The Bad Shepherds play punk songs on folk instruments. Not as a joke, but because they really like the noise. They think the songs are better than people remember. They love folk instruments. It works. They do songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, Talking Heads, Squeeze and others, even Kraftwerk! Alright, they're not all punk, but they come from roughly the same era. The songs are mostly given a kind of Celtic feel, with the odd reel and jig stuck here and there. But occassionally they just thrash! They've always thought the excitement of a reel taking off is the nearest thing to the excitement of watching punk live in the 70s!
Other musicians recording and appearing with the Bad Shapherds include Carol Dawson (fiddle), Eimear Bradley (fiddle), Keith Angel (percussion), Mark Woolley (percussion), Martin Allcock (bass), Brad Lang (bass) and Tim Harries (bass).
Their albums include:
Yan, Tyan, Tethera, Methera! (2008)
By Hook or By Crook (2010)
The Model
The Bad Shepherds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to take her home that's understood
She plays hard to get, she smiles from time to time
It only takes a camera to change her mind
She's going out to nightclubs drinking just champagne
And she has been checking nearly all the men
She's playing her game and you can hear them say
She's posing for consumer products now and then
For every camera she gives the best she can
I saw her on the cover of a magazine
Now she's a big success, I want to meet her again
The Bad Shepherds's song "The Model" is an interesting commentary on the modeling industry and the common societal perceptions towards models. The song begins with the singer admiring a model who is portrayed as looking good and desirable. However, despite her attractiveness, the model "plays hard to get" and only needs the incentive of a camera to change her mind. This indicates that perhaps her supposed desirability is limited only to the camera lens and the consumer products she promotes.
The song then goes on to discuss the model's lifestyle, wherein she frequents nightclubs drinking only champagne and checking out nearly all the men. Here, the model is portrayed as embodying a stereotypical lifestyle associated with celebrities and models. The lyrics, "She's playing her game and you can hear them say, 'She is looking good, for beauty we will pay'", encapsulate the mercenary nature of the modeling industry, where models are often hired mainly for their beauty and physical attributes.
The third verse reveals that the model has successfully transitioned to being a big success, admired by many for her beauty and achievements. The song ends with the singer expressing his desire to meet her again, indicating that despite the criticisms of the modeling industry, the allure of beauty and recognition it brings continues to be a powerful force.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a model and she's looking good
The object of this song is an attractive, trendy model.
I'd like to take her home that's understood
The singer desires to take the model home with him, which is obvious.
She plays hard to get, she smiles from time to time
The model is flirtatious and coy, but occasionally responsive to attention.
It only takes a camera to change her mind
The model is easily swayed by the presence of a camera.
She's going out to nightclubs drinking just champagne
The model frequently attends nightclubs, consuming only expensive champagne as a status symbol.
And she has been checking nearly all the men
The model is constantly assessing and evaluating the men around her.
She's playing her game and you can hear them say
The model is skilled at manipulating others and gossip about her tactics is commonplace.
She is looking good, for beauty we will pay
People are willing to pay for the model's physical beauty and her public image.
She's posing for consumer products now and then
The model's fame extends to being hired for advertising photography.
For every camera she gives the best she can
The model always puts forth maximum effort when being photographed.
I saw her on the cover of a magazine
The model's public fame has secured her a cover story on a popular publication.
Now she's a big success, I want to meet her again
The model's popularity has increased and the singer desires to reunite with her.
Contributed by Nora F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.