"Only You", their debut single, was the UK Christmas number one in 1983 spending a total of five weeks at the top, and also doing well around Europe and in Canada, where it hit #17 in the spring of 1984. Despite the radical Socialist politics of The Flying Pickets then Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher proclaimed to much amusement that it was her favourite record. A second single, featuring Van McCoy's "When You're Young and in Love" originally written for Ruby and the Romantics reached number 7 in the UK, but their third, a cover of the Eurythmics' "Who's That Girl" barely charted.
The height of the groups fame following the success of Only You coincided, quite ironically, with the 1984 Miners Strike. In 1984 the National Union of Mineworkers called strike action following the National Coal Board's decision to close 20 pits and lay off 20,000 people. The Flying Pickets were very vocal regarding their support of the miners during the dispute and came to blows with the record label Virgin after they picketed Drax Power Station in Yorkshire. They also put on benefit gigs for the miners. Hibbard himself claimed that their political beliefs probably had a detrimental affect regarding the groups mainstream image but it was a sacrifice they were willing to make, one well known record store refused to sell the groups albums due to their support of strike action.
In 1986 Hibbard and Stripe left the band and were replaced by Gary Howard and Hereward Kaye. Hibbard and Gittins tried to stay in the music industry, forming their own act called 'Brian and Stripe', but their first and only single featuring a cover of Yazoo's "Mr. Blue" failed to chart, and they returned to their separate acting careers.
There have been many different members of The Flying Pickets and the line-up kept changing constantly throughout the 1990s and 2000s; since the Pickets began, there have been at least 19 different band members. The last member of the original line-up, David Brett, left the band in 1990. However in 1994, the original line-up (minus Lloyd) reformed to record one more album.
Since the Original Flying Pickets split, new teams of ambitious men using the name The Flying Pickets have tried to follow in the Original's footsteps, but there have been no chart successes. The current line-up tours around Europe in lots of small venues all year round, but have not achieved the short-lived heights of the original line-up
Summer in the City
The Flying Pickets Lyrics
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Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Cool town, evening in the city
Dressing so fine and looking so pretty
Cool cat, looking for a kitty
Gonna look in every corner of the city
Till I'm wheezing like a bus stop
Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
But at night it's a different world
Go out and find a girl
Come-on come-on and dance all night
Despite the heat it'll be alright
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city
In the summer, in the city
The Flying Pickets's song "Summer In The City" is a classic ode to the hot and steamy days of summer in the urban environment. The singer describes the scorching heat of the daytime, with his neck getting "dirty and gritty" from the sweat and grime. The city is devoid of any shade, with people looking "half dead" as they try to go about their daily business in the oppressive heat. Despite the discomfort, the singer finds solace in the coolness of the night, which creates a "different world" where he can go out, find a girl, and dance all night. He longs for the nights to be more like the days, and for the freedom and joy of summer in the city to last forever.
The lyrics of "Summer In The City" capture the feeling of being trapped in a hot and bustling urban environment, but finding a way to escape through the magic of summer nights. The song has become an enduring classic that transcends time and place, and it is a testament to the universal appeal of the experience of summer in the city.
Line by Line Meaning
Hot town, summer in the city
The city is sweltering in the heat of summer, making it an uncomfortable place to be.
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
The oppressive heat is causing the singer to sweat and feel uncomfortable.
Been down, isn't it a pity
The singer is feeling down and sad about the conditions of the city in the summertime.
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city
The hot sun is shining so bright that there are no shadows to provide any relief from the heat.
All around, people looking half dead
Everyone around the artist is also feeling the effects of the extreme heat and are visibly tired and drained.
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head
The pavement is so hot that it feels like walking on a surface that has just been struck by a match and is burning hot.
But at night it's a different world
At night, the oppressive heat dissipates and the singer finds a renewed energy in the city.
Go out and find a girl
The artist suggests going out and socializing with a romantic partner or potential romantic partner.
Come-on come-on and dance all night
The artist wants to stay up all night dancing, despite the heat, and make the most of the cooler nighttime temperatures.
Despite the heat it'll be alright
The artist feels that despite the oppressive heat, everything will be alright so long as they can enjoy the nightlife and cooler temperatures.
And babe, don't you know it's a pity
The singer laments that the daytime can't be more like the nighttime, where the temperature is cooler and the energy is higher.
That the days can't be like the nights
The artist wishes that the daytime could be more like the nighttime, with cooler temperatures and a heightened energy level.
Cool town, evening in the city
In the evening, the city cools down and becomes a more pleasant place to be.
Dressing so fine and looking so pretty
People are dressing up and looking their best when going out in the evening, enjoying the cooler temperatures and energy of the nighttime.
Cool cat, looking for a kitty
The singer is looking for a romantic partner, using playful language to suggest their intentions.
Gonna look in every corner of the city
The artist is willing to explore all parts of the city in order to find what they're looking for.
Till I'm wheezing like a bus stop
The artist will not give up in their search for a partner until they are so tired that they are like a person wheezing while waiting for a bus.
Running up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop
The singer is determined to meet their potential partner on the rooftop, using physical activity as a metaphor for their willingness to put in the effort for a relationship.
In the summer, in the city
The song is describing the energy and experiences of summer in the city, both during the day and night.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOHN SEBASTIAN, MARK SEBASTIAN, STEVE BOONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind