The band is one of the few outfits still burning with the fire of punk, but managing to combine it with the ideals and knowledge of English folk music - a balancing act they've made into a fine art over the years. And they have deep roots in the U.K. folk scene, emerging from both the Whitstable Oyster Co. Ceilidh Band, which formed in 1975, and Fiddler's Dram, a group put together in 1973 by Dave Arbus, whose fiddle work had graced releases by East of Eden and the Who.
Prosser, Telfer, and Taylor were also in Fiddler's Dram, whose moment of fame arrived in 1979 with the British hit single "Day Trip to Bangor" - released after they'd split up. They reconvened for a last album when Kearey joined them. He also became part of the band's alter ego, the roots-oriented Oyster Ceilidh Band, as they'd now become. With Fiddler's Dram no longer extant, the members put their energies in the newly renamed Oyster Band in 1981, playing gigs around England and self-releasing albums on their own Pukka label.
The band returned in 2003 after the longest recording layoff of its career with Rise Above, which included eight originals and two English traditional numbers, and featured the work of Irish piper James O'Grady throughout.
In 1990, the band collaborated with renowned folk singer June Tabor for the album Freedom and Rain and a tour.
Current Lineup:
Chopper - bass guitar, cello, vocals
John Jones - melodeon, lead vocals
Alan Prosser - guitars, viola, vocals
Ian Telfer - fiddle, English concertina, vocals
Dil Davies - drums
http://www.oysterband.co.uk/
Jam Tomorrow
Oysterband Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, hey, the donkeys say
Milk and honey's on the way
Everybody get down and pray
It's jam tomorrow, shit today
I was born, bred, burped and fed in a place that wasn't funny
The sun shone out of Thatcher's arse waving wads of money
His generation steamed away, life bleached out in a 12-hour day
All went well with the witch's spell, fortune's fragrance wafted
Till the boom went bust in a cloud of dust, suckers all got shafted
It's bastard this and bastard that, I even ate me bastard hat
Father would've won his bet, I was up to the neck in the same old debt
How they school you, how they fool you
How they take you for a ride
How the same old lardballs screw you
It's murder faking suicide
CHORUS
They could and they would 'cos greed was good
And life was made for shopping
All the prizes, mega-sizes, all the lies just Wapping
Bastard this and bastard that, I even ate me bastard hat
Father's ghost is laughing still to see me stuck on the same treadmill
How they school you, how they fool you
How they take you for a ride
How the same old lardballs screw you
It's murder faking suicide
CHORUS (repeating)
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Shit today
The song "Jam Tomorrow" by Oysterband is a commentary on the promises made by politicians and society to the working class, but ultimately failing to deliver on them. The chorus states "Milk and honey's on the way, everybody get down and pray, it's jam tomorrow, shit today" which refers to the saying "jam tomorrow" meaning promises of good things in the future, but with nothing in the present to sustain oneself. The donkeys, a metaphor for the working class, are being promised a better future, but the reality of their present is "shit today." The song is a protest against the injustice and exploitation of the working class by those in power who only look out for themselves.
The first verse references the era of Margaret Thatcher, emphasizing the economic disparity created by her policies. The imagery of the sun shining out of Thatcher's arse waving wads of money is a scathing commentary on her self-serving policies. The singer's father is portrayed as a hard-working man who never complained about his miserable factory job, but ultimately wasted his life working in 12-hour shifts. The second verse talks about the disillusionment of the working class after being exploited by the promises of wealth and good life, only to be left with more debt and confusion. The school system and the media are criticized for their role in perpetuating the cycle of exploitation and the deceitful promises made by the politicians.
Overall, the song is a bleak reminder of the harsh realities faced by the working class and their never-ending struggle for survival against powerful political and economic forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, the donkeys say
The donkeys symbolize the people who are made to believe that good things will happen soon, just like how donkeys are made to move forward by following a dangling carrot.
Milk and honey's on the way
The milk and honey is a metaphor for the promised abundance and prosperity that is yet to come.
Everybody get down and pray
People turn to prayer and faith when faced with difficulties and uncertainty, hoping for a miracle or divine intervention.
It's jam tomorrow, shit today
The phrase 'jam tomorrow' refers to the empty promises of a better future while ignoring the reality of today's problems. 'Shit today' emphasizes the harsh reality that people face in the present, despite promises of improvement in the future.
I was born, bred, burped and fed in a place that wasn't funny
The artist was born and raised in a difficult, unenjoyable environment that was not humorous or light-hearted.
The sun shone out of Thatcher's arse waving wads of money
Margaret Thatcher's policies and leadership were seen as favorable by some, particularly those wielding wealth and power.
My father told me not to fuss, never shirk the factory drudge
The singer's father instilled the value of hard work and dedication, even in undesirable jobs and conditions.
His generation steamed away, life bleached out in a 12-hour day
The older generation worked long hours in rough conditions, leading to physical and emotional exhaustion and a lack of vibrancy in life.
All went well with the witch's spell, fortune's fragrance wafted
The artist experienced a period of prosperity and success brought about by external forces or luck, with the scent of wealth and fortune filling the air.
Till the boom went bust in a cloud of dust, suckers all got shafted
The sudden loss of prosperity and success left those who had believed in it feeling cheated and taken advantage of.
It's bastard this and bastard that, I even ate me bastard hat
Using 'bastard' as a derogatory term (referring to the deceitful people who promised prosperity and failed to deliver), the singer expresses frustration and desperation in their situation.
Father would've won his bet, I was up to the neck in the same old debt
The artist is referring to a bet their father made, which speculated that the next generation would face the same struggles and hardships as the previous one. The 'same old debt' refers to the cycle of poverty and unfulfilled promises that seems unending.
They could and they would 'cos greed was good, and life was made for shopping
Those in power are willing to prioritize their own greed and benefits, even if it means the suffering of others. Life is seen as a consumerist and materialistic endeavor.
All the prizes, mega-sizes, all the lies just Wapping
The prizes and rewards that are promised are often superficial, misleading, or based on false advertising. 'Wapping' refers to the location of the News International printing press, hinting at the corrupt practices of the media and those in power.
Father's ghost is laughing still to see me stuck on the same treadmill
The singer's father (who has passed away) would find the irony and repetition of the cycle of hardship and unfulfilled promises amusing or sad.
How they school you, how they fool you, how they take you for a ride
Referring to the manipulative tactics of those in power and how they deceive and mislead people into believing in false promises.
How the same old lardballs screw you, it's murder faking suicide
The 'lardballs' (referring to those in power and with wealth) continue to exploit and harm those who struggle, leading to feelings of hopelessness and desperation.
Contributed by Taylor F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.