In a state of disillusionment, Cathal Coughlan walked out of the wonderful and melodically rich - but lyrically barbed - Microdisney and formed the Fatima Mansions, setting up stall in 1989. His former Microdisney partner, Sean O'Hagan, went off to form the High Llamas and perfected his obsession with 'Smile'-era Beach Boys drenched tunefulness but Cathal had other ideas and there were times when the Mansions' screaming indignation and eclectic belligerence went off the scale.
Underneath it all was his dry and off-centre humour that many may have missed in highlights like the viciously compulsive rant 'n' roll epic 'Blues for Ceausescu' and the truly schizoid 'Angels Delight'. Other tracks veered in all kinds of unpredictable directions and styles - savage electronics, pure dance pop, soaring balladry, scabrous industrial noise, acoustic grandeur, hellish Wagner-esque vaudeville, crazed psychobilly, traditional folk, etc.... The Fatima Mansions at their mightiest were an incredible tour de force that simply refused to be pigeonholed! Indeed, very few bands at the time were in quite the same league.
Aided and abetted by a chillingly intense group of musicicans including Andreas O'Gruama, Nick Allum, Nick Bagnall, and Hugh Bunker, the Mansions captivated, thrilled, provoked and confounded through 3 full albums and a couple of mini albums. Their live gigs were often equally cathartic rituals which met with critical approval and rave reviews. They even scored an unlikely hit [on the back of the Manic Street Preachers' cover of the Theme From M*A*S*H] with their irreverently skewed take on Bryan Adam's eternal number 1 hit Everything I Do (I Do It For You).
Since their demise in 1995/6, Coughlan has been recording and performing solo and, with a much more acoustic and controlled sound allied to his ever caustic lyrics and fantastic voice, remains a true one-off. He is still awaiting a more widespread critical appraisal and overdue recognition that his rare talent truly deserves.
Only Losers Take The Bus
The Fatima Mansions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not stupid
I'm born again in hail and flames (goldrush almighty)
Go tell it loud to all my slaves (goldrush almighty)
You scum don't have the fear of god
All that's left is the iron rod (goldrush almighty)
Let's go down, kiss the plough
Public system burn down
Nothing is wrong!
Only losers take the bus
Only losers take the bus
Churchill was a shopping bag (goldrush almighty)
Can you draw the Chinese flag? (goldrush almighty)
It's, uh, three blue lines and six dalias
Paris is in India (goldrush almighty)
Let's go down, o my friends
All alone we descend
Plastic food, tv
Take your eyes off of me!
Only losers take the bus
Only losers take the bus
I hate misunderstandings
Hey, get these dead bodies off my racetrack!
And we cry out with joy
As we drive through the rain
And our enemies claw
From every god damned side!
Only losers take the bus....
Only losers, only losers, only losers take the bus
I'm no loser, I'm a letch!
Protect me! protect me!
I'm not one of them....
The Fatima Mansions's song "Only Losers Take the Bus" is a satirical take on modern society's obsession with wealth and status. The lyrics describe a disillusioned man who has been reborn, seemingly as a result of a religious experience, but instead of finding spiritual fulfillment, he becomes obsessed with material possessions and denounces those who don't share his views.
The lyrics criticize those who take public transportation, referring to them as "losers" and suggesting that they are somehow beneath him. He sees himself as a man of power, one who deserves to be protected and feared by his "slaves." His obsession with wealth and power has turned him into a letch, someone who is more interested in protecting his own interests than in helping others.
The chorus, "only losers take the bus," reinforces the idea that the man's identity is tied up in his material success, and that he sees others as "losers" if they do not share his lifestyle. The song is a scathing commentary on the values of modern society, suggesting that materialism has overtaken spirituality and that this has led to a world where power and wealth are the only things that matter.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not stupid -- I'm a man
I am not unintelligent, I am an adult male
I'm born again in hail and flames (goldrush almighty)
I have experienced a rebirth in a tumultuous and intense way
Go tell it loud to all my slaves (goldrush almighty)
Spread the word widely to my subordinates
You scum don't have the fear of god
You low-life individuals lack a moral conscience
All that's left is the iron rod (goldrush almighty)
Only the tough and unyielding remain
Let's go down, kiss the plough
Let us embrace manual labor
Public system burn down
Destroy the government-run institutions
And let memory fade
Nothing is wrong!
Forget the past and move on, everything is okay
Only losers take the bus
Individuals who are unsuccessful resort to public transportation
Churchill was a shopping bag (goldrush almighty)
The historical figure Winston Churchill means nothing to me
Can you draw the Chinese flag? (goldrush almighty)
Do you possess a basic level of knowledge about China's national flag?
It's, uh, three blue lines and six dalias
Humorous and incorrect explanation of China's flag
Paris is in India (goldrush almighty)
A nonsensical statement indicating a lack of geographical knowledge
Let's go down, o my friends
All alone we descend
Let us venture together down a solitary path
Plastic food, tv
Take your eyes off of me!
The superficiality and shallowness of modern society is overwhelming
I hate misunderstandings
I despise misinterpretations and confusion
Hey, get these dead bodies off my racetrack!
Clear the way for me and remove any obstacles or impediments
And we cry out with joy
As we drive through the rain
And our enemies claw
From every god damned side!
We experience elation in adversity and can overcome our enemies
Only losers take the bus....
Reiterated statement that those who are unsuccessful rely on public transportation
Only losers, only losers, only losers take the bus
Repetition of the same sentiment that only the unsuccessful use public transportation
I'm no loser, I'm a letch!
Protect me! protect me!
I'm not one of them....
Declaration of not being unsuccessful, but rather wanting protection from those who might deem me as such
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES COUGHLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lou Lou 123
Love this song from the Fatima mansions
C.C. Was A fantastic songwriter and way ahead of his time
I suppose I am a loser as I only take the bus 20 years on 😂😂
But Apparently Only losers take their car nowadays ( how times have changed )
thanks for your fabulous contribution to the music industry.
i am a big fan of your songwriting since your early days
Rob Jones
RIP Cathal Coughlin. You were the very essence of righteous fury. Whether it be Microdisney or Fatima Mansions, you wrote fabulous
songs. Gone, but for those who saw you onstage never to be forgotten.
Dave Bavister
Such sad news. First video I went for after I heard.
Marianna M. Cave
Only just now heard the news - can't quite believe it
Joe Lyons
in my top 3 gigs of all time Eamonn Doran's and the Mansions packed in so many but the place was buzzin never forget that gig
Art Monk
@Joe Lyons Was it not The Rock Garden back then? What are your other top 3 gigs?
Joe Lyons
@Art Monk it was but always remember it as ED's. Best 3 THE THE @ Olympia 2000 March, Dandy Warhols... again the Olympia gig in 2003 and The Jesus and Mary Chain at The Top Hat 1989 Special mention to Primal Scream @ Olympia and Beth Orton Vicar Street in 2002 (no better place than the Olympia for a gig just special)
Mr Kalamanshum
How is this band not globally and eternally revered throughout all of time and food?
Stinky da Cheese
I loved this song the first time I heard it when it came out, a genuine classic track. Listened to it so often. RIP sir, sad day.
David Williams
Just love this song. Even though it is years since I heard it played, I still think of it and hum it to myself often, like when I pass a bus on my bike :-)
62holden
I love this song. I played it to death when it came out. Thanks for posting!!