Founde… Read Full Bio ↴The Frank and Walters are a pop/rock band from Cork, Ireland.
Founded in 1990 the group (named in honour of two eccentric Cork characters) are Paul Linehan (vocalist/bassist), his brother Niall Linehan (guitar) (replaced by Kevin Pedreschi in 2004) and Ashley Keating (drums).
Signing to the Setanta label in 1991, the group debuted with album EP1, and the lead track "Fashion Crisis Hits New York" became an indie hit. The follow-up album EP.2 was quickly forthcoming.
Shortly after signing to the Go! Discs label, The Franks partnered with producer Edwyn Collins to record the Happy Busman EP. Success in the UK was not far away, and following a tour in support of Carter USM, an Ian Broudie remix of the LP track After All reached the top twenty in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 11.
After a long sabbatical, the group returned with Grand Parade (with contributions from Gus Dudgeon), and the Indian Ocean EP in 1997. This was followed with Beauty Becomes More Than Life in 1998 and Glass in 2000. Setanta released a well received "Best of" in 2002.
In 2004 Niall Linehan left the band and was replaced by a friend of the band, Kevin Pedreschi. The band signed a new deal with FIFA Records in Ireland, and released a B-sides triple album, Souvenirs, in October 2005.
The band released a new album, Renewed Interest In Happiness, on October 27th 2006 possibly their most complete work to date.
Happy Busman
The Frank and Walters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He cheers up everyone everyday
Andy James loves them all like his family
And I think he's sent here by God
Why not jump on the 5 for your journey
Its a bus ride you'll never regret
Andy James will make everyone happy
He's got pink carpet on the sliding door
And super bubbles on the marble floor
Don't need no money 'cause the entry's free
And Andy James is gonna make the whole world smile
With love
Andy James drives a bus for the lonely
He cheers up everyone everyday
Andy James loves them all like his family
And I think he's sent here by God
He's got pink carpet on the sliding door
And super bubbles on the marble floor
Don't need no money 'cause the entry's free
And Andy James is gonna make the whole world smile
So smile
Smile all the time
Smile all your life
You'll never dies
He's got pink carpet on the sliding door
And super bubbles on the marble floor
Don't need no money 'cause the entry's free
And Andy James is gonna make the whole world smile
With love
The Frank and Walters’s “Happy Busman” is a song that depicts the life of a bus driver named Andy James, who drives a bus for the lonely and cheers up everyone every day. The lyrics suggest that Andy James is a special person, someone who loves the people he transports like his own family. The line “And I think he’s sent here by God” implies that he is a gift to the world, a benevolent figure who spreads love and joy everywhere he goes.
The chorus of the song encourages people to ride the bus, citing Andy James’s infectious positivity and his ability to make everyone happy. The lyrics describe his bus as a magical place adorned with pink carpet and super bubbles on the marble floor. The bus is also free of charge, emphasizing the generosity and kindness of Andy James. The song concludes with a powerful message, urging listeners to smile all the time and all our lives.
Overall, the song is a feel-good anthem that celebrates the power of love and kindness, and reminds us to appreciate the special people in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Andy James drives a bus for the lonely
Andy James is a bus driver who specifically caters to lonely people
He cheers up everyone everyday
He consistently brightens up the days of his passengers
Andy James loves them all like his family
Andy James treats his passengers like family
And I think he's sent here by God
He is so kind and uplifting I can't think of any other explanation besides divine intervention
Why not jump on the 5 for your journey
Suggestive statement about taking the 5 bus for a pleasant experience
Its a bus ride you'll never regret
Promising that the bus ride will be a positive memory
Andy James will make everyone happy
Andy James has the ability to bring joy to all passengers
And his smile you'll never forget
Andy James's smile is so memorable it will stick with you
He's got pink carpet on the sliding door
The bus is decorated with unique features like pink carpet
And super bubbles on the marble floor
The bus also has fun additions like bubble soap on a marble floor
Don't need no money 'cause the entry's free
The ride is free of charge
And Andy James is gonna make the whole world smile
Andy James has an infectious positivity that can go beyond just his bus
With love
Andy James spreads joy through an underlying emotion of love
So smile
Encouraging a positive outlook
Smile all the time
Continuing to urge a consistent positive outlook
Smile all your life
Promoting a lifelong positive mindset
You'll never dies
Negation of death as a limit to positivity
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
treehouse722
A lost pop masterpiece.
Keith Owen
Still one of the best songs I've ever heard - from my favourite band.
Johnny Casswell
Brilliant, fun band! Loved seeing them live with their great energy on stage and the crowd just used to get into it! Their first 3 EPs were tip top!
Captain Cluster
Managed to see them live three times in the 90's. They were in their tour van in a car park at one gig and waved at us when they saw we were wearing their band T-shirts 😁
Stevie Beer
Unstoppably happy and uplifting. A great record.
Michael Peart
Loved them then and now. Amazing how many wonderful songs they have.
Juan Ruda
A good song never dies!
Danny Sheahan
Best song ever. By the greatest band of all time?
Barry Potter
One f the best indie songs of the early nineties the lyrics are brilliant I'm sure edwyn Collins produced this
William Jackson
Love this song, the other ones on the EP are also great, "If you're till waiting" and esp, "Humphrey."