more albums and several pop hits later, the group fell apart after Ian Hunter left in 1974. The remaining members mutated into Mott, an 'also-ran' band which released two albums before disbanding in 1976. Original guitarist Ralphs had a massive boost in his fortunes as a member of rockers Bad Company.
Griffin died in his sleep on 17 January 2016 at the age of 67 and Watts died, almost exactly a year later, on 22 January 2017, from throat cancer.
Saturday Gigs
Mott the Hoople Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have a good time,
What your sign
Float up to the Roundhouse
On a Sunday afternoon.
In Seventy we all agreed
A King's Road flat was the place to be
In Seventy-one all the people come
Bust a few seats but it's just in fun
Take the Mick out of Top of the Pops
We play better than they do
In Seventy-two we was born to lose
We slipped down snakes into yesterday's news
I was ready to quit
But then we went to Croydon
Do you remember the Saturday gigs
We do, we do
Do you remember the Saturday gigs
We do, we do
The tickets for the fantasy were twelve and six a time
A fairy tale on sale
Oh, Seventy-three was a jambouree
We were the dudes and the dudes were we.
(oh oh oh oh oh)
Did you see the suits and the platform boots
In Seventy-four on the Broadway tour
We didn't much like dressing up no more
Don't wanna be hip - but thanks for a great trip.
Do you remember the Saturday gigs
We do, we do
Do you remember the Saturday gigs
We do, we do
But now the kids pay a couple of quid
'Cause they need it just the same
It's all a game
A grown-up game
But you got off on those Saturday gigs
And we did, we did
'Cause you got off on those Saturday gigs
And we did, we did
And we got off on those Saturday gigs
And you did, you did
And we got off on those Saturday gigs
'Cause you did, you did
Don't you ever forget us
We'll never forget you
We're going to sleep now
You better be good, right (ha ha ha)
See you next time
So long for now
The song "Saturday Gigs" by Mott the Hoople is an autobiographical account of the band's early years and their rise to fame. Throughout the song, we see glimpses of the different stages of the band's journey in the early 70s.
The first verse talks about the year '69, which was a time of cheap wine and having a good time. The lyric "what's your sign" refers to the hippie culture of the time, where people would ask each other about their zodiac sign. The Roundhouse mentioned in the verse was a popular music venue in London where the band used to play regularly.
In the second verse, we see the band moving into a King's Road flat in Chelsea, which was a trendy area at the time. They mention the Chelsea girls being the best company, which may refer to the band members enjoying the company of fashionable and trendy women of the area.
In the third verse, the band talks about the year '71 when they played a gig where a few seats were broken, but it was all in good fun. They also mention taking the mickey out of Top of the Pops, a popular British TV show that featured music performances. This suggests a playful and rebellious attitude towards the mainstream media.
In the fourth verse, the band mentions the year '72 when they felt like they were born to lose and were slipping down snakes into yesterday's news. This could be a reference to their struggle to maintain popularity in the music industry. They also mention going to Croydon, which is a suburban area of London, probably referring to a gig they played there.
The chorus of the song is an acknowledgment of the band's early gigs, particularly the Saturday ones, and how important they were to the band's journey. It speaks to the excitement and energy of playing live shows and how it was a significant part of their growth as a band.
Line by Line Meaning
Sixty-nine was cheapo wine,
In 1969, we drank cheap wine and had a good time.
Have a good time,
We had fun and enjoyed ourselves.
What your sign
We were interested in astrology and the signs of the zodiac.
Float up to the Roundhouse
We went to the Roundhouse, a venue for music and other events in London.
On a Sunday afternoon.
We went to the Roundhouse on a Sunday afternoon for an event.
In Seventy we all agreed
In 1970, we agreed that living in a flat on King’s Road was the best place to be.
A King's Road flat was the place to be
Living in a flat on King’s Road was fashionable and desirable.
'Cause Chelsea girls are the best in the world for company.
Chelsea girls were the most interesting and fun to be around.
In Seventy-one all the people come
In 1971, many people came to our events.
Bust a few seats but it's just in fun
We broke some seats, but it was all in good fun.
Take the Mick out of Top of the Pops
We made fun of the TV show Top of The Pops, which featured popular music acts.
We play better than they do
We thought we were better musicians than the people on Top of The Pops.
In Seventy-two we was born to lose
In 1972, we felt like we were doomed to fail.
We slipped down snakes into yesterday's news
We fell down, like in the board game Snakes and Ladders, and became yesterday's news.
I was ready to quit
I was ready to give up.
But then we went to Croydon
But then we went to Croydon, a town near London, which gave us new inspiration.
Do you remember the Saturday gigs
Do you remember the gigs we had on Saturdays?
The tickets for the fantasy
The tickets for the event were like a fantasy, a fairy tale.
were twelve and six a time
The tickets cost twelve shillings and sixpence each.
Oh, Seventy-three was a jamboree
In 1973, we had a big party, a celebration.
We were the dudes and the dudes were we.
We were fashionable, cool guys.
(oh oh oh oh oh)
A musical interjection.
Did you see the suits and the platform boots
We wore suits and platform boots to look fashionable.
In Seventy-four on the Broadway tour
In 1974, we went on tour to Broadway.
We didn't much like dressing up no more
We didn't enjoy dressing up in fancy clothes anymore.
Don't wanna be hip - but thanks for a great trip.
We didn't want to be fashionable anymore, but we enjoyed the tour.
But now the kids pay a couple of quid
Nowadays, young people pay a few pounds for tickets.
'Cause they need it just the same
They enjoy going out to concerts and events, just like we did.
It's all a game
Going out to events is just a form of entertainment, a game.
A grown-up game
It's a game that adults can enjoy too.
And we got off on those Saturday gigs
We enjoyed playing at those Saturday gigs.
And you did, you did
You, the audience, enjoyed coming to those Saturday gigs.
Don't you ever forget us
Don't forget about us and the music we made.
We'll never forget you
We'll always remember the audience who came to our shows.
We're going to sleep now
We are going to bed now, the show is over.
You better be good, right (ha ha ha)
We are joking, but we hope the audience has a good time.
See you next time
We hope to see the audience again at our next show.
So long for now
Goodbye for now.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AlexAlexon3897
They became my fave band with Golden Age of Rock'n'Roll - then they broke up at the end of the year. Even years later, this song pulled at the emotions. Still does. And love Foxy Foxy too. Some journo wrote, when MtH reformed ('09 or '13), "Not meaning to be unkind, but I can't imagine Mott being anyone's favourite band!" Well they were mine, you arrogant poseur!
@nodeloc1955
Great swansong from one of the best 70's bands.
@dillongstaff5625
Mott The hoople bowed out with this final single,peaked at 41 in the UK charts...last word Goodbye.First word of Ian Hunter's first solo single Once bitten twice shy - Hello....
@simonprodhan1926
magnificent, another truly great band
@daivwhaley6937
Such a great, poignant, melancholy song. Love the harmonies!
@PeterZeeke
Man... that Ade Edmonson Desert Island discs was like a trip through 80s alternative comedy, and when Ade broke down... 🥺
@enthrallingusername
A hard listen for sure.
@lizwoods1957
Only discovered this song after hearing Ade Edmonson on Desert Island Discs ...such a good listen and hard hearing him breakdown talking about Rik Mayall. Great song choices too !
@dillongstaff5625
peaked at 41...final word in the lyric "goodbye"..first line on ian hunter's debut hit once bitter twice shy 'Hello" Yes I thought it was going to be a massive hit - but don't they always? Barry Blue and The wombles got in the way...
@simmsbob8670
Great, poignant song ...