Paul Heaton formed The Housemartins in the early 1980s. The Housemartins released a number of singles and two studio albums, London 0 Hull 4 and The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death. Their most famous hit was an a-capella version of the Isley Brothers' Caravan of Love, which was a Christmas number one in the UK.
In 1988, Paul Heaton formed The Beautiful South from the ashes of The Housemartins. The Beautiful South released two top ten singles, Song for Whoever and You Keep It All In, which featured Irish singer Briana Corrigan on vocals. In 1989, the band released an album "Welcome to the Beautiful South" by which time Corrigan had joined the band as a full time member. The band's biggest success to date is the release of the single "A Little Time" in 1991. It reached number 1 on the charts. In 1993 the band released their third album, "0898 Beautiful South".
In 1994, Briana Corrigan left the band and a new female vocalist, Jacqui Abbott, was brought in. During the recording of the band's fourth album "Miaow", Heaton was increasingly irritated with the band and at one time told them to get their act together or he would leave. "Miaow" is some of Heaton's most depressing songwriting (only their fifth studio album, "Blue Is The Colour", is considered sadder). Heaton was going through a break-up with his girlfriend and other problems at the time. After the release of Miaow's third single, "Prettiest Eyes", the record company was worried about the band's sales, so they proposed a greatest hits release to save the band. Heaton hated the idea as he was trying to keep the band as far away from mainstream as possible, but nevertheless, "Carry on up the Charts" was released in December 1994 and it sold overwhelmingly, going platinum and becoming one of the biggest selling albums of all time in the UK.
The band returned to form a number one album, "Blue Is the Colour". Their sixth album, "Quench", also hit the top spot. In 2000, after the release of "Painting It Red", Jacqui Abbott left the band to care for her son. A second compilation album, "Solid Bronze", was released and two more studio albums with a new female vocalist, Alison Wheeler. The first, Gaze, became the first Beautiful South album to fail to reach the top 10, and the band were then dropped by Mercury Records.
The following year (2004), newly signed to Sony, they released the curiously named covers album Goldiggas, Headnodders and Pholk Songs, an eclectic album that featured the Beautiful South's unique take on a wide variety of tracks by the like of ELO, Blue Öyster Cult, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, S Club 7, and Rufus Wainwright. Again, despite considerable publicity and promotional TV appearances, the album failed to make the top 10.
2006 saw the release of yet another album of new material, "Superbi." Reviews were generally positive. "Superbi" has more of an alt-country sound (plenty of slide guitar, for example) than previous Beautiful South releases. The album maintains the band's trademark eccentricity, however, featuring a dobro on one song.
On the ITV documentary music series Faith & Music screened 29th October 2006, Paul talks openly and honestly about his atheism and his battle with alcoholism.
Heaton is the father of two daughters, although he has never married.
www.paulheatonmusic.co.uk
Greed
Paul Heaton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To cash in on percentage of the cut
Life so good, drive so easy
The only one he made with peepers shut
But eyes getting wider in the vaults of the bank
Calculating draft after draft
Adding up just what makes the owner of the yacht
So give him hands clapping hands and smiling Irish eyes
But please don't ever tax his next of kin
Strangled by the gap between the tree tops and the skies
Hollands banking Ireland's sweetest thing
Pennies piled high, pounds cashed in
Caught between Alsatian and the gates
Poor can't risk not having any friends
Avaritia can't afford to have a mate
The crooks and the criminals, gangsters and animals
Fleeing stripped down to their waist
Drenched in sweat and blood of their imaginary crimes
They were running from a fear called the eighth
So give him hands clapping hands and smiling Irish eyes
But please don't ever tax his next of kin
Strangled by the gap between the tree tops and the skies
Holland's banking Ireland's sweetest thing
In the lyrics of Paul Heaton's song "Greed," the artist vividly depicts a character whose journey to wealth is marked by deceit and manipulation. The singer is driven by a relentless pursuit of money, as evidenced by his frequent visits to the bank to receive his share of the profits. Despite the apparent success and ease with which he accumulates wealth, there is a sense of moral ambiguity in his actions, hinted at by the reference to his "peepers shut," suggesting a disregard for the consequences of his greed.
As the character's wealth grows, so too does his greed and desire for more. He becomes consumed by thoughts of wealth disparity, comparing the luxuries enjoyed by the rich yacht owner with the humble existence of the raft owner. This comparison highlights the singer's insatiable greed and his willingness to exploit others to elevate his own status.
The lyrics also touch upon themes of privilege and inequality, showcasing the disparity between the wealthy elite and the working class. The juxtaposition of "hands clapping hands and smiling Irish eyes" with the plea to protect his "next of kin" suggests a facade of generosity and affluence that masks a darker reality of exploitation and disregard for others.
The mention of "Holland's banking Ireland's sweetest thing" conveys a sense of financial manipulation and exploitation, highlighting the ways in which greed and financial greed can manifest in global economic systems. The imagery of "Pennies piled high, pounds cashed in" and the struggle between the poor and the wealthy further emphasize the destructive nature of unchecked greed and the unequal distribution of wealth.
In the final verses, the lyrics delve into the consequences of greed, portraying a world where criminals and corrupt individuals are driven to extremes to escape their own guilt and fear. The reference to the "gap between the tree tops and the skies" symbolizes the vast chasm between the rich and the poor, and the desperation that can result from a society plagued by greed and inequality. Overall, Paul Heaton's "Greed" serves as a poignant commentary on the destructive nature of unchecked greed and the impact it can have on individuals and society as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
The journey to the hank that he made mice a week
His path to wealth was swift and efficient, earning him a hefty income
To cash in on percentage of the cut
Taking advantage of the profits and benefits available
Life so good, drive so easy
Enjoying a comfortable and carefree lifestyle
The only one he made with peepers shut
The only success he achieved without making any effort
But eyes getting wider in the vaults of the bank
His greed growing as he accumulates more wealth
Calculating draft after draft
Carefully planning each financial move
Adding up just what makes the owner of the yacht
Realizing the distinctions between the rich and the poor
Much better than the owner of the raft
Seeing the inequality in society based on wealth
So give him hands clapping hands and smiling Irish eyes
Applauding his success and charm, but beware of his greed
But please don't ever tax his next of kin
Protecting his family from financial consequences
Strangled by the gap between the tree tops and the skies
Feeling trapped in the disparity between rich and poor
Holland's banking Ireland's sweetest thing
Exploiting the financial system for personal gain
Pennies piled high, pounds cashed in
Accumulating money through small gains and large transactions
Caught between Alsatian and the gates
Facing obstacles and challenges in his pursuit of wealth
Poor can't risk not having any friends
Those lacking wealth cannot afford to be isolated
Avaritia can't afford to have a mate
Greed cannot sustain meaningful relationships
The crooks and the criminals, gangsters and animals
Unscrupulous individuals resorting to crime for money
Fleeing stripped down to their waist
Running away with nothing but their ill-gotten gains
Drenched in sweat and blood of their imaginary crimes
Feeling guilty and burdened by their fraudulent activities
They were running from a fear called the eighth
Escaping the consequences and punishment for their crimes
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Paul Heaton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jackie Negus
I have all 3 of Paul's albums and like Acid County the best, really enjoying watching the footage.