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.
Shiny Happy People
The Fatima Mansions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here we fuckin' go!
Bring out your dead, bring out your dead
We're gonna make 'em dance, give us cold cold head
Fill' em full of whisky, it'll bring 'em back to life
Just as well, I like 'em nice and tight
Streetlights flashing like the greatest little disco
The grand parade is coming your way
Meet me in the crowd, I'll be yelling out loud
with a dick in every orifice, this'll [pummel them around]
with a 6-6-6 and a do-what-thou-wilt
though no body fluids are gonna be spilt
You look like the type who likes to suck a big pipe
Tonight could be your night if you play your cards right
Shiny happy people holding hands
Yes, that is correct, that's what we are seeing
Shiny happy people holding hands
("Go fuck yourself!")
Mummy, when you shoot up, dear,
do not spew up, dear, in baby's face here
Give him a few beers to dry his wee tears
and if his dad hears, he'll fuck you both, dear
Zeebrugge, '87, mass murder
Campaign contribution that goes no further
Innocent people lost their lives
for the killer's profit and another five
'cos the government by well-spanked arses, closet queens ("Masturbate,
masturbate.") making it a crime to be gay
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
("Go fuck yourself!")
Fuck your nuclear family
Fuck your passion for advertising
Fuck your show business
Most of all, fuck your show business
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
I must be blind, I can't see them!
Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people holding hands
("Masturbate, masturbate")"
The Fatima Mansions' song "Shiny Happy People" is a satirical and dark take on the superficiality and manipulation of society. The lyrics are full of sarcasm and irony, as the band sings about bringing out the dead and making them dance, filling them up with alcohol to bring them back to life, and meeting in the crowd with a "dick in every orifice." The song mocks those who are easily influenced by the media and advertising, and those who conform to societal norms and expectations. The band also takes a stance against the government's censorship of homosexuality, referencing the criminalization of homosexuality as a result of "closet queens".
The chorus, "Shiny happy people holding hands," is repeated throughout the song, but it is meant to be ironic as the verses suggest that the people in question are not happy at all, but rather brainwashed and manipulated. The band uses shock tactics and vulgar language to call attention to the darker aspects of society and the harm it causes to individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha ha ha, that's disgusting!
Expressing amusement at something that is perceived as distasteful or gross.
Here we fuckin' go!
Excitement for what is about to happen.
Bring out your dead, bring out your dead
Commanding for deceased persons to be brought forward.
We're gonna make 'em dance, give us cold cold head
We intend to entertain ourselves with the bodies of the deceased.
Fill' em full of whisky, it'll bring 'em back to life
We believe alcohol has the power to bring back the dead.
Just as well, I like 'em nice and tight
I prefer the bodies of the dead to be in a certain physical state.
Streetlights flashing like the greatest little disco
Describing the scene as being similar to a disco with flashing lights.
[Whimbo, belch-o, slam-o, fist-o]
An expression of primal sounds and actions related to partying.
The grand parade is coming your way
A spectacle is about to unfold.
Meet me in the crowd, I'll be yelling out loud
Inviting someone to join in the festivities.
with a dick in every orifice, this'll [pummel them around]
Suggesting sexual activity in a crude manner.
with a 6-6-6 and a do-what-thou-wilt
A reference to the number 666 and the philosophy of doing what one desires.
though no body fluids are gonna be spilt
Indicating that no sexual activity will take place.
You look like the type who likes to suck a big pipe
Making a crude sexual advance towards someone.
Tonight could be your night if you play your cards right
Suggesting that the person could engage in sexual activity if they comply.
Shiny happy people holding hands
A description of people who appear outwardly happy and content.
Yes, that is correct, that's what we are seeing
Affirming the observation of shiny happy people holding hands.
Mummy, when you shoot up, dear,
Addressing someone who is assumed to be injecting drugs.
do not spew up, dear, in baby's face here
Cautioning against vomiting in the vicinity of an infant.
Give him a few beers to dry his wee tears
Humorously suggesting that alcohol could help a crying baby stop crying.
and if his dad hears, he'll fuck you both, dear
Warning of potential danger if the infant's father discovers the drug use and alcohol consumption.
Zeebrugge, '87, mass murder
Referring to a tragic event of mass murder in Zeebrugge in 1987.
Campaign contribution that goes no further
Suggesting that a financial contribution did not result in any action being taken to prevent future tragedy.
Innocent people lost their lives
Acknowledging the loss of lives in the event.
for the killer's profit and another five
Speculating that someone may have profited from the tragedy.
cos the government by well-spanked arses, closet queens ("Masturbate, masturbate.") making it a crime to be gay
Criticizing the government for discriminating against the LGBTQ+ community.
Fuck your nuclear family
Challenging the traditional family structure.
Fuck your passion for advertising
Criticizing the emphasis on advertising and consumerism in society.
Fuck your show business
Rejecting the entertainment industry.
Most of all, fuck your show business
Emphasizing the rejection of show business.
I must be blind, I can't see them!
Expressing disbelief at the existence of shiny happy people holding hands.
"Masturbate, masturbate"
A call to masturbate or an exclamation of pleasure.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
whydoyouwantmyname
wow this youtube is great. just found another lost tune that was stuck in my subconscious for a long time and sounds just as good. i believe that cathal coughlan, in some parallel universe, is getting as much, if not more, pats on the back for his creative vision than nick cave. as it should be. kicking myself i missed flannery
The Niallist
This band makes me feel proud to be Irish.
S S
I saw these guys open for Live and Weezer in a basketball gymnasium at UCR in Riverside, California. My hearing has never been the same, but it was awesome.
John Erkman
I regrettably missed that tour 😢😢 St. Louis got/gets IGNORED LOTS on some tours (Vegas slightly better +/-) but sadly they never hit St. Louis again 😱
And even worse; the LAST TIME Peter Gabriel was in St. Louis HE WAS IN GENESIS 🙄😳😳
Scary huh???
June Grant
great stuff,ive put everything i do for you by fatima mansions on one of my channels,thanks again
greatleapforwards
oh god I forgot about this...brilliant..gonna haul out viva dead ponies..and give it a spin asap
DavidL999
Love it!
lisecat2012
Absolutely love this :-D
jfrsnjhnsn
I bought this CD in a little used CD store called CD WHEREHOUSE in omaha like 12 years ago. TIMA MANSIO DUMPS THE DEAD. I had listened to it because I'd liked their track on I'M YOUR FAN. Only Losers Take the Bus is awesome, both versions.
James Mullineaux
Yes! Only losers Take the Bus is awesome. I got this CS in a little indi-record shop in Lancaster PA around 1991-ish. Had no money, just window shopping.When I was walking out the clerk behind the register said "Hey, here's one on the house." and handed me a promo copy of Tima Masio Dumps the Dead. Hive seriously helped me keep me sane for a couple years in high school.